Don't look now but LeGarrette Blount, who had a grand total of 10 carries through the first six weeks of the NFL season, is closing in fast on the league's rookie rushing leaders.
The only thing Blount is racking up faster than rushing yards these days is NFL Rookie of the Week bids. His second nomination for that award in a three-week span was announced on Tuesday, following his stellar outing in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 31-16 Week 10 win over the Carolina Panthers.
Blount rushed 19 times for 91 yards and a touchdown against the Panthers, averaging 4.8 yards per tote and breaking off five more runs of 10 or more yards (he has 13 such carries in the last four games). During one impressive Buccaneer possession in the second quarter, Blount carried on five of the drive's six plays and gained 73 yards, the last 17 coming on a touchdown run that finished with a remarkable spinning leap from the four-yard line.
Blount was also nominated for Rookie of the Week in Week Eight after he helped Tampa Bay defeat Arizona with 120 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. If he is to actually win the award this week, he'll need your help, as the winner will be chosen by fan votes. The voting began Tuesday and continues through Friday at noon. The winner will be announced Friday evening.
Click here to visit the Rookie of the Week page on NFL.com and cast your vote.
In this week's voting, Blount finds himself up against Cincinnati tight end Jermaine Gresham, New England tight end Rob Gronkowski, Dallas cornerback Bryan McCann and Denver quarterback Tim Tebow. On the voting page, the NFL helps you make your decision by providing video of each rookie's performance.
Blount's latest nomination continues a rather amazing trend for the 2010 Buccaneers, who at 6-3 are one game behind the NFL's best record despite playing with the league's youngest roster. In just 10 weeks and nine games, Tampa Bay rookies have already combined to draw eight Rookie of the Week nominations. In addition to Blount's two, wide receiver Mike Williams has already been chosen five times and safety Cody Grimm has one nomination.
That makes the Buccaneers' rookie class the league's most impactful group of rookies. No other team in the league has seen its rookies combine for more than five nominations through the first 10 weeks. Here are the 12 teams who have seen multiple ROTW bids come their way so far, along with the specific players who have drawn those nominations:
1. Tampa Bay – 8 (Williams, Blount, Grimm)
2t. Detroit – 5 (Ndamukong Suh, Jahvid Best)
2t. Kansas City – 5 (Eric Berry, Dexter McCluster, Tony Moeaki)
4t. New England – 4 (Jermaine Cunningham, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Devin McCourty)
4t. St. Louis – 4 (Sam Bradford, Danario Alexander)
- Dallas – 3 (Dez Bryant, Bryan McCann)
7t. Cincinnati – 2 (Jermaine Gresham, Jordan Shipley)
7t. Cleveland – 2 (Joe Haden, Colt McCoy)
7t. Denver – 2 (Tim Tebow, Demaryius Thomas)
7t. Philadelphia – 2 (Nate Allen, Brandon Graham)
7t. San Diego – 2 (Seyi Ajirotutu, Ryan Matthews)
7t. Tennessee – 2 (Alterraun Verner)
Blount's recent run of big games has moved him into the thick of the race for top rushing honors among the league's rookies, despite his late start. He ranks fourth on the list, but that entire foursome is grouped within 23 yards. Among those four, Blount is also tied for the most rushing touchdowns and has the second-highest yards-per-carry mark.
Top Rookie Rushers, 2010
|
1t. |
Chris Ivory, NO |
78 |
382 |
4.9 |
0 |
|
1t. |
Ryan Matthews, SD |
87 |
382 |
4.4 |
2 |
|
3. |
Jahvid Best, DET |
124 |
380 |
3.1 |
4 |
|
4. |
LeGarrette Blount, TB |
75 |
359 |
4.8 |
4 |
