Wake Forest Athletics
Deacons in the NFL - Week 6
10/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 19, 2011
By Currie McFayden, WakeForestSports.com
Week 6 finally left the NFL with a lone undefeated team, the Green Bay Packers, after Detroit fell against San Francisco. However, the most important storyline of the week might not have even happened on the field. Following QB Jason Campbell's season-ending injury on Sunday, the Raiders sent a king's ransom (a 2012 first-rounder and a conditional first- or second-rounder in 2013) to Cincinnati in order to acquire disgruntled QB Carson Palmer. It is a move that will certainly bear watching throughout the rest of the season as Oakland could easily be competing for a playoff spot in December.
For former Demon Deacons, Week 6 was likely the best of the season thus far. Calvin Pace had one of his best games since joining the Jets in 2008, Aaron Curry made an instant impact as a starter in Oakland and Ovie Mughelli caught his second touchdown of the season. It was a terrific all-around week for the eight Deacon representatives as each saw playing time and were able to make important contributions on the field.
Here is a player-by-player look at how the former Deacs fared during Week 6.
OT Tyson Clabo, Atlanta Falcons
Clabo, making his 66th consecutive start at right tackle, helped the offensive line to dominate against Carolina's defense on Sunday in Atlanta's 31-17 victory. The line gave up just a single sack when Charles Johnson broke through and brought down QB Matt Ryan, but was otherwise very stout in pass protection. RB Michael Turner also enjoyed huge holes that were opened by Clabo and company as he totaled 139 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries, good for an average of 5.1 yards per carry. The contest was likely the best all-around effort by the offensive line thus far in 2011. The Falcons (3-3) remain poised to make a run at a second straight NFC South title and will pay a visit to Ford Field to face the Detroit Lions in Week 7.
LB Aaron Curry, Oakland Raiders
Making his debut in the black and silver, the former Seattle Seahawk immediately lined up as the starter at weak-side linebacker for the Raiders in their 24-17 victory over Cleveland on Sunday afternoon. With less than a week to adjust to the new defense, Curry tallied three tackles, a respectable first game with Oakland. Coach Hue Jackson seems high on the third-year linebacker's talent, something that bodes well for him as the season progresses. The Raiders (4-2) will face Kansas City at home in Week 7 as they aim to win their ninth consecutive AFC West game, dating back to a 20-19 win against Denver on Dec. 20, 2009.
FB Ovie Mughelli, Atlanta Falcons
For the second time this season, the lumbering fullback acted as a nearly unstoppable target in the passing game for Matt Ryan, hauling in two catches for 20 yards. The most important was a 1-yard touchdown grab on a play-action to give the Falcons a 14-10 lead just before halftime. He also notched one rushing attempt, but was stuffed at the line of scrimmage for no gain. With his touchdown catch, Mughelli now has two on the year, marking just the second time in his career that he has recorded more than one touchdown in a season. He has proven several times over the last two seasons that when he is not called upon to act as an extra blocker, he can be a very dangerous weapon for Atlanta's offense.
LB Calvin Pace, New York Jets
In the Jets' much-needed 24-6 victory over the Dolphins on Monday Night Football, Pace had what was easily his best game since undergoing foot surgery at the beginning of the 2010 season. The ninth-year linebacker racked up seven tackles, a forced fumble and two sacks, the first time that he has recorded multiple sacks in a game since earning three in a 38-0 blowout of the Raiders on Oct. 25, 2009. It was also just the third time that he has reached that milestone since joining New York prior to the 2008 season. For the year, Pace now has 31 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles and has been one of the most valuable assets on Rex Ryan's defense. The Jets (3-3) will host the Chargers this week before heading into their bye during Week 8.
DT Fred Robbins, St. Louis Rams
Coming off their bye week, the Rams had the unenviable task of facing the undefeated Packers at Lambeau Field. Robbins tallied two tackles during the matchup and Gary Gibson, a fellow defensive tackle, claimed a sack, but the defensive secondary was simply overwhelmed by the aerial attack of QB Aaron Rodgers as Green Bay cruised to a 24-3 win. St. Louis (0-5) is still seeking its first victory of the season and will travel to Cowboys Stadium to take on Dallas in one of Week 7's late afternoon games.
CB Alphonso Smith, Detroit Lions
The third-year cornerback was active for Detroit on Sunday and recorded his second tackle of the season as the Lions dropped from the ranks of the undefeated with a 25-19 loss to the 49ers. He played exclusively in nickel packages and will continue to back up starting cornerbacks Chris Houston and Eric Wright in the coming weeks. Smith and the Lions (5-1) will host the Atlanta Falcons in an early afternoon game in Week 7.
OT Steve Vallos, Cleveland Browns
Vallos saw his first in-game action of the season during Cleveland's 24-17 loss to Oakland. The offensive line performed well against an underrated Raiders defense, giving up just two sacks on the day. They struggled at times to open holes for the running game, but QB Colt McCoy enjoyed excellent pass protection and threw for 215 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Browns (2-3) will return home during Week 7 to face the Seahawks, Vallos's former team.
LS Joe Zelenka, Atlanta Falcons
The NFL's oldest Deacon helped to steady the Falcons' special teams once again on Sunday. Punter Matt Bosher averaged 43 yards per attempt on three punts and landed two of them inside the 20-yard line, and kicker Matt Bryant stayed perfect on the season as he nailed a 24-yard field goal along with four extra point attempts. Atlanta has the luxury of having one of the best special teams units in the league, in part due to nearly two complete seasons of continuity with Zelenka snapping to Bryant.
Deacons on NFL Practice Squads
OG Chris DeGeare, Minnesota Vikings
CB Brandon Ghee, Cincinnati Bengals
