Every NFL Wednesday, The Rookies Journal honors the most prominent rookies. The best offensive beginner, his defensive alter ego, the action, the confirmation, the revelation of the week… And, finally, the Power Rooking. Everything, you will know everything about the Rookies!
Offensive Rookie of the Week
Elijah Mitchell – RB / San Francisco 49ers (194ème choix)
27 courses, 133 yards, 1 touchdown + 5 réceptions, 35 yards
He was uncertain, he didn’t show it on the pitch. Elijah Mitchell had just missed a meeting, after having been operated on to treat a broken finger on his right hand. But it took more to disrupt the 23-year-old runner. As against the Rams, he carried the ball 27 times and his aggressive breakthroughs put the 49ers in control. Selected in the 6th round, the number 25 is now the leader of the San Francisco ground game and his consistency brings stability to his attack. He is close to 5 yards on average, he has passed 100 yards on 4 occasions and he will have a decisive role in the coming weeks, in the absence of the brilliant Deebo Samuel.
The rook Elijah Mitchell had 100+ total yards for the 4th time this season on Sunday ????
32 touches
168 total yards
1 touchdown pic.twitter.com/dQQZawBaTV— NFL (@NFL) November 30, 2021
Defensive Rookie of the Week
Patrick Surtain II – CB / Denver Broncos (9th choice)
5 tackles, 2 defended, 2 interceptions, 1 touchdown
That’s right, the Broncos have turned their backs on Justin Fields and Mac Jones. They may regret it one day. But we cannot blame them for having missed their choice last spring. If he has known some physical problems since his arrival in Denver, Pat Surtain II is still the class player that we had seen with Alabama. This weekend, he dominated Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles receivers. The first touchdown of his career admittedly came from an opportunistic interception, but he limited the Chargers quarterback to an assessment of 6.8. This high-level performance could launch him to the top, as he has the talent to become a star.
PS2 WITH THE PICK-SIX ????
????: CBS | @PatSurtainll pic.twitter.com/80kYFj9Eth
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) November 28, 2021
Action of the week
Kene Nwangwu – RB / Minnesota Vikings (119ème choix)
1 touchdown on kickoff return
He’s the new king of returns. As at the beginning of November against Baltimore, Kene Nwangwu crossed the field, to mark his 2nd touchdown on a kickoff. Since the start of the season, the Vikings’ running back has attempted 8 such actions and therefore scored 6 points on 25% of them. Of course, he won’t keep that success rate all his life. But since 2011, there are only 3 players to have returned 2 kickoffs during the same year: Jacoby Jones, Cordarrelle Patterson (twice) and him, therefore.
And just like that, HE IS GONE!!!@NwangwuKene
????: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/HJ9mvOz8xg
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 28, 2021
Confirmation of the week
Mac Jones – QB / New England Patriots (15ème choix)
23/32, 310 yards, 2 touchdowns
He could have been satisfied with a 36-13 success against the Titans, the 6th in a row for the Pats. But no, Mac Jones first insisted on the unrealism of his attack in the red zone, an important point in January. There is still work to be done, normal for a beginner. But above all, there is a season with more than 70% success on the pass and a fairly striking rise. Number 10 did not come to joke. We even saw him run and celebrate a first attempt. But, as 3 yards were missing, we can forget.
Mac Jones signals first down while being a good 3 yards short. pic.twitter.com/ayvGs9ipZM
– Dan Beyer (@danbeyeronfox) November 28, 2021
Revelation of the week
Jaelan Phillips – LB / Miami Dolphins (18th pick)
4 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 defended pass
Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips, the two picks in Miami’s first round, two of the great architects of victory against Carolina. The receiver had already made good outings in the NFL, but he crossed 100 yards (137) for the first time. The pass rusher was a little more discreet, but it has undoubtedly entered the greats against the Panthers. He gave Cam Newton a nightmare, leading his defense. The young dolphins are doing a good job and, with 4 successes in a row, the air is sweet again in Florida.
DEFENSE CAME READY TO EAT TODAY ???? @JJPhillips15
????: Watch #CARvsMIA on @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/bQzdpR6hHo
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) November 28, 2021
Le Power Rooking
Are the most promising of this 2021 cuvée holding their rank? Are they supplanted by names called a little later last spring? The answers, in the Power Rooking!
1. Micah Parsons – LB / Dallas Cowboys (12th pick)
62 tackles, 9 sacks, 2 defended passes, 2 forced fumbles
2. Mac Jones – QB / New England Patriots (15ème choix)
268/381, 2850 yards, 16 touchdowns, 8 interceptions
3. Ja’Marr Chase – WR / Cincinnati Bengals (5ème choix)
50 réceptions, 906 yards, 8 touchdowns
4. Rashawn Slater – OT / Los Angeles Chargers (13ème choix)
5. Najee Harris – RB / Pittsburgh Steelers (24ème choix)
196 courses, 708 yards, 5 touchdowns + 52 réceptions, 351 yards, 2 touchdowns
6. Patrick Surtain II – CB / Denver Broncos (9th choice)
37 tackles, 11 defended passes, 3 interceptions, 1 touchdown
7. Creed Humphrey – C / Kansas City Chiefs (63ème choix)
8. Elijah Mitchell – RB / San Francisco 49ers (194ème choix)
143 courses, 693 yards, 4 touchdowns + 14 réceptions, 108 yards
9. DeVonta Smith – WR / Philadelphia Eagles (10ème choix)
48 réceptions, 686 yards, 4 touchdowns
10. Kyle Pitts – TE / Atlanta Falcons (4th pick)
45 réceptions, 661 yards, 1 touchdown
