PROUDMONKEY
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This morning I opened up Lindys 2008 Pro Footballs Draft Guide, and on page 4, the magazine makes the following quote about California’s Junior WR DeSean Jackson while discussing underclassmen rankings for the upcoming NFL draft…
“…is a big play threat as a receiver and return man. NFL teams just hope he’s not the second coming of Ted Ginn, Jr.â€
Now I will admit that I would have bet my life that Miami was going to draft Brady Quinn with their first round pick last year when they were on the clock, and a part of me wishes that I could go back in time and change that first pick to Quinn because the quarterback position has been so elusive for Miami since Dan Marino retired. Being that it was the ninth overall pick, and the fact that every analyst out there was equally blown away by what they called a “reach’ of a pick for someone who has health issues, it was eventually conceded on television that this is a copycat league, and the emergence of Devin Hester with the Bears influenced Miami to follow suit.
Cam Cameron did himself no favors when his first media comment about the pick of Ted Ginn was how happy fans would be with Ted’s “contributions on special teams as a returner.†This franchise needs a quarterback in the worse way, but for Cameron to pick Ginn when arguably the best QB on the board literally falls in your lap, then to say “contributions on special teams†instead of something to the affect of“a exciting explosive new offensive weapon†certainly put Ted Ginns rookie campaign in a very precarious situation.
To no fault of his own, Ted Ginn Jr had expectations cast upon him last year by some fans and experts more or less indicated “you better be five times better than Devin Hester or you’re a bust.†Had Ginn been a second round pick for Miami, obviously the pick would have made sense and been much more digestible for fans and analyst alike. Cameron was the first offensive minded head coach this team had seen since Shula, and we all knew he would shake things up in the draft on the offensive side of the ball.
So you can argue all day long whether or not the Dolphins made the right decision by selecting Ginn over Quinn, but in my opinion you cannot say Ginn is a bust, and a bad NFL player. It’s way too early to take such a sour stance. Maybe five years from now after Ginn, Beck and Quinn have been seasoned starters; we can fairly look back and decide what the better decision was. Ginn had a good rookie year, it was not outstanding at a pro bowl level, but I would give his rookie year a grade of A minus overall.
In my opinion, rookie WRs have the much difficult time transitioning to the NFL game than most positions, and very rarely do you see a rookie step in at the WR position and take command of the game. This is exactly why in the world of fantasy football, analyst and experts always which receivers entering their 3rd year will finally breakout.
Ginn will only improve as he gains more experience and both the quarterback position and offensive line stabilizes and becomes respectable. Given his rookie year was part of the 2007 leagues worst team and the constant change at QB & offensive line, injuries to Ronnie Brown, and trade of Chambers, Ginn was asked to exceed the goals of his original rookie year, and he did so more or less.
Since the day he was drafted, I have likened him to Carolinas Steve Smith for a few reasons.
They are small receivers similar in size, have tremendous breakaway speed, demonstrated big play potential at wide out and kickoff/punt returns in college, and are a threat to take it to a house each time they touch the ball.
On the flip side, Steve Smith has certain intangibles that Ginn currently does not possess. Smith is a much better route runner, plays injured, about 10lbs heaver, and is physically stronger. So for Ginn to continue to develop as an elite NFL receiver, he must work on route running, avoid injuries, and be more decisive on kickoff returns. Ginn appeared pensive on kickoff returns but much more aggressive on punt returns for whatever reason.
From a rookie season standpoint, Ted Ginn outperformed Steve Smith statistically in most categories. Where Steve Smith separated himself from Ginn is holding advantages in yards per reception, and average yards per kickoff and punt returns. Ginn ranked sixth in the entire NFL last year on punt return average and scored three TDs on punt returns, with two of those TDs negated by penalties.
So Ginn supported Cameron’s instincts for drafting him although it will be always argued about the timing of the pick. Ginn would have never made it to the Dolphins second round pick that is for sure.
Let’s compare rookie statistics between Steve Smith and Ted Ginn Jr…
Receptions-Ginn-34---Smith-10
Reception Yards-Ginn-420---Smith-154
Avg per Reception-Ginn-12.4---Smith-15.4
Total kickoff/punt returns-Ginn-87---Smith-90
Kickoff/Punt yards-Ginn-1,663---Smith-1,795
Avg per Return-Ginn-19.1---Smith-19.9
Returns for TDs-Ginn-1---Smith-3…Ginn had two more called back due to penalties
Total TDs-Ginn-3---Smith-3
Total Offensive Yards-Ginn-2,083---Smith-1,949
Average per Touch-Ginn-17.2---Smith19.4
We all know what kind of stud Steve Smith is in the NFL, and he may or may not be the right athlete to compare Ted Ginn. But given the pressure and disdain placed on Ginn for being picked over Quinn last year, its way too early to say Ginn will not become a very good WR and return specialist for the Miami Dolphins for years to come. I for one am rooting for Ted Ginn Jr.
read "A CASE FOR JAKE LONG" at
http://thedolphininsider.blogspot.com/
“…is a big play threat as a receiver and return man. NFL teams just hope he’s not the second coming of Ted Ginn, Jr.â€
Now I will admit that I would have bet my life that Miami was going to draft Brady Quinn with their first round pick last year when they were on the clock, and a part of me wishes that I could go back in time and change that first pick to Quinn because the quarterback position has been so elusive for Miami since Dan Marino retired. Being that it was the ninth overall pick, and the fact that every analyst out there was equally blown away by what they called a “reach’ of a pick for someone who has health issues, it was eventually conceded on television that this is a copycat league, and the emergence of Devin Hester with the Bears influenced Miami to follow suit.
Cam Cameron did himself no favors when his first media comment about the pick of Ted Ginn was how happy fans would be with Ted’s “contributions on special teams as a returner.†This franchise needs a quarterback in the worse way, but for Cameron to pick Ginn when arguably the best QB on the board literally falls in your lap, then to say “contributions on special teams†instead of something to the affect of“a exciting explosive new offensive weapon†certainly put Ted Ginns rookie campaign in a very precarious situation.
To no fault of his own, Ted Ginn Jr had expectations cast upon him last year by some fans and experts more or less indicated “you better be five times better than Devin Hester or you’re a bust.†Had Ginn been a second round pick for Miami, obviously the pick would have made sense and been much more digestible for fans and analyst alike. Cameron was the first offensive minded head coach this team had seen since Shula, and we all knew he would shake things up in the draft on the offensive side of the ball.
So you can argue all day long whether or not the Dolphins made the right decision by selecting Ginn over Quinn, but in my opinion you cannot say Ginn is a bust, and a bad NFL player. It’s way too early to take such a sour stance. Maybe five years from now after Ginn, Beck and Quinn have been seasoned starters; we can fairly look back and decide what the better decision was. Ginn had a good rookie year, it was not outstanding at a pro bowl level, but I would give his rookie year a grade of A minus overall.
In my opinion, rookie WRs have the much difficult time transitioning to the NFL game than most positions, and very rarely do you see a rookie step in at the WR position and take command of the game. This is exactly why in the world of fantasy football, analyst and experts always which receivers entering their 3rd year will finally breakout.
Ginn will only improve as he gains more experience and both the quarterback position and offensive line stabilizes and becomes respectable. Given his rookie year was part of the 2007 leagues worst team and the constant change at QB & offensive line, injuries to Ronnie Brown, and trade of Chambers, Ginn was asked to exceed the goals of his original rookie year, and he did so more or less.
Since the day he was drafted, I have likened him to Carolinas Steve Smith for a few reasons.
They are small receivers similar in size, have tremendous breakaway speed, demonstrated big play potential at wide out and kickoff/punt returns in college, and are a threat to take it to a house each time they touch the ball.
On the flip side, Steve Smith has certain intangibles that Ginn currently does not possess. Smith is a much better route runner, plays injured, about 10lbs heaver, and is physically stronger. So for Ginn to continue to develop as an elite NFL receiver, he must work on route running, avoid injuries, and be more decisive on kickoff returns. Ginn appeared pensive on kickoff returns but much more aggressive on punt returns for whatever reason.
From a rookie season standpoint, Ted Ginn outperformed Steve Smith statistically in most categories. Where Steve Smith separated himself from Ginn is holding advantages in yards per reception, and average yards per kickoff and punt returns. Ginn ranked sixth in the entire NFL last year on punt return average and scored three TDs on punt returns, with two of those TDs negated by penalties.
So Ginn supported Cameron’s instincts for drafting him although it will be always argued about the timing of the pick. Ginn would have never made it to the Dolphins second round pick that is for sure.
Let’s compare rookie statistics between Steve Smith and Ted Ginn Jr…
Receptions-Ginn-34---Smith-10
Reception Yards-Ginn-420---Smith-154
Avg per Reception-Ginn-12.4---Smith-15.4
Total kickoff/punt returns-Ginn-87---Smith-90
Kickoff/Punt yards-Ginn-1,663---Smith-1,795
Avg per Return-Ginn-19.1---Smith-19.9
Returns for TDs-Ginn-1---Smith-3…Ginn had two more called back due to penalties
Total TDs-Ginn-3---Smith-3
Total Offensive Yards-Ginn-2,083---Smith-1,949
Average per Touch-Ginn-17.2---Smith19.4
We all know what kind of stud Steve Smith is in the NFL, and he may or may not be the right athlete to compare Ted Ginn. But given the pressure and disdain placed on Ginn for being picked over Quinn last year, its way too early to say Ginn will not become a very good WR and return specialist for the Miami Dolphins for years to come. I for one am rooting for Ted Ginn Jr.
read "A CASE FOR JAKE LONG" at
http://thedolphininsider.blogspot.com/
