Buckeyes in the NFL, Week 14: Another Stellar Week for Buckeyes on the Undefeated Panthers

By looking at this photo, you probably assumed Ted Ginn dropped that ball. 

Yes, he has issues bringing in catchable passes – particularly near the end zone. He was a first round pick who dropped passes without the accompanying explosive plays when he played for the Dolphins, 49ers and Cardinals. 

Miami fans are particularly salty towards Ginn because the Dolphins took him at No. 9 overall and he didn't live up to the expectations that come with being a top 10 pick. His mistakes inspired one Dolphins fan to make this video:

One thing Ginn catches is a lot of flak. Yet, his catch rate – the percentage of passes to a receiver completed – is similar to some of the best receivers in the league. According to Football Outsiders, his catch rate this season is 45 percent, which is among the worst in the league. However, Mike Evans, Martavis Bryant, T.Y. Hilton and Dez Bryant's catch rates are only slightly higher. They certainly don't have the same reputation for dropping passes as Ginn does.

In 2015, Ginn has more touchdowns than all of them and is among the top 10 in the league in TD receptions. He's the definition of a boom or bust player, but Carolina fans can live with the drops when he continues to make plays otherwise.

He hauled in two more touchdowns, Sunday, including this tough grab along the sidelines: 

This 74-yard touchdown catch from Ted Ginn Jr. gives Carolina a 14–0 lead over the Falcons. pic.twitter.com/0eeEudaZ6W

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) December 13, 2015

Boone, Hartline, Smith Suffer Significant INjuries

Sunday did not go as well for Buckeyes who don't play for the Panthers. Late-seaosn injuries continue to decimate the list of former Ohio State players in the NFL.

During the week, the 49ers finally placed Carlos Hyde on injured reserve. Hyde fought through stress fractures in his foot early in the season but hadn't played since Oct. 22 against Seattle. 

Teammate Alex Boone left San Francisco's week 14 game against Cleveland after injuring his right knee. He will undergo an MRI today, and if he is unable to suit up again this season, it may be his last with the 49ers. Boone is a free agent after this season.

In the same game, Browns receiver Brian Hartline broke his collarbone and head coach Mike Pettine ruled him out for the season. Hartline started to break out towards the end of his first season with his hometown team, catching eight passes in each of the last three games. 

Lastly, Devin Smith might also be done for the year. He was carted off the field, unable to put any weight on his knee after covering a punt. Smith will also undergo an MRI, today. The Jets rookie recently recovered from the broken ribs suffered during training camp and the team finally felt like he was making progress at receiver.

Play of the Week

I might as well rename this section of the article in honor of Kurt Coleman. For the fifth straight game, Coleman picked off a pass. He now has seven interceptions on the season, one behind Bengals safety Reggie Nelson. 

This pick wasn't particularly important to the game's outcome and the opposing quarterback was Sean Renfree, throwing his first passes in his third year in the NFL. Still, it's worth watching because of Coleman's streak:

.@CatScratchReadr @STalkPanthers @PanthersProwlSB @CarPanthersNews 5 games in a row for @k4coleman. #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/2RHYJymTBa

— Derek (@DTang0426) December 13, 2015

How They Fared in Week 14