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NFL Top 10 Rookies of 2008

I like their rankings, but think Chris Johnson should be a lot lower. How is he 1st when Slaton had more rushing yards and receiving yards than he did?

I think the tackles got rated too low also

I'd probably rate them:

Matt Ryan
Matt Forte
Steve Slaton
Jarod Mayo
Ryan Clady
Chris Johnson
Joe Thomas
Eddie Royal
Joe Flacco
DeSean Jackson

i don't remember who i left off
 
List is crap, in my opinion...

I would have Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco AND Steve Slaton before Chris Johnson.

But thats just me...
 
Nitro,

Chris Johnson 1
Matt Ryan 2
Joe Flacco 3
Matt Forte 4
Eddie Royal 5
Steve Slaton 6
Jarod Mayo 7
Ryan Clady 8
Jake Long 9
DeSean Jackson 10
 
TexansMVP said:
1. Chris Johnson
2. Matt Ryan
3. Joe Flacco
4. Matt Forte
5. Eddie Royal
6. Steve Slaton
7. Jarod Mayo
8. Ryan Clady
9. Joe Thomas
10. DeSean Jackson
Click to expand...

Joe Thomas was 2007. I'm thinking it should be Jake Long in there. I like seeing a 3rd round pick in there with all those 1st rounders. Nice steal with Slaton.
 
what i'm wondering about is the guy that claims that Johnson should've been the ROY. wait... he split carries... he didn't lead rookies in rushing yards OR total yards OR receiving yards and he didn't lead the third worse team in the league last year to the playoffs this year like Ryan did. thats mother ********** bullshit my friend.
 
Forte I can see ahead of Slaton, but Chris Johnson being ahead (and by a large margin) is total BS! I would be OK if the rest of the list was the same, except you wedge Johnson between Slaton and Mayo.
 
Have no idea how Royal and Flacco are above Slaton. They both had good season's, but didn't Slaton finish 6th in the entire NFL in rushing yds and he only started 12 games!?
 
Here's my top ten...


1.) Steve Slaton - How many times has he bailed us out of games?

2.) Matt Forte - After parting ways with Cedric Benson, the Bears got a better one for much cheaper.

3.) Matt Ryan - Great year with the Falcons and led them to the playoffs.

4.) Jake Long - Anchored there offensive line allowing them to run the Wildcat and make sure Pennington remained on his feet.

5.) Joe Flacco - Led them to 2 playoff wins.

6.) Chris Johnson - Blazing speed and earned a Pro Bowl (I think)

7.) Eddie Royal - Spectacular year receiving and had a bunch of recs.

8.) Jerod Mayo - Good future LB who stepped it up.

9.) DeSean Jackson - Aside from the bonehead play where he dropped the ball, great WR.

10.) Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - CB who played a big role for the Cards.

*Honorable mention ~ Ryan Clady*
 
V3rm0nt3r said:
what i'm wondering about is the guy that claims that Johnson should've been the ROY. wait... he split carries... he didn't lead rookies in rushing yards OR total yards OR receiving yards and he didn't lead the third worse team in the league last year to the playoffs this year like Ryan did. thats mother ********** bullshit my friend.
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Johnson transformed that offense. It's amazing how different the meatballs are with him in the backfield. Take him out for any stretch of games and they are a plodding team with a weak wr corp and guys not quite Frank Wycheck and not quite Steve McNair and not quite Eddie George running Heimerdinger's run-N-chunk to the TE offense. This is a chump offense without him. I remember sitting at the Titans game last year and remarking to the guy next to me that everyone thought the Titans were going to pick a WR in the draft but shocked most fans and pundits by taking Johnson. The pick was mocked till he started to play. No wr would have injected what he brought to the table in that offense. It's amazing what one outstanding RB can do for an otherwise mediocre offense.
 
Vinny said:
Johnson transformed that offense. It's amazing how different the meatballs are with him in the backfield. Take him out for any stretch of games and they are a plodding team with a weak wr corp and guys not quite Frank Wycheck and not quite Steve McNair and not quite Eddie George running Heimerdinger's run-N-chunk to the TE offense. This is a chump offense without him. I remember sitting at the Titans game last year and remarking to the guy next to me that everyone thought the Titans were going to pick a WR in the draft but shocked most fans and pundits by taking Johnson. The pick was mocked till he started to play. No wr would have injected what he brought to the table in that offense. It's amazing what one outstanding RB can do for an otherwise mediocre offense.
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Yep he transformed their offense into a power running game into a speed one. Nothing loike Matt Ryan did for the Falcons.

Anyone who is not on board with him as ROY is drinking heavier stuff than Patron.
 
Originally Posted by V3rm0nt3r View Post
what i'm wondering about is the guy that claims that Johnson should've been the ROY. wait... he split carries... he didn't lead rookies in rushing yards OR total yards OR receiving yards and he didn't lead the third worse team in the league last year to the playoffs this year like Ryan did. thats mother ********** bullshit my friend.
Vinny said:
Johnson transformed that offense. It's amazing how different the meatballs are with him in the backfield. Take him out for any stretch of games and they are a plodding team with a weak wr corp and guys not quite Frank Wycheck and not quite Steve McNair and not quite Eddie George running Heimerdinger's run-N-chunk to the TE offense. This is a chump offense without him. I remember sitting at the Titans game last year and remarking to the guy next to me that everyone thought the Titans were going to pick a WR in the draft but shocked most fans and pundits by taking Johnson. The pick was mocked till he started to play. No wr would have injected what he brought to the table in that offense. It's amazing what one outstanding RB can do for an otherwise mediocre offense.
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Specnatz said:
Yep he transformed their offense into a power running game into a speed one. Nothing loike Matt Ryan did for the Falcons.

Anyone who is not on board with him as ROY is drinking heavier stuff than Patron.
Click to expand...
I never said that my preference is Johnson over Ryan for the rookie of the year award, but I obviously disagree with the notion that since Johnson split carries with White, and didn't lead the rookies in rushing that his season wasn't very credible.
 
I dunno was anybody else in that group taken as late as Slaton ?
Being a third-round pick likely makes Slaton the best value in last years Draft ? It also gives the Texans more latitude in picking the "companion-back" for Slaton this year. I mean don't get me wrong I don't expect the Texans to take a back in the first-round this year, but since they have such a relatively modest investment in Stevie-Wonder the Texans are freer to make a bolder move in the Draft at running-back.
 
I do think Slaton was the best value, but if we're just going on top 10 rookies, I don't think he'd be #1. Forte completely carried that Bears team offense and Ryan took a complete mess of a team to the playoffs
 
1. Matt Ryan
2. Ryan Clady
3. Matt Forte
4. Steve Slaton
5. Chris Johnson
6. Joe Flacco
7. Jake Long
8. Jarod Mayo
9. DeSean Jackson
10. Eddie Royal

That's how I would rank them.
 
Specnatz said:
Yep he transformed their offense into a power running game into a speed one. Nothing loike Matt Ryan did for the Falcons.

Anyone who is not on board with him as ROY is drinking heavier stuff than Patron.
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Johnson transformed the offense i'll give you that. he also was able to ride his defense to the playoffs while Ryan took a team that drafted 3rd the year before, put them on his back, and got to the wild card.
 
V3rm0nt3r said:
Johnson transformed the offense i'll give you that. he also was able to ride his defense to the playoffs while Ryan took a team that drafted 3rd the year before, put them on his back, and got to the wild card.
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To be fair, I think Michael Turner's 1700 yards and 17 touchdowns helped the Falcons and Ryans a ton. No way would Ryans have been that successful without a running back workhorse like Turner
 
BigBull17 said:
1. Matt Ryan
2. Ryan Clady
3. Matt Forte
4. Steve Slaton
5. Chris Johnson
6. Joe Flacco
7. Jake Long
8. Jarod Mayo
9. DeSean Jackson
10. Eddie Royal

That's how I would rank them.
Click to expand...

I can agree with this. Clady should definitely be in the top 5.
 
gtexan02 said:
To be fair, I think Michael Turner's 1700 yards and 17 touchdowns helped the Falcons and Ryans a ton. No way would Ryans have been that successful without a running back workhorse like Turner
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true but CJ was able to hide behind a defense that allowed just one RB to rush for 100+ yards this season. albeit they let him do it twice but still.
 
i think slaton should be 3rd or 4th on the list. i think the 2 qbs, especially ryan, should be above him.

imo slaton is on a par with johnson. both are electrigying. slaton gets the nod from me because he had to be more of a workhorse but its pretty close.

what i dont get is the forte love. hes a decent rb that has lived off that colts game last yr. hes nowhere near the playmaker slaton or cj are. he does everything well but nothing great

clady should be up there with ss and cj too
 
Ryan and Flacco have to be ahead of Slaton. Come on now. Rookie QB's who start for playoff teams have to be listed ahead of RB whose team finished 8-8.

I'd put Slaton third.
 
sakebomb said:
Ryan and Flacco have to be ahead of Slaton. Come on now. Rookie QB's who start for playoff teams have to be listed ahead of RB whose team finished 8-8.

I'd put Slaton third.
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But there is room for the argument that Turner/the Baltimore defense had alot to do with those two making the change. Clady stepped in at one of the hardest positions in football and dominated. I put Steve around 5 ish.
 
sakebomb said:
Ryan and Flacco have to be ahead of Slaton. Come on now. Rookie QB's who start for playoff teams have to be listed ahead of RB whose team finished 8-8.

I'd put Slaton third.
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I'll never understand this Heisman attitude of ranking the best players based on (a) team record and (b) position. Maybe if it was the rookie MVP award but not just as best.
 
infantrycak said:
I'll never understand this Heisman attitude of ranking the best players based on (a) team record and (b) position. Maybe if it was the rookie MVP award but not just as best.
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It's the old, " All the credit when you win, All the blame when you lose" mentality.
 
1.) Steve Slaton - How many times has he bailed us out of games?
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to be fair.....there is no doubt that Steve Slaton is a great back. But he has not been the lead back for a full season. And shaking the third down tag is going to take him a season, seventeen touches a game....for sixteen games, to prove it to everyone. I have no problems with the ranking.

We'll see Saturday if what Kubes said in December was true or not. He may have believed it in December when he said it. Might of changed his mind in March on second thought. Always been one guy in the Denver WCO system getting a majority of carries. They take a back Day one....the Steve Slaton comments in December were just talk. And he's decided to walk the walk in September with somebody else. There can be one , only one, four million plus RB on the roster. I'm pulling for Steve Slaton. He's convinced me.
 
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threetoedpete said:
to be fair.....there is no doubt that Steve Slaton is a great back. But he has not been the lead back for a full season. And shaking the third down tag is going to take him a season, seventeen touches a game....for sixteen games, to prove it to everyone. I have no problems with the ranking.
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Slaton actually had one more start than CJ. But you are right it is hard to shake the third down back tag.

They take a back Day one....the Steve Slaton comments in December were just talk. And he's decided to walk the walk in September with somebody else. There can be one , only one, four million plus RB on the roster. I'm pulling for Steve Slaton. He's convinced me.
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Not advocating this, but a mid 2nd like the Texans is going to get a contract that averages about a mil a year.
 
And I could see them doing it.....if they wanted to be sure. But....down the road, as i posted...there can only be one. I can't see one in the first....unless they get a tremendous offer....i.e, somebody losses their mind and offers up a Rickie Williams type deal to move back.....then maybe. I don't think Slaton has three hundred carries per year in him. But I think with the right compliments on the squad he can give seventeen per game and have a nice long career....seven plus years... for us. I see no reason to rock the boat as it were. I guess I believe in chemistry more than I believe in potential.
 
Matt Ryan not number one total over look IMO. Steve and Matt Forte should higher up on that list than CJ. Unreal.
 
TexansSeminole said:
Give him some time, and when the Rams put some guys to play around him he will play much better.
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2nd overall for a 3-4 end when you run a 4-3 isn't a good idea. I think he'll be an ok player, but he wasn't the wisest pick for that team. As long as the guys arond him are 4 lb's, another end, and a nose, they will be fine. He's playing out of position.
 
BigBull17 said:
2nd overall for a 3-4 end when you run a 4-3 isn't a good idea. I think he'll be an ok player, but he wasn't the wisest pick for that team. As long as the guys arond him are 4 lb's, another end, and a nose, they will be fine. He's playing out of position.
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40 tackles, 4 sacks (2 against NE and 1 against the Giants), 1 forced fumble on the 2nd worst team in the league.

He had a decent year, he just didn't have a great year. Give the guy a couple years.
 
Slaton having more yards should be a non-factor in the CJ/Slaton debate. Johnson played in one-less game than Slaton and had <60 less yards, a better YPC, and same amount of touchdowns. The point is moot.

You talk about how CJ didn't have to carry his team because of the Titans defense, but fail to mention how anemic the rest of his offense is, especially without VY. Just look at the playoff game when he left with an injury. Also, Slaton had a much more productive offense around him (which he attributed to) with Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels.

CJ shouldn't be above Ryan, probably not even Flacco, and I could even see a case for Forte; but Slaton shouldn't be ranked ahead of him based one their first year in the league. I haven't seen any rankings like this in the national media that has Slaton above CJ, only on these boards.

I think the OTs were too low, Clady should be up there.
 
SteveSlaton20 said:
I like Joe Flacco better than Matt Ryan tbh

Matt had more talents around him than Joe did.
And plus Joe won 2 playoff games, Matt didn't.
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Flacco was only asked to do one thing - don't screw up. Can't see that as top 10 expectations.

Bulluck53 said:
Slaton having more yards should be a non-factor in the CJ/Slaton debate. Johnson played in one-less game than Slaton and had <60 less yards, a better YPC, and same amount of touchdowns. The point is moot.
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Please with the one less game. Slaton was injured and only had 4 carries in one game, and but for that game would have equaled out the .1 ypc better YPC. To be fair, yes they were both very good rookie RB's.

You talk about how CJ didn't have to carry his team because of the Titans defense, but fail to mention how anemic the rest of his offense is, especially without VY.
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LOL--well I guess we can only hope y'all stick with that dummy Fisher who is keeping VY on the bench.

Just look at the playoff game when he left with an injury. Also, Slaton had a much more productive offense around him (which he attributed to) with Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels.
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And CJ had an excellent OL and outstanding D around him.
 
Ok, forget that missed game. Slaton had 17 more carries and only 58 more yards. You don't think CJ would have made up those 58 Yards?

But thats not the point. Johnson did more for his team. With Lendale we were limited, we stuck in Johnson and did nothing else and look what happened. Pretty much the same defense, same o-line (traded Jacob Bell with Jake Scott) and offensive weapons.

You won't admit it but VY helped the running game, tremendously. Defenses had to worry about his abilities out of the backfield... they forgot about those when Collins was in the game. Put it like this, do you think we would have made the playoffs in '07 with Collins at QB? I don't. I don't think we would have had the running game that we did that year with LenDale/Chris Brown. VY helped that running game get moving. IMO, Collins had success this season only because we could still run the ball, which I attribute to the insertion of Johnson. Put VY in the lineup and the running game gets better (while the passing game suffers, but you should get the point.)
 
Slaton had more of a burden to carry than Johnson who split carries with LenDale

Johnson was probably a little better than Slaton imo
 
See, I don't get that. He split carries and still had the same year Slaton did statistically. Not sure how that helps Slaton's case. We ran the ball more, I'm sure, but Houston also had a guy who could stretch the field in AJ.

They're both going to be very good for a long time, we know that much.
 
Bulluck53 said:
Ok, forget that missed game. Slaton had 17 more carries and only 58 more yards. You don't think CJ would have made up those 58 Yards?

But thats not the point. Johnson did more for his team. With Lendale we were limited, we stuck in Johnson and did nothing else and look what happened. Pretty much the same defense, same o-line (traded Jacob Bell with Jake Scott) and offensive weapons.

You won't admit it but VY helped the running game, tremendously. Defenses had to worry about his abilities out of the backfield... they forgot about those when Collins was in the game. Put it like this, do you think we would have made the playoffs in '07 with Collins at QB? I don't. I don't think we would have had the running game that we did that year with LenDale/Chris Brown. VY helped that running game get moving. IMO, Collins had success this season only because we could still run the ball, which I attribute to the insertion of Johnson. Put VY in the lineup and the running game gets better (while the passing game suffers, but you should get the point.)
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You can go ahead a forget about that (had a higher YPC average) argument too, because Slaton ran against much tougher run defenses last season (Remember, Chris Johnson doesn't have to play against the Titans' defense twice a season......btw how many 100 yard performances did y'all give up last year and who were they to?) a .1 difference is hardly a difference at all.

Slaton trailed only DeAngelo Williams and Adrian Peterson in explosive plays last season....not bad for a guy who doesn't run a 4.28
 
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Statis22 said:
Johnson was probably a little better than Slaton imo
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I don't think so. He did nothing to seperate himself from Slaton or Forte which is why it's rediculous he got and is still getting as much pub as he is. As far as I'm concerned all three of these backs should be listed in consecutive order as a 3 way tie until one emerges as a clear cut better player (especially Slaton and Johnson, because they're so damn close production wise.)
 
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Carr Bombed said:
You can go ahead a forget about that (had a higher YPC average) argument too, because Slaton ran against much tougher run defenses last season (Remember, Chris Johnson doesn't have to play against the Titans' defense twice a season......btw how many 100 yard performances did y'all give up last year and who were they to?) a .1 difference is hardly a difference at all.

Slaton trailed only DeAngelo Williams and Adrian Peterson in explosive plays last season....not bad for a guy who doesn't run a 4.28
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Their production last season was equal, we can go back and forth looking at stats to help our cases but big picture they had the same numbers. Johnson played a big part in his teams success, and his team was the most successful last season (which is what those stats refer to) so there you go.

Slaton will always have good games against the Titans. Why? Its matchups. Our DEs are taught to pursue, not contain. The Texans zone-blocking scheme opens up cut-back lanes for the backs. DEs who don't contain are susceptible to the cut-back. There you go.
 
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