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9/21/2010, 07:01 AM
http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2010/09/18/the-race-for-rookie-of-the-year-week-1/
September 18th, 2010 | Author: Khaled Elsayed
It’s on. Week 1 is in the books and Week 2 is almost here, and the NFL’s rookies must feel like they’re on a roller-coaster ride with no brakes.
In each of our Re-Focused articles, we take a look at the rookies and how they’re doing. In addition, we’re going to chronicle the battles for Rookie of the Year (offense and defense) with a look at the top ten newbies at the end of each week. Two of the top three picks in last year’s draft are also in our top three, including an impressive building block in Tampa.
Note: It should be mentioned current rating isn‘t the be-all and end-all as positions are weighted differently, along with the different aspects of positions.
1. Tampa DT Gerald McCoy (61 snaps, +3.6 rating)
What a start to the career of McCoy. A nuisance all game long, McCoy made our team of the week while generating a hit and 4 quarterback pressures. Still, his best work was in run defense where he consistently was disruptive.
2. Oakland MLB Rolando McClain (61 snaps, +3.5 rating)
It’s not cool to praise Oakland and its drafting, but then being cool is a state of mind, right? McClain didn’t have eye-popping numbers (4 defensive stops) but he was part of an Oakland team that contained Chris Johnson for the most part. Doesn’t look like a rookie out on the field.
3. Rams QB Sam Bradford (85 snaps, +2.7 rating)
It certainly wasn’t perfect but it was a more than adequate start for Bradford, who had to deal with some dodgy receiving (5 dropped passes) en route to throwing a lot more than he would have anticipated. Encouraging start at the toughest spot to play.
4. Miami OLB Koa Misi (38 snaps, +2.6 rating)
He didn’t see full-time action but of all pass-rushers ,Misi was the most productive per play by producing a 1-sack, 2-hit, 4-pressure day. Not bad at all when you only rush the passer 20 times.
5. New England CB Devin McCourty (79 snaps, +2.3 rating)
It’s never easy as a rookie starting at cornerback but McCourty didn’t seem fazed by it. He gave up 45 yards, but on 8 balls thrown at him. He also broke up 2 passes. Solid start.
6. Cleveland S T.J. Ward (61 snaps, +2.2 rating)
It was a very impressive debut for Ward. He didn’t look out of place in coverage (only 2 was he thrown at, for minus-1 yard), supporting the run defense (4 stops) and blitzed very well (1 hit and 1 pressure that caused a turnover). Very impressive debut indeed.
7. Pittsburgh C Maurkice Pouncey (62 snaps, +1.5 rating)
A tough start to life in the pros when you’re thrust into a starting spot at center, but Pouncey handled it a lot better than his brother handles snapping the ball. A perfect day in pass protection and some useful run blocking make Pouncey the top-ranked rookie offensive lineman.
8. Cincinnati WR Jordan Shipley (59 snaps, +1.6 rating)
While Jermaine Gresham struggled with his run blocking, Shipley quietly introduced himself to the NFL. Catching 5 of 7 balls thrown his way for 82 yards, Shipley already looks like a dependable weapon (no drops).
9. Arizona ILB Daryl Washington (42 snaps, +1.9 rating)
Good start from Washington, whose nose for the ball-carrier was demonstrated by his 4 defensive stops. The Rams tried to target him, but on 6 balls thrown his way, the end result was just 16 yards.
10. Seattle S Earl Thomas (73 snaps, +1.9 rating)
A solid if unspectacular start for Thomas. He came up to make 2 nice defensive stops, but this game was more about what he did wrong — not a lot. Compare that to the troubles of Eric Berry, and it’s respectable.
We like to give a good grounding of both races, so we’ll fill out the top five offensive rookies.
4. Miami G John Jerry — only allowed one hit and was decent in run blocking
5. St. Louis T Rodger Saffold — Bradford dropped back 58 times and Saffold allowed a decent 3 hits and nothing else.
September 18th, 2010 | Author: Khaled Elsayed
It’s on. Week 1 is in the books and Week 2 is almost here, and the NFL’s rookies must feel like they’re on a roller-coaster ride with no brakes.
In each of our Re-Focused articles, we take a look at the rookies and how they’re doing. In addition, we’re going to chronicle the battles for Rookie of the Year (offense and defense) with a look at the top ten newbies at the end of each week. Two of the top three picks in last year’s draft are also in our top three, including an impressive building block in Tampa.
Note: It should be mentioned current rating isn‘t the be-all and end-all as positions are weighted differently, along with the different aspects of positions.
1. Tampa DT Gerald McCoy (61 snaps, +3.6 rating)
What a start to the career of McCoy. A nuisance all game long, McCoy made our team of the week while generating a hit and 4 quarterback pressures. Still, his best work was in run defense where he consistently was disruptive.
2. Oakland MLB Rolando McClain (61 snaps, +3.5 rating)
It’s not cool to praise Oakland and its drafting, but then being cool is a state of mind, right? McClain didn’t have eye-popping numbers (4 defensive stops) but he was part of an Oakland team that contained Chris Johnson for the most part. Doesn’t look like a rookie out on the field.
3. Rams QB Sam Bradford (85 snaps, +2.7 rating)
It certainly wasn’t perfect but it was a more than adequate start for Bradford, who had to deal with some dodgy receiving (5 dropped passes) en route to throwing a lot more than he would have anticipated. Encouraging start at the toughest spot to play.
4. Miami OLB Koa Misi (38 snaps, +2.6 rating)
He didn’t see full-time action but of all pass-rushers ,Misi was the most productive per play by producing a 1-sack, 2-hit, 4-pressure day. Not bad at all when you only rush the passer 20 times.
5. New England CB Devin McCourty (79 snaps, +2.3 rating)
It’s never easy as a rookie starting at cornerback but McCourty didn’t seem fazed by it. He gave up 45 yards, but on 8 balls thrown at him. He also broke up 2 passes. Solid start.
6. Cleveland S T.J. Ward (61 snaps, +2.2 rating)
It was a very impressive debut for Ward. He didn’t look out of place in coverage (only 2 was he thrown at, for minus-1 yard), supporting the run defense (4 stops) and blitzed very well (1 hit and 1 pressure that caused a turnover). Very impressive debut indeed.
7. Pittsburgh C Maurkice Pouncey (62 snaps, +1.5 rating)
A tough start to life in the pros when you’re thrust into a starting spot at center, but Pouncey handled it a lot better than his brother handles snapping the ball. A perfect day in pass protection and some useful run blocking make Pouncey the top-ranked rookie offensive lineman.
8. Cincinnati WR Jordan Shipley (59 snaps, +1.6 rating)
While Jermaine Gresham struggled with his run blocking, Shipley quietly introduced himself to the NFL. Catching 5 of 7 balls thrown his way for 82 yards, Shipley already looks like a dependable weapon (no drops).
9. Arizona ILB Daryl Washington (42 snaps, +1.9 rating)
Good start from Washington, whose nose for the ball-carrier was demonstrated by his 4 defensive stops. The Rams tried to target him, but on 6 balls thrown his way, the end result was just 16 yards.
10. Seattle S Earl Thomas (73 snaps, +1.9 rating)
A solid if unspectacular start for Thomas. He came up to make 2 nice defensive stops, but this game was more about what he did wrong — not a lot. Compare that to the troubles of Eric Berry, and it’s respectable.
We like to give a good grounding of both races, so we’ll fill out the top five offensive rookies.
4. Miami G John Jerry — only allowed one hit and was decent in run blocking
5. St. Louis T Rodger Saffold — Bradford dropped back 58 times and Saffold allowed a decent 3 hits and nothing else.