NFL Rookie Watch
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NFL Rookie Watch
A.J. Hawk
Each week of the season we will rank NFL rookies in terms of their overall impact on the field. The former Ohio State star and No. 5 overall draft pick kicks off this week's preseason edition. Hawk should rack up a lot of tackles for the Packers this year; if he doesn't, they're in big trouble. Hawk's only shortcoming is his lack of flashiness, which could make it difficult for him to move up this list.
Mario Williams
He makes it into the top 10 because he's the No. 1 overall pick and the Texans will do whatever they can to free him up to rush the passer. But he had better produce quickly or the boo birds will be out in Houston. Watch out for second-round pick Demeco Ryans, a linebacker who could end up having a better season than Williams.
Vince Young
Young completed just 50.9 percent of his passes in the preseason, but the Titans' QB situation is such a mess that the team has promised to use the rookie for at least part of this week's game against the Jets. Young showed improvement during the offseason and has a knack for making plays on third down, which should help Tennessee.
Vernon Davis
How can you not like a rookie who this preseason paid homage to T.O. by celebrating on the Cowboys star? Davis is cocky and has the physical skills to back it up. He'd be a little higher on this list if the 49ers' passing offense wasn't so shaky.
D'Brickashaw Ferguson
It's hard for an offensive tackle to catch people's eyes -- they're usually called out for their mistakes. But Ferguson is athletic enough to get out into the open field and really hammer some would-be defenders. If he can avoid making too many rookie errors, he should be a standout for the Jets.
Wali Lundy
New Texans coach Gary Kubiak passed on Reggie Bush with the No. 1 overall pick partly because Kubiak turned so many lower-round running backs into stars in Denver. With Domanick Davis hurt, Lundy will start for the Texans, and the sixth-round pick should benefit from Kubiak's zone-blocking scheme.
Greg Jennings
He led the NFL with 328 receiving yards this preseason and was named the Packers' starter against the Bears this week. Green Bay's coaching staff can't believe how quickly the second-round pick out of Western Michigan is developing.
Kamerion Wimbley
He had two sacks during the preseason and has impressed the coaching staff with his speed. Cleveland ranked last in the NFL with 23 sacks last year and is counting on Wimbley to lead the charge this season.
Mike Bell
Broncos coach Mike Shanahan won't say who Denver's primary running back will be, but Bell will likely see plenty of action against the Rams. The undrafted rookie out of Arizona averaged 5.3 yards per carry in the preseason. In 1995, Terrell Davis, a sixth-rounder, became the lowest draft pick ever to surpass 1,000 yards in his rookie year. With the always-effective Broncos line in front of him, Bell could knock Davis out of the record book.
Reggie Bush
Bush, who struggled at times during the preseason, makes his much-awaited debut against a Browns rushing defense that ranked 30th last season. The No. 2 overall pick will line up all over the field and should get his season started with a bang.