Today we will be looking at Pat Angerer. Angerer was a rookie linebacker who was drafted out of Iowa in the second round after Jerry Hughes a DE out of TCU was selected in the first round. In the eyes of many Jerry had a rough rookie season. I guess I wouldn't be in disagreement with that, however I don't really think we can judge him after a rookie season. More to come on him later in the week.
Angerer however did not have a whole lot of expectation because he was drafted as a middle linebacker, and most likely he was drafted as Gary Brackett's replacement. So Angerer was probably going to be a special teams specialist along with a situational player as the 2010 season began.
Angerer was thrust into the starting lineup for injured star linebacker Gary Bracket in week 6 against the Redskins. Angerer finished with 4 tackles, 7 assisted, and a sack. He never looked back.
Angerer was second on the team in total tackles with 88 after Antoine Bethea. However Angerer was only a starter for 11 games. Had he been the starter for the entire season I think Patty would have been the team's leading tackler.
The interesting thing to note as well about Pat Angerer is the fact that he was a starter for only the last 11 games of the season (from Washington and on). He was in a different position almost every week. The team was so impressed with Angerer's performance in Washington that they had him as the full time starter at WLB replacing the underachieving Philip Wheeler. Angerer was the full time starter at Wheeler's old position for a whopping game and a half, until Brackett was injured in Philadelphia and Angerer was forced back into his college position for the next 3 games. Then home against Dallas Brackett returned and put Angerer back to his new spot.
Angerer had to made a ton of adjustments on the fly this season. He never knew where for sure he would be lining up each week. And to ask a rookie to come in and replace the defensive captain is a tall order.
Though Angerer had his weak spots as a rookie, and there were clear instances of him seeming lost on the field and a little slower than others, he did a great job filling in, which is all you can label the body of work in his rookie season. Not only was he a great "fill-in" option for the linebacking corps, he was also incredibly durable. He stayed healthy on a team that was basically a hospital dressed in blue and white. Angerer will be around for many years to come, and he will only get better than he was his rookie season. Whether you like it or not, you have to believe in Angerer.
I am a huge believer in Pat Angerer, are you?
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