The second installment of the Gators in the NFL finds a week heavy with inactivity. Six former Gator greats were on a bye week. Several others were either inactive for this week’s games or missed time due to injury. Something came to mind that should be cleared up. Every week in the NFL plenty of players are declared inactive for that weekend’s games: they are required to be.
By Allen DeLaney
The NFL allows for a 53 man regular season roster, but only a 45 man game day roster. What does this mean? Every week 8 players must be declared inactive. On a team with several non major injuries, this space can be used to place normal starters. However on a healthy team, the last several backups at a few positions are usually made inactive. Now on to the stats!
Big weeks
Gators that had a strong week on the gridiron.
Alex Brown DE Chicago Bears: Continues to be a consummate pro defense end. Logged Four tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in a 34-7 victory over Detroit
Ike Hilliard WR Tampa Bay Bucs: Not a huge day statistically for Hilliard, but he had 4 catches for 29 yards and a touchdown in a 16-13 loss to Denver. It’s incredibly hard to score in the NFL, so most weeks a TD will get you into the big boys section.
Ray McDonald DE San Francisco 49ers: Getting significant playing time for the better bay area team, McDonald put up 3 tackles and a sack in a 30-21 loss to New England.
Marcus Thomas DT Denver: Da Trap, as Thomas is apparently nicknamed in the mild high city, trapped himself a football with the ever so rare defensive tackle interception. He also had two tackles in a 16-13 win over Tampa Bay.
Doing their jobs
Gators that weren’t outstanding, but got their minutes
Channing Crowder LB Miami Dolphins: Channing made 2 assisted tackles in a 17-10 victory over San Diego.
Jabar Gaffney WR New England Patriots: Like the other Patriot wide outs, he continues to miss Tom Brady. Three catches and 35 yards in a 30-21 win over San Francisco
Marquand Manuel SS Denver Broncos: had 2 tackles in the 16-13 win over Tampa Bay
Earnest Graham RB Tampa Bay Bucs: Earnest had a tough day against Denver as he was limited to 10 carries for 59 yards, and 5 catches for 21 yards. The re-emergence of Warrick Dunn has cut into his carry totals so far this season.
Fred Taylor RB Jacksonville Jaguars: Freddy T. has had a rough couple of weeks. With a beat up O-line consisting mainly of backups, the Jags have struggled to run the ball this season. Taylor had 10 carries for only 19 yards and 2 catches for only 6 yards in a 26-21 loss to Pittsburgh.
Mike Peterson MLB Jacksonville Jaguars: Peterson and the rest of the Jags defense was behind the 8ball from the get go, despite a defensive touchdown, as Pittsburgh held the ball for the first ten minutes of the game. When Pittsburgh went on the decisive winning drive in the 4th quarter, the jags defense was gassed. Peterson had 5 tackles in a game where the Steelers threw the ball early and often due to injuries at RB.
Brandon Siler LB San Diego Chargers: Due to some injures on the defense Siler is getting some playing time. He had 3 tackles in a 17-10 loss in Miami.
Lito Sheppard CB Philadelphia: Relegated to mostly the nickel back so far this season, Sheppard had one tackle in a 23-17 loss to divisional rival Washington.
Jevon Kearse DE Tennessee: Still trying to regain the form he flashed in his first go around with the Titans, Kearse had 2 tackles in a 13-10 win over Baltimore.
Kevin carter DE Tampa Bay: The old veteran had only one tackle in the Bucs 16-13 loss at Denver.
Played… Technically
Some of these Gators saw action, even if they did not post any statistics. Others rode the bench but were available to play.
Dallas Baker WR Pittsburgh: although he didn’t record a reception, he did play in the game and even received recognition from Al Michaels at one point during the Sunday night victory over Jacksonville when he appeared in a five wide out set. Baker appears to be the 5th receiver on a team that runs more two WR two TE sets than any other team in the league, making him more like any other teams 6th WR as far as playing time.
Max Starks OL Pittsburgh: Much like Baker, he was mentioned by Michaels when he came into the game in a goal line situation. Starks is the Steelers’ third tackle and comes in on power run formations.
Derrick Harvey DE Jacksonville: played in the game but failed to register a tackle. Missing camp has apparently had an effect on his playing time since Quentin Groves (Jags second round pick at DE out of Auburn with 1.5 sacks and a fumble on the season) has gotten plenty of action.
Bobby McCray DE New Orleans: Did not record a tackle but did have a few QB pressures
Darrell Jackson WR Denver: no stats
Jarvis Moss DE Denver: no stats
Jeremy Mincey DE Jacksonville: no stats
Ran Carthon RB Indianapolis: DNP
Rex Grossman: DNP
Inactive
Players declared inactive by their respective teams this week
Andre Caldwell WR/return man Cincinnati
Reggie Nelson FS Jacksonville: Inactive due to injury, normally a starter.
Reynaldo Hill DB Tennessee
Ian Scott DT San Diego
On a Bye
These Gators had a bye week
Cooper Carlisle OL Oakland
Andra Davis MLB Cleveland
Todd Johnson DB St Louis
Gus Scott DB New York Jets
Ben troupe TE Oakland
Gerard Warren DT Oakland
Practice Squad
These Gators made an NFL team, but are not on the full time roster
Tavares Washington OL Chiefs
DeShawn Wynn RB Green Bay
Drew miller OL Jacksonville
Steven Harris DT Denver