PFT: Patrick Willis Wins DROY

[theogt]

49ERS’ WILLIS NAMED TOP DEFENSIVE ROOKIE
Posted by Michael David Smith on January 4, 2008, 1:08 p.m.

It’s no surprise that San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis was named the Associated Press 2007 Defensive Rookie of the Year today. But in a sign of just how strong his season was, Willis actually earned a larger share of the vote than Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson received in the Offensive Rookie of the Year balloting.

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Willis earned 48 votes from the panel of 50 journalists, the AP announced today. Carolina Panthers linebacker Jon Beason received the other two votes.

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Earlier this week, Peterson got 46.5 votes for the offensive rookie award, while Browns tackle Joe Thomas got 3.5.

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Willis was chosen with the 11th pick in the 2007 draft after a stellar college career at Ole Miss. He entered the starting lineup instantly and wound up leading the league in tackles.

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This is the fifth consecutive season that a linebacker has been named defensive rookie of the year.​

 

[stealth]

how did they come up with half a vote?

 

[Achozen]

Leading the league in tackles your rookie year is an impressive feat.

Props to him.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Well deserved!

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Well deserved.

 

[speedkilz88]

The lopsided voting had more to do that he didn't have any real competition for DROY. Joe Thomas on the other hand was excellent competition for the OROY honor to Adrian Peterson.

 

[Zaxor]

Hos was all over this guy before the draft and said he was gonna be a good one.... I'm hoping he can find another that isn't gone before we pick

 

[RCowboyFan]

Hos was all over this guy before the draft and said he was gonna be a good one.... I'm hoping he can find another that isn't gone before we pick

Yeah, I believe few of Zoners were high on him, including me. Obviously Cowboys didn't have the chance at all to draft him, if not he would have been a gem.

I still thought Cowboys should have taken a chance on David Harris, who I think will be almost as good as him. He had incredible half a season himself.

 

[JPM]

Yeah, I believe few of Zoners were high on him, including me. Obviously Cowboys didn't have the chance at all to draft him, if not he would have been a gem.

I still thought Cowboys should have taken a chance on David Harris, who I think will be almost as good as him. He had incredible half a season himself.

I had a real bad case of man-love for the guy.

 

[Zaxor]

Yeah, I believe few of Zoners were high on him, including me. Obviously Cowboys didn't have the chance at all to draft him, if not he would have been a gem.

I still thought Cowboys should have taken a chance on David Harris, who I think will be almost as good as him. He had incredible half a season himself.

Yeah he is another Good one... Have you spied out any other ILB of that ilk in this coming draft

 

[Yeagermeister]

Very well deserved

 

[Future]

Not surprising, I'm sure he's in the running for DPOY as well.

 

[TheCount]

The lopsided voting had more to do that he didn't have any real competition for DROY. Joe Thomas on the other hand was excellent competition for the OROY honor to Adrian Peterson.

I don't think A.P. was ever in remote danger of losing OROY to Joe Thomas.

As for Patrick Willis, the guy is an animal. He was just about the only thing going for the 49ers.

 

[Big Country]

I knew he would get it.

Leading the entire league in tackles as a rookie is one helluva feat.

This guy could very well be the next great MLB.

move over Ray Lewis.

 

[Hostile]

The day he ran that sub 4.4 at the Combines I had to repent a lot because I swore a lot. At that point I knew he was not going to fall to within reach of us at the Draft. Kid is going to have such a nice career. Well deserved award. No doubt about it.

 

[RCowboyFan]

Yeah he is another Good one... Have you spied out any other ILB of that ilk in this coming draft

Unfortunately no. I am Michigan fan, so I know of David Harris. And because of hype I watched Patrick Willis few times. And was especially impressed with his background too.

But then Patrick Willis was easy to see that he will be good. Just like Hos pointed out, I was bummed out, when he got that 40 time, since like Hos said, ain't no way he was falling.

Shawn Crable is the guy I like most, who is underrated, and unless he blows away in Combine with his 40 time, he will be 2nd or 3rd round pick IMO. But he is OLB.

 

[JPM]

The day he ran that sub 4.4 at the Combines I had to repent a lot because I swore a lot. At that point I knew he was not going to fall to within reach of us at the Draft. Kid is going to have such a nice career. Well deserved award. No doubt about it.

Yep, but I really loved that he seemed to enjoy inflicting pain on who ever had the ball. That's a MLB.

Yeah he is another Good one... Have you spied out any other ILB of that ilk in this coming draft

My man-crush this year is J. Leman.
http://fightingillini.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/j.html

 

[speedkilz88]

I don't think A.P. was ever in remote danger of losing OROY to Joe Thomas.

As for Patrick Willis, the guy is an animal. He was just about the only thing going for the 49ers.

I was referring to the article, the writer was pointing out that Willis got more votes than Peterson as if that was proof he was better or something. I was pointing out that the reason had more to do with Willis not having any competition. (Beason shouldn't have gotten any votes imo) While Peterson actually had competition from a pretty darn good LT.

 

[Nors]

I was sold on the you tube video where he ran accross field through traffic and ran down McFadden.

He and Revis were my dogs in last draft.