RJ says Sam Bradford
Is there any doubt that Sam Bradford will be the most impactful Sooner taken in this year’s NFL draft?
Wait, there is? Allow me.
Of the 255 players picked in the draft this year, Bradford was the first overall selection and — as of this moment — is the highest paid rookie in NFL history. He’s the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner and unlike Reggie Bush’s Heisman, Bradford’s trophy is going to stay in his living room.
In the preseason he completed 30-55 passes for a 60 percent completion rate, tossed for 338 yards and has yet to throw an interception in an NFL uniform. The really complex (and sometimes irritating) passer rating formula puts him at 95.5. Not too shabby.
Although the process was sped up a little when A.J. Feeley was injured in the preseason, Bradford was named the starting quarterback last week as rookie. It would have happened by Week 3 anyway.
To put that fact in perspective, the Pittsburgh Steelers had four veteran quarterbacks at training camp and currently on their 53-man roster. They chose Dennis Dixon to start three days after the Rams tapped Bradford and only because their first string quarterback is suspended for the first four games of the season and their second string quarterback tweaked an already dodgy ankle during the preseason.
St. Louis head coach Steve Spagnuolo is giving Bradford the keys to the Rams’ offense. He’ll have a top-5 running back to keep defenses honest in play action, a dynamic rookie wide receiver in Marty Gilyard as a deep threat and an offensive line that, though it can be suspect at times, wants to protect him see him succeed. All of this works in Bradford’s favor.
Barring his shoulder going the way of a fragmentation grenade for a second straight year in the opening game of the season, Bradford will have the most successful season of any Sooner in the 2010 NFL Draft class.
M.J. says Jermaine Gresham
It’s a simple equation: When your tight ends couldn’t catch a disease in Atlantic City or they block like a kicker, especially in a high-powered offense, head coaches tend to continually try to find that missing piece in free agency or the draft.
For the first time since taking over the job, Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis can say he’s found that missing piece, former OU standout Jermaine Gresham.
Gresham was drafted to be the tight end of the future in Cincinnati, and Lewis is wasting no time. As quickly as early August, Lewis had already confirmed Gresham as the starting tight end for their opening game against the Patriots Sunday.
On June 10, Palmer said Gresham possesses no weaknesses and the sky is the limit for him.
He will be slotted into an offense full of second-chance talent, including narcissistic receivers Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens, outspoken Cedric Benson and the injury-prone-but-great-when-healthy quarterback Carson Palmer.
This offense will absolutely be one of the top scoring units in the league and will target Gresham early and often.
Not only is Gresham a wide receiver in a tight end’s body, but he will be a monstrous threat in redzone opportunities, where the Bengals needed improvement.
As for other former Sooners, Rams quarterback Sam Bradford will undoubtedly be making a splash but most likely a negative one as he adjusts at the professional level.
Trent Williams will be a crucial part of the Redskins offense, blocking for Clinton Portis, but one would be a fool to say Williams will be the most recognized of the bunch.
Gerald McCoy is a major candidate for defensive rookie of the year, but the play of Lions lineman Ndamakong Suh will overshadow McCoy.
Not only would Jermaine Gresham arguably make the biggest splash in a swimming pool out of the first-year Sooners in the NFL, but he will make the biggest splash on the field, too.
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suckermom 1 year, 8 months ago
Good luck getting the ball, Jermaine, behind OCHO-TO.