Refreshing to see honesty. It’s usually the other way – “oh we should have drafted Donald, “I” wanted him.” Yeah right.
I wanted Lance Parsons or Sewell. The guy I was really wrong about this year was Chase.
Yup
He will prove to be the best player taken from this draft too.
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He is already growing tremendously. Lol.
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Word!
Also…
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Agreed. My impression of the anti-Micah argument was a question of intangibles. Those possible character issues won’t show up during the good times.
Imagine him grumbling in a corner of the post-game locker room with Jamie Collins, for eg.
No idea if those concerns were merited, but I look forward to him fracturing Cowturd unity in the future.
Micah and Jamie Collins are on opposite ends of the spectrum. Collins wasn’t a big football fan and he had issues with competitiveness and effort. Micah loves football and if anything he’s TOO competitive. Collins would leave practice and go read a book or whatever he does…while Micah would probably spend an hour after practice trying to out punt Fox, out route run Amon-Ra and outlift Sewell. He’s not the kind of guy that would say “hey guys, let’s study the film because its what we are supposed to do.” He’s the kind of guy that turns to Anzalone and says “I bet by noon tomorrow I know the gameplan and 3rd down tendencies of the Bears better than you!!!”
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Yeah, I was thinking of JC as a bad influence, not an equivalent by nature, & might focus the understandable frustration felt by such a hyper-competitive guy outwards, rather than inwards. That’s when it becomes a team toxin, right ? That’s why I’d rather hear him say “Let’s hit the film room together. WE need to get this shizzle down” even if he knows the other guy is the weak link.
Anyway,who knows what these guys are about personally ? Most of the anti-Parsons gossip seemed a little over-the-top to me, too, though. He’s a LBer; they are all insane…lol… My point was that the athletic talent was unquestionable & hardly surprising that it is showing up early on a good team.
Ray Lewis used to throw “watch parties” where the defense would all get together like they were about to get lit…but they were there to watch film on the next opponent and hydrate.
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I went on record as to say that I was cool with leaving the decision to the front office to make as they’d know more about some of the character concerns we were hearing about.
Of course now everyone says we should have taken him, I get it, everyone wants to think they know more or see more than the Scouts. Again, he was a great college player but had some concerns surrounding him, if he flames-out people will be changing their tune to that they never wanted him…it’s fun.
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For the record, that is NOT where I’m at. I’m elated that we got Sewell. I’m just saying that I rejected Parsons. I wouldn’t have been against him after pick 15, but I had him pigeon-holed as an off-ball Linebacker, of which I’m stubbornly against spending high picks on.
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As the saying goes…“never take a LB in the top 10…unless he can rush the passer.” The Cowboys are getting the biggest impact out of their off the ball LB by literally putting him out of position and putting him on the ball.
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I thought for sure Parsons was going to be the pick. From what Campbell was spewing at his press conferences I thought we were going to go for a physical leader of the defense early and felt Parsons fit this coaching staff to a T. When Sewell fell I really couldn’t believe it. I thought it was a no brainer to take him and still feel that way.
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I think whether we went Parsons or Sewell it didn’t really matter in terms of mentality and what they were looking for. The decisions AFTER picking Sewell or Parsons will be what matters most. Not the decision between the 2.
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PFF 2021 Midseason NFL All-Rookie Team: Patriots’ Mac Jones starts at QB, Micah Parsons headlines on defense
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) breaks tackles as he takes a reception 82 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter of the NFL Week 7 game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. The Bengals moved into the top of the AFC North with a 41-17 win over the Ravens. Cincinnati Bengals At Baltimore Ravens Week 7
By Michael Renner
Nov 4, 2021
We are now into Week 9 of the new 17-game schedule, which means it’s time for the PFF midseason awards. We’ve already named the PFF 2021 Midseason NFL All-Pro Team , so now it’s time to look at the rookies who deserve to be named to PFF’s Midseason All-Rookie Team.
While we used the grades to assemble this roster, we gave deference to those who had played the most snaps when it became too close to call.
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OFFENSE
QB: MAC JONES, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Jones has been far and away the most consistent rookie quarterback this season, and his 81.6 passing grade laps the next closest rookie quarterback by 22.2 grading points. While he may get the same criticism Tom Brady did for being a “check-down artist,” Jones’ 8.0-yard average depth of target (aDOT) is actually the same as Patrick Mahomes‘ and Justin Herbert‘s this season.
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RB: KHALIL HERBERT, CHICAGO BEARS
The Bears’ rushing attack hasn’t missed a beat since Herbert took over from the injured David Montgomery. He’s averaged just under 20 carries and 86 yards per game in that four-week span. On those 81 carries, Herbert has broken 16 tackles and averaged nearly 3.0 yards after contact per attempt.
WR: JA’MARR CHASE, CINCINNATI BENGALS
This one wasn’t particularly close: Chase leads the entire NFL with nine catches, four scores and 375 receiving yards from passes thrown 20 or more yards downfield. While the drops haven’t quite subsided after the preseason, with five on 43 catchable targets, they’ve been a footnote in his dominance. He’s especially shined after the catch, with 11 broken tackles on 38 receptions to lead the NFL.
WR: JAYLEN WADDLE, MIAMI DOLPHINS
Waddle’s first-half tape makes me think of a powder keg about to explode. He’s been electric with the ball in his hands and as a route-runner, but the Miami offensive line simply cannot hold up long enough for its quarterback to utilize him as a deep threat. Despite possessing 4.3 speed, Waddle has managed only one deep reception all season and boasts a measly 6.0-yard aDOT.
SLOT: RONDALE MOORE, ARIZONA CARDINALS
While Chase leads the NFL in broken tackles, Moore isn’t too far behind with 10 on only 29 receptions. He’s been mainly a gadget player — 19 of his catches have been screens — but compared to who the Cardinals were throwing screens to last season, it’s been a night and day difference with Moore.
TE: KYLE PITTS, ATLANTA FALCONS
While this past weekend against the Panthers was a bit of a dud for Pitts, the two weeks prior showed the special skill set that made him the first non-quarterback off the board in April. He went over 100 yards in each game while lining up mostly split wide. For the season, nearly 75% of his snaps have come from the slot or out wide.
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LT: RASHAWN SLATER, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Even though Penei Sewell has come on strong of late, Slater has been the best rookie tackle from Week 1. He’s currently the sixth-highest-graded tackle in the entire NFL, and he has allowed only 12 pressures on 328 pass-blocking snaps this year. For context, Chargers right tackle Storm Norton has allowed 33.
LG: ALIJAH VERA-TUCKER, NEW YORK JETS
Vera-Tucker got off to a bit of a slow start, but he has looked like a Pro Bowl-caliber guard of late. After allowing 12 pressures in his first three games, the former USC star has allowed only seven in his last four. He’s earned a 76.0 overall grade for the season.
C: CREED HUMPHREY, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Humphrey is one of only two offensive rookies who also made PFF’s midseason All-Pro team , but he is the only first-team selection. The 2021 second-round pick is the highest-graded center in the NFL and has been utterly dominant on the ground, earning a 93.8 run-blocking grade for his efforts.
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RG: TREY SMITH, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Smith didn’t fall to the sixth round because of talent. I’m sure many wish they would have weighed the risk of his blood-clot issues a little less on their draft boards in retrospect, as he’s the highest-graded rookie guard and the sixth-highest-graded player at the position in the NFL.
RT: SAM COSMI, WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM
It’s a shame Cosmi went down with an ankle injury against the Saints in Week 5 because he was in the midst of his most impressive game of the season. Cosmi was a physical freak for the position coming out of Texas, and for him to already have a 77.0 overall grade is incredible news for Washington. He has everything necessary to be a Pro Bowl tackle.
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DEFENSE
DI: ROY LOPEZ, HOUSTON TEXANS
The 2021 class was known for its lack of depth at defensive tackle, and not a single one heard their name called in the first round. Not much has changed through eight weeks, as Lopez is the highest-graded player of the bunch — and he only holds a 63.5 overall grade. The sixth-rounder out of Arizona has done his work in the run game, though, tallying seven run stops on the year.
DI: CHRISTIAN BARMORE, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
While he’s still earned just a 52.0 overall grade, no defensive tackle in the class has come close to flashing as much as Barmore. His 46 positively graded plays are eight more than any other defensive tackle in the class, and they rank 30th at the position in the NFL.
EDGE: KWITY PAYE, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
While Paye is still trying to figure out a pass-rush plan, he’s translated immediately in the run game for the Colts. He has 10 run stops on only 94 snaps against the run compared to eight hurries on 133 pass-rushing snaps.
EDGE: GREGORY ROUSSEAU, BUFFALO BILLS
If only Rousseau could play the Dolphins’ offensive line every week. He’s racked up 13 pressures in two games against Miami, compared to only three pressures in his other five outings. Rousseau has the length and get-off to be a genuine pocket-collapser at the NFL level.
LB: JEREMIAH OWUSU-KORAMOAH, CLEVELAND BROWNS
Owusu-Koramoah was quite easily the league’s best all-around rookie linebacker when healthy. He earned an 81.1 overall grade in only six games, putting up 14 stops and four pass-breakups over that span. Here’s hoping he comes back from his high-ankle sprain soon.
LB: MICAH PARSONS, DALLAS COWBOYS
Parsons is an animal coming downhill but can still get lost in the sauce in coverage. Nothing indicates that better than his pass-rush and coverage grade splits: This season he’s earned an 89.9 pass-rushing grade on 125 such snaps compared to a 50.5 coverage grade on 139 snaps. Still, he’s been massively important in Dallas’ defensive turnaround.
CB: GREG NEWSOME II, CLEVELAND BROWNS
The big games against rookie corners that are often commonplace have not befallen Newsome so far. In his five starts, he’s allowed a grand total of 173 yards — 34.6 yards allowed per game. He’s notched four pass breakups over that span, as well.
CB: ASANTE SAMUEL JR., LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Samuel may be giving up catches, but they aren’t often going far. He’s allowed 22 catches from 30 targets but for only 243 yards on the year. That’s just a shade over 1.00 yards per coverage snap. He’s also added two picks and two pass breakups.
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NICKEL: NATE HOBBS, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
The highest-graded rookie secondary player, Hobbs has outplayed his fifth-round draft status by leaps and bounds. His 25 targets have resulted in only 10 first downs and no scores this year. He’s also missed only one tackle on 22 attempts in coverage.
S: TREVON MOEHRIG, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
More Raiders? Las Vegas has been in desperate need of help on the back end for years and finally looks to have found it. Moehrig has yielded all of three catches on seven targets for 21 yards this season.
S: JEVON HOLLAND, MIAMI DOLPHINS
For only being a rookie, Holland has been an incredibly steady player for the Dolphins. That’s been especially true as a tackler — he’s missed only three of his 35 attempts this year.
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It didn’t matter than the rookie offensive tackle was third team All-Big Ten as a sophomore at Northwestern and honorable mention as a junior, or that he made the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy and was preseason first-team All-Big Ten prior to his senior season. He had shorter than normal arms for his 6-foot-4 ¼, 304-pound frame. And he was asked about that – a lot.
“It definitely got tiresome,” the Los Angeles Chargers’ first-round draft pick said. “But at the end of the day, through my meeting with coaches, I knew that they valued who I was as a technician, and as a person, so I wasn’t too hung up on it.”
Others were, though. His arms measured 33 inches. He did great in other relevant metrics – running a 4.88-second 40-yard dash and 7.48 in the cone drill while his hands measured 10 ½-inches. But they couldn’t get past the 33-inch arms.
And yet there were those who overlooked the arm issue and found him to be the most talented offensive lineman in the draft – even above Oregon’s Penei Sewell, whose arm length also raised eyebrows at 33 ¼ inches. He was taken by Detroit with the seventh pick, thanks in part to his 6-5, 331-pound size.
Penei Sewell
2021 PLAYER GRADES
EDGE
OVERALL
71.9
Micah Parsons
2021 PLAYER GRADES
EDGE
OVERALL
78.9
This is not context. Storm Norton is a practice squad reject that they have starting at RT.
That would be like us comparing Penei Sewell to Matt Nelson.
I agree with that 100%, I just didn’t see any way Sewell fell and when he did I was like holy hell the Lions are gonna get Sewell. As for picks outside of the top ten there’s a good chance the Holmes and Campbell draft collaboration just doesn’t evaluate talent correctly. Too early to label any busts but let’s not forget they got the guys they wanted. At least they make good draft videos.
Remember though, everyone was pissed we didn’t take Rueben Foster during his rookie year when he was setting the league on fire with the 49ers. Not saying Parsons will go the way of Foster (he almost assuredly won’t), just saying a player’s rookie season isn’t always indicative of his future. Baker Mayfield set the rookie passing record for TDs. RGIII led Washington to the playoffs. Evan Engram’s best season.was his rookie year, etc, etc… Let it play out, I still have full confidence Sewell will have the better career.
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Thibs definitely got neutralized by Utah. Hard choice, Thibs at #1oa or Hutchinson in a trade down. Hell it would be a hard choice taking Thibs over Hutchinson at any pick. Hutchinson reminds me of Watt (not just because he’s white). Type of guy you can build a defense and locker room around, haven’t heard that about Thibs.