National Sports

NFLocals-Week 6

NFLOCALS—

 

Two-time defending NFC Champion Seattle’s taking on serious water.

wagner with interception fb

With former Utah State Aggie star Bobby Wagner, the Seahawks leading tackler, inactive after straining a pectoral muscle in the heartbreaking loss at Cincinnati, the Seahawks had trouble slowing down Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. Down 9 points in the 4th quarter, the Panthers rallied on a pair of Newton TD passes. Outscoring Seattle 13-3 in that decisive 4th Q. Former Ute Star Lotulelei (2 tackles) helped the Panthers D shutdown Russell Wilson and the Seahawks offense. Seattle slides to 2-4, Panthers stay among the NFL’s 5 remaining unbeaten at 5-0.

 Green Bay’s up to 6-0 despite giving up 548 yards at home in Lambeau Field to San Diego’s hard-luck offense. The Chargers D hurt by the loss of leading tackler Eric Weddle. The former Ute star who’s involved in a widely publicized contract beef with Chargers management tried to play through a groin injury. No word yet on how long Weddle might be out. If I were “Weddlesbeard”

WEDDLECLAUS(seriously Weddle isn’t on Twitter but the free-spirit free safety does communicate through that beard on Twitter) and my team’s front office has dragged me through a Summer of open disrespect and refused to negotiate with me in good faith on a contract extension, forcing me to play on without any security for me and my family, I’m not sure if I’d really be too anxious to hurry back into the Chargers lineup, especially with an injured groin muscle that can sometimes be very painful and very difficult to rehab back to 100 health.

 The Cleveland Browns’ pair of former Utes continuing to make plays but unfortunately the team’s stuck on “struggle.” Rookie Nate Orchard bouncing forward to this week after last week’s career-high (5 games in Rookie season) 5 tackles. Orchard picked up another 3 tackles overall but the Salt Lake City native who led the nation in sacks last year with the Utes (18.5) still hunting his first NFL QB take-down. Keep listening to Riles and OC every weekday 3-7 pm and hear SLC’s Nate Orchard with them at 5:10 pm Tuesdays.  It’s Nate Orchard’s weekly check-in on life in the NFL. Orchard’s fellow former Ute Paul Kruger picked up a QB hit this week along with 3 more tackles, no sacks. Kruger’s averaged 5 sacks a season in his 6 NFL seasons coming into this one, yet so far Paul has just a half a sack this season. Former Aggie Robert Turbin appears to be a very comfortable running ball for Cleveland. He came over from NFC Champion Seattle in a trade a month ago and in his Browns debut rushed it 10 times for 27 yards, mostly in the 2nd half. Look for Turbin to ease his way into that Browns backfield, and I believe, before too long, he’ll be Cleveland’s featured back.

 Former Ute Paul Soliai’s benefitting from a good decision, signing with Atlanta as a free agent but the Falcons perfect start ran aground in New Orleans.  Soliai in on a tackle but the Saints went marching on and on, the final was 31-21. Falcons ok at 5-1.

 3-3 leads the uber competitive NFC East. Not great football but it is tight. Former BYU Cougar Uani Unga continues his awesome rookie season with 7 tackles in Monday night’s 27-7 loss in Philly.   That loss drops the G-Men back into a tie with the Eagles atop the division at 3-3.

Washington’s chasing those two at 2-4, just a game behind despite losing 3 of their last 4. Sunday the Skins found out what the rest of the league’s learning,  Jets’ rookie head coach Todd Bowles is figuring it out. Former Ute Trevor Reilly got in on a tackle for the Jets, who raised their record to a surprising 4 -1.   The     J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets right on the Super Bowl Champion Patriots cleats, plus how’s this for great timing? Darrelle Revis and company heading to Gillette Stadium to test former Ute Sealver Siliga and his Patriots.

 New England stayed unbeaten thanks to another win over the Colts Sunday night. Siliga the West Jordan Utah native who appears with us live, every Tuesday on “The Sealver Lining” on TK in the Midday, picked up his first half-sack of the season but for some reason, wasn’t credited with it. AND Sealver’s not happy about the statistical “dis”.  You can always plug in to our latest “Sealver Lining” by clicking on the “Interviews” spot at espn700sports.com

 Former BYU Cougar Andy Reid isn’t used to this! He’s NOT getting it done in Kansas City this season, 1-5 so far after Sunday’s loss in Minnesota. Former Ute star QB Alex Smith going 22-36 for 282 yards with a TD, no picks.  Fellow former Ute Sean Smith did a decent job as the Chiefs D hung in there despite trailing 13-0 after 3 quarters. Another former Ute is Vikings running back Matt Asiata. He carried it 5 times for 27 yards, caught a pass for another 8 yards.   Vikes hanging around at 3-2 in the NFC North, 2 games behind unbeaten Green Bay.

 The Lions finally won a game, by 3 over the Bears in Motown. Detroit’s pair of former BYU Cougars Ziggy Ansah  and Kyle Van Noy did very little but it’s a great sign that KVN’s finally healthy and getting on the field in Detroit’s games.

 The coaching change in Miami apparently worked wonders for several Dolphins including former Ute Koa Misi.  He spent most of Sunday in Tennessee’s backfield. Leading Miami in tackles with 8 and tackles for loss as the Dolphins whipped the Titans 38-10. Misi’s former Utah teammates Brice McCain (CB) and (DE) Derrick Shelby both in the stat book with a tackle each.

 Finally, the season-long tribute for former Ute and All-Pro Steve Smith Sr rolls on.

steve smith sr

Despite certainly playing in real pain with microfractures in his back, the 15 year veteran is going out in style. Smith Sr caught 7 more passes from Ravens QB Joe Flacco for 137 yards and a TD. Too bad there likely won’t be any playoffs for Smith Sr to ride out on. The Niners 25-20 win drops Baltimore to 1-5 now.

          

 

 

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