Scout.com Disses the Panthers Jeff Otah

Chris Steuber with Scout.com posted a piece titled “Rookies Most Likely to …” and starts out with predictions like “Which rookie is most likely to start all 16 games?” (Chad Henne), Rush for 1,000 yards (Kevin Smith) and Catch 60 or more passes (Donnie Avery). In fact every one of his predictions are positive accomplishments until you get to the Panthers Jeff Otah:

 Most likely to: Hurt himself running laps – Jeff Otah

 Otah is one prospect who looks like he’s in pain when he’s running. The 6-foot-6, 322-pound Otah isn’t the most athletically gifted player and looked slow and stiff at the Scouting Combine where he ran a 5.55 in the 40. He had a better workout at Pitt’s Pro Day and improved his 40-time, but he still lumbered through positional drills.

 Chris, if it looked like he was running in pain it might be because…he WAS in pain! He was rehabbing an injured ankle, get a clue! Why in the world he chose Otah to pick on is beyond me but I’m glad he did. I hope Jeff cuts that post out and hangs it in his locker for daily motivation. I hope he takes it out on every DE he lines up against and drills them into the ground. As he gets up from another pancake he should yell “Take that Steuber!”

 What’s with Steuber’s love for Kevin Smith? Every year someone predicts these awesome things from the Detroit offense and every year they fall flat. Even John Kitna isn't throwing out his "12 Win" prediction again this season. Smith is a good RB no doubt but I would put my money on Oakland’s Darrin McFaddin to lead all rookies in rushing. Detroit is a passing team where running the ball is an afterthought. Hell, the Panthers own rookie RB Jonathan Stewart could very well out-rush Smith given the Panthers intent to focus on the run.

 So I’m curious who you think will gain the most yards rushing as a rookie in 2008.