Buckeye NFLer of the Week: 8
A career day for the former Tarblooder.It was an exciting week in the NFL for the former Buckeyes, as a couple of players returned from injuries and Antonio Pittman saw his first extended action of the season.
Although his stats weren’t stellar, Joey Galloway returned from his foot injury to catch 3 passes for 28 yards in Tampa’s loss to Dallas, dropping them one game behind Carolina atop the division. The Panthers pulled off a 27-24 home win against Arizona after trailing by 14 in the third quarter. Chris Gamble again lead Carolina with 8 tackles, but their defense gave up 391 yards passing in the contest.
Troy Smith finally is healthy enough to see some action and it looks as if Baltimore is going to use him as a change of pace QB. Smith ran 3 times for 13 yards and completed one pass for 43 yards, on perhaps the most exciting play of the day.
In the 3rd quarter, on 2nd and 8, Smith took a toss from Joe Flacco and completed a 43 yarder back to Flacco, helping set up a field goal. The 29-10 victory pulled the Ravens within a game of the Steelers and it will be interesting to see how Smith is used within the offense.
As mentioned, my man Antonio Pittman got the start for the injured Steven Jackson in St. Louis’s 23-16 loss at New England. Pittman rushed 19 times for 83 yards and caught 3 passes for 22 more yards, all numbers were career highs. Jackson’s injury doesn’t appear to be too serious, but perhaps this performance will give Jim Haslett a bit more confidence in Pittman.
This is the paragraph I usually write about Santonio Holmes, but since he decided to drive around smoking the chronic, he didn’t suit up this week. Seriously though, when are athletes going to learn to just stay home if you are going to do something stupid. It has yet to be announced what type of further discipline Holmes will receive, but with two prior situations, he may be out for a few more games.
When it was all said and done, this week’s award was an easy choice and this time, he deserved it. Ted Ginn becomes the first two time winner of the Buckeye NFLer of the week in 2008. Of course, I took some heat last time he won (rightfully so) and he followed up that winning performance with a 1 catch for -1 yard game, so I thought all may have been lost for Teddy Ballgame.
However, he exploded for 7 catches totaling 175 yards, to lead all NFL receivers Sunday in Miami’s 25-16 upset of Buffalo. Ginn caught a 46 yarder on Miami’s first play and added a 64 yard catch and run (ironically caught by Donte Whitner) on their first play of the second half. Coming into the game, Teddy had just 177 receiving yards on the season and the 7 receptions matched his career high.
Nice to see Ginn do something productive
I am nostalgic for 2006. A girlfriend, a better economy, and a great OSU team to watch. Ugghhh
Im nostalgic too….for a Buckeye touchdown
That was cool to see Ginn try to put on the breaks to evade his old high school teammate Whitner.
Nice to see the Glenville alums making some nosie.
Its snowing out already here in NY! WTF!?
Getting a little bit of snow up here in Cleveland, too.
As I sit here at work not working, I decided to check out ESPN’s scouting reports on OSU’s recruits for 08 and 07.
Boom Herron was ranked worse than Saine… besides that, the reports were pretty much spot on. Boom is a bruiser, strictly a downhill, between-tackles runner that will run right over you but doesn’t have that second gear that can get him big yards. He’s a workhorse.
Saine’s analysis was spot on. “As much as you like his physical style and excellent speed, he is not very elusive or sudden. He just isn’t a very fluid athlete. He is straight lined and isn’t going to put two or three moves together in space to create big plays. Lacks the lateral mobility to consistently exploit cutback lanes.” SO true.
Flash - “He is a speedy glider who is extremely light on his feet and demonstrates oustanding elusiveness. He’s a versatile running back prospect with home-run potential as a runner, receiver and return specialist. A slashing back with good vision and quickness. Shows good initial burst when he hits the hole. He has great change-of-direction abilities, vison is excellent and does a tremendous job of making tacklers miss.” Again why was he not starter for returns?
Where is Taurian Washington? Devon Torrence?
Great throw by Troy. Good to see his throat/tonsils/whatever didn’t knock him out for the year.
Second that on Troy’s throw….I love that little foot shuffle he does right before he plants his feet for a long throw. Brings back great memories–fake to Beanie going over the top of the pile, flip back around over the top to Ted Ginn in the endzone. Sigh.
Watching Ginn play makes me long for ‘06 as well. AHH to have a player that stretches the field out…
Santonio Holmes for Buckeye NFL’er of the week, even when he’s not on the field, he evidently knows where he can score. :P
Oden looks like shit. He shouldn’t be playing right now. He needs to drop atleast 20lbs.
You can’t stretch the field if you don’t throw down field. The dolphins just started throwing him the ball last week. The must of read my comment last week.