2012 PFF Rookies of the Year
Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 9:14 am
https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2 ... -the-year/DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Second Runner Up
Harrison Smith, Safety, Minnesota Vikings
One of the hardest decisions was choosing between Smith and linebackers Lavonte David and Luke Kuechly. David was a force from Day 1, finishing behind only Kuechly in terms of total tackles, with 18 of them for a loss. Still, tackles are a stat open to abuse and it’s telling that David picked up a defensive stop on 14.6% of running plays. That would be the best of all linebackers in the league. Meanwhile, Kuechly flourished when moving to the middle linebacker spot after a very slow start to things working outside. If not for that opening to the year who knows how high he could have finished?
However, Harrison does get the nod and it’s all down to his work in coverage that helped transform a weakness for the Vikings into a strength. His 12 missed tackles were a little on the high side, but his knack for playmaking (three picks and six pass break-ups) helped him finish the year with the sixth-highest coverage grade of all safeties.