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By Vinnie Iyer - SportingNews
With a greater leaguewide emphasis on the passing game, young receivers are being pressed into important roles. Ten developing wideouts to watch in 2004:
ROOKIES
Lee Evans, Bills. Eric Moulds and Drew Bledsoe missed having Peerless Price last season, and Evans has what Josh Reed doesn't: the size, speed and downfield skills to thrive outside as a No. 2.
Michael Jenkins, Falcons. Price struggled in his first season in Atlanta because Michael Vick missed 11 games with a broken leg and there was no reliable No. 2 to draw coverage from him. Expect Jenkins to win the job over Dez White.
Reggie Williams, Jaguars. Jimmy Smith is on the downside of his career, and Williams brings a big, explosive element to a rebuilding unit. The key for Williams is quickly developing a rapport with Byron Leftwich.
SECOND-YEAR PLAYERS
Charles Rogers, Lions. Back healthy from a broken collarbone, he needs to click with Joey Harrington the way he did early last season. With rookie running back Kevin Jones and rookie wideout Roy Williams, Detroit's young offense suddenly is loaded, which should help Rogers become the elite playmaker he was at Michigan State.
Andre Johnson, Texans. Houston has its franchise quarterback and running back in David Carr and Domanick Davis. But Johnson is the most intimidating of the new Texas triplets because of his ability to stretch the field.
Justin Gage, Bears. Marty Booker is a possession, over-the-middle type; Gage provides Rex Grossman with a deep threat and red-zone leaper.
Brandon Lloyd, 49ers. With Terrell Owens and Tai Streets gone, the acrobatic Lloyd takes the mantel of the 49ers' best receiver, a heavy burden considering the quarterback and No. 2 wideout roles represent huge questions.
THIRD-YEAR PLAYERS
Ashley Lelie, Broncos. Lelie has shown little improvement in his first two years in the league. He must do much more to help fill the considerable passing-game void created by the retirements of Shannon Sharpe and Ed McCaffrey.
Javon Walker, Packers. Brett Favre hasn't had a true go-to guy since Antonio Freeman was in his prime, but if Walker shows more consistent hands and route running to go with his speed, Green Bay will have an elite deep connection.
Donte' Stallworth, Saints. He says he's ready to put his hamstring woes behind him with better conditioning. If he does, his downfield burst will cause plenty of problems for defenses that also have to cover Joe Horn.
With a greater leaguewide emphasis on the passing game, young receivers are being pressed into important roles. Ten developing wideouts to watch in 2004:
ROOKIES
Lee Evans, Bills. Eric Moulds and Drew Bledsoe missed having Peerless Price last season, and Evans has what Josh Reed doesn't: the size, speed and downfield skills to thrive outside as a No. 2.
Michael Jenkins, Falcons. Price struggled in his first season in Atlanta because Michael Vick missed 11 games with a broken leg and there was no reliable No. 2 to draw coverage from him. Expect Jenkins to win the job over Dez White.
Reggie Williams, Jaguars. Jimmy Smith is on the downside of his career, and Williams brings a big, explosive element to a rebuilding unit. The key for Williams is quickly developing a rapport with Byron Leftwich.
SECOND-YEAR PLAYERS
Charles Rogers, Lions. Back healthy from a broken collarbone, he needs to click with Joey Harrington the way he did early last season. With rookie running back Kevin Jones and rookie wideout Roy Williams, Detroit's young offense suddenly is loaded, which should help Rogers become the elite playmaker he was at Michigan State.
Andre Johnson, Texans. Houston has its franchise quarterback and running back in David Carr and Domanick Davis. But Johnson is the most intimidating of the new Texas triplets because of his ability to stretch the field.
Justin Gage, Bears. Marty Booker is a possession, over-the-middle type; Gage provides Rex Grossman with a deep threat and red-zone leaper.
Brandon Lloyd, 49ers. With Terrell Owens and Tai Streets gone, the acrobatic Lloyd takes the mantel of the 49ers' best receiver, a heavy burden considering the quarterback and No. 2 wideout roles represent huge questions.
THIRD-YEAR PLAYERS
Ashley Lelie, Broncos. Lelie has shown little improvement in his first two years in the league. He must do much more to help fill the considerable passing-game void created by the retirements of Shannon Sharpe and Ed McCaffrey.
Javon Walker, Packers. Brett Favre hasn't had a true go-to guy since Antonio Freeman was in his prime, but if Walker shows more consistent hands and route running to go with his speed, Green Bay will have an elite deep connection.
Donte' Stallworth, Saints. He says he's ready to put his hamstring woes behind him with better conditioning. If he does, his downfield burst will cause plenty of problems for defenses that also have to cover Joe Horn.
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