A regular look at 30 people who will affect the 2007 NFL season.There were lots of impressive rookies in the NFL last season, from Vince Young to Reggie Bush to DeMeco Ryans to Devin Hester.
But the best may have been Marcus McNeill, who stepped in as the Chargers' second-round draft pick started all 16 games at left tackle (the most important position on the offensive line), and helped the line become the best in the NFL.
McNeill was thought, before last year's draft, to be as good a run-blocker as top tackle prospect D'Brickashaw Ferguson, but nowhere near as good a pass blocker. Instead, McNeill proved he was better than Ferguson -- and just about every other NFL offensive lineman -- at both run blocking and pass blocking.
Phillip Rivers had a very good first season as a starter, and McNeill didn't get enough credit for contributing to that very good first season by protecting Rivers' blind side. When you watch the Chargers this year, take your eyes off the skill position players for a few plays and take a look at McNeill. You'll like what you see.
Bottom line: For Rivers' continued success, McNeill -- not LaDainian Tomlinson or Antonio Gates -- is the Chargers' most indispensable player.
30 to Watch: See them all
