The King's Declaration NFC North
by KingJohnIX | 4 years ago | 0 Comments
The King's Declaration
We are now slightly over a quarter of the way through season 66 and it is time to look at how this years rookies are impacting the teams that selected them. Every year teams are looking to pull themselves out of the holes they have dug themselves into. Others are looking to put themselves over the hump and make the playoffs and then there are the teams looking for that final piece to make that Super Bowl run. Who accomplished their goals and who is stuck in neutral?
NFC North:
Detroit Lions:
Players Drafted:
#1 Stanley Fredrickson QB
#65 Vince Knight OLB
#74 Markelle McMillion CB
#75 Isaiah Stephenson MLB
It was a no a brainer at #1 to take a QB. The Lions have been perennial bottom feeders in the NFC due largely to a poor offense.They took Fredrickson hoping he could lead them to a divisional title. With the rest of their picks in the first 3 rounds they tried to sure up the defense overall and horrible run defense. They selected two LBs and a CB. Will these picks help the Lions climb from what seems the deepest parts of hell.
Through the first 5 games of the season the Lions have already matched their win total from the previous season. They are currently sitting 3 games behind the vikings but only a half game from the playoffs. However, this has literally nothing to do with the Qb they took #1 overall. This kid is completing 58% of his passes. That us umm really bad, how bad well good enough for 57th on the completion list. He is really good at throwing it to the other team as he has done so 14 times already this season compared to just 3 touchdowns. Something needs to change fast for him. The Lions are currently ranked 18th in points and 11th in total yards. This is mostly due to Minshews play.
As for those defensive picks how are they contributing to this turnaround? Well umm they aren’t really. They are giving up 30 points a game, nearly 300 yards a game and a whopping 112 rushing yards every week. You may ask why aren’t these guys making any impact, well to make an impact you have to see the field. Knight and McMillion have yet to sniff the grass on a game field. However, Stephenson is doing everything he can to help. He is currently leading the team in solo tackles with 19 and has also forced a fumble. This kid is running around wrecking people but will need to do even more if the Lions Hope to Catch the Vikings.
Season Prediction: 4-12
Green Bay Packers:
Players Drafted:
#4 Nathan Sheldon QB
#36 Craig McKee TE
#57 Allen DeBose MLB
#68 Arrion Rowland DT
After trading away Jordan Love in the offseason and Rodgers retiring they found themselves in great need of a QB. So at #4 they selected Nathan Sheldon. The Packers are in a rebuilding year this season as they had a balanced draft. Let's dive into the snow pile and see if these rookies are making the impact that was desired when they were drafted.
Here in the land of cheese we find ourselves another struggling rookie QB. We thought Fredrickson’s completion % was bad, well then we found Sheldon. Completing only 51% of his passes. However, he is throwing more tds with 6 and less Ints with 10. It would seem if he could just be a little more accurate this team could turn their season around. Moving onto his TE that was drafted early in the second. McKee came in hoping to light it up like we have seen the rookies in the past do. Drafted a guy so early in the second, the team would hope he would come in and make instant impact. Through 5 games McKee has a whopping 1 catch for 10 yards. He needs to start getting involved in this offense. The Packers offense is currently ranked bottom 12 overall.
Moving onto the defensive side of the draft, are they helping or not. On the surface I would say no. Bottom half points allowed, last in total yards, 30th in passing and 23 in rushing. This defense is flat out not good as a unit. But let's dig through the snow and see if the rookie are doing their jobs. Debose is doing well for a rookie totaling 8 solo tackles, a forced fumble and an INT. Not too bad for a rookie LB. Hopefully, he can keep this going for the rest of the season. As for Rowland, well he is currently the 3rd DT on the depth chart and has not seen the field yet this season.
Season Prediction: 7-9
Chicago Bears.
Players Drafted:
#7 Glen Norton QB
#71 Joey Wagner WR
#73 Reggie Dudley DT
Through 6 games Da Bears are boarding the struggle bus yet again, with high hopes a top 10 pick of a QB would fix their offensive woes it is not looking good. They currently are bottom 10 in points scored and yards. Norton himself has seen some Next level struggles. Currently completing a mere 63% of his passes for 7 tds and 13 interceptions and taking 17 sacks. That is some growing pains for a young man drafted with such high expectations.As for his weapon that was drafted in the 3rd round he has tallied 8 catches for 121 yards and 2 tds. Not bad but I would be getting this kid involved a bit more he has all the intangibles.
Then there is the defense. If that is what you want to call it. Allowing 31 points a game and over 400 yards. Sorry but if you want your qb to be successful you will have to stop somebody occasionally. They just aren’t putting Norton in a good spot. Now how about that goliath of a DT they drafted early in the third. Standing 6’4 310 pounds Dudley is as strong as an OX, sheds blocks really well and possesses elite acceleration for his size or so I am told because I have to see him take a single snap on this defense. Something is going to have to change whether it's the coaching staff or GM maybe even the personnel itself. But something needs to happen soon.
Minnesota Vikings
Players Drafted:
#19 Zach Mathis DT
#45 Derrick Stinson WR
#51 Ronald Ramsey DT
#81 Jose Thomas DE
#83 Dylan Rudolph LOLB
The Vikes are coming off a division crown and playoff birth after an interesting season.Led by third year signal caller Matt Overton this team is reaching heights like never before. They are currently 7-1 boasting a top 10 offense. Scoring over 30 points a game and putting up over 375 yards a game, first in the league. Overton looks great completing 66% of his passes for 1500 yards 11 tds to only 7 interceptions. But his new shiny weapon in Stinson is looking pretty solid too. 13 catches for 204 and 1 td. Not bad on this offense that is loaded with talent. With a tough schedule coming up will be interesting to see if they will keep putting up these numbers.
This team loaded up on defensive talent drafted 2 d-lineman and an OLB. Sitting at 7-1 most would say that these picks had to pay off right. Wrong!! Currently allowing 26 points a game over 300 yards, 225 passing yards and nearly 100 rushing yards a game. They are sitting as bottom 10 defense this season.Zach Mathis is having a decent rookie campaign totalling 12 tackles and 2 sacks so far. Not too shabby he is doing his part to help. Dylan Rudolph however isn’t playing what-so-ever but given the depth of the Linebacking core on this team it makes sense that is just developing. But at this point what could it hurt just to see what this kid can do.Jose Thomas has just been a depth piece just in case of injury so he isn’t doing much. However, have you seen how 2nd rounder Ramsey looks in that Vikings jersey? No? Well, neither have I because he is wearing a WFT jersey now.