Young Mike's 2009 NFL All-Rookie Squad

Young Mike's 2009 NFL All-Rookie Squad
M.D. Wright
12.29.09

AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
OFFENSE

QB:
Pat White - MIAMI
Mark Sanchez - NEW YORK

Comments:
White didn't make the number of mistakes Sanchez did, but Sanchez played more and despite his rookie mistakes, the Jets may indeed be returning to the playoffs.
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RB:
Knowshon Moreno - DENVER
Shonn Greene - NEW YORK
Donald Brown - INDIANAPOLIS

Comments:
Moreno logged the most carries out of the bunch and had a decent season. Denver still employs the zone blocking scheme when rushing the football and their RBs typically average close to 5.0 YPC in that system.

Greene emerged for the Jets when RB Leon Washington (FROM?!?!) went down with a gruesome leg fracture.

Donald Brown filled in nicely when Joseph Addai, and his annual missed games/injury parade got going with his trend.
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WR:
Austin Collie - INDIANAPOLIS
Mohamed Massaquoi - CLEVELAND
Louis Murphy - OAKLAND

Honorable Mention:
Kenny Britt - TENNESSEE
Brian Hartline - MIAMI
Mike Wallace - 60 MINUTES... uhhh PITTSBURGH

Comments:
The Colts were able to answer the question surrounding what they would be able to do without WR Marvin Harrison, ALONG WITH WR Anthony Gonzalez, losing the latter after the very first game of the 2009 season. Collie has been dynamic for the Colts.

Massaquoi is a fantasy gem and if he has a decent QB (no real gimme in Cleveland) he can make plays. As he did wearing #1 at UGa.

Sweet Lou Murphy has my respect, even though he is a UF guy. Real. Tough. Guy.
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TE:
None.

Offensive Line:
These guys usually do not have much of an impact early on in their careers unless they're #1 overall-type picks. Most of the First Round Picks were either injured all season or barely played (outside of Michael Oher).
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DEFENSE
DE:
Larry English - SAN DIEGO
Aaron Maybin - BUFFALO

Comments:
English was an active body for the Bolts. Maybin will be solid.

DT:
None.

OLB:
Brian Cushing - HOUSTON

Comments:
This guy knows how to play BALL.
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CB:
Jairus Byrd - BUFFALO
Vontae Davis - MIAMI

Comments:
Byrd led the NFL in INTs and Davis was all over the place for Miami this year.

S:
None.

K:
Ryan Succop - KANSAS CITY

Comments:
Succop kicks. The end.
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NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
OFFENSE

QB:
Matthew Stafford - DETROIT
Josh Freeman - TAMPA BAY

Comments:
Defaults. Stafford actually played pretty well in half his games before injuring his knee. Freeman has shown poise of late.

RB:
LeSean McCoy - PHILADELPHIA
Chris Wells - ARIZONA
Mike Goodson - CAROLINA

Comments:
McCoy filled in admirably while Westbrook missed half the season for the Iggles. Wells helped established a true running game for Arizona and Goodson came on late when Williams was nicked up for the Panthers.

WR:
Hakeem Nicks - NEW YORK
Percy Harvin - MINNESOTA
Johnny Knox - CHICAGO
Jeremy Maclin - PHILADELPHIA

Honorable Mention:
Sammie Stroughter - TAMPA BAY

Comments:
Nicks will be the best long-term WR of this bunch. He has oven mitts for hands and makes plays. Had nearly as many 50+ yard plays from scrimmage as DeSean Jackson and a couple more than young Percy Harvin.

Speaking of Harvin, got out of the gates explosively this year, faded a bit with Favre's lulls and came on with a clutch score in Week 16 to keep Minnesota close in a big game. He's a game changer.

Knox returns kicks and makes plays occasionally for the Bears. Before Aromashadu stepped in, the Bears pretty much had nothing in the way of receivers.

Maclin was nicked a bit, but provided solid playmaking for the Iggles opposite dynamo DeSean Jackson.

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TE:
Brandon Pettigrew - DETROIT
Travis Beckum - NEW YORK

Comments:
Not many teams utilize TEs, especially not rookies, but Pettigrew actually had a very good season for the Lions, all things considered. Beckum served mostly as a backup to Elisha Manning safety net Kevin Boss.

Offensive Line:
T: Jason Smith - ST. LOUIS
T: Will Beatty - NEW YORK
T: TJ Lang - GREEN BAY

Comments:
Smith was drafted to be a cornerstone, Beatty was pressed into action due to injuries to Pro Bowler Kareem McKenzie and Lang played decently for Green Bay for most of the season.

DL:
DE: Brian Orakpo - WASHINGTON
DT: BJ Raji - GREEN BAY

Comments:
Orakpo was by far the best defense lineman taken in the 2009 Draft and he proved why. Everette Brown again showing how far Florida State has fallen, drafted high, output LOW. No mention. Raji was a stud for Green Bay at times.

LB:
Jasper Brinkley - MINNESOTA
Clay Matthews - GREEN BAY

Honorable Mention:
Clint Sintim - NEW YORK

Comments:
Jasper has ants in his pants. They're going to need him with EJ Henderson out. Matthews has the NFL genes and those USC guys sure proved to be legit (albeit the one who had the most touting put out the least this year no homo).

Clint Sintim should have played much more for the Giants. He was active and made plays when he did get on the field, and the LB/part-time DE rotation at RE was so dire that he shouldn't played more and would've been better than anyone who saw the field for the Giants.

CB:
Malcolm Jenkins - NEW ORLEANS
Captain Munnerlyn - CAROLINA

Comments:
Jenkins was as good as advertised. CAPTAIN MUNNERLYN, because I like the name Captain. I'm going to name one of my sons Captain.

S:
Louis Delmas - DETROIT

Comments:
My son YOUNG LOU in a class all by himself. He's going to be All-Madden before it's all over.

K:
Graham Gano - WASHINGTON

Comments:
Because he went to Florida State and Skins fans are glad SUISHAM is gone.