2008 NFL Draft Rookie Sleepers

[Matt McGuire]

Again as I stated in my blog, I don't expect instant production, in fact I don't expect most of these players to emerge for another 2-4 years. But still, I think they were steals and over time will prove the doubters wrong.

http://www.walterfootball.com/mattblog.php

[MMONTERO]

Speaking of rookie sleepers I will be at Redskins Park today watching the last public practice. I should have a full report on it up either tonight or tomorrow night.

Good list Matt, though I don't think Andre Woodson will get 4 years to prove himself. Maybe 2.

[Matt McGuire]

Matt Schuab got 3 years in Atlanta, then proved himself with Houston in his 4th year.

Please don't let this become a Woodson thread. There is nothing to be said people. Let's agree to disagree.

[SoChillLax]

Other potential sleepers

Nicks should have been a 1st round pick despite his charater issues.

Some players I like as sleepers:
WR Arman Shields-Raiders
TE Jermichael Finley-Packers
WR Donnie Avery as well as G Roy Schuening-Rams
WR Marcus Henry-Jets
DT Framk Okam-Texans
S DaJuan Morgan-Cheifs

If Brett Favre goes to the Bucs, Dexter Jackson's stats could explode. If he goes to the Jets, Marcus Henry and Dustin Keller could get James Jones and Donald Lee-type looks/stats.

[Walter]

Apparently Rams WR Keenan Burton has been looking great in camp

[ZN0rseman]

If Brett Favre goes to the Bucs, Dexter Jackson's stats could explode. If he goes to the Jets, Marcus Henry and Dustin Keller could get James Jones and Donald Lee-type looks/stats.

If he goes to the Vikes, look for Berrian, Rice and Shianco to have career seasons.

[SoChillLax]

Shinacoe, with an e, needs to step up. Even though he has Tarvaris Jackson as his QB, he could do better than 27 catches and 1 TD.

[supremeworldemperor]

do you think Nicks can supplant Jon Stinky at right tackle, or do you think it's more likely he will convert to guard and challenge for Nesbit's job at left guard?

[ZN0rseman]

Shinacoe, with an e, needs to step up. Even though he has Tarvaris Jackson as his QB, he could do better than 27 catches and 1 TD.

Yeah, I have all of the Vikings 2008 games on DVD and I've rewatched them all since the end of the season. Like all of the Viking's receivers, Shinacoe was forced to make some insane adjustments on almost all of the passes thrown his way... his drops were mostly ones that hit his fingertips, after he made a crazy adjustment trying to make a miracle catch on a bad throw from Tarvaris Jackson. However, with Brooks Bollinger at QB, he was money catching the ball every time.

Still, the things fans remember were the couple of passes that were good throws which he dropped for no apparent reason. I just had to shake my head at those. I wonder if he just got so used to having to make crazy acrobatic catches with Jackson throwing the ball, that on the rare occasions that Jackson threw the ball accuractly, he didn't know how to react?

[SoChillLax]

I mean, I don't think he sucks, i actually think he's pretty talented. He just needs to live up to his contract.

But yeah, his longest catch was a 79-yard end-around pass thrown by Sidney Rice. Maybe Sidney Rice could play some QB. Perhaps Shinacoe will get better looks from Frerotte or JDB.

[EL Guapo]

Matt, you left out your boy Steve Johnson.

Giant fans laughed at the Shinacoe contract. Vinsanity.

[ZN0rseman]

Pretty good read all around Matt, I would have liked to have seen a couple more players in that list, but it was pretty darn good nonetheless.

The only flaw I saw was the one you keep sticking to your guns on, Andre Woodson. I take issue with this comment...

I've never seen one player fall in the draft so far for one technical flaw.

Was that 'one technical flaw' his atrocious throwing motion, or his horrible performance at the senior bowl, or his terrible showing at his Pro Day workout, or his complete lack of participation in the NFL combine, or the 6 he scored on the Wonderlic test?

Sorry, just had to go there. Other than that, it was a great read. Keep up the fantastic work dude, one of these days it's going to pay off.

1 cent + 2 half pennies,

--Z

[Joey_Potter]

Nice list.

[DraftKidWonder]

Pretty good read all around Matt, I would have liked to have seen a couple more players in that list, but it was pretty darn good nonetheless.

The only flaw I saw was the one you keep sticking to your guns on, Andre Woodson. I take issue with this comment...


Was that 'one technical flaw' his atrocious throwing motion, or his horrible performance at the senior bowl, or his terrible showing at his Pro Day workout, or his complete lack of participation in the NFL combine, or the 6 he scored on the Wonderlic test?

Sorry, just had to go there. Other than that, it was a great read. Keep up the fantastic work dude, one of these days it's going to pay off.

1 cent + 2 half pennies,

--Z

Wrong. Andre did great at his Pro Day, showing that starting the ball out lower in his dropback than high sped up his throw.

One reason he was terrible at the Senior Bowl Week (Along with Erik Ainge and Colt Brennan) was because Mike Martz was an idiot for giving them half of his playbook which is the normal size for other OC's.

The second reason was Kory Lichtensteiger (a sleeper on his list). He wasn't strong enough to handle the North's D-Line. He's fit for a ZBS but overall if he can't handle a senior college D-Line (exception of Sed Ellis) how can he in the NFL?

[ZN0rseman]

Wrong. Andre did great at his Pro Day, showing that starting the ball out lower in his dropback than high sped up his throw.

QB Woodson 'terrible' in Pro-Day workout
Entering the '07 season, Kentucky quarterback Andre' Woodson was viewed by most as a likely first-round pick who could challenge to be the No. 1 quarterback drafted. Despite showing improvement as a senior, his play the week of the Senior Bowl significantly damaged his draft stock and knocked him into the middle rounds.

Woodson chose not to workout at the NFL Combine and put all his faith in his on-campus workout with other Kentucky prospects. The plan backfired when Woodson did not perform well at UK's on-campus workout March 5.

According to scouts in attendance, Woodson was extremely disappointing -- the word "terrible" was used -- and pushed him further down draft boards all around the league.

We never were enamored with Woodson; we rated him as fourth-round prospect entering the '07 season and now view him as a sixth- or seventh-round pick. However, some desperate team probably will grab him in the fourth or fifth round because of his size, arm strength and intangibles.