CB Rasul Douglas - Philadelphia Eagles (40 snaps) - 2 tackles, 1 PD
The addition of CB Ronald Darby pushes Douglas down the depth chart but he’s still expected to see a good amount of playing time. In Thursday’s game against the Bills he was inches away from an interception and possibly a touchdown.
Former #WVU CB @rd32_era breaks up the pass and is a split-second away from making the interception. #Eagles pic.twitter.com/hP0CAqbnaj
— Dan Thomas (@Dan_Thomas28) August 21, 2017
QB Geno Smith - New York Giants (36 snaps) - 11/17, 79 yards, 0 touchdowns, 1 interception and 2 carries for 4 yards
Smith took over right before the end of the first half and got off to a rocky start when he walked into a Myles Garrett sack. The second half started off better as he was able to fit the ball into tight coverage on multiple occasions and produced a scoring drive (field goal). Smith was on his way to a second scoring drive in the fourth quarter but made a horrible decision on the Browns four-yard line and the ball was intercepted. It was a throw Smith should have never made and unfortunately, it put a damper on what would have been a respectable outing.
WR Shelton Gibson - Philadelphia Eagles (31 snaps) - 0 receptions on 2 targets
Gibson may not have caught a pass but he did get behind CB Greg Mabin for what would have been a 36-yard touchdown. Instead, Mabin interfered with Gibson in the end zone and it resulted in a 35-yard penalty. On the next play, the Eagles scored on a one-yard touchdown run.
Former #WVU WR @sheltongibson is interfered with on a would-be 36-yard TD. The first play after the penalty, the #Eagles score a 1-yard TD. pic.twitter.com/oUUsLeupfg
— Dan Thomas (@Dan_Thomas28) August 21, 2017
OL Tyler Orlosky - Philadelphia Eagles (22 snaps) - Orlosky was primarily a center in college but was working at right guard during the fourth quarter. Showing versatility will only help his chances of making the team.
WR/RET Mario Alford - Cleveland Browns (10 offensive snaps) - 1 reception, 12 yards on 1 target and two kick returns for 32 total yards.
As I mentioned last week, Alford will need to show well on special teams if he wants to make a team’s final 53-man roster. I’m not sure if the Browns will be that team because he’s low on wide receiver depth chart and the team is also set at returner with first-round pick Jabrill Peppers. On the bright side, he did make a good 12-yard catch on a 3rd and 10.
Great 12-yard snag on 3rd and 10 by former #WVU WR/RET @mario_alford. pic.twitter.com/aBaKcQOzKw
— Dan Thomas (@Dan_Thomas28) August 22, 2017
S Jarrod Harper - Jacksonville Jaguars - 1 tackle
Harper may have only had one tackle but it was a good one. He got in the backfield in a hurry and stopped Jeremy McNichols for a one-yard gain.
Nice play by former #WVU safety @J_HarperWVU5. The running back never had a chance to do anything with the ball. pic.twitter.com/XiBbTYvOlQ
— Dan Thomas (@Dan_Thomas28) August 21, 2017
G Mark Glowinski - Seattle Seahawks - After not starting in Week 1, Glowinski got the start in Week 2 against the Minnesota Vikings.
G Quinton Spain - Tennessee Titans (36 snaps) - Just like last week, Spain started the game for the Titans.
WR Kevin White - Chicago Bears - 2 receptions, 2 yards on 3 targets
White saw the first target of the game for the Bears but it went for -3 yards on a screen play. Even though the play went for negative yards, it’s good to see the coaching staff making an effort to get him involved early. Besides that, it’s honestly tough to tell if White is progressing or not after missing most of the last two years because quarterback Mike Glennon has been so bad.
CB Daryl Worley - Carolina Panthers (19 snaps) - 2 tackles
Worley and the rest of the Panthers defensive starters saw a little more playing time than last week. On one of Worley’s two tackles he was able to bring 247 lb. running back Derrick Henry on his own for a one-yard gain.
Former #WVU CB @dworley7 showing good run support here as he brings down 6'3 and 247 lb. RB Derrick Henry for a one-yard gain. pic.twitter.com/Wdqh0Kb8NU
— Dan Thomas (@Dan_Thomas28) August 22, 2017
OL Marquis Lucas - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - The day before the Atlanta Falcons Week 2 preseason game, the team waived Lucas. He was claimed off waivers the following day by the Buccaneers and will now join former Mountaineers Keith Tandy, Maurice Fleming and Charles Sims.
DE Will Clarke - Cincinnati Bengals (25 snaps) - 1 tackle, 1 PD, 1 QB Hit
Last week former WVU DL Noble Nwachukwu almost sacked Chiefs rookie QB Patrick Mahomes. This week, it was Will Clarke who almost sacked Mahomes and came up with a QB Hit.
CB Maurice Fleming - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 2 tackles, 1 PD
Fleming’s one PD came in the endzone where he was beat off the line of scrimmage but finished the play strong and wrestled the ball away from Dede Westbrook.
Former #WVU CB @MFlemingxxiv gets beat off the snap but finishes the play strong as he's able to wrestle the ball away from the WR. pic.twitter.com/xqc9wBJhvM
— Dan Thomas (@Dan_Thomas28) August 21, 2017
The amazing thing about this play is that Fleming did it on one leg. He was injured previously in the game but gutted through. The next day he was placed on the waived/injured list by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with head coach Dirk Koetter telling Maurice he had “nothing to be ashamed about and did everything right; he just got injured.
This and That
OL Adam Pankley - Green Bay Packers (24 snaps) - As expected, Pankley played with the backups.
DE Christian Brown - Pittsburgh Steelers (9 snaps) - No statistics recorded for the second straight week.
LB Najee Goode - Philadelphia Eagles (39 snaps) - 1 tackle
SS Karl Joseph - Oakland Raiders (37 snaps) - 1 tackle
OLB Bruce Irvin - Oakland Raiders (20 snaps) - 1 tackle
DL Noble Nwachukwu - San Francisco 49ers (17 snaps) - 1 tackle
WR Daikiel Shorts - Buffalo Bills - 2 receptions, 22 yards on 4 targets
RB Charles Sims - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 2 carries for 6 yards
SS Keith Tandy - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - No statistics recorded
LB Terence Garvin - Seattle Seahawks - 2 tackles
SS K.J. Dillon - Houston Texans - 2 tackles
(There was no player picked for “Performance of the Week”. I’m not saying all the players had a bad game. Instead, it’s because nobody had a standout performance.)
List of the WVU players who did not play in Week 2: RB, Wendell Smallwood - Philadelphia Eagles (injury), WR Tavon Austin - Los Angeles Rams (injury), LB J.T. Thomas - New York Giants (injury), OL Don Barclay - Green Bay Packers (injury), LB Nick Kwiatkoski - Chicago Bears (injury), CB Adam “Pacman” Jones - Cincinnati Bengals