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Donald, Gurley, Hekker make Pro Bowl

Jim Thomas

For the first time since 2006, the Rams had three players selected to the Pro Bowl. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald, running back Todd Gurley, and punter Johnny Hekker made it this year, the NFL announced Tuesday night.

It's the first Pro Bowl berth obviously for Gurley, the rookie from Georgia, and it's the second selection for both Donald and Hekker.

Donald currently ranks sixth in the NFL in sacks this season with 11, which is the second-most for a Rams defensive tackle since sacks became an official statistic in 1982. Despite facing frequent double-team blocks this season, particularly with defensive end Robert Quinn missing most of the season with knee and back injuries, Donald also has a team-high 21 tackles for loss.

Gurley, who also has to be a favorite for offensive rookie of the year, currently ranks third in the NFL in rushing, with 1,023 yards. His total is all the more impressive when you consider he missed the first two games entirely and had a cameo role in Game 3 as he completed the rehab and recovery from knee surgery while at the University of Georgia. Gurley joins Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerome Bettis and Eric Dickerson as the only Rams rookies to rush for 1,000 yards.

Hekker leads the NFL in overall punting with a 48.3-yard average on 85 punts _ which is tied for a league high. He is second in net punting at 43.9, just behind Baltimore's Sam Koch at 44.0. Hekker also has had a league-best 38 punts inside the 20, with only five touchbacks.

The last time the Rams had three players make the Pro Bowl, in 2006, quarterback Marc Bulger, running back Steven Jackson, and wide receiver Torry Holt were voted in.

Over the previous eight years _ or since the '06 season _ the Rams have had players selected to the Pro Bowl only seven times. Holt made it in 2007; Jackson made it in 2009 and 2010; Quinn made it in 2013 and 2014; Hekker made it in 2013, and Donald made it last year.

The Pro Bowl is scheduled for Jan. 31, a week before the Super Bowl, in Honolulu.

The team has become incredibly talented the last 2 years IMO. 1 more really solid draft and retention of home grown talent will have this team ready to compete for the next 2-4 years. Just add a shiny new stadium in Inglewood to add a little juice and I think you have a really nice program settling in.

Ramfan46 wrote:The team has become incredibly talented the last 2 years IMO. 1 more really solid draft and retention of home grown talent will have this team ready to compete for the next 2-4 years. Just add a shiny new stadium in Inglewood to add a little juice and I think you have a really nice program settling in.

And a new HC

Stranger wrote:

Ramfan46 wrote:The team has become incredibly talented the last 2 years IMO. 1 more really solid draft and retention of home grown talent will have this team ready to compete for the next 2-4 years. Just add a shiny new stadium in Inglewood to add a little juice and I think you have a really nice program settling in.

And a new HC

I'll give Fisher next year to get this team into the Playoffs. If he doesn't win 10 games next year, bye.

Ramfan46 wrote:

Stranger wrote:

Ramfan46 wrote:The team has become incredibly talented the last 2 years IMO. 1 more really solid draft and retention of home grown talent will have this team ready to compete for the next 2-4 years. Just add a shiny new stadium in Inglewood to add a little juice and I think you have a really nice program settling in.

And a new HC

I'll give Fisher next year to get this team into the Playoffs. If he doesn't win 10 games next year, bye.

I waived goodbye to this coaching staff after the 2014 49er game in StL.

Ramfan46 wrote:
I'll give Fisher next year to get this team into the Playoffs. If he doesn't win 10 games next year, bye.

I fee like we keep saying it over and over
Reminds me of

dieterbrock wrote:

Ramfan46 wrote:
I'll give Fisher next year to get this team into the Playoffs. If he doesn't win 10 games next year, bye.

I fee like we keep saying it over and over
Reminds me of

So if I've got this right, Bugs is Obama and Yosemite Sam is all the bad guys in the world.

Congrats to our 3 chaps. I remember a time when we'd send a platoon of RAM stars to the Pro Bowl.

As for Fish, it would be interesting to see what a new HC could do with this team, but that dream will have to wait for awhile.

TomSlick wrote:So if I've got this right, Bugs is Obama and Yosemite Sam is all the bad guys in the world.