WEEK SEVENTEEN ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
RB- ALFRED MORRIS (6TH ROUND/FLORIDA ATLANTIC)
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
RB- ALFRED MORRIS (6TH ROUND/FLORIDA ATLANTIC)
Alfred Morris has been listed on our top rookie performers list nearly every week, so it is fitting on the final week of the regular season, he is named our Rookie of the Week. Morris pulverized the Cowboys for 200 yards rushing Sunday night, scoring three touchdowns along the way. Morris finished 2012 with 335 carries, for 1,613 yards, and 13 touchdowns. He had a hell of a season for a player that will probably finish fifth in the offensive player of the year balloting.
WEEK SIXTEEN ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
DE- KENDALL REYES (2ND ROUND/UCONN)
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
DE- KENDALL REYES (2ND ROUND/UCONN)
Kendall Reyes has been quiet this season, only recording two sacks coming into this week. However, on Sunday along with the rest of his defensive teammates, Reyes welcomed Jets QB Greg McElroy to the NFL. Reyes had 3.5 sacks and 5 tackles to help lead the Chargers to a 27-17 victory.
WEEK FIFTEEN ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
QB- RUSSELL WILSON (4TH ROUND/WISCONSIN)
Russell Wilson continues to lead the resurgence of the Seahawks. Seattle continued their march towards the playoffs yesterday, with a 50-17 win over Buffalo. It was Seattle's second consecutive game with over 50 points. Wilson threw for 205 yards and one touchdown. He added 92 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns.
WEEK FOURTEEN ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
QB- NICK FOLES (3RD ROUND/ARIZONA)
Andy Reid showed confidence in Nick Foles this week by naming him the starting QB for the rest of the year. Foles responded with the best performance of his career. He finished going 32/51, with 381 yards, and 2 TD's. He added 27 yards on the ground with another touchdown. Foles threw the game winning touchdown to Jeremy Maclin as time expired, giving the Eagles a 23-21 victory.
WEEK THIRTEEN ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
RB- BRYCE BROWN (7TH ROUND/KANSAS STATE)
Bryce Brown was once the top high school player in the nation. Brown committed to Tennessee, where he played his freshman season, but left after Lane Kiffin took the Southern Cal job. Brown transferred to Kansas State to play with his brother Arthur, but after sitting out a year, things didn't go so well there either. Brown entered the 2012 draft with a load of talent, but he also had a load of baggage that pushed him into the seventh round. The Eagles took a chance on the talented back, whose fresh legs are helping him put up huge numbers (although his fumbles need to be controlled).
WEEK TWELVE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
ST. LOUIS RAMS
CB- JANORIS JENKINS (2ND ROUND/NORTH ALABAMA)
The talent was always there, the decision making was not. Jenkins was a stud corner in the SEC, before multiple off-field issues forced his dismissal from Florida, and his eventual landing at UNA. These off field concerns lowered his draft stock and allowed the Rams to take a chance on him in the second round. That decision is paying off in droves. Jenkins took advantage of wide-eyed rookie QB Ryan Lindley of the Cardinals on Sunday, intercepting two of his passes, and returning both for touchdowns. The sky is the limit for Jenkins, as long as he can keep his nose clean.
WEEK ELEVEN ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
WR- JUSTIN BLACKMON (1ST ROUND/OKLAHOMA STATE)
It may be a crazy coincidence that it took an injury to Blaine Gabbert to finally get Blackmon going, but that is what happened against the Texans on Sunday. With Gabbert out, and veteran Chad Henne in, Blackmon caught seven passes for 236 yards and a touchdown in the Jags overtime loss to Houston. Jacksonville fans are hoping this is the wake up call that Blackmon needs. They are really hoping he will become the top wideout they have been desperately searching for since the retirement of Jimmy Smith.
WEEK TEN ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
RB- LAVONTE DAVID (2ND ROUND/NEBRASKA)
Lavonte David is having a very nice rookie season for the Buccaneers. After his 14 tackle performance against the Chargers, David now has 81 tackles on the season. He is definitely one of the frontrunners for defensive rookie of the year.
WEEK NINE CO-ROOKIES OF THE WEEK:
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS/TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
QB - ANDREW LUCK (1ST ROUND/STANFORD)
RB - DOUG MARTIN (1ST ROUND/BOISE STATE)
Andrew Luck continues to show why he was the best QB prospect in over a decade. Luck threw for 433 yards and two touchdowns, breaking Cam Newton's mark of 432. He completed 30 of 48 passes, while converting 13 of 19 third-down chances. Luck also tied another record when he became the second NFL rookie quarterback to produce four 300-yard games in a season. The other QB to do it, Peyton Manning, the quarterback he replaced.
WEEK EIGHT ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
RB- DOUG MARTIN (1ST ROUND/BOISE STATE)
Doug Martin continues to make his case to be the offensive rookie of the year. Martin ran all over the Vikings on Thursday night with 214 total yards and 2 touchdowns. Through seven games, he has 767 total yards (543 rushing, 224 receiving) and 4 touchdowns.
WEEK SEVEN ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
RB- DOUG MARTIN (1ST ROUND/BOISE STATE)
Doug Martin is slowly becoming one of the better backs in the league, and may end up being the best rookie back in the league, by seasons end. The "Muscle Hamster" as he was referred to at Boise State, had 122 yards of total offense (85 rushing, 37 receiving) and one touchdown, in the Buccaneers 35-28 losing effort against the Saints on Sunday.
WEEK SIX ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
ILB- BOBBY WAGNER (2ND ROUND/UTAH STATE)
After weeks of only offensive players (and one kicker), we finally give the defense some love. In the Seahawks 24-23 win over the Patriots, Wagner was all over the field, finishing with an outstanding 14 tackles. Wagner, who became a fast riser up draft boards after an impressive Senior Bowl week, is well on his way to a spectacular rookie campaign in the Pacific Northwest.
WEEK FIVE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
QB- ANDREW LUCK (1ST ROUND/STANFORD)
I believe it is safe to say Andrew Luck has arrived. With his team down five, Luck led his team down the field on a 13 play 80 yard drive, finishing with a 4 yard touchdown pass to veteran wide receiver Reggie Wayne. The former Stanford signal caller finished the day by going 31 of 55 passing, for 362 yards, with 2 touchdown passes. The Colts future continues to look bright.
WEEK FOUR ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
ST. LOUIS RAMS
PK - GREG ZUERLEIN (6TH ROUND/MO. WESTERN ST.)
Normally, I am the first person to say kickers aren't people. Greg Zuerlein is trying to change the opinion. He was the consensus top kicker prospect coming into the 2012 draft, after being perfect from 50 plus yards his senior year. After having an already great start to his season, he took it to the next level against the Seahawks. Zuerlein kicked field goals of 58, 48, 60 and 24 yards, becoming the first player in NFL history to kick two field goals of at least 58 yards in one game. He also had four touchbacks on five kickoffs.
WEEK THREE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
WR - T.Y. HILTON (3RD ROUND/FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL)
In what was a weak collection of rookie performances this week, T.Y. Hilton stood out the most to me. The diminutive dynamo, hauled in 4 catches for 113 yards, including a 40 yard touchdown in the first quarter of a losing effort against the Jags. Hilton gives fellow rookie Andrew Luck a nice weapon to have as the season goes on.WEEK TWO ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
CLEVELAND BROWNS
RB - TRENT RICHARDSON (1ST ROUND/ALABAMA)
Any questions on whether Trent Richardson's knee was healthy, have now been answered. Richardson exploded against the Bengals for 145 total yards and 2 touchdowns. His TD reception on a short screen pass, is the thing that made scouts and fans alike fall in love with him in college. Richardson proceeded to break at least 5 tackles on his way to the endzone. I have a feeling this isn't the last time he will be winning our Rookie of the Week award.
WEEK ONE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
QB - ROBERT GRIFFIN, III (1ST ROUND/BAYLOR)
I do not think Robert Griffin, III could have scripted a better debut for himself if he wanted to. He became the first quarterback inleague history to throw for 300 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions inhis NFL debut. Griffin shredded the Saints defense all day. His 320 yards is also the 4th highest ever for a rookie in his first game. This was the easiest rookie of the week we have picked so far.
