6. Write 800 words or more on something about anything in the league that interests you. It could be related to statistics, a league issue that you take seriously, or a niche part of history that doesn’t fit neatly into either of the above categories. This must be directly related to the league, so don’t wax 800 words about your team’s participation on a Werewolf server or something.
Did I miss the last 2 Ultimus weeks? I guess I'm just going to have to make this one better than the previous ones.
Rookies are fascinating in football, they bring something new to the table, and can bring hope to a franchise who hasn't had that in years. Sometimes they are plug and play starters, sometimes they take time to grow into incredible players, and sometimes they completely bust. I believe that the Philadelphia Liberty's rookie class has been head and shoulders above the rest this season statistically. For this we are going to focus on four players, Xavier Walls, Romulus Roman, C.J. Sonjack, and Lonnie Jackson.
First we are going to look at Lonnie Jackson, a rookie RB. Among all RBs, he was 15th in the league in rushing yards, and 2nd among rookies. He had 746 yards on 195 attempts, averaging 3.8 yards/carry. He also had 6 TDs on the ground. But rushing yards aren't the whole story with RBs, because they can catch the ball too. On 13 receptions, he added 103 receiving yards to his total, for 849 all purpose yards his rookie season. He was 3rd in receiving yards among rookie RBs.
Now we are going to take a look at C.J. Sonjack, a rookie CB. As a rookie, CJ Sonjack did not record any interceptions, no rookie CB recorded any interceptions this season. Among rookie CBs, Sonjack was 3rd in tackles with 32. Where he really takes off is in passes defended. Among all rookies, Sonjack ranks 1st in passes defended, and tied for 4th in the league with 31. The next closest rookie had 9 passes defended, the next closest rookie CB had 6 passes defended.
Third, we are going to take a look at Romulus Roman, a rookie safety. Among rookie safeties, Roman finished second in tackles with 54. Roman was the only rookie safety to record a tackle for loss. He was also the only rookie safety to record a forced fumble. He also led all rookie safeties in sacks with 4. Among rookie safeties, Roman was 2nd in passes defended. In all statistical categories Roman had a stat in, he either led his position among rookies, or was second among rookies.
Now finally, the player who should win defensive rookie of the year, Xavier Walls, a rookie LB. In passes defended we already know about C.J. Sonjack and his ridiculous 31 passes defended as a rookie. In second place behind him with 9 passes defended is rookie LB Xavier Walls. Among rookies, Xavier Walls was the only rookie with more than one interception, he had 2. He also led all rookies with 2 fumble recoveries (no, I am not counting the QB who recovered 7 of his own fumbles, he does not play defense). Xavier Walls was second among all rookies in sacks, with 5. Among rookie LBs, the closest to him had 2 sacks. Among rookies, Xavier Walls once again led, this time in tackles for loss, the next closest rookie had 3 tackles for loss. His 7 tackles for loss was also good enough to be tied for 6th in the league. And now for what really sets him apart from the rest of the rookie class, his tackles. Xavier Walls finished the season with 105 tackles, second place among rookies had 73. Xavier Walls' 105 tackles had him finish tied for 11th in the league, and just 9 tackles behind the 4 way tie for 1st.
The Philadelphia Liberty rookie class was incredible across the board when compared to other rookie classes, now lets take a look at other rookie classes, to see just how much better Philadelphia's was.
Baltimore's rookie safety had the second most tackles among all rookies, the third most passes defended among all rookies, 5th most sacks among all rookies, and an interception. A great rookie campaign, but Romulus Roman's was better.
San Jose's rookie CB had the most tackles among rookie CBs, a forced fumble, the most sacks among rookie CBs with 3 (how did this happen?), and not even one fifth of C.J. Sonjack's passes defended.
And I know its unfair to compare any rookie LBs to Xavier Walls, but I have to do it. Arizona's rookie LB had 30 tackles which was second among rookie, LBs. He also had 2 tackles for loss, tied for 3rd among all rookies. He also had a forced fumble. He had 2 sacks, and 2 passes defended. Xavier Walls had significantly better stats in all categories when compared to Arizona's rookie LB.
Among rookies Philadelphia finished:
Tackles: 1st, 3rd, 6th
Tackles for loss: 1st, 5th
Forced fumbles: 1st(tied)
Sacks: 2nd, 3rd
Interceptions: 1st
Passes defended: 1st, 2nd, 5th
Philadelphia had an absolutely incredible rookie class on defense, being 1st in the league among rookies in every category except for sacks, where they were 2nd and 3rd despite neither of them being designated pass rushers. Philadelphia also got a solid contributor on offense who looks to expand their role in the future.
Did I miss the last 2 Ultimus weeks? I guess I'm just going to have to make this one better than the previous ones.
Rookies are fascinating in football, they bring something new to the table, and can bring hope to a franchise who hasn't had that in years. Sometimes they are plug and play starters, sometimes they take time to grow into incredible players, and sometimes they completely bust. I believe that the Philadelphia Liberty's rookie class has been head and shoulders above the rest this season statistically. For this we are going to focus on four players, Xavier Walls, Romulus Roman, C.J. Sonjack, and Lonnie Jackson.
First we are going to look at Lonnie Jackson, a rookie RB. Among all RBs, he was 15th in the league in rushing yards, and 2nd among rookies. He had 746 yards on 195 attempts, averaging 3.8 yards/carry. He also had 6 TDs on the ground. But rushing yards aren't the whole story with RBs, because they can catch the ball too. On 13 receptions, he added 103 receiving yards to his total, for 849 all purpose yards his rookie season. He was 3rd in receiving yards among rookie RBs.
Now we are going to take a look at C.J. Sonjack, a rookie CB. As a rookie, CJ Sonjack did not record any interceptions, no rookie CB recorded any interceptions this season. Among rookie CBs, Sonjack was 3rd in tackles with 32. Where he really takes off is in passes defended. Among all rookies, Sonjack ranks 1st in passes defended, and tied for 4th in the league with 31. The next closest rookie had 9 passes defended, the next closest rookie CB had 6 passes defended.
Third, we are going to take a look at Romulus Roman, a rookie safety. Among rookie safeties, Roman finished second in tackles with 54. Roman was the only rookie safety to record a tackle for loss. He was also the only rookie safety to record a forced fumble. He also led all rookie safeties in sacks with 4. Among rookie safeties, Roman was 2nd in passes defended. In all statistical categories Roman had a stat in, he either led his position among rookies, or was second among rookies.
Now finally, the player who should win defensive rookie of the year, Xavier Walls, a rookie LB. In passes defended we already know about C.J. Sonjack and his ridiculous 31 passes defended as a rookie. In second place behind him with 9 passes defended is rookie LB Xavier Walls. Among rookies, Xavier Walls was the only rookie with more than one interception, he had 2. He also led all rookies with 2 fumble recoveries (no, I am not counting the QB who recovered 7 of his own fumbles, he does not play defense). Xavier Walls was second among all rookies in sacks, with 5. Among rookie LBs, the closest to him had 2 sacks. Among rookies, Xavier Walls once again led, this time in tackles for loss, the next closest rookie had 3 tackles for loss. His 7 tackles for loss was also good enough to be tied for 6th in the league. And now for what really sets him apart from the rest of the rookie class, his tackles. Xavier Walls finished the season with 105 tackles, second place among rookies had 73. Xavier Walls' 105 tackles had him finish tied for 11th in the league, and just 9 tackles behind the 4 way tie for 1st.
The Philadelphia Liberty rookie class was incredible across the board when compared to other rookie classes, now lets take a look at other rookie classes, to see just how much better Philadelphia's was.
Baltimore's rookie safety had the second most tackles among all rookies, the third most passes defended among all rookies, 5th most sacks among all rookies, and an interception. A great rookie campaign, but Romulus Roman's was better.
San Jose's rookie CB had the most tackles among rookie CBs, a forced fumble, the most sacks among rookie CBs with 3 (how did this happen?), and not even one fifth of C.J. Sonjack's passes defended.
And I know its unfair to compare any rookie LBs to Xavier Walls, but I have to do it. Arizona's rookie LB had 30 tackles which was second among rookie, LBs. He also had 2 tackles for loss, tied for 3rd among all rookies. He also had a forced fumble. He had 2 sacks, and 2 passes defended. Xavier Walls had significantly better stats in all categories when compared to Arizona's rookie LB.
Among rookies Philadelphia finished:
Tackles: 1st, 3rd, 6th
Tackles for loss: 1st, 5th
Forced fumbles: 1st(tied)
Sacks: 2nd, 3rd
Interceptions: 1st
Passes defended: 1st, 2nd, 5th
Philadelphia had an absolutely incredible rookie class on defense, being 1st in the league among rookies in every category except for sacks, where they were 2nd and 3rd despite neither of them being designated pass rushers. Philadelphia also got a solid contributor on offense who looks to expand their role in the future.
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