5 Rookie Stand-Outs in Week Two of the NFL Pre-Season

With another week of preseason done and gone, and the NFL one week closer to the regular season, let's at five rookies who showed flashes of brilliance in week 2:

Joique Bell 

 Bell led the Buffalo Bills rushing attack in their week 2 game against Indianapolis as he rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown, outdoing fellow rookie running back CJ Spiller.

Week 2 Stats:

11 Rushing attempts for 80 Yards (1 Touchdown, AVG 7.3, Long 12)

1 Reception for 9 yards

Aaron Hernandez

Hernandez, the Tight End out of Florida,  played well in week 2 against the Falcons, catching four passes including a touchdown reception.

Week 2 Stats:

4 Receptions for 46 Yards (1 Touchdown, AVG 11.5, Long 21)

Seyi Ajirotutu

 Ajirotutu showed some big play ability in his week 2 preseason game. Even with only 3 receptions, he managed to put up 71 yards, most of it coming on a big 56 yard reception.

Week 2 Stats:

3 Receptions for 71 Yards (AVG 23.7, Long 56)

Hall Davis

 Davis was an effective pass rushed in his only preseason game so far, picking up a few tackles but mainly two sacks.

Week 2 Stats:

2 Total Tackles (2 Combined)

2 Sacks

Joe Webb

Webb against San Fran in week 2, and showed promise of a dynamic mobile passer. While he only passed for under 50 yards, he didn't turn the ball over, and also rushed for over 53 yards and a touchdown, showing blazing speed.

Week 2 Stats:

7 completions for 47 yards (3.4 AVG, 50% Completion)

3 Rushing attempts for 53 Yards (1 Touchdown, AVG 17.7, Long 48)

NFL Week 1 Recap; Real Scores Vs Proposed Scores

Tennessee Titans vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Proposed Score : Steelers 24 - Titans 17

Real Score: Steelers 13 - Titans 10 (OT)

Miami Dolphins Vs Atlanta Falcons

Proposed Score : Miami 13 - Atlanta 21

Real Score: Miami 7 - Atlanta 19

Kansas City Chiefs Vs Baltimore Ravens

Proposed Score: Kansas City 7 - Baltimore 17

Real Score: Kansas City 24 - Baltimore 38

Philadelphia Eagles Vs Carolina Panthers

Proposed Score: Philadelphia 17 - Carolina 28

Real Score: Philadelphia 38 - Carolina 10

Denver Broncos Vs Cincinnati Bengals

Proposed Score: Denver 13 - Cincinnati 10

Real Score: Denver 12 - Cincinnati 7

Minnesota Vikings Vs Cleveland Browns

Proposed Score: Minnesota 31 - Cleveland 10

Real Score: Minnesota 34 - Cleveland 20

New York Jets Vs Houston Texans

Proposed Score: New York 17 - Houston 23

Real Score: New York 24 - Houston 7

Jacksonville Jaguars Vs Indianapolis Colts


Proposed Score: Jacksonville 17 - Indianapolis 24

Real Score: Jacksonville 12 - Indianapolis 14

Detroit Lions Vs New Orleans Saints

Proposed Score - Detroit 13 - New Orleans 28

Real Score: Detroit 27 - New Orleans 45

Dallas Cowboys Vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Proposed Score: Dallas 23 - Tampa Bay 13

Real Score: Dallas 34 - Tampa Bay 21

San Francisco 49ers Vs Arizona Cardinals

Proposed Score: San Fransisco 14 - Arizona 23
Real Score: San Fransisco 20 - Arizona 16

Washington Redskins Vs New York Giants

Proposed Score: Washington 17 - New York 13

Real Score: Washington 17 - New York 23

St. Louis Rams Vs Seattle Seahawks

Proposed Score: St. Louis 13 - Seattle 9

Real Score: St, Louis 0 - Seattle 28

Chicago Bears Vs Green Bay Packers

Proposed Score: Chicago 24 - Green Bay 23

Real Score: Chicago 15 - Green Bay 21

Buffalo Bills Vs New England Patriots


Proposed Score: Buffalo 9 - New England 24

Real Score: Buffalo 24 - New England 25

San Diego Chargers Vs Oakland Raiders

Proposed Score: San Diego 23 - Oakland 10

Real Score: San Diego 24 - Oakland 20

Week 1 Picks: 10-6

Bucking Broncos; Can Denver keep their offense steady without Cutler?

A starting off season blunder occurred when new Denver Broncos coach Josh Mcdaniels started doing some moving and shaking with his new roster, supposedly thinking up this fancy scheme that involved sending Jay Cutler to the Buccaneers and getting Patriots backup QB Matt Cassel to come to the Broncos (I suppose McDaniels was lonely, and needed a friend).

Any player would agree that (supposedly) being used as trade bait without your knowledge, would be upsetting to say the least. Cutler, seemingly more sensitive then the normal professional football player and grown man, stayed angry at the coaching staff even after they tried to come and warm back up to him.

Regardless of if Cutler's behavior or McDaniels persona pushed the hands of fate, as we all know Cutler got his "revenge" and was promptly traded to the Bears for QB Kyle Orton and accompanying draft picks. But where does this leave the Broncos offensively?

In 2008, the Broncos offense was 3rd in the league through the air and 2nd in the league in total offense. Jay Cutler was 3rd in total passing yards and yds per game, and 2nd in throws for 20+ yardage.

On the Bears side, they were 21st in passing, 26th in total offense with Orton was 19th in yards, and 21st in yards per game. Although, Orton did not have the set of receivers that Cutler had, having Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal both in the top 10 for receiving. The most player who caught the most balls on the Bears was not even a WR, it was their RB Matt Forte. The toss up is how much of positive/negative stats you can devote to being the fault of one end of the offense or another.

There's no doubt in my mind that the improved talent of Orton's new wide receiver corp should give him some better numbers and more confidence in the passing game. But as far as if will be as successful as it was with Cutler at the helm, I suppose we'd have to wait and see. In my mind it will not, Cutler was just the better (more sensitive) quarterback.

Orton sure is not making progress easy with his rough preseason debut, where he threw 3 interceptions and zero touchdowns, while his counterpart Chris Simms followed behind with 2 touchdowns and zero interceptions.

It is a preseason game, and it is Orton's debut with a new team, learning a new offense and new teammates is not a change that happens overnight by any means, but if asked to make a quick prediction, id say two thirds of the way through the season, Denver fans will be yearning for their old QB.

The ComeBack Kid; Why Old Man Favre Could Be Good News For The Vikings

Once again, as the entire football world has heard by now, good old Brett Favre has come out of retirement (how many times now?), and finally made it to the team he desired to play before he was traded to the Jets.

Some of the football community is tired of his charades over his "to retire or not to retire"drama sessions, and some enjoy that the legend is still around playing the game, though the general consensus seems to be certain he will finish the self destruction he started last year.

Vikings fans could have a good reason to be happy about famous number four signing with their purple people eaters, because like it or not he could be the very push that helps them get through the playoffs.

The Minnesota Vikings are a solid football team but just a slight step down from Super Bowl contender. In 2008,they went 10-6 and lost in the playoffs to the Eagles, after having trouble converting 3rd downs in the second half, and having a QB capable of throwing only roughly half the yards Mcnabb threw for.

Last year the Vikings ranked 1st in rushing yards a game allowed with 76.9 yds, and 6th in total yards allowed a game also with 292.4 yds. These stats were very much indicative of a very well disciplined defensive unit.

On the other side of the ball, they had league's best running back in Adrian Peterson (1760 yds), and the 5th best run game (146.1)

The problem resided in their passing game, ranked a measly 25th overall, with their Quarter Back Gus Frerotte ranking 22nd in the league accompanied by his sub par 73.7 QB rating (5th from the worst) that year.

Even with this horrendous passing game to keep the offense creative, the Vikes still managed to rush an avg of 4.5 yds a play, 146.1 yds a game, even when the defensive knew pretty much what to expect.

Now bring in old man Favre, the fallen war hero with a passion for football and himself. He was traded to the Jets last year, led them to playoff possibilities and promptly self destructed. His QB rating was a mediocre 81 he was 11th in yards, 22nd in avg yds per pass, and had the league high in interceptions, and hearing this sounds like no good way to promote Favre into the Vikings savior, and maybe he's not. But Gus Frerotte threw the ball significantly less then Favre did with the Jets, and Favre had the 5th highest completion percentage compared to Frerotte's 24th ranked.

The biggest part of the puzzle regardless of the stats is that Favre does not have to carry the team, the amazing ground game has carried itself when the passing game had no help to give. Favre has the ability to make good throws and be a great QB, we've seen that. And we've also seen him throw to the other team just as often these days.

If Favre can come in, make himself seem like he has a lot of potential to improve the passing game, and seems a viable threat (that Frerotte and Jackson are not), then defenses will have to start actually accounting for the idea that maybe just maybe the vikings will show some promise through the air, instead of on the ground where they normally stay (and stay well).

Remember how well All Day Adrian Peterson runs the ball even when the defenses know he's coming, then imagine what he could do if the defenses had to account for the passing game as well, backing off from the line for fear that the guy getting the ball hiked to him in the purple uniform actually is a threat, then ladies and gentlemen the vikings just might be unstoppable...Providing that Favre can still identify his receivers from the defenders.