Young Money: Rams QB Sam Bradford Headlines My NFL Midseason All-Rookie Team
QB: Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams
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During last April's NFL Draft, like a lot of people, I wasn't entirely sold on Sam Bradford as an NFL quarterback. After all, he did suffer a major injury in the season leading up to the draft, and he didn't exactly have the size of a prototypical NFL QB. Boy was I ever wrong.
Bradford has played outstanding this season and looks like he can be the face of St. Louis' Franchise for years to come. So far, he has thrown for 1,674 yards and 11 touchdowns in guiding the much-improved Rams to the top of the NFC West. Couple that with the fact that Bradford is constantly improving with each game (he has only one game without a TD pass and has not thrown an interception since week 5), and it's easy to see Bradford has a bright future and without question belongs on the All-Rookie Team.
Honorable Mention: Colt McCoy, Cleveland Browns
RB: Jahvid Best, Detroit Lions
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Best, Like Bradford, is another player who continues to prove me wrong for doubting him during the draft. So far, he has rushed for 345 yards and leads all rookie running backs with 4 touchdowns.
But the real reason I have him on my All Rookie team is because of how he has impacted the Detroit offense, and that is something that can't be seen in his stats. He has finally given the Lions the home-run threat they had been lacking, and as he improves, he should be a huge help in taking some of the pressure off of QB Matthew Stafford and WR Calvin Johnson to carry the offense.
Assuming Lions Coach Jim Schwartz continues to improve the offense through the draft, Best & Company could be putting up some serious numbers in the not-so-distant future.
Honorable Mention: LeGarrette Blount, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WR: Mike Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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With numerous questions abound regarding his character and work ethic while playing at Syracuse, Williams saw his stock take a hit during the draft. Well as the old saying goes, "One man's trash is another man's treasure" and it doesn't ring more true than with Williams, who the Bucs eventually hit the jackpot on after snagging him the fourth round of the draft.
In search of playmakers for an emerging offense under promising 2nd-year QB Josh Freeman, the Bucs have certainly found one in Williams, who currently leads all rookie wide receivers in yards, yards per game, and receiving touchdowns.
Honorable Mention: Jordan Shipley, Cincinnati Bengals
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WR: Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys
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Bryant was unquestionably the best wide receiver in college football going into his junior season at Oklahoma State last year. But after being suspended for the entire season for lying to NCAA investigators, Bryant went from a likely top 10 pick to going 24th, where the Cowboys were happy to take him.
While this is certainly a season to forget in Dallas, Bryant is having a memorable season. He has been one of the few bright spots in the Cowboys' train wreck of a season and what impressed me the most about him was that during Wade Phillips' final game as Cowboys' Coach, Bryant was one of very few players who didn't quit on his coach when the game was clearly out of reach (Cough...Mike Jenkins...Cough). Aside from that, Bryant has put up some solid numbers this season, even in the anemic Dallas Offense. He currently leads all rookie wide receivers in catches, and ranks second in receiving yards and touchdowns. On top of that, Bryant has yet to fumble the ball.
The Cowboys have a lot of problems to fix as a team, and whoever the new head coach is will need a lot of solutions. Expect Bryant to be one of them.
Honorable Mention: David Gettis, Carolina Panthers
TE: Tony Moeaki, Kansas City Chiefs
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Arguably the most impressive player thus far in Kansas City GM Scott Pioli's outstanding 2010 draft class, Moeaki is the total package and gives the Chiefs the playmaking tight end they have not had since Tony Gonzalez.
Moeaki is second among rookie tight ends with 344 receiving yards, and is tied for first with 2 touchdowns. But even among the outstanding receiving numbers and highlight reel catches (see photo), perhaps the most impressive thing about Moeaki has been his abilities as a blocker. He plays with excellent technique and he has been instrumental in Kansas City RB Jamaal Charles' outstanding season. As he gains experience, Moeaki's athletic ability and well-rounded game should help him become one of the NFL's best at his position.
TE: Aaron Hernandez, New England Patriots
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The winner the John Mackey Award, given to college football's best tight end, during his junior season at Florida, Hernandez has been very impressive playing in the Pats' explosive offense. His abilities as a receiver have been one of the reasons the Patriots (excluding last weeks loss to Cleveland) haven't missed a beat on offense since trading Randy Moss.
Hernandez currently leads all rookie tight ends in catches and yards and is tied for the lead in touchdowns. If he continues to play as he has been, and if he improves his blocking, there is no reason why Hernandez can't be the next guy to join the ranks of the multiple other Pro-Bowlers playing for Bill Belichick's squad.
Honorable Mention: Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati Bengals
OT: Rodger Saffold, St. Louis Rams
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St. Louis' second round pick in last year's draft, Saffold has been a starter the entire season and has done a great job protecting Sam Bradford's blindside. If he continues to improve on his already-solid play, Saffold has the potential to be a Pro-Bowl regular.
Honorable Mention: Russell Okung, Seattle Seahawks
OT: Bryan Bulaga, Green Bay Packers
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The Packers' first round selection in last April's draft, Bulaga beat out veteran lineman Mark Tauscher for the starting right tackle job and hasn't looked back. He has played consistently well and may eventually take over the starting left tackle position from Chad Clifton.
Honorable Mention: Trent Williams, Washington Redskins
OG: Mike Iupati, San Francisco 49ers
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One of 2 offensive linemen drafted by San Francisco in the first round of last year's draft, Iupati has been a starter at guard since the beginning of this season. An excellent combination of strength, athleticism, and nastiness, Iupati is a big reason why Frank Gore has put up such outstanding rushing numbers.
OG: Jon Asamoah, Kansas City Chiefs
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Another one of the Chiefs' rookie standouts, Asamoah has proven too talented to keep off the field, even with solid veterans Brian Waters and Ryan Lilja ahead of him on the depth chart. He may have only accumulated one start on the season so far, but with Lilja and Waters not getting any younger, it seems it is only a matter of time before Asamoah assumes a starting role.
C: Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Steelers drafted Pouncey out of Florida in the first round last april, but Pouncey has been playing wise beyond his years. He has started every game so far and has anchored the line on one of the NFL's best teams. The last center to have a rookie season of this caliber was Nick Mangold of the New York Jets, who, in his 5th season, is widely thought of as the best center in the NFL.
Is Pouncey headed down the same path to stardom as Mangold? Time will tell, but any time a center is talked about as a possible candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year, as Mangold and Pouncey have been, odds are good that that center will end up being a pretty special player.
DE: Tyson Alualu, Jacksonville Jaguars
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The Jags took a lot of flack when they drafted Aluala, who most analysts had as a late first-rounder at best, 10th overall. However, Alualu has played well up to this point, showing the versatility to play multiple positions along the Defensive Line, and his 2.5 sacks rank third among all rookies. If he continues to improve, Alualu may be able to silence those who have deemed him overdrafted.
DE: Lamarr Houston, Oakland Raiders
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Oakland's second round pick in the 2010 Draft, Houston won the starting Left End spot on a greatly-improved Raiders Defense. So far he has 2 sacks, and has forced one fumble while recovering 2 more. With the solid play of Houston and rookie Linebacker Rolando McClain, Oakland's defense has a solid starting foundation as it attempts to reverse its fortunes and become one of the league's best.
DT: Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions
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Regarded by many as the best player available in the draft last April, Suh has been outstanding since day one. His 6.5 Sacks lead all rookie players and have him tied for 11th in the NFL. With a commanding lead for the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, Suh very well could end up on the NFC roster in this year's Pro Bowl. Suh is a special, special player, and his future in the league is very bright.
DT: Gerald McCoy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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While McCoy hasn't quite put up the numbers many expected of him as the number 3 overall pick, I still feel he deserves a spot on the All Rookie team due to his constant improvement. Go back and watch McCoy early on in the season and then watch him now; he is a completely different player, and if he continues to improve, expect him to more than live up to his high draft status.
LB: Koa Misi, Miami Dolphins
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The Dolphins linebacking corps. is looking much improved from last year. And while the addition of ILB Karlos Dansby, one could argue that Misi deserves a good deal of credit as well. His 3.5 sacks rank second behind Ndamukong Suh among rookie player, and he has also played fairly well against the run. Also, Misi is only going to get better as the season goes on, and when as he does, he could very well emerge as the Dolphins' best pass-rushing threat since Joey Porter during the 2008-09 season.
LB: Brandon Spikes, New England Patriots
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Paired with fellow linebacker Jerod Mayo, Spikes has turned in a solid rookie year thus far. His 47 tackles rank 2nd among all rookies and 1st among rookie linebackers. With two solid young linebackers to compliment an outstanding defensive line, the Patriots' front seven looks set for years to come.
LB: Daryl Washington, Arizona Cardinals
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Although the loss of outstanding ILB Karlos Dansby to free agency last year definitely hurt the Cardinals, Washington has really stepped up and done a commendable job filling the void left by Dansby. His 46 tackles currently rank 3rd among all rookies and second among rookie linebackers.
CB: Devin McCourty, New England Patriots
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The Pats' first round pick in the draft, McCourty has started every game this season while accumulating some very respectable stats: 37 tackles and 2 interceptions. The Patriots have not had a top-flight cover corner since Assante Samuel, and McCourty may be just the guy to change that.
CB: Alteraun Verner, Tennessee Titans
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Although he did not become a starter until a few games into the season, Verner has still put up some outstanding numbers: 37 tackles and 2 interceptions, the exact same stats as my other All Rookie corner Devin McCourty, who has been a starter all season. Considering that, Verner's numbers look even better and it's easy to see the Titans have a good one in him.
FS: Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks
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An athletic ballhawk, Thomas already has 4 interceptions this season, which places him 1st among rookies and 5th in the NFL. Thomas also has 39 tackles, which ranks in the top 10 among all rookies. While I'm not entirely sure how good NFL coach Pete Carroll will be, I'm 100% positive that he drafted a future All-Pro in Thomas.
SS: TJ Ward, Cleveland Browns
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Ward, the Browns' 2nd round pick, has been nothing short of outstanding this season. His 67 tackles lead all rookies with the next closest player being 20 tackles behind. Although Ward could definitely improve his statistics against the pass, he will only get better with time and is already pretty freaking good.
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