Midseason Awards: Top Rookie
By Joe Barnes
From Wednesday to Sunday of this bye week, we’re evaluating the performances of several Ravens players thus far in the season to determine our “EbonyBird.com Midseason Awards” winners. To start the award parade, we announce the top rookie.
As far as rookies go for the Ravens, the key word has been “injury”. Top pick Sergio Kindle was lost for the season to a fractured skull. Fellow 2nd-round pick Terrence “Mount” Cody missed the team’s first three games with a knee injury, and the effects of it still seem to be lingering. And showing that late-round picks can get injured too, 6th-rounder Ramon Harewood landed himself on the IR.
With these players injured, the selection for Top Rookie was harder that it should have been, but it has been made.
Winner announced after the jump.
Morgan Cox, Long Snapper: Didn’t see that one coming, did you? Cox has been the most consistent player on the Ravens’ roster this season. For long snappers, success is measured by the amount of attention you get. By amount of attention you get, I really mean the amount of attention you don’t get.
Cox has snapped the ball 66 times this season, and all 66 have been on-target, giving Sam Koch (who both holds and punts), an easier job. The Ravens were plagued late last season with long snapping troubles, as veteran Matt Katula developed tendonitis in his right wrist, obviously harming his performance. It’s debatable that a few of his errant snaps caused the Ravens to lose games last season, and long snapping is not something a top-class team wants to lose games on. Cox, an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee, has stepped into the role beautifully and given the Ravens exactly what they needed. Because pictures of Cox are very limited, enjoy this video of him doing some pre-draft snapping.
Other contenders for the award were wide receiver/gunner David Reed, for his stellar play on special teams in the first four games of the season and tight end Ed Dickson, who has four receptions, including one memorable 58-yard catch against the Broncos.
Look out for another post tonight and the Special Teams MVP tomorrow.