Archive for Knowshon Moreno
2009 Rookie of the Year Candidates
Posted by: | CommentsThe NFL season is winding down, and the playoff picture is starting to come into focus. I have followed the rookies for the whole year on both my site and this one, keeping a close eye on those who stand out as top of the class. With the offensive and defensive Rookie of the Year award, there are a few contenders that are at the forefront of the discussion. Many of these rookies have won at least one of the Upper Deck Rookie of the Week awards, and there are still three weeks left for the others to jump on board.
First, I want to discuss my thoughts on the offensive side of the ball, as these are the players that usually receive the most attention. Each of these candidates has meant a great deal to their team (some of which have even won games single handedly). They’ve also had some of the better rookie seasons in recent memory, and the exclamation point will be on the way for two of them come February.
Percy Harvin
If there is one player that has redefined the word “electrifying” this year, Percy Harvin is him. In addition to catching six TD passes from Brett Favre, he also has run back two kicks for touchdowns as well. He leads all rookies in plays over twenty yards from scrimmage, and has been Favre’s favorite third down target for the whole year. He has also functioned as a running back in some cases, carrying the ball out of the Wildcat and motion formations (some of which went for good yardage). He is pretty much the complete package, but the problem of migraines late in the season may hamper his run for this award. He has already missed one game, and is on track to miss at least one more. Regardless, his odds are still pretty good to come home with the trophy.
Knowshon Moreno
Denver has always been famous for churning out great running backs, and Moreno is no exception. He leads rookie running backs in yards, attempts, yards per carry, touchdowns, and has put together a very nice rookie campaign. Denver started off as one of the three undefeated teams into the middle of the season, and Moreno was a factor in those wins. His five touchdowns are tops on the team, and he is primed for a 1,000 yard season with 837 yards and three weeks to go. Moreno also looks like he will be a force in the years to come, as the Broncos running game has drastically improved with his arrival. His drawbacks are few, but the ones that stick out in my mind are a few key fumbles in key situations. However, this shouldn’t hurt him too much: if Harvin falters and misses the last few games, Moreno is probably the favorite.
Matt Stafford
Before last year, rookie quarterbacks were never expected to put up good seasons due to the time needed to develop into an efficient playmaker. Stafford was drafted by the Lions to take over the reins as soon as possible and has done that effectively. He brought the first two wins in the last two years to the team, one coming on the last play of the game with a hurt shoulder. He also set the rookie record for touchdowns and passing yardage in a single game, making a good case for his winning the award. But the problem with Stafford all season has been injuries, as he missed a number of games with knee and shoulder problems. Stafford has done his best to make us forget those weeks, but at this point he will need some big numbers to convince us that he deserves consideration.
Mark Sanchez
This season has been about as big of a roller coaster as it could be for Sanchez, starting very high and going through some twists and turns. Right now, the roller coaster is probably at its lowest, with Sanchez having missed the last game, but the team record could do a lot more for him when compared to Stafford. Sanchez has also thrown a lot of interceptions, but those came on the back of some great performances early in the season. I’m not sure how much of a chance he has right now, but he still has some time to make his case.
Beanie Wells
Although he started off slow, Wells has slowly become the running man in Arizona, putting up touchdowns in the last few games. He has also performed above expectations with yards per carry average, and has done a very good job in getting the struggling Cardinals running game on track. It used to be that the Cardinals would come in and hit you with the gruesome wide receiver twosome, but now there is an added element with Wells carrying the ball. I like Wells’ potential in years to come . . . but as for Rookie of the Year, he is a longshot.
Hakeem Nicks
I think Hakeem Nicks has quietly put together an awesome rookie season. He leads the rookies in receiving yards and is tied for the lead in touchdown receptions, but hasn’t received the same kind of attention as someone like Harvin. He definitely has a shot if the Giants can put together a nice run to get into the playoffs, but it will take some major convincing to dethrone the people ahead of him.
When it comes to defensive Rookie of the Year, there are really only two names in the discussion, mainly because of how well they have performed in their team’s overall defensive arrangement.
Brian Cushing
Cushing is the only rookie to have put up 100 tackles, and has also had 2.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, and a few interceptions. He has truly been a one man wrecking crew, and his credentials are top notch for Defensive ROY. I would say that Cushing is basically the end all and be all of this award, but the overall Texans defense has been less than stellar.
Clay Matthews
Matthews has been a freaking beast for the Packers in their 3-4 defense. He has 8.0 sacks and has put together an awesome season. He may only have 40 tackles, but he did rip away a touchdown from Adrian Peterson when the Packers played the Vikings early in the season. Its going to be him or Cushing, and that is a no doubter.
With that, my picks so far are going to be Percy Harvin and Brian Cushing, but there is still a chunk of season left to play. Many of the rookies are going to be playing on teams that are fighting for their lives, and that may lead to some changes in the rankings. Who knows: once the season comes to an end, we may have someone new altogether.
Also, be sure to continue to enter the codes from all of your favorite Upper Deck cards, as you still have the chance to win great prizes if your code matches the Rookie of the Week. Of course, it couldn’t hurt to bank on these guys, as they are mostly all past winners. You can also win an autographed football of all the rookies who attended the 2009 Rookie Premiere, giving you another reason to diligently follow the Own The Rookies site.
Adam Gellman runs the collecting blog Sports Cards Uncensored, and has been a collector of all things sports for over 15 years. To see more of his work, visit www.sportscardsuncensored.com (warning: strong language!).
Popularity: 1% [?]
Fantasy Football Insider: Matt Forte – Hero or Zero?
Posted by: | CommentsEntering the 2009 NFL Season, many fantasy football owners had a pretty good idea of who they were going to draft. Some people were going to attempt to draft the same exact team that won them a championship last year, while others were looking to improve on their record by stacking their team with fantasy heroes. A fantasy hero is a player who can carry your team week in and week out; the only problem is that these players change drastically from year to year. So, people end up disappointed when they successfully draft their championship team from a year ago, only to find themselves with a 0-4 record heading into Week 5. It’s not too late to salvage your season, but you must do so without your heroes of the past.
Last season, Chicago running back Matt Forte surprised the nation, and was one of the most coveted running backs by Week 4. He rushed for 1,238 yards and 8 touchdowns while hauling in an additional 63 receptions for 477 yards and four touchdowns. Forte proved valuable because he got points for both rushing AND receiving. The only other running backs who add this same type of value to your team would be LT and Brian Westbrook. Well, if you did any type of homework in the offseason, then you know about all the concerns surrounding the health of both superstars. So, you may have made the right decision in staying away from these two backs. You also may have concluded that Matt Forte would be the next-best option. This is where a lot of people went wrong.
As I mentioned earlier, fantasy heroes change from year to year. The year Forte had last year as a rookie was borderline unbelievable. But, to think that he could somehow replicate last year was simply wishful thinking. Let’s evaluate his situation and see where many people went astray.
Kyle Orton was the quarterback for the Bears last year. Ever since Orton has started at Purdue, he has been the type of quarterback who relies heavily on his running backs and tight ends. This is the reason that Matt Forte and Greg Olsen had a combined 117 receptions! With the addition of the Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, many people felt this would help Forte’s numbers. In actuality, people couldn’t be any more wrong. A running back in the same backfield as Cutler has never caught more than 17 passes since his freshman year at Vanderbilt! In essence, Cutler hurts your running backs more than he helps them.
So, if you’re holding onto Forte in your leagues with the mindset that he is going to wake up soon and once again become that fantasy hero, I wouldn’t count on it this year. I am not saying he won’t be good, but I am saying that he is nowhere near as valuable to your team as he was last year. Here’s some advice: Be the proactive one who picks up Knowshon Moreno (if he’s still available), or Correll Buckhalter, or any Denver running back for that matter, since they are in the same backfield as Orton. I can guarantee that by the end of the year, the production from Denver’s running back(s) will exceed that of Forte’s by at least 40 fantasy points.
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SP Authentic Rookies: A Retrospective
Posted by: | CommentsEver since the SP brand took hold back in the mid 1990s, many collectors have adopted SP Authentic as their favorite product of the card year. It has given us some of the most valuable football cards in history; from Peyton Manning’s future watch in 1998 to Tom Brady’s rookie in 2000, SP Authentic has never failed to deliver on its mission. Each year it promises extremely valuable cards, quality designs and amazing content, all for a very inexpensive price. It has continued to captivate our interests since the beginning.
My favorite part of the set, the SP Rookie Authentics Patch Autos, have always surprised me with their simple beauty. From the looks of the previews (check them out on Upper Deck’s Facebook page), it’s another touchdown for the brand. Even though SP Authentic is one of the most complex sets released each year, the Rookie Authentics are always my number one target.
Since 2001, when the first Rookie Authentics style card was put into the set, these cards have been some of the most valuable and popular each year. Michael Vick and LaDanian Tomlinson set the ball in motion that time, which will continue this year with Matthew Stafford, Mark Sanchez and the rest of the 2009 class.
Here is a look back at each of the cards since 2001, as well as what they have meant to SP Authentic over the years.
2001 Future Watch Rookies
Key Players: LaDanian Tomlinson, Michael Vick, Reggie Wayne
Back in 2001, having a rookie memorabilia card was an absurd idea to many collectors. With the future watch cards, it came to life with a stunning design that has never left the minds of the people who own them. LaDanian Tomlinson’s card, Michael Vick’s autographed card, and a few of the others continue to carry huge value in the hobby. For example, Vick’s card still fetched hundreds of dollars even after his departure from the league two years ago. They were low numbered, amazingly put together, and featured something that had never been done before: a piece of the rookie himself. In 2008, SP Authentic brought back this design for players who didn’t have the chance to be featured, thus completing one of the most epic concepts in the history of sports cards.
2002 Rookie Authentics Patch
Key Players: Clinton Portis, Julius Peppers, David Garrard
Renamed for 2002, the Rookie Authentics were created to feature more of the players present at the new annual Rookie Premiere. The concept was similar to the cards from 2001, but featured bigger patches and more autographed versions of the cards. These also featured more cards with parallel versions, providing more value to the collectors who sought them. These cards set the precedent for today’s rookie authentics, cementing the future of the brand for years to come.
2003 Rookie Authentics Patch
Key Players: Anquan Boldin, Dallas Clark, Larry Johnson, Carson Palmer
For the 2003 edition, more autos were featured for the top players. For the first time, cards featured players with their helmets off, in non-game poses. The die-cut windows were also a first, this time right in the center of the picture instead of in the corner. Numbering of these cards shrunk as the amount of players grew, making these cards extremely hard to find. More players were also added to the Premiere’s guest list, thus making the Rookie Authentics the focus of the product for the first time.
2004 Rookie Authentics Patch Auto
Key Players: Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers, Steven Jackson
When 2004 rolled around, the collectors knew an extremely talented class was going to be joining the ranks of the NFL. They were also very excited to see that ALL of the 2004 Rookie Authentics were autographed this time around, setting the standard for later years. Now that an autograph had been added for every one of the cards, the set became one of the most collected in history, as well as one of the most valuable. Even as recent as yesterday, posts on blogs and message boards have been starting up declaring the sheer “awesomeness” of these cards. I am in total agreement.
2005 Rookie Authentics Patch Auto
Key Players: Larry Fitzgerald, Frank Gore, Jason Campbell, Ronnie Brown
Now heralded as the best cards of the year, the Rookie Authentics of 2005 had large shoes to fill after the previous rookie class’ cards. Since the rookie premiere had expanded into one of the must see events of the year, Upper Deck now had a record number of subjects to incorporate. Even though the rookies didn’t have the bang that 2004 had brought to the table, the design did not provide any disappointment. This was also the first year that 1-of-1 NFL Logo patches were instituted into the product, creating some of the most ridiculously nice cards ever produced. Now that the Rookie Authentics had become some of the most popular cards of they year, adding more chase elements to the set was icing on the cake.
2006 Rookie Authentics Patch Auto
Key Players: Reggie Bush, Vince Young, LenDale White, Matt Leinart
When you look up the word “hype” in the dictionary, there is a photo of the 2006 rookie class. On the winds of this humongous storm, 2006 SP Authentic and 2006 Exquisite were talked about as having the potential to be the most valuable cards ever produced. For a while they were, and even still command top dollar more than three years later. Even though some setbacks have befallen the rookies of that year, the cards remain extremely popular due to their simple design, and “in your face” style player photos. With the standard set structure of Base, Gold, and Platinum 1-of-1, this product built on the foundation provided by the 2005 set. Also, in a time where almost every company had switched to label signatures, the 2006 set remained completely hard signed, a feat that many had deemed impossible.
2007 Rookie Authentics Patch Auto
Key Players: Adrian Peterson, Brady Quinn, Calvin Johnson, Marshawn Lynch
Like the previous class, 2007 brought lots of potential into the season. So appropriately, the cards also brought many amazing things that year. Switching to a horizontal orientation for the first time ever, as well as a stark white and team color presentation, these cards were collector favorites. The 2007 offering also featured two player pictures for the first time: one with a game style picture, and one featuring a portrait. As players like Adrian Peterson tore it up on the field, this set burst onto the scene, setting records as some of the most valuable versions of the Rookie Authentics since 2001.
2008 Rookie Authentics Patch Auto
Key Players: Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Chris Johnson, Matt Forte
Continuing with the horizontal orientation of 2007, the 2008 cards promised to deliver everything that previous years had and more. There were more per case, helping more collectors have access to their favorite rookie cards of the year. Simplicity was the name of the game with 2008’s set, and the adage “less is more” was great to show just how amazing these cards were.
2009 Rookie Authentics Patch Auto
Key Players: Mark Sanchez, Matthew Stafford, Percy Harvin, Knowshon Moreno
For the 2009 preview, we can see the evolution of the brand in practice. Horizontal orientation from previous years is used again, as well as the team color elements of 2007, and the game style photos of 2005. The eerie smoke that encompasses the players serves as the theme of the product, maybe to signal how hot these cards will be.
Overall, it’s become pretty clear why each version of the SP Authentic rookie cards is so popular. The product is always on the cutting edge of design and innovation (and being extremely valuable doesn’t hurt), but popularity doesn’t rest in those factors alone. It has to do with everything that came before, building to the latest crescendo we will see for this year (as always). I know I will be at the shop on the day of release just like every year, and as usual, I’m expecting a lot of people to be there with me.
Popularity: unranked [?]
Instant Impact 2009 NFL Rookies
Posted by: | CommentsRookies keep the NFL exciting. They inject new blood into the game and give fans new reasons for optimism.
Some of these new youngsters are in terrific situations to shine this fall. Here are five to watch that should make early impacts for their new teams.
Aaron Curry, OLB, Seahawks
Lost among all the focus on glamour boys such as Matthew Stafford, Mark Sanchez, Michael Crabtree and Josh Freeman is possibly the most talented player in this rookie class who could create the most impact in 2009. Aaron Curry is in the mold of DeMarcus Ware and Julius Peppers—an athletic and fierce pass rusher who can get to the quarterback many different ways. The Seahawks ranked dead last in passing yards allowed in 2008, and Curry should make things much easier for the defensive backs. His presence should help to free up the aging Patrick Kerney.
Who’s Affected (+/-): Marcus Trufant (+), Patrick Kerney (+), Lofa Tatupu (+)
Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos
Yes, Denver is loaded with running backs yet again, but many of them are injury prone or veterans who have been bouncing around the league. Moreno brings instant help to an offense that’s all of a sudden in question due to the trade of Jay Cutler. Moreno’s ability to cut and turn on the speed fits perfectly in the offense. Expect him to get most of the carries by October.
Who’s Affected (+/-): Selvin Young (-), Kyle Orton (+), Eddie Royal (+)
Josh Freeman, QB, Buccaneers
The early reports point to a Week 1 start for big Josh Freeman, but let’s face it: The Bucs don’t have many other choices. The addition of tight end Kellen Winslow will help Freeman immensely, as a young quarterback’s best friend is often a reliable tight end. Plus, Anonio Bryant is coming off of a 1,200-yard season. Don’t expect Freeman to make a big impact early, but if Tampa Bay uses him right, the team could throw a wrench into a tight NFC South division.
Who’s Affected (+/-): Byron Leftwich (-), Kellen Winslow (+), Antonio Bryant (+)
Chris Wells, RB, Cardinals
Edgerrin James was there when the Cardinals needed him most last season, but it was clear that he would not be back with the team for 2009. So the defending NFC champs picked up Chris Wells at the end of the first round. Wells instantly improves the NFL’s worst rushing offense that averaged just 73.6 yards per carry last season. His big frame will help in the red zone, and with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin drawing plenty of attention, lanes could open up nicely for Wells, who excels at downhill running. Now maybe Kurt Warner won’t get hit so much.
Who’s Affected (+/-): Tim Hightower (-), Kurt Warner (+), Larry Fitzgerald (+), Anquan Boldin (+)
Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Bears
Chicago’s top three pass catchers last year were a running back, a tight end and a receiver playing his first year at the position. The team needs help at receiver. They get it in Juaquin Iglesias. The third-round pick may prove to be one of the steals of the draft. He runs terrific routes and has great hands. He played in a record-setting Oklahoma offense and joins 4,500-yard passer Jay Cutler with the Bears. Expect Iglesias to be one of the most productive rookie receivers in 2009. His addition should help Devin Hester run freer and draw more single coverage, while tight end Greg Olsen and running back Matt Forte keeps defenders occupied in the middle.
Who’s Affected (+/-): Jay Cutler (+), Devin Hester (+)
David Lee is a Dallas-based writer, and the former editor of Beckett Football and Beckett Basketball. To see more of his work, visit his website at www.MrWriteMedia.com.
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2009 NFL Rookie Interviews
Posted by: | CommentsYou’ve seen them dance, now hear them speak. Check out our NFL 2009 NFL Rookie Interviews below. More to come this week!
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