Say it ain't so, RoJo!

Robert Johnson was waived by the Tennessee Titans when he didn't pass a physical on Sunday. RoJo played in 12 games last season, the most of his three year career since Tennessee drafted him in the fifth round, but suffered a Lisfranc injury late in the season. He had been on the physically unable to perform list during training camp, but the Titans couldn't wait for him to recover. He was waived to make room for safety Corey Lynch, a five year veteran who last played for San Diego.

Like Johnson, Sione Pouha hasn't completely recovered from the back injury that hampered him last season which led to his release from the Jets.

Migration

Kruger also drew interest from the Colts.

The Browns left Cleveland to become the Baltimore Ravens, but one prominent Raven is reversing the migration course: Paul Kruger has agreed to a five year, $40 million contract offer from the Browns. Kruger led the Ravens in sacks this season, but after Ray Lewis retired Baltimore made inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe their priority for re-signing. That backfired on them, as Ellerbe has agreed to a bigger offer from the Dolphins. Baltimore lost three key players, with one of them going to a division rival. It remains to be seen if they will keep safety Ed Reed, but reportedly they will be retaining receiver/special teams player David Reed.

Sean Smith may find himself in another uniform this year - Miami has made some high profile deals, but the corner has not been among them. He may have to wait a bit for the market to settle, considering the Jets are looking to trade Darrelle Revis and the Eagles have released Nnamdi Asomugha. Brice McCain will also have to bide his time to find a taker for his services.

This is the year that the Utes who were drafted after the 2009 Sugar Bowl become free agents, but the Utes who were drafted following the Fiesta Bowl in 2005 are also changing teams. The trade sending Alex Smith to Kansas City was made official today, and the Jets may be parting ways with Sione Pouha.

Big Bird

Give me that ball, dang you!

Paul Kruger showed off his wingspan and his reaction time, batting down a Carson Palmer pass and catching it for an interception. Kruger also sacked Palmer twice (credit for one is due to Mike Brisiel for stepping on Palmer's foot on fourth-and-one - good thing it wasn't Tony Bergstrom!) and had six tackles as the Ravens walloped the Raiders, 55-20. Kruger wrapped his big mitts around the ProUte of the Week as a result.

Alex Smith was knocked out of the game with a concussion after taking a hard hit to the back of the neck. He stayed in the game and completed 5 passes including a TD while experiencing blurred vision. When his vision didn't clear up he stayed on the sideline. He was 7-8 for 72 yards and the TD when he left. The game ended in a 24-24 tie with St. Louis, as both kickers missed field goal attempts in overtime.

Sione Pouha suited up in Seattle a day after the Utes were defeated there by the Huskies. His Jets were also defeated, but Pouha had 6 tackles, a season-high, as he has been limited by back problems. 

Misi Me?

Koa Misi re-introduced himself to Tim Tebow on Sunday. When they met in the Senior Bowl Misi forced Tebow to fumble. They met again when Tebow was in Denver, and now that he's in New York they will meet up twice a year.

Misi made 8 tackles against the Jets and is our ProUte of Week 3. It was all defense in the third week, with Misi's 8 topping Weddle's 5, Kruger's 3, and Pouha's 3.

Alex Smith and the 49ers faltered at Minnesota, as his streak of consecutive passes without an interception came to an end (it wasn't Brandon Burton who picked it off). Smith also lost a fumble.

Steve Smith caught four balls for 86 yards, then went after his quarterback for sulking after throwing multiple interceptions.

Heavy Weight Bout

Not even an open cut on the bridge of his nose could rattle Alex Smith as he drove his team down the field for the game-clinching touchdown. Smith got cut when he scrambled down field ("just like he did in college" according to one commentator) for a gain that was nullified by a holding penalty. Smith took a forearm to the face at the end of his slide, but no flag was thrown for targeting his head. He was cut on the play, but he wasn't flustered. With blood running down his nose Alex lined up and methodically moved his team into scoring position. He hit Vernon Davis with another touchdown pass, and that was game. Alex Smith knows how to roll with the punches, so taking the ProUte of the Week Award away from him isn't going to be easy!

There were some heavy weights who gave it a shot: Ma'ake Kemoeatu, Paul Soliai, and Sione Pouha all recorded a PDef this week. Sean Smith had two, but he's a cornerback. These three are defensive tackles, and they all notched a PDef in the same week! Pouha had the best overall performance in his return to action, with two tackles, a sack, and the PDef.

Steve Smith needed only 3 receptions to get 104 yards, with his longest being good for 66 yards.

Eric Weddle wasn't the only ProUte safety wearing #32 in San Diego on Sunday. Robert Johnson got the start again for Tennessee. He struggled to cover the tight end in the end zone, but he did record three tackles for a loss (four total). Weddle had three tackles and an interception of Jake Locker's errant pass.

Remember Me?

Sione and Keite Pouha have donated $50,000 to the Invest in Excellence campaign, and the alumni locker room in the new football facility will be named for Pouha in gratitude. Memorial Day weekend is a fine time for an announcement like this! New OC Brian Johnson and his fiancée Ashley Chapman also donated $50,000 to the campaign earlier this month.

In free agent news, a Kemoeatu has re-signed with his former team. Remember Ma'ake? Apparently the Ravens do, as they have signed the defensive lineman who didn't play in 2011. Too bad he won't be able to line up against his brother Chris in the annual Ravens-Steelers grudge matches; Chris has not signed with another team since being released by the Steelers. Zane Taylor has signed with the Colts after being released by the Eagles.

Down the Line

The Jets have locked up Sione Pouha for another 3 years, adding stability to their defensive front. The Steelers have cut Chris Kemoeatu from their unstable offensive line in an attempt to clear more cap space. The Dolphins used their franchise tag on Paul Soliai a year ago, but the two sides never reached a long term agreement. This year Miami is transitioning from a 3-4 look to a 4-3 front, which reduces the importance of a massive run stopper. Will he capitalize on his Pro Bowl appearance and take his girth to another team that will appreciate a man of his stature, or will he stay with Koa Misi and Sean Smith in South Beach? Alex Smith is likely to stay in San Francisco, signing a new deal that will keep him (not Peyton Manning) as the starting quarterback for the 49ers. The Panthers tendered R.J. Stanford, an exclusive rights free agent.

Sione Seals It With a Safety

Go to a happy place, like Tempe, Arizona circa 2005!

Sione Pouha tackled Jackie Battle in the end zone for a safety in the fourth quarter, sealing the Jets' victory over the Chiefs and the ProUte of the Week award in the process. Pouha also had three tackles and this sack of Tyler Palko, bringing back fond memories of the 2005 Fiesta Bowl!

The big fella beat out Eric Weddle, who had 3 tackles, a PDef, and his seventh INT of the season (putting him in a three-way tie for first in the NFL); Sean Smith, who also had a PDef and an INT to go with one tackle; and Steve Smith, who caught six balls for 125 yards.

Practice squad update: Robert Johnson was signed to the 53 man roster of the Titans after safety Anthony Smith was placed on injured reserve.

Take Two

You can't cover greatness!

Steve Smith didn't go for big yards in week 11 - just 41 on 5 receptions - but he did score a touchdown and a two point conversion. His TD (after illegal contact) put the Panthers up 9-0 on the Lions in the first quarter, while his two point conversion tied the game 35-35 in the fourth quarter. Carolina's defense (and Cam Newton's second INT) couldn't keep the Panthers in the game after that, but Steve Smith keeps making big plays. Everyone knows Newton is looking for him in the end zone, but there's nothing Eric Wright can do about it!

Smith picks up another ProUte of the Week award for his playmaking ability ahead of Alex Smith (20-38, 267 yds, 2 TDs, INT), Eric Weddle (5 tackles), and Sione Pouha (7 tackles).

Jarhead

FUMMMBLE!

This week's ProUte Sione Pouha used his head to jar the ball loose from Fred Jackson (watch the replay), and a teammate covered it up. Pouha had seven tackles as the Jets held the league's leading rusher under 100 yards rushing and won the division match up.

Pouha's considerable effort edged out the consistent play of Alex Smith, the combined returns of David Reed, and the collected fumble and half-sack of Paul Kruger.

Back from the Brink

Alex Smith brought the 49ers - and his career? - back from the brink against the Eagles, leading his team to a 24-23 victory in Philadelphia. After falling behind 23-3, Smith kept his composure and played like a seasoned veteran, completing 13 of 17 passes for 201 yards and 2 TDs in the second half. He got plenty of help from his running back, his defense, and Philly's rookie kicker, but Alex played a fine game. Smith finished 21-33 for 291 yards and 2 TDs, with 2 fumbles (one lost). His QB rating for the game was 112.1; through the first four games of the season his rating is 97.7. For his performance under pressure Alex earned the ProUte of the Week Award over some stiff competition. Eric Weddle had 8 tackles, a PDef, and an INT, Sione Pouha had 8 tackles and recovered a fumble, and Steve Smith caught 8 passes for 181 yards.

Key Matchup

Chris Kemoeatu got the upper hand on former teammate Sione Pouha as Pittsburgh's injury-depleted offensive line took control in the first half of the AFC Championship Game. Running back Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 95 yards and a TD as the Steelers rolled to a commanding 24-0 lead. An injury to rookie center Maurkice Pouncey caught up to Pittsburgh in the second half, as a fumbled snap resulted in a safety, Mendenhall was limited to 26 yards, and the Steelers were held scoreless. Pouha came away with 6 tackles and was in pursuit of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as he scrambled to hit Antonio Brown for the first down that clinched it.

Pouha and the Jets lost in the AFC Championship Game for the second straight year, while Kemoeatu will play in his third Super Bowl and rookie Stevenson Sylvester will play in his first.

Stop, Drop, and Roll

David Reed was on fire Monday night. Three Texans tried to stop him, but they dropped and he rolled into the end zone. Reed set a new Ravens record with his 103 yard return to start the second half, and his 233 total return yards is the second highest single-game total in team history. Reed was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance, and he can add ProUte of the Week as well. Reed leads the league averaging nearly 30 yards per return.

It took a tremendous effort to overcome the triumphant return of Alex Smith (17-27, 255 yards, 3 TDs), the dominating interior presence of Sione Pouha (10 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery), and the tight coverage of Sean Smith (5 tackles, 4 PDef).

4x4x4

Week 13 in the NFL was a tough one. Six ProUtes played tough defense in tough losses. Naming the ProUte of the Week is a tough call as a result. Do we recognize Sione Pouha's individual effort leading the Jets with 8 tackles in a 45-3 loss to the Patriots? Or do we go with the overall team effort Miami got from Koa Misi, Sean Smith, and Paul Soliai (4 tackles apiece) in a 13-10 loss to Cleveland?

Eight tackles is a rare feat for an interior lineman like Pouha, but the Patriots broke the century mark in rushing yards and had two rushing TDs. The Dolphins held Peyton Hillis and the Browns to 52 yards rushing and no scores on the ground. If not for Chad Henne's 3 INTs and a blocked FG in the first quarter Miami could have come away with a win. Mark Sanchez also threw 3 INTs for New York, but that was forcing the ball downfield under duress.

Pouha tallied as many tackles as Misi and Soliai combined, but throw in Smith's tackles and the 4x4x4 gets the job done. This marks the second time this season Miami's trio has shared the award. Eric Weddle (6 tackles) and Ma'ake Kemoeatu (5 tackles) were also in the running.

Pickin' 'Em Up and Puttin' 'Em Down

Eric Weddle picked up another ProUte of the Week award in week 9. Weddle wraps up these awards like he wraps up ball carriers (8 tackles). He deflects all challengers like he defends passes (2 PDef). This week's poll had five other candidates, but none of them could get by Weddle to reach paydirt. It would take Sione Pouha (4 tackles, PDef) and Sean Smith combined (5 tackles, PDef) to surpass Weddle's numbers. Koa Misi had 6 tackles while Paul Soliai registered 3 tackles and a sack - that might win the award during Weddle's bye week, but not this week. There was a surprise contender on the offensive (and special teams) side: David Reed saw his first action this season. He rushed once for 15 yards and returned two kicks for 44 yards. That's an average of 19.66 yards per play, not bad for a rookie. But no ProUte makes more plays on the field than Eric Weddle.

Weddle Gets His Groove Back

Eric Weddle finally got back to posting the numbers (12 tackles, one pdef) we're used to seeing from the ultra-productive safety in week 6. Weddle got his groove back, even if the Bolts are still looking for the Lightning Thief. This is his first ProUte of the Week award of the season, to go along with the four he won last year.

Four other candidates had noteworthy games: Chris Kemoeatu, OL (378 net yards with no sacks allowed), Koa Misi, LB (3 tackles, 1 sack), Sione Pouha, DL (4 tackles, 1 sack, 1 pdef), and Alex Smith, QB (16-33, 196 yards, 2 TDs, and zero turnovers).

Number One with a Bullet

Embattled quarterback Alex Smith is our ProUte of the Week. The boo birds were out in Candlestick Park, and detractors will say "How can he win the award when he can't win a game?" and "Pretty sad if that's the best Utah has to offer!" Those people are so focused on the few negative plays Smith made they can't see all the positive plays. Yes, he threw two more interceptions (the last one while getting drilled) to add to his league-leading tally of nine. But he also threw three TD passes, two in the fourth quarter. The fumble (which was returned for a TD) was atrocious, but fluke plays like that happen. Frank Gore fumbled twice in the game, but you didn't hear the crowd chanting for his back up. Philip Rivers isn't taking as much flak for his fumble (which was also returned for a TD) late in the Chargers' loss to the Raiders. Tony Romo threw for career high yards against the Titans, but his last pass of the game was an INT (his third), just like Smith's.

Critics aren't impressed with Smith, the former top pick, but analysts are. Just ask Peter King. He threw for 309 yards with some pinpoint precision. He deserved to be chewed out by Coach Singletary and he responded. The coach and the team still believe in him, according to this report on 49ers.com. This blogger still believes in him, too.

The costly mistakes downgraded his game from great to good, but it was good enough to win ProUte of the Week honors over Sione Pouha (5 tackles as the Jets held AP under 100) and Eric Weddle (4 tackles).

Sylvester Sets the Tone

Stevenson Sylvester set the tone for the Steelers on Sunday, forcing a fumble on a kick return. It was the first of seven takeaways in the game, a 19-11 win over the Titans. Sylvester, a rookie third-string linebacker (who wears #55 now), made the most of his time on the field, collecting three tackles to go with his FF. Sly also collected the ProUte of the Week Award!

His forced fumble may not have been as high profile as Koa Misi's fumble recovery for a touchdown, but Misi (another rookie LB who wears #55) was the beneficiary of that play. Sylvester caused the fumble. And he had three tackles to Misi's two, despite playing fewer downs than Misi. To see the video replays of their exploits, see Monday's post titled Fumble!

Also in the running for week two's award were Sione Pouha (6 tackles to lead the Jets), Steve Smith (3 rec., 66 yards, TD), and Eric Weddle (5 tackles and .5 sack).

Pouncin' Pouha

Sione Pouha came out of the pile with two recovered fumbles and the ProUte of the Week Award! Pouncin' Pouha had 7 tackles in a stout effort against the Ravens in the first game of the 2010 season, but it was the pair of fumble recoveries that set him apart (watch the video here) . Sione also won the award in week 6 of the 2009 campaign, making this his second overall. With Kris Jenkins out for the season Pouha will have to up his productivity. He's off to a good start, beating Brice McCain (7 tackles), Koa Misi (4 tackles, 1 sack), and Steve Smith (5 catches, 75 yards, TD) for week one honors.

Rookie's Ride

There is a nice profile of Robert Johnson on Titans Online, although Kyle Meacham did make one glaring factual error. Utah's humbling of Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl was not the first BCS bowl victory by a non-BCS school. That would be Utah's dismantling of Pittsburgh in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl. At that time a non-automatic qualifier had to finish in the top 6 in the BCS rankings to earn a berth in a BCS bowl game. Another game was added and the rule was subsequently changed to a top 12 finish. Utah was the original BCS Buster and the first team to bust in twice. The Utes have one more chance to do it again this year before they join the PAC-10.