Most of us thought Green Bay Packers cornerback Casey Hayward was a slam dunk for defensive rookie of the year. Turns out, most of us were wrong.
Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly won the award and Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner finished second. Kuechly got 28 of the 50 votes. Wagner had 11 and Hayward got six.
Why did Kuechly win the award? He led the league in tackles with 165.
Wagner had 140 tackles and two sacks.
Hayward, of course, was among the league leaders in interceptions with six. He also had 48 tackles and a forced fumble.
You could really make an argument for any of these guys. Sure, Kuechly played on a turd of a team and I couldn’t name another player on that defense capable of making a play, but it’s hard to argue with 165 tackles.
Wagner played on one of the NFL’s best defenses and led that defense with 140 tackles.
Despite his obvious playmaking ability and the fact that he played on the best team of the three, Hayward was probably penalized because he wasn’t a full-time starter. Nor was he the Packers best corner.
Nonetheless, he did turn in a hell of a season.
The other awards went as follows: Robert Griffin III was offensive rookie of the year, J.J. Watt was defensive player of the year, Peyton Manning was comeback player of the year, and Adrian Peterson was offensive player of the year.
If you’re wondering, Russell Wilson finished third in offensive rookie of the year voting.
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they are both middle linebackers. if you don’t get a lot of tackles playing middle linebacker, something’s wrong. hell even Hawk gets a lot of tackles.
Yeah, about half as many.
HAYWARD FINISHING THIRD IS BS.AT THE LEAST SECOND THAT IS BLASPHOMY.WHAT HE DID IS WHAT ONLY SOME DO ONCE IN THEIR CAREER WITH THE AMOUNT OF INTERCEPTIONS BUT HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE MOTIVATION TO GO OUT THEIR AND BE A SHUT DOWN CORNER NEXT SEASON….GO PACK GO
Uh oh, it’s SENIOR ALL CAPS.
Chill out man, Hayward had an amazing year, but Kuechly deserved the award-how many times in a career does someone make 165 tackles in one season (not to mention the other things he did)?
He finished where he should have…thank goodness 1 of Ted’s 6 defensive picks turned out to be a play maker…and folks a play maker usually hits the field early and often from college to the pros. The draft and develop theory is weak when you can’t measure production at the collegiate level. Hayward, Kuechly and Wagner all had tremendous tapes and production and that my friends is why they are so good. The TAPE never lies. Congrats Casey.
^5
Call it the rookie wall. Hayward slowed down and had some struggles in the last month of the season. If he had finished as strongly as he was at midseason, a couple more picks, then he could have won the award.
What a bunch of dumbfucks, lets consider how much he was on the field as opposed to the other guys. He made plays with what little action he saw, but instead lets give it to a middle linebacker for a stat thats historically inaccurate.
Wut?
He was on the field A LOT down the stretch. The nickel defense is the Packer’s most played package. Even with the extra playing time, he didn’t impact the games as much as earlier in the season. He tailed off.
However, I agree that the guy who leads in tackles is typically someone who plays MLB on a terrible defense. It really doesn’t mean a whole lot.
Don’t be shocked if Casey takes over Tramon Williams corner spot next season…..You remember Tramon Williams….Self described “Optimus Prime.” This team needs playmakers…Not someone who had a good season back in 2010…..hell, a lot of defensive players had good seasons in 2010, they were ranked 5th…..Didnt help us much in 2011 against the Giants…and 2012 against the 49ers……2010 is over, we need playmakers and some defensive attitude. Kevin Green has attitude….make him DC. The defense needs a new blood infusion….New life.