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Schneed10 · 04-09-2005, 08:58 AM

QB is obviously the toughest position on rookies, in my memory the only rookie QBs in the last 15 years to have a good rookie year would be Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger. But everyone knows QBs are like that, I'm not sure it's common knowledge with WRs.

As for DEs, I can think of a lot of rookies who had good seasons. Julius Peppers, Jevon Kearse, Dwight Freeney, Terrell Suggs, Simeon Rice, Shaun Ellis, John Abraham, Jason Taylor, etcetera. And these are only in the last few years, nevermind the last 15. And, just about any DE who is any good today had great sack numbers by their 2nd year. It's just an easier position to hit on in the draft.

Coaches think WR is tough because rookies have so much to learn about coverage schemes and reading the defense. WRs have to have the ability to know what the QB is going to do if he gets blitzed, if he doesn't get blitzed, if he rolls out etcetera. Plus he needs to know how to run routes when pressed in coverage, when double-teamed, etcetera. When a WR comes to the line of scrimmage, he has a basic route in mind. But when the play starts he has to be able to change it on the fly based on what the defense shows him. Rookie QBs have a hard time deciphering NFL defenses and get confused, the same goes for WRs because they're expected to learn so much.

It takes time for a WR to figure out the NFL in most cases.

04-09-2005, 08:58 AM	#4
Schneed10 A Dude Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Newtown Square, PA Age: 45 Posts: 12,439	Re: The Perils of Drafting WRs QB is obviously the toughest position on rookies, in my memory the only rookie QBs in the last 15 years to have a good rookie year would be Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger. But everyone knows QBs are like that, I'm not sure it's common knowledge with WRs. As for DEs, I can think of a lot of rookies who had good seasons. Julius Peppers, Jevon Kearse, Dwight Freeney, Terrell Suggs, Simeon Rice, Shaun Ellis, John Abraham, Jason Taylor, etcetera. And these are only in the last few years, nevermind the last 15. And, just about any DE who is any good today had great sack numbers by their 2nd year. It's just an easier position to hit on in the draft. Coaches think WR is tough because rookies have so much to learn about coverage schemes and reading the defense. WRs have to have the ability to know what the QB is going to do if he gets blitzed, if he doesn't get blitzed, if he rolls out etcetera. Plus he needs to know how to run routes when pressed in coverage, when double-teamed, etcetera. When a WR comes to the line of scrimmage, he has a basic route in mind. But when the play starts he has to be able to change it on the fly based on what the defense shows him. Rookie QBs have a hard time deciphering NFL defenses and get confused, the same goes for WRs because they're expected to learn so much. It takes time for a WR to figure out the NFL in most cases.