Onwenu Makes The Athletic's All-Rookie Team
Michael Onwenu was chosen as part of The Athletic's All-Rookie Team for the NFL season...as a tackle.
Here's what they say about him:
"Runner-up: Michael Onwenu, New England Patriots (6th round, No. 182 overall)
As the president of the Jedrick Wills fan club, I wanted to go with the Browns’ impressive left tackle, but he leads all rookies in penalties (11) this season, something he needs to clean up moving forward. The Jets have several unsettled positions on the depth chart, but left tackle is not one of them and Mekhi Becton is another logical choice here. But Onwenu was the steal of the 2020 NFL Draft and has surprised even Bill Belichick with the way he performed this season.
The Patriots drafted Onwenu to be a back-up guard as a rookie, but he was pressed into action from the get-go, initially at guard before kicking out to right tackle, starting 12 games on the outside. Although his best long-term position might be returning to guard, Onwenu developed quickly at tackle with his light feet, brute power and smooth movements. His quick adjustment to the pro game gives New England flexibility with how they address their offensive line needs this offseason."
DPJ and Uche were listed as honorable mention at their positions.
The Athletic is great, and you should subscribe if you're able.
Link: https://theathletic.com/2302577/2021/01/05/nfl-all-rookie-team-2020/
January 5th, 2021 at 9:47 AM ^
The athletic is okay but definitely not worth the price unless you can get some kind of deal
January 5th, 2021 at 10:13 AM ^
Exactly. I have a free subscription because of my T-Mobile contract, but it's just OK.
January 5th, 2021 at 10:16 AM ^
If your primary focus is Michigan football, I can see that point (especially because the content Brian, Seth, and Co provide here sets a high bar). But between Brendan Quinn for Michigan basketball, Chris Burke for the Lions, Cody Stavenhagen for the Tigers and Max Bultman for the Red Wings on the local beat, and then having a whole slew of national writers for whatever is relevant to you (Robert Mays, Sean McIndoe, Paul Tenorio, Chantel Jennings, Pierre LeBrun, Sam Stejskal, Meg Linehan, and Jake Ciely for me); it's difficult to find that level of both local and national coverage performed at such a high level (don't get me started on the beat writers for the News and Freep).
The Pistons/NBA coverage are the only ones I find to be truly sub-par, but I don't know if that's only because Pistons apologist and Spartan/DCFC slappy James Edwards III is running the show.
January 5th, 2021 at 10:53 AM ^
I was going to say the same thing. M football's basically covered here in such depth and the Athletic writers for M football seem basically replacement level that there's no much value added, but Quinn is so good on the basketball beat that he's worth the price alone IMO. Add in at least beat coverage for most any other team one might follow and it feels worth it (though I'm still on a $1/month special).
And if you care about national perspective stories, it's essentially the only place now that SI's been gutted (or you're paying either the Athletic or ESPN now that they've put writers like Zach Lowe and Bill Barnwell behind their paywall).
January 5th, 2021 at 11:10 AM ^
Yeah, plus considering the Freep and News have also moved to partial paywall systems, you're going to pay for content regardless, so it might as well be good content.
January 5th, 2021 at 3:25 PM ^
I like every team you mention, with the Tigers being my favorite out of the group, and it's still crickets so far. To be fair to the Athletic, none of those teams have given anyone any reason to write anything interesting.
January 5th, 2021 at 10:06 AM ^
He also made its separate list of top overall performers...
https://theathletic.com/2300854/2021/01/05/nfl-best-players-aaron-rodgers/
January 5th, 2021 at 10:12 AM ^
Another Michigan sixth round steal by the Patriots!
January 5th, 2021 at 10:14 AM ^
I'm really impressed by Onwenu this season; I saw the Pats a couple of times and he was one of the few bright spots.
January 5th, 2021 at 11:02 AM ^
Goes to show, there is plenty of top talent in Detroit, and Ohio, that we refocus locally... seems so much energy is made out west and they never pan out, or its a net negative that they do come, then get homesick and leave, leaving a hole late in game. Guys like Asiasi and Crawford, etc. It is ok to get an outsider now and again, but the payoff isn't happening, whereas the return on the Midwest guys just seems higher, and less likely to leave. Am I wrong ? Only guy seemed to pan out were David Long, and maybe Magnuson with Hoke... but then think of Asiasi, Crawford, McDoom, McCaffrey, Fox (hurt), the time wasted on Viramontes... maybe I'm delusional, but I'd rather us truly lock our state down... we have lost a ton of talent to PSU and the SEC and OSU.
January 5th, 2021 at 11:15 AM ^
Michael Onwenu was the composite #87 player in the country (#36 to 247), and the #1 player in the state of MI. Any time Michigan has an opportunity with a guy like that, whether he is in Michigan, Ohio, or Timbuktu, we take it.
January 5th, 2021 at 11:58 AM ^
Prior to the NFL, Mike Onwenu spent his entire football life playing right under the noses of the Detroit Lions.
The Lions had several opportunities to draft him, including with their 5th round pick, #172 overall.
Nah, let's not. With that pick, they drafted RB Jason Huntley out of New Mexico State.
The Patriots selected Onwenu with their 6th round pick, #182 overall.
The Lions cut Huntley at the end of training camp.
January 5th, 2021 at 2:20 PM ^
Eh, that's true, but they had already taken 2 IOL at that point in the draft. The better comparison is the Logan Stenberg pick in the 4th round, as he plays the same position as Onwenu and was so poor he didn't have an offensive snap the entire season (7 special teams snaps in Weeks 13 and 14).