Across the Shield: Michael Thomas Goes Off, Joey Bosa Lives the Shrug Life & Donte Whitner Makes a Comeback

By Kevin Harrish on October 24, 2016 at 10:10 am
Bosa hits the shrug.
Brett Davis-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.

#Shhhhh

While the current Buckeye receivers struggled to get any separation Saturday night, Michael Thomas was absolutely unguardable on Sunday (hence the Twitter handle @cantguardmike).

Thomas had his his first career 100-yard performance in the Saints' game against the Chiefs. He had 10 receptions for 130 yards on 13 targets – all career highs for the former Buckeye.

"If my number's called, I'm going to make the play," Thomas said after the game.

Saints head coach Sean Payton said he was going to contribute early, and he wasn't wrong. On the season, Thomas has 36 catches for 437 yards, good for second and third among rookies, respectively.

"He's getting better and better," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. "(We're) continuing to open the playbook for him and find ways to utilize him."

Shrug Life

San Diego seems to have made a wise choice in drafting Joey Bosa third overall.

Saturday, Bosa's two sack performance helped lift the Chargers past the Falcons 33-30 in overtime.

Through just three games, Bosa already has 11 tackles, four sacks and five tackles for a loss. But even those incredible numbers don't paint an accurate picture of just how dominant he's been when he's on the field. 

Bosa has 20 quarterback pressures so far this season; only 23 other edge rushers have more. Here's the thing – he's only played in three games on 25 percent of the Chargers' defensive snaps. To put up those sorts of numbers on such few opportunities, he'd have to be in the backfield basically every snap he plays – and he is.

His two sacks against Atlanta gives him two multi-sack performances in three games. Basically, Bosa has turned in multi-sack games twice as often as he hasn't, which is good. 

Could former Ohio State roommates Ezekiel Elliott and Joey Bosa sweep the NFL Rookie of the Year Awards this season? It seems like we're heading swiftly in that direction.

Hitner Returns

Donte Whitner started the season as a free-agent and many presumed the former Buckeye had played his last down in an NFL uniform. Last week, however, the Washington Redskins added the hard-hitting safety to their roster giving his career new life.

Whitner didn't make much impact in his 2016 debut last week, recording just four total tackles. Sunday, however, he played heavy minutes in the Redskins' game against the Lions and led the team in total tackles with eight.

A couple of practice videos show that he hasn't lost a step in coverage, either.

31 years old and still making plays – tip of the cap to Hitner.

Play of the Week

With so many Buckeyes on bye weeks and out with injuries, there really is no play of the week this week. However, you won't go away totally empty handed! Instead, I give you a fantastic picture of Terrelle Pryor in a suit:

As well as Ezekiel Elliott being a quality human being:

If this doesn't satisfy you, I do apologize and will forward your complaint on to all of the former Buckeyes who active on NFL rosters this coming week.

Ohio Against the World

Last week, I warned you this wasn't going to be pretty – I was right.

The Cowboys were off this week along with the Panthers, Carlos Hyde was out with an injury and Terrelle Pryor was limited with a hamstring injury. 

Week 7

I maintain that I'm going to win a game this season, it was just never going to be this week (barring a 42-point performance from Braxton Miller, of course). 

Buckeyes in the NFL: Week Seven
Player Position Team Stats
AJ Hawk LB Atlanta Falcons DNP
Cardale Jones QB Buffalo Bills DNP
Adolphus Washington DT Buffalo Bills Played, did not generate stats
Philly Brown WR Carolina Panthers BYE
Kurt Coleman S Carolina Panthers BYE
Ted Ginn Jr. WR Carolina Panthers BYE
Andrew Norwell OL Carolina Panthers BYE
Mike Adams OL Chicago Bears DNP
Mike Nugent K Cincinnati Bengals 1 for 3 from field goals, 4 for 4 on extra points
Terrelle Pryor WR Cleveland Browns 2 catches for 18 yards
Ezekiel Elliott RB Dallas Cowboys BYE
Rod Smith RB Dallas Cowboys BYE
Jeff Heuerman TE Denver Broncos Monday Night
Bradley Roby CB Denver Broncos Monday Night
Taylor Decker OL Detroit Lions Started
Corey Linsley *** OL Green Bay Packers BYE
Braxton Miller WR Houston Texans Monday Night
John Simon LB Houston Texans Monday Night
Jack Mewhort OL Indianapolis Colts Started
Michael Bennett *** DT Jacksonville Jaguars DNP
Jake McQuaide LS Los Angeles Rams Started
Alex Boone OL Minnesota Vikings Started
Nate Ebner DB New England Patriots 1 total tackle
Vonn Bell S New Orleans Saints 4 total tackles
James Laurinaitis LB New Orleans Saints DNP
Michael Thomas WR New Orleans Saints 10 receptions for 130 yards, 1 total tackle
Eli Apple CB New York Giants 3 total tackles
Johnathan Hankins DT New York Giants 2 total tackles, 1 tackle for a loss
Darron Lee LB New York Jets DNP
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 4 total tackles, one fumble recovery
Cameron Heyward DE Pittsburgh Steelers DNP
Ryan Shazier LB Pittsburgh Steelers 2 total tackles
Joey Bosa DE San Diego Chargers 5 total tackles, 2 sacks
Joshua Perry LB San Diego Chargers 1 total tackle
Carlos Hyde RB San Francisco 49ers DNP
Tyvis Powell S Seattle Seahawks DNP
Nick Vannett TE Seattle Seahawks Played but did not generate stats
Donte Whitner S Washington Redskins 8 total tackles

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

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