NFL Rookie Prospects: Defence
Sometimes in the NFL, a rookie is simply destined to make a large impact. This often happens when a player is drafted to fill a very specific position, and thus given the opportunity to thrive at what he has shown himself best at. An example of this is Green Bay Packer Clay Matthews. Green Bay needed a physical player at outside linebacker, and Mathews was perfectly primed to fit the position and thrived immediately. Given their team situations, here are the defensive rookies slated to make an immediate impact a la Matthews:
Ndamukong Suh: Usually Detroit’s top picks are doomed by being surrounded by an abject lack of talent. Suh is fortunate enough to enter a defensive line that has already been bolstered with the free agent signings of Kyle Vanden Bosch and Corey Williams.
With that veteran support and the individual talent Suh showed at Oklahoma, where he seemed like a man amongst boys, he could be the final piece of the first strong defensive line Detroit has seen in years. Suh is an almost-can’t-fail prospect, and impact from him is a certainty.
Gerald McCoy: McCoy is not going to be strong as Suh immediately. He was not as strong in college and is playing for a worse line than Suh as well. That doesn’t mean McCoy isn’t primed to make impacts right away.
McCoy’s talent lies in his pass rushing ability. He will need to learn how to stop the run, but he knows how to interfere with passers to such a degree that he is bound to be extremely useful to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Eric Berry: It seems like a given that Berry will be immediately put into the Kansas City Chiefs starting line up. After that, the coaches should pretty much just let him do whatever he wants. His talent is so bright that he should be able to deal with any initial issues, and all rookie safeties have issues, with minimal effort. Berry should be a top-level safety within a few years and with the Chiefs’ poor frontline will be getting a lot of opportunities to shine.
Earl Thomas: Thomas is also a safety, though not as talented as Berry. However, Thomas is in a position that might allow him to make more of an immediate significance. His pass-coverage skills are extremely developed and his instinct is flawless. Thomas should quickly be able to step in front of passes at the NFL-level and simply put improves any defence with his presence.
Nate Allen: Allen’s contributions and possibility for success are more-so coincidental rather than intended. The Philadelphia Eagles drafted the South Florida safety in the second round with no serious intention of immediate use. Unfortunately, with the injury to Marlin Jackson, the Eagles will be forced to start Allen right away.
As the starting free safety Allen will have a baptism by fire, but since the Eagles have no one else at the position, he is going to be a major contributor to their defence.
Lamarr Houston: Houston is often disparagingly compared to Gerald McCoy, but has all the ability to prove himself for the Oakland Raiders. The second round draftee has better athletic stats than McCoy across the board. He has also done better than McCoy collegiately, and as both played in the Big 12 that means they were generally facing the same offences.
Houston has some serious size and his 6-3, 305 pound physique is perfect for the 4-3 defence Oakland will be running. Houston should do some damage for Oakland, and may make the team look genius for drafting him at such a late spot.
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