Wake Forest Athletics
#ProDeacs: Week Six Recap
10/17/2023 3:30:00 PM | Football
Bates III, Turner continue to shine for their new teams.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Week six of the NFL season has concluded and multiple Demon Deacons are making noise around the league, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Here's a look at what went down involving the #ProDeacs this weekend.
Defensive Showcases
A pair of Demon Deacons, Jessie Bates III and Kobie Turner, put in strong defensive efforts this weekend for the Falcons and Rams, respectively.
Turner, a 2023 third-round draft pick, earned the start and played a season-high 56 defensive snaps. He once again set a new career-high in tackles with five, in addition to a pass breakup en route to a 26-9 victory over the Arizona Cardinals as the Rams improved to 3-3 on the season. His 77.6 ProFootballFocus (PFF) grade marked the third time this season the rookie posted a grade above a 70.0 this season. Additionally, Turner leads all rookie interior defensive lineman this season with 235 snaps and has posted the sixth-highest PFF grade out of all defensive rookies with at least 200 snaps played.
Bates III has already established himself as one of the best, and most consistent, safeties in the entire NFL. On Sunday, he started and played all 51 defensive snaps as he recorded five tackles in the 16-24 loss to the Commanders. This season, he leads all safeties with a 91.2 PFF grade in addition to posting the highest grade of all positions on the Falcons. Through the first six weeks, he is second on the team in tackles (29), interceptions (3) and forced fumbles (2).
Deacs vs. Deacs
There will be two matchups during the afternoon slate this weekend involving two Demon Deacons going head-to-head.
First, Greg Dortch and the Arizona Cardinals will head to Seattle to take on Phil Haynes and the Seahawks. Dortch has been a reliable punt and kick returner for the Cardinals this season, as he's racked up 141 combined return yards (60 kick, 81 punt) over his first six games this season. He ranks seventh in the NFL with an 8.1 punt return average (minimum 10 returns).
Haynes has been a regular on the Seahawks offensive line over the past two seasons. This year the 2019 fourth-round pick has logged 199 snaps split between the left and right guard positions and has helped the Seahawks get off to a 3-2 start. The game is slated to start at 4:05 this Sunday on CBS.
Shortly after the start of that game, Zach Tom and the Green Bay Packers will be taking on the Denver Broncos and Justin Strnad at 4:25 on FOX. Tom has the second-highest PFF grade (75.6) out of all second-year offensive tackles this season through five games, while Strnad has proven himself as a valuable member of the Broncos special teams over the last two seasons.
#ProDeacs Results and Week Seven Slate (All times eastern)
Defensive Showcases
A pair of Demon Deacons, Jessie Bates III and Kobie Turner, put in strong defensive efforts this weekend for the Falcons and Rams, respectively.
Turner, a 2023 third-round draft pick, earned the start and played a season-high 56 defensive snaps. He once again set a new career-high in tackles with five, in addition to a pass breakup en route to a 26-9 victory over the Arizona Cardinals as the Rams improved to 3-3 on the season. His 77.6 ProFootballFocus (PFF) grade marked the third time this season the rookie posted a grade above a 70.0 this season. Additionally, Turner leads all rookie interior defensive lineman this season with 235 snaps and has posted the sixth-highest PFF grade out of all defensive rookies with at least 200 snaps played.
Bates III has already established himself as one of the best, and most consistent, safeties in the entire NFL. On Sunday, he started and played all 51 defensive snaps as he recorded five tackles in the 16-24 loss to the Commanders. This season, he leads all safeties with a 91.2 PFF grade in addition to posting the highest grade of all positions on the Falcons. Through the first six weeks, he is second on the team in tackles (29), interceptions (3) and forced fumbles (2).
Deacs vs. Deacs
There will be two matchups during the afternoon slate this weekend involving two Demon Deacons going head-to-head.
First, Greg Dortch and the Arizona Cardinals will head to Seattle to take on Phil Haynes and the Seahawks. Dortch has been a reliable punt and kick returner for the Cardinals this season, as he's racked up 141 combined return yards (60 kick, 81 punt) over his first six games this season. He ranks seventh in the NFL with an 8.1 punt return average (minimum 10 returns).
Haynes has been a regular on the Seahawks offensive line over the past two seasons. This year the 2019 fourth-round pick has logged 199 snaps split between the left and right guard positions and has helped the Seahawks get off to a 3-2 start. The game is slated to start at 4:05 this Sunday on CBS.
Shortly after the start of that game, Zach Tom and the Green Bay Packers will be taking on the Denver Broncos and Justin Strnad at 4:25 on FOX. Tom has the second-highest PFF grade (75.6) out of all second-year offensive tackles this season through five games, while Strnad has proven himself as a valuable member of the Broncos special teams over the last two seasons.
#ProDeacs Results and Week Seven Slate (All times eastern)
- AT Perry - NO (3-3)
- This Week: Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints (Thursday, 8:15 p.m., PRIME)
- Last Week: New Orleans Saints 13 at Houston Texans 20
- Jessie Bates III - ATL (3-3)
- This Week: Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX)
- Last Week: Washington Commanders 24 at Atlanta Falcons 16
- Luke Masterson and Justin Herron - LV (3-3)
- This Week: Las Vegas Raiders at Chicago Bears (Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX)
- Last Week: New England Patriots 17 at Las Vegas Raiders 21
- Carlos "Boogie" Basham Jr. - NYG (1-5)
- This Week: Washington Commanders at New York Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS)
- Last Week: New York Giants 9 at Buffalo Bills 14
- Phil Haynes - SEA (3-2)
- This Week: Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks (Sunday, 4:05 p.m., FOX)
- Last Week: Seattle Seahawks 13 at Cincinnati Bengals 17
- Greg Dortch - ARI (1-5)
- This Week: Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks (Sunday, 4:05 p.m., FOX)
- Last Week: Arizona Cardinals 9 at Los Angeles Rams 26
- Kobie Turner - LAR (3-3)
- This Week: Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, 4:05 p.m., FOX)
- Last Week: Arizona Cardinals 9 at Los Angeles Rams 26
- Justin Strnad - DEN (1-5)
- This Week: Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS)
- Last Week: Denver Broncos 8 at Kansas City Chiefs 19
- Ja'Sir Taylor and Essang Bassey - LAC (2-3)
- This Week: Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS)
- Last Week: Dallas Cowboys 20 at Los Angeles Chargers 17
- Zach Tom - GB (2-3)
- This Week: Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos (Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS)
- Last Week: BYE
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