Ryans, Young Cap Impressive Rookie Seasons with Awards

If their first seasons in the NFL is any indication, the class of 2006 is primed for big things. Today the Associated Press awarded Texans LB Demeco Ryans and Titans QB Vince Young the Defensive and Offensive Rookie of The Year honors respectively. Despite the depth and impact of this rookie class, these two young men clearly outshined their peers. Ryans established himself as the clear-cut favorite by leading the NFL in solo tackles. While all the attention surrounded number one draft pick and teammate Mario Williams, the Texans second pick of the draft ended up being the difference maker. An All-American outside linebacker at Alabama, the Texans coaching staff pushed Ryans inside. The move enabled him to be the center piece of a new unit and establish himself as a team leader. His gaudy statistical year, which included 133 solo tackles, made the decision very easy for AP voters. He garnered 36 of the 50 votes, well ahead of the second place finisher. Former Tide teammate, and current Bears defensive end, Mark Anderson finished second in the voting.

One of the men the Texans passed up, QB Vince Young, continued to demonstrate he simply just wins football games. After an 0-5 start coach Jeff Fisher benched Kerry Collins in favor of the rookie. All the tools that made him so impressive as a QB at Texas translated well in to the pro game. He led the Titans to eight wins in their final eleven games. His ability to make plays with his legs, as well as his arm, made Young nearly impossible to stop. Especially at the end of games. With a walk-off 36 yard run against the Texans in overtime and a 21 point fourth quarter comeback against the Giants, the league should be prepared for a career full of clutch play. If not for a late season ankle injury, this award could have gone to one of the most unlikely winners. A mere three picks away from being Mr. Irrelevant of the 2006 draft, Marques Colston became the Saints go-to rookie. He, along with Jaguars RB Maurice-Jones Drew, tied for second in the voting. Teammate Reggie Bush finished a distant fifth.