Stewart should be able to make first downs in short-yardage situations right away because he is strong, powerful and runs low to the ground. He blocks very well for a young player and that means he will keep opposing rushers off the back of quarterback Jake Delhomme. Nothing endears a back more to his offensive coordinator and quarterback than the ability to block effectively. He also knows how to handle himself as a receiver, with good hands and moves.";
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The Steelers found the perfect complement to starting running back Willie Parker when they selected the Illinois star. Word out of Pittsburgh is that Mendenhall is a big man who can move the pile. But like Parker, his best asset is his speed. Give him a step and he can take it to the outside.
The big beneficiary of Mendenhall’s ability should be quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Big Ben was paid handsomely by the Steelers in the offseason and a consistent running game will make his job easier. If anything happens to Parker during the season, the feeling among Steelers insiders is that Mendenhall will be able to get the job done without much of a dropoff.";
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This second-round pick impressed the Steelers because of his performance in pre-draft workouts. He was quite ordinary last year at Texas, but that should not be an indicator of what will transpire this season in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are in need of impact wideouts and Sweed’s size and strength give him a significant edge over most defensive backs.
Sweed reminds some coaches of former Steelers and current Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress because he uses his size to take advantage of less physical defensive backs. Sweed won't become a Pro Bowler in his first season, but head coach Mike Tomlin is hoping for big plays in clutch situations. Sweed has the talent to do just that.";
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The Bills are desperate for help at the wide receiver position because Lee Evans cannot do it alone. Hardy doesn’t have the pedigree of some receivers, coming out of Indiana. But he does have the ability to separate and win the fight for the ball. He is also a very underrated pattern runner.
Hardy is not the most experienced player so his performance this summer is vital. He must show the Bills' coaching staff that he can learn the playbook and pay attention to play calls. This was not always the case during his college career. If head coach Dick Jauron is patient, Hardy has the talent to become a productive player in the second half of his rookie season. ";
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Few rookies will have the potential to become more of an impact player than Jenkins. The Cowboys are loaded with talent and many scouts and writers believe Dallas is the favorite to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this year. As strong as the Cowboys are, their weak spot last year was their coverage ability, which came to the forefront in their divisional playoff loss to the Giants.
Jenkins showed superb coverage ability at South Florida and the coaching staff believes Jenkins has enough talent to become a contributor right away. He may even become a starter. He has great confidence in one-on-one coverage and should become an asset for head coach Wade Phillips. ";
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The Bears were abysmal on the offensive side in 2007 and while quarterback Rex Grossman takes most of the abuse from the fans, the offensive line fell apart a year ago. The unit grew old and lacked athletic ability.
The pressure is on Williams to step in and use his intelligence to absorb what the coaching staff teaches him. A good athlete with a mean streak, Williams has to contribute right away if the Bears are going to have any chance of becoming more productive on offense this season.";
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The Niners need to become a more physical defense and the presence of middle linebacker Patrick Willis gives them an impact player who can make big plays when they need them. But Willis can’t do it alone and Balmer is one of the keys to the rest of the defense showing improvement.
Don’t think for a second that San Francisco's new defensive lineman doesn't have the ability to occupy two offensive linemen and destroy the blocking scheme. However, he needs to show his coaches he is motivated to work hard on every down. The presence of a demanding teammate in Willis should ensure that he has a fighter’s mentality from training camp through season's end.";
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The Chiefs made their big splash by selecting defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey with their first pick. They are counting on him to be a stud.
However, Albert’s versatility on the offensive line makes him an outstanding selection. The presence of a great back in Larry Johnson will allow him to show off his great skills. While his pass blocking is not great, his run blocking is even better than advertised.";
// END editorial data