Jackson, Hill, Chavous Receive Rams' Awards

[RamFan_Til_I_Die]

http://www.stlouisrams.com/article/60134/

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

RB Steven Jackson, CB Tye Hill, and S Corey Chavous have been honored by Rams’ teammates as the recipients of 2006 team awards.

Jackson received the Daniel F. Reeves Memorial Award as the team’s most valuable player, Hill the Carroll Rosenbloom Memorial Award as the Rams’ rookie of the year, and Chavous the Carl Ekern Spirit of the Game Award, given to the player who best exemplifies sportsmanship, work ethic, and commitment to his teammates.

This is the first time Jackson has won the Reeves Award, as he becomes the ninth running back to win the award. He joins Marshall Faulk (1999-2001), Amp Lee (1997), Jerome Bettis (1993), Robert Delpino (1991), Buford McGee (1990), Charles White (1987), Eric Dickerson (1983-84, 1986), and Lawrence McCutcheon (1974, 1977) as running backs to earn the honor.

Jackson, in his third season out of Oregon State, has 1,386 yards on the season (third NFC, fifth NFL), the most by a Ram since Jerome Bettis’ 1,429 yards in 1993. He now has 2,168 yards from scrimmage this season (first NFC, second NFL), fifth-most in Rams’ history and 22nd in NFL history. Jackson also has 409 “touches” from scrimmage (rushes and receptions combined) which is third in Rams’ history and 33rd in NFL history. Jackson, who earned his first Pro Bowl berth this season as well, leads the Rams with 88 receptions, and is second in the NFC (fifth NFL). His 88 receptions are a Rams’ record for a running back and tied for the sixth-most for a running back in a single season, while his 782 receiving yards (leads all NFL running backs) is the fourth-most for a running back in Rams’ history.

Hill becomes the fifth cornerback to win the Rosenbloom Award. He joins Travis Fisher (2002), Todd Lyght (1991), Darryl Henley (1989), and Clifford Hicks (1987) as cornerbacks to earn the honor. Hill has 39 tackles (27 solo), one pass defensed, one forced fumble, and is tied for the team lead with three interceptions and for the NFL lead among rookies. In the season opener, he made his first-career interception when he picked QB Jake Plummer in the second quarter and retuned the interception 14 yards, becoming the first Rams’ rookie to make an interception in his NFL debut since Keith Lyle in 1994.

Chavous is the second safety to win the Ekern Award, and the third defensive back. Chavous and Aeneas Williams (2003) are the only safeties to win the award, and joins Williams (2001), who won the award as a cornerback, and Darryl Henley (1992) as the only defensive backs honored.

Chavous is second on the team with 111 tackles (76 solo), 1.0 sack, one interception, seven passes defensed, seven QB pressures, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries. His 111 tackles is one short of his career-high of 112, established in 2003 with Minnesota. Chavous has led or tied for the team lead in tackles five times this season, including a career-high 10 tackles (five solo) against Arizona in Week 13.

The Daniel F. Reeves Memorial Award was introduced in 1969 in honor of the former owner of the Rams who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967. The Carroll Rosenbloom Award was established in honor of the former owner of the Rams in 1979. The Carl Ekern Award honors the former Rams linebacker who died in an automobile accident in 1990.

Team captains QB Marc Bulger, WR Isaac Bruce, S Corey Chavous, DT La’Roi Glover, WR Torry Holt, and K Jeff Wilkins all received plaques.