NFL: Rookie Watch: Tops, Flops and the Quarterbacks at halftime of the season

The half-time mark of the season has been passed and the time has come for a look at the rookies. In addition to the quarterback class, a lot of top talent seems to have come to the NFL in the secondaries. SPOX shows who has disappointed so far, who has surprised and who has stood out.

Baker Mayfield came, saw, and triumphed. At least that’s how his first appearance in the NFL can be described, when he took the helm for Tyrod Taylor in Week 3 against the Jets and led the Browns to their first victory in about two years. Since then the exuberant hype has vanished a little, which had less to do with Mayfield himself than with the whole Offense including the Play-Calling and other general conditions in Cleveland.

So far Baker has made a very good impression. Mayfield is patient in the pocket and brings throws to the man even if he has to get out of the pocket. He works a lot on the line and tries to address his offense with pre-snap-adjustments. After Pro Football Focus he has installed most of the Big-Time-Throws of all quarterbacks. It seems as if the Browns made the right choice with their first pick in spring.

Sam Darnold was the only one of the rookie quarterbacks who was allowed to start in Week 1 – and he joined the ranks of the quarterbacks who threw a Pick Six with their first pass attempt. But like Brett Favre or Jameis Winston, Darnold quickly rehabilitated himself and showed what he could do in the game against the Lions.

But Darnold’s positive approaches are still overshadowed by great inconsistency and carelessness. He still has trouble getting away from his first read and makes bad decisions when the pocket collapses. The turnover problem already visible in college has also been an issue in the NFL so far.

But the rookie doesn’t get too much support schematically either. Behind an equally inconstant line the offense of the jets is strongly based on short passes like bubble screens or rollouts. Things that the opponents have adapted to better than last year, when Josh McCown played the best football of his career.

It was clear from the beginning that Allen was the biggest project among the renowned quarterbacks drawn in the draft. It was also clear that Buffalo is currently one of the worst places to develop such a project in peace.

Under the renewed realization that Nathan Peterman is not a good NFL quarterback, the Bills already threw their rookie into the fire in Week 1. Allen then showed everyone what one had expected: Sometimes violent inaccuracies, uncertainty in the pocket and further bad decisions in the passing and run game. Some of his best scenes came at Scrambles, Allen is simply still very raw.

The seventh pick of the drafts had a good game, namely when the Bills could win completely surprisingly in Minnesota. Since then, he has tried to compensate for the problems with his athletic skills due to the lack of opportunities to play. What looked good from time to time, however, already demanded a price: Since the 13:20 defeat in Houston in Week 6, Allen has been injured and will return in the second half of the season.

When it comes to handling the rookie quarterback debut, Allen and Rosen can shake hands. Also the tenth pick of the draft came in a very difficult situation and since then doesn’t exactly profit from the equally brilliant conditions, which especially promise the Play-Calling in Arizona.

Rosen was thrown in the deep end for his debut for a final drive in Week 3 against the Bears’ brachial defense, his worst game was undoubtedly in prime time against Denver. He had his best game against the Seahawks, Rosen could at least indicate again and again what he is already capable of as a passer and in the pocket.

But he also had to, because Rosen suffers behind one of the weakest offensive lines of the league under great pressure. However, if he gets opportunities, then he has just shown promise in the Downfield Passing Game. Rosen also led the Cardinals to victory with a game winning drive against the San Francisco 49ers. Since Week 7, he has also been working under a new offensive coordinator after Mike McCoy’s cards split. First positive tendencies were visible.

The Jackson personalie currently offers hardly any basis for evaluation. Joe Flacco continues to be the clear number one under center for the Ravens. Jackson is brought into play again and again for Trick Plays, but not much more.

Most of the time he has to do designed runs or option plays, but the surprise effect of the first weeks seems to have vanished quickly in enemy defenses. In total, Jackson has only 12 passport attempts on his account. But if the Ravens’ season continues as it has seemed for a few weeks now, the rookie could get a start or two in the second half of the season.

Page 1: The quarterback class

Page 2: The disappointments

Page 3: The surprises

Page 4: The Outstanding