Forte- 2nd best rookie?

[Ed Hochuli 3:16]

10. Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina. Coach John Fox loves the power running game, and Stewart is his kind of guy. At 5-10, 235 pounds, Stewart is a dynamo who excels in short-yardage and goal line situations. The second running back selected in the draft (after Oakland took Darren McFadden), Stewart has rushed 96 times for 362 yards and five touchdowns.

 

9. Jake Long, OT, Miami. The No. 1 pick in the draft, Long is exactly what the Dolphins were looking for: a big, physical lineman who's a mauler in the running game. "He wants to dominate," said offensive line coach Mike Maser. "He brought that with him from Michigan, and I haven't done anything but continue to feed that attitude." As a pass blocker, Long has quick feet but needs to be more consistent with his hands.

 

8. Chris Horton, SS, Washington. From the beginning, this seventh rounder has stood out because of his instincts and knack for being around the ball. Horton is a physical player who is good in run support as well as coverage. He has 37 tackles, three interceptions and four pass defenses, and he makes a big play almost every game. Playing in place of former starter Reed Doughty, who has been hurt, Horton excels at playing close to the line, which allows free safety LaRon Landry to play the deep middle and cover a lot of ground.

 

7. DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia. After an awkward introduction on a national stage — he tossed the ball just before crossing the goal line in a Monday night game in Dallas — Jackson has emerged as playmaker for the Eagles. He leads the team with 32 catches, 505 yards and one touchdown (that one counted). His speed makes him an elusive target for defenses, whether he is running a go pattern down the sideline or taking a screen pass and turning upfield. Jackson also is averaging 11.2 yards on punt returns.

 

6. Jerod Mayo, ILB, New England. It's rare for a rookie linebacker to step in and play right away for the Patriots, but Mayo has been a nice fit in their scheme. Although he hasn't produced a lot of big plays, he has played consistently. Consider his game-by-game tackle totals: 6-7-12-2-7-8-6. He has good strength, uses his hands well and is instinctive. Most of all, he has earned the trust of the coaches and veteran teammates such as Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel.

 

5. Ryan Clady, OT, Denver. One of two rookie offensive tackles to start every game (Long is the other), the 6-6, 325-pound Clady is a perfect fit in the Broncos' zone-blocking scheme. He has a huge frame, long arms (37 inches) and moves his feet well. He hasn't allowed a sack despite going up against such pass rushers as Oakland's Derrick Burgess, San Diego's Shaun Phillips, New Orleans' Will Smith and New England's Richard Seymour and Adalius Thomas. Clady also is a good run blocker, as the numbers show. According to Stats Inc., the Broncos average 3.9 yards when they rush to the right, 3.9 yards when they run up the middle and 5.8 yards to the left — Clady's side.

 

4. Eddie Royal, WR, Denver. After he was underutilized as a receiver at Virginia Tech, some scouts thought Royal's role would be as a returner and third-down receiver. Instead, he has been the perfect complement to Broncos wideout Brandon Marshall. The explosive Royal has speed, change of direction and short-area quickness. He torched Oakland cornerback DeAngelo Hall in the season opener and then helped beat San Diego in the Ed Hochuli game by catching a late touchdown pass and the game-winning, 2-point conversion. Royal is the leading receiver among rookies (39 catches, 392 yards, 2 TDs) and has had nine receptions in three different games.

 

3. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta. The Falcons needed a new leader, a fresh face for the franchise, after the Michael Vick debacle — and Ryan has provided them one. He has put fannies back in the seats at the Georgia Dome, which was starting to sound like an echo chamber on game days. Few rookie quarterbacks have started for their teams since Day 1 and have played as well as Ryan has. He has completed 56.6 percent of his passes for 1,441 yards, 7 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Atlanta already has won as many games (four) as it did all last season.

 

2. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago. Asked whether Forte is as good as any rookie running back he's been around, Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner replied, "Better. He doesn't play like a rookie; he plays like a five-, six- seven-year vet." Forte can handle whatever type of run is called. He has the quickness and burst to get to the perimeter and is an instinctive runner with good vision inside. Forte is a double threat who has rushed 147 times for 515 yards and 4 touchdowns, and has caught 29 passes for 223 yards and 2 TDs. He just doesn't catch passes out of the backfield; he sometimes lines up wide and runs routes like a wide receiver.

 

1. Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee. Jeff Fisher never has had a player as explosive as Johnson. Once he hits the creases in the Titans' zone-blocking scheme, Johnson is a threat to go the distance. Eighteen of his 122 carries have gone for 10 or more yards — and he also is Tennessee's second-leading receiver (19 catches for 92 yards). Although his 4.24-second 40 was the fastest at the NFL Scouting Combine in 15 years, Johnson is a surprisingly rugged runner inside. He also picks up protections well, which is why the Titans often leave him on the field on third-down plays.

SportingNews thinks so.

[GrizzlyBear]

I have to agree with him being a player , But I have to question why C Johnson is ahead of him. He has no hands and can not block at all. Dont get these guys, It doesnt say the purest runner. It is talking about all around play.

[Guest TerraTor]

I have to agree with him being a player , But I have to question why C Johnson is ahead of him. He has no hands and can not block at all. Dont get these guys, It doesnt say the purest runner. It is talking about all around play.

 

We will see whos better next weekend.. tho we already know

[Boston Boxer]

We will see whos better next weekend.. tho we already know

 

i would say Johnson, Horton, Ryan, and Mayo (in no particular order) are all in front of Forte at this point. Forte has been nice for us, but he is not out performing those guys i mentioned.

[GrizzlyBear]

Boxer your wrong. IMO Forte is well ahead the pack just on his total play. Blocking, Recieveing, and running without a doubt its Fortes to take.