Jones, Bosher, Dent make PFW/PFWA’s all-rookie team
110812 Atlanta - Smoke and fire surround Atlanta Falcons rookie wide receiver Julio Jones as he enters the stadium to take on the Miami Dolphins at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Friday, August 12, 2011. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones, punter Matt Bosher and linebacker Akeem Dent were all named to Pro Football Weekly’s all-rookie team, as voted on by Pro Football Weekly and the Professional Writers of America.
Jones, a first-round pick, finished with 54 catches for 959 yards and eight touchdowns.
Bosher, a sixth-round pick, averaged 42.7 yards per punt, with four touchbacks and he placed 27 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Dent, a third-round pick from Georgia, had 19 special teams tackles.
The Falcons did not place a player on the All-NFL team.
Below, you will find the entire team, which was voted on by PFWA members and Pro Football Weekly editors. The All-NFL team and all individual awards plus All-Conference teams and All-Rookie teams can be found in the next edition of Pro Football Weekly (Vol. XXVI, No. 26, issue date Jan. 22, 2012):
Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America
2011 All-Rookie Team
Offense
Quarterback
Cam Newton / Panthers
Running backs
DeMarco Murray / Cowboys
Roy Helu / Redskins
Wide receivers
A.J. Green / Bengals
Julio Jones / Falcons
Tight end
Kyle Rudolph / Vikings
Center
Mike Pouncey / Dolphins
Offensive guards
Stefen Wisniewski / Raiders
Danny Watkins / Eagles
Offensive tackles
Tyron Smith / Cowboys
Nate Solder / Patriots
Defense
Defensive ends
J.J. Watt / Texans
Jabaal Sheard / Browns
Defensive tackles
Marcell Dareus / Bills
Phil Taylor / Browns
Falcons rookie kicker Matt Bosher is near the bottom in punting average, but first in fair catches. Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc.com
Linebackers
Aldon Smith / 49ers
Von Miller / Broncos
Ryan Kerrigan / Redskins
Cornerbacks
Patrick Peterson / Cardinals
Richard Sherman / Seahawks
Safeties
Chris Conte / Bears
Chris Harris / Broncos
Specialists
Placekicker
Dan Bailey / Cowboys
Punter
Matt Bosher / Falcons
Punt returner
Patrick Peterson / Cardinals
Kickoff returner
Randall Cobb / Packers
Special-teamer
Akeem Dent / Falcons
Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America
2011 All-NFL Team
Offense
Quarterback
Athens, GA: UGA linebacker Akeem Dent runs a drill for NFL scouts uring UGA's Pro Day March 22, 2011. Brant Sanderlin bsanderlin@ajc.com
Aaron Rodgers / Packers
Running backs
Maurice Jones-Drew / Jaguars
LeSean McCoy / Eagles
Wide receivers
Calvin Johnson / Lions
Wes Welker / Patriots
Tight end
Rob Gronkowski / Patriots
Center
Maurkice Pouncey / Steelers
Offensive guards
Jahri Evans / Saints
Carl Nicks / Saints
Offensive tackles
Jason Peters / Eagles
Joe Thomas / Browns
Defense
Defensive ends
Jared Allen / Vikings
Jason Pierre-Paul / Giants
Defensive tackles
Haloti Ngata / Ravens
Justin Smith / 49ers
Outside linebackers
DeMarcus Ware / Cowboys
Terrell Suggs / Ravens
Inside linebacker
Patrick Willis / 49ers
Cornerbacks
Darrelle Revis / Jets
Johnathan Joseph / Texans
Safeties
Troy Polamalu / Steelers
Eric Weddle / Chargers
Specialists
Placekicker
David Akers / 49ers
Punter
Andy Lee / 49ers
Punt returner
Patrick Peterson / Cardinals
Kickoff returner
Joe McKnight / Jets
Special-teamer
Matthew Slater / Patriots
Most Valuable Player — Packers QB Aaron Rodgers
Defensive MVP — Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs
Coach of the Year — 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh
Rookie of the Year — Panthers QB Cam Newton
Offensive Rookie of the Year — Panthers QB Cam Newton
Most Improved Player of the Year — Giants WR Victor Cruz
Comeback Player of the Year — Lions QB Matthew Stafford
Executive of the Year — 49ers GM Trent Baalke
Assistant Coach of the Year — Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips
Golden Toe (Best Placekicker or Punter) — 49ers PK David Akers/49ers P Andy Lee (co-winners)
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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36 comments Add your comment
Pepe
January 16th, 2012
3:22 pm
Uno…nice turn around for Bosher
PMC
January 16th, 2012
3:48 pm
would love this if Bosher were a UDFA.
Great Falconi
January 16th, 2012
4:04 pm
Julio wasn’t worth five draft picks, but based on what I saw from him, I think he was probably worth three or four. Good trade. Bosher rose from the ashes like a phoenix. Dent was a solid pick and will see the field on D more next season.
tgueboy
January 16th, 2012
4:11 pm
lol @ Patrick…we need to play Bosher more…he might be our best offensive player
Jesse
January 16th, 2012
4:15 pm
They gave up 5 picks, but got 2 back. So really, they gave up three picks, not 5. It was a lot, but for everyone saying 5 picks, they got 2 back… they used one for him. I hope Dent becomes more of a Special teamer as he was a 3rd pick.
Columbus
January 16th, 2012
4:57 pm
We love you Julio! You and Green will be the CLASS of ALL NFL receivers the next 7-8 years. If you and him did this much as a ROOKIE and with the LOCKOUT…the future looks WOW!
Jedi Falcon
January 16th, 2012
5:00 pm
D-Led – i see you asked my question to Koetter about the No-Huddle. What did he say about the new Playbook?
ohhhhYEAH
January 16th, 2012
5:24 pm
It was not 5 picks regardless. We gave up 2 in last years draft, and two in this years draft. Thats FOUR, for those of us who can count. We swapped places with them in last years draft. Thats not “giving up a pick.”
Delbert D.
January 16th, 2012
7:45 pm
Bosher is a wedge guy, not a driver guy.
Whopper Dawg
January 16th, 2012
8:15 pm
ohhhhYEAH – Pay attention, you will have to read it a couple of times. It two 1s, a 2 and two 4s for Jones that is what it took to get him on the Falcons. To make it more simple for you, next year, if we draft a guard say with our 2nd round pick, that guard cost us a second round pick. Savvy??
Joey M
January 16th, 2012
8:17 pm
We tied the Cowboys for 3 players in the top All-Rookie list. That’s not bad. I am frustrated at another “one and done” playoff appearance. I saw several times Matt Ryan started to sling the ball down field, then changed his mind. Ryan needs to just sling it and have faith in his receivers. We have the greatest Tight End in the history of the game, we have one of the best Wide Receivers in Roddy White. Julio Jones and Harry Douglas can spread the field. Our offense was way too plain and generic this year. I really hope we throw more down field, Mughelli comes back healthy, and Michael Turner can still play at an elite level. We have the pieces, we just need them played correctly.
Falcon Fan
January 16th, 2012
8:34 pm
Dent might be a replacement MLB for Lofton if he is priced out of our range. I would have made the Julio Jones pick too, he is a beast and will probably take over the number one spot from Roddy in the next couple of years. It’s about time to get a replacement for TG so he can train under him for at least a year. I would spend most of my picks on both sides of the line. I don’t think the draft will be that deep with quality CB’s. I hate to say it, but unless we get a good FA CB we might be looking at Franks or Owens to replace Grimes, who I think will definately be out of the market. Why we didn’t lock him up a long time ago is beyond me, unless he was already pricing himself out of our range.
ohhhhYEAH
January 16th, 2012
8:34 pm
Ok Mr. Dawg…….
Now it’s my turn, and put your seatbelt on, it may just blow your mind. Did we or did we not have a first round draft pick last year? Oh yeah, we did, because that’s when we took JULIO. WE SWITCHED WITH THEM IN THE FIRST ROUND! So…..now my question to you is…..How on Earth did we give up TWO first round picks if we drafted him in the first round? So by your logic you are saying every time we draft someone, it cost’s us that rounds pick. Uh…..yeah, sure….good luck with that. It’s not giving up a first round pick if you took someone in that draft’s first round, its called trading picks. Giving them a first round pick is when we literally give them our pick AND their pick, like theyll have in this year’s draft, not last year’s. Savvy?
Falcon Fan
January 16th, 2012
8:47 pm
If they hire Tim Lewis for DC, does that mean that our defensive scheme will basically remain the same? I actually don’t think Tim Lewis is that bad a choice. My choice would be Spags, because that is the type of defense that Mike Smith has preached about wanting. But I just don’t think we get it done. I hope the money they are saving on coordinators goes to getting better players in here.
beone
January 16th, 2012
9:43 pm
Bosher – “puts” & “touchdowns”. DLed, did you pass English in High School?
Michael M.
January 16th, 2012
10:09 pm
Another Good article D-Led
After study and reading the Caption up there at the top I got you Atlanta Fans some new nicknames for three of the top players, Roddy White, Julio Jones and Matt Ryan..” Smoke, Fire and Ice ” …………………………. now lets see em live up to those Nicknames in 2012 !
Good nite !
JSS
January 16th, 2012
10:39 pm
“Smoked, (Mis-fire-d), and Ice Cold Milk” is more like it…
CGD..
January 16th, 2012
11:49 pm
Dont forget Ice Melt! lol
CGD..
January 17th, 2012
12:00 am
27th ranked(fact) defense shuts out the Falcons offense? What a sad day in Falcons Football history!
ohhhhYEAH
January 17th, 2012
1:34 am
Wow, CGD actually used a fact, and I agree, it was sad that we couldn’t put points up on a defense that was that against everyone else. See, CGD, I dont argue with facts, I argue with pointless, idiotic nonsense opinion
ohhhhYEAH
January 17th, 2012
1:35 am
that was that bad*
DC73
January 17th, 2012
4:24 am
The same 27th ranked defense hold Green Bay to 20 pts….. Every year is the same old story. Teams that have to fight ’til the end to reach the playoffs are pumped and on the run! We’ve seen it last year with GB against us, same thing this year with the Giants. If you play meanigless games in Decemeber, it can be very hard (not impossible!) to turn the switch and just start with the playoffs.
Look at our last three games: we played (only) excellent first 30min against JAX and TB (not the most impressive teams:-) and got spanked by NO….. We never had to play “play-off intensity” football. Same for GB (loss in Kansas, win vs. Chicago and a close one against Detroit, but not with the regular line-up!). The Gianst instead took all their adrenalin into the playoffs (at least with their last two games, the third one was a loss vs WAS:-)
CGD..
January 17th, 2012
6:03 am
RUDEDAWG
January 15th, 2012
1:18 pm
“Coach Smith obviously doesnt want his job.What a bunch of loosers,they go and hire another one of coach clean shots buddies! This crap does NOT represent the city of ATLANTA! Please get these people out of Flowery Branch. And take Matt Ryan with you,along with the other DEAD WEIGHT players with you. Im pissed all over again! THANKS YOU LOOSERS!”
Now this guy aint happy with the hire? lol
CGD..
January 17th, 2012
6:06 am
OH Noooooooooooo!
That tree’s got some form of shielding you suppose! lol
There another blog for some lickers….Use it..
Michael M.
January 17th, 2012
7:39 am
That was funny JSS………
Falcons better come up with a winner on DC, I like Singletary myself……..but you honestly think he would move to Atlanta ? I don’t know why not because if the Team sputters and starts flapping like a wounded Bird again this year he might land the Head Coaches Job……….lmao on that one…..but think that would be great if he did.
Michael M.
January 17th, 2012
8:27 am
Just watched lastest movie release ” Lets be Great “, lots of talk so lets see the walk !
http://www.atlantafalcons.com/falconstv/?video_id=1383881005001
CDG..
January 17th, 2012
10:15 am
Dirks offense last 4 Years: FACT for the slow person……
But this is what has happened to the Jaguars’ offense since:
• 2008: 20th total offense (15th passing), 24th scoring.
• 2009: 18th total offense (19th passing), 24th scoring.
• 2010: 15th total offense (27th passing), 18th scoring.
• 2011: 32nd total offense (32nd passing), 28th scoring.
This is down right brutal!!
Hey Arthur, Aprils fools comes in 3 more months Sir….. Wow!
Atlfan
January 17th, 2012
11:11 am
Bosher had 4 touchdowns?
Sid
January 17th, 2012
12:22 pm
Gregg Williams, the Saints defensive coordinator is moving to St Louis to work for Jeff Fisher. It will be interesting to see who get the better hire for a new DC, NO or the Falcons………..!!
Sid
January 17th, 2012
12:27 pm
Michael M. January 16th, 2012 10:09 pm
Another Good article D-Led
*****************************************
Michael, I bet you think the dictionary is a good article.
Sid
January 17th, 2012
12:28 pm
Steve Spagnuolo, Jack Del Rio and Mike Nolan…………….names being bantered about for the New Orleans DC position.
Sound familiar…………….??
Sid
January 17th, 2012
12:32 pm
Sure is quiet down in the Bayou? Crow doesn’t even taste good in anticipation. Come back you Peeshwanks, we only want to kick you while you are down.
Sid
January 17th, 2012
1:12 pm
Pepe January 16th, 2012 3:22 pm
…nice turn around for Bosher
**************************************************
I agree totally………..and in the beginning he had nowhere to go but up. Of the 5 rookie punters right now he is lights out the best. But for the year he finished 27th of all punters. Still, he might end up being worth that 6th round draft pick after all………..the only punter drafted last year, the Eagles drafted a placekicker (Alex Henery) in the 4th round. He finished strong which hopefully will carry over to 2012. Congrats Bosher, Jones, and Dent.
Sid
January 17th, 2012
2:12 pm
Any chance we could get David West, Va Tech, in the 2012 Draft………….probably not. But just in case, he’s not a black dot on the Falcons draft board is he?
Sid
January 17th, 2012
2:14 pm
The Atlanta Falcons today announced that offensive line coach Paul Boudreau will not return for the 2012 season.
Had to happen.
bp
January 17th, 2012
8:38 pm
I love when people spell loser as looser. Idiots