Marshall in the NFL: Week 6

Weekly review of Marshall alumni in the National Football League.

1. Ahmad Bradshaw, Running Back, Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts placed Ahmad Bradshaw on injured reserve after he suffered a neck injury that required season ending surgery. For the season Bradshaw played in three games, rushing for 186 yards on 41 attempts with two touchdowns. He also caught seven passes for 42 yards.

2. Chris Crocker, Safety, Cincinnati Bengals

In a thrilling 27-22 win over the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals safety Chris Crocker did not record any stats.

3. Vinny Curry, Defensive End, Philadelphia Eagles

Vinny Curry played a season high 25 snaps in the Philadelphia Eagles 31-20 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, knocking down one pass attempt at the line of scrimmage.

4. Aaron Dobson, Wide Receiver, New England Patriots

Aaron Dobson was Patriots quarterback Tom Brady’s favorite target in New England’s  30-27 win over the New Orleans Saints, catching a team high six passes for 63 yards.

5. Mario Harvey, Linebacker, Indianapolis Colts

After Colts starting middle linebacker Jerrell Freeman suffered a second quarter concussion, Mario Harvey took his place and recorded a team and career big 10 tackles. Despite the high tackle total, Harvey struggled in pass coverage pass coverage as San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers picked on the reserve linebacker. Indianapolis lost to the Chargers 19-9.

6. Albert McClellan, Linebacker, Baltimore Ravens

Playing exclusively on special teams, Ravens linebacker Albert McClellan did not record any stats during the Green Bay Packers 19–17 win over Baltimore.  

7. Doug Legursky, Guard/Center, Buffalo Bills

Fully recovered from a preseason knee injury, Bills left guard Doug Legursky started his first game of the season last Sunday. The Bills must have like what they saw as former starter Colin Brown was cut earlier today.

8. Lee Smith, Tight End, Buffalo Bills

Lee Smith appeared in 12 offensive snaps during last week’s loss to the Bengals and did not record any stats.

9. C.J. Spillman, Safety, San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco C.J. Spillam had another impressive outing, recording a tackle on Cardinals punt returner Patrick Peterson inside Arizona’s own three yard line. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 32-20.

Marshall Football: Home Date with Louisville Moved to 2016

Marshall has agreed to move its home football game against Louisville from September 27^th,  2014 to September 24^th, 2016. The change was made to accommodate Louisville’s impending move to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Under the previous arrangement, Louisville was only scheduled to host five home games in 2014. With the move, the Cardinals can schedule another game at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, giving them an even number of road and home dates.

Marshall will announce a replacement opponent for Louisville at a later date but, expect a home game against an FCS team.

Future Marshall Out of Conference Opponents

2014

8/30 – at Miami (OH)

9/13 – Ohio

9/20 – at Akron

2015

9/5 – Purdue

9/12 – at Ohio

TBA – at Kent State

TBA – Norfolk State

2016

9/17 – Akron
9/24 - Louisville

Commitment of the Week: Alex Cason

A new feature on the Thundering Blog, we are reviewing the weekly performances of Marshall's verbal commitments and anointing one football recruit our 'Commitment of the Week'.

One of the great rivalries in Georgia High School football, Valdosta met cross-town rival Lowndes in the annual ‘Winnersville Classic’ Friday night.

Playing in his final Winnersville Classic, Valdosta wide receiver and Marshall commitment Alex Cason caught a season high 11 passes for 135 yards. His performance was particularly impressive considering that Wildcats quarterback Seth Shuman only completed 20 passes for 171 yards.

After accounting for over half of his teams receptions and all but 36 receiving yards, Alex Cason is our ‘Commitment of the Week’.

Commitment of the Week
Week 1: Hyleck Foster
Week 2: Trayvon Williams
Week 3: Cole Garvin
Week 4: Keion Davis
Week 5: N/A
Week 6: Frankie Hernandez
Week 7: Hyleck Foster

Week 8: Alex Cason

Marshall Football: This Week in C-USA 10/13/13

Now that Marshall is firmly entrenched in league play, we are going to take a weekly look at Conference USA football, reviewing last Saturday's results while also looking ahead to this weeks important match-ups. 

Last Weeks Results
Marshall 24 - FAU 23
ECU 33 - Tulane 36 3OT
Rice 27 - UTSA 21
MTSU 7 - N.Texas 34
UAB 27 - FIU 24
Tulsa 34 - UTEP 20

East Standings
1) Marshall 4-2, 2-0
2) ECU: 4-2, 2-1
3) UAB: 2-4, 1-1
3) FIU: 1-5, 1-1
4) MTSU: 3-4, 1-2
5) FAU: 2-5, 1-4
7) USM: 0-5, 0-1

East Division Game of the Week

Trailing FAU 23-14 with ten minutes left on the clock, Marshall scored 10 unanswered points including a game winning, 41 yard field goal to beat the Owls. 

East Game to Watch Next Week

Sometimes the power of elimination works against you. Next week winless Southern Miss travels to ECU for the only match-up inside C-USA's East division. 

West Division Standings
1) Tulane: 5-2, 3-0
2) Rice: 4-2, 3-0
3) N.Texas: 3-3, 1-1
4) La.Tech: 2-4, 1-1
5) Tulsa: 2-4, 1-1
4) UTSA: 2-5, 1-2
7) UTEP: 1-5, 0-3

West Division Game of the Week

In a triple overtime thriller, Tulane planted it's flag as a conference championship contender with a 36-33 win over ECU. The Pirates loss coupled with Marshall's win over FAU gave the Thundering Herd sole possession of first place in C-USA's East division. 


West Game to Watch Next Week

Slim pickings in the West this week as North Texas at Louisiana Tech represents the only inter division matchup. LaTech's season could spin out of control with a home loss while the Mean Green tries to build off of last weeks big win over Middle Tennessee.

Marshall Football: Haig's Last Second Field Goal Grounds Owls, Herd 24 - FAU 23

It was not pretty but, a last second field goal by Marshall kicker Justin Haig gave the Thundering Herd a 24-23 win at FAU Saturday night. Haig's game winning kick put an exclamation point on a exceptional special teams performance by the Herd. Marshall recorded its first points of the night off a Devon Smith 77 yard punt return for a touchdown.  

Stats

Charleston Daily Mail

Marshall football: Herd earns comeback win over FAU, 24-23

Huntington Herald Dispatch

Herd completes comeback

MU Notebook: Trip to FAU offers press box with view

Chuck Landon: Late win says Herd can be contender

Haig at home for win

Grant Traylor awards game balls

Chuck Landon grades the Herd

Gallery: Marshall defeats FAU 24-23

HerdZone

Haig's Field Goal Gives Marshall 24-23 win at FAU

Charleston Gazette

Last-second field goal send Herd over FAU

Notebook: Haig unfazed by FAU 'icing'

Grades for FAU game

WV Metro News

Haig field goal lefts Herd to win

Gallery: Marshall vs. FAU

Marshall Football: Fast Facts, FAU

Everything you need to know about FAU before Saturday’s matchup against Marshall.

1) Conference USA’s reigning offensive player of the week, FAU quarterback Jaquez Johnson is the Owls most dynamic playmaker. Last week against UAB he accounted for 404 of total offense. For the season, Johnson has completed 61% of his pass attempts for 873 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions. A dual threat, the 6-foot-1, 225 lbs., quarterback has also rushed for 336 yards and a team high four touchdowns.

2) Johnson’s favorite passing targets are wide receivers Daniel McKinney, William Dukes, and Jenson Stoshak. All three have caught at least 14 passes for over 200 yards. Williams leads the group and team with four touchdown receptions.

3) The Owls offensive line has surrendered 19 sacks, the second most in all of C-USA.

4) Senior Jonathan Wallace leads the team with 428 rushing yards on 82 attempts, good for 5.1 yards per carry.

5) Among the 14 football playing schools that make up C-USA, the Owls rank 9^th in total offense, 10^th in scoring offense, 6^th in rushing offense, and 9^th in pass offense.

6) Of FAU’s four starting defensive lineman, none weigh over 260 pounds. In fact, starting tackle Trevon Coley only stands 6-foot-2, 225 lbs.

7) Despite their small stature, the Owls starting defensive lineman have recorded nine sacks in six games.  Defensive end Brandin Bryant leads the team with four.

8) Linebacker Adarius Glanton has recorded a team high 49 total tackles, 30 of them solo. He has been also been credited with 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.

9) Junior cornerback D’Joun Smith leads the secondary with three interceptions. His nine pass breakups rank second in the FBS.

10) The Owls will be without starting corner Keith Reaser on Saturday. The senior defensive back tore his ACL during last week’s win over UAB.

11) Safety Damian Parms is second on the team with 38 tackles. He has also show the ability to get into the backfield, recording 3.5 tackles for loss.

12) FAU has a stellar pass defense, they are surrendering a C-USA low 168.7 passing yards per game.

13) The run defense is a different story, the Owls are allowing 191 yards per game, and a average of 4.9 yards per carry.

14) Kicker Mitch Anderson is consistent within 30 yards, converting both of his attempts this season. Beyond 30 yards, Anderson has missed five of his eight kicks.

15) Owl’s punter Sean Kelly is tied for the conference lead with 36 punt attempts. On those 36 attempts he is averaging 41.9 yards per punt.

16) Sophomore wide receiver Robert Lohnes leads C-USA with 16 punt returns but, he is only averaging 7.6 yards per attempt. His longest return this year was 47 yards.

Marshall Football: Hip Injury Ends Jordan Jeffries Career

Marshall football coach Doc Holliday announced today that offensive lineman Jordan Jeffries has a chronic hip injury that will end his playing career.

The backup to starting left tackle Gagne Niemeyer, Jeffries appeared in three games this season after starting all 12 games last year.

Jeffries absence has caused the offensive line to reshuffle. After missing last week’s game with a concussion, Clinton Van Horn will backup starting right tackle Garrett Scott. When Scott is out of the game he will serve as Niemeyer's backup at left tackle. At guard, freshman Michael Selby is backing up the right and left side. Sophomore Cam Dees is also a reserve option at both guard spots and center.  

Despite not being able to play, Jeffries will still be part of the football program. Holliday said the redshirt senior will pick up a whistle and serve as an assistant coach.