Ear To The Ground (Special Preseason Edition)

Posted 8/28 by Bob Magaw, Exclusive to Footballguys.com

"The cosmos speaks in patterns" - Roger von Oech (paraphrase of Heraclitus)

"Luck is the residue of design" - Branch Rickey (Brooklyn Dodgers GM - integrated baseball)

"Winning is our business" - Bill Parcells (Ex-Giants/Patriots/Jets/Cowboys HC and future HoFer)

The subject matter of ETTG is IDP with an emphasis on Dynasty leagues. Ear To The Ground was chosen for this column's title to convey a sense of detecting rumblings in the distance... an ability essential to project a prospect from college to pro and rookie to veteran. It will consist of three sections: Team Reports (Watchlist), a Defensive Rookie of the Year Meter and an In-depth Profile. The emphasis here will be on the impact positions of LB, DE and S... exceptional DTs and CBs will be noted for leagues that differentiate DE/DT and S/CB. Dynasty content is geared towards youth. Like most successful working rosters that employ a blend of production and potential, there will be a balance of rookie and veteran coverage in the mix. While by the nature of much IDP coverage new names will bubble up to the surface from week to week, ETTG will try to identify key players early on and provide a synoptic overview for the whole season as it unfolds.

Team Reports (Watchlist)

ARIZONA CARDINALS

MVP - Adrian Wilson... may be the best safety in the game. He IS the best blitzing DB in the NFL, and augments that with massive tackle numbers in run support and the occasional big play in the passing game.

Bust - Antrel Rolle - As camp was about to break came the news that he may have been pushed to a backup role by ex-Eagle free agent CB Rod Hood.

Breakout - Karlos Dansby... moves from 4-3 SLB to 3-4 ILB. If he can make the transition smoothly, has Pro Bowl talent and top 20-30 upside in IDP leagues.

Upside - Bertrand Berry... when healthy he is an elite pass rusher. Just a few years removed from a Pro Bowl campaign in '04. The conversion to 3-4 OLB could suit this overgrown former collegiate LB well.

ATLANTA FALCONS

MVP - Keith Brooking... moves back to MLB after free agent bust Edgerton Hartwell was released.

Bust - John Abraham... elite talent that can't seem to stay healthy.

Breakout - Demorrio Williams is back sooner than expected from an offseason injury, and the path to starting WLB has been cleared with Brooking shunted back to the inside.

Upside - Jamaal Anderson... the consensus second best DE in the class of '07, after Gaines Adams.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

MVP - Ray Lewis... like Derrick Brooks at WLB, the preeminent MLB of his generation and probable first ballot HOFer. Not as dominant as he was just a few year ago, but still better than 95% of the LBs in the league. Changed his workout regimen and claims he is faster and stronger than he can remember, which, if true, is an ominous development for the league's skill position players. Could still play at a high level for a few more seasons.

Bust - Ed Reed... the former league Defensive MVP is the poster boy for the maxim that being a great football player doesn't necessarily translate to being a potent IDP weapon. Doesn't get many leftover tackles behind Lewis and up 'n coming Bart Scott. Hasn't made enough big plays (INTs, sacks, FFs and TDs) recently to compensate. There have been rumblings that the coaching staff is attempting to reign in his freelancing and gambling tendencies.

Breakout - Haloti Ngata... while he won't be an IDP mainstay, he has the raw power, physical ability and athleticism for a big man to quickly emerge as one of the most dominant NTs in the game, and will make his teammates around him better.

Upside - Dawan Landry... playing deep patrol on a team near the top of league in scoring differential and sacks bodes well for this ascendant talent and emerging playmaker.

BUFFALO BILLS

MVP - Aaron Schobel... has quietly emerged as one of the best DEs in the game. He is reportedly set to become one of the highest paid defensive players in the game, a well deserved honor.

Bust - Anthony Hargrove... was at best a situational player in a rotation with Chris Kelsay, but he continues to have off the field problems that surfaced at Georgia Tech and with the St. Louis Rams. May not be long for the league.

Breakout - Donte Whitner... was one of the top rookie DBs from the class of '06. This early entry (came out as a junior) phenom should only get better after a year of getting acclimated to the speed of the pro game. A solid open field tackler (an Ohio State tradition - see Antoine Winfield and Nate Clements) with the ball skills and instincts in coverage to make more plays in the passing game. Could have more opportunities with the departure of veteran stalwarts London Fletcher-Baker, Takeo Spikes and Clements.

Upside - Paul Poluszny... won't be handed the starting MLB job, but it would be a shocker if he wasn't ensconced in the middle quickly. Answered questions about his knee injury by returning to his early Penn State form towards the end of the '06 season, as well as flashing some explosiveness at the Combine. Some scouts thought he was the best Nittany Lion LB in school history. Reminds the Bills ownership and front office of ex-BUF LB great Shane Conlan. An early co-favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

MVP - Julius Peppers... one of the top physical specimens and athletes in the NFL at any position (former sixth man on a good North Carolina basketball team). Already one of the most dominant DEs in the NFL and has room to get even better.

Bust - Dan Morgan... his noggin is as fragile as a hummingbird egg. Over/under on games played is probably somewhere around 10 games, but if he suffers another concussion it could be a career ender.

Breakout - Richard Marshall... he already broke out last year. Reportedly outplayed stud CB tandem Chris Gamble and Ken Lucas in an incendiary rookie season. Great open field tackler is also a playmaker with ball skills. If he picks up in '07 where he left off in '06, he will be impossible to keep off the field, and has top 20 DB potential.

Upside - Thomas Davis... a freakish talent at Georgia, his development and maturation as a pro has been somewhat muted, partly due to the coaching staff being unable to settle on a position for him as a rookie in '05 (Safety and LB). Last year he was inconsistent at SLB but started to assert himself more as the season wore on. Has the talent and pedigree to become one of the better SLBs in the game.

CHICAGO BEARS

MVP - Brian Urlacher... the perfect MLB in Lovie Smith's scheme. How many NFL LBs had the athleticism to play safety and return kicks in college, and can throw down a 360 dunk?

Bust - Adewale Ogunleye... another player with great talent that can't stay healthy. Making too much money to be retained if the pattern recurs.

Breakout - Mark Anderson... already broke out during a pleasantly surprising, stellar rookie debut. Could be positioned to do even more damage as the starter with Alex Brown seemingly on the outs with the organization. An ascendant player. The Bears got a steal, as his on field performance lived up to his elite measurables (he turned in one of the best workouts at his Combine at any position).

Upside - Adam Archuleta... has underwhelmed in recent years, first with back trouble in STL and than due to being miscast with coverage responsibilities in WAS. Has become a forgotten man after the abysmal lost season with the Redskins, but new HC and former DC with the Rams Smith knows how to best use his skills to put him in position to succeed. As an in-the-box safety, has few peers in the speed department. Could make a comeback with a vengeance.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

MVP - Justin Smith... but being the Bengals best defensive player is kind of like being the coolest person at a Dungeons and Dragons convention.

Bust - Ahmad Brooks... could just as easily be in the breakout category, but there have been rumblings that he continues to make assignment errors, and could be pushed hard by recent free agent pickup Ed Hartwell.

Breakout - Jonathan Joseph... flashed big time potential last season. Could be a sleeper in deeper, must start two CB leagues.

Upside - Leon Hall... may have been the best CB in the class of '07, with deference to Darrelle Revis. Deceptively fast, technically very advanced for a rookie and could be a hammer in run support, a much needed attribute in the Bengals secondary. May not start immediately, but it is inevitable.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

MVP - Andra Davis... an underrated ILB.

Sean Jones... broke out in '06, after blowing out his knee in '04 and a lackluster and wasted '05. Showed why he was drafted so highly once the light went on. Former prep QB is a supremely gifted athlete and has great ball skills, as well as being a force in run support.

Bust - Any CB that plays for the Browns should increase their medical coverage after being repeatedly snake-bitten by injury last year.

Breakout - Brodney Pool... has the pedigree, athleticism and talent to be a dual purpose playmaker at safety, with superior ball skills and run support ability. Ascends to the starting role with Brian Russell moving to the Seahawks.

Upside - D'Qwell Jackson... great instincts, intensity and passion for the game. Slightly undersized, but makes up for it with compensating factors.

DALLAS COWBOYS

MVP - DeMarcus Ware... while not quite as elite a talent as Merriman, will be put in a similar position and could have a similar impact in new HC Wade Phillips scheme. Capable of getting 12-15+ sacks.

Roy Williams... could this FINALLY be the year Williams is allowed to play his more natural position of an in-the-box safety (like his rookie season when he looked like a future HOFer), instead of being miscast and saddled with coverage responsibilities?

Bust - Bobby Carpenter... its going to be hard for him to crack the starting lineup, and he may be more of a situational and reserve player.

Breakout - Anthony Spencer... contingent on the health and status of Greg Ellis, he could be one of the top rookie defenders this year.

Upside - Ken Hamlin... the Cowboys look to have an explosive offense, which will put a lot of pressure on opponents. With Williams closer to the LOS (where he belongs), somebody will have to make plays in the deep patrol.

DENVER BRONCOS

MVP - Champ Bailey... one of the easiest choices of all 32 teams.

Bust - Dre Bly... will be picked on relentlessly by opponents playing opposite the peerless Bailey. Not the most physical player, he has a tendency to gamble too much.

Breakout - D.J. Williams... will fill the gaping void left by the release of long time heart and soul of the defense, Al Wilson. May take some time to acclimate to the new position, but has the elite pedigree, athleticism and talent to be a star in his new role.

Upside - Jarvis Moss... has some similarities to Jason Taylor, but it could take him a few years to put it all together.

DETROIT LIONS

MVP - Ernie Sims... along with fellow '06 top 10 overall pick A.J. Hawk, they could inherit the mantle from Derrick Brooks as the top WLBs of their generation.

Bust - Kalimba Edwards... a poster boy for perennial IDP teases and disappointments.

Breakout - Corey Redding... an average DE turned into a potential star DT. The Lions franchise player signed a monster contract in the offseason and could be primed to make a run at DD sacks. If he fulfills his potential, could ascend into the upper tier of the league's DT sack artists, with Kevin Williams and Rod Coleman.

Upside - Dewayne White... finally gets a shot from former Bucs coach Rod Marinelli. Had trouble cracking the starting lineup in TB, it is now his time to show what he can do with a full time gig. Could be vastly underrated.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

MVP - A.J. Hawk... was as good as advertised, and should quickly become one of the top WLBs, overall LBs and defensive players in the game.

Bust - Abdul Hodge... just last season was thought to be a potential threat to incumbent Nick Barnett's MLB job (with Barnett shunted to SLB). Recent reports of knee tendonitis and that he may not even be a lock to make the team were surprising developments.

Breakout - Cullen Jenkins made a nice bookend to Aaron Kampman, and has supplanted KGB in the starting lineup. Could be a nice sleeper in deeper leagues.

Upside - Aaron Rouse... looks the part of SS of the future.

HOUSTON TEXANS

MVP - DeMeco Ryans... another one of the easiest choices of all 32 teams.

Bust - Amobi Okoye... very well could be good one, but as the youngest drafted player since the merger (he is about the same age as some redshirt college FRESHMEN!), and at a position where physical maturity and strength is at a premium, it wouldn't be a surprise if he doesn't make a massive impact for a few years.

Breakout - Mario Williams... his career will always be measured against the parallel career unfolding of Reggie Bush, but that is perhaps an unfair comparison. It will be enough if he becomes a great DE. While the jury is still obviously out, he was hobbled last season by foot injuries and reportedly has looked like a new player this offseason

Upside - Dunta Robinson... could elevate his game with an upgraded supporting cast. Had a very promising rookie season, is one of the best tackling CBs in the NFL, and has the ball skills and playmaking ability of a former safety.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

MVP - Bob Sanders... Freeney would have been a lock for this position until turning in a disappointing '06 season... his massive contract extension notwithstanding, and despite Sanders difficulty remaining in the lineup, last season's Super Bowl run proved who their most important defensive playmaker is.

Bust - Dwight Freeney (see above)

Breakout - Freddie Keiaho... inherits the position that made stars out of Mike Peterson, David Thornton and Cato June. If he is as good as advertised, has top 20 potential.

Upside - Marlin Jackson... a blue chip prep and collegiate resume, he was slow to acclimate to the pro game, but his development couldn't have been better timed, with the departure of starting CBs Nick Harper and Jason David. A superb open field tackler with deceptive speed and ball skills, he has the athleticism, versatility and well rounded game to play CB or safety at a high level in the NFL, as he did at Michigan.

Antoine Bethea... was a revelation at safety as an unheralded second day rookie. Seemingly came from nowhere to turn in one of the best performances for a rookie DB during the '06 season. His steady, veteran-like presence and lack of mistakes was quietly one of the key stories in the Colts improbable ascendancy to the Super Bowl (given their myriad defensive problems elsewhere).

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

MVP - Jared Allen... already one of the top DEs in the game, his owners got a boost when they learned his four game suspension was shortened to two contests by the at times "Draconian" disciplinarian NFL commish.

Bust - Napoleon Harris... could be serviceable, but his play has not lived up to his former first round draft status. Just a guy.

Breakout - Derrick Johnson... has the pedigree, physical ability and incendiary talent to emerge as one of the top SLBs in the game. An ascendant player.

Upside - Bernard Pollard... looks the part of a monstrous run stuffing SS, as long as he can avoid being too big a liability in coverage.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

MVP - Will Smith... emerging as one of the better young DEs in the game, and it may not be necessary to use the "young" qualifier much longer.

Bust - Marc Simoneau (see below in upside section)

Breakout - Roman Harper... flashed outstanding potential as a rookie last season before going down with a season-ending knee injury. Has made a nice recovery in the offseason and has recaptured his starting SS job. If he is all the way back, BIG UPSIDE.

Upside - Brian Simmons... not a pup anymore, but if he can stay healthy should be an athletic upgrade over the steady but nondescript Marc Simoneau, Could give the Saints average defense a talent boost.

NEW YORK JETS

MVP - Kerry Rhodes... was robbed of a Pro Bowl berth last season, he is already being mentioned in the same breath as some of the top young safeties in the game (i.e. - Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed and Adrian Wilson).

Bust - Erik Coleman... not a lock to finish the season as a starter, and his job could be vulnerable to Eric Smith.

Breakout - Jonathan Vilma... the leading tackler in the NFL as recently as '05, he struggled with the transition from 4-3 MLB to 3-4 ILB. Too smart and too good a work ethic to not be better in his second season. Could rebound in a big way.

Upside - Darrelle Revis... plays big in run support and is an elite playmaker with ball skills in coverage, has the dangerous open field running ability of a punt returner once the ball is in his hands. Unsurprisingly, he is already running with the first team.

David Harris... expected to ascend to a starting spot quickly, and could be a more prototypical ILB than Vilma, with superior size and tackle shedding ability. Outstanding instincts for the inside, and the deceptive athleticism and range to get to the sideline. Could be a monster in Mangini's defense.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

MVP - Kirk Morrison... could step up and become one of the top LBs in the game as soon as... immediately.

Bust - Stuart Schweigert... could be vulnerable (or at least have his numbers impacted) with the signing of former Jaguar SS Donovin Darius.

Breakout - Quentin Moses... as long time respected FBG IDP board contributor WhoDat was one of the first to champion, at one time earlier in his collegiate career he graded out as the #1 overall prospect by the prestigious BLESTO scouting service, before the wheels came off his final season. Already pushing for a starting job, impressive for a rookie DL.

Upside - Thomas Howard... an elite athlete, the instincts of this coach's son and pro readiness for a small school prospect were better than advertised.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

MVP - Brian Dawkins continues to avoid the fate of Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor and Jeremiah Trotter (The City of Brotherly Love is not where aging veterans go to retire, but to be traded or cut), other respected PHI institutions on defense that were unceremoniously dumped. The ageless wonder had one of his most productive seasons ever statistically, and showed no signs that "hitting the wall" is immanent.

Bust - Jevon Kearse... he has reportedly been slow to recover from his knee injury last season. It must be interpreted as a positive sign that the Eagles didn't release him already, but expectations should be tempered.

Breakout - Omar Gaither... inherits the MLB role opened up with the release of Trotter.

Sean Considine... took over for the demoted Michael Lewis in-season in '06, with mixed results. He has bulked up in the offseason in preparation for the rigors of the full-time starting gig. Lewis put up monster numbers in this spot just a few years ago.

Upside - Takeo Spikes... somewhat of a forgotten man after an off year following his '05 Achilles tendon rupture. Until recently one of the top WLBs in the game, he has reportedly regained his burst and explosiveness. Don't get caught sleeping on this important development.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

MVP - Troy Polamalu... has arguably supplanted Ed Reed as the top safety in the game. A headache for offensive coordinators, he is allowed to roam all over the field and is an extremely disruptive presence, on blitzes, flying all over the field in run support wherever his instincts lead him, and in coverage. When he gets the ball in his hands, always a threat to take it to the house, and probably has among the best open/broken field running skills in league history for a defensive player.

Bust - Lawrence Timmons... should be a good and possibly great one eventually (see DROY meter honorable mention below), but this probably won't be his year.

Breakout - Ike Taylor... has flashed big time athleticism in the past, but seemed to lose some confidence and regress last year. New HC Mike Tomlin has made it a personal project to restore him to his former level, when he was looking like an ascendant player and emerging star.

Upside - Anthony Smith... the second year talent is still running second on the depth chart somewhat unexpectedly to Ryan Clark, but he looked too good in limited action late last year to keep off the field for long. The rare safety with the multifaceted array of skills and well-rounded game to be a force in run support and be a playmaker in the passing game. Chris Hope put up good numbers at the safety position opposite Polamalu a few seasons ago.

ST. LOUIS RAMS

MVP - Leonard Little... simply one of the top 5 DEs in the NFL when at the top of his game (especially with the eroding skills of Michael Strahan and Simeon Rice). If the infusion of talent on the DL in '07 in the form of rookie DT Adam Carriker and vet free agent James Hall are as good as advertised, he has a realistic shot at finishing the season as the #1 DL overall.

Will Witherspoon... with hoped for improvements on the DL, and in year two in the middle of DC Jim Haslett's scheme, Spoon has top 5-10 upside.

Bust - Fakhir Brown... subject to appeal, it looks like he will miss the first four games of the '07 season. Third round pick Jonathan Wade looks like a keeper (if paired with Tye Hill, could comprise the fastest CB tandem in the NFL, and one of the fastest in league history), and has the speed, athleticism and talent to push Brown to nickel CB as soon as next season.

Breakout - Claude Wroten... didn't make a big contribution in his rookie season (not a huge surprise for a young DL), but worked hard in the offseason and reportedly had an outstanding training camp. He could spell the aging La'Roi Glover often. Great penetration skills for a big man, but needs to work on his run contain chops. Could be a sleeper in bigger, must start DT leagues.

Tye Hill... clearly one of the top rookie DBs in '06, and there were indications that he was one of the Rams most improved players in the offseason workouts. Blazing speed (one of the fastest players at any position in his draft class), natural athleticism, coverage instincts and ball skills, and the massive upside of a former skill position player who has just played the CB position for a few years.

Upside - Pisa Tinoisamoa... last year was a nightmarish year in which he was hag-ridden by injury pretty much the entire season. IF he can stay healthy (he is a much stronger 240 after being able to work out following offseason shoulder surgery, after being a self-proclaimed "soft" 235 in '06), a return to form is in order for this playmaker who led the Rams in tackles from '03-'05.

Oshiomogho Atogwe... at times takes questionable angles in run support, and still learning the ropes in coverage. He did show steady improvement during the season, and for a FS hits like an electric axe handle (5 FFs among the league leaders for DBs AND LBs).

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

MVP - Shawne Merriman... DUH! As if he needed an edge, has taken up boxing to enhance his stamina, endurance and hand technique to dispatch hapless blockers assigned to him. Could eclipse Michael Strahan's NFL season sack record. The rare 3-4 OLB with the sheer transcendent talent to overcome inherent scheme limitations, and surge into the top 5-10 IDP scorers in leagues with boosted big play scoring rewarding sacks.

Bust - Matt Wilhelm... probably won't be a catastrophic bust, but Donnie Edwards was one of the most consistently productive LBs in the NFL in recent seasons, and also one of the premier athletes for his position. Plugging him in and getting comparable production may be a stretch, and owners expecting this could be in for a disappointment.

Breakout - Shaun Phillips... as surreal as Merriman's numbers were last season, Phillips has at times flashed the potential to nearly match him in big play capability. He should rarely see double teams with offensive blocking schemes distracted heavily by the second coming of Lawrence Taylor.

Upside - Eric Weddle... SD paid a king's ransom to move up and snatch him off the board in the second round. The secondary has been about the only weakness in recent seasons during the Chargers ascent into the NFL stratosphere (along with a sketchy WR corps, but that is mitigated by the pass receiving skills of TE Antonio Gates and RB LaDainian Tomlinson, undoubtedly the top players in the league at their respective positions). May not start right away, but a gifted athlete literally all over the field at multiple position in college. Outstanding instincts and playmaking ability. Even if he doesn't start right out of the gate, it should just be a matter of time.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

MVP - Julian Peterson... regained his explosiveness from his torn Achilles last season, and is set to wreak even more havoc in backfields. The top SLB in the game and one of the premier athletes in the NFL at any position (Julius Peppers and Champ Bailey could also be included in this category).

Lofa Tatupu... not the greatest athlete, but near the top of the food chain when it comes to football smarts and instinctiveness. There are very few young MLBs as good as this former USC standout.

Bust - Michael Boulware... the signing of projected new starting safeties Deon Grant and Brian Russell was an indictment of the play of Boulware and the departed Ken Hamlin in recent seasons. His fall since a brilliant rookie debut has been as fast and precipitous as it was inexplicable.

Breakout - Daryll Tapp... underrated due to his smurf, munchkin-like height for a DE, but he has great strength, leverage, quickness and tenacity. Even if he doesn't start over Bryce Fisher opposite prized free agent DE Patrick Kerney, he will be heavily in the mix as a situational pass rusher. With development, could have DD sack potential.

Upside - Deon Grant... has been a good but not great player for JAX and CAR. With recent reports that he will unexpectedly play SS and Russell FS, move him up your boards accordingly.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

MVP - Nate Clements... while not in Champ Bailey's class (who is?), despite his record breaking free agent contract, he is in the upper echelon of NFL CBs, and is a great two way defender, equally adept at stoning the run and shutting down the opposition's top WR in man coverage.

Bust - Manny Lawson... with a better surrounding talent and supporting cast, excuses are running out. While growing pains are always expected in the transition from college 4-3 DE to pro 3-4 OLB, his development has been slower than expected. If he doesn't turn it up a notch, the bust whispers will increase in volume.

Breakout - Michael Lewis... Lewis already broke out of course in PHI, but he just as quickly fell from grace over coverage concerns, and needs to prove and reestablish himself all over again. Just a few years removed from being one of the top young, up 'n coming safeties in the game, and still just 27.

Upside - Patrick Willis... some are concerned about being in a 3-4, but he is such a physical specimen and freakish athlete that he should be able to transcend any supposed scheme limitations (if this is even a valid concern, presciently alluded to by FBG IDP staffer Jene Bramel). He was even better than advertised in the preseason if possible, and was named the starter as expected, as camp broke. Definitely in the mix for Defensive ROY, with fellow highly drafted LBs Paul Poluszny and Jon Beason, elite safety prospect LaRon Landry and blue chip DE Gaines Adams. Should be one of the best players from the class of '07 at any position.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

MVP - Derrick Brooks... just as Ray Lewis has been the top MLB of his generation and one of the best ever at his position, Brooks has been the gold standard at WLB for a decade, and should be a first ballot HOFer. While he has probably lost a half step, he had it to lose, always played even faster due to his telepathic instincts, ability to navigate through traffic, innate sense of pursuit angles, closing burst and knack for finishing. Could play at a high level for another few years.

Ronde Barber... near perfect match of talent and scheme have made him one of the most consistently productive DBs in recent seasons. Has shown few signs of slowing down.

Bust - Cato June... may have been a product of Tony Dungy's system in IND, where everybody who has ever played at WLB has starred. He is almost certainly miscast at SLB, as was Ian Gold in his one season stint in '05. Those waiting for Brooks to fade into the sunset like a Western, may be closer to the middle of the third act than the fade out.

Jermaine Phillips... put up solid numbers among NFL safeties last season, but he also missed a lot tackles, didn't make a lot of big plays, and could be replaced by rookie Sabby Piscatelli sooner than later.

Breakout - Barrett Ruud... he has been groomed to take over in the middle for the since cut Shelton Quarles for a few years now. Keep an eye on ex-Eagle Jeremiah Trotter if he is signed by the Bucs, though.

Upside - Gaines Adams... physical specimen and tremendous athlete, the best pure pass rushing prospect from the class of '07, and he should play the run better in time. Young DL can take a year or two to develop, but he should be very good once coached up by the Bucs to be more technically sound. Great raw material for the positional coach to mold. Has the pedigree and talent to eventually be dominant.

TENNESSEE TITANS

MVP - Keith Bulluck... he has inherited the mantle from Derrick Brooks as the preeminent WLB in the game. Nuf sed.

Chris Hope gets honorable mention, as he is emerging as one of the top safeties in the game, after escaping the long shadow cast by Troy Polamalu in PIT.

Bust - Nick Harper flashed playmaking ability intermittently with division rival IND, but he seems to be nicked a lot, and he is not in a Cover Two defense like in IND, which generated a lot of tackles in run support due to its zone coverage scheme.

Breakout - Stephen Tulloch/Ryan Fowler... whoever wins the MLB battle will be a two down LB with Bulluck and David Thornton in the nickel package, but could still end up putting up serviceable stats, if the Titans defense is on the field a lot.

Upside - Michael Griffin - The first round ex-Longhorn may be a more natural safety, but has the requisite athleticism and versatility to make the switch outside. While he may not begin the season as the starter, in deeper, must start two CB leagues, he could be a pleasant surprise.

Former Colts WLB/SLB Thornton could also surprise, and was putting up fairly good numbers at SLB in his first year in TEN before being slowed by injury.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

MVP - Sean Taylor... could fulfill his potential as one of the most complete safeties in the game with the addition of fellow elite, blue chip, top 10 safety LaRon Landry. He was at one time among the all time FL state leaders for rushing TDs in a season.

This category could be a photo finish with new free agent MLB London Fletcher-Baker, who should be a big time upgrade and difference maker in the middle for the Redskins.

Bust - Marcus Washington was one of the top SLBs in the game (and one of the few capable of comparable scoring to all but the best MLBs and WLBs, despite the positional handicap), but he dropped to #59 among LBs in 14 games last season, and he already suffered a dislocated elbow in training camp. The former Colt turns 30 this year and could be entering the slow-burn phase of the downslope of his career.

Breakout - LaRon Landry... one of the highest graded safeties in the past decade. Gets to play the coveted SS role in the deep secondary, with Taylor expected to fill more of a center fielder role with his superior ball skills. Freakishly quick, powerful and explosive, he looked like he was playing at a different speed than the rest of the players on the field, and like a man among boys during a stellar collegiate stint at LSU.

Upside - Rocky McIntosh... some thought it was a reach when WAS traded up to snare the ex-Miami LB, and he has had his share of injuries in college and his brief NFL tenure, but the WLB job is his and he has reportedly looked outstanding in training camp.

Defensive Rookie of the Year Meter

Paul Poluszny, MLB, 2.02, Penn State (6'2" 230)
Patrick Willis, ILB, 1.11, Mississippi (6'1", 235)
LaRon Landry, SS, 1.06, LSU (6'2" 205)
Jon Beason, WLB/MLB, 1.25, Miami (6'0" 230)
Gaines Adams, DE, 1.04, Clemson (6'5" 260)
Anthony Spencer, OLB, 1.26, Purdue (6'2" 265)
Adam "The Hulk" Carriker, DT/DE, 1.13, Nebraska (6'6" 315)
David Harris, ILB, 2.15, Michigan (6'2" 240)
Jamaal Anderson, DE, 1.08, Arkansas (6'5" 280)
Darrelle Revis, CB, 1.14, Pittsburgh (5'11" 205)
Honorable Mention...

Lawrence Timmons - Big things were expected from this PIT first round OLB, but his progress has been slowed by nagging injuries, and it may be tough for him to make a big impact in 2007 (he may somewhat unexpectedly take a back seat this season to fellow rookie LaMarr Woodley). Longer term he could zoom near the top of his draft class if new HC Mike Tomlin returns to his roots and gradually implements more of a 4-3 front and base alignment, as some PIT observers suspect, and Timmons becomes ensconced at WLB.

IDP Spotlight

Adam Carriker, DT/DE, St. Louis Rams, 1.13 - '07 (?)

Positives

His greatest attribute might be his protean, Richard Seymour-like versatility to play any position on the DL. Extremely pro-ready game and encompassing skill set. Freakish combination of size (6'6" 300+), power (33 reps), speed (4.72) and agility (4.18 20 yd shuttle faster than fourth overall and top defensive draft pick Gaines Adams). Dominant performance at the Senior Bowl confirmed his blue chip status. Flashes the feet, quickness and agility of a much smaller defender. RELENTLESS motor, hustle and off the charts, "Hulk"-like intensity. Uses his hands well, keeps OL off his body and gets off blocks. Avoids the trash and rarely on the ground. Alert, keeps his head up, good field awareness and finds the ball. Resilient and durable. Has great passion for the game and the desire, work ethic and will to prepare of the great ones. Weight room junky. A smart player who is a student of the game (honor roll student as prep and in college) and technically advanced. Got better every year. A grounded person possessing maturity beyond his years. Ultra-solid character and intangibles. Consummate team player willing to do whatever it takes to help his team win, even if that means tying up blockers so his teammates such as LBs Will Witherspoon and Pisa Tinoisamoa are freed up to make more plays. The kind of player with the charismatic locker room presence and contagious field effort that makes others around him better. Has some old school traits which have already endeared him to the STL front office, coaching staff and players, and should quickly do so to Rams fans. A full recounting of all his superlatives would exceed the scope of this synoptic overview.

Negatives

Not many. Isn't a blazer for a collegiate DE. Doesn't have a lot of experience working at DT, and it may be asking a lot from the Rams coaching staff to expect him to make the positional conversion seamlessly without some growing pains. May be more of a prototypical 3-4 DE, and a tweener in the STL 4-3 scheme (SF reportedly had keen interest and might have taken Carriker if similarly highly regarded defensive prospect Patrick Willis had been off the board at 1.11). Some scouts, while acknowledging that he had one of the higher floors in the class of '07, might be close to maxed out on his ability, about as good as he is going to get, and without a lot of upside (not a consensus opinion, for the record).

Outlook

STL is desperately in need of help on the inside after repeatedly misfiring on first round DTs. Damione Lewis (1.12 - '01) is currently a reserve in Carolina, Ryan "Big Grease" Pickett (1.29 - '01... actually a functional starter the front office failed to retain) is starting in Green Bay and bust-tacular/tastic Jimmy Kennedy (1.12 - '03) is now in Denver... at least the Lions now sport the otherwordly tandem of Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams to show for their positional scouting misadventures at WR. Carriker lined up almost exclusively on the outside at Nebraska, but many scouts find the projection to NFL DT straightforward (one of the biggest reasons he graded out so highly was his versatility, well rounded skill set and complete game). He is expected to eventually bulk up to about 315 to better handle the rigors of playing inside. The hope is that he will create mismatches on the inside with his unusual quickness and superior athleticism. Though DT isn't a sexy position and his contribution may not be high profile or manifest itself in the obvious, tangible form of massive box score numbers, could have one of the biggest impacts of any rookie from the class of '07, on either side of the ball. Legacy to a bygone era, the Rams hope he evokes memories of Merlin Olsen and the days of the Fearsome Foursome.

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