Across the Shield: Former Bucks Put Up 52 Combined Points, Kurt Coleman Finds Pay Dirt & Ezekiel Elliott Leads NFL in Rushing

By Kevin Harrish on October 3, 2016 at 10:10 am
Ezekiel Elliott leads the NFL in rushing.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
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Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye. Across the Shield follows those who once wore Scarlet and Gray on their journeys through the NFL.

Buckeye Takeover

Former Buckeyes dominated the league this week, putting up a combined 52 points by way of the rushing attack, through the air, on defense and in the kicking game. An Ohio State alumni shone in almost every aspect of the game this week.

Zone-6

Three former Buckeyes caught touchdown passes this week – Michael Thomas, Philly Brown and Terrelle Pryor.

Thomas' score is quite reminiscent of what he did to corners throughout his Buckeye career – if the ball was in the air in the corner of the end-zone, it was his and he was absolutely getting his feet in bounds.

Shockingly enough, this skill-set seems to have translated to the NFL.

Brown's touchdown was also similar to the plays he used to make when he wore the Scarlet and Gray. From his familiar position in the slot, he found some space, made a man miss with his shiftiness, then found pay-dirt.

Pryor was in the news this week for the provocative words he spoke (presumably) towards Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman.

"I'm 6-5, 230,'' Pryor told Cleveland.com earlier this week. "I'm not worried about no corner talking about me. Period."

Pryor spoke big words, and backed them up. Early in the game, Pryor found space in the side of the end zone and hauled in nine-yard touchdown pass – with Norman in coverage, of course.

Pryor promptly celebrated by hitting LeBron James' signature celebration (and was rewarded with a 15-yard taunting penalty).

Running Backs Eat

Ohio State running backs Carlos Hyde and Ezekiel Elliott met for the first time in their pro careers, and the former Buckeyes stole the show.

Elliott and El Guapo combined for 212 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Hyde finished with 74 yards on 15 carries while Elliott had 138 yards on 23 carries.

With those performances, both backs currently lead the NFL in a key rushing statistic: Elliott leads the league in rushing yards on the season with 412 and Hyde tops all running backs with five rushing touchdowns.

Not bad, not bad at all.

Silver Bullets

For the first time this college football season, Ohio State's defense did not force a turnover or post defensive score this weekend. Thankfully, the former Silver Bullets pulled the extra weight on Sunday.

Cameron Heyward was quite a problem for Kansas City on Sunday night. The former Buckeye racked up six total tackles and led all players with three sacks. On top of that, Heyward forced an interception by throwing his paw in a passing lane and tipping it into the air to a waiting teammate. 

Kurt Coleman calls Heyward's forced interception and raises him and actual interception and a touchdown.

Coleman finished with six total tackles and one pick-six.

Nuge!

Out of everything you've just read, Mike Nugent's performance may have been the most impressive.

The kicker out of Centerville, Ohio was a perfect 5 for 5 on field goals and 1 for 1 on extra points, Thursday night. With 16 points, Nugent outscored six different NFL teams, including the Bengals' opponent the Dolphins, all by his lonesome.

Even more impressive, this isn't even the first time he's kicked five field goals in a game, or the second. Nugent now has three career five-field-goal games.

Nugent is now 10 for 11 on the season with his lone miss coming on a 52-yard attempt.

Do I smell Pro Bowl?

Play of the Week

Our play of the week this week is more of a moment of the week.

The play itself had relatively unimpressive results, because at the end of the day he got tackled, but Carlos Hyde made a man his son with a powerful stiff arm during Sunday afternoon's matchup with the Cowboys.

Body, meet turf.

Ohio Against the World

I didn't win, but I got very close. In fact, if I would have started Philly Brown instead of Ted Ginn, I would have tied.

Ohio Against the World

I'll admit it, when I started this team I did not expect to win a game or really even come close. But now after back-to-back games where I had a legitimate chance to win, I've realized winning a game is completely possible.

If you were to get any points at all from the quarterback position, this is a respectable fantasy team that would compete in many leagues.

Buckeyes in the NFL: Week Four
Player Position Team Stats
Cardale Jones QB Buffalo Bills DNP
Adolphus Washington DT Buffalo Bills Played but did not generate stats
Philly Brown WR Carolina Panthers 5 catches for 48 yards and a touchdown
Kurt Coleman S Carolina Panthers 6 total tackles and 1 interception returned for a touchdown
Ted Ginn Jr. WR Carolina Panthers 2 catches for 14 yards
Andrew Norwell OL Carolina Panthers Started
Mike Adams OL Chicago Bears DNP
Mike Nugent K Cincinnati Bengals 5 for 5 from field goals, 1 for 1 from extra points
Terrelle Pryor WR Cleveland Browns 5 catches for 46 yards and a touchdown
Ezekiel Elliott RB Dallas Cowboys 23 carries for 138 yards and a touchdown, 1 reception for 19 yards
Rod Smith RB Dallas Cowboys Played on special teams
Jeff Heuerman TE Denver Broncos 1 catch for 19 yards
Bradley Roby CB Denver Broncos 2 total tackles
Taylor Decker OL Detroit Lions Started
Corey Linsley *** OL Green Bay Packers DNP
Braxton Miller WR Houston Texans DNP
John Simon LB Houston Texans 3 total tackles
Jack Mewhort OL Indianapolis Colts Started
Michael Bennett *** DT Jacksonville Jaguars DNP
Jake McQuaide LS Los Angeles Rams Started
Alex Boone OL Minnesota Vikings Monday Night
Nate Ebner DB New England Patriots 1 total tackle
Vonn Bell S New Orleans Saints 6 total tackles
James Laurinaitis LB New Orleans Saints DNP
Michael Thomas WR New Orleans Saints 4 catches for 44 yards and a touchdown
Eli Apple CB New York Giants Monday Night
Johnathan Hankins DT New York Giants Monday Night
Darron Lee LB New York Jets Led team with 7 total tackles
Nick Mangold C New York Jets Started
Jalin Marshall WR New York Jets DNP
Devin Smith *** WR New York Jets DNP
Malcolm Jenkins S Philadelphia Eagles BYE
Cameron Heyward DE Pittsburgh Steelers 6 total tackles, 3 sacks and a tipped pass resulting in an interception
Ryan Shazier LB Pittsburgh Steelers DNP
Joey Bosa DE San Diego Chargers DNP
Joshua Perry LB San Diego Chargers 3 total tackles
Carlos Hyde RB San Francisco 49ers 15 rushes for 74 yards and a touchdown, 1 catch for 5 yards
Tyvis Powell S Seattle Seahawks Played, did not generate stats
Nick Vannett TE Seattle Seahawks DNP

***Player listed as "Injured/Physically Unable to Perform"

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