Keller, Manningham Ready To Make Impact in N.Y.

LOS ANGELES — One arrived in New York with surprise, another with disappointment. But the Jets' Dustin Keller and the Giants' Mario Manningham have a few things in common, too. They are both Big Ten-bred rookies who stand as intriguing pass catchers on their respective teams.

They spent the weekend doing fun things, including attending and participating in the EA Sports Rookie Madden Bowl — Manningham got blown out by Eagles rookie DeSean Jackson, his new division rival — and getting their football card pictures taken with many of the other top rookies out at the L.A. Coliseum, but the leisure activities are winding down for these guys.

Each are ready to report to their new clubs, essentially for the next month straight, and get down to business. There's only so much a rookie can learn in his first weekend with the team, and both Keller and Manningham admit they only were able to get a taste of what they are going to face during the rookie minicamps following the draft.

"Our offense is explosive," Manningham said. "The offense is simple once you get it. I have been playing football my whole life. I just have to adjust to the speed of the game. That's it."

"(The Jets' coaches) threw a lot at us right away," Keller admitted. "When you're a rookie, it seems like a ton. After a few months of doing it every day, things will smooth out a lot."

In some scouts' eyes, Keller is one of the more unique pass catchers from this year's draft class. He has a chance to step in and contribute immediately because of his intriguing talents and with the Jets' muddled tight-end situation. There have been comparisons of him to the Colts' Dallas Clark, a tight end who plays most often in the slot or on the move. Keller estimated that he lined up on the line "90 or 95%" of the time at Purdue, but he was used in motion a lot there and could end up being a big target lined up in the slot, like Clark in Indianapolis.

"It'd be nice to do as much as the Colts have [Clark] do," Keller said. "I definitely can see playing in the slot a lot as a real possibility. I'll do whatever the coaches ask of me. At this point, I am not sure."

Manningham was disappointed with being drafted at the end of the third round after being projected as a possible first-round pick at one point. He had an explosive junior year at Michigan but had a slow recovery from offseason knee surgery before his senior season and then took criticism from his coach and quarterback as the Wolverines opened with crushing losses against Appalachian State and Oregon.

Michigan turned things around, ending on a high note with a bowl win over Florida, but Manningham's offseason was damaging. Reports of his admitting to failing tests for marijuana and a low Wonderlic score (he reportedly scored a six out of a possible 50 on his first attempt) scared teams off. He also didn't run as well as expected and had some less-than-impressive interviews with teams, per one NFL team official.

But all of that is water under the bridge now, and Manningham says he's willing to turn the negative upside down.

"It's motivation," he said. "I have forgotten about all that, but I haven't forgotten what people have said, you know what I mean?

"I've got enough on my shoulders to worry about. I have a lot to prove."

It hasn't been an ideal start for Manningham with the Giants, suffering a minor hip flexor injury at the rookie minicamp ("you guys make too big a deal out of it; I am fine," he said) and being outshined by rookie free agent D.J. Hall. But Manningham challenges anyone who questions him — for his play, his attitude, or anything else you might doubt about him.

"What do you think I need to work on?" he asked rhetorically. "Everyone has their own opinion. I can't control what people say or think."

But even guys who have had their issues with Manningham admire his ability.

"He stepped up when we needed it most," said new Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne, who threw passes to Manningham at Michigan but was critical of him at times. "When we started Big Ten play, he went out and did what he did what he had done before. He was Mario again.

"I think he'll work well with Eli [Manning] because Eli can back-shoulder him, throw the ball off the defender, put it away from the guy, and Mario will go get it. He's great at tracking balls down," Henne said.

Keller might be more of a known quantity in terms of his character, but he's not a perfect fit in the NFL. Many scouts loved his hypercompetitive demeanor, his natural receiving skills as a former wideout, and his raw athleticism. But blocking has been an issue, and it kept him lower on some teams' draft boards. The Jets clearly were not concerned — and neither is Keller.

"We ran the football at Purdue, and I most definitely got better at it," he said. "I'll say this: I will become a very good blocker in the NFL."

Both players are back with their respective teams now, set to spend the next month working out, learning the playbooks, and then taking a break before the first big test of how good they really are — training camp. With confidence in surplus, Keller and Manningham just might have what it takes to make it in the NFL. Their path starts in earnest today.

Mr. Edholm, a senior editor at Pro Football Weekly, can be reached at eedholm@pfwmedia.com.