<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Week Seven Rookie of the Year MeterJet takes off; former leader takes nosediveBy Court E. MannOct. 25, 2006With four of our top 10 nominees enjoying some time off in Week Seven, this week’s Rookie of the Year Meter is perhaps our most stable to date. Our front-runner took a step back by the Bay, a hard-hitting familiar face returns, and a Jet launches himself into rarified air.[Note: This feature is designed to handicap the race for the Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards. It takes into account both past performance and future potential. Thus, occasionally, you may find players who rank ahead of others despite relatively less production at that point. For example, Leinart was on our ROY radar even before he took over for Kurt Warner because his debut and level of success was very much anticipated.]The top nominees1. Saints WR Marques ColstonSeason stats: 27 catches, 414 yards, four TDsWeek Seven stats: On byeLast week’s ranking: 2Stock: STEADYDespite the Saints’ off week, Colston remains atop the rookie leaderboard in receiving yards and receiving TDs and second in receptions to his flashy teammate heading into Week Eight. If he maintains his team lead in all significant receiving categories, for a squad that has captured the NFL spotlight, the seventh-rounder will have his fair share of votes.2. Patriots RB Laurence MaroneySeason stats: 86 rushes, 361 yards, three TDs; seven catches, 77 yardsWeek Seven stats: eight rushes, 29 yards; one catch, one yardLast week’s ranking: 3Stock: STEADYIn the Patriots’ two-headed backfield, it was Corey Dillon’s turn in Week Seven. While Dillon scored two TDs to open another New England win, Maroney gained only 29 yards on a season-low eight carries. He has fewer than 38 rushing yards in three of his last four tilts, and yet he still leads all first-years in rushing.3. Saints RB Reggie BushSeason stats: 65 rushes, 195 yards; 38 catches, 285 yardsWeek Six stats: On byeLast week’s ranking: 4Stock: STEADYRegardless of his bottom-line digits, it’s going to be tough to keep Bush down in the voting, not only based on his reputation but also because of the Saints’ remarkable turnaround. However, it would be helpful if he had one stat to hang his hat on. With the off week, he fell from tops in the NFL in receptions to No. 8 overall.4. Cardinals QB Matt LeinartSeason stats: 65-of-118, 742 passing yards, four TDs, four INTsWeek Seven stats: 13-for-32, 203 yards, two INTsLast week’s ranking: 1Stock: FALLINGIn the crazy world of the NFL, Leinart can go from shining against the suffocating Bears to struggling vs. the porous Raiders in the span on just six days. Of course, rookie QBs are notorious for their ups and downs, and the former Heisman Trophy winner certainly promises to have plenty of ROY moments with a presumed nine starts in front of him the rest of this season. Green Bay’s NFL-worst pass defense offers one of those opportunities this week.5. Bears DE Mark AndersonSeason stats: 11 tackles, 6? sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one pass defendedWeek Seven stats: On byeLast week’s ranking: 5Stock: STEADYLike Colston, Anderson held on to his lofty stature among the sack leaders despite not playing in Week Seven. He remains first among all rookies and in a tie for third in the league overall behind perennial Pro Bowlers Julius Peppers and Jason Taylor. Anderson’s playing time may dwindle a bit upon the return of starter Adewale Ogunleye, who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury.6. Buccaneers QB Bruce GradkowskiSeason stats: 60-of-107, 533 yards, four TDs, one INTWeek Seven stats: 13-for-26, 104 yards, zero TD, zero INTLast week’s ranking: 7Stock: STEADYIn his third NFL start, Gradkowski didn’t do much to win the game, but perhaps more significantly, he didn’t do anything to lose it, either. The Toledo product has fewer passing yards than Leinart, but he leads the higher-profile passer in wins and QB rating and has just as many passing scores.7. Lions LB Ernie SimsSeason stats: 59 tackles (43 solo, 13 assists), one pass defended, one forced fumbleWeek Seven stats: 10 tackles (nine solo, one assist)Last week’s ranking: Honorable mentionStock: RISINGWeek Six saw Sims drop out of the top 10 because of an elbow injury that looked serious on the field. Yet the Florida State product demonstrated his toughness and dedication by slapping a brace on and suiting up for practice at the very next opportunity. Sure enough, there he was on game day, recording his third double-digit-tackle outing of the year.8. Packers WR Greg JenningsSeason stats: 21 catches, 378 yards, three TDsWeek Seven stats: one catch, 14 yardsLast week’s ranking: 6Stock: STEADYAfter three TDs in four games, Jennings was finally slowed on Sunday, perhaps more by a sprained ankle than by the opposing defense. The second-round stud will be questionable at best for Sunday’s game vs. Arizona, and any missed time will hurt his candidacy. However, the Packers desperately need him, given their decimated WR corps.9. Titans QB Vince YoungSeason stats: 47-of-99, 512 yards, three TDs, four INTs; 20 rushes, 80 yards, one TDWeek Seven stats: On byeLast week’s ranking: 9Stock: STEADYFresh off the first win of Young’s career and of the Titans’ season, the third overall pick in the draft has a ripe opportunity to build on that success against a Texans defense that cedes 386 yards and nearly 26 points per game. The emergence of Travis Henry and the Tennessee running game will help Young going forward.10. Jets RB Leon WashingtonSeason stats: 71 rushes, 346 yards, two TDs; five catches, 76 yardsWeek Seven stats: 20 rushes, 129 yards, two TDLast week’s ranking: UnrankedStock: RISINGOn the strength of two 100-yard games in the last three weeks, Washington has skyrocketed up the ROY Meter after recording a mere eight carries in his first three games. The Jets’ fourth-round pick out of Florida State established a single-season best for a rookie, rolling up 129 yards on the Lions last Sunday. He is suddenly just 15 yards behind Maroney for the rookie rushing lead. Honorable mention (in no particular order)Texans LB DeMeco Ryans: Second among all rookies in tackles.Broncos DL Elvis Dumervil: Five sacks in his last two games.Bears PR Devin Hester: You may have seen his return TD vs. the Cardinals.Colts RB Joseph Addai: Second among rooks in rushing after career-best 85 yards.Bills SS Donte Whitner: He’s sliding based on Bills’ collapse on “D.”Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew: Leads all rookies with five total touchdowns.Chargers OLT Marcus McNeill: Philip Rivers’ uniform was a bit dirtier last week in K.C.Colts S Antoine Bethea: Mike Doss’ ACL tear ensures more playing time for Bethea.Panthers CB Richard Marshall: Another five tackles, another pass defended.Falcons RB Jerious Norwood: First among all NFL backs with 7.6 yards per carry.Chiefs DE Tamba Hali: Three forced fumbles, one recovery and 3? sacks could net monthly honor.Texans DE Mario Williams: Recorded a sack and recovered a fumble in upset win.Browns DE Kamerion Wimbley: Season-high five tackles vs. Broncos.Bears S Danieal Manning: Must play a more significant role with Mike Brown on I.R.Patriots ORT Ryan O’Callaghan: Pats allowed an uncharacteristic four sacks in win over Bills.Titans DB Cortland Finnegan: Earned first start of the season before Week Seven bye.Jets OLT D’Brickashaw Ferguson: Keeping Jets leader Chad Pennington on the field.Jets C Nick Mangold: Three straight triple-digit rushing efforts for Gang Green.</div>http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Featu...6/roy102506.htm
How soon before the fans in Houston cry bloody murder?? First they pass on Bush, and now Mark Anderson, this guy who was drafted in the 5th round is better than Mario Williams?? :LMAO:
We already discussed that Moose. Anderson is not better than Mario.Anyways.. damn, Dumerville has 5 sacks in the past two games? I guess he's picking up where he left off last year.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Moose87 @ Oct 27 2006, 02:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How soon before the fans in Houston cry bloody murder?? First they pass on Bush, and now Mark Anderson, this guy who was drafted in the 5th round is better than Mario Williams?? :LMAO:</div>You know why he has more sacks? Because offensive lines are concentrated more on your other threats. The LB's are being doubled, and Tommie Harris is being doubled, and occasionaly Onguleye is being doubled. That leaves his free and sometimes another guy free, let it be a LB or your 2nd DT, not Harris. Anderson is good, but Mario isn't cutting it for a first overall.
Wow, I didn't realize how well Ernie Simms was doing. Wait, I know why, he's on the Lions.And good call ADOV on Colston (inside conversation).
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GaMeTiMe @ Oct 28 2006, 08:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>What the hell is up with the honorable mentions? Might as well list the entire rookie class..</div>haha, Pretty much.If you click on the link, they have 'Best of the Rest' also which is at least another 50 names, so I guess they did......
