Rookie Report Card: Tre Mason and Donte Moncrief
I’ve decided to put my own spin on the concept of a rookie report card this year. The Rookie Report Card is exactly what it sounds like, a report card.
Not only will I cover my expectations for the player coming into the league and how he’s performed at the NFL level to this point, I’ll actually give him a grade in three categories. Those categories are performance to date, 2014 potential and long term upside. Each week I’ll cover at least two rookies and try to always include the biggest performers from that particular week.
The series continues with a closer look at two of the biggest performers in fantasy football from week 13 –Â Tre Mason and Donte Moncrief.
Tre Mason, RB STL
Week 13 Stats: 14 carries, 117 rushing yards, two touchdowns, three receptions, 47 receiving yards, one touchdown
Season Stats: 122 carries, 562 rushing yards, three touchdowns, 12 receptions, 112 receiving yards, one touchdown
Coming out of Auburn, I was a big fan of Mason and thought he had the potential to become the best tailback out of this running back class. To this point in his rookie year, he hasn’t disappointed.
While at Auburn, Mason had his biggest games when facing some of the toughest competition in the country in the SEC. Depended on to be a full-time runner in his final year with the Tigers, he carried the ball 317 times for 1,816 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior. Running low to the ground, he showed excellent burst through the line of scrimmage on most of his carries and an incredible ability to completely change direction with a jump cut and accelerate to full speed in a blink.
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At the second level, Mason displayed great moves to elude tacklers. He routinely showed an excellent spin move when taking contact and regularly bounced off tackles, keeping his balance to gain extra yardage. He also showed great drive around the goal line, always fighting for the score or hitting that extra gear in a race for the pylon.
On top of Mason’s credentials as a ball carrier, he was also very proficient as a pass protector which is rare for a college prospect. Always willing to go head-to-head against a blitzing linebacker, he held his ground and rarely was overpowered even though he regularly gave up 20 or more pounds to pass rushers.
Although he was an impressive prospect, like all college players Mason had his flaws. As I mentioned earlier, he had some of his biggest games against the best competition in college, but he also played down to his competition from time-to-time. There were times when Mason looked disinterested in running between the tackles when there wasn’t a gaping hole, instead side stepping in the backfield and taking a loss rather than getting up field to make positive yardage. He also struggled with fumbles at times and wasn’t regularly used as a receiver while at Auburn which led many to wonder if he had the skills to be a useful pass catcher at the next level.
When the Rams chose to make Mason inactive for the first five weeks of the season despite very average production from their running game, many wondered if he had found his way into Jeff Fisher’s dog house or simply wasn’t picking up St. Louis’ playbook fast enough. Those worries are long gone now, however.
Since becoming part of the Rams’ game plan in week five, Mason has accounted for 674 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns. Averaging 4.6 yards per carry while touching the ball at least 14 times in six of his eight games, he’s easily been the most explosive tailback on St. Louis’ roster and has been the most dynamic offensive player for the Rams. Those skills were on display in week 13 against the Raiders.
On St. Louis’ first drive he took a screen pass to the right and didn’t even need his lead blockers. After hauling in the pass he burst down the right sideline and made the Raiders’ defense look as if they weren’t moving. He finished by lowering his shoulder to get past the final defender and into the end zone.
Then in the second quarter from the 11-yard line Mason took the ball on a dive to the left, stuck his left foot in the ground in the backfield and cut right, blasting up the middle for an 89-yard touchdown. He pulled away with ease and was never touched.
His third score was perhaps his most impressive. On second-and-one from the eight yard line he took the ball on a dive play to the right. Instead of just plowing up the middle for a loss however, he burst off right tackle, cut up field through the hole and was met at the three yard line. Despite contact from three tacklers, he powered his way to the end zone and extended the ball to the goal line.
All-in-all, Mason was the most explosive player on the field in St. Louis on Sunday. He showed excellent vision to find the hole, attacked the line of scrimmage and finished every run with force – always powering through tacklers and falling forward for extra yardage. He also took advantage of his opportunity as a pass catcher, hauling in three of his four targets.
As the fantasy season winds down, it would be irresponsible to expect the type of production out of Mason that he posted in week 13. After all, not every defense will allow the running lanes the Raiders defense did on Sunday. With that said, there’s no reason to think he can’t continue to put up RB2 numbers especially in matchups against the Redskins (this week) and Giants (week 16.)
I entered the season thinking Mason had a chance to be a top-15 running back for dynasty owners with the potential to be top-10 if he developed a role as a pass catcher. From what I’ve seen so far in his rookie season, he’s doing just that. Many may be concerned Mason could be this year’s version of Zac Stacy and fall off in 2015, but that’s far from the case.
Pencil Mason’s name into your starting lineup for years to come. He’s not this year’s version of Stacy, but he may just be this year’s version of Andre Ellington instead.
| Rookie Report Card | ||
| Player: Tre Mason | ||
| Performance To Date | 2014 Potential | Long Term Upside |
| B | B+ | A |
Donte Moncrief, WR IND
Week 13 Stats: three receptions, 134 yards, two touchdowns, one carry, six rushing yards
Season Stats: 24 receptions, 390 yards, three touchdowns, three carries, 17 rushing yards
Moncrief played just three seasons at Mississippi and never had a 1,000-yard campaign or a year with more than 66 catches. He also had a dip in production from his sophomore to junior seasons. Like many, despite those things I held Moncrief in high regard during draft season. And like many, I believe his 134-yard, two touchdown performance on Sunday against the Redskins was just the tip of the iceberg.
At 6’2, 220 pounds, Moncrief displayed all the things you look for when trying to identify a future star at the position. The first thing that jumped off the screen when watching him at Mississippi is his route running. Always getting off the line of scrimmage smoothly, he immediately puts pressure on defensive backs with his quickness. When he reaches the top of his route, he pops out of his breaks and creates separation with his acceleration.
Once he gained space between himself and the defender, he showed a knack for finding the ball in the air and the ability to run under a deep pass or snatch an errant throw. On top of being so good at getting open and tracking passes, Moncrief was also proficient after the catch while in college. His 4.4-second speed shined no matter if he ran a fly pattern or crossing route.
If there was a weakness in Moncrief’s game while on campus in Oxford, it was his inability to come away with contended passes. Because of his size most would expect Moncrief to be a physical receiver who doesn’t mind making grabs in traffic or going up to make catches above his head, but that’s not the case. His biggest weaknesses are that he doesn’t play as big as his size indicates and lacks the killer instinct to sky for jump balls. He also uses his body on far too many catches which I feared would create problems on Sundays.
Since arriving in Indianapolis, Moncrief hasn’t been used a lot but has shown flashes of brilliance. In week eight against the Steelers, he hauled in seven balls for 113 yards and a touchdown while filling in for Reggie Wayne. His 31-yard score in that game came on a fly pattern where he hauled in a perfectly thrown pass over his outside shoulder along the boundary for the touchdown. Then this week, Washington couldn’t match Moncrief’s blazing speed.
On both of Moncrief’s touchdowns on Sunday, he simply blew past the defense. On the first one, the safety misjudged Moncrief’s speed and he rocketed past him for the 48-yard score. On his second one in the fourth quarter, he simply burned Phillip Thomas off the line of scrimmage in man coverage and after creating a five-yard cushion, hauled in the pass and breezed 79-yards to pay dirt.
With just a month left in the regular season, Moncrief has already locked up the number three job in Indianapolis behind T.Y. Hilton and Wayne. With Hilton being shadowed by the opposition’s top cover man each week, he should get opportunities against below average corners. Moncrief will likely be very up and down for the stretch run, but certainly has WR4 upside for those looking for big play potential.
In the long run, the sky is the limit for Moncrief in the Colts’ high octane offense. I firmly believe if he can become better in the middle of the field and at winning jump balls, his upside lies in the realm of Jordy Nelson or Antonio Brown. His route running, speed and playmaking are all reminiscent of the Packers’ and Steelers’ star receivers and his dynasty owners should keep in mind Moncrief is just 21-years old and should continue to develop his game over the next couple seasons much like Nelson and Brown did.
Dynasty owners will be doing everything they can to get their hands on Moncrief this offseason for good reason. It would take a superstar to pry him off of my roster.
| Rookie Report Card | ||
| Player: Donte Moncrief | ||
| Performance To Date | 2014 Potential | Long Term Upside |
| C- | C+ | A |
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