Last year, Pittsburgh's Cam Heyward made the leap from reserve role to starter and put together a season that created Pro Bowl expectations.
This year's version of Heyward – the honorary award for breakout Buckeye, in other words – might be Johnathan Hankins. Through five games, Hankins has 16 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
If anything, that first full sack of the season was timely. With 4:40 left and a fourth-and-one at their own 29, the Falcons decided to go for it. According to the New York Times'
"Fourth Down Bot," it wasn't a gamble, but is there an equation which can account for a dominant force, such as Hankins? If there is, Atlanta coach Mike Smith didn't have it – Hankins rumbled past Falcons left guard Harland Gunn and brought down quarterback Matt Ryan.
"That felt good," Hankins told the Asbury Park Press, following the game. "After I got the sack there was so much emotion. I was excited, so I didn’t know what to do. I was running. I was slapping myself in the head. I had (a dance) planned, but at the time, I couldn’t put it on."
Boone Publicly Backs Harbaugh
In a rare case of a Buckeye staunchly defending a Michigan Man, Alex Boone attacked those reporting on the state of the 49ers locker room.
In his weekly radio interview with The Damon Bruce Show on 95.7 The Game, Boone backed head coach Jim Harbaugh amid multiple media reports about Harbaugh's job security and dissension within his team.
"He’s a great guy, a great coach. How could you not want to win for a guy that wears cleats during a game?” Boone said. “Here’s my problem with all this: if you’re not in our locker room, then keep the 49ers name out of your mouth, because you have no idea what goes on in our locker room."
While his play hasn't been particularly inspiring this season, Boone's words have been. Check out his full comments on the "turmoil" here:
Mewhort, Ebner Battling Injuries
The injuries are starting to pile up for the Buckeyes in the NFL. Pittsburgh's Ryan Shazier missed another week due to his sprained knee and two more Buckeyes sat out Sunday.
Colts starting left guard Jack Mewhort reportedly suffered an ankle injury in last week's win over the Titans and did not play in Sunday's victory against the Ravens. He didn't participate in practice, Wednesday, and was ruled out for Sunday by head coach Chuck Pagano after practice ended.
Meanwhile, Patriots' special teams ace and utility defender Nate Ebner did not practice this week due to a finger injury. He was inactive for Sunday night's win over the Bengals.
Play of the Week
Yes, Philly Brown is still returning punts for the Panthers. Yes, he muffed another one, Sunday. It wasn't his fault, however.
While attempting to catch a punt in the first quarter, Bears gunner Teddy Williams flagrantly blasted Brown before he had a chance to field it cleanly. Urban Meyer and Mickey Marotti taught him to always bring the "juice," so Brown rose, picked up the loose football and ran it 79 yards for a touchdown (via Fansided):
How They Fared in Week Five
Player | team | position | stats/Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Mike Adams | Pittsburgh Steelers | OT | Backup left and right tackle in win over Jaguars |
Will Allen | Pittsburgh Steelers | S | 2 tackles in win over Jags |
Alex Boone | San Francisco 49ers | OL | Like last week, to rave reviews, he temporarily shifted to left tackle while Joe Staley was injured |
Philly Brown | Carolina Panthers | WR/KR/PR | 1 reception, 4 yards, 1 wild punt return for a touchdown |
Chimdi Chekwa | Oakland Raiders | CB | Raiders on bye but he didn't escape ridicule |
Kurt Coleman | Kansas City Chiefs | S | 1 tackle in loss to 49ers |
Nate Ebner | New England Patriots | DB/ST | Inactive in win over Bengals due to a finger injury |
Ted Ginn Jr. | Arizona Cardinals | WR | A couple drops and a muffed punt in loss to Broncos |
Johnathan Hankins | New York Giants | DT | 4 tackles, 2 QB hits, 1 sack in win over Falcons |
Brian Hartline | Miami Dolphins | WR | Dolphins on bye after playing in London, last week |
A.J. Hawk | Green Bay Packers | LB | 7 tackles in win over Vikings and spoke about Anthony Schlegel's hit on the Dan Patrick Show |
Boom Herron | Indianapolis Colts | RB | 1 tackle on special teams in win over Ravens |
Cameron Heyward | Pittsburgh Steelers | DE | Fined for "verbally abusing an official," last week, 1 tackle in win over Jags |
Santonio Holmes | Chicago Bears | WR | 1 reception, 6 yards, 1 fumble, 2 punt returns, 30 yards |
Carlos Hyde | San Francisco 49ers | RB | 10 carries, 43 yards in win over Chiefs |
Malcolm Jenkins | Philadelphia Eagles | S | 5 tackles and provided his thoughts on their win over St. Louis |
James Laurinaitis | St. Louis Rams | LB | 6 tackles and at a loss for words in defeat |
Corey Linsley | Green Bay Packers | C | Grading well despite Packers o-line struggles |
Nick Mangold | New York Jets | C | Nothing is going well for Jets, as they lose to Chargers |
Jake McQuaide | St. Louis Rams | LS | St. Louis is dubbed "Kick City" by a depressing group of Rams fans |
Jack Mewhort | Indianapolis Colts | OL | Inactive due to ankle injury in win over Ravens |
Andrew Norwell | Carolina Panthers | OL | Inactive again in win over Bears |
Mike Nugent | Cincinnati Bengals | K | 1 for 2 on field goals, 2 extra points in loss to Patriots |
DeVier Posey | Houston Texans | WR | Inactive again in loss to Cowboys |
Bradley Roby | Denver Broncos | CB | 2 tackles, 1 pass defended in win over Cardinals |
Dane Sanzenbacher | Cincinnati Bengals | WR | 1 reception, 5 yards and a lost fumble in defeat |
Ryan Shazier | Pittsburgh Steelers | LB | Inactive again due to sprained MCL injury |
Rob Sims | Detroit Lions | OG | Lions o-line struggled and their former coach trolled them, hard. |
Donte Whitner | Cleveland Browns | S | 4 tackles and 1 hug from Mike Pettine in comeback win over Titans |