Tag: Brandon Graham

Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Jake Ryan

Jake Ryan (#47)

Green Bay Packers linebacker Jake Ryan made 6 solo tackles and 3 assists (9 total) in a 34-27 win over the Detroit Lions. As painful – though expected – as it was for Lions fans to watch, it was a nice job by Ryan, who has carved out a starting role for the Packers.

Honorable mention:

• Philadelphia Eagles DE Brandon Graham had 1 sack in a 34-3 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He now has 3 sacks on the season.
• New York Giants CB Leon Hall, in his first year with the team after coming over from the Bengals, had 4 tackles and 1 pass breakup in a 29-27 loss to the Washington Redskins

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Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Tom Brady

Tom Brady (image via Big House Report)

Tom Brady had his best game of the year so far when he went 27/37 for 361 yards and 4 touchdowns in New England’s 37-22 win over the Buffalo Bills.

Honorable mention: Carolina Panther Jason Avant caught 5 passes for 47 yards in a 37-37 tie with the Cincinnati Bengals. Michael Cox was called up from the practice squad to return 2 kicks for 53 yards in the New York Giants’ 27-0 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles; on the other side, Brandon Graham made 4 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, and 1 forced fumble. Taylor Lewan made his first career start, which was at left tackle in the Tennessee Titans’ 16-14 win over Jacksonville. In that same game, Denard Robinson had 5 carries for 22 yards and 3 catches for 14 yards on the losing side.

Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Leon Hall

Leon Hall scores a touchdown on an interception

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Leon Hall picked off his second pass of the year when he stepped in front of a pass from Ben Roethlisberger and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown.  Hall also broke up 1 pass.  The Bengals beat the Steelers, 13-10.

Honorable Mention

• The New England Patriots’ Tom Brady completed 24/41 passes for 267 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions in a 23-16 win over Chad Henne’s Jacksonville Jaguars.  Henne finished 29/51 for 348 yards, 1 touchdown, and 3 interceptions.
• Philadelphia Eagle Brandon Graham made 6 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 pass breakup in a 27-20 loss to the Washington Redskins.
• New York Jet linebacker David Harris made 10 tackles and 1 pass breakup in a 27-17 loss to the San Diego Chargers.
• San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mario Manningham tore his ACL and MCL when he caught his first pass on Sunday, so he’ll miss the rest of the season.
• Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Mike Martin made 3 tackles, 1 sack, and 1 tackle for loss, but the Green Bay Packers won in a blowout, 55-7.

Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Brandon Graham

Wait, can someone remind me why the ’09 defense wasn’t awesome?

The Philadelphia Eagles are a train wreck, but at least their 2010 first round draft pick has started to make an impact.  Graham only played about half of his team’s snaps in a loss to the Cowboys, but he started the game and showed well, particularly in the first half.  He finished with six tackles, 1.5 sacks, two tackles for a loss, and a few quarterback hurries.  Most game recaps praise his quickness and play against the run but comment that his production fell off as the game went on.  The performance is Graham’s best showing since tearing his ACL and meniscus in late 2010.

Honorable Mention:  Eagle teammate Jason Avant had his best game in a while, as well.  He caught five passes for 79 yards in the loss.  Avant is listed as a starter at WR and should see his numbers improve whenever Philadelphia gets a competent quarterback.

Miscellaneous:

• The often injured and always outspoken Braylon Edwards didn’t do a thing in Seattle’s upset win over Chicago, but he did feel the need
  to burn a few bridges via tweet, something he has become quite adept at doing.  Unfortunately, Edwards was waived by the Seahawks on Tuesday.  Here’s to hoping he finds a new home – if only because he is a Michigan man.
• 49er Mario Manningham re-injured his left shoulder in a loss to the Rams.  He caught five passes for 37 yards in the contest.
• In his second start of the season, Chad Henne went 18/41 passing for 208 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a loss to the Bills.      
• Stevie Brown had four tackles and may no longer be the frontrunner for the NFL MVP.
• Mike Martin had two tackles in a loss to the Texans.

Former Michigan Athlete of the Week: Brandon Graham

Is that you, Magnus?

Pickings were slim this week, so I went with Brandon Graham despite his team’s 28-13 loss to the New Orleans Saints.  Graham had an impressive play early in the third quarter on Monday Night Football when he came hard off the edge, stripped Drew Brees and recovered the fumble.  The ensuing drive lead to an Eagles touchdown and temporarily gave them a sliver of hope.  Graham finished the game with two tackles.  He now has 14 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 fumble forced and one fumble recovery on the year.

Honorable Mention:  LaMarr Woodley puts the look of terror into the eyes of opposing quarterbacks.  Don’t believe me?  I present to you Exhibit A:

Exhibit A

Woodley sacked Eli Manning late in the forth quarter on third down.  The sack forced a Manning fumble, and although it was recovered by the Giants, the play lead to a punt and helped Woodley’s Steelers pull out a close win.  (No, there is no Exhibit B.)

Miscellaneous:

• Stevie Brown disappointed his team, family and Michigan alumni by playing in a game this year in which he failed to pick off a pass and return it half the length of the football field.  But he did make eight tackles, including one for a loss.
• Steve Breaston broke out of his funk and caught a couple balls for seventeen yards.
• Leon Hall had five tackles and continues to be a starting CB for the Bengals despite a lingering leg injury.