The Rookie Meter does a lot of focusing on individuals, but this week we honor the groups of rookies who are making impacts for their teams.
It's hard to measure the contributions of an entire class. It can be argued that Cam Newton's impact on the Panthers alone is bigger than most teams' collection of rookies — and for some teams, that's true.
Last season, the Patriots and Buccaneers received huge impacts from their respective rookie classes. For New England, those rookies have remained studs as second-year players. For the Bucs, injuries and poor play from last year's rookies are part of the reason for their downfall.
Because the league's best rookies have such a great impact on their individual teams, today we are focusing on teams that do not have a rookie among our top 10. Here are a few teams, in no particular order, that can be pleased with the early returns from their rookie classes:
Cleveland Browns: Last season, it was rookies T.J. Ward and Joe Haden improving the secondary. This season, the front seven got boosts from DT Phil Taylor and DE Jabaal Sheard. The pair has combined for 11½ sacks, and Sheard has five forced fumbles. On offense, OG Jason Pinkston has performed well, starting all 15 games, and WR Greg Little is quietly second among rookies with 61 catches, only two behind A.J. Green.
Seattle Seahawks: Two rookies started on the O-line for Seattle this season, James Carpenter and John Moffitt. Both are on injured reserve now but helped the team's rushing attack when healthy. WR Doug Baldwin has been one of the league's better rookie surprises with 48 catches for 748 yards and four touchdowns. CB Richard Sherman has 16 passes defensed and three picks, and LB K.J. Wright has two sacks to go along with 10 tackles for loss.
Dallas Cowboys: ORT Tyron Smith, who has started every game, is considered one of the league's top rookie offensive linemen. RB DeMarco Murray, who is on injured reserve, will finish the season as the league's best rookie back after rushing for 897 yards in 13 games (seven starts). And PK Dan Bailey, though he has struggled late in games, put together quite the streak of made field goals and has hit 32-of-36 this season.
Tennessee Titans: The front seven got a huge lift from this year's rookies, and they are part of the reason Tennessee has an outside chance at the playoffs. Fifth-round DT Karl Klug leads the team with seven sacks and is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss with seven. LB Akeem Ayers has 67 tackles and a pair of sacks, and LB Colin McCarthy has 57 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles. QB Jake Locker, in limited time, has impressed, as well.
Buffalo Bills: DT Marcell Dareus lost his spot on the meter earlier this season, but has still put together a very impressive rookie campaign. He leads the team with 5½ sacks and is tied for the team lead with nine tackles for loss. CB Aaron Williams has fought back from injury to earn a starting spot, and ILB Kelvin Sheppard emerged as a starter. Sheppard has 58 tackles. OT Chris Hairston fared well in his six starts protecting the blind side.
Other teams worth a mention: Buccaneers (Mason Foster, Adrian Clayborn and Da'Quan Bowers) and Raiders (Denarius Moore and Stefan Wisniewski).
1. Panthers QB Cam Newton (first round, first overall)
Last week's ranking: 2
Newton had a record-breaking Christmas Eve. He quickly passed Peyton Manning for the rookie record for most passing yards in a season. He is 107 passing yards away from being the first rookie to throw for 4,000 yards. Newton finished 12-of-17 throwing for 171 yards and three touchdowns, and he added 65 rushing yards and a 49-yard TD run in Carolina's win over the Bucs. His 34 total touchdowns (passing and rushing) are the most by a rookie in NFL history, and his 14 rushing scores are the most ever by a quarterback. PFW's Nolan Nawrocki has more on Newton's impressive rookie campaign in Scout's Eye.
2. Broncos OLB Von Miller (1, 2)
Last week's ranking: 1
Miller had the least-productive game of his rookie campaign, finishing with one tackle in the Broncos' brutal loss to the Bills. Miller lost his grasp on the top spot on the meter and saw his lead over Aldon Smith for Defensive Rookie of the Year shrink. Miller may need a solid season finale to hang on.
3. Bengals QB Andy Dalton (2, 35)
Last week's ranking: 5
We've switched gears this week, giving Dalton the edge ahead of A.J. Green, as it is Dalton who will likely be the runner-up to Newton for offensive rookie honors. There are still some who believe if Dalton gets Cincy to the playoffs, he warrants consideration for the award. In the win over the Cardinals on Saturday, Dalton completed 18-of-31 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns. He added five rushes for 48 yards. Dalton gets a big test against the Ravens in a "win and in" scenario for the Bengals. Dalton needs to avoid making mistakes against Baltimore — he threw three picks against them in Week 11.
4. 49ers OLB Aldon Smith (1, 7)
Last week's ranking: 4
While Miller was held without a sack for a second straight game, Smith continued his push for defensive rookie honors. He had four tackles, a sack and two QB hits. His 14 sacks are one-half sack away from Jevon Kearse's 1999 rookie record, and he leads Miller in that category by 2½ sacks.
5. Bengals WR A.J. Green (1, 4)
Last week's ranking: 3
Green's 25 receiving yards on Saturday was his lowest total of the season. He had two catches on eight targets but did add two rushes for 25 yards. Green struggled against fellow rookie, and former SEC foe, Patrick Peterson.
6. Texans DE J.J. Watt (1, 11)
Last week's ranking: 7
Watt's best game this season was overshadowed by questionable penalty calls, including two crucial penalties on the Colts' game-winning touchdown drive. Watt had five tackles, a sack, two tackles for loss, three QB hits and three passes defensed.
7. Falcons WR Julio Jones (1, 6)
Last week's ranking: 9
If Jones had been healthy all season, he certainly would be challenging Green for top rookie receiver. He had eight catches for 128 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets in Monday night's loss to the Saints. He has a chance to join Green in the 1,000-yard receiving category. Jones has 50 catches for 883 yards (17.7 average) and six touchdowns.
8. Redskins OLB Ryan Kerrigan (1, 16)
Last week's ranking: 6
Kerrigan had two tackles and his ninth tackle for loss on the season in Washington's loss to the Vikings.
9. Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson (1, 5)
Last week's ranking: 8
Peterson did a solid job manning up A.J. Green in the Cardinals' loss to the Bengals. He had two passes defensed, giving him 13 on the season. Peterson did not return a punt and notched only one tackle.
10. Jets DE Muhammad Wilkerson (1, 30)
Last week's ranking: NR
In the Jets' loss to the Giants, Wilkerson was a bright spot on defense, where he has started all 15 games. He had five tackles, one sack, two tackles for loss and a QB hit in the loss. Wilkerson has 12 tackles for loss on the season, which leads the team.
On the cusp (listed alphabetically)
Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin (undrafted)
Buccaneers DE Adrian Clayborn (1, 20)
Bills DT Marcell Dareus (1, 3)
Redskins RB Roy Helu (4, 105)
Titans DT Karl Klug (5, 142)
Browns WR Greg Little (2, 59)
Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray (3, 71)
Texans OLB Brooks Reed (2, 42)
Browns DE Jabaal Sheard (2, 37)
Ravens WR Torrey Smith (2, 58)
Brees sets passing mark in Saints win
Packers beat Bears, clinch NFC's No. 1 seed
Trojans QB Barkley coming back
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