2013 Postseason

Alex Smith passed for 378 yards and 4 touchdowns, both franchise records, as Kansas City lost at Indianapolis, 45-44. The Colts came back from a 28-point deficit to win, making Smith the only QB to throw 4 TDs and no INTs but lose in the playoffs. He did lose a fumble on a Robert Mathis strip-sack. Playing without an injured Jamaal Charles, Smith was second on the team in rushing with 57 yards on 8 carries. Sean Smith had a tackle, three assists, and a PDef. Kansas City's defense had three interceptions and a fumble recovery, yet Indy won despite the 4-1 turnover margin. Another fumble bounced right to Andrew Luck, who plunged in for a touchdown in the 4th quarter.

The other AFC West team playing on wild card weekend fared better, as the Chargers beat the Bengals, 27-10. Eric Weddle had three tackles, three assists, and a PDef in the road victory. Philip Rivers only threw for 128 yards and one touchdown, but he played error-free ball, unlike Andy Dalton. Dalton tallied 334 yards passing, 1 TD, and 2 INTs (plus a lost fumble). Cincinnati could not overcome a 4-0 margin in turnovers.

In the second round, New England played host to Indianapolis. To prepare for the speed of Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton, the Patriots signed Reggie Dunn to their practice squad. Hilton had more than 100 yards receiving in the game, but he only caught four passes and did not score. Luck threw 4 more interceptions, and this time there was no comeback. New England bludgeoned Indy, with LeGarrette Blount amassing 166 yards and 4 TDs rushing. Stevan Ridley also scored twice, and New England won easily, 43-22. Sealver Siliga contributed one tackle and two assists on defense.

San Diego got another crack at Denver, but this time Mike McCoy didn't outfox John Fox, his former employer. The Broncos built a 17-0 lead before an injury in the defensive backfield opened things up for Rivers. He completed two TDs of 16 yards apiece to rookie Keenan Allen in the 4th quarter, but a Knowshown Moreno TD run kept the final margin at seven. Denver 24, San Diego 17. No six-seed upsetting the one-seed this postseason. Zane Beadles and the Broncos advanced, while Eric Weddle (3 tackles and 2 assists) and the hard-pressing Chargers did not.

That left only two ProUtes playing opposite one another in the AFC Championship: Siliga and Beadles. Other outlets will tell you about Brady and Manning, but this one is all about the big boys in the trenches. Denver's offense totaled more than 500 yards and didn't surrender a sack. The Broncos only punted once. Siliga had five tackles, but this game was all Denver.

The only NFC playoff game to feature any ProUtes was a disappointment, as San Francisco knocked out Carolina, 23-10. Steve Smith scored on a 31-yard pass in the second quarter to give the Panthers a 7-6 lead, but, after adding a field goal, Carolina didn't score in the second half. Smith also caught a 28-yard pass in the first quarter, as he totaled 74 yards on 4 catches. Star Lotulelei made 3 tackles and 3 assists, but Jordan Gross and the O-line allowed two sacks.

Gross is at the end of his contract, and has said that may have been his final game in a Panthers uniform. If he continues to play it will be in Carolina, but he will consider retirement. He will get at least one more game in a Pro Bowl uniform, as he was named a replacement for 49er Joe Staley. Alex Smith, who is also at the end of his contract, was tabbed to replace Tom Brady. So there will be more ProUtes in the Pro Bowl (3) than the Super Bowl (1).

Full Cupboard

The cupboard is full of candidates for ProUte of Week 17, which is even more impressive with all three Smith boys being rested! Sealver Siliga was a brute, racking up 5 tackles, 4 assists, a sack, and a forced fumble! That's bigger than Star Lotulelei's tackle, assist, and sack. Brice McCain had 5 tackles, 2 PDefs, and an interception. Eric Weddle had 9 tackles, 5 assists, and ran for a first down on a fake punt. Matt Asiata had a breakout game, rushing for 115 yards on 14 carries, an average of 8.2 ypc, with a long of 39 yards (and a fumble lost). Zane Beadles was a key member of the highest-scoring offense in NFL history.

How to choose one award-winning performance, then? Context. Siliga's play is remarkable for a practice squad journeyman, but New England didn't have much to lose against Buffalo. The Patriots are the second seed in the AFC regardless. The Panthers are the second seed in the NFC, and Star's sack was one of a team-record 9 against Atlanta. Houston had nothing left to play for, but they went down fighting, as McCain's game against Tennessee can attest. He has a knack for picking off Titans' passes! Asiata played well in a win, but Minnesota's coach was fired anyway. Beadles had a big year, but was it a big week for him?

And then there's Weddle, who bulled his team's way into the playoffs. When Mike McCoy decided to fake a punt from his own 28 in overtime, he put the ball in Weddle's hands. Can that really be considered a gamble? Weddle got it done, and San Diego got the help they needed to land a wildcard spot after defeating Kansas City's backups. Weddle got the victory, so Weddle gets the trophy.

Seven Up

Seven of the eight ProUtes in the same game.

Carolina came from behind to beat Miami, 20-16. It was the seventh straight victory for Carolina, but the true headline of the game was the participation of eight ProUtes! Sam Brenner got another start, and his reward was facing Star Lotulelei. Koa Misi, Derrick Shelby, and Paul Soliai were opposite Jordan Gross. That left R.J. Stanford, a former Panther defensive back, to cover Steve Smith. No offense to R.J. (who didn't see much action, or this photo op), but that's a mismatch. Smith didn't put up big numbers, but he made the big play when his team needed it.

With four minutes to go in the game, Miami was forced to punt. Carolina took over at their own 20 yard line. On first down, Smith was called for illegal formation, a five-yard penalty. With a first-and-fifteen, Ted Ginn, Jr. lost three yards. Cam Newton ran for eight yards on second-on-eighteen. Newton went back to Ginn, Jr. for an incomplete pass on third-and-ten. Facing fourth-and-ten at their own 20 yard line with two-and-a-half minutes to play, the reformed-conservative Ron Rivera went for it. And did Newton look for Ginn, Jr. when it counted? No, he did not. When you need to move the chains, you look for Steve Smith. Even when he's double covered. Put that ball in there, and only one man will come out with it. Smith caught the pass, the defenders fell down, and it turned into a 19-yard gain. That play sustained the drive, which ended with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Greg Olsen. Smith didn't get the score, but he got the win. He got his five catches for 69 yards, and he got another ProUte of the Week Award.

San Diego also came back to top Kansas City, 41-38, in a game that pitted Alex Smith against Eric Weddle. Alex completed 26-of-38 passes for 294 yards and 3 TDs, with one interception. Weddle didn't snag that pick but he did force a fumble, which he recovered. He also made six tackles. Sean Smith had three tackles and a PDef, but he was also beat on the game-winning touchdown. That game had rival coaches as well, with former Ute Mike McCoy squaring off against former Cougar Andy Reid. The Chiefs have lost two in a row, with a rematch with Denver looming.

Reggie Dunn was signed to another practice squad. After a stint in Green Bay, Dunn has taken his talents to Cleveland. He keeps (re)turning up!

Two Weeks In

It's the second week of the NFL preseason, time to take a look at how the undrafted free agents are faring in their respective training camps. Dave Kruger (Browns) has one tackle, which is one more than his drafted brother Joe (Eagles) has to the Kruger name. First round pick Star Lotulelei hasn't recorded any tackles either, although he did knock down Nick Foles, the former University of Arizona quarterback. David Rolf (Chargers) doesn't have any stats as San Diego's offense has struggled early under new coach Mike McCoy. Sam Brenner (Dolphins) and Tevita Stevens (Redskins) aren't likely to record stats as rookies on the offensive line. Stevens and Reggie Dunn (Steelers) will be on opposite sidelines in their second preseason game Monday night. In week one Dunn had one reception for 10 yards and two punt returns for 22 yards (with a long of 19). Moe Lee (Ravens) had a nice outing in week one, with two tackles, a PDef, and an INT from Tampa Bay's third string QB. He followed that up with no stats against the Falcons in week two. Atlanta cut Sean Sellwood; DeVonte Christopher, Ryan Lacy, and Reggie Topps didn't make it to the preseason.

Alex Advances

Alex leads his team to a playoff win.

Alex Smith looked every bit the ProUte of the Year against New Orleans on Saturday! Alex was 24-42 for 299 yards and 3 TDs, including the game-winner to Vernon Davis. Smith led two game- winning drives, capping the first with a 28 TD run with 2:11 to play. After Drew Brees connected with Jimmy Graham for a 66 yard TD to retake the lead, Alex did it again. With only 1:37 on the clock, Smith drove the 49ers 85 yards (61 in the hands of Davis) for the win. When everyone expected Alex to manage the game, setting up the league's leading kicker David Akers for a tying field goal, Coach Harbaugh dialed up a play called "Vernon Post" which the team executed perfectly.

Clearly this was a team victory, and the defense played its' part, starting with the hit safety Donte Whitner laid on Pierre Thomas at the two yard line, forcing a fumble and denying the Saints an opportunity to score early. The defense and special teams came up with four turnovers in the first half, yet San Francisco only led 17-14 at the break. Defensive end Justin Smith made one of the most physical plays of the year, driving Pro Bowl tackle Jermon Bushrod back and reaching over him to drag Brees down. Brees continued his record-breaking ways, completing 40 of 63 passes for 462 yards and 4 TDs, but he also threw two interceptions, ending his own record streak of none in the past five years of post-season play. In the first post-season appearance of his career, Alex Smith did not throw an interception. He did fumble twice while being sacked, losing one of the two. Alex's passer rating for the game was 103.2, better than Brees's 93.5, and he now has a signature play to call his own, thirty years after "The Catch." Home field advantage was definitely a factor in this game; the weather in San Fran was fine (it won't be this weekend for the NFC Championship Game), but the Saints are a different team away from their dome. Credit Smith's steady hand all season long for earning that advantage, and for using it to advance as a player and as a team.

In the other playoff match ups, Brice McCain (no stats) and the Texans couldn't overcome the rookie mistakes of their quarterback, falling to the Ravens and Paul Kruger (no stats). Tim Tebow was no match for Tom Brady, as the Patriots overwhelmed the Broncos. Zane Beadles had his name mentioned for a personal foul on a rushing TD early on, and OC Mike McCoy's name has been mentioned as a candidate for the head coach position in Miami.

68 Wildcard Pickup

Three ProUtes who wear #68 were in action during Wildcard Weekend: Chris Kemoeatu, Jonathan Fanene, and Zane Beadles. But they weren't the only ProUtes in the first round of the playoffs: Brice McCain, Stevenson Sylvester, and Denver OC Mike McCoy were also battling to get their respective teams to the next round. McCain didn't record any stats, but he played slot coverage for the Texans in their 31-10 dismantling of the Bengals; Fanene registered 6 tackles for Cincinnati, although he couldn't quite complete the one seen here. McCain and the Texans move on to face Paul Kruger and the Ravens (David Reed is on injured reserve) in the second round.

The Broncos prevailed in an overtime thriller against the Steelers, as McCoy's offense racked up 447 yards on the vaunted Steelers D, which was held without a sack by Beadles and the boys. Pittsburgh's o-line couldn't say the same thing, as Roethlisberger's limited mobility opened the door for five sacks. Sly didn't record any stats for the injury-depleted Steelers. Denver moves on to face New England next. Beadles will be the only 68 to advance, while Alex Smith will see his first playoff action when the Saints march into San Francisco.

Off Week with Weddle Off

One might think that with Eric Weddle and the San Diego Chargers having a bye in week 5 it would open the door for a new ProUte to step forward and win the award. That was not the case however, as no other ProUte did much to distinguish himself.

An esteemed follower of the blog suggested that coaches be included and recognition given to Mike McCoy, a former Ute quarterback who is currently the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Denver Broncos. The Broncos are 5-0 and qb Kyle Orton was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week after beating the Patriots. Credit McCoy for developing a quarterback who was considered a downgrade when the Broncos traded Jay Cutler for him. It will be interesting to see how McCoy develops as a coach now that he works with Josh McDaniels, who was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Bill Belichick.

McCoy had his own brief pro career in the 90s, playing for the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe and the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL.