NFL blitz: Titans LB Orakpo is hot, Falcons’ penalty-magnet CB is not.
Who’s hot
Tennessee Titans linebacker Brian Orakpo finally has become the player the Washington Redskins thought they were drafting in the first round in 2009. He has seven sacks, equaling last year’s total in his first season with the Titans. The former UT star had a career-high 11 sacks his rookie season.
Who’s not
Atlanta Falcons right cornerback Robert Alford leads the team with eight penalties for 110 yards, accounting for six first downs for opponents. Officials have called him for pass interference five times. He also has had a taunting penalty, unnecessary roughness and illegal use of hands. According to STATS, Alford has allowed 20 catches on 34 targets for 258 yards and two touchdowns while defensing seven passes.
2017 NFL Draft
Dane Brugler of CBS Sports and NFLDraftScout.com gives his top-10 senior offensive guards and top-five draft-eligible underclassmen at the position for the 2017 draft:
Seniors
1. Dan Feeney, Ind. (6-4, 310, 5.09)
2. Dorian Johnson, Pitt. (6-5, 300, 5.20)
3. Nico Siragusa, San Diego St (6-4, 330, 5.37)
4. Zach Banner, USC (6-8, 360, 5.46)
5. Johnny Caspers, Stanford (6-3, 296, 5.29)
6. Forrest Lamp, W. Kent. (6-3, 300, 5.12)
7. Greg Pyke, Ga. (6-5, 313, 5.24)
8. Jessamen Dunker, Tenn. St. (6-4, 290, 5.16)
9. Isaac Asiata, Utah (6-3, 323, 5.38)
10. Erik Austell, Charleston Sou. (6-3, 292, 5.07)
Draft-eligible underclassmen
1. Billy Price, Ohio St. (6-3, 315, 5.19)
2. Quenton Nelson, ND (6-5, 325, 5.23)
3. Damien Mama, USC (6-3, 355, 5.47)
4. Sean Welsh, Iowa (6-2, 292, 5.24)
5. Braden Smith, Auburn (6-5, 305, 5.21)
Numbers game
300 Games coached by Andy Reid, including the postseason, after today. Only 13 other head coaches in NFL history have paced the sideline for 300 games as a head coach, with New England’s Bill Belichick and Los Angeles’ Jeff Fisher the only other active coaches on the list.
Blitz
Since the current playoff format in 1990, 92 teams have started 1-5. The 2015 Chiefs are the only one that rallied to make the postseason.
Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell averages a league-leading 146.7 yards from scrimmage per game since returning from a three-game suspension.
Steelers quarterback Landry Jones, who replaces Ben Roethlisberger in the starting lineup, went 1-1 last year.
The Cardinals’ opponents have drawn 146 false start penalties at University of Phoenix Stadium since the building opened in 2006. That ranks as the most at any stadium in that span.
Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has a 7-0 career record against the Titans.
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski needs one touchdown to tie Stanley Morgan’s team records for touchdowns (68) and touchdown receptions (67).
Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib has 33 career interceptions since entering the league in 2008, the most of any corner in that span. His nine interceptions returned for touchdowns ranks fourth in NFL history behind only Rod Woodson, Darren Sharper and Charles Woodson.
The Seahawks are averaging 88.8 yards rushing per game. They have not averaged under 100 yards rushing per game since Pete Carroll’s first season in Seattle in 2010.
The Bills lead the league in point differential at 59. That’s one point better than the Patriots.
Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill ranks fourth in the NFL in yards per attempt at 8.11. His career best is the 7.18 he had last season.
The Saints have allowed only seven touchdown passes after giving up an NFL-record 45 last season.
The Redskins have five consecutive road wins. They have not won six in a row on the road since 1991.
The Eagles, under defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, blitz less than any team in the league. Philadelphia has blitzed on only 14 percent of its opponents’ pass plays.
Giants receiver Odell Beckham has nine career touchdown receptions of 50 or more yards, eight of 60 or more yards and five of 70 or more yards.
The Bucs went only 2-4 last season without receiver Vincent Jackson, who missed six games with a series of knee injuries.
The Chargers are only 1-11 in their past 12 road games.
Information from The Sports Xchange was used in this report.
This story was originally published October 22, 2016 at 5:01 PM with the headline "NFL blitz: Titans LB Orakpo is hot, Falcons’ penalty-magnet CB is not.."