Wolverines in the NFL - A weekly update (Week 2)

Submitted by Butterfield on

Perhaps our NFL alums let the Akron game malaise affect their play on Sunday, but there weren't a whole lot of great Wolverine performances in the NFL this week.  As such, Roger Sterling has gone against the grain and elected a placekicker with the week 2 award. 

WOLVERINE OF THE WEEK (Team must win to qualify):

Jay Feely (PK - Arizona)– Feely was a perfect 4/4 on field goals, leading the Cardinals to a 25-21 win against the Lions.  Jay hit from 47 in the first half, and from 23, 43, and 33 in the second, as Arizona kept relying on their kicker to bail them out after having a hard time finding paydirt.  Jay and his leg will take on the Saints next week. 

Wolverine of the Week Standings:  (T1) David Harris - Week 1 v. TB, Jay Feely - Week 2 v. DET

EVERYONE ELSE:

Jason Avant (WR - Philadelphia) – Jason caught four Michael Vick passes for 39 yards (long of 21) in the Eagles wild 33-30 home loss to the Chargers.  Avant was targeted 7 times in all on a day when Vick eclipsed the 400 yard passing mark.  Unfortunately the record books will show him as having lost a fumble in this contest; in actuality, his “fumble” was an incomplete lateral during Philly’s unsuccessful Yakety Sax rendition of “Pitch it to Breaston” with no time remaining.    Jason will get some national tick against the Chiefs on Thursday night. 

David Baas (Center - NYG) -Baas was back in the lineup, starting at center for the G-Men, after sitting out week 1 with an MCL sprain.  David’s unit allowed only one Denver sack as Eli Manning racked up 362 passing yards, but could not open up any holes in the run game – the Giants totaled a mere 23 yards rushing on the day.  The Giants travel to Carolina in Week 3. 

Tom Brady (QB - New England) - It was another struggle for Tom, who completed under 50 percent of his passes (19/39) for only 189 yards and one touchdown, a 39 yard strike to Aaron Dobson.  Julien Edelmen was targeted a whopping 18 times, hauling in 13, but for only 78 yards.  Brady’s YPA of 4.74 has to be amongst the lowest in his career.   Even so, the Pats beat the Jets 13-10 and move to 2-0 on the young season.  It won’t be easy for Tom in Week 3; Revis Island travels to Foxborough this Sunday.   

Alan Branch (DT - Buffalo) - After being shut out in the box score last week, Alan, now a backup, did not post any statistics in the Bills Week 2 win over Carolina.  Branch will enter Week 3 in search of his first numbers as the Bills play the Jets at the Meadowlands.   

Will Campbell (OG - NYJ) –Like many of his 6th round brethren, BWC was inactive in the Jets 13-10 loss to the Patriots.  The Jets host the Bills in Week 3. 

Jonathan Goodwin (Center - SF) –It was a day to forget for Jon and the rest of his 49er teammates, as they got eaten alive by Seattle 29-3 on Sunday Night Football.  Goodwin’s OL unit helped (hindered?) an offense that produced only 207 total yards and allowed 3 sacks.  Jon should have it easier this week, as the Niners take on the Colts at Candlestick. 

Brandon Graham (DE/OLB - Philadelphia) -Brandon played primarily on special teams and accumulated no stats in the Eagles loss to the Chargers.  Two weeks in, he appears to be buried on Chip Kelly’s OLB depth chart.  Watch him block on kickoffs and punts this Thursday against the Chiefs.   

Leon Hall ( CB - Cincinnati) – Leon registered 5 tackles and 1 pass breakup in the Bengals 20-10 domination of the lowly Pittsburgh Steelers.  The challenge gets significantly tougher in Week 3, as Hall and the Bengals secondary will be asked to stop Aaron Rodgers and the Packers high flying aerial attack. 

David Harris (LB - NYJ) - David registered 7 tackles, one for a loss, in the Jets 13-10 defeat at the hands of New England.  Harris and the Jets D limited New England to 234 offensive yards, a very nice showing hurt by the Jets turnover prone offense.  David will have a shot at the elusive CJ Spiller and impressive EJ Manuel in a Week 3 home matchup with the Bills. 

Junior Hemingway (WR - Kansas City)– A week after hauling in a TD on his only catch in the opening game, Junior made the most of his single target by Alex Smith, hauling in the reception for a gain of 10 yards.  The surprising Chiefs defeated the Cowboys 17-16.   Watch as Hemingway looks to add to his totals against the Eagles on Thursday Night Football. 

Chad Henne (QB - Jacksonville) – Starting in place of an injured and ineffective Blaine Gabbert, Chad was 25/38 for 241 yards, no INTs, and a touchdown in the Jaguars 19-9 loss at Oakland.   Henne’s 92.1 QB rating was 3 times better than Gabbert’s rating in Week 1 – but will it be enough to earn him the starting job on a permanent basis?  While the HC is non-committal, rumors are that Henne will be the starter this week.  Can Chad survive behind Jacksonville’s putrid line that allowed 5 sacks to the Raiders?  Tune in this week as Jacksonville takes on (gulp) Seattle.

Tim Jamison (DE - Houston) - Timmy was inactive in the Texans overtime win against Tennessee.  He was listed on the injury report as probable with a foot ailment – either that injury worsened over the weekend or it was a coach’s decision.   The Texans travel to Baltimore for a Week 3 faceoff against the Ravens. 

Jake Long (OT - St Louis)-  Jake started at LT for St. Louis in the Rams 31-24 road loss to the Atlanta Falcons.  Through two weeks, Long and his linemates have yet to allow a sack; given how badly Sam Bradford had been beaten up the last few seasons, you’d have to attribute much of that improvement to Jake himself.  While the passing game seems to be clicking on all cylinders (360+ passing yards), the run game has struggled each of the first two weeks (<70 rush yards).  They’ll try to improve the balance this week against Dallas. 

Mike Martin (DT - Tennessee) – In his backup role, Mike didn’t register any stats in the Titans overtime loss to the Texans.  He’ll face off against the Chargers in Week 3.   

Zoltan Mesko (P - Pittsburgh)– The Space Emperor’s leg may wear out given the horrific state of the Steeler offense.  Mesko punted 7 times in the Monday night contest against Cincinnati, for a net of 42.7 yards.  He didn’t punt a ball inside the Bengal 20 or into the end zone for a touchback a single time, which tells you he was punting from deep in his own end the whole day.  Zoltan’s Steelers host the Bears on Sunday Night Football. 

Denard Robinson (RB - Jacksonville) – Denard was given 1 carry against the Raiders and wasn’t able to do anything with it, being stopped for no gain.  Through 2 games (3 carries for 1 yard, 0.333 avg.), it’s safe to say that Shoelace can’t singlehandedly solve the Jaguars’ woes.  This isn’t so much of an indictment on Robinson as it is Jacksonville’s run blocking – no running back on the roster (Jones-Drew, Todman, Burton) exceeded a 2.7 ypc this past week.  Hopefully Denard gets the flu rather than taking on the Seahawks devastating defense. 

LaMarr Woodley (LB - Pittsburgh) – Woodley had 3 tackles and led the Steelers with 2 hits on Cincinnati QB Andy Dalton in Pittsburgh’s 20-10 loss.  The once feared Steeler defense is a shadow of its former self, allowing over 400 total yards to the Bengals.  Next up for LaMarr’s Steelers are the Chicago Bears on Sunday Night Football. 

Charles Woodson (S - Oakland) –Charles led the  Raiders in tackles, with 6, as they toppled the Jaguars 19-9.  He’s still looking for his first INT or forced fumble of the year, a Woodson specialty.  Perhaps he’ll get one this week as the Raiders take on Payton Manning and the Broncos on Monday Night. 

WOUNDED WOLVERINES:

Stevie Brown (S - NYG) – A torn ACL has knocked Stevie out for the year.   

Larry Foote ( LB - Pittsburgh)– With a ruptured bicep suffered in week 1, Larry’s long NFL career may have taken its final bow. 

Mario Manningham (WR - San Francisco)- Mario started the season on the PUP list with an injured knee and is not eligible to return to the active roster until Week 7. 

Jonas Mouton (LB - San Diego)- Jonas is out for the year with a torn ACL.   

Comments

Baldbill

September 17th, 2013 at 2:13 PM ^

I can't say as I am happy for Mr. Feely...I would love to see the Lions have a couple of winning seasons...only it never happens...guys regularly seem to have their best games against Detroit...<sigh> they are the Charlie Brown of the NFL.

Not that I am mad at Mr. Feely, just wishing he hadn't done so well this past week. He can boot the heck out of it any other week and I would be happy.

 

mGrowOld

September 17th, 2013 at 2:54 PM ^

What on earth happend to Brandon Graham?  Hard to imagine a fall from grace that far without something else going on behind the scenes.  Is he injured, playing out of position or what?

I like these too btw. Thanks Butterfield.