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Saturday, 18 November 2017

Atlanta Falcons All-Time All-Rookie Team

OPINION
By John Turney

This year we are picking All-Time All-Rookie squads for each of the NFL franchises. Today the Falcons get our treatment:

Eric Weems and Elbert Shelly, the two stalwart special teams demons didn't have great rookie years since they didn't play a lot of games, but some others, Michael Boley, Akeem Dent, Jessie Tuggle and Ralph Ortega was players who got down the field, made tackles and played extremely hard so they get the special teams slots. Boley, an All-Rookie pick, gets the First-team slot and Dent (also All-Rookie) gets the Second-team slot. Tuggle and Ortega both get an honorable mention. Boley also started 11 games and performed well at linebacker.

The kickers, both of whom had 5-field goal games to beat the Rams, are Nick Mike-Mayer and Tim Mazzetti. Mike-Mayer was All-Rookie and the NFC Pro Bowl kicker and an All-NFC selection in 1973. Also, the Falcons have three honorable mentions: Mick Luckhurst, 1981 (All-Rookie), and Jay Feely, 2001 (All-Rookie). Greg Davis, (1988 All-Rookie by Football Digest)

John James, 1972 (All-Rookie), is the top punter followed by Rick Donnelly, 1985. The honorable mentions are Michael Koenen, 2005 (36.9 net average) and Harold Alexander, 1993 (37.6 net) and Matt Bosher, 2011 (All-Rookie)

Deion Sanders, 1989, and Derrick Vaughn, 2000 (All-Rookie), are the First-team punt- and kick returners. The Second teamers are Harry Douglass (1985) and Byron Hanspard, 1997 (All-Rookie).

Dennis Pearson, 1978 (26.5 avg and 1 TD) and Tim Dwight, 1998 (All-Rookie, 27.0 average and 1 TD) are the honorable mention kick returners. The punt return honorable mention is Gerald Tinker, (1974, 13.9 average and 1 TD).

Robert Alford, 2013, is the nickel back followed by Chevis Jackson, 2008. The designated pass rusher for the All-Rookie team is Mike Pitts, 1983 (All-Rookie, 7 sacks), followed by Marcus Cotton, 1988 (5 sacks).

Strong safety goes to Roger Harper, 1993 (All-Rookie, 112 tackles), and he's backed up by Robert Moore, 1986. The free safety First- and Second-teamers are Bret Clark, 1986, and Tom Pridemore, 1978. There are three honorable mentions at safety�Ray Brown, 1971, Keanu Neal, 2016, and Clarence Ellis, 1972, Willie Germany, 1972 (Football Digest All-Rookie), James Britt (1983, Football Digest All-Rookie), and Devin Bush, 1995 (All-Rookie)

Deion Sanders, 1989 (All-Rookie, 5 picks, 2 forced fumbles), and Bobby Butler, 1981 (5 picks), are the cornerbacks, backed by Desmond Trufant, 2013 (All-Rookie, 60 tackles, 2 INTs), and Kenny Johnson, 1980 (All-Rookie). Butler would have gotten more acclaim for his rookie season but Ronnie Lott and Everson Walls took the lion's share of awards that season.

There are five honorable mentions at corner: Rudy Redmond, 1969 (41 tackles, 5 interceptions), Tom Hayes, 1971 (All-Rookie), Frank Reed, 1976 (46 tackles, 29 passes defensed, Second-team All-Rookie) Chris Houston, 2007, Brian Poole, 2016, and DeAngelo Hall, 2004.

Tommy Nobis, 1966 (NFL Rookie of the Year, 125 tackles, 5 sacks), is the middle linebacker, the 3-4 inside linebacker is Buddy Curry, 1980 (145 tackles, 3 INTs, 14 passes defensed and a scoop and score, co-Defensive Rookie of the Year, All-Rookie). They are backed by Curtis Lofton, 2008 (All-Rookie, 87 tackles), (middle) and Jim Laughlin, 1980 (42 tackles) (inside).

For outside linebackers, we chose Al Richardson, 1980 (co-Defensive Rookie of the Year with Curry, All-Rookie, 84 tackles, 7 interceptions, 3 fumbles recovered one for a touchdown) and Deion Jones, 2016 (All-rookie, 106 tackles, 3 picks, 3 for TDs). The Second-teamers are Robert Pennywell, 1977 (86 tackles, 6� stuffs), Aundray Bruce, 1988 (6 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, All-Rookie)

The honorables are John Rade, 1983 (All-Rookie), Darion Conner, 1990, Henri Crockett, 1997, and Paul Worrilow, 2013 (All-Rookie), Vic Beasley, 2015 (PFJ All-Pro)

Rick Bryan, 1984, Tony Casillas, 1986, a pair of All-Rookie selections are the defensive tackles followed by Tory Epps, 1990 (All-Rookie), and Moe Gardner, 1991 (All-Rookie), on our Second-team. Greg Lens, 1970 (36 tackles, 6� sacks), and Andrew Provence, 1983 (All-Rookie) are the honorable mentions.

Claude Humphrey, 1968, (NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year) and John Zook, 1969 (44 tackles, 9� sacks), are the First-team flanks, and the Second-teamers are Don Smith, 1979 (35 tackles, 9 sacks), and Jeff Merrow, 1975, with Jamaal Anderson, 2007, and Mike Gann, 1985, as the honorable mentions. Humphrey got some All-Pro notice and had 47 tackles, 11� sacks and five forced fumbles.

The First-team offensive line is composed of Calvin Collins, 1997 (All-Rookie), center with guards Bill Fralic, 1985 (All-Rookie), and Lincoln Kennedy, 1993 (All-Rookie), with George Kunz, 1969 (Pro Bowl), and Mike Kenn, 1978 (All-Rookie), at tackles. As noted, four of the five were All-Rookie selections and the only reason it wasn't five for five is that in 1969 there was no major publication making All-Rookie selections. Kunz did go to the Pro Bowl as a replacement and was regarded as the top rookie tackle in the NFL that season.

The Second-team offensive line is as follows: James Stone, 2014, center, R.C. Thielemann, 1977 (All-Rookie), and Justin Blalock, 2007, at guard and Ephraim Salaam, 1998 (All-Rookie), and Jake Matthews, 2014 (All-Rookie), the tackles.

Guards Travis Claridge, 2000 (Football News All-Rookie), and Dennis Havig, 1972 (All-Rookie), plus tackles Houston Hoover, 1988, and Warren Bryant, 1977, and John Scully, (1981 All-Rookie) and Peter Konz, 2012, are the honorable mentions.

Junior Miller, 1980 (All-Rookie), is the First-team tight end and Jim Mitchell, 1969, is Second-team with Alge Crumpler, 2001 (Football News All-Rookie), Cliff Benson,1984 (All-Rookie), Austin Hooper, (2016) the HMs

Matt Ryan, 2008 (All-Rookie), is the clear number one quarterback and he's backed but Second-team choice Steve Bartkowski, 1975 (All-Rookie), with Randy Johnson,1966, the honorable mention along with Doug Johnson, 2000 (All-Rookie)

William Andrews, 1979 (All-Rookie), and Steve Broussard, 1990, are the running backs and they are backed up by Bubba Bean, 1976, and Jerious Norwood, 2006. Andrews is the star of this group rushing for over 1,000 yards and catching 39 passes.

At wideout Julio Jones, 2011 (All-Rookie), and Ken Burrow, 1971, are the picks. Their backups are Alfred Jenkins, 1975, and Shawn Collins, 1989 (All-Rookie). At honorable mention, we went with Alfred Jackson, (1978), Mike Pritchard,1991 (All-Rookie) and Bert Emanuel, 1994.

Burrow caught 33 passes for 741 yards and a 22.5-yard average and 6 touchdowns while Julio Jones, despite missing three games had 54 receptions for 959 yards and a 17.8-yard average with 8 touchdowns.Jenkins was close to Burrow in numbers: 38 catches for 767 yards and a 20.2-yard average and 6 touchdowns while Collins totaled 58 catches for 862 yards.

Saturday, 4 November 2017

New Orleans Saints All-Time All-Rookie Team

OPINION
By John Turney

This year we are picking All-Time All-Rookie squads for each of the NFL franchises. Today the Saints get our treatment�with this one caveat: At the end of the season, we will put in rookie phenom Marshon Lattimore. For now, however, we picked the teams through the 2016 season. We want a chance to review all the rookie seasons for all the teams before we update but it is a safe bet that Lattimore will achieve one of the two First-team slots on the Saints team.

Here are our selections:

Archie Manning, 1971, and Aaron Brooks, 2000, are the quarterbacks, First- and Second-team respectively.

The running backs are George Rogers, 1981 (over 1600 yards rushing Offensive Rookie of the Year, First-team All-Pro), and Rueben Mayes, 1986, on the First-team and Ricky Williams, 1999, and Alvin Maxson, 1974, as Second-teamers.

There is a long list of honorable mentions: Tony Galbreath, 1976 (All-Rookie), Chuck Muncie, 1976, Reggie Bush, 2006, Chris Ivory, 2010, Vaughn Dunbar, 1992, the final three all making All-Rookie teams.

Michael Thomas, 2016, and Marques Colston, 2006, top the receiver list with Danny Abramowicz, 1967, and Willie Snead, 2015, next. The honorables include Joel Parker, 1974, Wes Chandler, 1978, Donte' Stallworth, 2002, Kenny Stills, 2013, Lindsay Scott, 1982.

Cam Cleeland, 1998, a consensus All-Rookie pick is the top tight end backed by Paul Seal's 1974 season.

Brian De La Puente, 2011, is the lone center. There were no other years worthy of being picked for an All-time All-Rookie Team. Kyle Turley, 1998, and Jahri Evans, 2006, are the top two guards narrowly edging LeCharles Bentley, 2002, and Carl Nicks, 2008. The honorables include All-Rookie picks of Royce Smith, 1972, Brad Edelman, 1982, and Steve Trapilo, 1987, plus Chris Port's 1991.

Willie Roaf, 1993, and Jammal Brown, 2005, are stellar tackles. They are backed by Stan Brock, 1980, and J.T. Taylor, 1978 (tie), Don Morrison, 1971 (tie). Taylor and Morrison were not All-Rookie picks but both were starters on two of the better Saints teams of the 1970s. We just couldn't find enough to separate them so we tied them for the final Second-team spot. Kevin Haverdink is the lone honorable mention for his consensus All-Rookie performance of 1989.

Jo-Lonn Dunbar, 2008 (13 tackles) and Steve Preece,1969, head the special teams coverage position. Honorable mentions are Sedrick Hodge, 2001 (14 tackles) and Usama Young, 2007 (13 tackles).

Wil Lutz, 2016, Tom Dempsey's, 1969. Lutz was just too good 28/34 FGs and 133 points. Dempsey was All-Pro in 1969. We do "grade on a curve" taking into account the era and this was a close call. Being All-Pro means Dempsey was considered the top kicker. Lutz, while excellent was not. But if a player can have a season like Lutz did in 2016 and it not top someone from an earlier era it would make it impossible to ever supplant the older players. So, we went with Lutz. But, we admit, we could be wrong. It's that close in our eyes.

With punters, we went with the older player but again, it was close. Julian Fagen, 1970, followed by Tom McNeill, 1967 (37.5 net average). The honorable mentions are Steve Weatherford, 2006, Thomas Morstead, 2009, Brian Hansen, 1984.

Tyrone Hughes take the top punt return season and the Second-team kick returner slot.

Willie Whitehead, 1999 (30 tackles, 7 sacks), is our First-team designated pass rusher followed by inside rusher Jumpy Geathers, 1984. Ernie Jackson had a good year in 1972 as a nickel back as did Usama Young in 2007.

Darren Howard, 2000 (53 tackles, 11 sacks, 1 INT), and Will Smith, 2004 (40 tackles, 7.5 sacks), are the First-team defensive ends with Renaldo Turnbull, 1990 (31 tackles, 9 sacks), and Bruce Clark, 1982, backing them up. Charles Grant, 2002 (37 tackles, 7 sacks), Shawn Knight, 1987, and Joe Johnson, 1994, and Cameron Jordan, 2011, are the honorable mentions, all except Jordan were named to All-Rookie teams.

Bob Pollard, 1971 (79 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 FF), and Dave Rowe, 1967 (55 tackles, 3� sacks), are our picks for defensive tackle and Sedrick Ellis, 2008 (30 tackles, 4 sacks), and Elex Price, 1973 (89 tackles, 2 sacks), are their backups. The honorable mentions are Sheldon Rankins, 2016 (20 tackles, 4 sacks), and Johnathan Sullivan's 2003 (33 tackles, 1 sack, season-long starter and All-Rookie).

Glen Redd, 1981, and Joe Federspiel, 1972 are the inside- and middle linebackers, respectively backed by Jack Del Rio, 1985, and Stephone Anthony, 2015.

Rickey Jackson, 1981 (132 tackles, 8� sacks), and Jim Merlo, 1973 (85 tackles), top the outside 'backer list with Hau'oli Kikaha, 2015 (51 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 FF), and Colby Bockwoldt, 2004 (46 tackles and a scoop-and-score), next and Mark Fields, 1995, is the lone honorable mention.

Robert Massey, 1989 (87 tackles, 5 picks), is the top corner with Doug Wyatt, 1970 (53 tackles, 13 passes defensed, 4 INT), next. Numbers three and four are Johnnie Poe, 1981, and Delvin Breaux, 2015.

The honorables are Dee Martin, 1971 (61 tackles, 17 passes defensed, 3 INTs), Terry Schmidt, 1974, Dave Waymer, 1980 (52 tackles, 14 passes defensed), and Gene Howard, 1968 (40 tackles, 22 passes defensed, 3 INTs).

Hugo Hollas, 1970 (5 picks and a good blitzer), is the top strong safety and Sammy Knight, 1997 (84 tackles, 5 INTs), is the top weak-side man. Kenny Vaccaro, 2013 (79 tackles and a pick), and Josh Bullocks, 2005, are next.

The honorable mention safeties are: Russell Gary, 1981, Antonio Gibson, 1986 (All-Rookie)

Pierre Warren, 2014, Vonn Bell, 2016, and Gene Atkins, 1987 (All-Rookie)

Friday, 3 November 2017

Cincinnati Bengals All-Time All-Rookie Team

OPINION
By John Turney

This year we are picking All-Time All-Rookie squads for each of the NFL franchises. Today the Bengals get our treatment:

The First- and Second-team lines are solid, most making All-Rookie teams of one stripe or another. Anthony Munoz being the top rookie, rated the 5th best tackle in the NFL by Pro Scout, Inc. in 1980.

Blair Bush was a consensus All-Rookie pick in 1978 as was Anderson in 1996 and Zeitler in 2012.

The honorable mention linemen are Russell Bodine, 2010, Tom Scott, 1993, Andrew Whitworth, 2006, Bruce Kozerski (1983), Mike Arthur, (1991), Trevor Robinson, 2012, and Glenn Bujnoch, (1976).

Greg Cook is the #1 QB followed by Andy Dalton. David Klingler, 1992 All-Rookie, gets honorable mention. Klinger started four games in a season where there were no real standout rookie quarterbacks. Purists may not like seeing his name listed.

Bob Trumpy made the East AFL-All-Star game and Dan Ross was a solid rookie starter and a consensus All-Rookie pick in 1979. The wide receivers are particularly strong for rookies. Isaac Curtis was a Pro Bowler and totaled 45 catches for 843 yards (an 18.7-yard average) and 9 TDs. A.J. Green was also a Pro Bowler and had a 1,000-yard receiving season as a rookie. Cris Collinsworth was a Pro Bowler, consensus All-Rookie, and a 1,000-yard receiver as well in 1981. Eddie Brown wasn't a Pro Bowl but put up excellent numbers for a rookie with his 53-942-17.8-8 line.

Carl Pickens, (All-Rookie) 1992, Darnay Scott, (All-Rookie) 1994, Peter Warrick, 2000, Billy Brooks,(Second-team All-Rookie, 1976), Chris Henry, 2005, Jordan Shipley, 2010, all get honorable mentions at receiver as do Tony McGee (All-Rookie 1993) and Tyler Eifert, 2013, at tight end.

Paul Robinson, 1968, and Ickey Woods, 1988 are the First-team runners with Corey Dillon, 1997 and Boobie Clark, 1973. Robinson was an All-AFL selection and Woods led the NFL with a 5.3 yards per rush. He also had 15 rushing touchdowns and a great dance. Jeremy Hill, 2014 is a strong honorable mention. Giovani Bernard, 2013, was a narrow miss for one of the top slots but still merits a strong honorable mention. Ryan Hewitt, get a mention since he was a 2014 All-Rookie at fullback. In this set of articles, we didn't pick rookie fullbacks in the mold of Moose Johnston or Lorenzo Neal. But if in recent years, any got some special mention we will not them.

Horst Muhlmann, 1969, is four top rookie kicker and he's backed up by Doug Pelfrey, 1993. We take into account era so the highest kicking percentage doesn't always get the top spot. Clint Stitser, 2010, is the top special mention. He was a consensus All-Rookie that year.

The top rookie punter is Dave Lewis, 1970 followed by Dale Livingston, 1968. Lewis had a 39.0 net punting average (a 46.2 gross average) and was All-Pro and Livingston had a 39.3 net average (43.4 gross average). Pat McInally, (All-Rookie, 1976) gets honorable mention as does Brad Costello, 1998 (All-Rookie) and 2004 All-Rookie punter Kyle Larson.

Guy Frazier was an excellent special teams player as a rookie on the 1981 Bengals AFC Champs and Daze Jones led the Bengals with 18 tackles and a forced fumble in 2006.

David Verser gets an honorable mention as a kicker returner in 1981 since he was All-Rookie as selected by Pro Football Weekly. Mitchell Price, 1990, too, gets an HM as well as Quan Cosby for his consensus All-Rookie season of 2009 and Alex Erickson, 2016.

Carlos Dunlap is the top designated rusher as a rookie and he's backed up by Robert Geathers for now. By year's end, Carl Lawson will take the Second-team spot from Geathers and could challenge Dunlap's top spot. In 2010, Dunlap was All-Rookie and had 9.5 sacks in 12 games (no starts). Currently, Lawson has 4.5 sacks in 7 games (1 start).

The First-team defensive ends on our rookie team are Gary Burley, 1976 (80 tackles, 9� sacks), and Sherman White, both of whom earned consensus All-Rookie status. White had 4� sacks in 1972 as a rookie starter. Ross Browner, 1978 (69, 6� sacks) and Justin Smith are the backups.

John Copeland, 1993 (consensus All-Rookie), Ron Carpenter 1970, (who moved to defensive tackle), and David Grant, (1988) get honorable mentions as defensive ends. Copeland had 48 tackles and 3.0 sacks and Carpenter had 46 tackles and 2 sacks.

Dan Wilkinson, 1994 (44 tackles, 5.5 sacks), and Mike Reid, 1970 (9 games, 5 sacks) are the top defensive tackles followed by Wilson Whitley, 1977 (49 tackles, no sacks), and Eddie Edwards, 1977 (All-Rookie, 71 tackles 4 sacks). Tim Krumrie is an honorable mention for his 1983 rookie campaign as is Pat Sims's 2008 season.

The linebacking corps is composed of Bill Bergey, 1969 (152 tackles, 11 PD, 2 INT), and Takeo Spikes, (Consensus All-Rookie, 1998), on the inside and James Francis, 1990 (consensus All-Rookie, 78 tackles, 8 sacks), and Al Beauchamp, 1968 (2 picks, one for a TD) on the outside.

They are backed by Odell Thurman (remember him?), 2005 (98 tackles, 5 picks, 5 forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks), and Brian Simmons, 1998 (78 tackles, 3.0 sacks), on the inside and Alfred Williams, 1991 (38 tackles, 3 sacks), and Reggie Williams, 1976 (106 tackles, 7 PD, 2 sacks and 1 INT), outside.

We almost went with Thurman over Bergey even though Thurman's career self-destructed. His five interceptions is a high number for a middle linebacker in this era and he also had 5 forced fumbles and was in on a couple of sacks. However, Bergey averaged over 10 tackles a game and was also good in pass defense.

Rey Maualuga, 2009 (59 tackles, 3 FF), Ricardo McDonald, (All-Rookie,1992), Steve Tovar, 1993 (All-Rookie, 85 tackles), Carl Zander, (1985), and Vontaze Burfict, 2012 (127 tackles), all get honorable mentions at linebacker. Armegis Spearman, 2000, was a rookie starter and an All-Rookie pick and had 70 tackles for the season. It's strong enough to be an HM here.

Lemar Parrish, 1970 (44 tackles, 5 picks 18 PD), and Ken Riley, 1969 (59 tackles, 4 picks, 16 PD, 2 FR and 1 BK), are the top corners backed up by Louis Breeden, 1978 (69 tackles, 3 picks), and Leon Hall, 2007. Artrell Hawkins, 1998, and Lewis Billups, 1986, gets special mention as does Marvin Cobb, 1975, who got some All-Rookie votes.

David Fulcher, 1986 (105 tackles, 4 INT, 2 sacks), and Tommy Casanova, 1972 (consensus All-Rookie pick, 5 INT and was a fine punt returner as well), get the top safety slots and are followed by Bobby Kemp, 1981, and Madieu Williams, 2004. Darryl Williams, 1992, is a strong honorable mention. Jerry Anderson was an All-Rookie pick in 1977 and as such gets a mention here.

Saturday, 9 September 2017

Seattle Seahawks All-Time All-Rookie Team

OPINION
By John Turney

This year we are picking All-Time All-Rookie squads for each of the NFL franchises. Today the Seahawks get our treatment:

Behind Kuehn and Vallos at center are Chris Spencer, 2005, and Jean-Phillipe Darche, 2000, both of whom were All-Rookie choices in their respective rookie years but neither were starters. Darche, in fact, was only a long snapper. Often there are no starters at a particular position and those choosing All-Rookie teams have to fill out the ballots and in this case, Darche and Spencer got the most votes. Darche, however, is also an honorable mention on special teams as he was a snapper on those units for the Seahawks.

Max Unger and Steve Hutchinson are the First-team guards followed by Edwin Bailey and Germain Ifedi. The honorable mentions are Kevin Mawae, 1994, Pete Kendall, 1996, Floyd Wedderburn, 2000, and Matt Joyce, 1995. That's a pretty solid group of rookies. Mawae and Kendall were highly touted rookies but in this instance, we went with Bailey (16 starts) and Ifedi (13 starts) over the former two who did start but slightly fewer times.

Andy Heck, 1989, George Fant, 2016, James Carpenter, 2011, and Russell Okung, 2010 are the honorable mentions at tackle. Walter Jones and Justin Britt were season-long starters and wrapped up the top slots with Roberts and Mattes backing them up.

Pete Metzelaars, 1982, and Travis McNeal, 1989, were both All-Rookie selections but they did not put up the numbers that John Carlson, 2008, and Jerramy Stevens, 2002 did and therefore are regulated to the honorable mention list.

The same is true of the quarterbacks. Mirer and Zorn were All-Rookie and Russell Wilson lost out to Robert Griffin III but Wilson's rookie year was far superior to Mirer and Zorn. Thus we gave the Second-team to Zorn and made Mirer and honorable mention, though really, they could be reversed.

Darrell Jackson, 2000, and Doug Baldwin, 2011, are honorable mentions at receiver.

Jacob Green, 1980, Jeff Bryant, 1982, Bruce Irvin, 2012 and Sam Adams, 1994, were all All-Rookie, though none were stellar all were solid. Irvin was a designated rusher while the rest were starters. Green had 6 sacks, Bryant 3 in a strike-shortened season. People forget that Adams was a defensive end in base defenses his rookie year, moving inside in nickel/dime situations. Frank Clark is our honorable mention for his All-Rookie season of 2015.

Steve Niehaus, 1976, and Manu Tuiasosopo, 1979, are the First-team picks at defensive tackle. Niehaus had 9� sacks and was All-Rookie and Tuiasosopo had 8 sacks and also was All-Rookie. Robert Hardy, 1979, and Brandon Mebane, 2007, edged honorable mention and All-Rookie pick Cortez Kennedy, 1990, who was a rotational player his rookie year.

Bobby Wagner, 2012, is the First-team middle linebacker followed by Lofa Tatupu, 2005. Tatupu was a Pro Bowler and totaled 104 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 interceptions (one for a score) and 10 passes defensed. Wagner, though edged him out with 139 tackles and 3 picks and on a better all-around defense. The honorables are All-Rookies Terry Beason, 1977, and Brian Bosworth, 1987.

K.J. Wright, 2011, and LeRoy Hill, 2005, are the top outside 'backers and behind them are Bruce Scholtz, 1982, and Keith Butler, 1978.

The honorable mentions at outside linebacker are Terry Wooden, 1990 (All-Rookie), Anthony Simmons, 1998 (All-Rookie) Tony Woods, 1987 and Aaron Curry, 2009. Curry was a bust for his career, but in his rookie season, he did some good things.

Brandon Browner, 2011, and Richard Sherman, 2011 are the starting corners. Browner was a Pro Bowler and Sherman was All-Rookie. We choose Marcus Trufant, 2003, Orlando Watters, 1994,
Shawn Springs, 1997, Ken Lucas, 2001, and Carlton Gray, 1993 (All-Rookie) as honorable mentions

Kenny Easley, 1981, and Earl Thomas, 2010, are the safeties backed up by Ken Hamlin, 2003, and John Harris, 1978. All-Rookie choice Robert Blackmon, 1990, is one honorable mention as is Michael Boulware, 2004.

John Kasay, 1991, Rian Lindell, 2000, Josh Brown, 2003 (All-Rookie) and Norm Johnson, 1982, is the ranking of the rookie kickers.

Ryan Plackemeier, 2006, and Ruben Rodriguez, 1987 (both All-Rookie) are the punters.

Bobby Joe Edmonds, 1986 is the First-team punt returner and Joey Galloway, 1995, is next. The honorable mentions are Tyler Lockett, 2015, and Charlie Rogers, 1999

Tyler Lockett, 2015 is top dog at kick returner and Maurice Morris, 2002 backs him up and Chris Warren, 1990(All-Rookie) is the lone honorable mention.

Fredd Young, 1984 and Rufus Porter, 1988 take the core special teams honors. The honorables include the aforementioned Jean-Phillipe Darche, 2000, Isaiah Kacyvenski, also 2000, and Niko Koutouvides, 2004. Kacyvenski had 16 special team tackles and Kacyvenski had 15.

Agree of diagree? Let us know in the comments section below.

Friday, 8 September 2017

Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Time All-Rookie Team

OPINION
By John Turney

This year we are picking All-Time All-Rookie squads for each of the NFL franchises. This iteration is the Bucs:

The pickings were very slim at center, Mayberry was the top but he only started a game. A couple of the top centers began as guards. And the guards were as deep as the centers were shallow. In addition to the First- and Second-teamers in the chart the list of honorable mentions is long�Greg Roberts, 1979, Ray Snell, 1980, Davin Joseph, 2006, Jim Pyne, 1995, Aaron Sears, 2007, Patrick Omameh, 2014, Dan Buenning, 2005 and Ali Marpet, 2015 all make our list. All were starters for the majority of their rookie seasons and most made one or more of the various All-Rookie teams at the time.

Paul Gruber and Donovan Smith were both excellent as rookies and were All-Rookie Heller and Walker were, too, but didn;t rate quote as high. There were four honorable mentions at tackle: Jeremy Trueblood, 2006, Charles McRae, 1991, Donald Penn, 2007 and Steve Young, 1976. Young was a Second-team All-Rookie pick on a very poor expansion team.

Four Buccaneer quarterbacks have been named All-Rookie: Jameis Winston in 2015, Mike Glennon in 2013 and also Doug Williams in 1978 and Vinny Testaverde in 1987. Winston was edged out for Offensive Rookie of the Year by Todd Gurley but he's still the top rookie quarterback in Buc history. Glennon is the Second-team pick and Williams and Testaverde are honorable mentions.

After the four running backs in the above chart, we also want to mention Eric Rhett's All-Rookie season of 1994. he gets the lone honorable mention.

Wide receiver, however, has four honorables: Mark Carrier, 1987, Lawrence Dawsey, 1991

Kevin House, 1980, and Reidel Anthony, 1997. All but House were named All-Rookie in their respective first seasons.

Backing up the top four defensive ends are honorable mentions Regan Upshaw, 1996, Noah Spence, 2016, Chidi Ahanotu, 1993 (who also played some tackle) and Eric Curry, 1993.

The honorable mentions for defensive tackle are Warren Sapp, 1995, and Akeem Spence, 2007. Sapp was named All-Rookie but so were three of the four picks ahead of him: Santana Dotson, 1992, Lee Roy Selmon, 1976, Gerald McCoy, 2010, Mark Wheeler, 1992.

Dotson had 10 sacks as a rookie three-technique and Selmon had 5 even though he missed some time, but overall he performed well as the NFL's first three-technique in 1976. Wheeler was a shade tackle in Tampa's flop 4-3 in 1992 and he performed very well alongside Dotson. McCoy started more games than Sapp and got the edge for that reasons. Their stats were just too close.

Sidney Coleman was an All-Rookie choice in 1988 and he's the lone honorable mention behind Kwon Alexander and Mason Foster. Alexander made 93 tackles, had 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 9 passes defensed to go with his two interceptions and Mason Foster's stats were not far behind.

Lavonte David, 2012, and Hugh Green were stellar their rookie seasons as was Derrick Brooks, 1995. We went ahead and tied Lewis and Browner since it really was too close to call.

Donnie Abraham, 1996 and Ricky Reynolds, 1987 are the cornerbacks backed up by Rod Jones, 1986 and Johnthan Banks, 2013. Vernon Hargreaves, 2016, and Aqib Talib (2008) are honorable mentions.

Mark Barron, 2012. and Tanard Jackson, 2007 are the standout safeties followed by Tony Covington and Marty Carter, ( both for 1991). All-Rookie selections Craig Swoope, 1986, and Cedrick Brown, 1977 are the two backups.

Backup up the kickers are Patrick Murray, 2014, and All-Rookie Roberto Aguayo, 2016. (Yes, he was All-Rookie). The honorable mention returners are Karl Williams for 1996 and Charles Wilson for his 1990 season. John McLaughlin was an All-Rookie selection in 1999 but to us he didn't stand out as much as Shelton Quarles and Barrett Ruud.

Agree or disagree with any of the selections? Let us know in the comments section below.

Thursday, 7 September 2017

Baltimore Ravens All-Time All-Rookie Team

OPINION
By John Turney

This year we are picking All-Time All-Rookie squads for each of the NFL franchises. This iteration is the Ravens:

Since 1996, the first year of the Baltimore Ravens, likely no team has had more good rookies. The players on our Second-team would qualify for the First-team on several franchises.

Jonathan Ogden is a HOF left tackle but he began his career as a guard. Marshal Yanda is an All-Pro guard but began as a tackle and played well. Ben Grubbs was All-Rookie in 2007 as was Michael Oher. Joe Flacco was 11-5 as a starter in 2008 and led the Ravens to the playoffs. Jamal Lewis rushed for 1364 yards as a rookie and was part of the 2000 Super Bowl Champions.

Defensively Ray Lewis made 110 tackles and 16.5 of them were run/pass stuffs and that number unofficially led the NFL. Terrell Suggs was the 2003 AP Defensive Player of the Year and totaled 12 sacks and 5 forced fumbles. Haloti Ngata was an All-Rookie choice in 2006 as he anchored the Ravens run defense from his shade tackle position. Timmy Jernigan was an All-Rookie selection in 2014 as was C.J. Mosley.

Ed Reed and Dawan Landry were All-Rookie choices in 2002 and 2006, respectively. Landry had three sacks and picked off five passes. Reed also picked off five passes and blocked a pair of punts.

Zastudill was All-Rookie but Koch had the better season and thus was rewarded with the First-team slot. Sams and Figurs also were All-Rookie but also had the top seasons as well and were First-team choices.

Agree or disagree? Let us know in the comments section below.

Wednesday, 6 September 2017

Jacksonville Jaguars All-Time All-Rookie Team

OPINION
By John Turney

This year we are picking All-Time All-Rookie squads for each of the NFL franchises. This iteration is the Jaguars:

As rookies Meester, Linder, Boselli and Monore were particularly solid. And behind the second team were honorable mentions Will Rackley, 2011, Eben Britton, 2009, and Khalif Barnes, 2005.

We put Leftwich first and decided that Bortles and Gabbert's rookie seasons to too close to separate so we gave them both Second-team honors. None stood out and none were awful. Just mediocre.

Fred Taylor rushed for over 1200 yards and 14 touchdowns and was All-Rookie and Maurice Jones-Drew, as a rotation back gained over 900 yards and scored 13 touchdowns on the ground.

Yannick Ngakoue had an excellent rookie year as an edge rusher as did Tony Brackens in 1996, though he didn't start he played in nickel situations as a defensive end and even as a middle linebacker in dime situations.

Telvin Smith and Kevin Hardy were near-Pro Bowl quality as rookies. Hardy had 88 tackles, 5.5 sacks and forced 3 fumbles as a rookie while Smith had 104 tackles and 7.5 stuffs. Marcus Stroud, 2001, is an honorable mention is a very deep defensive tackle pool.

Agree or disagree with our choices? Post in the comments section below.

Carolina Panthers All-Time All-Rookie Team

OPINION
By John Turney

This year we are picking All-Time All-Rookie squads for each of the NFL franchises. This iteration is the Carolina Panthers:

Jordan Gross was stellar his rookie season, according to Pro Scout, Inc., he had scores similar to Anthony Munoz's rookie season in 1980. Julius Peppers was the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2002 and Luke Kuechly won the same award in 2012. Cam Newton was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2011.

Kris Jenkins was solid as a rookie and the following season he was All-Pro. No rookie has ever held the kicking job for the Panthers, who began their NFL run in 1995.

Norbert Davidds-Garrido, 1996 and Jeff Otah, 2008, are honorable mentions as tackles. Lester Towns, 2000, is an MLB honorable mention. Richard Marshall, 2006, and Daryl Worley, 2016, are also honorable mentions for their rookie seasons.

Agree or disagree? Comment below.

Houston Texans All-Time All-Rookie Team

OPINION
By John Turney

Last year we chose All-Time Career Years for all the NFL franchises. This Fall we will choose a similar squad composed of rookie seasons for each team. We are starting with the Houston Texans:

We were not able to find a center that played enough as a rookie to be considered, same with kickers. We could only find one rookie punter as well. Depth is also thin at defensive tackle.

However, there were some very solid players for the Texans, among then Brian Cushing who was a Pro Bowler and a Second-team All-Pro in 2009. He made 133 tackles, four sacks, four picks, 10 passes defenses, two forced fumbles and a safety�all career highs.

Amobi Okoye had a good rookie season with 5.5 sacks and DeMeco Ryans was excellent as well. he totaled 155 tackles and 3.5 sacks and was the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2006.

Agree or disagree? Comment below.