Archive for November, 2008
Mason’s Minutes: Jones’ returns crucial
The Packers outgained the Panthers by 138 yards on Sunday. But Mark Jones made up much of that discrepancy by himself.
Three of Carolina’s five touchdown drives covered 55 or fewer yards because they were set up by a trio of kickoff-return sprints by Jones that highlighted his day — a 42-yarder in the second [...]
Furman’s Bell wins SoCon Jacobs Blocking Trophy
Although it did not put the Furman University football team into the playoffs, the Paladins’ newly adopted 4-2-5 defensive package did put their defensive backs in position to make plays.
Furman (7-5, 4-4) finished the regular season ranked fourth in the Southern Conference in passing defense, allowing 196.2 yards per game. The Paladins finished third in [...]
Furman’s Bell Wins SoCon Jacobs Blocking Award
Southern Conference head football coaches have selected Furman tackle Joel Bell as the recipient of the league’s 2008 Jacobs Blocking Award, it was announced today.
The Jacobs Blocking Award, originated in 1928 by Dr. William P. Jacobs II of Presbyterian College, is given annually by the Jacobs family of Clinton, S.C., to the top blocker in [...]
Russell Making Most of Opportunity
When the Steelers released Gary Russell in September, some felt it might be the beginning of the end for the NFL long shot.
The Steelers re-signed Russell to their practice squad, but with a depth chart that included Pro Bowl running back Willie Parker, first-round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall and free agent-signee Mewelde Moore ahead of [...]
Jason David Picks Rodgers Twice
Monday Nights in New Orleans are proving to be a nice little match.
The New Orleans Saints defeated the Green Bay Packers, 51-29, behind four Drew Brees touchdown passes and two rushing scored by Pierre Thomas and one by Deuce McAllister on Monday Night Football. Saints CB Jason Davis recorded two interceptions on the night, his [...]
Tomlin’s Mojo Has Helped Steelers to 8-3
When Bill Cowher left the Steelers two seasons ago, I felt that it would take a really long time to find a guy that could fire up a team and lead a team as well as he did for his many years in Pittsburgh.
No doubt, Cowher is a tough act to follow.
I kept hearing that [...]
Curry Surprised He’ll Start at WR
The Raiders will start Ronald Curry at wide receiver Sunday. Make sure Curry gets the memo.
“That’s news to me,” Curry said after practice Friday, underscoring the silent-treatment divide between the seven-year veteran receiver and interim coach Tom Cable.
Cable said Curry will start against the Broncos because rookie Chaz Schilens is questionable with a sprained ankle.
He [...]
Russell Becomes Dual Threat
The person most surprised by the Steelers’ longest kickoff return of the season may well have been the guy who flashed through an opening in a 27-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night and ran over kicker Shayne Graham on the way to a 43-yard gain.
“That’s for a fast guy,” Steelers running back [...]
Russell in Line for Larger Role
A good deal of the Steelers’ recent offensive troubles can be traced to the failure of a longtime staple of this smash-mouth franchise: the short-yardage game.
But the Steelers believe they might have found an answer Sunday in seldom-used running back Gary Russell.
Russell twice converted third-and-short situations in the second half of the Steelers’ 11-10 comeback [...]
Lee Gets Into the Act
One of the few knocks on Aaron Rodgers in his first nine games as the Green Bay Packers’ starting quarterback was his inability to get the tight ends involved in the offense.
That seemed to change — for one game at least.
In Sunday’s 37-3 rout of the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field, Rodgers relied heavily on [...]
Jones pleasant surprise returning kicks
The Carolina Panthers had gone through four punt returners when in desperation they brought in Mark Jones six days before the season opener. A journeyman who has been cut five times and was coming off a major knee injury, Jones figured to be around for only a few weeks as an emergency fill-in.
Two months later, [...]
