All-Rookie Team

Okay, here’s where I’d normally review/preview, but I’m not sure the Buffalo game is worth reviewing and I’m still not sure who to preview. So, while looking around at my Pro Bowl post, I thought I’d lovingly slap together an all-rookie team. There are some cheats – like guys on IR – but they aren’t really going to play anyone anyway.

QB: Mark Sanchez, Jets
This was difficult. All three first rounders -- Detroit’s Matt Stafford, Sanchez and Tampa’s Josh Freeman – played, and all had similar results. Their NFL passer rating ranged from 59.9 to 63.0. At one point in the season, I would have given the award to Freeman, who added a much needed spark to his team. And I still believe Stafford will be the best of the lot in the long run. But it’s impossible to ignore the fact that Sanchez brought his team to the playoffs. Colts: Curtis Painter played. That’s all the good I can say.

FB: Tyrell Sutton, Panthers
I really wanted the Colts to draft this guy, but they didn’t. A productive college halfback who lacked footspeed, the Panthers (who already had beloved veteran Brad Hoover and draft pick Tony Flammetta) gave him a shot at fullback. And he outplayed them both. Colts: Does not compute.

HB: Beanie Wells, Cardinals
Denver’s Knowshon Moreno had more rushing yards, but Wells ran better and with far more authority. Wells has fumble issues (but so does Moreno) and can’t block at all, but is a better receiver. Colts: Top pick Donald Brown suffered through an injury-plagued season, but showed promise.

WR: Percy Harvin, Vikings
WR: Austin Collie, Colts
There are some great receivers this year, but these two stand out. Harvin can score from anywhere, and Collie is tough and has outstanding hands. Other options include the Eagles’ Jeremy Maclin, the 49ers’ Micheal Crabtree, the Giants’ Hakeem Nicks and the Titans’ Kenny Britt. Colts: Collie.

TE: Brandon Pettigrew, Lions
Pettigrew was not just the best receiver of the lot – and in a very difficult situation – but also the only one who blocked at all. And he blocked quite well. Colts: None played.

LT: Sebastian Vollmer, Patriots
RT: Michael Oher, Ravens
Say what you will Colts fans, this Vollmer kid didn’t just exceed expectations, he looked like a very experienced and talented veteran. In 11 starts he had four penalties and allowed no sacks. Sure he had help – they all do. And Oher deserved the hype. While he had some problems with speed rushers, he was never bullied and was a load in the running game. Minnesota’s Phil Loadholt played well in pass pro, not so much on run plays. Colts: None played.

LG: Eric Wood, Bills
RG: Louis Vasquez, Chargers
Wood was the best player on a very bad line. Vasquez wasn’t great, but held up well, and has a great future. Colts: Kyle DeVan was a pretty good starter, but doesn’t officially count as a rookie.

C: Alex Mack, Browns
He started poorly, but by the end of the season he was one of the best centers in the league. Colts: None played.

RDE: Michael Johnson, Bengals
LDE: Matt Shaughnessy, Raiders
He only started twice, but Shaughnessy played well against both the run and the pass when he had a chance. And he improved as the season went along. Johnson didn’t play particularly well, but was slightly better than the next-best rook, Seattle’s Everette Brown. Colts: None played.

RDT: Terrance Knighton, Jaguars
LDT: Roy Miller, Buccanners
Knighton adds just about nothing to the pass rush, but is a beast against the run. Miller gets the nod over New England’s Myron Pryor, though neither was special. Colts: Second-round pick Fili Moala played sparingly and poorly. Fourth-rounder Terrance Taylor was cut in camp and not signed to the practice squad.

ROLB: Clay Matthews, Packers
LOLB: Brian Cushing, Texans
No question here. Both of these players were outstanding. Colts: Ramon Humber played decently, but better inside.

MLB: James Laurinaitis, Rams
Laurinaitis wasn’t as impressive as the outside duo, but he held his own on a terrible, terrible team and showed flashes of future greatness. Colts: Humber played okay, but did not look like a future starter.

RCB: Jerraud Powers, Colts
LCB: Vontae Davis, Dolphins
Powers was a major surprise after starters Marlin Jackson and Kelvin Hayden went down. Davis was run out there because the Dolphins lacked other options. Aside from the penalties, he did pretty well. Colts: Besides Powers, Jacob Lacey started eight games and almost knocked Davis off my team.

SS: Louis Delmas, Lions
FS: Jairus Byrd, Bills
Byrd was not great overall, but nine picks says he makes it. Delmas played better. Neither is a strong safety though. If I had to pick a real strong safety, it would have been Oakland’s Michael Mitchell – who played well in limited exposure – or Chicago’s Al Afalava –who played a lot, but not all that well. Colts: A guy named De’Von Hall played a few snaps, but was cut.

K: Ryan Succop, Chiefs
Hard to argue with 22 of 25 on field goals. Colts: None played.

P: Pat McAfee, Colts
This kid was an outstanding punter, a top-notch kickoff man and a flawless holder. Colts: McAfee.

KR: Percy Harvin, Vikings
Harvin deserves it, but you gotta like Arizona’s LaRod Stephens-Howling a lot too. Colts: Sam Giguere took the reins in the final game and did okay in the snow. He could get a chance to win the spot in next year’s camp. But like DeVan, he does not actually qualify as a rookie.

PR: Quan Crosby, Bengals
He had a great average, but his two fumbles scared me a bit. Colts: None played.