Quote:I don't think a rookie is going to make the difference in wins. Do you think our first rounder is going to make the difference in 5-11 and 9-7?

Probably not, but it is not out of the realm of possibility, either.

 

Houston/Tennessee under Jeff Fisher had just about always languished around .500 until 1999.

 

They drafted a guy named Jevon Kearse, who was the defensive catalyst the team lacked.  He had 14.5 sacks, 8 forced fumbles, and a TD.  The year before, the Tacks leading sacker was LB Lonnie Marts with 4.  http://www.pro-football-reference.com/te...i/1998.htm

 

I am not prepared to say that he alone was the difference between 8-8 and 13-3 for Tennessee, but to say he wasn't a factor at all isn't accurate either.

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