By John Turney 
One of the annoying things about an NFL schedule with an odd number of games is that there's no real "midseason" point. Is it this week? Next week? Either?
So, we decided after eight weeks it was time to take a look at the 2023 rookie class's performances and pick a midseason All-Rookie team.
The format is 11 personnel (three wide receivers) on offense and 40 nickel (4-2-5) on defense.
FIRST TEAM
Offense
WR—Puka Nacua, Rams
WR—Jordan Addison, Vikings
WR—Zay Flowers, Ravens
TE—Sam LaPorta, Lions
T —Anton Harrison, Jaguars
T—Darnell Wright, Bears
G—O'Cyrus Torrence, Bills
G—Steve Avila, Rams
C—Jarrett Patterson, Texans
C—John Michael Schmitz, Giants
QB—C.J. Stroud, Texans
RB—Bijan Robinson, Falcons
Defense
ED—Byron Young, Rams
ED—Will Anderson, Texas
DI—Jalen Carter, Eagles
DI—Kobie Turner, Rams
LB—Henry To'oTo'o, Texans
LB—Jack Campbell. Lions
DB—Devon Witherspoon, Seahawks
DB—Joey Porter, Jr, Steelers
DB—Brian Branch, Lions
DB—Christian Gonzalez, Patriots
DB—Jordan Howden, Saints
Special Teams
Cov—Jerrick Reed, II., Seahawks
RECEIVERS & BACKS
Puka Nacua began the year on fire, setting all sorts of rookie receiving records while filling a few roles, including Cooper Kupp's "R" or slot position. After Kupp's return, he's settled into more of a Robert Woods-type role as a "Z" receiver. Either way, if he continues this production, he could be in the Pro Bowl at season's end.
Jordan Addison has also filled in for an injured starter and showed nicely with seven touchdown receptions. Zay Flowers is already an elite route runner, but he's yet to break out with big games.
The Lions are relying a lot on Sam LaPorta -- for good reason. He's putting up better numbers than Travis Kelce and George Kittle and already holds the team rookie record for receptions. With just 100 more yards, he'll own the yardage record, too.
The Texans' C.J. Stroud protects the ball, keeps his team in games and has the club at 3-4. Bryce Young of the Panthers is coming on and may have had the better October, but Stroud was still pretty good. As of now, the 2023 second overall pick is ahead of the first.
The Colts' Anthony Richardson (the fourth overall pick) started the season with more spectacular plays than Stroud and Young, but a shoulder injury ended his season after four games. He just missed too much time to be considered.
Dolphins' running back De'Von Achane's rushing stats should be illegal, and he would've been the pick had he not been hurt. But he's played only three full games and part of a fourth, totaling only 101 snaps.
So at midseason, Bijan Robinson (over three times as many snaps as Achane) edges Jahmyr Gibbs at running back, with both playing well after slow starts. After the season it will be interesting to see who's the top rookie back, as all three are impressive.
OFFENSIVE LINE
O'Cyrus Torrence (Bills) and Steve Avila (Rams) have been the top guards so far, but, after excellent starts, both have leveled off a bit in recent weeks. Anthony Bradford is coming along after missing the first couple of Seahawks' games, so he gets an honorable mention.
The Texans' Jarrett Patterson started seven games before going on IR with a fractured fibula and is expected to be out for as long as two months. At the end of the season, it may be John Michael Schmitz on the All-Rookie team. He was a starter for the Giants right away before he was felled by a shoulder injury.
The big (6-foot-5, 315-pound) Anton Harrison (called for one hold) and the bigger (6-foot-6, 335-pound) Darnell Wright are the All-Rookie tackles, with monstrous (6-foot-8, 374-pound) Dawand Jones of the Browns getting an honorable mention.
DEFENSIVE LINE
Byron Young of the Rams is the top rookie edge rusher, leading all rookies with 14 QB hits. For comparison, Micah Parsons has 13. No, that's not to compare them as players -- Parsons is a potential Defensive MVP -- but it does illustrate that the Rams' number "zero" is anything but.
The Texans' Will Anderson is second among rookies with eight QB hits but has just a single sack as a 40 end. Tuli Tuipulotu of the Chargers has more sacks but is less consistent in pressure. So he's getting an honorable mention while Anderson gets the nod.
Jalen Carter of the Eagles is playing well enough to be a rookie Pro Bowler, even though he's not a starter, usually playing in nickel situations. The Rams' Kobie Turner is the shade tackle. He does so many little things it's hard to explain without using film clips. He's probably the best rookie defensive interior player holding his spot vs. the run and also plays in nickel situations.
The Steelers' Keeanu Benton deserves an honorable mention, as does the Saints' Bryan Bresee. Both show some pass-rush ability.
LINEBACKERS & SECONDARY
The All-Rookie linebackers are Henry To'oTo'o of the Texans and the Lions' Jack Campbell. To'oTo'o needs work on pass coverage (coach DeMeco Ryans says he asks a lot of his linebackers in that area), but he's been good otherwise.
Campbell has been noticeable in coverage and played well enough to quiet critics who chastize teams for drafting an off-the-ball linebacker as high as the Lions took Campbell (18th overall). Ivan Pace of the Vikings should get a mention.
Devon Witherspoon is already a star in the Pacific Northwest, and Brian Branch is a big-time hitter in Motown. In Steeltown, Joey Porter, Jr. is playing well in coverage.
The Patriots' Christian Gonzalez has been as almost as good as Witherspoon, but he's missed a lot of time. Nevertheless, he's shown enough to make this squad.
Safety Jordan Howden of the Saints rounds out the five defensive backs.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The only kick Brandon Aubrey has missed in Dallas is a PAT. He's perfect on field goals, and that includes going three-for-three on kicks of 50 or more yards -- with a long of 58.
To say the kicking game has improved is an understatement. The 28-year-old rookie was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his game against the Rams and was the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October.
If you're a punter for this year's Patriots, you going to get a lot of work, and Bryce Baringer has. Only one player has more punts this season. Baringer is tied for first in the NFL in punts inside the 20-yard line and is the only rookie with positive Net Yards Above Average -- a metric the NFL uses to measure the efficiency of punters.
Broncos' receiver Marvin Mims leads all rookies in return yardage and even has a kickoff return for a touchdown -- something that's hard to do with rules that seemingly eliminate the play.
Jerrick Reed, II (Seahawks) edges Tycen Anderson (Bengals) for the coverage spot. He leads all NFL rookies in solo tackles on special teams.
Ethan Evans (pride of Wingate) should be here
ReplyDeleteHe was considered. I just think he's been less than consistent. Has had some great kicks and some so-so kicks. Chris Willis will pick the season end AR Team...he may see it differently.
DeleteFrom Brian wolf ...
ReplyDeleteI understand your picking of Tags and Hurts as mid-season All-Pros so far but Stroud deserves consideration as well. The guy has only one interception and has beaten the Jags, Steelers and Bucs this year that no one anticipated. Unlike Tua, he doesnt have a running game and receivers anyone knows about, while helping this team avoid the laughing stock label. Can he win 8-9 games?
Good choices on your other All-Pros but if Bland is playing so well for Dallas, is Gillmore shutting down receivers on the other side?
I would take Folk at kicker because with so-so quarterbacking, the Titans I feel depend on him more than the Chiefs with Butker but its close.
Its close on Lamb and Diggs as well, though neither guy is getting the targets they should. Diggs has more TDs though.
Addison has really stepped up for the Vikes with Jefferson out and had he stayed healthy, Waller would be up there with Kelce and Andrews. The Giants need him healthy if they want to average over 12 points a game.
Do you feel Queen for the Ravens has played better this year and is Wagner playing well for Seattle?
Lamb and Diggs was hard choice. If someone went other way it would be justifiable. Stroud could easily have been an honorable mention I just think he's not there with Tua and Hurts so far.
ReplyDeleteKickers? Both have hit everything. So you cannot separate out cluch kicks. So, Butker, IMO, was a hair ahead. Again -- coin toss.
The whole Ravens defense is good. I like their intrior guys. Wagner, to me, does not deserve the PFF grades he's been getting the last three years. Not saying I am right, just saying he's not blue anymore. A solid red, IMO. He used to be a high blue. But PFF has him still as blue. I don't know who's right.
I just have seen a few too many KBEs (key big errors) compared to his prime. He's play "well" but ... I dunno. Call him good, not great in my opinion.
BW ...
DeleteThanks John ... I could see where the Judge And Jury could vote for Jackson being MVP, though Stroud doesnt have near the defense with Hill and Brown having too many complementary players on their teams. I would go with Garrett myself, who has impacted games but we all know its a MVQB award.
I havent watched many Cowboys' games this year but if Gillmore was to make the PB, would it solidify his case for the HOF, or does he already have enough a case? Just curious on where you believe he should be. I agree on your outlook at Wagner.
Gillmore, IMO, would need a couple more good years ... but who knows these days. I think even with a 6th Pro Bowl he may come up short. I am not 100% sure Richard Sherman will get in. I am *pretty* sure ... but it's not a lock ... and in any case there will be a wait. I'd have Gillmore behind him. That's my take.
DeleteI agree that the MVP should not be for QBs only. IMO Kupp was the 2021 MVP. Tyreek has good case for midseason this year--alogn with others. Garrett, IMO, would also be there. No clear cut, but I disagree with those who say it has to be a QB because of the term "value" and QBs have more value than all other positions.