rookies: the good and the bad

Everyone loves rookie quarterbacks. The only predictable thing about rookie quarterbacks is that they will be unpredictable. A year ago, Cam Newton was the most amazing thing the league has ever seen. In 2012 after seven weeks, Robert Griffin III was the greatest rookie quarterback we’ve ever seen. The next week it was Ryan Tannehill who would lead the Dolphins to the playoffs. A week later, Andrew Luck is the second coming of Peyton Manning. Next is Russell Wilson is unbeatable at home and Nick Foles is the answer in Philadelphia.

And now, Week 11, RG3 is once again the main story.

On Sunday, Robert Griffin III had one of the most impressive and efficient games any quarterback has ever had. Taking advantage of an Eagles team that has now lost 7 in a row and recently fired their defensive coordinator, RG3 had a near perfect day. He completed 14 of 15 passes for 200 yards (13.3 yards per pass attempt) and four touchdowns for a perfect quarterback rating of 158.3. Those 14 completions went to 9 different receivers, and the four touchdowns came in all four quarters. He also ran 12 times for 84 yards, a tidy 7 yards per carry. The Redskins whooped the Eagles 31-6.

On the flip side, Eagles fans finally got what they wished for as rookie Nick Foles started in place of an injured Michael Vick but the results were not different. Foles was sacked four times, fumbled three times, and threw two interceptions as the Eagles had their worst game of the season.

Meanwhile, we’ve been hearing a whole the last few years about how poor the Patriots’ defense is and everybody is in love with Andrew Luck. But the Pats D sure made Luck look bad this week. The rookie sensation had three interceptions, two returned for touchdowns, and got strip-sacked for a fumble. The Colts lost by 35 points.

Another rookie, Ryan Tannehill, is in a part of the schedule that looked like Christmas for anybody else in the league: a 3-game winning streak and consecutive games against the Colts, Titans and Bills, three of the worst defenses in the NFL. Unfortunately for him and the Dolphins, it has turned into the best week for each of those defenses. After getting shellacked by the Titans 37-3, the Dolphins lost in Buffalo 19-14. Tannehill completed just 50 percent of his passes, was intercepted twice and sacked 3 times. He has now had a quarterback rating under 51 in five games this season.

As for Russell Wilson, he had a bye week. He may have a 5-0 home record but his next two games are on the road, in Miami 3300 miles away from friendly Seattle followed by a trip to Chicago to face those bad news Bears. Check back in a couple weeks.