The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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172 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ PACK PROS snaps). Meanwhile, the Patriots — despite playing three quarterbacks — dropped their sacks allowed from 23 in 2015 to 11 and employed the NFL's rushing touchdown leader (LeGarrette Blount, 18). The rookie left guard played a big part in both oc- currences and was named to the All-Rookie team as- sembled by the Pro Football Writers Association, which dubbed Thuney the best first-year guard in the league. 3. Philip Rivers, QB, Los Angeles Chargers If Wilson's supporting cast was lacking, it's hard to come up with an accurate adjective for what surrounded Rivers after No. 1 wide receiver Keenan Allen tore his ACL in game one and missed the rest of the year. No. 1 running back Melvin Gordon was limited to 13 games and tallied just three carries before getting hurt in another, top tight end Antonio Gates missed two whole games and started just nine times, while wideout Travis Benjamin — who signed a four-year, $24-million contract in March — was slowed by a knee injury that required surgery after the season. Rivers' leading receiver ended up being Tyrell Wil - liams, a second-year pro who was undrafted out of Western Oregon and entered the year with two career catches. All he did with Rivers zeroing in on him was bring in 69 receptions for 1,059 yards. Dontrelle Inman went undrafted out of Virginia in 2011 and played in the CFL until 2014 (seven NFL games played and 12 catches) … and he caught 58 passes for 810 yards as the veteran's No. 2 target. Rivers checked in at No. 73 on the NFL Network's Top 100, but was left out of PFF's analytics-based count - down. Despite the 5-11 campaign, he still eclipsed 4,000 passing yards for the fourth straight season and eighth time in his career. He ranked fifth in the league with 4,386 yards and fourth with 33 touchdown throws, but he also led the NFL with a career-worst 21 interceptions. 4. David Amerson, CB, Oakland Raiders Amerson's final numbers regressed from his finishing flourish in 2015 after he was cut by the Redskins, but it was hard not to step back from his Raiders debut that featured 29 passes defended in 14 games. In 2016, he started all 15 games he played and broke up 16 passes with a pair of interceptions. His 18 passes defended tied for ninth in the league, while he set a career high with 64 tackles. 5. Willie Young, LB, Chicago Bears The former seventh-round pick had another solid season in Chicago, where he signed prior to the 2014 campaign after four years with the Detroit Lions. He tallied six sacks in his first NFL home, but has become an edge terror with the Bears, posting 24 in three seasons. He started 12 games in 2016 — his most since opening 15 in his final season in Detroit — and notched 7.5 sacks, the second highest tally of his career. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson has not missed a start during his NFL career, posting a 64-27-1 record, including playoffs, during his five years in the league. PHOTO COURTESY SEATTLE SEAHAWKS Name Pos. Years In NFL Current Team David Amerson CB 4 Oakland Raiders Started 15 games and set a career high with 64 tackles while breaking up 16 passes and picking off two more. Jacoby Brissett QB 1 New England Patriots Started twice and played in three games, completed 34 of 55 passes for 400 yards, and rushed for 83 yards and a score. Juston Burris CB 1 New York Jets Appeared in every game with one start while totaling 16 tackles, five passes broken up and an interception. Audie Cole LB 5 Jacksonville Jaguars* Played in 16 games as a reserve for the Vikings and notched 12 stops. Matt Dayes RB R Cleveland Browns Drafted with the 34th pick in the seventh round, 252nd overall. Mike Glennon QB 4 Chicago Bears* Came off the bench to play in a pair of contests for the Buccaneers, and completed 10 of 11 passes for 75 yards with a touchdown. Stephen Hauschka K 9 Buffalo Bills* Converted on 33 of 37 field goals (89.2 percent) and 29 of 35 extra points for the Se - ahawks, with a long of 53 yards. Dontae Johnson CB 3 San Francisco 49ers Saw action in 15 contests, and posted 15 stops and three passes broken up. Josh Jones S R Green Bay Packers Was selected with the 29th pick of the second round, 61st overall. Ted Larsen OL 7 Miami Dolphins* Started eight contests and appeared in all 16 at right guard for the Bears. Name Pos. Years In NFL Current Team T.Y. McGill DT 2 Indianapolis Colts Played in 13 games as a reserve, and logged six tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble and one pass broken up. Philip Rivers QB 13 Los Angeles Chargers Started every game for the 11th straight season and threw for 4,386 yards with 33 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. J.R. Sweezy OL 5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Did not play in a game last year due to a back injury. Joe Thuney OL 1 New England Patriots The third-round rookie started all 19 contests for the Super Bowl champions at left guard. Jack Tocho CB R Minnesota Vikings Drafted with the 27th pick of the seventh round, 245th overall. Russell Wilson QB 5 Seattle Seahawks Started all 16 games for the fifth straight season and threw for a career-high 4,219 yards with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for a passer rating of 92.6, while also rushing for 259 yards and a score. Earl Wolff S 2 Washington Redskins* Has not appeared in a game since the 2014 season with Philadelphia, but he was signed by Washington in the offseason. Willie Young LB 7 Chicago Bears Started 12 times and played in every game, notching 38 tackles, 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble and two passes broken up. * Has changed teams since the end of last year Former Wolfpackers In The NFL