Who is the Chiefs Rookie of the Year?

by Chris on Jan 3, 2009 2:41 PM CST in 2009 Offseason Comment 13 comments

We're only a little bit into the 2009 off season and I'm already finding myself saying, "What in the hell are we going to talk about?"

No worries loyal reader. This is Arrowhead Pride's third off season of blogging coverage. We're practically experts at coming with inane lists and repetitive topics of discussion that help pass the time during those boring office hours. Or in this case, a sleepy afternoon spent watching what little football remains.

In the first installment of our Best of voting, we'll be taking a look at who the most outstanding Kansas City Chiefs rookie was in 2008. This rookie will earn special distinction among the bajillion rookies on our team.

Here we go. Lots of oversized pictures follow the jump.

via www.kcchiefs.com

LT Branden Albert

Drafted 15th overall in 2008, Albert overcame a training camp ankle sprain to start all sixteen games for the Chiefs. He committed one penalty (false start) and allowed 4.5 sacks. An outstanding rookie season for the Virginia alum.

via cache.daylife.com

RB Jamaal Charles

A few nagging injuries put a bit of a damper on Charles' rookie season. The former Longhorn rushed the ball 67 times for 357 yards, which was 10th best in the league for rookie running backs.

via www.orlandosentinel.com

CB Brandon Carr

Even though Brandon Flowers gets most of the attention, the other Brandon quietly had himself a fantastic rookie season. Carr had the fifth most tackles by a rookie in 2008 and bested Flowers by four tackles. His two interceptions were two behind the NFL rookie leaders. He also started every game this season. Overall, Carr had a season that should not be overlooked. He played great.

via cache.daylife.com

CB Brandon Flowers

Flowers was a second round pick and he produced like you would expect a second rounder to produce. 69 tackles, 1 forced fumble and two interceptions equals a great season for Flowers. Even though Carr and Flowers had similar statistical seasons, Flowers made more important tackles over the course of the year. In my opinion, it's a slight edge to Brandon Flowers for the 2008 season.

via static.nfl.com

CB Maurice Leggett

One of the things that got overshadowed by our terrible run defense was that the Chiefs were able to somewhat successfully play three rookie starters at the corner position for the entire season. Legget won the Chiefs' Mack Lee Hill award, which is given to the player "who best exemplifies the spirit of the late Mack Lee Hill." A fumble return for a touchdown and a pick 6 in December kept Leggett's name in the spotlight for a little while. He had a incredible season for an undrafted free agent.

via cache.daylife.com

DT Glenn Dorsey

Somehow, without anyone really noticing or caring, Glenn Dorsey led all rookie defensive linemen in tackles this year. I know it's not a big stat per se but it's something we can point to in Dorsey's rookie season to say he played pretty well. Even if we barely noticed him playing at all.

Vote below. Tomorrow we'll vote on the Offensive Rookie of the Year for the Chiefs.

Poll

Who is the Chiefs rookie of the year?

Branden Albert

255 votes

Jamaal Charles

16 votes

Brandon Flowers

206 votes

Brandon Carr

74 votes

Maurice Leggett

73 votes

Glenn Dorsey

5 votes

Other/I'm crazy

4 votes

633 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 13 comments |

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Comments

Can it be a four way tie?

or could we just call it “no one stood out ahead of anyone else”? So give two out next year.

We need a future defensive leader, his name is James Laurinaitis and he can be selected in round 1 of the upcoming Draft.

"But what do I know, I’m like an empty room with a large ECHO"

by Lanier63 on Jan 3, 2009 3:13 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

If there is an undrafted rookie and a #5 overall pick

in the choices, we have to vote.

Arrowhead Pride

by Chris on Jan 3, 2009 3:15 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Draft All Brandon's Going Forward

The 2008 Draft has to be “The year of the Brando(e)n” for the Chiefs. I give my nod to Branden Albert simply because he transitioned to such an important position on the O-Line as a rookie and performed quite well all things considered. For first year no news is good news coming out of that position and you just didn’t see him getting beat much over there. Give him a couple of years and we’ll see if he can become dominant at the position. The other Brandon’s did well also and got more press but you gotta give it up to BA.

by Mclovin1 on Jan 3, 2009 3:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Have to give my vote to Flowers

When Flowers was out the secondary suffered. Albert did also had a great year for a former guard, but Taylor was able to fill in when Albert went down with an injury.

Opinions are like A--holes, everyones got one.

by aPacificChief on Jan 3, 2009 4:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

ROTR

Mike Cox imo
quite the badass :D

by DuctTapeMessiah on Jan 3, 2009 5:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

*ROTY

i cant type ~ :D

by DuctTapeMessiah on Jan 3, 2009 5:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Flowers

He played at a high level from day one and is the best defensive player on the team.

by FrankPitts on Jan 3, 2009 5:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

MoLegg

Gotta go with the overachiever. The UDFA playing just as well as a 2nd rounder with the playing time he received and some instances better than our 5th rounder. Was injured the last 3 games and if he wasn’t we could have seen more production from him that would have had some people voting differently…

by KansasCityShuffle on Jan 3, 2009 6:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

brandon carr

not only did he con from a small school an was a late round pick, but he was the only player in the secondary consistantly. flowers and surtain were injured which brought in legget so if it werent for injuries legget might not have played

by chiefs8288 on Jan 3, 2009 7:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Phat Albert

he was almost invisible, in terms of getting mentioned, and his position is a draft premium. Other positions are easier to fill, and don’t go as high, so Albert living up to his selection (and on a weak line, to boot) means mre than other guys “overperforming”, in my book.

That’s my call. The other guys, you can make a case for them, as well.

If the O-line isn't built up, any rookie QB is gonna look bad next season. If the O-line is a lot better, Thigpen will look better, next season, too.

by Bleedingredandgold on Jan 3, 2009 10:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs