Marshall in the NFL

Week three of the pre-season is in the books for most NFL teams. Here is an update on how your favorite Marshall athletes performed last week.

Doug Legursky, C, Pittsburgh Steelers

Can’t find any thing about Legursky’s performance in the Steelers 17 – 0 win over Buffalo. Legursky figures to get plenty of playing time in Pittsburgh’s last pre-season game against Carolina as he battles for a roster spot.

Randy Moss, WR, New England Patriots

Actually got to see Moss play live for the first time during New England’s 27 – 24 win over Washington. Moss was dominate, schooling Redskin defensive backs DeAngelo Hall and LeRon Landry for separate touchdown receptions. Moss’s line for the night, six catches for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Chris Hanson, P, New England Patriots

Had four punts for an average of 43.3 yards, put three kicks inside the twenty.

Chris Massey, LS, St. Louis Rams

No news is good news for the Rams long snapper. I did find an article about new St. Louis coach Steve Spagnuolo which included this Massey quote “"Some people are like: 'Why's he worrying about that?'" long snapper Chris Massey said. "But it's good, because the little things and all the small details he keeps preaching to us are going to pay off in the long run." Read the whole article here from St. Louis Dispatch writer Jim Thomas:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/rams/story/78EC62118AA75F9786257620007AE818?OpenDocument

Chris Crocker, S, Cincinnati Bengals

Did not play in the Bengals 24 – 21 victory over St. Louis while nursing a hamstring injury.

Jason Raider, TE, Atlanta Falcons

For the third week in a row Raider did not get a catch although, he did survive the Falcons first roster cut down.

Byron Leftwich, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Was named the week one starter by Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris. In Tampa Bay’s 10 – 6 loss to Miami Leftwich attempted 17 passes while completing 9 of them for 100, no touchdowns or interceptions.

C.J Spillman, S, San Diego Chargers

Did not register a tackle in San Diego’s 24 - 27 loss to Atlanta but according to Kevin Acee at the San Diego Union Tribune Spillman is making a strong case for a roster spot: http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/aug/28/atlanta-8212-chargers/?chargers

Meanwhile, there appears an abundance of safeties.

Undrafted free agent C.J. Spillman, who might have been the Chargers' pick in the sixth round if Kevin Ellison had not been available, has been making plays. Coaches believe he deserves a spot on the roster, but there might not be room.

“There are some things I'm really interested in seeing in the next two weeks,” Turner said.
“There are some guys who have gotten to play a fair amount of snaps who are going to get to play a whole lot more snaps that will make a determination how much they play on special teams, as backup guys or if they make the football team.”

John Wade, C, Oakland Raiders

Has been out with a stinger for a number of weeks while his competition to start, Samson Satele, has been struggling.

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, New York Giants

Lead all Giants rushers with 47 yards on 8 carries in New York’s 25 – 27 loss to the Jets. Average 5.9 yards per run.

Chad Pennington, QB, Miami Dolphins

Was very productive in Miami’s 10 – 6 win over Tampa Bay completing 9 of 16 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown.