Be Careful About Writing Off Bruce Irvin

Hugh Millen mentioned on Softy’s show this week that a case could be made that Bruce Irvin was a disappointment as the 15th overall pick. He is not the only person that has broached that subject. It is worth diving deeper into that question another time. For now, take a look at the list of players that have recorded at least 8.0 sacks as a rookie. There is definitely a bust here and there, but this list is littered with high impact defensive players. That accomplishment, alone, should not be underestimated.

					Games	Sacks & Tackles
Rk	Player	Year	Age	Tm	G	Sk	Tkl	Ast
1	Bruce Irvin	2012	24	SEA	16	8.0	10	7
2	Von Miller	2011	22	DEN	15	11.5	51	14
3	Jabaal Sheard	2011	22	CLE	16	8.5	40	14
4	Aldon Smith	2011	22	SFO	16	14.0	31	6
5	Carlos Dunlap	2010	21	CIN	12	9.5	19	5
6	Ndamukong Suh	2010	23	DET	16	10.0	48	17
7	Clay Matthews	2009	23	GNB	16	10.0	36	14
8	Brian Orakpo	2009	23	WAS	16	11.0	38	13
9	Stylez G. White	2007	28	TAM	16	8.0	21	5
10	Mark Anderson	2006	23	CHI	16	12.0	24	4
11	Elvis Dumervil	2006	22	DEN	13	8.5	14	3
12	Tamba Hali	2006	23	KAN	16	8.0	45	16
13	Kamerion Wimbley	2006	23	CLE	16	11.0	44	17
14	Shawne Merriman	2005	21	SDG	15	10.0	43	14
15	DeMarcus Ware	2005	23	DAL	16	8.0	47	11
16	Jared Allen	2004	22	KAN	15	9.0	28	2
17	Terrell Suggs	2003	21	BAL	16	12.0	18	8
18	Kevin Williams	2003	23	MIN	16	10.5	37	15
19	Dwight Freeney	2002	22	IND	16	13.0	45	1
20	Carlos Hall	2002	23	TEN	15	8.0	27	15
					Games	Sacks & Tackles
Rk	Player	Year	Age	Tm	G	Sk	Tkl	Ast
21	Julius Peppers	2002	22	CAR	12	12.0	29	7
22	Kendrell Bell	2001	23	PIT	16	9.0	69	13
23	Justin Smith	2001	22	CIN	15	8.5	41	13
24	Shaun Ellis	2000	23	NYJ	16	8.5	38	15
25	Darren Howard	2000	24	NOR	16	11.0	37	16
26	Corey Simon	2000	23	PHI	16	9.5	38	13
27	Brian Urlacher	2000	22	CHI	16	8.0	101	24
28	Jevon Kearse	1999	23	TEN	16	14.5	48	9
29	Lorenzo Bromell	1998	23	MIA	14	8.0	16	7
30	Vonnie Holliday	1998	23	GNB	12	8.0	34	18
31	Peter Boulware	1997	23	BAL	16	11.5	43	15
32	Simeon Rice	1996	22	ARI	16	12.5	42	10
33	Hugh Douglas	1995	24	NYJ	15	10.0	25	8
34	Chris Slade	1993	22	NWE	16	9.0	38	0
35	Dana Stubblefield	1993	23	SFO	16	10.5	64	0
36	Santana Dotson	1992	23	TAM	16	10.0	71	0
37	Chris Mims	1992	22	SDG	16	10.0	53	0
38	Mike Croel	1991	22	DEN	13	10.0	84	0
39	Anthony Smith	1991	24	RAI	16	10.5	0	0
40	James Francis	1990	22	CIN	16	8.0	78	0
					Games	Sacks & Tackles
Rk	Player	Year	Age	Tm	G	Sk	Tkl	Ast
41	Renaldo Turnbull	1990	24	NOR	16	9.0	31	0
42	Aaron Wallace	1990	23	RAI	16	9.0	0	0
43	Burt Grossman	1989	22	SDG	16	10.0	63	0
44	Derrick Thomas*	1989	22	KAN	16	10.0	75	0
45	Cornelius Bennett	1987	22	BUF	8	8.5	69	0
46	Charles Haley	1986	22	SFO	16	12.0	59	0
47	Tim Harris	1986	22	GNB	16	8.0	67	0
48	Leslie O’Neal	1986	22	SDG	13	12.5	82	0
49	Keith Millard	1985	23	MIN	16	11.0	0	0
50	Garin Veris	1985	22	NWE	16	10.0	0	0
51	Reggie White*	1985	24	PHI	13	13.0	100	0
52	Vernon Maxwell	1983	22	BAL	16	11.0	0	0
53	Greg Townsend	1983	22	RAI	16	10.5	0	0