NFL 2008 Rookie Class
Steinman
Posts: 77
in Sports Talk
The 2008 rookie of the year award in the NFL is going to be a very, very difficult choice. Lots of great players making fantastic contributions to their teams.
Matt Forte, another 100+ yard game today, on pace for 1200 and 9 TDs.
Desean Jackson, on pace for 1200 yards.
Matt Ryan on pace for 3300 yards and a remarkable turnaround of a Falcons team that won 3 games last year.
Joe Flacco on pace for over 2800 yards.
It's great to see so many great young players able to come in and immediately make an impact.
Matt Forte, another 100+ yard game today, on pace for 1200 and 9 TDs.
Desean Jackson, on pace for 1200 yards.
Matt Ryan on pace for 3300 yards and a remarkable turnaround of a Falcons team that won 3 games last year.
Joe Flacco on pace for over 2800 yards.
It's great to see so many great young players able to come in and immediately make an impact.
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Comments
<< <i>Don't forget McFadden and Felix Jones who were on fire when they got hurt. >>
McFadden (and this coming from a guy who drafted him in my fantasy draft) has had one good game. Other than that game in week 2, he might be this year's biggest bust.
Felix, forgot about him, a definite home run hitter who was a monster on special teams as well.
I like Felix Jones a lot and when he comes back lets hope Dallas plays him smartly. He got hurt running through the middle, which is not how to use him. He is small and fast, run Felix around the sides, no one can touch his speed. Likewise, there is no way he can move a lineman. His injury is completely due to bad coaching by Garrett. His lack of use early in the season also shows something is missing from Garrett's playbook.
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
<< <i>I don't understand why Felix Jones was being used as a returner. Yes he is fast and broke away for a 102 yard TD, but why use your future starting RB (when Barber breaks down) on special teams? Can you imagine Emmitt Smith as a punt returner his rookie season? >>
It's not uncommon, and, to be honest, if you start worrying about injuries and having that affect your play calling, you're going to end up paying for it.
All those names mentioned are great...Chris Johnson is a stud...Tim Hightower is coming on strong too...Jonathan Stewart has shown some game as well.
Matt Ryan is the next Tom Brady. Mark it down. If they can ever improve their defense to a championship level, Atlanta will be flat out scary in 2-3 years.
At least since 1995, that was no wimp class.
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
<< <i>This might be the most impactful rookie class since 1984. >>
It definitely is a rookie class loaded with studs who have had big impacts.
<< <i>Matt Ryan is the next Tom Brady. Mark it down. If they can ever improve their defense to a championship level, Atlanta will be flat out scary in 2-3 years. >>
Dunno about that (while its definitely possible), but he has been mightily impressive in bring the Falcons franchise back from the dead.
<< <i>At this point it's either Matt Ryan or Chris Johnson...really nobody else even close, IMO. (Even Forte) >>
You are likely only looking at Forte's running numbers. Forte until the other week was also the teams leading receiver, touchdown leader and has been rookie of the week I think three times now, hard to call him out of it.
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
<< <i>
<< <i>At this point it's either Matt Ryan or Chris Johnson...really nobody else even close, IMO. (Even Forte) >>
You are likely only looking at Forte's running numbers. Forte until the other week was also the teams leading receiver, touchdown leader and has been rookie of the week I think three times now, hard to call him out of it. >>
Agreed! Forte is a stud in the making, he is without question right up there.
Also, Ryan and Johnson have only earned the honor once so far.
ROY Linky
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
C. Johnson
M. Forte
T. Hightower
S. Slaton
J. Stewart
R. Rice
D. McFadden
F. Jones
K. Smith
R. Torain (could be huge these next few weeks for Denver)
J. Charles (ditto in KC)
That is a remarkable RB class....11 guys that have made or will make a significant impact for at least a few games this year, and most of them look to be their teams' RBs of the future....I don't have the time or energy to evaluate this vs. past draft classes, but I can't imagine there has been a better rookie RB class ever.
I still say.....Matt Forte!
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
John
HOF SIGNED FOOTBALL RCS
Flacco is out, against good D's this year he has looked average while Ryan has beaten TB and Carolina. I predict the order
Matt Ryan
Matt Forte
Chris Johnson
Jonathen Stewart
Desean Jackson
Morgoth, I think you are forgetting about Slaton, he'll definitely be top 5.
The ROY finalist are Joe Flacco, Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, Matt Ryan and Steve Slaton.
I think we can remove Johnson and Slaton from the list. I would go Johnson over Slaton and Johnson really slowed down at the end of the year.
Which leaves up Flacco, Ryan or Forte. Having been a Forte fan all year (I drafted him in almost all my FF leagues) I would like to see Forte win it. He reminds me so much of Marshall Faulk. Flacco deserves honorable mention, but I don't many people would credit him with getting the Ravens to the playoffs. Flacco did good at not losing games and preformed well over expectations, but push come to shove, I would likely have to vote for Ryan. No one rookie, or perhaps even player, gets as much credit from me as having turned his team around.
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
By BARRY WILNER – Dec 30, 2008
NEW YORK (AP) — Matt Ryan is more than the face of the sensational turnaround by the Atlanta Falcons. He also is the best member of a superb rookie crop, earning The Associated Press 2008 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award Tuesday. The quarterback from Boston College, selected third overall in April's draft, was a landslide winner in balloting by a nationwide panel of 50 sports writers and broadcasters who cover the league. Ryan became the third quarterback in five years to win the award; before that, no QB ever took the honor.
He joins Ben Roethlisberger (2004) and Vince Young (2006) as top rookie quarterbacks.
"I'm certainly flattered," Ryan said. "There's a number of guys who had great rookie seasons this year, so to even be mentioned in that light is nice. It's certainly a great honor, and I think it speaks to what we did as a team this year."
Ryan was chosen by Atlanta as the centerpiece of its rebuilding effort following a dismal 2007 that saw quarterback Michael Vick incarcerated for dogfighting and coach Bobby Petrino leave after 13 games for Arkansas. A starter almost from the first snap he took in preseason, Ryan was brilliant in leading the Falcons to the playoffs with an 11-5 mark a year after going 4-12.
"I think that's the biggest thing. We had success and we were able to get a wild-card spot, so that was the huge thing for us this year," Ryan said. "Now that we're in we have a chance like everybody else. Hopefully we can make the most of it.
Ryan ranked 11th in passer rating at 87.7 and had 16 touchdowns to go with 11 interceptions. But it wasn't the numbers as much as his command of the huddle and his cool under pressure that impressed his teammates, opponents — and the voters.
Ryan collected 44 votes, far in front of Titans running back Chris Johnson with three. Broncos tackle Ryan Clady had two and Bears running back Matt Forte got one.
The balloting doesn't indicate the outstanding depth of the rookie class on offense. Running backs Steve Slaton of Houston, Tim Hightower of Arizona, Ray Rice of Baltimore, Jonathan Stewart of Carolina, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice of Dallas, Peyton Hillis of Denver, Kevin Smith of Detroit and Jamaal Charles of Kansas City all were contributors. So were wide receivers Eddie Royal of Denver, DeSean Jackson of Philadelphia, Davone Bess of Miami and Donnie Avery of St. Louis.
Another rookie quarterback, Joe Flacco of Baltimore, helped lead his team into the playoffs.
Add in tight ends John Carlson of Seattle and Dustin Keller of the Jets and the strength of the first-year crop is impressive.
And Ryan was the cream.
"Obviously the big question was how well Matt would perform as a rookie quarterback," Falcons veteran linebacker Keith Brooking said. "We knew there'd be bumps in the road, but it's unbelievable what he's done in such a short period of time with the guys on our offense."
according to my values and my needs. Nothing holds dominion over me, I stand alone as the ruler of my life.
This does however make me wonder how the two awards will be viewed in the future if they do not always pick the same person. The AP being the traditional award, the Diet Pepsi being the NFL sponsored. I think in most cases the AP is usually seen as better then say The Sporting News awards, which have a good history as well, but at the same time, I would not discount TSN.
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
linky
Raw: Tony Gonzalez (low #'d cards, and especially 1/1's) and Steve Young.
Instead, broke numerous records, only player to rush 100+ yards against TEN (and did it twice), and could easily beat Chuck Norris's rear with one hand tied behind his back.
Bunch of hatters!