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http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Features/Rookie+of+the+Year+Meter/2007/rookie091107.htm
LOOK HOW HARD IT IS TO FIND SPENCER's NAME! He played very good against the Giants......AM I WRONG? :bang2:
Rookie of the Year Meter
Big game puts Niners LB Willis on top
By Matt Sohn
Sept. 11, 2007
NFL rookies have reason to be envious of their fellow first-year players in basketball and baseball. In those sports, rookies with elite specific skills often make immediate impacts, whereas the sheer physicality of the NFL game makes it that much more difficult for 21- and 22-year-old players to get the better of more physically developed veterans. So it shouldn’t be surprising that three of the top four rookies on Pro Football Weekly’s initial rookie meter are supremely precocious athletes.
Before you fire off e-mails about how I dared to leave off certain players (I’m talking to you, Brady Quinn fans), understand that the meter is a gauge of their season to date, devoid of projections. There are 16 more weeks of this feature for Mr. Quinn to enter the fray.
The top nominees
1. 49ers LB Patrick Willis
Season stats (one game): 11 tackles, one forced fumble
Stock: RISING
The hype surrounding Willis coming out of Ole Miss was that this guy had it all. His play on Monday night justified it. Willis was a one-man wrecking crew in the 49ers’ victory over the Cardinals, displaying equal dominance both in collapsing the pocket and shedding O-linemen on his path to the ball carrier.
2. Vikings RB Adrian Peterson
Season stats (one game): 19 carries for 103 yards, one reception for 60 yards, one touchdown
Stock: STEADY
When fellow RB Chester Taylor went down with a hip contusion, Peterson took off. His 60-yard TD reception was a thing of beauty, as he bobbled the ball initially in the flat, then side-stepped a defender, before turning on the jets and torching the Falcons’ secondary on his way to paydirt.
3. Jaguars S Reggie Nelson
Season stats (one game): seven tackles, one sack, one forced fumble
Stock: RISING
Of all the heralded Jaguars’ defensive players — DTs Marcus Stroud and John Henderson, CB Rashean Mathis, etc. — it was the skinny rookie from Florida who offered the only inspiring effort in a lackluster performance during an upset loss to the Titans. With former standout safeties Donovin Darius and Deon Grant (Seattle) having moved on, Nelson’s stout play in run support and coverage will earn him high praise from defensive-minded head coach Jack Del Rio.
4. Lions WR Calvin Johnson
Season stats (one game): four receptions for 70 yards and one touchdown
Stock: STEADY
Johnson’s otherworldly combination of size (6-5, 239) and speed (4.35 in the 40) had everybody gushing about how the WR prototype would redefine the position. He still has a way to go before the term “wide receiver” takes on a new meaning, but his 70-yard, one-TD performance against 2006’s third-ranked defense was a good place to start. It may not be long before Johnson and Roy Williams become a dominant duo.
5. Vikings DE Brian Robison
Season stats (one game): two tackles, two sacks
Stock: RISING
The Vikings’ fourth-round selection out of Texas certainly didn’t play like a second-day pick on Sunday. More of a situational pass rusher at this early stage of his career, Robison’s speed off the edge earned him a pair of sacks, making a statement that Adrian Peterson might have some competition for team rookie of the year honors.
6. Bills RB Marshawn Lynch
Season stats (one game): 19 carries for 90 yards and one touchdown, two receptions for nine yards
Stock: RISING
Lynch had “disappointment” written all over him after gaining a scant 1.7 yards per carry in the preseason. But with 90 pad-popping yards against Jim Bates’ Broncos defense — including a nifty 23-yard TD scamper down the right sideline — Lynch showed why head coach Dick Jauron pegged him as the back of the future in Buffalo.
7. Colts OT Tony Ugoh
Stock: RISING
When longtime Peyton Manning blind-side protector Tarik Glenn unexpectedly announced his retirement on the eve of training camp, prevailing wisdom held that Manning would have a far more difficult time waiting for his receivers to get open downfield. Head coach Tony Dungy wasted little time naming Ugoh the starter over second-year pro Charlie Johnson, and his selection paid dividends in the Colts’ dominating Thursday night victory over the Saints. Ugoh more than held his own against Saints Pro Bowl DE Will Smith, giving rise to the notion that he could be this season’s best rookie offensive tackle, over the likes of first-round selections Joe Thomas (Browns), Levi Brown (Cardinals) and Joe Staley (49ers).
8. Packers PK Mason Crosby
Season stats (one game): 3-for-3 on FG attempts, 1-for-1 on PATs
Stock: RISING
Special teams has long been the initial home for the majority of rookies, but there’s a big difference between being the wedge-breaker on kickoff coverage and drilling a game-winning, 42-yard field goal in your first game in Lambeau Field. In addition to his final kick with two seconds left, the rocket-legged Colorado product connected from 53 and 37 yards.
9. Panthers OG Ryan Kalil
Stock: RISING
As expected, a Panthers second-round rookie out of USC made his presence known early. But few thought the player would be Kalil and not more-heralded WR Dwayne Jarrett. Starting at guard after playing exclusively at center in college, the undersized Kalil (6-2, 291) helped pave the way for 186 rushing yards in new offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson’s zone-blocking scheme.
10. Bengals CB Leon Hall
Season stats (one game): four tackles, two passes defensed
Stock: RISING
Hall got the starting nod for the Bengals’ Monday-night opener against Baltimore, and played admirably. Following in the footsteps of Ty Law and Charles Woodson, Hall looks like the latest Michigan cornerback to emerge as an NFL star.
Honorable mention (in no particular order)
Chargers S Eric Weddle: Showed he can be the utility defensive back the team believes he is, totaling three tackles and a sack vs. the Bears.
Commanders S LaRon Landry: Crept into the box often, helping to suffocate the Dolphins’ running game.
Bills LB Paul Posluszny: The Bills were abused by the Broncos’ ground game, but don’t blame “Poz,” who did his part by notching nine tackles from his MLB spot.
Dolphins WR Ted Ginn Jr.: Showed glimpses of greatness to come with his punt and kickoff returns, and it should only be a matter of time before QB Trent Green starts looking his way on offense.
Patriots DB Brandon Meriweather: Was just one of two Patriots draftees to make the roster (DT Kareem Brown is the other), but he looked good in limited action vs. the Jets.
Jets CB Darrelle Revis: Tom Brady showed Revis has a way to go with his cover skills, but his seven tackles is a testament to his hard-nosed mentality.
Browns CB Eric Wright: Head coach Romeo Crennel strutted out Wright with the starting 11, and he was clearly the best rookie on the field vs. the Steelers.
Texans DT Amobi Okoye: Just ask Larry Johnson about this guy. Starting at defensive tackle, Okoye helped limit the Chiefs’ All-Pro running back to 43 rushing yards.
Colts DT Ed Johnson: Undrafted out of Penn State, his surprising play has helped soften the blow of DT Anthony McFarland (knee) being lost for the year.
Jaguars WR John Broussard: His diving 47-yard TD grab will be replayed on every season-ending highlight reel.
Broncos DE Jarvis Moss: His speed is tough to ignore, as were his four tackles vs. the Bills.
Raiders TE Zach Miller: Lane Kiffin finally gets to coach Miller after three years of watching the Arizona State Sun Devil carve up the defenses of his USC teams.
Rams DT Adam Carriker: Will experience inevitable growing pains on the inside after playing end at Nebraska, but it has been awhile since the Rams have had this type of raw physical specimen on defense.
Packers RB Brandon Jackson: His 75 yards from scrimmage made for a decent start to his career, but more will be needed from him if the Packers expect to make a playoff run.
Texans WR Jacoby Jones: The Lane College product didn’t have any of the scintillating touchdowns that made him a preseason sensation, but he still proved to be a reliable target for QB Matt Schaub, snagging two passes for 33 yards.
Best of the rest (in no particular order)
Dolphins C Samson Satele
Dolphins FB Reagan Mauia
Dolphins P Brandon Fields
Jets LB David Harris
Browns OT Joe Thomas
Steelers LB LaMarr Woodley
Steelers TE Matt Spaeth
Steelers P Daniel Sepulveda
Ravens OG Ben Grubbs
Colts CB Daymeion Hughes
Colts DE Keyunta Dawson
Titans S Michael Griffin
Broncos DT Marcus Thomas
Broncos RB Selvin Young
Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe
Chiefs DT Tank Tyler
Raiders WR Johnnie Lee Higgins
Raiders DE Jay Richardson
Chargers WR Buster Davis
Cowboys LB Anthony Spencer
Cowboys PK Nick Folk
Giants CB Aaron Ross
Giants WR Steve Smith
Giants S Michael Johnson
Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw
Eagles LB Stewart Bradley
Packers LB Desmond Bishop
Lions S Gerald Alexander
Vikings WR Sidney Rice
Vikings CB Marcus McCauley
Falcons DE Jamaal Anderson
Falcons OG Justin Blaylock
Falcons CB Chris Houston
Falcons WR Laurent Robinson
Panthers LB Jon Beason
Panthers WR Ryne Robinson
Buccaneers DE Gaines Adams
Buccaneers OG Arron Sears
Buccaneers S Tanard Jackson
Cardinals OT Levi Brown
Cardinals WR Steve Breaston
Rams RB Brian Leonard
Seahawks CB Josh Wilson
Seahawks DT Brandon Mebane
49ers OT Joe Staley
LOOK HOW HARD IT IS TO FIND SPENCER's NAME! He played very good against the Giants......AM I WRONG? :bang2:
Rookie of the Year Meter
Big game puts Niners LB Willis on top
By Matt Sohn
Sept. 11, 2007
NFL rookies have reason to be envious of their fellow first-year players in basketball and baseball. In those sports, rookies with elite specific skills often make immediate impacts, whereas the sheer physicality of the NFL game makes it that much more difficult for 21- and 22-year-old players to get the better of more physically developed veterans. So it shouldn’t be surprising that three of the top four rookies on Pro Football Weekly’s initial rookie meter are supremely precocious athletes.
Before you fire off e-mails about how I dared to leave off certain players (I’m talking to you, Brady Quinn fans), understand that the meter is a gauge of their season to date, devoid of projections. There are 16 more weeks of this feature for Mr. Quinn to enter the fray.
The top nominees
1. 49ers LB Patrick Willis
Season stats (one game): 11 tackles, one forced fumble
Stock: RISING
The hype surrounding Willis coming out of Ole Miss was that this guy had it all. His play on Monday night justified it. Willis was a one-man wrecking crew in the 49ers’ victory over the Cardinals, displaying equal dominance both in collapsing the pocket and shedding O-linemen on his path to the ball carrier.
2. Vikings RB Adrian Peterson
Season stats (one game): 19 carries for 103 yards, one reception for 60 yards, one touchdown
Stock: STEADY
When fellow RB Chester Taylor went down with a hip contusion, Peterson took off. His 60-yard TD reception was a thing of beauty, as he bobbled the ball initially in the flat, then side-stepped a defender, before turning on the jets and torching the Falcons’ secondary on his way to paydirt.
3. Jaguars S Reggie Nelson
Season stats (one game): seven tackles, one sack, one forced fumble
Stock: RISING
Of all the heralded Jaguars’ defensive players — DTs Marcus Stroud and John Henderson, CB Rashean Mathis, etc. — it was the skinny rookie from Florida who offered the only inspiring effort in a lackluster performance during an upset loss to the Titans. With former standout safeties Donovin Darius and Deon Grant (Seattle) having moved on, Nelson’s stout play in run support and coverage will earn him high praise from defensive-minded head coach Jack Del Rio.
4. Lions WR Calvin Johnson
Season stats (one game): four receptions for 70 yards and one touchdown
Stock: STEADY
Johnson’s otherworldly combination of size (6-5, 239) and speed (4.35 in the 40) had everybody gushing about how the WR prototype would redefine the position. He still has a way to go before the term “wide receiver” takes on a new meaning, but his 70-yard, one-TD performance against 2006’s third-ranked defense was a good place to start. It may not be long before Johnson and Roy Williams become a dominant duo.
5. Vikings DE Brian Robison
Season stats (one game): two tackles, two sacks
Stock: RISING
The Vikings’ fourth-round selection out of Texas certainly didn’t play like a second-day pick on Sunday. More of a situational pass rusher at this early stage of his career, Robison’s speed off the edge earned him a pair of sacks, making a statement that Adrian Peterson might have some competition for team rookie of the year honors.
6. Bills RB Marshawn Lynch
Season stats (one game): 19 carries for 90 yards and one touchdown, two receptions for nine yards
Stock: RISING
Lynch had “disappointment” written all over him after gaining a scant 1.7 yards per carry in the preseason. But with 90 pad-popping yards against Jim Bates’ Broncos defense — including a nifty 23-yard TD scamper down the right sideline — Lynch showed why head coach Dick Jauron pegged him as the back of the future in Buffalo.
7. Colts OT Tony Ugoh
Stock: RISING
When longtime Peyton Manning blind-side protector Tarik Glenn unexpectedly announced his retirement on the eve of training camp, prevailing wisdom held that Manning would have a far more difficult time waiting for his receivers to get open downfield. Head coach Tony Dungy wasted little time naming Ugoh the starter over second-year pro Charlie Johnson, and his selection paid dividends in the Colts’ dominating Thursday night victory over the Saints. Ugoh more than held his own against Saints Pro Bowl DE Will Smith, giving rise to the notion that he could be this season’s best rookie offensive tackle, over the likes of first-round selections Joe Thomas (Browns), Levi Brown (Cardinals) and Joe Staley (49ers).
8. Packers PK Mason Crosby
Season stats (one game): 3-for-3 on FG attempts, 1-for-1 on PATs
Stock: RISING
Special teams has long been the initial home for the majority of rookies, but there’s a big difference between being the wedge-breaker on kickoff coverage and drilling a game-winning, 42-yard field goal in your first game in Lambeau Field. In addition to his final kick with two seconds left, the rocket-legged Colorado product connected from 53 and 37 yards.
9. Panthers OG Ryan Kalil
Stock: RISING
As expected, a Panthers second-round rookie out of USC made his presence known early. But few thought the player would be Kalil and not more-heralded WR Dwayne Jarrett. Starting at guard after playing exclusively at center in college, the undersized Kalil (6-2, 291) helped pave the way for 186 rushing yards in new offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson’s zone-blocking scheme.
10. Bengals CB Leon Hall
Season stats (one game): four tackles, two passes defensed
Stock: RISING
Hall got the starting nod for the Bengals’ Monday-night opener against Baltimore, and played admirably. Following in the footsteps of Ty Law and Charles Woodson, Hall looks like the latest Michigan cornerback to emerge as an NFL star.
Honorable mention (in no particular order)
Chargers S Eric Weddle: Showed he can be the utility defensive back the team believes he is, totaling three tackles and a sack vs. the Bears.
Commanders S LaRon Landry: Crept into the box often, helping to suffocate the Dolphins’ running game.
Bills LB Paul Posluszny: The Bills were abused by the Broncos’ ground game, but don’t blame “Poz,” who did his part by notching nine tackles from his MLB spot.
Dolphins WR Ted Ginn Jr.: Showed glimpses of greatness to come with his punt and kickoff returns, and it should only be a matter of time before QB Trent Green starts looking his way on offense.
Patriots DB Brandon Meriweather: Was just one of two Patriots draftees to make the roster (DT Kareem Brown is the other), but he looked good in limited action vs. the Jets.
Jets CB Darrelle Revis: Tom Brady showed Revis has a way to go with his cover skills, but his seven tackles is a testament to his hard-nosed mentality.
Browns CB Eric Wright: Head coach Romeo Crennel strutted out Wright with the starting 11, and he was clearly the best rookie on the field vs. the Steelers.
Texans DT Amobi Okoye: Just ask Larry Johnson about this guy. Starting at defensive tackle, Okoye helped limit the Chiefs’ All-Pro running back to 43 rushing yards.
Colts DT Ed Johnson: Undrafted out of Penn State, his surprising play has helped soften the blow of DT Anthony McFarland (knee) being lost for the year.
Jaguars WR John Broussard: His diving 47-yard TD grab will be replayed on every season-ending highlight reel.
Broncos DE Jarvis Moss: His speed is tough to ignore, as were his four tackles vs. the Bills.
Raiders TE Zach Miller: Lane Kiffin finally gets to coach Miller after three years of watching the Arizona State Sun Devil carve up the defenses of his USC teams.
Rams DT Adam Carriker: Will experience inevitable growing pains on the inside after playing end at Nebraska, but it has been awhile since the Rams have had this type of raw physical specimen on defense.
Packers RB Brandon Jackson: His 75 yards from scrimmage made for a decent start to his career, but more will be needed from him if the Packers expect to make a playoff run.
Texans WR Jacoby Jones: The Lane College product didn’t have any of the scintillating touchdowns that made him a preseason sensation, but he still proved to be a reliable target for QB Matt Schaub, snagging two passes for 33 yards.
Best of the rest (in no particular order)
Dolphins C Samson Satele
Dolphins FB Reagan Mauia
Dolphins P Brandon Fields
Jets LB David Harris
Browns OT Joe Thomas
Steelers LB LaMarr Woodley
Steelers TE Matt Spaeth
Steelers P Daniel Sepulveda
Ravens OG Ben Grubbs
Colts CB Daymeion Hughes
Colts DE Keyunta Dawson
Titans S Michael Griffin
Broncos DT Marcus Thomas
Broncos RB Selvin Young
Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe
Chiefs DT Tank Tyler
Raiders WR Johnnie Lee Higgins
Raiders DE Jay Richardson
Chargers WR Buster Davis
Cowboys LB Anthony Spencer
Cowboys PK Nick Folk
Giants CB Aaron Ross
Giants WR Steve Smith
Giants S Michael Johnson
Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw
Eagles LB Stewart Bradley
Packers LB Desmond Bishop
Lions S Gerald Alexander
Vikings WR Sidney Rice
Vikings CB Marcus McCauley
Falcons DE Jamaal Anderson
Falcons OG Justin Blaylock
Falcons CB Chris Houston
Falcons WR Laurent Robinson
Panthers LB Jon Beason
Panthers WR Ryne Robinson
Buccaneers DE Gaines Adams
Buccaneers OG Arron Sears
Buccaneers S Tanard Jackson
Cardinals OT Levi Brown
Cardinals WR Steve Breaston
Rams RB Brian Leonard
Seahawks CB Josh Wilson
Seahawks DT Brandon Mebane
49ers OT Joe Staley
