Posted on 8/16/2007 6:32:49 PM

NFL Future Odds - NFL Opinion – Defensive Rookie Of The Year

By Tim Furious

This year’s NFL Draft was highlighted by some notable offensive weapons like JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn, Adrian Peterson and Calvin Johnson. But the defensive studs should be just as noteworthy. While you can review the NFL odds on who will win the offensive Rookie of the Year in our NFL Opinions let’s take a look at the defensive pups who could be the big dogs by the end of the season.

Before you start your NFL betting throwing your money down on our NFL Futures, keep in mind that seven of the last ten AP Defensive Rookies of the Year have been linebackers, with two more going to defensive ends. Charles Woodson has been the only cornerback to win the award since 1993. Last year’s winner was DeMeco Ryans of the Houston Texans. He was a second round pick out of Alabama.

The defensive end class was strong this year, but Jamaal Anderson, Adam Carriker and Jarvis Moss are all players that will need at least one season to develop in to stars. Of the three, Adam Carriker has been impressing the most out of St. Louis and is a bubble prospect for the defensive rookie of the year honors.

As for safeties and corners, the only player worthy of being mentioned in this discussion is Washington Redskins safety LaRon Landry. Not only did Landry post huge numbers at LSU, he also blew away the competition at the NFL combine. But this award has rarely ever gone to a safety, so your betting dollars are safer with the following linebackers and defensive ends.

5. Lawrence Timmons – Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are a storied defensive team and they had their eye on Timmons from the start of the scouting process. He possesses a massive frame, has a quick first step and is a versatile athlete. The latter is probably the most important as he moves in to replace a corps in Pittsburgh that lost Joey Porter to the Dolphins.

The knock on Timmons is his lack of polish and experience. He only started in one season while attending Florida State University. But the Pittsburgh defense highlights the linebacker position, and Timmons is gifted enough to rack up stats and highlight reel footage. He should be in the running for defensive ROY, though the stout defensive roster of the Steelers might cut in on his ability to shine.

4. Anthony Spencer – Dallas Cowboys

Spencer’s chances ballooned as soon as Greg Ellis’s Achilles tendon injury became a concern. Ellis may not ever play football again, and is certainly not going to play in the pre-season. This gives Spencer the chance to highlight his skills as he makes the transition to outside linebacker. If anyone can get the most out of this genetic freak, who benefits from playing opposite DeMarcus Ware, it will be coach Wade Phillips.

The Purdue Boilermaker notched 26.5 tackles and 10.5 bone-crushing sacks in his senior year, and boosted his draft stock immensely. He ventures to a Cowboys defense that needs a jumpstart, and Spencer is just the sparkplug to get it done. When the Cowboys are contending for the NFC East, and their defense has made vast improvements, Spencer will be a big reason. Bet on this underdog in the BetUS.com sportsbook.

3. Gaines Adams – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The first defensive player picked overall was defensive end Gaines Adams out of Clemson, who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs are betting on the idea that Adams can replace the recently released Simeon Rice, but Adams has been criticized for his inability to stop the run.

Adams has a decent shot because he will be under the eagle eye of Monte Kiffen, a defensive guru in the NFL. He is surrounded by veterans like Ronde Barber and Derrick Brooks who will give him the on field leadership, and whip cracking, he will need to be successful. I’m not making any stupid puns about “yards Gaines”.

2. Patrick Willis – San Francisco 49ers

This Mississippi man handler plays with an unbridled intensity, which sometimes works against him as well. He needs to focus and play under better mental control then his raging emotions allow. Also, his ball coverage skills still need a ton of work.

1. Paul Posluszny – Buffalo Bills

That’s right. At the top of both defensive and offensive ROY lists, I have posted two players selected by the Buffalo freaking Bills. Posluszny was projected as a mid-first rounder, but fell to the Bills in the second round with the thirty-fourth pick. And boy were they fortunate.

Posluszny is an old school line backer who plays with an unmatched ferocity. He is a tenacious tackler who always displays a high football IQ when on the field. Both will be important as he has already been given the top middle linebacker spot, in part due to the departures of London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes.

The Bills have always boasted a strong linebacker corps, and Posluszny is right on the money for a team desperate to fill the void left by Fletcher and Spikes. With that in mind, Posluszny will be filling a 4-3 defense that, again, highlights the linebacker position and Posluszny has all the tangibles and intangible qualities you need from a pro-bowl caliber linebacker.

That is why your hard earned betting dollars should be driving towards second-rounder Paul Posluszny to upset all the first-round talent of the NFL draft. The sexy bets are on the first round talents, but the smart betting investor will keep his futures money safe in Buffalo.

NFL Futures:

LaRon Landry wins ROY

Leon Hall wins ROY

Lawrence Timmons wins defensive ROY

Anthoney Spencer wins defensive ROY

Gaines Adams wins defensive ROY

Patrick Willis wins defensive ROY

Paul Posluszny wins defensive ROY

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