The Fab Five, Pt. 2 - Midseason Review
by kohkaynerain | 4 years ago | 0 Comments
We are over halfway through season 66 of Redzone and things are heating up as teams battle for division leads and potential postseason slots. In Part 1 of “The Fab Five”, we took a look at what the top 5 QBs in the draft would bring to the league and took a shot in the dark at what their impact would be this season. Let’s see how things are shaping up for them so far.
1. Nathan Sheldon, LSU
Drafted: 4th Overall Pick, Green Bay Packers
Notable Stats: 1551 passing yards, 55% completion pct, 12 TDs, 20 INTs, 18 sacks taken
Sheldon landed exactly where I placed him, at pick #4, the heir apparent to Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. I wish I could say his talent elevated the team, but through week 9, the Packers sit at 2-7, the worst record in the NFC North. They are ranked 25th in scoring offense (20 ppg), 29th in total offensive yards per game and 27th in passing yards per game. Individually, Sheldon has completed over 60% of his throws and thrown for more than 250 yards just once in 9 games. I’m not sure what’s happening with the coaching staff in Green Bay, but this is an absolutely abysmal start to what hopes to be a promising career.
2. Stanley Fredrickson, FSU
Drafted: 1st overall pick, Detroit Lions
Notable Stats: 1078 passing yards, 60% completion pct, 4 TD, 19 INTs, 10 sacks taken
If you had your money on the first overall pick winning rookie of the year, call a friend, fake your death and hope that your bookie doesn't come looking for you. Fredrickson is one of the most exciting offensive prospects we’ve seen in this league, but at this rate, spending the #1 overall pick on him seems like a waste. At 4-4, the Lions are being kept afloat by their stellar defense (#1 ranked passing, #9 ranked rushing), and the offense is doing them no favors. Ranked #24 in passing offense, the Lions are -9 in turnover differential, tied for 5th worst in the league. A 1 to 5 TD:INT ratio is unacceptable for any quarterback, let alone one taken at the top of the draft.
3. Greg Harris, USF
Drafted: 2nd overall pick, New York Jets
Notable Stats: 1608 passing yards, 66% completion, 16 TDs, 20 INTs, 23 sacks taken
Never one to shy away from a risky decision, Greg Harris to the Jets wasn’t unbelievable, but still slightly surprising. With arguably better choices on the board at #2 overall, Harris has taken over in NY and is quickly on his way to becoming the leader of this QB class. The Jets currently sit at 5-4, still finding their footing with the young signal caller. Though they are tied with the Bucs for the 2nd most INTs in the league (24) and tied for 3rd in most giveaways (27), the Jets have the league's best scoring offense (35 ppg), are ranked 6th in offensive yards per game (358) and have the league’s 2nd best rushing attack (127 ypg). Harris helps with the running committee, as he is currently averaging 7.4 yards per carry with 2 rushing TDs. Under Coach Mojica, Harris has the potential to be a true superstar in Redzone.
4. Glenn Norton, Virginia Tech
Drafted: 7th overall pick, Chicago Bears
Notable Stats: 1675 passing yards, 57% completion, 8 TD, 18 INT, 21 sacks taken
The Bears currently sit at 2-6 with the 3rd worst record in the NFC. I previously thought Coach Snyder of the WFT would be a good candidate to help mold Norton into a professional quarterback, and I still believe I was on the money because what’s happening in Chicago will have Norton in the free agent pool in a few years. This Chicago offense is averaging 17 ppg (2nd worst in the league), 274 ypg (3rd worst in the league), 195 passing ypg (2nd worst in the league) and 98 rushing ypg (5th worst in the league). It’s an understatement to say this offense is failing in every way, and Norton’s development will suffer for it. When you’re fighting for scraps at the bottom of the division, and your new franchise quarterback still goes 9/26 with 3 INTs against the Packers, it's time to look at more than just the play on the field.
5. Gabe Peek, Ole Miss
Drafted: 6th overall pick, Washington Football Team
Notable Stats: 1988 passing yards, 70% completion, 18 TD, 13 INT, 19 sacks taken
If you told me before the draft that Gabe Peek would be the front runner for NFC rookie of the year, I would’ve laughed. But that’s exactly what’s happening, as Peek has lead the Football Team to a 5-3 record, right in the hunt for the NFC East title. The offense hasn’t been elite, staying around the middle of the pack in averages, but the stingy Washington defense has been able to help them succeed. In 8 games, Peek has gained over 300 passing yards 3 times, and I expect that production to continue.