NFL Rookie Watch
Welcome to the first edition of Purple Pain Rookie Watch, where I will keep you up to speed on how the 2022 rookie class is progressing. I will probably post every 3-4 weeks and see how things develop, but if a rookie does something big you'll hear about it here.
So let's get started with the guy who has been very productive and is my current favorite for OROY, Chris Olave. Through 4 weeks, Olave has 21 receptions for 355 yards and 1TD. He leads all rookies with 83.8 receiving yards per game, which is 10th overall for WRs. He averages 16 yards per reception (15th overall) which is higher than both Tyreek Hill & Davante Adams and he's doing all this despite the underwhelming QB play displayed by the Saints.
The next player, and the early pick for DROY is Devin Lloyd, who has been outstanding on a revitalized Jacksonville defense. He has accumulated 38 tackles, 6 pass deflections, 2 ints and has been a revelation in pass coverage allowing just a 28.5 passer rating against and 4.3 yards per completion. Lloyd has been like a Swiss army knife for the Jaguars, lining up all over the place and making plays on all levels of the defense. He'll be a fun player to watch as the season unfolds.
I can't do a post on rookies and not touch on the Steelers decision to move Kenny Pickett into the starting QB role. This is the right move going forward as it will give Pickett the opportunity to learn and develop as well as building some chemistry with his team mates. The only reservation I have is OC Matt Canada, who I don't rate very highly as a play caller or an NFL caliber OC for that matter.
To close out this edition of Rookie Watch, let's look at a couple of late rounders.
Zander Horvath has 3 recs for 7 yards.....and 2TDs! Crazy stuff and a dream start for the Chargers 7th rounder.
4th round Houston running back Dameon Pierce is off to a nice start with 313 yds and 2 tds on 60 carries. A great effort on a team that has a long way to go.
And for those that didn't see it, George Pickens has wrapped up Rookie Play of the Year with this effort:
So let's get started with the guy who has been very productive and is my current favorite for OROY, Chris Olave. Through 4 weeks, Olave has 21 receptions for 355 yards and 1TD. He leads all rookies with 83.8 receiving yards per game, which is 10th overall for WRs. He averages 16 yards per reception (15th overall) which is higher than both Tyreek Hill & Davante Adams and he's doing all this despite the underwhelming QB play displayed by the Saints.
The next player, and the early pick for DROY is Devin Lloyd, who has been outstanding on a revitalized Jacksonville defense. He has accumulated 38 tackles, 6 pass deflections, 2 ints and has been a revelation in pass coverage allowing just a 28.5 passer rating against and 4.3 yards per completion. Lloyd has been like a Swiss army knife for the Jaguars, lining up all over the place and making plays on all levels of the defense. He'll be a fun player to watch as the season unfolds.
I can't do a post on rookies and not touch on the Steelers decision to move Kenny Pickett into the starting QB role. This is the right move going forward as it will give Pickett the opportunity to learn and develop as well as building some chemistry with his team mates. The only reservation I have is OC Matt Canada, who I don't rate very highly as a play caller or an NFL caliber OC for that matter.
To close out this edition of Rookie Watch, let's look at a couple of late rounders.
Zander Horvath has 3 recs for 7 yards.....and 2TDs! Crazy stuff and a dream start for the Chargers 7th rounder.
4th round Houston running back Dameon Pierce is off to a nice start with 313 yds and 2 tds on 60 carries. A great effort on a team that has a long way to go.
And for those that didn't see it, George Pickens has wrapped up Rookie Play of the Year with this effort:
I don't mean yards/TD's, but play time and snap counts etc, and how it compares to previous years. Because like 
I don't mean yards/TD's, but play time and snap counts etc
