As another week came and went in the NFL, we saw the Texans establish their dominance at the top of the AFC, while the past two Super Bowl winners put the league on notice that they aren’t planning on missing out on the postseason party this year.
We also saw plenty of lesser known players step up with impressive performances that warranted more attention than they were given — and that’s where your weekly dose of Secret Superstars comes in!
This week we’re highlighting an offensive lineman taking advantage of an opportunity in Cleveland, a tight end stating his case for more snaps in place of an injured Redskin, a dominant pass-rushing performance on Monday Night Football, and a Jaguars defensive lineman proving there is some reason for hope down in Florida.
John Greco, OG, Cleveland Browns
After the Cleveland Browns lost left guard Jason Pinkston to injured reserve, his replacement John Greco was presented with the opportunity he’d waited for patiently. By becoming our highest-graded guard in the game and a half he’s been in the line-up, it’s safe to say he’s done just that. He has formed a nice partnership with left tackle Joe Thomas on the left side of the Browns offensive line.
On Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, Greco was perfect in pass protection, and finished the game with a Pass Blocking Efficiency Rating of 100.0. As good as that was however, it was his play as a run blocker that really caught our attention. Despite how little they ran the ball, with just 17 rushing attempts all game, the Browns had the most success on runs between Greco and center Alex Mack, and picked up an average 5.2 yards per carry on the five runs between the two. His most impressive play came on 1st-and-Goal with 20 seconds left in the opening quarter. He turned Colts defensive lineman Ricardo Mathews at the line of scrimmage, and opened the hole for what would been a rushing touchdown had it not been for the tackle of an unblocked Colts linebacker.
Logan Paulsen, TE, Washington Redskins
Lost in the news of the Washington Redskins' re-signing of Chris Cooley after the injury to Fred Davis, was just how well tight end Logan Paulsen played when faced with extra snaps after the same injury. Playing 60 snaps in this game alone (he had played just 57 snaps in the team’s opening six games), Paulsen had as good an all-around game as we saw from a tight end throughout the weekend.
Obviously his receiving stats of four receptions for 76 yards is what jumps out straight away, as they should, however a closer look at his blocking shows that it was even more impressive. As a pass blocker he was called upon just three times and allowed a single hurry to New York Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, while aiding a group that averaged 6.5 yards per carry as a run blocker. His best play of the game came on a screen pass on 3rd-and-7 with 8:52 left in the first half that saw him play a key role in the team’s first touchdown of the day. Lining up on the right side of the line, the screen originally was well away from him. His blocking downfield, however, saw him take care of safety Antrel Rolle and allow Santana Moss a clear path into the end zone.
Henry Melton, DT, Chicago Bears
While plenty of players got the credit they deserved for an impressive defensive performance by the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, Henry Melton’s good play seemed to go relatively unnoticed. That’s understandable given the talent around him, but Melton stepped up time and time again against the Detroit Lions.
He stood out the most the passing game, generating a hit and five hurries from his 34 snaps as a pass rusher. That adds up to a Pass Rushing Productivity (PRP) Rating of 13.2, the second-highest PRP Rating for a defensive tackle in Week 7, and the sixth-highest all season. While his play against the run included that forced fumble on the goal line on 2nd-and-Goal with 5:26 left in the third quarter, his play as a pass rusher outshone his play against the run all night. With three of his hurries, and his single hit all coming in the final 8:42 of the game, he was at his most dominant when the game was on the line.
Austen Lane, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars
It’s understandably difficult for Jacksonville Jaguars fans to get excited, particularly after the news that Maurice Jones-Drew is expected to miss multiple games. However, the play of 2010 fifth-round draft pick Austen Lane the past two games highlights the fact that there is potential on the Jaguars' roster, despite the lack of wins.
After impressing in the Week 5 loss to the Bears, Lane was even better in this game. As a pass rusher he was solid, finishing the game with a PRP Rating of 11.8 after registering a hit and two hurries on 19 pass rushing snaps. He saw only 16 plays against the run, but was an absolute force on them. Registering five tackles, all of which were for defensive stops, Lane had a Run Stop Percentage (RSP) of 31.3%. To put that into context, the next highest 4-3 defensive end was Justin Tuck at 13.0%. His dominance against the run was demonstrated on 1st-and-10 on the opening play of the second half. With the Raiders leaving tight end Brandon Myers to block him on his own, Lane forced his opponent into the backfield before bringing down Darren McFadden for a short gain. It might have been a game to forget for Jaguars fans, like so many this season, but it was a performance to remember from Austen Lane.
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