Rating the Training Camp Performances of the NFL’s Notable Rookies
The 2016 NFL pre-season wrapped up Thursday night, and the regular season is right around the corner. This year’s crop of rookies had four games and several weeks of practice to prove to their coaches that they deserve to make the team or even start. STACK checked out some of the most notable players from the 2016 NFL Draft to see how they performed during training camp, and then rated them.
RELATED: Does an NFL Quarterback’s Pre-Season Success Translate to the Regular Season?
Ezekiel Elliott: A-
The Dallas Cowboys’ fourth overall draft pick missed the beginning of training camp due to a hamstring injury. Elliott was finally able play in Week 3, and he did not disappoint. The 6-foot, 225-pound running back carried the ball only seven times, but he gained a tough 48 yards against a great Seattle Seahawks defense. Watch some of his impressive runs below. Elliott goes head-up against Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor. If he won’t back down from one of the hardest hitting safeties in the league, Elliott will do just fine.
Ezekiel Elliott lowering his shoulder and powering through Kam Chancellor!pic.twitter.com/Ogccf4XK7i
— ✭Cowboys News✭ (@DemBoyz_News) August 26, 2016
Jared Goff: D
The Los Angeles Rams’ first overall pick has been a disappointment so far. During the first pre-season game, Goff suffered a minor shoulder injury. Besides getting banged up, he completed only 44 percent of his passes with only two touchdowns and two interceptions during the rest of training camp. Goff also struggled with other parts of the game, such as learning the playbook. Rams head coach Jeff Fisher recently said that Goff isn’t ready to even be a backup. In his final game, Goff missed receivers and seemed scared in the pocket. Watch the highlights below.
[youtube video=”nPxlV9SYPfY” /]Jalen Ramsey: A
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ fifth overall pick has been impressive. During the Jaguars’ second pre-season game, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ramsey showed his outstanding tackling ability. In 16 plays, his average tackle depth was -0.3 yards behind the line of scrimmage. The 6-foot-2 corner also showed off some of his coverage skills, sticking tight to the Bucs’ wide receiver’s hip even after making a nice cut. Check out the videos below to see Ramsey be aggressive and make some nice plays.
Jalen Ramsey makes a tackle for a loss on his first NFL play from scrimmage. https://t.co/FVbTjUmPMe
— Ryan Day (@ryaneatscake) August 21, 2016
Jalen Ramsey with his first pass coverage of the night, covering slot WR Adam Humphries over the middle. https://t.co/pYMiKzo9k0
— Ryan Day (@ryaneatscake) August 21, 2016
Vernon Hargreaves: A+
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 10th overall pick has been unreal. Hargreaves proved why many thought he would be the No. 1 cornerback in the draft. Throughout the pre-season, he was in coverage 54 times and was targeted eight times. He only allowed one reception for 2 yards and made two interceptions. The passer rating against him is 0.0. Check out his two interceptions in the video below.
[youtube video=”iSoKAd5b8lw” /]Corey Coleman: C
The Cleveland Browns’ 15th overall pick played in only two pre-season game and didn’t do much. In the Browns’ final game, Coleman caught one pass for 10 yards on four targets. But though the speedy receiver struggled in games, he did have some great practices. In the videos below, you can see Coleman beating several defenders off the line of scrimmage, then using his speed to beat the corners down the sideline.
Here you go: RG3 deep to Corey Coleman. pic.twitter.com/Nk2M2Bxyo7
— Dan Labbe (@dan_labbe) July 31, 2016
[youtube video=”rPtUAB5LRto”]
Derek Henry: B+
Tennessee Titans second round pick Derek Henry has been a pleasant surprise. The 2015 Heisman Trophy winner had 34 carries for 216 yards, with 137 yards after contact. He broke 12 tackles and scored three touchdowns. Teams were worried that the size of the 6-foot-3, 247-pound back would be a liability, and that his speed and agility would suffer. But Henry worked on his foot quickness and agility by performing cone drills throughout camp. He will make for a great complementary back for starter DeMarco Murray.
[instagram src=”{https://www.instagram.com/p/BIOtyeLhlAY/?taken-by=last_king_2&hl=en}”] [instagram src=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BHsfR5sB4Qw/?taken-by=last_king_2&hl=en”]RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
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Rating the Training Camp Performances of the NFL’s Notable Rookies
The 2016 NFL pre-season wrapped up Thursday night, and the regular season is right around the corner. This year’s crop of rookies had four games and several weeks of practice to prove to their coaches that they deserve to make the team or even start. STACK checked out some of the most notable players from the 2016 NFL Draft to see how they performed during training camp, and then rated them.
RELATED: Does an NFL Quarterback’s Pre-Season Success Translate to the Regular Season?
Ezekiel Elliott: A-
The Dallas Cowboys’ fourth overall draft pick missed the beginning of training camp due to a hamstring injury. Elliott was finally able play in Week 3, and he did not disappoint. The 6-foot, 225-pound running back carried the ball only seven times, but he gained a tough 48 yards against a great Seattle Seahawks defense. Watch some of his impressive runs below. Elliott goes head-up against Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor. If he won’t back down from one of the hardest hitting safeties in the league, Elliott will do just fine.
Ezekiel Elliott lowering his shoulder and powering through Kam Chancellor!pic.twitter.com/Ogccf4XK7i
— ✭Cowboys News✭ (@DemBoyz_News) August 26, 2016
Jared Goff: D
The Los Angeles Rams’ first overall pick has been a disappointment so far. During the first pre-season game, Goff suffered a minor shoulder injury. Besides getting banged up, he completed only 44 percent of his passes with only two touchdowns and two interceptions during the rest of training camp. Goff also struggled with other parts of the game, such as learning the playbook. Rams head coach Jeff Fisher recently said that Goff isn’t ready to even be a backup. In his final game, Goff missed receivers and seemed scared in the pocket. Watch the highlights below.
[youtube video=”nPxlV9SYPfY” /]Jalen Ramsey: A
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ fifth overall pick has been impressive. During the Jaguars’ second pre-season game, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ramsey showed his outstanding tackling ability. In 16 plays, his average tackle depth was -0.3 yards behind the line of scrimmage. The 6-foot-2 corner also showed off some of his coverage skills, sticking tight to the Bucs’ wide receiver’s hip even after making a nice cut. Check out the videos below to see Ramsey be aggressive and make some nice plays.
Jalen Ramsey makes a tackle for a loss on his first NFL play from scrimmage. https://t.co/FVbTjUmPMe
— Ryan Day (@ryaneatscake) August 21, 2016
Jalen Ramsey with his first pass coverage of the night, covering slot WR Adam Humphries over the middle. https://t.co/pYMiKzo9k0
— Ryan Day (@ryaneatscake) August 21, 2016
Vernon Hargreaves: A+
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 10th overall pick has been unreal. Hargreaves proved why many thought he would be the No. 1 cornerback in the draft. Throughout the pre-season, he was in coverage 54 times and was targeted eight times. He only allowed one reception for 2 yards and made two interceptions. The passer rating against him is 0.0. Check out his two interceptions in the video below.
[youtube video=”iSoKAd5b8lw” /]Corey Coleman: C
The Cleveland Browns’ 15th overall pick played in only two pre-season game and didn’t do much. In the Browns’ final game, Coleman caught one pass for 10 yards on four targets. But though the speedy receiver struggled in games, he did have some great practices. In the videos below, you can see Coleman beating several defenders off the line of scrimmage, then using his speed to beat the corners down the sideline.
Here you go: RG3 deep to Corey Coleman. pic.twitter.com/Nk2M2Bxyo7
— Dan Labbe (@dan_labbe) July 31, 2016
Derek Henry: B+
Tennessee Titans second round pick Derek Henry has been a pleasant surprise. The 2015 Heisman Trophy winner had 34 carries for 216 yards, with 137 yards after contact. He broke 12 tackles and scored three touchdowns. Teams were worried that the size of the 6-foot-3, 247-pound back would be a liability, and that his speed and agility would suffer. But Henry worked on his foot quickness and agility by performing cone drills throughout camp. He will make for a great complementary back for starter DeMarco Murray.
[instagram src=”{https://www.instagram.com/p/BIOtyeLhlAY/?taken-by=last_king_2&hl=en}”] [instagram src=”https://www.instagram.com/p/BHsfR5sB4Qw/?taken-by=last_king_2&hl=en”]