Instant-Impact Rookies article on NFL.com

[iamhubby1]

They put Norman on Smitty and he didn't sink. So people are jumping on that. When your CB position is seen as a weak link, you tend to get excited when a young CB comes in and looks the part.

I truly believe this was a brilliant move by Rivera. Throw the kid at Smitty during basically glorified walk throughs. If he looks good, as he seemed too, then he gets a jolt of confindence moving forward. He may jump back into training with a renewed confidence. It may be a smart move in the long run. Or, he could go the other way and think he has it made. From what little I know this kid is a worker, so I am leaning toward working and learning.

If Norman is as smart as he seems to be talented. We may have found a nugget there in the 5th.

[Gallagher]

We need all these guys to come up big to make the playoffs.I think you are being over confident to think Davis and Beason will be heal and back to their old selves.Josh covering Smitty in shorts is no indication of what things will be at full speed with the pads on.

I agree that Norman is unproven. All I was saying is that with Silatolu and Kuechly, we have vets that can start in place of them if need be, namely Pollak and Davis respectively. I would argue that we could still make the playoffs with Pollak and Davis starting, so we don't need all of our rookies to come up big. Sitting behind veterans and learning the game could go a long way for a player like Amini. Really, I think the rookie we need the most out of to be successful is Norman.

[panthers55]

Honestly if you are counting on more than one or 2 rookies to come in and play big in order to make the playoffs, you are likely to be watching not playing come February. You need your leaders and veterans to play big in order to make the playoffs. Anything you get from your rookies is surely welcome but you can't count on all your draft picks to step up, it just doesn't happen. Honestly I think that we could be fine whether or not any of the rookies really step up.