Flacco, Rice In The Top 20 Of Impact Rookies

[FerrariFan87]

Once again, the Wizard of Oz shows us why he is one of the greatest at his craft. Both Flacco and Rice have made major impacts this season, and now they are getting much-deserved recognition.

7. QB Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
He is an intriguing young player who is the quarterback of the future in Baltimore. Flacco has a very strong arm who can attack all three levels in the passing game. He is a mobile guy in the pocket that shows decent dimensions at the quarterback position. Flacco has come along way with his timing and rhythm in the passing game.

19. RB Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens
He has been a versatile player that has contributed in both regular and sub offensive groupings. Rice is a good north-south runner who can be very effective running between the tackles. He displays a good low center of gravity and runs with power.

The rest of the story is below:

[url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3715267"]http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3715267[/url]

[MadBacker57]

thats a very good list this is the first time in awhile that i can really remember alot of rookies have big impacts for their teams this draft class was a very good class now if they can all roll that into their second year matt ryan i doing a complete 180 in atlanta chris johnson is a good reason why the titans are undefeated joe flacco and ray rice with what they are doing here matt forte finally gave the bears a running game just to name a few i just hope they all can keep it going

[Ravnet]

[quote name='MadBacker57' post='92929' date='Nov 20 2008, 03:30 PM']thats a very good list this is the first time in awhile that i can really remember alot of rookies have big impacts for their teams this draft class was a very good class now if they can all roll that into their second year matt ryan i doing a complete 360 in atlanta chris johnson is a good reason why the titans are undefeated joe flacco and ray rice with what they are doing here matt forte finally gave the bears a running game just to name a few i just hope they all can keep it going[/quote]

Complete 180 Pet peeve.

[PuRock]

What I find interesting is that a lot of us fans thought that the Ravens were going to draft a CB in this last draft. So far there aren't many rookie CBs shining yet. There is only one CB listed, he's at # 20 Aqib Talib.

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='PuRock' post='92933' date='Nov 20 2008, 03:35 PM']What I find interesting is that a lot of us fans thought that the Ravens were going to draft a CB in this last draft. So far there aren't many rookie CBs shining yet. There is only one CB listed, he's at # 20 Aqib Talib.[/quote]

Yeah, and to be honest, I haven't seen ANY highlights of Talib making a play.

[MKdave]

I don't really agree with much of that list. Firstly, Chris Johnson is in the right place, but to say that he is a change of pace back is innacurate, he get's most of the totes in Tennessee.

Tim Hightower is way too low. He is the everydown back of a playoff contender, passing offense or no, that deserves higher than 25th spot.

Dustin Keller needs to be higher, he has been impressive as Favre's safety valve, even though Favre doesn't use him enough.

Matt Forte should be ahead of Eddie Royal. Since when does a 'solid No. 2 receiver' have a greater impact than one of the league-leaders in all purpose yards? Never. That's when.

[Troy Smith IS the future..]

[quote name='MKdave' post='92939' date='Nov 20 2008, 04:04 PM']I don't really agree with much of that list. Firstly, Chris Johnson is in the right place, but to say that he is a change of pace back is innacurate, he get's most of the totes in Tennessee.

Tim Hightower is way too low. He is the everydown back of a playoff contender, passing offense or no, that deserves higher than 25th spot.

Dustin Keller needs to be higher, he has been impressive as Favre's safety valve, even though Favre doesn't use him enough.

Matt Forte should be ahead of Eddie Royal. Since when does a 'solid No. 2 receiver' have a greater impact than one of the league-leaders in all purpose yards? Never. That's when.[/quote]

Great post. Esspecially the Matt Forte explanation, it's not like he the complete reason for the Bears' resurgance on offense, but a big part of it, he's underrated.

[beetus]

I would put Matt Forte in front of Chris Johnson. I'm just not impressed with his play, the only real standout game I can remember was when he an LenDale White both rushed for over 100 yards. Forte has better vision, makes plays as a reciever out of the backfield, is quicker and has a bit more power than Johnson does. I think Flacco should be moved up a spot as well, he's filled a void in Baltimore that has been here the past 12 years. Here is how I would put the top 10:

1) Matt Ryan- was thrust into a crappy team, and with the help of Michael Turner, turned the Falcons into a legitimate playoff contender
2) Matt Forte- reasons I stated above
3) Eddie Royal- gives Jay Cutler another deep threat and adds a dimesion as KR/PR
4) Chris Johnson- although I'm not a fan, he contributes to the reason why the Titans are 10-0
5) Joe Flacco- reasons above
6) Chris Horton- with the loss of Sean Taylor last season, the Skins didn't have much in the way of depth at safety. He's filled the void and is probably the best 7th round pick since Marquis Colston
7) Donnie Avery- Why wasn't he included AT ALL in the ESPN list? He is a playmaker, but is forgotten because he's on a bad team.
8) Jerrod Mayo- It's between him and Horton for Defensive RotY
9) Jonathon Stewart- A vital cog in Carolina's offense and a reason why they are 7-2
10) Jake Long- does a good job blocking for Miami's crazy running game

[Shawn`]

Joe needs to be a little higher than 7 I mean last year we were 5-11 and looked hopeless against most teams now we're 6-4 with Joe Flacco and a potential playoff team.

I'm not sure Chris Johnson is that big of an impact on the Titans, sure he's a really good running back but I think its Kerry Collins who got them that 10-0

[Bullrush]

They still have a hard on for Matt Ryan who gets to play the worst defenses in football week after week.

[MKdave]

[quote name='Shawn`' post='93096' date='Nov 21 2008, 04:26 PM']Joe needs to be a little higher than 7 I mean last year we were 5-11 and looked hopeless against most teams now we're 6-4 with Joe Flacco and a potential playoff team.

I'm not sure Chris Johnson is that big of an impact on the Titans, sure he's a really good running back but I think its Kerry Collins who got them that 10-0[/quote]

Nah, that's a run based offense all the way.
It got locked down against the bears, and Kerry Collins won them that game, but most of those wins have come from the stregnth of the run game and the defense.

[pick-ups]

Eddie Royal is a nice WR but I`d still take Desean any day over Royal.

Royal 56rec 659yds 4TDs (7) 20+yd rec.
Jackson 42 rec 652yds 3TDs (13) 20+yd rec.

Only Larry Fitzgerald has more 20+yd rec(14)than Desean Jackson

[pick-ups]

2 good QBs-Ryan/Flacco
2 good RBs-Johnson/Forte
2 good WRs-Jackson/Royal

[neepo13]

[quote name='Bullrush' post='93108' date='Nov 21 2008, 12:37 PM']They still have a hard on for Matt Ryan who gets to play the worst defenses in football week after week. [/quote]

They dont look at who the competition is. They just look at the stats.

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='neepo13' post='93122' date='Nov 21 2008, 02:35 PM']They dont look at who the competition is. They just look at the stats.[/quote]

Except that most of the national media, when comparing Joe and Matt, tend to forget about Joe's "escapability," speed, and overall rushing totals...