JS:
Rookies come of age
By BOB McGINN
Green Bay - It was a great year for rookies in the National Football League and the Green Bay Packers' first-year contingent doesn't have to take a back seat to many teams.
Next month, when the all-rookie squad is selected by Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers of America, as many as four Packers have a legitimate shot of making it.
"They've got to be proud of that draft," an executive in personnel for another team in the NFC North Division said at midweek.
By trading down four times and dealing wide receiver Javon Walker to Denver, general manager Ted Thompson turned seven picks into an eventual 12. Of the 12, four have started almost all season, another has started 10 games and five have contributed as backups.
"You try to identify quality core players that you want on your team going forward," Thompson said. "I think we have a number in this class that fit that bill. I think that speaks well."
Entering the final game, the draft choices have logged a total of 63 games started.
In 2005, the draft picks made 32 starts and safety Nick Collins made all-rookie. Collins is one of the Packers' 12 all-rookie selections in the last 20 years.
Ron Wolf's great 1995 draft eventually would produce five starters on Super Bowl teams counted just 21 starts when the players were rookies.
Wide receiver Cory Rodgers, a fourth-round pick this year, flopped and was released Sept. 2.
He spent three weeks on San Francisco's practice squad in September, was cut Sept. 26 and then suspended Oct. 2 for a week by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. He has been out of football since.
Defensive end Dave Tollefson, who also was cut Sept. 2, is on the Packers' practice-squad injured reserve list.
A.J. Hawk is one of five players in hot competition for the three all-rookie berths at linebacker.
New Orleans' Marques Colston (70 catches, 1,038 yards) will be one of two all-rookie wide receivers.
The only other rookies with more than 20 receptions are Pittsburgh's Santonio Holmes (45-700) and the Packers' Greg Jennings (45-632).
At guard, Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz would seem to be competing with New Orleans' Jahri Evans and Tampa Bay's Davin Joseph for two berths.
Offensive and defensive starters are listed in the Packers' media guide dating to the 1961 season.
Since then, the Packers have had seven seasons with three rookie starters but never one with more.
Given that Tony Moll has made 10 starts off the bench, the page for '06 probably will designate five rookies as starters.
This was how Thompson assessed his second class of Packers draftees:
Round 1, 5th pick, A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State
"I know a lot has been expected of him but I think he's a very good player. I don't have any doubts that he has stubbed his toe in terms of (coverage) assignments. But I'm talking about being physically able to cover these guys. That's not a problem. I think he takes on guys. He's a square player. He has instincts. And he's a very, very strong tackler in terms of wrapping guys up and finishing plays. Excellent range. He's a good blitzer."
2-47, Daryn Colledge, G, Boise State
"He was demoted or something in pre-season. All he did was hang in there and just kept working. Then the cream kind of rose to the top. I think he's been pretty steady. He was always a tackle in college and you never know how that move to guard will work. That caused him some problems initially. He's going to be a good player. He's very good with his hands and he's very athletic with his feet. He fronts 'em up pretty good. And plays hard."
2-52, Greg Jennings, WR, Western Michigan
"Unfortunately, he's kind of been playing on a dinged-up ankle probably the last 10 weeks or so. To his credit, he hung in there. I think he has a bright future. It becomes a long season, especially when you're dragging one leg around. He hasn't run as fast later in the season as he was early in the season because he's playing a little dinged up. He's a gifted catcher with the hands. He just does everything very natural. It almost looks like he isn't going fast sometimes but then you realize he's out-running everybody else. He's a real smooth customer."
3-67, Abdul Hodge, MLB, Iowa
"He had a great training camp and pre-season. He did a pretty good job on special teams. Then he got banged up. When he did come back right away he had to start a whole game. I don't think he played his best game, and we haven't seen his best football, based on that Seattle game. He got thrust in there without really quite enough preparation time. I like the kid. He's tough. He loves to play the game. I think his game speed will be fine. He'll do just what he did in college. Beat people to the hole and know what's happening before other people. He's a very bright young man. I sure do think he has that potential (to become a starter)."
3-75, Jason Spitz, G, Louisville
"He's a rookie starting in the offensive line so there's going to be good times and bad times. But I think he's done all right. He has a bright future. I've liked him from the get-go. He just loves football. He loves being a Packer. He's tough as nails. He battled through some injuries that sometimes take other people a lot longer to come back from. He was one of the few people that came out of college and was strong to begin with."
4-115, Will Blackmon, CB, Boston College
"A series of injuries kept him from playing. When he did practice he looks like what we thought we were getting. He's a very bright guy. He knows the defense backwards and forward. We missed a lot of time this year with him. We're certainly counting on him to compete and contribute."
5-148, Ingle Martin, QB, Furman
"He's done fine. Obviously, he hasn't played any. But he continues to get better. The coaches seem to be excited about him. I've been down at practice the last few weeks and he looks pretty good. He's young and still trying to figure out where the windows are out there. Good athlete."
5-165, Tony Moll, T-G, Nevada
"We moved him around two or three different places. He wants to be good. He's doing OK. Athletically and all that stuff, he's pretty good. He's still learning the game. He's done well holding his weight. He needs to get a little stronger. He has the ability to play certainly four of the five positions. My guess is that with a kid like this we'll zero him in, put him in a spot and that will be his spot. Win or lose."
6-183, Johnny Jolly, NT, Texas A&M
"He's done a nice job. He's had some pretty good players in front of him so his play time has been down. He's practiced and worked at it. I think he's got a bright future. At the point of attack he's been up and down. He is a natural player in terms of instincts and knowing what's happening around him. He's a good hands player. He's got some quickness and short-area burst that give him a chance to be an inside pass rusher."
6-185, Tyrone Culver, S, Fresno State
"When he's had to go in and play he's done pretty good. He's a pretty good athlete. He's a very smart guy who can make all the calls. He seems to handle being in the NFL pretty well. I think he's just done OK (on special teams). He hasn't shown us anything to think that he couldn't (become a starter)."
Rookies come of age
By BOB McGINN
Green Bay - It was a great year for rookies in the National Football League and the Green Bay Packers' first-year contingent doesn't have to take a back seat to many teams.
Next month, when the all-rookie squad is selected by Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers of America, as many as four Packers have a legitimate shot of making it.
"They've got to be proud of that draft," an executive in personnel for another team in the NFC North Division said at midweek.
By trading down four times and dealing wide receiver Javon Walker to Denver, general manager Ted Thompson turned seven picks into an eventual 12. Of the 12, four have started almost all season, another has started 10 games and five have contributed as backups.
"You try to identify quality core players that you want on your team going forward," Thompson said. "I think we have a number in this class that fit that bill. I think that speaks well."
Entering the final game, the draft choices have logged a total of 63 games started.
In 2005, the draft picks made 32 starts and safety Nick Collins made all-rookie. Collins is one of the Packers' 12 all-rookie selections in the last 20 years.
Ron Wolf's great 1995 draft eventually would produce five starters on Super Bowl teams counted just 21 starts when the players were rookies.
Wide receiver Cory Rodgers, a fourth-round pick this year, flopped and was released Sept. 2.
He spent three weeks on San Francisco's practice squad in September, was cut Sept. 26 and then suspended Oct. 2 for a week by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. He has been out of football since.
Defensive end Dave Tollefson, who also was cut Sept. 2, is on the Packers' practice-squad injured reserve list.
A.J. Hawk is one of five players in hot competition for the three all-rookie berths at linebacker.
New Orleans' Marques Colston (70 catches, 1,038 yards) will be one of two all-rookie wide receivers.
The only other rookies with more than 20 receptions are Pittsburgh's Santonio Holmes (45-700) and the Packers' Greg Jennings (45-632).
At guard, Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz would seem to be competing with New Orleans' Jahri Evans and Tampa Bay's Davin Joseph for two berths.
Offensive and defensive starters are listed in the Packers' media guide dating to the 1961 season.
Since then, the Packers have had seven seasons with three rookie starters but never one with more.
Given that Tony Moll has made 10 starts off the bench, the page for '06 probably will designate five rookies as starters.
This was how Thompson assessed his second class of Packers draftees:
Round 1, 5th pick, A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State
"I know a lot has been expected of him but I think he's a very good player. I don't have any doubts that he has stubbed his toe in terms of (coverage) assignments. But I'm talking about being physically able to cover these guys. That's not a problem. I think he takes on guys. He's a square player. He has instincts. And he's a very, very strong tackler in terms of wrapping guys up and finishing plays. Excellent range. He's a good blitzer."
2-47, Daryn Colledge, G, Boise State
"He was demoted or something in pre-season. All he did was hang in there and just kept working. Then the cream kind of rose to the top. I think he's been pretty steady. He was always a tackle in college and you never know how that move to guard will work. That caused him some problems initially. He's going to be a good player. He's very good with his hands and he's very athletic with his feet. He fronts 'em up pretty good. And plays hard."
2-52, Greg Jennings, WR, Western Michigan
"Unfortunately, he's kind of been playing on a dinged-up ankle probably the last 10 weeks or so. To his credit, he hung in there. I think he has a bright future. It becomes a long season, especially when you're dragging one leg around. He hasn't run as fast later in the season as he was early in the season because he's playing a little dinged up. He's a gifted catcher with the hands. He just does everything very natural. It almost looks like he isn't going fast sometimes but then you realize he's out-running everybody else. He's a real smooth customer."
3-67, Abdul Hodge, MLB, Iowa
"He had a great training camp and pre-season. He did a pretty good job on special teams. Then he got banged up. When he did come back right away he had to start a whole game. I don't think he played his best game, and we haven't seen his best football, based on that Seattle game. He got thrust in there without really quite enough preparation time. I like the kid. He's tough. He loves to play the game. I think his game speed will be fine. He'll do just what he did in college. Beat people to the hole and know what's happening before other people. He's a very bright young man. I sure do think he has that potential (to become a starter)."
3-75, Jason Spitz, G, Louisville
"He's a rookie starting in the offensive line so there's going to be good times and bad times. But I think he's done all right. He has a bright future. I've liked him from the get-go. He just loves football. He loves being a Packer. He's tough as nails. He battled through some injuries that sometimes take other people a lot longer to come back from. He was one of the few people that came out of college and was strong to begin with."
4-115, Will Blackmon, CB, Boston College
"A series of injuries kept him from playing. When he did practice he looks like what we thought we were getting. He's a very bright guy. He knows the defense backwards and forward. We missed a lot of time this year with him. We're certainly counting on him to compete and contribute."
5-148, Ingle Martin, QB, Furman
"He's done fine. Obviously, he hasn't played any. But he continues to get better. The coaches seem to be excited about him. I've been down at practice the last few weeks and he looks pretty good. He's young and still trying to figure out where the windows are out there. Good athlete."
5-165, Tony Moll, T-G, Nevada
"We moved him around two or three different places. He wants to be good. He's doing OK. Athletically and all that stuff, he's pretty good. He's still learning the game. He's done well holding his weight. He needs to get a little stronger. He has the ability to play certainly four of the five positions. My guess is that with a kid like this we'll zero him in, put him in a spot and that will be his spot. Win or lose."
6-183, Johnny Jolly, NT, Texas A&M
"He's done a nice job. He's had some pretty good players in front of him so his play time has been down. He's practiced and worked at it. I think he's got a bright future. At the point of attack he's been up and down. He is a natural player in terms of instincts and knowing what's happening around him. He's a good hands player. He's got some quickness and short-area burst that give him a chance to be an inside pass rusher."
6-185, Tyrone Culver, S, Fresno State
"When he's had to go in and play he's done pretty good. He's a pretty good athlete. He's a very smart guy who can make all the calls. He seems to handle being in the NFL pretty well. I think he's just done OK (on special teams). He hasn't shown us anything to think that he couldn't (become a starter)."
