Jacksonville Jaguars Contributing Rookies
By Editorial Staff
NFL Mocks is going to do a team by team look at what rookies have the potential to contribute during their first season. Every year there are countless rookies that have major and minor impacts. Everyone expects the 1st round picks to make an impact but we hope to point out some other players that may help your favorite team win games.
The Jacksonville Jaguars needed to sell tickets, so they drafted Tyson Alualu. Confused? We all were. What if Bill Parcells made the pick? The Dolphins traded out immediately after GM Gene Smith drafted him and drafted a player at the same position. Coincidence? I think not. Since the draft, Bill Polian has said that it was the safest pick of the first round and that he likes the Jaguars as a surprise team. This is a team on the rise, but they need a better QB and coach. The pieces are starting to fall into place for this team.
Tyson Alualu: The starting DT spot next to run stuffing Terrence Knighton is his. He teamed up with fellow new Jaguar defensive lineman Aaron Kampman on a sack on the very first play against the Dolphins last week. He had a calf injury at the beginning of camp which caused him to miss the first preseason game, but is now practicing and playing full-time.
Larry Hart: Undersized defensive end, was drafted to be a Robert Mathis type defensive end. Has the speed to get around the corner and the strength to get under tackles’ pads and push them backwards.
Austen Lane: Derrick Harvey is the starter, but Austen Lane is trying to prove his worth. He’s been quoted two times now saying that he’s going out there to cause pain. Yea, well, we’ll see. Nevertheless, he and Hart look to help the Jags get more sacks than their league-low 14 from last year.
Deji Karim: Karim will have to wear a cast on his hand for a couple weeks, but he’s been proving in practice and in preseason that he’s a little dynamo, like MJD. He’ll be the kick returner and he can be a playmaker if he gets the ball in the offense.
Scotty McGee: Is looking to be the punt returner.