Halfway point of the season - who is our best rookie so far?

[Claremonster]

Hard to say, but, today it was Logan Ryan. He had a great game today!

Dobson is starting to be pretty good. Thompkins is hit and miss, but, pretty good at times.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Mea culpa: hated the Logan Ryan pick when it was made. Goes without saying that he looks great so far, though.

 

[jah]

Thought Ryan would be a PI machine when I watched his college highlights, but luckily that hasn't translated to the NFL. Love how aggressive he is.

 

[nabwong]

People forget that Allen is not only a great punter but he's a great holder for Gost.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Even if Allen wins the punter of the year award, he's not likely to generate much buzz as a punter.

Now sacks are sexy and they are what win votes. Realistically Chris Jones could be under serious DROY consideration if he continues on this sack pace. If he ends up with 8-10 sacks as a DT, I think he just might win it.

I also really like how Logan Ryan and Duron Harmon are stepping up for our secondary. Like it or not the Scarlett Knights defense seems to be one of BB's better ideas!

Still waiting for Dobson and Thomkins to 'break through' but they have definitely shown flashes of good potential. If they can just get on the same page with Brady, the future of our offense looks bright!

There was a lot of uncertainy this year, but a lot of the youngsters are stepping up. I believe that the Patriots lead the entire NFL in games started by rookies and they still managed to climb to 6-2 by the halfway point of the season? Pretty heady stuff! Let's try to appreciate what a great job the coaching staff is doing with nearly half the roster being kids fresh out of school!!

 

[PatsBoy12]

I tweeted Logan to let him know that I appreciated the game he played yesterday. Of course celebs, even low-level ones, don't tweet back very often.

 

[50-yard-line]

Great thread, great question, and how cool is it that we've got this many legitimate choices on a team that's 6-2?

Wowza!

I'm going with Vellano. Not as splashy as the others, but this team could have fallen apart with Wilfork and Kelly going down. Vellano has stepped up big, and Chris Jones, too. Can't say enough good things about the maturity those two have shown in the middle of that line.

The second half might be a different choice - Dobson and Logan Ryan look like they are beginning to step up huge. I think Thompkins will have a great career, as well, but the numbers have him on a bit of a pause. Solid receiver, and it's great that he and Dobson are friends.

Watch for Collins to improve greatly, and I am not scared when Duron Harmon is out there. The Rutgers communication in the backfield seems to be working pretty well. Given the youth back there, it's amazing how few completely blown coverages the Pats are showing,

For all the talk around here about BB not being able to draft...well, look at that list. Is there any other team in the league getting more from a rookie class than this one?

It's kind of amazing when you consider that the path Boyce is taking is the more normal one for a rookie (and I still think Boyce can have an NFL career).

Simply put, these kids have saved the season.

 

[manxman2601]

Great thread, great question, and how cool is it that we've got this many legitimate choices on a team that's 6-2?

Wowza!

I'm going with Vellano. Not as splashy as the others, but this team could have fallen apart with Wilfork and Kelly going down. Vellano has stepped up big, and Chris Jones, too. Can't say enough good things about the maturity those two have shown in the middle of that line.

The second half might be a different choice - Dobson and Logan Ryan look like they are beginning to step up huge. I think Thompkins will have a great career, as well, but the numbers have him on a bit of a pause. Solid receiver, and it's great that he and Dobson are friends.

Watch for Collins to improve greatly, and I am not scared when Duron Harmon is out there. The Rutgers communication in the backfield seems to be working pretty well. Given the youth back there, it's amazing how few completely blown coverages the Pats are showing,

For all the talk around here about BB not being able to draft...well, look at that list. Is there any other team in the league getting more from a rookie class than this one?

It's kind of amazing when you consider that the path Boyce is taking is the more normal one for a rookie (and I still think Boyce can have an NFL career).

Simply put, these kids have saved the season.

At least to date. Let's hope they can keep it up. Well said!

 

[reflexblue]

Went with Jones over Ryan Allen

 

[VrabelJr]

Chris Jones hasn't even played the entire year and he has been off the charts. I don't think we've seen that kind of penetrating at DT before on the Patriots.

 

[PatsFan2]

Thompkins. All day.

Where has been the last two weeks?

 

[PatsFan2]

My vote goes to Logan Ryan.

I'm with you, quite impressed with Ryan's game.

 

[Dagg]

Hard to argue with C Jones but I went Dobson. I like the way he is trending and by years end should have this sewn up. Now if only Tommy can hit him on a deep ball here or there.

 

[Brady6]

On the subject of rookies this is a nice overview of their first half by Chris Price: It Is What It Is » Checking in on Patriots rookies halfway through their first season

 

[Brady6]

I think Allen has been solid, I wouldn’t call him are best rookie though, he has been middle of the pack in terms of key metrics. I am not unhappy with him and I think he has proven that the decision to keep him over Mesko was the correct one I just can’t call him the top rookie on the team.

Punts: 2ND
AVG: 12TH
NET: 13TH
In20: 5TH
Most TB: 1ST
Fair Catches: 13TH
RET Y AVG: 15TH

The top rookie in my opinion has to be Chris Jones, he has started the last 4 games and he has compiled 24 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 2 stuffs in them. Those are impressive numbers over a 4 game stretch for Geno Atkins never mind a rookie who was taken in the 6TH round and then cut twice before landing here.

 

[Brady6]

I will say Logan Ryan has really impressed me over the last 2 weeks especially, he reminds me so much of Casey Hayward, they’re builds, athletic ability and playing style is like watching a mirror image in my opinion.

 

[manxman2601]

I think Allen has been solid, I wouldn’t call him are best rookie though, he has been middle of the pack in terms of key metrics. I am not unhappy with him and I think he has proven that the decision to keep him over Mesko was the correct one I just can’t call him the top rookie on the team.

Punts: 2ND
AVG: 12TH
NET: 13TH
In20: 5TH
Most TB: 1ST
Fair Catches: 13TH
RET Y AVG: 15TH

The top rookie in my opinion has to be Chris Jones, he has started the last 4 games and he has compiled 24 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 2 stuffs in them. Those are impressive numbers over a 4 game stretch for Geno Atkins never mind a rookie who was taken in the 6TH round and then cut twice before landing here.

The thing is though that Atkins does it over more than a 4 game stretch. That's what makes him special. This shouldn't be construed that I'm in anyway feeling negative about Jones, that's far from the truth, but I do think his numbers are a touch flattering. Jones wins on effort, which is wholly commendable, but unlike Atkins or Suh and the like, he's not winning with speed and power* and therefore I'm not convinced it's necessarily sustainable. I hope I'm wrong and that he turns out to be a 8-12 a year sack guy but I don't think he will be. What I think he'll be will be a competitive interior sub-rusher that will always be productive and will make plays regularly and that will represent outstanding value considering how he was acquired. And I'm absolutely fine with that.

* I was going to write "speed, power and moves" but then I remembered the barrel roll sack and yesterdays 360 degree twist and thought that would be inaccurate.

 

[manxman2601]

I will say Logan Ryan has really impressed me over the last 2 weeks especially, he reminds me so much of Casey Hayward, they’re builds, athletic ability and playing style is like watching a mirror image in my opinion.

That reminds me of when I was scouting him for the draft (Hayward I mean) and watching him drop 6 interceptions/PBU's against Arkansas. How confusing. Do you knock him for the missed opportunities or credit him with being good enough to be in position to make the plays? Weird.

 

[Brady6]

That reminds me of when I was scouting him for the draft (Hayward I mean) and watching him drop 6 interceptions/PBU's against Arkansas. How confusing. Do you knock him for the missed opportunities or credit him with being good enough to be in position to make the plays? Weird.

Do you work in the football? Or do you just scout as a hobby you clearly know your **** either way!

 

[manxman2601]

Do you work in the football? Or do you just scout as a hobby you clearly know your **** either way!

Purely a hobby - and a very amateur one at that.