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Rank |
Player |
Last Week |
Change |
Notes |
1 |
Geno Atkins |
1 |
-- |
Geno Atkins will need to take advantage of an injured Steelers interior offensive line. Let's introduce ourselves to David DeCastro. |
2 |
A.J. Green |
2 |
-- |
Green was pretty much minimized the last time these teams met. He's going to need to find a way to get open despite crazy coverage schemes by Pittsburgh. |
3 |
Andre Smith |
3 |
-- |
Last week was Andre Smith's second bad game of the season. He was man-handled by Brandon Graham who is on a tear lately. |
4 |
Leon Hall |
5 |
+1 |
Hall allowed a couple catches but had a game-changing interception EXACTLY when his teammates needed somebody to snap them out of it. |
5 |
Kevin Zeitler |
6 |
+1 |
Zeitler was very impressive pulling to the outside and blocking for every one of BJGE's long runs. |
6 |
Andrew Whitworth |
4 |
-2 |
He seemed a little shaky after banging his head and playing with a concussion. They'll need Whit's best on Sunday. |
7 |
Andy Dalton |
7 |
-- |
Dalton was poor for the most part last week. He didn't pull the trigger on a couple open throws and that's alarming. |
8 |
Adam Jones |
9 |
+1 |
Per PFF, Jones is allowing the lowest yards (0.83) per snap in coverage of all CBs in the league with over 300 snaps played in coverage. |
9 |
Reggie Nelson |
11 |
+2 |
Love Nelson's energy and versatility. You have to look for him pre-snap every play; Zimmer has been moving him around lately. |
10 |
Jermaine Gresham |
8 |
-2 |
Becoming an average day for Gresham to catch five balls for 60 yards and be an inconsistently good blocker. |
11 |
Carlos Dunlap |
10 |
-1 |
If I were keeping track, I would tell you Carlos Dunlap has missed at least 6 easy sacks this season. |
12 |
BenJarvus Green-Ellis |
14 |
+2 |
Maybe he's not taking them all the way or breaking the last tackle, but he's hitting the right holes at the right times. |
13 |
Michael Johnson |
12 |
-1 |
He's back to flashing for only about 3 or 4 snaps per game. His backup (Gilberry) stands out more in half the snaps. |
14 |
Vontaze Burfict |
17 |
+3 |
This was Burfict's best performance since the last Steelers game. |
15 |
Andrew Hawkins |
13 |
-2 |
In a matchup I was excited to see, Hawkins was pretty much blanketed by rookie CB Brandon Boykin. Baby Hawk was open deep on one play that would've been a TD had Brandon Graham not stripped Dalton as he threw. |
16 |
Rey Maualuga |
16 |
-- |
Maualuga had a decent day in coverage as well as the run, but his run defense has become the norm. |
17 |
Clint Boling |
15 |
-2 |
What's the deal with whoever plays LG with Kyle Cook at center... sucks? I heard he's sick. Let's hope it's that simple. |
18 |
Terrence Newman |
18 |
-- |
I thought Newman was really good last week in Philly; especially as Bryce Brown tried bouncing runs to the outside. |
19 |
Domata Peko |
19 |
-- |
Peko got handled for the most part on Thursday; especially as a pass rusher. |
20 |
Chris Crocker |
NR |
-- |
It's real; Crocker makes everybody in the secondary better. That's good for now and scary for next year. |
Just Missed the Cut: Trevor Robinson, Kyle Cook, Kevin Huber, Pat Sims, Orson Charles.