Dan Shonka, NFL Players To Watch This Season<br><br><br><p>Of course quarterbacks and running backs get all the attention. They
score touchdowns, they sell Chunky Soup, and they get to bang the
homecoming queen. They're the ones with the big contracts and the guys
who can be rewarded with either too much blame or too much credit.
<br><br>Then there are the dozens of free agents that meander into
your team's locker room each year. One team's trash is another team's
treasure kind of deal. These hired guns are generally heralded as the
Missing Link, and you know you're guilty of over-hyping some journeyman
nickel back or offensive tackle to your wife or co-workers.
<br><br>Then there are the rookies. The quick fix. The hotshots. They
are the future and the present. Every team is hoping that they scored
not only that first-round blue chipper, but that late-round gem that
can turn a team from wannabe to world champs quicker than you can say
"signing bonus".
<br><br>This season in the NFL there are a slew of guys whose
performances will have a direct connection to their team's win-loss
records. It will be very interesting to see how guys like Kurt Warner
(Arizona), J.P. Losman (Buffalo), Deshaun Foster (Carolina), Randy Moss
(Oakland) and Mike Williams (Detroit) will perform. Very interesting
indeed.
<br><br>That being said, right now I have no interest in any of those
subcategories of players. I'll leave the big-name free agents, cocky
rookies and pretty-boy quarterbacks to be talked about by the gossip
mongers and bobble heads. <br><br>
Instead, I've compiled a list of players who might make for exciting
talk at the water cooler but will play a crucial role in determining
the course of their team's franchise in 2005. Some are names you know,
some are names you may have heard in passing. In my estimation these
guys represent the types of storylines - veterans holding on to that
last chance, disappointing draft picks seeking salvation, unheralded
role players trying to break into the big time - that make the NFL
worth watching. <br><br>
<b>Ryan Sims, DT, Kansas City</b><br>
Remember back in 2002 when the debate between which North Carolina
defender - Sims or Julius Peppers - should be taken first nearly
reached Manning-Leaf proportions? Well, their NFL careers have almost
been as lopsided. Sims is in his contract year, and is the most
naturally gifted player on a defensive line that has been a sieve for
the last four seasons. The Chiefs will feature as many as five new
starters on defense, including two new linebackers and two new bodies
in the secondary. But if Sims can't hold down the point of attack (only
30 tackles and two sacks in 2004) those guys will be getting a lot of
work.
<br><br>
<b>Darrell Jackson, WR, Seattle</b><br>Dropped passes grounded the
Seahawks last season, and Jackson was as guilty as anyone. Koren
Robinson is in rehab and no longer with the team, leaving Jackson as
the true No. 1 guy in the Seattle passing game. Jackson had 87 catches
for 1,199 and seven touchdowns last season. That's not enough. Jackson
will need to not only achieve those numbers again, but set an example
by holding onto just about anything he gets his hands on and making
clutch catches that keep the sticks moving.
<br><br>
<b>Nate Kaeding, K, San Diego</b><br>Kaeding, the cherub-faced kicker
for the Chargers, was a revelation as a rookie in 2004. Kaeding was 54
of 55 making extra points, and 20-for-25 with field goals. However, he
was also responsible for missing the kick that more or less ended his
team's season. He shanked a 40-yarder in overtime in a first-round
playoff loss at home to the Jets. That's forgivable, but Kaeding missed
his first three kicks off the preseason. Those three kicks were between
40-46 yards and in a steady rain, but if there's one thing a kicker
can't have, it's wavering confidence.
<br><br>
<b>Seth Payne, NT, Houston</b><br>People are expecting big things out
of the Texans this season. If that's going to happen, the defense needs
to perform better than its 23rd overall ranking in 2004. Payne will be
a huge part of that. The 6-foot-4, 315-pound nose tackle is the fulcrum
in the Texans 3-4 system. With young linebackers behind him, Payne
needs to cause some havoc up front to take some pressure off guys like
Jason Babin. Payne has had injury problems in the past, but the
ninth-year man out of Cornell impressed Houston brass enough to warrant
them resigning him in the offseason. <br><br>
<b>John Tait, LT, Chicago</b><br>
Tait was the Bears prized free agent signing in 2003, inking a $33.65
million deal. Tait, who was part of those dominating Kansas City lines
a few years ago, was solid at right tackle for Chicago last season.
However, the Bears yielded a league-high 66 sacks which prompted Tait
to approach coach Lovie Smith and offer to switch to the critical left
tackle position. Well, with Rex Grossman out for the year Tait's
importance becomes even greater. If the Bears are going to win with
Chad Hutchinson he's going to need plenty of time to survey the field.
<br><br>
<b>DeAngelo Hall, CB, Atlanta</b><br>The electrifying Hall suffered a
hard-luck hip injury last year that caused him to miss six games. He
came back for the end of the season and the playoffs and performed
admirably, intercepting two passes and scoring one touchdown. Atlanta
had the 23rd-ranked pass defense in the league last season, and didn't
make any noticeable upgrades. In a division with Joe Horn, Steve Smith
and up-and-coming Mark Clayton, the Falcons are hoping that Hall can be
the shutdown corner that their defense has been missing. <br><br>
<b>Chad Brown/Monty Beisel, LB, New England</b><br>
Its got to be pretty tough to come in as a low-key free agent and find
yourself filling in for the heart-and-soul of the two-time defending
Super Bowl Champions. Well, with Tedy Bruschi sidelined as a result of
his offseason stroke and tough-as-nails Ted Johnson retired, that's
precisely where Brown and Beisel find themselves. To make matters
worse, Mike Vrabel suffered a lower leg injury and has been sidelined
for the Pats. Beisel came over from Kansas City and their pathetic
defense, and Chad Brown is hoping to recapture a bit of the nastiness
that he exuded throughout the mid-90's. However, they're replacing two
New England legends and better come out of the corner swinging.
<br><br>
<b>Jimmy Smith, WR, Jacksonville</b><br>The 36-year-old Smith is hoping
that he can keep the magic going for one more season. Smith showed no
signs of slowing in 2004, finishing with 74 catches for 1,172 yards and
six touchdowns. He is the only proven wide receiver that the Jaguars
have and one of the few guys that quarterback Byron Leftwich trusts in
the clutch. The Jaguars defense is going to be one of the best in the
AFC this season. But the question mark is whether or not this team can
put up enough points to earn a playoff berth. The only way that happens
is if Smith stays healthy and tutors some of the Jags young receivers. <br><br>
<b>Jonathan Ogden, LT, Baltimore</b><br>
The guy is an eight-time Pro Bowler and potentially a Hall of Famer.
However, he looked as if injuries and age may have robbed him of a step
last season. The Ravens restocked their offense at the skill positions
this offseason, and Todd Heap, Jamal Lewis, Derrick Mason and rookie
Mark Clayton are ready to put up some points. However, center Casey
Rabach and left guard Bennie Anderson both split this summer, and
temperamental Orlando Brown declined sharply in 2004. If the Ravens are
going to make another push for the AFC crown, they're going to need
Ogden to anchor that offensive line.
<br><br>
<b>Roy Williams, SS, Dallas</b><br>Last season the Cowboys yielded 31
passing touchdowns, fourth-worst in the league. They addressed that
problem by signing Anthony Henry from Cleveland this offseason. With
Henry and Terrance Newman holding down the outside, Williams should be
free to roam the line of scrimmage and wreak havoc in the way that he
did in 2003. Williams is at his best when he's delivering vicious hits
on running backs and receivers coming across the middle, or flying
through the line on a safety blitz. With Dallas switching to the 3-4,
and time running out on the Tuna, Williams need a big year.
<br><br>
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