Thurman Headed for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Status

With half of his first NFL season wrapped up and heading into the bye week with Cincinnati Bengals, the performance of rookie Odell Thurman has shaped up to be everything fans anticipated and maybe more.

Starting in nine regular season games and three preseason competitions, Thurman is the defensive leader with 50 tackles including 40 solo and 14 assists, 1 sack, 3 forced fumbles, 4 interceptions, and 1 touchdown. Then there’s the fact that his team is the AFC North Division leader going into the bye.

As it stands Thurman is the mid-season favorite to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Not bad for a rookie who went in the second round because he was branded with character issues—guess he really was the steal of the draft.
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“He’s about where we expected. He’s making a lot of plays off athleticism and natural instincts,” Bengals defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan said of the rookie.

“What we see every week is a little bit of improvement as far as the discipline, of understanding the defense, but he’s nowhere near where he needs to be. If he gets to the point where he needs to be mentally, he’ll be dangerous. That’s the type of player he is.”
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The Bengals are 7-2 after a 21-9 victory over the Baltimore Ravens Sunday. However they will need to resume their muster this week as they prepare to face the only undefeated team, Indianapolis Colts, in the NFL on November 20.

The team will also have to prepare for a rematch on December 4 with the Pittsburgh Steelers who currently trail the Bengals in the division by only one game.