The Rookie of the Year - Defense may not be the slam dunk we thought a few weeks ago.
The contenders : Brian Cushing,
Brian Orakpo, and Jairus Byrd
Brian Orakpo OLB 2009 Washington Redskins G-13 GS-13 Comb tackles-45 total- 33 ast.tackles-12, Sacks-11.0, FF-1
Jairus Byrd FS 2009 Buffalo Bills G-13 GS-10, Comb tackles-45 total- 33 ast.tackles-12, Pdef-11, INT-9
Brian Cushing SAM 2009 Houston Texasn G-13 GS-13 , Comb tackles-112 total- 70 ast.tackles-42, Sacks-2.5, SFTY-1, PDef-9, INT-3, FF-2
In regards to Orakpo he is 3.5 sacks from Kearse's rookie record. If he breaks that record, he will garner some votes.
Cushing is going to need to continue his solid play, plus add some kind of highlight type play so the East Coast voters remember him.
BTW read McClain's article on Orakpo