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FOR USE AS DESIRED YOUNG PLAYERS EXCEL AS KICKOFF ’04 NEARS After starring on Saturdays in their college careers, NFL rookies have one more week of preseason action this Thursday and Friday to prove they are ready for the rigors of the regular season. “They’ve been through tough days in college, but not like they’re going to experience in the NFL,” says Kansas City Chiefs head coach DICK VERMEIL in describing the adjustment from college football to the NFL. “First off, they’re fighting for a way to make a living rather than keeping their scholarship. It’s different.” Last year, an impressive number of rookies successfully made the transition. The Arizona Cardinals’ ANQUAN BOLDIN established a lofty standard for rookie wide receivers, finishing the season with 101 receptions, the most ever by a rookie. Houston Texans teammates ANDRE JOHNSON and DOMANICK DAVIS made their presence felt, with Johnson totaling 976 yards receiving and Davis rushing for a 2003 rookie-best 1,031 yards. In Baltimore, linebacker TERRELL SUGGS wreaked havoc on quarterbacks, finishing with a team rookie-record 12.0 sacks. Those were among the rookie standouts of 2003. Here are 2004 rookies who have made a mark this summer and show high promise of continuing to do so in the regular season: SPARKPLUGS ON OFFENSE: The Detroit Lions are hoping a pair of first-round draft choices can add to a youthful offensive corps that has fans in the Motor City revved up for an exciting season. Running back KEVIN JONES was selected with the 30th pick overall this year after a standout career at Virginia Tech, where he rushed for 1,647 yards and 21 touchdowns last season. Displaying a tough running style to accompany his blazing speed, Jones impressed the Lions enough that the club traded up on draft day to select him. After missing time early in training camp with a hamstring injury, Jones saw his first action of the preseason on August 21 against Cleveland and was impressive, carrying six times for 29 yards. He followed that up with a seven-carry, 36-yard effort last Saturday against Baltimore. “If Kevin can continue to run like this, I think he’ll be terrific,” says Lions quarterback JOEY HARRINGTON, who himself enters only his third NFL season. To aid their passing attack, the Lions this year used the No. 7 overall selection to acquire Texas speedster ROY WILLIAMS, who shattered Longhorn career records with 241 receptions for 3,866 yards and 36 touchdowns. Williams, who posted three receptions for 40 yards against the Ravens, aims to form a youthful – and potent – one-two punch with last year’s first-rounder, CHARLES ROGERS. “The sky is the limit for our offense,” says Rogers. YOUNG JETS LIFTING OFF: Fresh parts are being installed into the New York Jets’ defensive engines, most notably safety ERIK COLEMAN and linebacker JONATHAN VILMA. Both rookies have produced on the practice fields and under preseason lights this summer and appear to be impact players as Kickoff Weekend nears. Coleman, a fifth-round selection from Washington State, has maximized his opportunities in preseason and may earn himself a starting job. According to Jets head coach HERMAN EDWARDS, Coleman is “always around the ball,” which helps explain his seven interceptions as a senior last season with the Cougars. “He is a really good player and he's out there doing well,” says veteran Jets safety REGGIE TONGUE of Coleman. “He's way ahead of where I was my first year – way ahead.” Vilma, selected 12th overall out of Miami, has shown the type of instinctive inside linebacker play that the Green & White anticipated. “He’s a flashy guy,” says Edwards of the 6-1, 230-pound Vilma. “He’s one of those players who, after every play, you look around and it’s number 51 again -- he’s made another play.” SAFETIES FIRST: Safety SEAN TAYLOR wasted little time in displaying the ability that led the Washington Redskins to select him in the first round out of Miami (No. 5 overall) in April’s draft. In the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio on August 9, Taylor helped head coach JOE GIBBS return to the sidelines with a victory. The rookie intercepted two passes, returning one for a touchdown in a 20-17 win over Denver. Five days later against Carolina, Taylor forced a fumble. He made his first start against Miami on August 21, continuing his hard-hitting ways by again forcing a fumble. Taylor leads the NFL with three interceptions this preseason. “Sean covers a lot of ground and he’s a playmaker,” says Gibbs. “We’re really pleased with him and we think we have ourselves a good one back there.” Meanwhile in Cincinnati, the road to the NFL was 4,850 miles long with an ocean in the middle of it for the Bengals’ second of two second-round selections, safety MADIEU WILLIAMS. Born in Sierra Leone, West Africa and arriving in the United States at age nine, Williams – whose first name is pronounced “muh-DEE-oo” – has impressed coaches and veteran teammates alike. The former Maryland Terrapin has performed well at safety and at the slot cornerback position on passing downs. Head coach MARVIN LEWIS and the Bengals’ coaching staff got to know Williams at the Senior Bowl when they coached the South team. Williams played for the North. “He has a ton of talent,” says Bengals defensive coordinator LESLIE FRAZIER. “We like his versatility. He’s a playmaker. He’s intelligent.” Veteran Cincinnati safety KEVIN KAESVIHARN agrees with his coach. “Madieu is quick enough to be a corner and has the size (6-1, 193) to be a safety,” says Kaesviharn. “He’s learning so many positions. He looks just as fast and quick in pads as he did without them.” STRONG ON DEFENSE: The Texans’ JASON BABIN of Western Michigan (No. 27 overall) was the first 2004 first-round draft choice to sign a contract. That early start has helped him make an impact in Houston. Babin ran his own underground sprinkler company during college and plans on throwing water on opposing offenses for years to come. While making the adjustment from his collegiate position of defensive end to outside linebacker in the Texans’ 3-4 base defense, the former Michigan high school state wrestling champion has registered a sack, a forced fumble and caused an intentional grounding penalty in preseason play. “I spend a lot more time in the film room now because it's my job, it's my livelihood,” says Babin. “I have to do whatever I can to stay ahead.” In New Orleans, rookie defensive end WILL SMITH of the Saints aspires to work for the FBI when his playing days are over. But for now, the first-round choice from Ohio State (No. 18 overall) is content to solve the riddle of opposing offenses. He is off to a flying start in the category. “Will already is the consummate player,” says Saints defensive line coach JOHN PEASE. “He looks like a five-year veteran. Right now, he’s probably where most normal guys are at the end of their first year.” Smith posted a sack against the Jets on August 13 in his first taste of NFL action and followed that up with a solid outing against Green Bay that included pressuring BRETT FAVRE, batting down a pass, and stopping running back NAJEH DAVENPORT for a one-yard loss. “Will is very smart and gives you a big effort,” adds Pease. “Most coaches can tell you they can coach a good athlete if he’s smart, and Will is definitely very bright.” # # #
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