Class of 2006 Review I: QBs and RBs

Class Of ’06 Review Part I: Quarterbacks and Running Backs

The period of grace is over. If, as they say, it takes three years for a draft class to show its true colours in the NFL, then the 2006 class is ripe for evaluating. This was, after all, an intriguing draft in that, despite the apparent wealth of talent available, the Houston Texans raised many eyebrows with their first overall pick. Now that the three seasons are over, it is time to see whether the Texans’ gamble paid off, and which teams are suffering the egg-wiping impact of a poor selection.

So what would be the Class of ’06 team? This position-by-position analysis tries to separate the busts from the steals with that perfect 20/20 vision that is three years of hindsight.

Quarterback
Twelve quarterbacks were chosen in the 2006 Draft and, out of those twelve, only one can be said to have a safe starting job. Vince Young (R1, #3) was tipped by many to be the first overall pick, and the Titans’ star showed the reasons why with an impressive – though not spectacular – rookie campaign that not only saw him win the Offensive Rookie of the Year, but also a place in the Pro Bowl. Matt Leinart (R1, #10) and Tavaris Jackson (R2, #64) showed similar solid flashes of talent for the Cardinals and the Vikings respectively. However, poor play in their second and third seasons, as well as injuries, saw them all unseated by veterans: Kerry Collins, Kurt Warner and Gus Frerotte. The Titans’ and Cardinals’ successes last season indicate that neither Young nor Leinart will be regaining their starting spots sometime soon (retirements aside, of course), while Jackson – who has been afforded a second opportunity – still has a great deal to prove.

Instead, our starting QB spot must go to Jay Cutler (R1, #11). A starter for the Broncos since the tail-end of his rookie season, the Vanderbilt product has solidified his place in the team and demonstrated year-on-year improvement. In 2008, for example, he threw for a career-high and AFC-leading 4,526 yards, contributing to his first Pro Bowl appearance. With a fleet of talented young receivers, Cutler has shown the long-term potential that his classmates have lacked so far, making him the best of an otherwise lacklustre bunch. With his big-play ability, Young would serve as our backup, a position he has gained considerable experience in so far.

Running Backs
The Class of ’06 Team will use two running backs and, in this case, we are spoilt for choice. Many of the big names chosen have made a significant impact, though, annoyingly, some left it late. It was only until this year, for example, that DeAngelo Williams (R1, #27) and LenDale White (R2, #45) have shown us what they are capable of doing. Instead, there are a number of other options who have displayed their abilities on a more long-term basis. Reggie Bush (R1, #3) is, unfortunately, not one of these. The Saints back, who some had predicted as the first overall pick, has had a solid, though uninspiring, start to his NFL career. As much of a big-play and multi-skill threat as he might be (as a rusher, a receiver and a returner), his stats come short of Pro Bowler Joseph Addai (R1, #30). A consistently productive player, Addai has cemented his place in the Colts’ backfield and has minimized the impact of Edgerrin James’ departure. Although it must be noted that his numbers dropped last season, Addai played a big part in the Colts’ Super Bowl-winning season, where he was still a rookie. He must now prove that he can recover positively from injury to avoid being overtaken by his peers.

The problem now is who to start alongside Addai. If we were looking for a third-down or goal-line specialist, then either Bush or White would be worthy of serious consideration. However, if we were to concentrate on pure ability as demonstrated in their young NFL careers, then we should look elsewhere. Laurence Maroney (R1, #21) is an option, but the New England Patriot is still to put up significant numbers, especially given an injury-plagued third season. Our answer instead lies in the diminutive form of Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew (R2, #60). With over 40 touchdowns to his name, has shown remarkable consistency in yards-per-carry, despite sharing the load with Fred Taylor. Although he is yet to break the 1,000-yard mark, his success within his team cannot be argued, and it is this progression over his three years in the League that make him right for our team.

In honesty, running back is a strong position in the Class of 2006. Should the aforementioned late-bloomers maintain their form, and Bush start delivering on his potential, then Addai and Jones-Drew could find their starting jobs at risk, and this rookie class develop into one of the most successful at the running back position.