2005 Record: 10-6
Points For: 403
Points Against: 325
Rushing Yards PG: 148.9
Rushing Yards Allowed PG: 98.1
Passing Yards PG: 238.1
Passing Yards Allowed PG: 229.9
Drafted:
1.20 (20) - Tamba Hali, DE, Penn St.   
2.22 (54) - Bernard Pollard, S, Purdue  
3.21 (85) - Brodie Croyle, QB, Alabama  
5.22 (154) - Marcus Maxey, CB, Miami (FL)   
6.17 (186) - Tre’ Stallings, OL, Mississippi (from Dallas) 
6.21 (190) - Jeff Webb, WR, San Diego St.   
7.20 (228) - Jarrad Page, S, UCLA
Comments:
Known mostly for their offensive output the past several seasons, the regime coming in with new Head Coach, Herm Edwards, will concentrate a little more on the defensive side of things.  And that was displayed with their first round draft choice, going with defensive end, Tamba Hali, and their next pick, safety Bernard Pollard.

Regarding Hali, I’m just not sure if he was the pick at 20, simply because he doesn’t have the tools.  A definite positive with him is his motor and explosion off the line.  But, he is kind of small at 6’2” for a lineman, needs better recognition skills, and doesn’t have any speed.  In other words, he’s not the second coming of the Indianapolis Colts’ Dwight Freeney, another short and questionable defensive linemen coming into the pros a few years back.

And as questionable as Hali is, Pollard is just as questionable, if not more. He’s a headcase and has some baggage after getting less playing time his senior season due to run-ins with the coaching staff.  I guess Edwards is hoping to turn Pollard around the way he did with another perceived headcase coming out of college, Lavernues Coles back when Edwards was with the New York Jets. It worked out great with Coles, but time will tell with Pollard, who is able to sneak up to the line and play the run or short drops and finish plays.

Croyle was one of the better second tier quarterbacks in the draft, but does have some durability questions, partly because of his thin frame.  However, he has the talent to get the job done and this is a definite move for the future when Trent Green eventually retires or his skills have diminished so badly.

Maxey is coming out of “The U,” but is nothing special like most players coming out from there.  Stallings will have all the opportunity to learn from a great and veteran offensive line, in hopes that he can eventually replace their excellent production over the years.  Webb will be decent, but we all know the offense is going to be all about running back, Larry Johnson, anway.  Page is eh… nothing too special, but he does come from a good program.
ENDSCORE GRADE: C