Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Two Rams make all-rookie team

Michael Brockers and Janoris Jenkins will represent the Rams on the Pro Football Weekly / Pro Football Writers of America 2012 All-Rookie Team when it comes out on Monday. Playing on a bad ankle all season, Brockers officially had 31 tackles and 4 sacks while helping the Rams improve from 31st in the league in run defense in 2011 to 15th this year. Jenkins led the Rams in interceptions with 4, returning 3 of them for TDs, and scoring a 4th TD on a fumble recovery.

Sam Bradford and Rodger Saffold were the last Rams to make the All-Rookie Team, in 2010. Pisa Tinoisamoa was the last Rams defensive rookie to make the team, in 2003.

I'd thought Chris Givens had a chance at making this team, but I have him unofficially as 4th in receiving yards among rookie WRs this season, 6th in receptions. Greg Zuerlein would have been the all-rookie kicker had the season ended about week 8. Instead, I'm sure that award is going to Blair Walsh of the Vikings.

Jagwires third-round pick Bryan Anger finished 7th among all punters in gross and net average, so he blew away Johnny Hekker, who was 19th in net, 17th in gross. A little more bothersome is that last year's punter, Donnie Jones, also beat Hekker in both categories. Hekker, though, didn't give up any return TDs by punting directly to Patrick Peterson.

Hekker is also responsible for the Stat of the Year for 2012: the Rams punter threw for more yards (42) than Tim Tebow (39).

-$-

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