Rookie Report - Sidney Rice (MIN-WR)

By Ralph Mancini, NFL Draft Bible Senior Writer

With all the excitement and fanfare created by all-world back Adrian Peterson this season, many overlook the contribution made by fellow rookie Sidney Rice in Minnesota’s electrifying late-season run for the playoffs.

Chosen 44th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft, not much was expected of the 6’ 4” 200-pound wide out. He was generally viewed as an unpolished athlete, very rough around the edges, especially in the area of route-running.

After two seasons at the University of South Carolina (not including his first year as a redshirt freshman), Rice decided to market his size and one-of-a-kind leaping ability to the NFL.

Despite Minnesota’s gaffe in selecting fellow receiver Troy Williamson (also from USC) as the seventh-overall pick only two years prior, Rice had a lot more to offer than his teammate who has done next to nothing to warrant his lofty first-round status, even with his sprinter’s speed.

Following a rather non-descript start to his rookie season, the former first and second team All-SEC honoree began making waves in week four versus Green Bay with six receptions for 75 yards and a 15-yard score.

In the ensuing weeks, it became increasingly clear that Rice’s deceptive speed was a weapon that Minnesota’s inferior passing attack needed to make better use of--and that they did in week nine when backup passer Brooks Bollinger uncorked a 40-yard touchdown to his newfound playmaker.

In Minnesota’s 29-22 victory over Oakland, Rice unveiled his rocket arm by heaving a 40-yard pass to tight end Vishanthe Shiancoe, who turned it into a 79-yard completion.
This multifaceted phenom is fast becoming a handful for defensive backs with his ability to avoid the jam and quickly release off the line.In addition, Rice possesses great hands and uncanny body control allowing him to effortlessly extend when catching the ball away from his frame even on poorly thrown passes.

What worked against him prior to becoming a Viking was his lack of bulk along with his humdrum 4.51 speed in the 40.

While the 21-year-old has silenced those doubting his talents as a downfield threat, questions do persist regarding his durability as Rice has already fallen prey to hamstring woes.
But ever since sitting out the week 10 contest with Green Bay, Rice has been a man on a mission, setting the tone with a 60-yard touchdown grab from Tavaris Jackson on the second play of the game in week 12 in the 41-17 victory over the Giants.

Jackson and Rice continued to make noise the following week by combining on a two-yard score as the Vikings dropped the hammer on the toothless Lions, 42-10. In executing his touchdown catch, Rice made a sensational leap while adjusting to the errant throw before hauling it in. On the day, the former Gamecock recorded five receptions for 53 yards.

Although the rookie isn’t the polished route runner he will eventually be, his game-breaking skills are already evoking comparisons to star wide out Plaxico Burress.

The continued emergence of his fledging quarterback combined with a monstrous offensive line and running game can only bode well for the future prospects of this exciting performer who broke Sterling Sharpe’s team record for receiving yards in a season with 1,143 while at South Carolina in 2005.

Look for Rice to be an ominous force for opposing secondaries as the 6-6 Vikings are more than capable of making a clean sweep of their remaining games versus the 49ers, Bears, Redskins and Broncos.