Is King Kene Worth a Roster Spot? (new rule change)
May 24, 2023 14:51:27 GMT -6
Funkytown and Danchat like this
Post by Reignman on May 24, 2023 14:51:27 GMT -6
Purple Daily asked that question today because of the recent rule change to kickoffs, where if the return guy makes a fair catch anywhere inside the 25, it's treated like a touchback (offense starts at the 25). Because apparently despite all the other rule changes to kickoffs, concussions are still a concern. One may wonder why they don't just get rid of kickoffs period and try one of the other proposed gimmicks (isn't that what preseason is for?), but rumor has it the owners don't want to get rid of kickoffs entirely for whatever reason. I say entirely because they've almost eliminated them already via rule changes. Last year the touchback rate was 59.7%. In 2010 it was just 16.4% and in 2000 it was 9.3%. So maybe that's why don't want to get rid of them, because they get to squeeze in an extra commercial break before and after every touchback?
Which gets us to King Kene "Wang Chung" Nwangwu. He's on his 2nd regime now that doesn't believe in him as a RB (3rd if you count Iowa State?), so does he provide enough value as a kick return specialist to warrant a roster spot, for a play the league is trying to eliminate? One could argue the new fair catch rule doesn't affect him because why would you have someone that talented make a fair catch? Is he really that talented though? Sure he's a threat to take one to the house but ...
68.6% (24/35) of his kick returns failed to reach the 25
57.1% (20) were inside the 22
20.0% (7) didn't even get to the 20
22.9% (8) made it past the 30
8.6% (3) made it past the 40
and he had 1 TD
Average per return was 26.3 yards, with an average starting field position at the 24.4 yard line on non TD returns (26.6 yard line if you include the TD).
He was a bit better on kickoffs that didn't reach the EZ with an average return of 27.9 yards and an average start at the 32.2 YL, which maybe bodes well for us with the new rule? If he tries to return anything from the EZ however, the average starting position is the 22.8 YL.
Not that the bad field position hurt the offense. The Vikings had 6 (25%) TD drives on returns that didn't make it to the 25, and another 6 that got into FG range (50% total scoring drives). As opposed to only one TD (10%) drive on returns that got beyond the 25, and an additional 3 (33%) that got into FG range (44% total scoring drives). Not including the one KR TD. Typical Kirk, squandering good field position. See I can make any topic about Kirk
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Personally I don't think these numbers are impressive enough to warrant a roster spot for someone who will only return 2 kicks per game that only net us an average of 1.6 yards in field position. His roster spot should depend on how much he progresses as a RB. If Kevin can get some value out of him on offense, then maybe I'd keep him around. Otherwise even if Cook is gone, do we need more than 4 backs on the roster (Mattison, Chandler, McBride, and Ham)?
Which gets us to King Kene "Wang Chung" Nwangwu. He's on his 2nd regime now that doesn't believe in him as a RB (3rd if you count Iowa State?), so does he provide enough value as a kick return specialist to warrant a roster spot, for a play the league is trying to eliminate? One could argue the new fair catch rule doesn't affect him because why would you have someone that talented make a fair catch? Is he really that talented though? Sure he's a threat to take one to the house but ...
68.6% (24/35) of his kick returns failed to reach the 25
57.1% (20) were inside the 22
20.0% (7) didn't even get to the 20
22.9% (8) made it past the 30
8.6% (3) made it past the 40
and he had 1 TD
Average per return was 26.3 yards, with an average starting field position at the 24.4 yard line on non TD returns (26.6 yard line if you include the TD).
He was a bit better on kickoffs that didn't reach the EZ with an average return of 27.9 yards and an average start at the 32.2 YL, which maybe bodes well for us with the new rule? If he tries to return anything from the EZ however, the average starting position is the 22.8 YL.
Not that the bad field position hurt the offense. The Vikings had 6 (25%) TD drives on returns that didn't make it to the 25, and another 6 that got into FG range (50% total scoring drives). As opposed to only one TD (10%) drive on returns that got beyond the 25, and an additional 3 (33%) that got into FG range (44% total scoring drives). Not including the one KR TD. Typical Kirk, squandering good field position. See I can make any topic about Kirk
.Personally I don't think these numbers are impressive enough to warrant a roster spot for someone who will only return 2 kicks per game that only net us an average of 1.6 yards in field position. His roster spot should depend on how much he progresses as a RB. If Kevin can get some value out of him on offense, then maybe I'd keep him around. Otherwise even if Cook is gone, do we need more than 4 backs on the roster (Mattison, Chandler, McBride, and Ham)?
... and neither is this Chris guy.