Cleveland Browns By the Numbers: TJ Ward Needs Rookie of the Year Consideration

The Cleveland Browns are sitting in the bottom of the AFC North with a 1-5 record in this 2010 NFL regular season, but there are a few bright spots too.

"Devoid of talent."

"They will not compete until they have playmakers."

"Without talent the Browns will not win games."

These are only a few of the things NFL writers and experts have said about the Browns both prior to this season starting and even as the season has been ongoing.

The Browns are still rebuilding and grooming young players to hopefully fill the talent void that really separates them from the rest of their divisional rivals, but rookie safety T.J. Ward looks to be a very talented playmaker in the Browns' future.

Ward is currently tied for sixth in the NFL (according to stats on NFL.com) in total tackles with 54.

Granted tackles are a very tough stat to track and many sites vary on their stats total of tackles, but the fact that a rookie safety can be tied for sixth in tackles is a huge accomplishment in itself.

When the Browns picked Ward in the top half of the second round in the 2010 NFL Draft, many questioned the pick and said the Browns reached too high for Ward.

Now it looks like Ward is a steal where the Browns took him, and he leads both safeties Eric Berry (27) and Earl Thomas (27) in tackles, doubling each of their totals.

Both Berry and Thomas were first-round picks, too.

Ward deserves to get at the very least a nomination for 2010 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, and barring any injury, it would be a travesty if he kept up this high level of play and did not receive the honor at all.

Ward may not have an interception, but to go along with his 54 total tackles, 41 of those tackles are solo and Ward has one forced fumble and one blocked field goal on his rookie resume.

The Browns have lacked an impact player at safety since the days of Eric Turner, but now it looks like they have found one in Ward and he looks to be a possible Pro Bowl-caliber player in the future.

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(Also posted on Dawg Scooper: THE Cleveland Browns Blog)