Lions predictions review: Rookie of the Year

As we continue to wrap up the 2012 season for the Detroit Lions, let's take a look back at our predictions from before the season. Next up is a look at our predictions for the Lions' Rookie of the Year.

Packey | Prediction: Bill Bentley | Actual pick: Ryan Broyles

Well, Bentley didn't exactly pan out. He missed a game early due to a concussion, and the same shoulder he dislocated in the preseason was injured again in Week 6. He was then placed on injured reserve.

Coincidentally, injuries helped Broyles ascend the wide receiver depth chart and get him into action by Week 6. In seven games in which he recorded a reception, Broyles had 22 catches for 310 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a big game for the nation to see on Thanksgiving (6 catches, 126 yards). Unfortunately, his season was cut short due to his own injury.

Sean Yuille | Prediction: Bill Bentley | Actual pick: Riley Reiff

For me, my actual pick comes down to which rookie had the most positive contributions to the Lions in 2012. (Note: Although this was Mikel Leshoure's first season on the field, only players new to the league in 2012 were considered.) Because of injuries, Ryan Broyles, Bill Bentley and Chris Greenwood were essentially taken out of the picture in my mind. The same goes for Ronnell Lewis, Tahir Whitehead and Travis Lewis since they mainly only played special teams. This leaves Riley Reiff and Jonte Green, and in terms of positive contributions, Reiff is the clear winner. He made a total of eight starts and appeared in all 16 games (mainly as the Lions' sixth offensive lineman), and I thought he brought a lot to the running game. For me, he was the Lions' top rookie in 2012.

TuffLynx | Prediction: Ryan Broyles | Actual pick: Ryan Broyles

This selection feels sort of like predicting that I would get a new house this year, then watching my old home get swallowed by a tornado. Just as Broyles was emerging to become a real force in the Lions offense, it all went poof along with his ACL. He left me wanting more and furious that he wouldn't be there to help save the season for the Lions. I truly believe that if Broyles would have stayed healthy that the Lions would have won several more games. I am confident that we would have all been talking about how he was the best pick of the draft in 2012. I am confident he can return to be a good player. Broyles never really counted on speed to get open and make plays. He is a smart player that runs very good routes to get open. I am intrigued and excited to see him next season.

Jeremy Reisman | Prediction: Bill Bentley | Actual pick: Riley Reiff

My original pick of Bill Bentley was killed by the injury bug, as was almost every other rookie outside of Reiff. While I correctly predicted that Reiff wouldn't break the starting lineup without the aid of injury, I did not expect the Lions to create a specific formation to get Reiff on the field. He displayed a lot of great things this year and gave the Lions' running game a new dimension. More importantly, though, he gave Lions fans reason to believe they have their left tackle of the future.

POD readers | Prediction: Bill Bentley

Bentley received 37 percent of 474 votes in our poll for this category.

Previously: Record

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