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Factoid

February 11, 2014

Ansah the best of the rookie pass rushers

It can be tough for rookie pass rushers to make an immediate impact. They need to pick up the defense and adapt to a league that tends to give all the advantages to quarterbacks and pass protectors. In the last 23 years, only 21 rookies have reached 10 sacks, and only five have done it since 2006.

Of the 2013 rookies, Detroit first-rounder Ziggy Ansah was the most productive. He totaled 8 sacks for the Lions, a figure only 37 other rookies have reached since 1991 (basically 1.5 per year). Only one other 2013 rookie, New England's Chris Jones, had more than 5 sacks.

Nice year for Ansah, though, and as the list below indicates, it augurs well for his NFL future. Most of the other 8-sack rookies over the past two decades have gone on to have pretty solid NFL careers.

8-SACK ROOKIES, 1991-
YearSacksPlayer, TeamPos
199914.5Jevon Kearse, Tenn.DE
201114.0Aldon Smith, S.F.OLB
200213.0Dwight Freeney, Ind.DE
199612.5Simeon Rice, Ariz.DE
200612.0Mark Anderson, Chi.DE
200312.0Terrell Suggs, Balt.OLB
200212.0Julius Peppers, Car.DE
199711.5Peter Boulware, Balt.OLB
201111.5Von Miller, Den.OLB
200911.0Brian Orakpo, Wash.OLB
200611.0Kamerion Wimbley, Clev.OLB
200011.0Darren Howard, N.O.DE
200310.5Kevin Williams, Minn.DE
199310.5Dana Stubblefield, S.F.DT
201010.0Ndamukong Suh, Det.DT
200910.0Clay Matthews, G.B.OLB
200510.0Shawne Merriman, S.D.OLB
199510.0Hugh Douglas, NYJDE
199210.0Santana Dotson, T.B.DT
199210.0Chris Mims, S.D.DE
199110.0Mike Croel, Den.OLB
20109.5Carlos Dunlap, Cin.DE
20009.5Corey Simon, Phil.DT
20049.0Jared Allen, K.C.DE
20019.0Kendrell Bell, Pitt.ILB
19939.0Chris Slade, N.E.OLB
20068.5Elvis Dumervil, Den.DE
20018.5Justin Smith, Cin.DE
20008.5Shaun Ellis, NYJDE
20118.5Jabaal Sheard, Clev.DE
20138.0Ziggy Ansah, Det.DE
20128.0Bruce Irvin, Sea.DE
20068.0Tamba Hali, K.C.DE
20058.0DeMarcus Ware, Dall.OLB
20028.0Carlos Hall, Tenn.DE
20008.0Brian Urlacher, Chi.MLB
19988.0Lorenzo Bromell, Mia.DE
19988.0Vonnie Holliday, G.B.DE

--Andy Richardson

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