These are the picks for the 2002 season. The bold represents the team selected to win. Games in red represent the Upset of the Week. At the bottom, The weekly and overall records for the season appear at the bottom. These picks are based purely on winners and losers with no consideration from the spread. The spread is used only to determine upsets for the Upset of the Week.
It's not as easy for a defensive rookie to make a name for himself as it is for an offensive one. They have to open eyes without the ball so there's less opportunities to draw attention to oneself. For a defender to make viewers watch them, they need to make big plays: A sack on third down, make a key interception, force a fumble, or stuff a player on a third or fourth down play. Tackles won't draw a lot of attention unless they're in abundance, like 15 in a game. Somewhere in that performance there must be a big hit that fans remember.
There's a good number of rookie defenders that consistently play for their teams, but how many had a big effect? The ones that have are easy to find:
Any discussion about this year's defensive crop starts with defensive end Julius Peppers of Carolina, easily the favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year. He's lived up to being picked second overall in the draft by sacking the quarterback. Already with nine to lead the league, he's closing in on the rookie record set by Jevon Kearse in that category. He's also picked up an interception and forced four fumbles.
Fellow defensive ends aren't in putting up the numbers Peppers is, but are contributing. Seventh-round pick Carlos Hall was forced into play due to injury to the Titans' Kearse in the first game of the season. He came off the bench and picked up three sacks. He's currently playing hurt because Tennessee is lacking depth at the position, which explains the one sack since week two on. Undersized Dwight Freeney was drafted by Indianapolis as a situational pass rusher. At the halfway mark, he has three sacks. It's a similar story for Kalimba Edwards of Detroit. He has one start under his belt, with 2.5 QBs notched around his waistline.
To be fair, defensive end wasn't a deep position is the '02 draft. But defensive tackle was. While there have been a few that are living up to expectations, there's more disappointment than anything. Peppers' teammate at North Carolina, Ryan Sims, missed camp due to a contract holdout and quickly saw his season ended after six games due to injury. Albert Haynesworth, while full of potential, was considered immature. So far his game hasn't grown up to the pro level. He's yet to earn a start after being drafted in the first round.
As for the productive DTs, Tony Weaver is part of a youth movement in Baltimore as it tries to rebuild a defense that was one of the best ever in NFL history just two years ago. He's done a good job of occupying blocks to let the defenders behind him amass tackles. John Henderson was tabbed by Jacksonville in the first round and he's been very good. He's started the last four games and has five sacks in those starts, including three in his first start.
Linebacker was another weak position. Only six inside linebackers were drafted, two linebackers of any kind selected in the first round. Napoleon Harris, one of the two LBs taken in the first round, starts for the veteran Oakland Raiders and is tied for third in tackles. Ben Leber didn't hear his name until the second day but has as surprising as his team, the San Diego Chargers. Leber started every game thus far and while he gets his tackles, he's proven to be a pretty good pass rusher as well, taking the quarterback down four times.
Leber has a rookie teammate in cornerback Quentin Jammer who's starting to come on. Jammer started the last two games and had a pass defensed in each. Against Oakland, he shadowed the likes of wide receivers Jerry Rice and Tim Brown, a difficult task for even the most wily veteran. Jammer, a big, physical corner at 6-0 204, didn't shy away from contact, making seven tackles in the game as well. On that Raiders team, Jammer is opposed by Phillip Buchannon. Unfortunately his season ended prematurely after breaking his wrist. He was a big-play guy so far, with two Ints, one returned 81 yards for a touchdown, and a punt return for a 83-yard score as well.
When talking about safeties, start in Baltimore as the Ravens have a pair of rookies patrolling the middle for the team and doing a good job. Starting with the surprise of the team, strong safety Will Demps was an undrafted rookie out of San Diego State and right now is best known for the armor he wears on his right arm. He's started five games for B-more and is fourth on the team in tackles. To his side is Ed Reed, known as a player who came up with big plays at key times for the University of Miami. Reed is tied with Demps in tackles with 29 and also is tied for the team lead in picks with two.
The play of Roy Williams in training camp was so good, the Dallas Cowboys moved veteran Darren Woodson to free safety to take advantage of Williams' play making. He started every game and leads the team in tackles, recovered a fumble, and has picked up two sacks.
Baltimore at Atlanta - W
While everybody's busy watching in wonder Falcons quarterback make amazing play after amazing play, the fact that he is yet to throw an interception has been overlooked. For an ordinary quarterback, that would be unbelievable. But Vick, unlike most of the passers, averages something like 15 yards per carry on third downs. Vick and the Falcons run away with this game.
Cincinnati at Houston - W
The Cincy players stand behind their coach. So when Dick LeBeau guaranteed a win against the expansion Texans, they repeated his statements. Hell, I'm gullible. If Cincinnati believes, I will too. The Bengals pull off the Uspet of the Week.
Dallas at Detroit - W
Cowboys Free safety Darren Woodson is upset over a fine. On a pass play, he clocked Seattle's Darrell Jackson, preventing a reception. Jackson was knocked unconscious and later had a seizure in the locker room that nearly killed him. And Woodson's complaining about a fine? He has his health, unlike Jackson. The Lions edge Dallas.
Minnesota at Tampa Bay - W
Rob Johnson, The softest quarterback in the league, was knocked out of the game last week because an eyelash fell into his eye. Fortunately for TB, Brad Johnson is back to lead the Buccaneers to a win.
New England at Buffalo - W
Everybody understands why NE head coach Bill Belichick traded quarterback Drew Bledsoe away. But no one understands why he traded the former franchise QB to a division rival. Was Belichick that desperate to get Bledsoe out of town? Some say he knows how to get to Bledsoe. Now is the time to prove it. Belichick schemes a Patriots win.
Philadelphia at Chicago - W
While everyone is busy watching the amazing, young quarterback running around in Atlanta, Philly's Donovan McNabb has been making ill plays with his feet as well as his arm. For the second time this season, he ran for over 100 yards. Michael Vick is yet to reach the century mark. If the Bears got beat by Minnesota, what makes you think they have much of a chance against Philadelphia? This will be all Eagles.
Tennessee at Indianapolis - L
Indy QB Peyton Manning is being criticized for calling audibles during the game. Give the man some slack. For goodness sakes, look at his coaching staff that was imported from Tampa Bay. Remember how explosive those offensives were under then head coach Tony Dungy? OK, then. Watch Manning call the plays and lead the Colts to victory.
N.Y. Jets at San Diego - L
Jets head coach Herman Edwards from his recent press conference: "You play to win the game. Hello?" Unfortunately he was addressing the media. His players don't get the message. The Chargers play and win the game.
San Francisco at Oakland - W
Raiders wide out Tim Brown raised his voice over being second fiddle in the passing game to Jerry Rice. Whining worked because Brown caught a baker's dozen passes for 144 yards in another Oakland loss. What's next? A reserve offensive lineman complaining that he's not inserted into the lineup on goal line situations on tackle eligible plays? The locker's beginning to simmer. Wait until the 49ers to hit town because they will cook Oakland.
St. Louis at Arizona - W
I thought apples were out of season in Arizona? Apparently a few Cardinals players raided an apple tree patrolled by a gracious snake and ate the fruit. After a 4-2 start, their Eden is falling apart. Dark clouds roll in behind the Rams as they rain on 'Zona's great start.
Washington at Seattle - W
Week 1: "I am Emmitt Smith." Week 2: "I am Emmitt Smith." Week 7: "I am Emmitt Smith." Week 8: "I am Emmitt Smith. Really, I am!" So the Seahawks haven't played Emmitt Smith every week, but they sure make ball carriers look like future Hall of Famer during his heydays on a weekly basis. "Emmitt Smith" will come up large for the Redskins as they trample Seattle.
Jacksonville at N.Y. Giants - L
The only thing more impressive with the ability of Giants tight end Jeremy Shockey is his mouth. About a week ago, he said Philadelphia's secondary wasn't very good, claiming the defensive backs got lucky a lot. Media relations decides to make Shockey hold a single weekly press conference for the rest of the season with six-second delay to edit out anything he might say to piss of his opponent. Abridged transcripts won't be enough to keep the 'Cats calm. The Jaguars pounce on New York and devour the Giants.
Miami at Green Bay - Monday Night - W
Is Ray Lucas hard on himself? After his four interception performance in his first start of the season, the Miami quarterback insisted, "The way I played today was probably the worst a quarterback has ever played in the history of the NFL," Well cheer up, Lucas. At least you can't get any worse. With quarterback Brett Favre playing despite a bad right knee, the Packers deal the 'Fins another loss.
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