Watch out guys, it’s that time of the year where you’re slated to hit the dreaded rookie wall.
Well at least we should be. It turns out that quite a few of the 2011 class aren’t so much interested in hitting the rookie wall, as they are as smashing through it. These are strange times we’re living in.
You won’t be surprised with who the top two are right now (although one of them is clearly pulling away in our eyes). Instead, it’s the battle for the positions below them that is providing the most interesting contest. Two members of our top five had days they’d rather forget while a couple of offensive weapons are catapulting themselves onto the list.
All that and more in our Race for Rookie of the Year!!!
1. [1] Von Miller, OLB, Denver Broncos, +34.7 (554 snaps)
When Miller first burst onto the scene I wondered if he might be just a flash in the pan. Now I’m starting to realize he was simply getting warmed up. Miller has now picked up 40 combined sacks, hits and hurries while earning a +13.9 grade in run defense. He is special.
2. [2] Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers, +26.1 (627 snaps)
That was not his best performance of the year against a good Titans defense. He’s firmly entrenched in second place though. Newton will need another one of his superman performances to start catching up to Miller.
3. [5] Tyron Smith, RT, Dallas Cowboys, +10.1 (603 snaps)
Smith has yet to have a perfect game in pass protection but the win over Buffalo marked the sixth time this year he’s given up just a single pressure. That’s impressive for any tackle, let alone a rookie who was supposed to be raw. Smith looks ideally suited to a role on the left side one day.
4. [3] Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals, +13.6 (581 snaps)
So Mr Dalton, let’s see how this works. I wax lyrical about you and then you put in a poor performance? That hardly seems fair, although the Steelers defense is one almighty mitigating circumstance.
5. [4] Marcell Dareus, DT, Buffalo Bills, +9.9 (437 snaps)
Dareus really didn’t look good against Dallas. There is a minor concern here in that he seems to either have really good games, or really ‘meh’ ones.
6. [-] DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys, +8.0 (240 snaps)
You can’t ignore Murray any longer with that quite frankly ridiculous 6.7 yards per carry average. He’s earned his yards as well and already has our sixth highest rushing grade on the year. Take a backseat Felix, this kid is getting it done.
7. Jurrell Casey, DT, Tennessee Titans, +9.3 (357 snaps)
The more you see of Casey the more you have to like of him. He won’t get much recognition because he’s not a pass rusher. His impact in the running game though, where he is second amongst all defensive tackles in defensive stops, is huge.
8. [9] Aldon Smith, OLB, San Francisco 49ers, +10.7 (298 snaps)
Not enough people are talking about Aldon Smith who added five more hurries to his season tally against the Giants. That’s 30 combined quarterback disruptions (sacks, hits and hurries) and he’s done it all in a situational role. Simply impressive.
9. [8] A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals, +5.1 receiving (553 snaps)
Green can’t block and he also gives up too many penalties. You can learn to deal with that though when he makes a skyline touchdown grab like he did against the Steelers.
10. [-] Denarius Moore, WR, Oakland Raiders, +4.3 receiving (426 snaps)
Who knew that the biggest benefactor from Carson Palmer going to Oakland would be Moore? They seem to have hit it off from the outset and Moore is rapidly turning into the kind of weapon defenses can’t stop.
Dropping Out
Adrian Clayborn, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: There’s no hiding it from us. Clayborn had a very poor game against Houston. While contributing no pass rush, he struggled to make impact in run game and gave up two penalties.
Jabaal Sheard, DE, Cleveland Browns: It has been too long since he wowed me … or anyone else, for that matter.
Five To Watch
Richard Sherman, CB, Seattle Seahawks: Against Baltimore he was almost beaten deep a couple of times by Torrey Smith but he rebounded with another fantastic display. Sherman is an upgrade on Marcus Trufant already.
Marcus Gilbert, RT, Pittsburgh Steelers: Gilbert gave up two sacks but nothing else to the Bengals. As can be the case with Big Ben, a tackle will have a higher ratio of pressure to sacks given the quarterbacks propensity to try and make plays.
J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans: The former Badger is a disruptive player in the run game. He is a perfect complement to Antonio Smith who is much more adept at getting to the QB.
Ryan Kerrigan, OLB, Washington Redskins: On a day when the offense struggled, Kerrigan picked up some pressure on Marc Colombo.
Akeem Ayers, OLB, Tennessee Titans: Ayers looked good when given the chance to rush the passer against Carolina.
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