The 2009-2010 season has begun and my weekly rookie of the week is back. We had a lot of great performances this week, from quarterbacks and wide receivers especially. So, without further delay here is All Day Football's fifth Rookie of the Week of the season.
Matty's Rookie of the Week
Austin Collie 6' 200 lbs. Brigham Young 4th round pick, 127th overall 8 receptions for 97 yards and 2 TDs
Austin Collie erupted against a subpar Tennessee Titan defense and really has become one of Peyton Manning`s go to guys with Anthony Gonzalez on the injury report still. Collie is a great route runner and although his speed isn`t as great as it could be he makes up for it with solid quickness in and out of his routes and an incredible football IQ that allows him to be on the same page as Peyton Manning. The Colts offense remains a juggernaut and with a couple young guys like Collie and Garcon stepping up, there is no doubt that so long as Peyton is under center, they will continue to roll.
Runner Ups:
Offense
Knowshon Moreno
5'11" 210 lbs.
Georgia
1st round selection, 12th overall
21 rushes, 88 yards and 4 receptions for 36 yards
Defense
Aaron Curry
6'2" 254 lbs.
Wake Forest
1st round selection, 4th overall
10 tackles, 1 sack, FF
Be sure to check back next week for the Week 6 ROTW!
Hey folks, the Super Bowl is a long forgotten memory and next season is looming larger in the future which means that it's time to focus on the next big event and that is the all powerful and mighty NFL Entry Draft! The Draft has the ability to take a team from the bottom of the barrel and turn them into a playoff caliber team (ex. Dolphins and Falcons). So, without further delay, I bring you the player who ranked number 1... this is the moment you've been waiting for people!
Great size, speed and measurables. An extremely strong and physical presence at the linebacker position, he takes on offensive linemen with the greatest of ease and will run them over, run around them or stack and shed them as he has the ability to do any of those. Plays with great intelligence and poise and commits to what he sees showing raw aggression. He is about as sure a tackler as there is, doesn't always go for the big hit but can lay the wood when an opposing player is in his sight. Plays sideline to sideline and keeps everything in front of him, sifts through trash well and despite his limited pass rush variety he is solid on the blitz and when rushing the passer. In coverage, almost second to none, he is comfortable in space and has great ball skills and even knows what to do with the ball once it is in his hands as he has three INT return touchdowns in his career. He's been amazingly productive and durable his entire college tenure, he works hard, he studies harder and he leads his team with intensity and ferocity. Potentially, is the next Ray Lewis.
Weaknesses:
Curry has very few weaknesses, he can be considered over aggressive at times. He also has tighter hips then scouts would like and a limited pass rush variety.
Overall:
The best defensive player in the draft and fits in absolutely any scheme. He'll be a SLB in a 4-3 or a MLB in a 4-3, he could also be an ILB in a 3-4 and some think he could even project outside as 3-4 OLB. The sky is the limit for this prospect and he is easily the best, safest and most pro ready of all the players in this draft class. Defensive Rookie of the Year, almost guaranteed.
Projected NFL Destination:
With the 2nd pick in the NFL Draft the St. Louis Rams select...
There it is folks! Prospect #1, hope you enjoyed reading my Countdown as much as I did writing it.
"When Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry heard the news Saturday about the Lions' trade for Seattle linebacker Julian Peterson, he perked up and began discussing the prospect of playing next to the five-time Pro Bowler.
Curry, who played on the strong side in college, is scheduled to arrive in Detroit today for a visit and a workout with the Lions as the team's potential No. 1 pick in next month's NFL draft. Peterson also plays on the strong side, but Curry said he would relish the chance to play in the middle, or the so-called Mike position."
This trade still does not rule out Aaron Curry as the number one pick to the Lions as their linebackers were arguably worst among the lead and the area that needed the biggest overhaul and with Julian Peterson on the strong side, Ernie Sims on the weak side and Aaron Curry patrolling the middle, the Lions defensive front seven might be perked up just by their appearance and high intensity play. Julian Peterson is a great blitzer, much better then Curry and knows how to bring down the quarterback so it definitely rules out Brian Orakpo as #1 overall.
However, the trade of Redding does bring Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji into the discussion for the number one selection among Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford, Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith, Virginia offensive tackle Eugene Monroe and the aforementioned Curry. Should be interesting to see and we'll probably have a better guage of what the Lions plan to do with the number one selection after Curry's work out.
"Aaron Curry is a marked man, and the Butkus Award-winning linebacker from Wake Forest was more than happy to give a tour of his tattoos at the NFL scouting combine last month.
There's the barcode on his left shoulder for his favorite candy -- Jujubes. There are the names of his brothers -- Christopher and Brandon -- on each wrist. There's the one on his right shoulder that says "Property of Chris Curry," with an open spot that was reserved for a picture of his mother.
"She told me she'd beat me if I did," Curry said.
When the laughter subsided, he added, "I have tattoos all over that represent myself and my family because they mean the world to me."
But Curry also is marked in a less literal sense.
He is not only projected to be a top-five pick in the April draft, Curry is rated by most to be the safest selection this year.
"I believe a 'safe pick' means I can come in instantly and make an impact on anybody's defense," he said. "And my versatility as a linebacker to be able to play in a 3-4 -- inside or outside, or a 4-3 -- inside or outside.
"You just can't go wrong."
Even if that defense belongs to the Seahawks, who hold the No. 4 pick but already have invested so much in their trio of starting linebackers?
"That's a good question," coach Jim Mora said, smiling. "We're pretty set there. But he's a pretty special player. We'll see what happens."
What many are expecting to happen is that Curry will not get past the Kansas City Chiefs, who have the No. 3 selection. Some even believe it would be prudent for the Detroit Lions to draft Curry with the first pick.
But the Seahawks need to be ready for that just-in-case scenario and will be, as club president Tim Ruskell has said. They have scheduled a private workout with Curry this month."
Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry, whose Scouting Combine performance last month sparked talk that he could be the first overall pick in the draft, will visit with the Lions on Sunday, according to the Detroit Free Press.
“There’s a lot of pressure of being a No. 1 pick, and he’s definitely got the character and the ability to be able to handle that pressure,” agent Andy Ross told Carlos Monarrez of the Free Press.
The Lions have also hosted Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford and Baylor offensive tackle Jason Smith, both of whom could be the first overall pick.
And if the Lions play this the right way (then again, based on their history . . . .), they’ll play those three guys — and maybe a few others — against each other in the hopes of getting the one they really want under contract before exercising the first overall pick.
Austin Collie
