Tyler Linderbaum named to PFWA All-Rookie team

 

Kyle Hamilton, Tyler Linderbaum named to PFWA All-Rookie team

Both of the Ravens first-round picks performed at the top of their class

By Spencer Schultz@ravens4dummies  Jan 24, 2023, 6:30pm EST  

Ravens’ safety Kyle Hamilton and center Tyler Linderbaum were both named to the Pro Football Writers of America’s 2022-2023 All-Rookie team. The Ravens were one of seven teams with multiple All-Rookie selections. Both of the Ravens’ first round picks being named to the All-Rookie team is quite an accomplishment to general manager Eric DeCosta, the Ravens personnel and scouting departments, as well as the coaching staff.\

Hamilton, the 14th overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, finished the season with 62 tackles, four tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two sacks. Hamilton excelled once he took over nickel duty in Week 8, where he played at least 16 snaps in every game for the remainder of the season. Hamilton proved to be a physical presence in the slot underneath who excelled in the run game as well as in simulated pressures, delayed blitzes and bluffing to drop back into coverage. An excellent tight end matchup weapon, Hamilton saved his best for last with a dominant performance in the Wild Card round against the Cincinnati Bengals, including a forced fumble that caused a takeaway and led to a go-ahead Ravens field goal.

nice zone run from the Ravens with the Center Tyler Linderbaum getting on Devin White in the blink of an eye pic.twitter.com/BlHTk9rwAT

— Nate Tice (@Nate_Tice) October 28, 2022

Tyler Linderbaum vs Devin White 😳 pic.twitter.com/9qjWBQm2FC

— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) November 9, 2022

Linderbaum, the 25th selection in the 2022 NFL Draft, excelled in the run game with excellent quickness and hand-placement. He had impact blocks in key games down the stretch for the Ravens, while proving to be a high-IQ, scrappy pass protector who will look to develop his technique further in pass-pro heading into next season. Linderbaum allowed three sacks on the season and finished with the sixth highest PFF grade among centers.

Hamilton and Linderbaum are just 21 and 22 years old respectively. Hamilton, who declared for the NFL Draft as a true Junior has already displayed the physicality and athleticism required to compete at the highest level. Linderbaum, who played over 1,000 snaps for the Ravens, looks every part of a player who can lock down one of the Ravens most tumultuous positions over the last decade. Prior to Linderbaum, here are the players who have taken the most snaps at center by year since Matt Birk following the 2012-2013 season.

1. 2021: Bradley Bozeman (1,125)
2. 2020: Matt Skura (620), Patrick Mekari (280)
3. 2019: Matt Skura (716), Patrick Mekari (288), Trystan Colon-Castillo (127)
4. 2018: Matt Skura (1,188)
5. 2017: Ryan Jensen (1,085)
6. 2016: Jeremy Zuttah (1,109)
7. 2015: Jeremy Zuttah (610), John Urschel (525)
8. 2014: Jeremy Zuttah (1,075)
9. 2013 Gino Gradkowski (1,148)

In the last nine seasons, the Ravens have had seven different centers play at least 250 snaps in the regular season. Any offensive linemen or offensive line coach will preach the value of continuity. Last offseason, Eric DeCosta vowed to build a wall in front of Lamar Jackson. Linderbaum was an integral part in doing so and looks like he bring stability to the pivot for years to come in Baltimore.

The Ravens appear to have hit a home run with each of their first round draft picks in 2022.

Ben Niemann: Top Four Highest Rated by PFF

 

Topics include the No. 3 pick, Hopkins and player input on a coach

Jan 17, 2023 at 09:33 AM

Darren Urban

azcardinals.com

 

 

From Glenny Irwind:

 

"Hey you didn't do a snap counts or grades article for the 49ers game. What's happs? Also, I have suggested before, but I don't think there's anything wrong with including negative grades from the game too. It's all subjective anyways right? Players famously hate PFF. So if the negative grades mean nothing, than so do the positive grades."

 

Given the circumstances of the day after, going through that process didn't seem like it made sense to me especially with the number of top players who weren't playing. The top grades in that final game on offense were G Will Hernandez (83.1), WR A.J. Green (81.1), TE Trey McBride (69.9), T Josh Jones (65.6) and WR Greg Dortch (64.1). On defense it was LB Dennis Gardeck (88.0), CB Jace Whittaker (74.3), DE J.J. Watt (73.6), S Josh Thomas (72.3) and LB Ezekiel Turner (67.5).

 

For the season, the top offensive grades (I'm saying at least 120 snaps) were Jones (75.8), WR DeAndre Hopkins (72.9), T D.J. Humphries (72.3), T Kelvin Beachum (70.6) and RB James Conner (69.7). Lowest were TE Stephen Anderson (33.9), QB Trace McSorley (36.4), G Cody Ford (41.2), C Sean Harlow (43.2) and G Lecitus Smith (44.8).

 

On defense, it was S Budda Baker (74.5), DL Zach Allen (72.7), LB Cam Thomas (69.9), LB Ben Niemann (69.0), CB Antonio Hamilton (68.5) and Watt (68.3). Low were DT Leki Fotu (32.4), DL Michael Dogbe (34.8), LB Tanner Vallejo (41.1), LB Jonathan Ledbetter (43.4) and Whittaker (46.3).

T.J. Hockenson’s epic game vs. Giants reaches heights not even Randy Moss could touch

 

Published January 15, 2023 at 8:11 PM EST

By Steve Silverman

The Minnesota Vikings have been an explosive offensive team all season, and they have gotten a huge boost from tight end T.J. Hockenson since acquiring him in a midseason trade with the Detroit Lions.

He continued his impressive string of performances in the Wild Card game against the New York Giants.

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 16, 2023

Hockenson caught 10 passes for 129 yards in the Giants 31-24 victory over the Vikings. Hockenson is the first Viking receiver to exceed the 100-yard receiving mark in his playoff debut. No Vikings player had even reached the 80-yard mark in his first playoff game — including Hall of Famer Randy Moss.

The record has to be cold comfort for Hockenson, as the Vikings saw their season come to an end on their home field. Prior to the defeat, the Vikings has been 11-0 in one-score games.

The Vikings got the ball back with 2:56 remaining in the 4th quarter at their own 12-yard line but they did not have a time out as they trailed by 7 points. After advancing to their own 48-yard line, the Vikings needed to convert a 4th-and-8 play with 1:44 remaining to keep the drive alive.

Minnesota quarterback Kirk Cousins threw the ball to Hockenson, but the pass was just a 3-yard toss, and New York’s Xavier McKinney was able to tackle him and stop the drive.

The Giants were able to run out the clock and they will face the division rival Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional playoffs.

While New York struggled to a degree on defense and could not contain T.J. Hockenson, the Giants made big plays on offense. Quarterback Daniel Jones threw for 301 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he also ran for 78 yards.