The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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166 ■ THE WOLVERINE 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW 1. Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots Brady led the Patriots to their NFL record-tying fifth straight AFC Championship Game and the team's 13th AFC East crown since the Wolverine became the starter in 2001. This is not a career award, though, and Brady definitely earned the top honor with his play on the field in 2015. He finished first in the league with 36 touchdown throws, third with 4,770 passing yards and fourth with a passer rat- ing of 102.2. He tied for 12th with a completion percentage of 64.4 despite suffering from more drops than anybody else in the league (44), according to Pro Football Focus. If just half of those were caught, his accuracy rate would rise to 68.0 percent, which would've tied for fourth. Brady also added three rushing touchdowns, which is one off of his career high, while being picked off just seven times. His lackluster supporting cast and several injuries finally caught up with the Patriots in the playoffs, where the team went 1-1, losing to the eventual champion Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game by two points. However, that didn't prevent the veteran signal-caller from throwing for 612 yards — second most of any quarterback in the postseason — and accounting for four scores (three throw- ing and one rushing) in games 17 and 18. 2. Charles Woodson, S, Oakland Raiders Every player dreams of ending his career before it starts to decline, and Woodson was not only one of the best Michi- gan alums in the league during the 2015 season, but he was also one of the NFL's top safeties in his final year. Pro Football Focus named Woodson the No. 71 player in the league last season, writing: "Peyton Manning went out on top with a Super Bowl victory, but the player from the 1998 draft that truly retired on a high in terms of play was Charles Woodson, who posted his best season since winning NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2009. … Woodson had the highest coverage grade among all safeties thanks largely to five interceptions." Although he did not eclipse the 113 tackles he recorded in 2014, he finished with a respectable 74 while upping his passes defended to nine and interceptions to five. There aren't many who have ever played at such a high level in their 18th year in the league. 3. Thomas Rawls, RB, Seattle Seahawks Nobody could have predicted what 2015 had in store for the former Wolverine, who finished his career at Central Michigan in 2014. The undrafted rookie entered training camp fourth on the depth chart, behind veterans Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson, among others. After rushing twice for five yards in the first two games, Rawls was thrust into the starting lineup after injuries struck the team. In his first extended action, Rawls rushed 16 times for 104 yards, helping the Seahawks to their first win. He started the next two games and totaled 321 yards on 56 carries during the three-game stretch before seeing a de - creased role over the next four tilts. With Lynch shut down for the rest of the year, Rawls re- entered the starting lineup in week 11 and set the team rookie record with 209 yards on the ground against San Francisco Nov. 22. He also set an NFL record that day, becom- ing the first player with 250-plus yards from scrimmage (he also had three catches for 46 yards), a rushing touchdown and a scoring reception in the same game. He was strong in his three remaining games before frac- turing his ankle on the opening drive in week 14. Before getting hurt, he had rushed six times for 44 yards against the Ravens. After totaling 830 yards on the ground and scoring five touchdowns, he was one of just two undrafted position players named to the Pro Football Writers of America's All- Rookie team. According to ESPN.com, he led the NFL's qualified rushers in yards per carry (5.6) and average yards after contact (2.68). Despite the 5-9, 215-pounder missing three full games and receiving six or fewer carries in seven more contests, Rawls was surpassed in productivity by only one rookie back, No. 10 pick Todd Gurley. 4. David Harris, LB, New York Jets "The Hitman" posted his sixth 100-tackle campaign and finished tied for 29th in the NFL with 108 stops. Only one NFL player with more tackles also totaled more than Har - ris' 4.5 sacks (Pittsburgh's Lawrence Timmons posted 119 tackles and five sacks), while his 67 solo tackles tied for 34th in the league. In addition, he broke up five passes and forced a pair of fumbles while helping the Jets go 10-6 under first-year head coach Todd Bowles. Behind the thumper at middle linebacker, New York finished fourth overall in total defense (318.6 yards allowed per game) and second in rushing de - fense (83.4 yards surrendered a contest). 5. Brandon Graham, LB, Philadelphia Eagles Lining up at linebacker (he'll shift back to defensive end this year), Graham set career highs with 10 starts, 51 tackles, 39 solo stops and 6.5 sacks (tied for 39th in the NFL). Graham also finished one shy of tying single-season bests with three forced fumbles, which tied for 12th in the league, and 12.5 tackles for loss. He enjoyed a pair of two-sack games, including against the Patriots and Brady in a 35-28 win Dec. 6. Top Five NFL Seasons In 2015 QUOTABLE "Tom Brady lost nearly every receiving weapon of consequence at some point over the season, and was work‑ ing behind one of the worst of‑ fensive lines in the game — yet he displayed such a complete mastery of the system that he was barely affected." PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS, WHO NAMED THE PATRIOTS QUARTERBACK THE NO. 14 NFL PLAYER IN 2015. HE RANKED SECOND AMONG QBS ON THE WEBSITE'S COUNTDOWN. Brady finished first in the NFL with 36 touchdown throws, third with 4,770 passing yards and fourth with a passer rating of 102.2. PHOTO COURTESY NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS