Buckeye News around the Net for 09/9/08
Michael Jenkins,
Chris Gamble, Na'il Diggs, Ashton Youboty, Ryan Pickett, Larry Grant, A.J. Hawk, Troy Smith, Joey Galloway, Alex Stepanovich, and
Mike Nugent
By Bill Smith
The Good
Michael Jenkins had a 62 yard touchdown catch against
Detroit. He caught the ball at the 45 of the Lions and
outraced 2 defenders to the endzone.
After jumping out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, the Falcons
relied on their running game to control the clock for the win. The catch made team history. Rookie QB Matt Ryan was the only Falcon and
one of very few NFL players ever to throw for a TD in his first attempt in the
league.
Chris Gamble participated in a robbery on
Sunday. Gamble and team mate SS Chris
Harris combined to pickpocket the ball away from All Pro TE Gates. Gamble then returned the fumble 31 yards for
a touchdown. The play was critical in
the Panthers 25-24 win over the Chargers.
Na'il Diggs had a very good game against the Jags
Sunday. He had 8 tackles six of which
were solo and a sack. He started the
game for the Panthers.
CB Ashton Youboty has been named the team's
nickelback for Week 1. This is great
news for Youboty that had been 6th at CB on the depth chart at the
beginning of training camp.
Ryan Pickett got back to full practice this week with the
Packers and started in the Monday night game against the Vikes. He is critical to the team being able to stop
the run. Packers coach Mike McCarthy
used a carrot/stick approach to speed Pickett's healing.
"It was SO boring," Pickett said. "It was the
worst. They had me locked up in the (facility) and had me running the whole
time. I would come out -- I'd run half the practice, basically, and do all the
kind of training and stuff and just get my leg right. They made sure they
conditioned me pretty good, so I'm in better shape than I've probably been in
in a long time."
The 49ers signed Larry Grant (LB) to their practice
squad.
And now, after the Packers were gashed for too many long
running plays in the preseason, perhaps the value of injured weak-side
linebacker A.J. Hawk is becoming more clear. Hawk and pass rush specialist Kabeer
Gbaja-Biamila returned to practice Thursday, boosting hopes that the team will
get back two key defensive players for Monday night's season-opener against Minnesota.
Hawk (chest) started week 1.
He was limited in practice Thursday, Sept. 4. He practiced enough
Thursday to suggest he might play Week 1, but he also could need another week
before being ready for game action.
From the Sporting News: Injured Hawk returns to
practice for Packers
Hawk has sat out since spraining a chest muscle in the
Packers' first preseason game, and Gbaja-Biamila has done very little in
training camp because of nagging soreness in his knee. Both were among the 12
players listed on the Packers' injury report Thursday -- a large number of
injuries for a team that has been fairly healthy under Packers coach Mike
McCarthy. Hawk's participation was limited. But McCarthy said the Packers
didn't go out of their way to make sure Hawk avoided contact when he was
practicing.
Hawk has proved to be a solid and consistent player over
two seasons in Green Bay,
but he has drawn some criticism for not making enough big plays.
The Bad
QB Troy Smith (illness) did not participate in
practice Thursday and won't play on Sunday.
Carroll County
Times: Ravens QB Troy
Smith is no longer hospitalized with a tonsil infection that has plagued him
for the past few weeks, but has lost roughly 20 pounds and isn't healthy enough
to resume practicing yet. The former Heisman Trophy winner missed the final 2
preseason games, including a scheduled start against the Rams, with symptoms of
fever, nausea, dehydration and general soreness. Smith appeared haggard Monday
and noticeably thinner, especially in his face. A once-tight fitting exercise
shirt hung loosely off his upper body. Smith remains on antibiotics, and the
Ravens ruled him out of practice for an undetermined period of time. "He
looked a little thinner, but he's got a smile on his face," Ravens HC
Harbaugh said. "He's hugging everybody. We have an issue with that
[laughter]. "Everybody's like, 'Whoa, not so close,' but he's happy to be
back. He's going to be out until he gets his strength back and that infection
clears up." For Smith, the timing of his illness derailed his bid for a
starting job that went to rookie Joe Flacco.
WR Joey Galloway (groin) was limited in practice
Friday, Sept. 5, and he is listed as questionable for Week 1. He did play however. Beside the Bucs concern about QB the team has
been worried about their receiver position. Galloway, who had off-season
shoulder surgery, missed all of training camp and the preseason with a groin
strain. He is expected to be available for the season opener, but there are
questions about whether he can be the same player at 36 who has three straight,
1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Atlanta Falcons OL Alex Stepanovich (back) did not
play week 1. He did not participate in
practice Thursday, Sept. 4. He could be out at least another week.
Mike Nugent was injured attempting a 32 yard field
goal against the Dolphins in the first quarter of week 1. It looked like Nugent's foot caught in the
turf or his hip locked. The extent of
the injury will be known later this week.
It was reported later that Nugent had suffered a quadriceps injury. ESPN's Chris Mortensen is reporting that
Nugent will be out at least a week with a right quadriceps injury. Jet's head coach Eric Mangini indicated the
team is making contingency plans. We will keep you up to date on this.
Bill Smith is a
former coach of several semi-pro teams and has scouted talent. He is a senior writer for http://BrutusReport.com. He has
also published several novels on http://ebooks-library.com/index.cfm and edits http://fryingpanpolitics.blog.com