QB Waggle

Wolverines in the NFL: Draft Class of 2006

I like to keep tabs on my fellow Wolverines who have gone on to play in the NFL.  So, while checking up on their stats and forecasting the upcoming season, I decided to jot down my notes and thoughts for everybody.  If people like what they see then I can keep going with more players down the road.  Let me know if you disagree with any projections or if you notice any errors.

Oops.

I forgot to mention Tyler Ecker in my look back at the 2007 class.  Here’s what he’s been up to (or not up to):

Tyler Ecker (TE, Washington)

• 2007 Stats: DNP
• 2007 Season Review: Ecker was drafted in the 7th round (216th overall) by Washington. He did not play at all in the 2007 season.  Apparently he hurt his groin in training camp and was on the IR all season.
• 2008 Season Projection: Is he still even on the team?  I don’t know, but even if he is there is no way he sees the field barring several injuries.  The Skins have Chris Cooley (arguable their best receiver) with backups Todd Yoder (veteran, blocking-type) and rookie Fred Davis (rookie, athletic-type).  Good luck, Tyler.

Onward.

Gabe Watson (DT, Arizona)

• 2007 Stats: 16 games, 34 tackles (25 solo), 2 pass deflections
• 2007 Season Review: Watson was the highest drafted Wolverine in 2006 (barely), going in the 4th round  (107th overall) to Arizona.  In 2007 Watson started all 16 games for the Cardinals, racking up 34 tackles.  He put together a nice season, but 2007 still looked to be a building year towards 2008...
• 2008 Season Projection: ... until he slipped on a treadmill and broke his kneecap.  That’s correct.  He had surgery to repair the damage and he missed all of the off-season workouts.  Last I heard he was questionable to participate in training camp, but the team is optimistic that he’ll be ready come the start of the season.  I think he’ll rebound and be contributing at a high level by the end of the season, but when you miss workouts and camp it’s going to take some time to get back in game shape.  Look for Alan Branch (Go Blue!) to pick up Watson’s lost playing time.

Jason Avant (WR, Philadelphia)

• 2007 Stats: 15 games, 23 rec, 267 yds, 2 TD
• 2007 Season Review: Avant was also drafted in the 4th round (109th overall) by Philadelphia.  He was relatively effective as a slot receiver for Philadelphia but he also played on special teams, recording 13 special teams tackles (good for 4th on the team).
• 2008 Season Projection: Avant seems to have found his niche as a #3 or #4 receiver.  The Eagles essentially return the same receivers as last year, with Avant appearing to have the #3 slot locked up.  As Avant continues to develop, I expect to see slightly better numbers than 2007.  Wikipedia also notes that Jason is an “avid Scrabble player”, so there you go.

Tim Massaquoi (TE, Buffalo)

• 2007 Stats: DNP
• 2007 Season Review: The next (and last) Wolverine drafted in 2006 was Tim Massaquoi, going in the 7th round (244th overall, just 11 spots away from Mr. Irrelevent) to the Tampa Bay Bucs.  After being released by Tampa following training camp in 2006, Miami signed Massaquoi for the 2006 season.  Despite being on the active roster for 6 games, he did not have any catches.  He was released by Miami prior to the 2007 season and was later signed by Buffalo.  He was on the active roster for 4 games in 2007 but again did not have any catches.
• 2008 Season Projection: Not good.  Buffalo drafted TE Derek Fine (Kansas) in the 4th round in the draft earlier this summer.  I’d be surprised if Massaquoi is still on the roster after training camp.

Pierre Woods (OLB, New England)

• 2007 Stats: 16 games, 21 tackles (14 solo), led team in special teams tackles
• 2007 Season Review: Woods went undrafted in 2006, eventually signing a free agent contract with the New England Patriots.  He saw mostly special teams action in 2007, though he did play some backup linebacker as well.  He impressed his coaches by leading the team in special teams tackles, which should help him earn more playing time moving forward.
• 2008 Season Projection: The LB corps is heavy with former Wolverines.  Victor Hobson starts at ILB, Shawn Crable is expected to see some action as a backup his rookie season, and Woods’ role should expand from just primarily special teams.  However, the New England LB corps is also heavy in veterans (Mike Vrabel and Adalius Thomas at OLB, Teddy Brusci and Hobson at ILB).  The Patriots also drafted Jerod Mayo with the 10th overall pick this past draft, but he is likely to play ILB in the Patriot’s 3-4 defense which shouldn’t steal time from Woods.  I expect Woods to still be a regular on special teams while receiving more playing time on defense in a backup role.

Wolverines in the NFL: Draft Class of 2007

I like to keep tabs on my fellow Wolverines who have gone on to play in the NFL.  So, while checking up on their stats and forecasting the upcoming season, I decided to jot down my notes and thoughts for everybody.  If people like what they see then I can keep going with more players down the road.  Let me know if you disagree with any projections or if you notice any errors.

UPDATE (7/17/08): Added Tyler Ecker; improved formatting

This time I looked at last year’s rookies.

Leon Hall (CB, Cincinnati)

• 2007 Stats: NFL All-Rookie team, 16 games (10 started), 68 tackles (54 solo), 5 Int, 17 PDef
• 2007 Season Review: Hall impressed at the NFL combine with a 40 time of 4.38 seconds and was drafted in the 1st round (18th overall) by the Bengals.  He also showcased his skills during training camp, leaving many to believe he would be a significant contributor his rookie season.  Hall did not disappoint, finishing 9th in the NFL in interceptions (1st among rookies) and 22nd in pass deflections (2nd among rookies).  He also tied a Bengals record for interceptions by a rookie.
• 2008 Season Projection: By the second half of the 2007 season, Hall had supplanted Deltha O’Neal in the starting lineup.  As a projected starter for 2008, look for Hall to improve in his second year.  While not quite ready to make the jump to All-Pro in 2008, Hall is certainly capable of being that type of player in years to come.  Playing opposite of 3rd year cornerback Johnathan Joseph, the Bengals have a solid cornerback tandem for the coming seasons.

David Harris (ILB, NY Jets)

• 2007 Stats: NFL All-Rookie team, 16 games (9 started), 127 tackles (90 solo), 2 FF, 1 FR, 5 sacks, 3 PDef
• 2007 Season Review: The Jets traded up in the draft to get Harris in the 2nd round (47th overall).  He started 9 games after regular starter Jonathan Vilma went down with a knee injury in Week 8.  He finished with 127 tackles, good enough for 8th in the league and 3rd among rookies.
• 2008 Season Projection: Vilma has since been traded to New Orleans making Harris the favorite to start at MLB in 2008.  Harris should improve his stats now that he has an opportunity to start every Sunday.

Steve Breaston (KR/WR, Arizona)

• 2007 Stats: 1,391 KR yds (22.4 yds avg), 395 PR yds (9.4 yds avg), 1 PR TD,
• 2007 Season Review: Selected in the 5th round (142nd overall), Breaston was used primarily as the return specialist, buried on the depth chart at WR with only 8 catches for 92 yds.  He was electric as a return specialist, ranking 5th in the NFL in both kick return yards and punt return yards (2nd and 1st among rookies, respectively).
• 2008 Season Projection: Expect more of the same from his return game... a top 5 return specialist in the league.  Breaston also has an opportunity to move to #3 on the WR depth chart this season, allowing him to get more opportunities as a slot WR.  He could provide an excellent midfield threat to compliment the downfield abilities of Boldin and Fitzgerald.  If Breaston can duplicate the numbers of since departed WR Bryant Johnson (49ers), who posted 46 catches for 528 yds and 2 TDs, then it would certainly be a successful season.  I expect more in the neighborhood of 30 catches for 250 yds.

Alan Branch (DT, Arizona)

• 2007 Stats: 11 games, 9 tackles (8 solo)
• 2007 Season Review: After being selected with the first pick of the 2nd round (33rd overall), Branch had an underwhelming rookie season.  Limited by a hand injury early in the season, Branch didn’t see the field until Week 6.  He played as a backup for the entire season.  Twelve rookie DTs recorded more tackles than Branch in 2007.
• 2008 Season Projection: Branch has an opportunity to break into the starting lineup in 2008 thanks to a treadmill breaking fellow Wolverine Gabe Watson’s knee cap (!?).  Still, Branch needs to show that he can be the dominant DT that he showed he could be (at times) while at Michigan.

LaMarr Woodley (OLB, Pittsburgh)

• 2007 Stats: 14 games, 17 tackles (17 solo), 6 sacks
• 2007 Season Review: Drafted in the 2nd round (46th overall), Woodley played the 2007 season as a backup to Clark Haggans (now with the Cardinals).  Woodley was impressive in limited playing time, finishing 5th in sacks among rookies in the regular season.
• 2008 Season Projection: With Haggans gone, Woodley will step into the starting lineup with James Harrison at OLB.  Pittsburgh’s LBs will be the primary strength of an already good defense (fellow Wolverine Larry Foote is a starting ILB).  I expect Woodley to approach 100 tackles in 2008.

Prescott Burgess (ILB, Baltimore)

• 2007 Stats: 8 games, 4 tackles (4 solo)
• 2007 Season Review: Drafted in the 6th round (207th overall), Burgess was a backup during the 2007 season, playing mostly on special teams.  His 2007 season was ended early after he was placed on IR after Week 10 with a hip injury.
• 2008 Season Projection: Burgess’s role with the Ravens will not improve in 2008.  He will continue to play primarily on special teams and may be forced into the lineup if injuries befall the LB group.

Tyler Ecker (TE, Washington)

• 2007 Stats: DNP
• 2007 Season Review: Ecker was drafted in the 7th round (216th overall) by Washington. He did not play at all in the 2007 season.  Apparently he hurt his groin in training camp and was on the IR all season.
• 2008 Season Projection: Is he still even on the team?  I don’t know, but even if he is there is no way he sees the field barring several injuries.  The Skins have Chris Cooley (arguable their best receiver) with backups Todd Yoder (veteran, blocking-type) and rookie Fred Davis (rookie, athletic-type).  Good luck, Tyler.