Rookie Watch 2022

vikingpwr
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Rookie Watch 2022 Dec 28, 2022 17:15:05 GMT -6

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Post by vikingpwr on Dec 28, 2022 17:15:05 GMT -6

Dec 28, 2022 16:36:55 GMT -6 Uncle said:

Dec 28, 2022 16:23:14 GMT -6 vikingpwr said:

Hey, what's the deal with Akayleb Evans now? If we bring Chandler and Irv Smith off the IR what's Evans' situation? Will he be able to be a part of the playoff roster?

Evans was put on the IR on Dec 7th, right before the Wk 14 game vs Detroit on Dec 11th. When players get placed on the IR, they have to miss a minimum of 4 games, so he has to be out for Weeks 14-17 and theoretically could return for the season finale at Chicago during Wk 18.

In terms of Evans being part of the playoff roster, since he can return from the IR for the Wk 18 season finale, it's possible. But, he's had three concussions already in 2022 in his limited playing time, so just because he can come off IR doesn't mean he will - depending on how the medical staff feel about his concussions during the season.

Thank you uncle.....I forgot why he missed all those games. Concussions are serious and I just hope the young man doesn't have any more of them going forward.

dauntessmallhands Veteran Posts: 1,495 Likes: 1,419	Rookie Watch 2022 Dec 28, 2022 19:08:50 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by dauntessmallhands on Dec 28, 2022 19:08:50 GMT -6 I really hope they can get Chandler some snaps the next couple weeks. Would bring another element to have his versatility on 2nd and long or 3rd.

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Rookie Watch 2022 Dec 29, 2022 0:03:17 GMT -6

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Post by Deleted on Dec 29, 2022 0:03:17 GMT -6

Dec 28, 2022 0:50:21 GMT -6 Krauser said:

Dec 27, 2022 22:13:16 GMT -6 Danchat said:

I think he's legit, they tried Ross Blacklock in this role and he flopped. Unless they're doing something different with Tonga that I'm not seeing.

Tonga's playing NT, over center or in in the A gap, on early downs. He's played well enough to keep his spot in the rotation even as Phillips and Tomlinson came back from injuries, with the effect mainly of pushing them out to wider alignments, taking snaps from the depth DL (Bullard, Lynch) who'd been playing those spots on early downs.

Blacklock was playing almost exclusively on 3rd downs and other pass rush situations, mostly lining up as a 3-tech but sometimes as a 5-tech or even outside the tackle as a DE (from where he got the sack at the end of the Patriots game). It's Otomewo who's replaced Blacklock the last few weeks, as the DL part of the pass rush package (along with Hunter, Z and Wonnum).

Dec 27, 2022 20:27:57 GMT -6 MidwinterViking said:

Seeing the Bears defense flail around hopelessly in run defense makes me feel like they didn't have so many good players that they could afford to let a guy like Tonga walk (if he is for real). But maybe he was just a victim of Poles wanting to be the smartest guy and bring in his own guy.

Akiem Hicks agrees:

He knew. This is great

Funkytown Owner Purple Pain Big Dog Posts: 67,627 Likes: 31,559 Fan Since: 1998	Rookie Watch 2022 Dec 29, 2022 8:07:50 GMT -6 via mobile vikingpwr likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Funkytown on Dec 29, 2022 8:07:50 GMT -6

vikingpwr Living Legend Posts: 21,388 Likes: 4,605	Rookie Watch 2022 Dec 29, 2022 14:58:03 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by vikingpwr on Dec 29, 2022 14:58:03 GMT -6 Dec 29, 2022 8:07:50 GMT -6 Funkytown said: Excellent breakdown of our rookie LB. Thanks. Looking forward to seeing more of him.

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Rookie Watch 2022 Jan 4, 2023 7:43:13 GMT -6

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Post by Purple Pain on Jan 4, 2023 7:43:13 GMT -6

Rookie spotlight: Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor ran just five routes, but he caught all three of his targets for 89 yards, one touchdown and two first downs. Two of his catches went for 15 or more yards, and he averaged a ridiculous 17.8 yards per route run on the day.

vikingpwr Living Legend Posts: 21,388 Likes: 4,605	Rookie Watch 2022 Jan 4, 2023 13:07:58 GMT -6 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by vikingpwr on Jan 4, 2023 13:07:58 GMT -6 Jan 4, 2023 7:43:13 GMT -6 Purple Pain said: Jalen Nailor Will this WR stick around or fall off the map like Ihmir Smith-Marsette?

FSUVike
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Rookie Watch 2022 Jan 4, 2023 13:15:42 GMT -6 via mobile vikingpwr, ukvikings, and 1 more like this

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Post by FSUVike on Jan 4, 2023 13:15:42 GMT -6

Jan 4, 2023 13:07:58 GMT -6 vikingpwr said:

Jan 4, 2023 7:43:13 GMT -6 Purple Pain said:

Jalen Nailor

Will this WR stick around or fall off the map like Ihmir Smith-Marsette?

Consider the context. McCardell, who wanted ISM, reportedly pounded the table for Nailor despite them being similar players in some respects. McCardell did not, according to anything I've read anywhere, have any issues with Kwesi dumping ISM.

Nailor, while battling injuries, far out produced KJ Osborn in college. He has a higher ceiling than either of them. With an excellent position Coach. I'm not putting all my eggs in that basket, but I can't justify spending a high pick on replacing Thielen when KJ can clearly produce when consistently targeted and Nailor has upside. Get another late Rounds kid and a reclamation project vet and call it a day.

And maybe figure out how to get out of Adam's awful contract. He looks cooked. Happens to all WRs his age.

vikingpwr
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Rookie Watch 2022 Jan 4, 2023 13:29:45 GMT -6 FSUVike and ukvikings like this

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Post by vikingpwr on Jan 4, 2023 13:29:45 GMT -6

Jan 4, 2023 13:15:42 GMT -6 FSUVike said:

Nailor, while battling injuries, far out produced KJ Osborn in college. He has a higher ceiling than either of them.

Sounds good. Nailor could get plenty of snaps on offense on Sunday if O'Connell limits Jefferson and Thielen.

Funkytown Owner Purple Pain Big Dog Posts: 67,627 Likes: 31,559 Fan Since: 1998	Rookie Watch 2022 Jan 9, 2023 15:16:27 GMT -6 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Funkytown on Jan 9, 2023 15:16:27 GMT -6

dauntessmallhands Veteran Posts: 1,495 Likes: 1,419	Rookie Watch 2022 Jan 9, 2023 16:27:32 GMT -6 Danchat likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by dauntessmallhands on Jan 9, 2023 16:27:32 GMT -6 Even though most of his snaps have come in garbage time, Nailor sure passes the eye test. I would trust him more than Reagor at this point.

Purple Pain
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Rookie Watch 2022 Jan 14, 2023 9:09:39 GMT -6

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Post by Purple Pain on Jan 14, 2023 9:09:39 GMT -6

Some names of interest. Rest at the link.

PFF: Grading all 32 first-round picks after the 2022 NFL regular season

13. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: DI JORDAN DAVIS, GEORGIA

Overall Rookie Grade: 71.4 (Rank: 1/32)
Principal Opponent: Nick Gates
Week 18 Snaps: 9

Davis has still yet to resume the kind of workload he handled earlier in the season before injury sidelined him for a stretch, but when he is on the field he changes the dynamic of the opposing run game, particularly between the tackles. He has nine defensive stops on 113 snaps against the run, spending the majority of his time lined up as a nose tackle.

14. BALTIMORE RAVENS: S KYLE HAMILTON, NOTRE DAME

Overall Rookie Grade: 85.0 (Rank: 1/28)
Principal Opponent: Hayden Hurst
Week 18 Snaps: 55

Hamilton was an every-down player to start the season before assuming more of a bit-part role in the Ravens' secondary when everybody got healthy, only to end the season back as an every-down starter. He has often been deployed as a matchup answer to backs and tight ends covering the slot. He sports above-average PFF grades in every facet of play in his rookie season.

17. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: OG ZION JOHNSON, BOSTON COLLEGE

Overall Rookie Grade: 64.8 (Rank: 2/18)
Principal Opponent: Jonathan Harris
Week 18 Snaps: 68

The Chargers threw Johnson straight into the starting lineup, and he has been the best rookie guard this year. He surrendered five sacks in the regular season, but he also faced some elite opponents and held his own. Johnson’s play has been a little inconsistent, but he has impressed as he heads into the playoffs.

21. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: CB TRENT MCDUFFIE, WASHINGTON

Overall Rookie Grade: 73.6 (Rank: 3/48)
Principal Opponent: Hunter Renfrow
Week 18 Snaps: 70

Injury cost McDuffie a chunk of his rookie year, but he heads into the playoffs with the Chiefs with 11 games under his belt and having been trusted with a significant role when healthy. He has allowed 57.8% of passes thrown into his coverage to be caught for just 9.3 yards per attempt over the season. Only Sauce Gardner has a higher PFF coverage grade among rookie cornerbacks.

23. BUFFALO BILLS: CB KAIIR ELAM, FLORIDA

Overall Rookie Grade: 56.7 (Rank: 30/48)
Principal Opponent: DeVante Parker
Week 18 Snaps: 29

Elam began the season behind fellow rookie Christian Benford on the Bills' depth chart, but in a banged-up Buffalo secondary he has been able to rack up almost 500 snaps of play. He has allowed a worrying 75.6% of passes thrown his way to be caught and hasn’t made many plays on the ball. With injuries still hitting the Bills, Elam will likely have a big role in the playoffs.

25. BALTIMORE RAVENS: C TYLER LINDERBAUM, IOWA

Overall Rookie Grade: 74.7 (Rank: 1/3)
Principal Opponent: D.J. Reader
Week 18 Snaps: 78

Linderbaum was outstanding as a run blocker for the Ravens in his rookie season despite concerns that they operate a scheme that doesn’t suit his skill set. Any size issues for him that manifested in Year 1 were in pass protection, where Linderbaum gave up 26 total pressures, the fourth most of any center. Overall, his debut season was encouraging, and he has more work to do in the postseason.

26. NEW YORK JETS: EDGE JERMAINE JOHNSON II, FLORIDA STATE

Overall Rookie Grade: 71.7 (Rank: 6/36)
Principal Opponent: Brandon Shell
Week 18 Snaps: 25

Johnson was deployed as a fairly steady rotational body for the Jets' defensive front — one of the best in the league in 2022. He averaged a little under 20 snaps a game and notched 14 pressures on 151 pass-rushing snaps over the season. He was consistently better in the run game, setting a hard edge and often impacting runs to his side of the line.

idavike
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Rookie Watch 2022 Jan 14, 2023 12:18:06 GMT -6 FSUVike likes this

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Post by idavike on Jan 14, 2023 12:18:06 GMT -6

Jan 14, 2023 9:09:39 GMT -6 Purple Pain said:

17. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: OG ZION JOHNSON, BOSTON COLLEGE

Overall Rookie Grade: 64.8 (Rank: 2/18)
Principal Opponent: Jonathan Harris
Week 18 Snaps: 68

The Chargers threw Johnson straight into the starting lineup, and he has been the best rookie guard this year. He surrendered five sacks in the regular season, but he also faced some elite opponents and held his own. Johnson’s play has been a little inconsistent, but he has impressed as he heads into the playoffs.

I wouldn't say Zion has faced "elite" competition compared to what Ingram has faced this year. LAC's schedule had them playing teams from the NFC West and AFC South (name an elite DT in either division). Meanwhile, the Vikings went up against AFC & NFC East teams. I'm not trying to defend Ed's poor rookie season, but he has faced superior DT throughout the season. I really question PFF and their ranking system sometimes.

Funkytown Owner Purple Pain Big Dog Posts: 67,627 Likes: 31,559 Fan Since: 1998	Rookie Watch 2022 Jan 18, 2023 19:53:31 GMT -6 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Funkytown on Jan 18, 2023 19:53:31 GMT -6

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Rookie Watch 2022 Jan 23, 2023 9:13:03 GMT -6

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Post by Purple Pain on Jan 23, 2023 9:13:03 GMT -6

PFF:

Krammer: Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's first draft class as Vikings GM gets an incomplete grade

General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is embarking on the second offseason of his "competitive rebuild" of the Vikings, but his first draft class will remain under the microscope because of what it did (and didn't) do this season.

The Vikings and Panthers tied in fielding the fewest rookies to play at least 200 snaps on offense or defense — or about one-fifth of a full season.