- Joined
- Oct 13, 2011
- Messages
- 18,999
12. Brandon Linder
Perhaps the most surprising star of the 2014 rookie class, Brandon Linder started 15 games at right guard for the Jacksonville Jaguars this season and was among the most consistently well-performing interior offensive linemen in the NFL.
He allowed just five sacks and 14 total quarterback pressures in 564 pass-blocking snaps this year, according to Pro Football Focus, while he also made a difference as a run-blocker. As a result, PFF graded Linder as the 10th-best overall guard in the league this year.
A third-round pick from the University of Miami, Linder was flagged for just two penalties this year and was in the lineup for every game but one, which he missed with a shoulder injury.
Rated by PFF as the best player in 2014 on a young Jacksonville offense, Linder looks as though he will be a long-term staple of the offensive line.
29. Seantrel Henderson
The first seventh-round pick to start all 16 games of his rookie season since 2004, Seantrel Henderson had the struggles one might expect from a first-year offensive tackle in his position, but he improved throughout the year and ultimately played as well as anyone on a shaky Buffalo Bills offensive line.
Henderson, who was a star recruit out of high school but underachieved and had off-field issues at Miami, started to make good on his potential in his rookie year. He was not able to generate much movement as a run-blocker, but he displayed good quickness and solid progression as a pass-blocker.
Bills head coach Doug Marrone, a former offensive lineman and offensive line coach, said Monday that he felt Henderson “was a productive winning player” in 15 of his 16 starts this season, according to Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com.
Henderson ranked just 38th among NFL offensive tackles this year in pass-blocking efficiency, per Pro Football Focus, but he allowed only six sacks in 632 pass-blocking snaps. He was also one of six offensive tackles to play 1,000 snaps this season and have four or fewer penalties.
43. Allen Hurns
Although the Jacksonville Jaguars used two second-round picks on wide receivers in the 2014 draft, their leading receiver this year, with 677 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 51 catches, was undrafted rookie Allen Hurns.
A skilled receiver with good size and speed who evidently should have been drafted, Hurns showed some big-play ability, tallying 11 receiving plays of 20 yards or more.
His production was inconsistent—he had two receptions or less in seven games. That was in part because of the struggles of quarterback Blake Bortles, but Hurns also had seven drops.
Overall, he finished the season eighth among rookies in receptions and receiving yards and tied for sixth among rookies in receiving touchdowns. He looks to have a bright future ahead of him in the NFL, despite going unselected after his collegiate career at Miami.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2227720-ranking-the-top-50-rookies-of-the-2014-nfl-season/page/40
Perhaps the most surprising star of the 2014 rookie class, Brandon Linder started 15 games at right guard for the Jacksonville Jaguars this season and was among the most consistently well-performing interior offensive linemen in the NFL.
He allowed just five sacks and 14 total quarterback pressures in 564 pass-blocking snaps this year, according to Pro Football Focus, while he also made a difference as a run-blocker. As a result, PFF graded Linder as the 10th-best overall guard in the league this year.
A third-round pick from the University of Miami, Linder was flagged for just two penalties this year and was in the lineup for every game but one, which he missed with a shoulder injury.
Rated by PFF as the best player in 2014 on a young Jacksonville offense, Linder looks as though he will be a long-term staple of the offensive line.
29. Seantrel Henderson
The first seventh-round pick to start all 16 games of his rookie season since 2004, Seantrel Henderson had the struggles one might expect from a first-year offensive tackle in his position, but he improved throughout the year and ultimately played as well as anyone on a shaky Buffalo Bills offensive line.
Henderson, who was a star recruit out of high school but underachieved and had off-field issues at Miami, started to make good on his potential in his rookie year. He was not able to generate much movement as a run-blocker, but he displayed good quickness and solid progression as a pass-blocker.
Bills head coach Doug Marrone, a former offensive lineman and offensive line coach, said Monday that he felt Henderson “was a productive winning player” in 15 of his 16 starts this season, according to Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com.
Henderson ranked just 38th among NFL offensive tackles this year in pass-blocking efficiency, per Pro Football Focus, but he allowed only six sacks in 632 pass-blocking snaps. He was also one of six offensive tackles to play 1,000 snaps this season and have four or fewer penalties.
43. Allen Hurns
Although the Jacksonville Jaguars used two second-round picks on wide receivers in the 2014 draft, their leading receiver this year, with 677 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 51 catches, was undrafted rookie Allen Hurns.
A skilled receiver with good size and speed who evidently should have been drafted, Hurns showed some big-play ability, tallying 11 receiving plays of 20 yards or more.
His production was inconsistent—he had two receptions or less in seven games. That was in part because of the struggles of quarterback Blake Bortles, but Hurns also had seven drops.
Overall, he finished the season eighth among rookies in receptions and receiving yards and tied for sixth among rookies in receiving touchdowns. He looks to have a bright future ahead of him in the NFL, despite going unselected after his collegiate career at Miami.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2227720-ranking-the-top-50-rookies-of-the-2014-nfl-season/page/40
