Thursday, December 18, 2008

And the 2008 NFL Rookie of the Year is ...

You can make a case for a handful of rookies, but I'll focus on 4 "can't miss" candidates. I've been impressed (in no specific order) with Chris Johnson (235 carries 1,158 rush yards, 4.9 yds/carry,8 RushTDs, 41 Rec and 1 RecTD) Matt Forte (280 carries 1,115 rush yards, 4.0 yds/carry,7 RushTDs, 58 Rec and 4 RecTDs), Joe Flacco (58.7 Comp% 2,525 yds, 13TDs/12Ints *76.9 rtg*) and Matt Ryan (62.2 Comp% 3,146 yds, 14TDs/9Ints *90.0 rtg*). I'm sure those in H-Town would throw Steve Slaton (230 carries 1,124 rush yards, 4.9 yds/carry, 8 RushTDs, 40 Rec and 1 RecTD) in that mix and rightfully so. My focus is on the 4 mentioned because they are instrumental to teams making or attempting to make Playoff runs, THIS year.

Chris Johnson (Titans 12-2) ... A colleague of mine has been telling me about "THE GREAT" Chris Johnson, since training camp, and he was right on the money. I don't think even HE envisioned the East Carolina "speedster" having the breakout season he's enjoying, but he'll say he did. ;-) (lol) Of the other candidates, Johnson is the only one coming to a team fresh off a playoff appearance, the year before. He's emerged as Tennessee's most explosive threat, with his 4.2 forty speed, as a rusher (4.9 yds/carry) and receiver (41 Receptions). The Titans lack of a vertical passing game hasn't stopped # 28 from having a Pro-Bowl season, in addition to sharing carries with RedZone scoring machine LenDale White.

Matt Forte (Bears 8-6) ... Impressed Bears coaches, with his blocking ability and quick grasp of the offense, from Day One. First Rookie (since LaDanian, in 01') to Rush for over 1,000 yards and catch more than 50 passes. The Former Tulane "workhorse" has already broken the Bears rookie records for receptions (58, currently) and total yards from scrimmage, and on pace to break the Bears rookie rushing record. This 2nd round "steal" has given the Bears a threat they haven't had, since Neal Anderson and is one of the NFL leaders in total percentage of their team's yards from scrimmage.

Joe Flacco (Ravens 9-5) ... The lanky, Rocket armed, pride of Deleware U. has started all 14 games (thus far) and has thrown for over 2,500 yards. His TD (13) to INT (12) Ratio is almost even but he's been forced to get it done with a running game "by committee" and without a Pro-Bowl calibur threat, in the Receiving core (Todd Heap's having a "pedestrian" year, by his standards, with only 30 catches and 3 TDs). Flacco has flashed the big play ability (with his arm and legs), that had some pro scouts comparing him to Big Ben, and has the Ravens (4-12, last year) on the brink of a Playoff run.

Matt Ryan (Falcons 9-5) ... In spite of the Clouds of controversy and confusion that hovered over this organization, last year, Ryan has done nothing but take the NFL by storm. The former Golden Eagle is putting together one of the Best "statistical" Rookie Year's, for a QB, we've seen in some time (62 Comp % over 3,100 yards, 14TDs/9Ints). Matt has handled the pressure of leading this team out of the Petrino and Vick fiascos and into contention in the very competitive NFC South. Ryan, unlike his Ravens counterpart, has a "stud" to hand it off to in Michael "Burner" Turner and a Pro Bowl calibur talent in Roddy White. Rarely do you see a team with a Rookie Coach AND Rookie QB have success, so quickly, let alone TWO teams ?


So where does that leave us ? Chris Johnson made the Pro-Bowl but the truth is the Titans were already a Playoff calibur team, coming into the season. They're more of a surprise because of who's leading them to victories, week in and week out, than anything else. Matt Forte came to an underachieving Bears team and revamped their running attack, single handedly, and is on pace to break multiple Bear rookie records. Joe Flacco has been steering a ship, motored by it's mouth bloodying defense , on course for a Playoff run. Matt Ryan leaped the hurdle of replacing a fallen hero (in Mike Vick) while tasked with ridding the Georgia Dome of the stentch left by the Petrino defection.

With all that said, I think the 2008 NFL Rookie of the Year Award should go to ..........


Matt Ryan ... (as much as the Bears Fan in me wanted to give it to Forte ... *lol* ) Matt took a "3 year plan" and gave Atlanta an immediate return on a long term investment. No matter which one of these Rookies takes home the "Hardware", I don't think either team will argue the fact that they have special players to build their teams around ...


'Til the Next Episode ... JerzeeWorld ... Holla !

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