MMQB's Coach of the Week: Darrin Simmons

October 12, 2015

The Award Section

COACH OF THE WEEK

Darrin Simmons, special teams coordinator, Cincinnati. In his 13th year with the Bengals, Sunday was one of Simmons’ finest hours. His kickoff team stuck the Seahawks at the 20, 19, 20, 20 and 20-yard line (obviously a tribute to Mike Nugent’s leg); his punt team pinned Seattle at the 2-yard line twice, and once at the 16. His punt returners, Adam Jones and Brandon Tate, bounced through Seattle for 93 return yards. The Bengals needed everything to go right against the Seahawks to have a good chance to win, and that included special teams. And everything did go right.

Rookie Spotlight: Scherff Quietly Earning Stripes

By Brian Tinsman

October 9, 2015

WASHINGTON — Taken amid fanfare and controversy with the No. 5 overall pick in the draft, Washington Redskins lineman Brandon Scherff had his share of fans and dissenters throughout the offseason and preseason.

First he was the right pick–then maybe he wasn’t. He was going to play right tackle–but maybe he would start at right guard. He dealt with injuries. He was part of the preseason Detroit debacle.

After making the squad and being named a starter, he had a brutal match-up in his first NFL regular season game, dealing with a Dolphins defensive line that features Cameron Wake and Ndamukong Suh.

He was supposed to fail. But he didn’t.

Even in a losing effort, Scherff played like a veteran, opening up holes in the running game (37 rushes, 161 yards) and keeping quarterback Kirk Cousins clean. After the game, he earned his head coach’s praise.

“I think for the most part [right tackle] Morgan Moses and Brandon [Scherff], in their first game together, I’m happy with the way they played,” Jay Gruden said. “If we’re going to take some positives, I’m happy with the way our offensive line played.”

Fellow lineman and fellow former top-pick Trent Williams assessed: “The guys knew they had a big challenge. They came out here with that big hat on today. Brandon did a good job on [Suh], Moses did a good job on [Wake].”

Scherff even earned respect from Suh: “Obviously he’s playing hard. He has a great coach over there. I know [offensive line coach Bill] Callahan. He’s in good hands and has a guy who will take care of him.”

He had another tough assignment against Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald in Week 2, but protected the pocket when the two matched up. In Week 3, it was Giants veteran defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins who was held without a sack against Scherff. Same with Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry in Week 4.

In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, Scherff is one of the best pass protecting guards in the NFL this season:



That’s elite company with 12 Pro Bowl seasons and three Super Bowl rings in the mix. This from the same outlet that named the Redskins the second-worst offensive line in the NFL.

While the media spotlight has largely moved off of Scherff, his performance is not lost on Cousins, who has been sacked only five times in 158 passing attempts (3 percent) this season. Only Eli Manning, Derek Carr, Andy Dalton and Ryan Fitzpatrick have been sacked fewer times through four games.

“It just makes my life, the play caller’s life, everybody’s life so much easier,” Cousins said of his line earlier this season. “The key is going to be continuing to do it week in and week out going forward.

“Certainly excited about what they showed. Looking forward to hopefully being able to lavish them with and shower them with gifts for what they did this year. I would love to do that more than anything.”

Ted Ginn Jr., Panthers receivers proving Cris Carter others wrong so far

Ted Ginn Jr. and the Panthers receivers have defied predictions that the passing game would suffer in Kelvin Benjamin's absence. Grant Halverson/Getty Images

By David Newton, ESPN Staff Writer

October 7, 2015

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- ESPN analyst and Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter predicted the Carolina Panthers wouldn’t win more than seven games after Kelvin Benjamin suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp.

He wasn’t the only one.

The reason was quarterback Cam Newton wouldn’t have enough weapons without his star wide receiver and a true No. 1 to replace him among a cast of no-names.

The Panthers are 4-0.

So far, Newton and company are proving everyone wrong. This unknown group of receivers and Pro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen have accounted for seven receiving touchdowns through four games.

At this point last season with Benjamin the Panthers had six.

Ted Ginn Jr., like Carter a former Ohio State star, has been a big reason. He has 12 catches for 206 yards and three touchdowns, including his first career two-touchdown game in Sunday’s 37-23 victory over Tampa Bay.

“I can’t believe Cris Carter," Ginn said when told of the preseason prediction. “He’s a Buckeye. ... It just puts fire in us."

Responded Carter by email: “They're having a great year. I admit I made a mistake. Tell him I'll start giving them some publicity."

If the Panthers keep winning, the publicity will come. It already is for Ginn, who for some reason excels with the Panthers.

He has eight touchdown catches for Carolina in 16 games in 2013 and four this season. In his previous seven seasons for Miami, San Francisco and Arizona he has a combined six touchdown catches.

His only touchdown catches the past five seasons have been with the Panthers.

“I just feel this team here, this coaching staff, knows what I can do," Ginn said. “They optimize my speed, my talent."

Ginn has been known as a deep threat most of his career, including Carolina. But against Tampa Bay he showed his versatility, catching two passes underneath for touchdowns of 24 and 6 yards.

“A lot of people just see the speed," Ginn said. “As long as I keep going out and just putting that out there, our days coming up will be better."

Not that Ginn has completely replaced Benjamin. A year ago, the rookie out of Florida State had 21 catches for 329 yards and three touchdowns in his first four games. He finished the regular season with nine.

But holding true to what offensive coordinator Mike Shula said when Benjamin was injured, the Panthers have replaced him by committee.

Ginn, Philly Brown, Brenton Bersin and Jerricho Cotchery have combined for 38 catches for 398 yards and five touchdowns.

Olsen also has played a big role, catching 17 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns.

Give Newton credit, too. There were times last season when he may have depended too heavily on the 6-foot-5 Benjamin. He’s become more confident spreading the ball around.

“Cam was forced to use other targets, use other people on offense," cornerback Charles Tillman said Tuesday on ESPN’s "First Take." “He’s dishing out the ball equally. That’s one of the things that’s helped change his game.

“I’m loving what I’m seeing on offense."

The offense hasn’t always looked pretty, as Ginn reminds. He also reminds it will get prettier when players such as rookie receiver Devin Funchess get more acclimated.

Funchess was the player most mentioned when Benjamin was injured. He has only three catches for 38 yards.

Others have picked up the slack. Bersin, who moved up from the practice squad after veteran Jerricho Cotchery suffered a high ankle sprain two weeks ago, had a team-high four catches for 54 yards against Tampa Bay.

Two were in traffic with the outcome still in doubt.

“We expect those from those guys, especially from a group that’s getting so scrutinized with not being good enough," Newton said. “Those guys are really stepping up to the challenge and getting better each week."

And so far, proving experts such as Carter wrong.