Best Pac-12 NFL Players: Week 8 Offensive Standouts

Best Pac-12 NFL Players: Week 7 Offensive Standouts

It’s a Good Day to Be a Pac-12 NFL Fan

This weekend, Pac-12 football fans got it all. Oregon and Washington State certainly lit up the field offensively. The Ducks are currently ranked 6th in Unafraidshow’s College Football Rankings. Likewise, many Pac-12 NFL players gave us memorable performances in week 8. Here they are!

Best Quarterback Performance

Gardner Minshew II – Washington State – Jacksonville Jaguars

Minshew magic is back! Let’s go!

Unlike the rest of football fans, Pac-12 NFL fans knew that Minshew was for real. We knew a long time ago. It’s just great to see everyone else accept it.

Against a competent New York Jets defense, Minshew didn’t flinch. He compiled 279 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. He also let the Jets sack him twice. But, for those who watched the game, his pocket-presence is next level. Minshew’s movement in the pocket and ability to extend plays is incredible.

Last, and definitely important, Minshew threw zero interceptions. Again. Overall, he has just 2 interceptions and 13 touchdowns this season. The sixth-round rookie is playing far above any expectation.

Gardner Minshew for Rookie of the Year!

Best Running Back Performance

Christian McCaffrey – Stanford – Carolina Panthers

Against the league’s second-best defense (New England Patriots are clear first), the Carolina Panthers flopped. They only scored 13 points, while the 49ers rolled through 51 points. However, that didn’t stop all-star, Pac-12 NFL running back Christian McCaffrey from creating highlights.

This season, McCaffrey’s durability and production is incredible. His 2019 stats include:

Keep rolling RUN-CMC.

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Best Wide Receiver Performance

Juju Smith-Schuster – USC – Pittsburgh Steelers

To say that this season has been rough for the Pittsburgh Steelers is to say the least. After a promising 2017 season and a breakout 2018 season, everyone was ready for Juju Smith-Schuster to keep the hype train going. With the departure of Antonio Brown (to mental illness?), Smith-Schuster was primed for an elite 2019 campaign.

But, all hope went down with Ben Roethlisberger. However, Smith-Schuster still has the ability to pop on the field. In week 8, he cleared the 100-yard mark for the first time this season. Granted, this week he played the Miami Dolphins (#tankfortua), but he’s a good wide receiver.

His plus-16.5 (No. 20) Production Premium and plus-39.2-percent Target Premium (No. 10) show that he still has talent, but he’s just trapped on an anemic offense.

Best Tight End Performance

Austin Hooper – Stanford – Atlanta Falcons

Even with Matt Schaub under center, Austin Hooper was a baller. He reeled in 6 of 7 targets for 65 yards and a touchdown. He was one reason why the Pac-12 NFL fans didn’t switch channels. Hooper’s late score helped the Falcons attempt a last-minute comeback (or at least cover the a plus-7.5 spread).

Honestly, look at those stats. Among tight ends, Hooper is:

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It’s Make or Break for UW Football

Pac-12 Power Rankings Week 12 Las Vegas Bowl

UW Football Faces Oregon and Utah in Back-to-Back Weeks

University of Washington Block W logo RGB brand colors

Thought Oregon was Difficult? Well, this weekend the UW football team faces off against the 9th-ranked Utah Utes. Per Oddshark, the Utes are two-point road favorites.

What Makes Utah so Good?

Dominant Defense

In addition to the tweet above, per sports-reference.com, Utah’s defense ranks:

  • Fourth in points (10.1 points-per-game allowed)
  • 11th in passing (174.6 yards-per-game allowed)

Against their Pac-12 competition, Utah is crushing offenses. In their last four games, Utah’s defense was exceptional:

  • Washington State – 13 points
  • Oregon State – 7 points
  • Arizona State – 3 points
  • Cal – 0 points

Utah’s defense is destructive, powerful and suffocates opposing offenses. The UW football program will be tested.

An Offense to Match

Somehow, the Utah Utes have a fantastic offense as well. Impressively, they’ve scored at least 30 points in six of their eight games. Tyler Huntley’s 10-to-1 touchdown-to-interception rate perfectly complements Utah’s dominant defense.

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Additionally, Zack Moss is the perfect game-closing running back. His 6.6 yards-per-carry (on 728 total yards) and 10 touchdowns display this. Moss is the second-best running back in the Pac-12 and Utah’s offense is lucky to have him.

How UW Football can Reign

As noted above, Utah has a dominant defense that destroys its opponents. Moreover, they have an offense that routinely scores at least 30 points. The Huskies have to bring their A-game in order to get a victory.

Convert Third and Fourth Downs

Currently, the UW football team ranks 106th in third-down success rate. Against Oregon, this was detrimental. They converted just 3 of 13 third downs. Oregon came back from a 14-point deficit to win. If Chris Peterson wants a UW football win, he needs to create opportunities for success. Third-down play-calling may seem the most important. But, it’s the calls on first and second down that ultimately put a team in third-down success.

On top of that, the Huskies need to continue their fourth-down bravery. Last week, against Oregon, their fourth-down conversions were key to offensive success. Even though the last one didn’t work out, Washington needs to keep going for it (process-over-results).

Continue to Play Young Wide Receivers

As easy as it is to play the seniors, UW football’s been better with young players. Playing the young, talented wide receivers like Puka Nacua is a big component of success. In order to win, Chris Peterson needs to prioritize talent over age.

Pass-Pass-Pass

Last week, Jacob Eason and company displayed offensive effectiveness against a stout Oregon team. They broke Oregon’s elite defense. Granted, they didn’t win the game, but they still showed life. Eason needs to lead this team to another offensive performance. Utah’s dominant line won’t give any room to Washington’s running backs. So, it’s ultimately up to Jacob Eason to step up.

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Best Pac-12 NFL Players: Week 7 Offensive Standouts

Best Pac-12 NFL Players: Week 7

Huge Performances from Pac-12 NFL Players in Week 7

Marvin jones California Golden bears Best Pac-12 NFL Players: Week 7
Marvin Jones has come a long way since Cal

While the Oregon-Washington game was the most exciting game of the weekend, our Pac-12 alumni showed up in Week 7 of the NFL. The best Pac-12 NFL players were clearly Aaron Rodgers and Marvin Jones. They unleashed their abilities in full strength. No one could stop them and we couldn’t get enough. Who else joined them this week?

Best Quarterback Performances

Aaron Rodgers – Cal – Green Bay Packers

Against the Oakland Raiders, Aaron Rodgers went full God-mode. He dismantled them in every way possible for a quarterback. Rodgers finished with this stat line:

  • 25 of 31 (80.65-percent completion percentage)
  • 429 Passing Yards
  • 5 Passing Touchdowns
  • 1 Rushing Touchdown

With a game like that, it’s no wonder that Rodgers notched his first perfect-Passer Rating of the season. It was a vintage performance from the Cal product and it’s why he is one of the best Pac-12 NFL players of all time.

Matt Moore – Oregon State – Kansas City Chiefs

Wow. Talk about composure and stepping up. Somehow, even though Matt Moore hasn’t played since 2017, he sealed the win for the Kansas City Chiefs. With the loss of Patrick Mahomes to a dislocated knee, fans were panicking. But, calm and collected, Moore displayed exactly what teams need from a backup quarterback. He threw for a modest 117 yards, no interceptions and dropped a dime to Tyreek Hill for a touchdown.

Without Moore on the team, they’d be tempted to trade for a potential quarterback bridge until Mahomes gets healthy. But, like New Orleans and Teddy Bridgewater, the Chiefs have it covered.

Best Wide Receiver Performances

Marvin Jones – Cal – Detroit Lions

Even though he was up against the Minnesota Vikings defense, Marvin Jones erupted for four touchdowns. Four! It’s rare for an NFL receiver to get three touchdowns in a game, let alone four.

He was unstoppable. Uncoverable. On 13 targets, he caught 10 for 93 yards and 4 scores. To the delight of fans’ eyes, Jones had himself a game.

Best Tight End Performance

Rhett Ellison – USC – New York Giants

Now, this isn’t one of those Pac-12 NFL tight end games for the record books. But, Rhett Ellison had one of his better performances. He caught both targets for 33 yards and a touchdown. In a tight loss to the Arizona Cardinals, those were needed receptions.

Especially considering how inconsistent and poor Daniel Jones was playing. Hopefully, Ellison can find the end zone again this season. But, at least he joined the ranks of other Pac-12 NFL greats this week.

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Best Offensive Performances from Pac-12 Football Week 7

Best Offensive Performances from Pac-12 Football Week 7

Pac-12 Football Lit up the Scoreboards in Week 7

Pac-12 Conference states

Pac-12 Football had big offensive performances, with three teams (Oregon, Washington, Utah) scoring over 45 points. Multiple receivers and running backs found the pay-dirt multiple times. These top-athletes displayed powerful running, big-play ability, and creativity to make the Pac-12 Football’s Best Offensive Performances list.

While many Pac-12 football players had big games, Unafraidshow only has room for one at each position.

Best Offensive Performances from Pac-12 Football Week 7: Quarterback

Jayden Daniels – Arizona State

Though he’s a freshman, Jayden Daniels is ballin. He led the Sun Devils to a big win against the Cougars. He threw for three touchdowns, zero interceptions and showed off his mobility.

On Arizona State’s final drive, Daniels was poised as a senior. He executed play after play. Then, in a moment of brilliance and creativity, Daniels kept the ball and ran it in himself. It’s not every day Pac-12 football fans get to witness a freshman do this. Especially a freshman from the west coast. From San Bernardino to glory, it’s good to watch Jayden Daniels rise.

Running Back

Zack Moss – Utah

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On just five carries, Zack Moss ran for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns. Yes, only five carries. Moss continues to be an underutilized, efficient runner. His five carries yielded yards of:

  • 16 yards
  • 9 yards
  • -1 yards
  • 91 yard touchdown
  • 6 yard touchdown

Moss didn’t even play in the second half. Why? Because the Utes didn’t need him any more. Although in a limited role, Zack Moss showed why he is in the conversation with Eno Benjamin for Pac-12 football’s best back. Moss is powerful and can take any carry to the house.

Wide Receiver

Brandon Aiyuk – Arizona State

There’s fast. And then there’s Brandon Aiyuk fast. As pointed out by Dane Brugler of The Athletic, Aiyuk’s route speed makes him an “underrated NFL prospect” in the 2020 class. With his acceleration and long-speed, Aiyuk torched the Cougars secondary. After a performance like this, Aiyuk’s rank among Pac-12 football receivers surges.

Against WSU, Aiyuk made the most of each target from Jayden Daniels. With 8 targets, he secured 7 receptions for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns. On those, he sped past the Cougars for touchdowns of 40, 86 and 36 yards. It was impressive!

Tight End

Jacob Breeland – Oregon

It is nigh-impossible to remove Jacob Breeland from any best Pac-12 football list. He is just too good at football. Breeland is reliable and can turn any reception into a big play. On the season, Breeland leads NCAA tight ends in receptions-per-game and touchdowns-per-game.

He’s a large target with speed and route-running skills. Like many first and second-round tight ends before him, he’s a matchup nightmare. It’s why Breeland is on scout’s lists as a potential second-round NFL pick in the 2020 draft.

However, after catching a 22-yards reception, Breeland suffered an injury that forced him from the rest of the contest. Mario Cristobal said that his leg injury is serious and will cause him to miss the rest of the season. If healthy, Breeland will get drafted on Day 1 or Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft.

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If you disagree with this list, send in your own recommendations. Each week, Unafraidshow will rank the best quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end performances from Pac-12 football. Be sure to comment, tweet Unafraidshow, or email us immad@unafraidshow.com with your favorite moments of each Pac-12 football week.

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UW Huskies Get Big Win Over Wildcats, but Stay in Ducks’ Shadow

Washington Huskies

Huskies Get Another Bounce-Back Win

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After a tight loss against Cal in Week 2 of college football, the Huskies bounced back in a big way against Hawaii. They ousted the Rainbow Warriors 52-20. Similarly, UW’s football team had another dominant performance against Arizona after an upset loss to Stanford. Even though the Wildcats were on a four-game win-streak, the Huskies beat them 51-27.

For Washington fans, the pendulum swung back into favor and joy. But, unfortunately for UW football, the Ducks had a more impressive win against the Colorado Buffaloes. With Oregon coming to town this week, does Washington have a shot?

Post-Game Notes from the Huskies Victory

Defense and Special Teams Carried the Huskies

Yes, the UW offense scored five touchdowns and three field goals. But in the first half, against an Arizona team on a four-game win-streak, the offense didn’t show up. Instead, the Dawgs made numerous big plays on defense and special teams. In the first half, the defense and special teams had:

  • 2 Sacks
  • 4 Tackles for a Loss
  • One blocked punt
  • Two forced fumbles and recoveries
  • One touchdown

At the end of the half, the Wildcats still led the Huskies. Despite incredible defensive play, the Huskies were still down 13-17 at half.

The Huskies Offense isn’t Perfect, even with 51 Points

Again, Washington decided to go for field goals. Early in the game, they played it safe. In the first quarter, they opted for two field goals instead of going for it. Fourth and five at the Arizona 10. Kick. Fourth and three at the Arizona 3. Kick. It’s unbelievable how often Chris Peterson and the Huskies exchange field goals for touchdowns. Think about it, if the Huskies converted just 50-percent of those fourth downs, they’d be better off. Yes, they tried to convert a fourth down on their first drive. They failed. But, math and analytics still show that it is optimal to go for it on the opposing half. After all, seven points is more than six.

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Additionally, the Huskies offense was sedentary, out-of-sync, and inconsistent in the first half. In fact, the Husky defense outscored the offense 7-6 in the first half. Their six drives yielded results of:

  • Turnover on Downs (4 plays, 9 yards AFTER STARTING AT THE ARIZONA 36)
  • Field Goal (8 plays, 62 yards)
  • Punt (3 plays, 5 yards)
  • Field Goal (4 plays, 0 yards AFTER STARTING AT THE ARIZONA 8)
  • Punt (6 plays, 43 yards)
  • Punt (3 plays, 4 yards)

Granted, the Huskies offense got rolling in the second half. They scored five touchdowns and a field goal in the second half. Eason and company got rolling. Sean McGrew and Salvon Ahmed showed consistency. Ahmed scored three rushing touchdowns and McGrew showed his efficient and explosive skill-set.

Arizona couldn’t stop them. However, the 2019 UW offense continues to be risk-averse and inconsistent. They need to find rhythm quicker and be willing to go for it on fourth down.

Huskies Finally Involve Puka Nacua

It is about time. In 2019, the Huskies continued to pepper their senior receivers with targets. With Aaron Fuller and Hunter Bryant making plays, that’s understandable. However, with a quality option like Puka Nacua on the bench, it didn’t make sense to keep putting Andre Baccellia on the field.

After getting his chance, Nacua let his name be known. The 6-1, 204-pound freshman caught three passes for 97 yards. Considering Jacob Eason only threw for 243 yards against Arizona, Nacua accounted for 40-percent of the team’s receiving yards. Excellent. It was a breakout performance for the freshman.

Huskies vs Ducks

Next up, the Huskies face off against the Oregon Ducks. Currently, the Ducks rank 12th in AP polls and 7th in Unafraidshow’s Power Rankings. They are impressive. So impressive, in fact, that they are 3.5 favorites in Seattle.

Against Oregon, the Huskies will be tested. The Ducks defense is elite. They’ve held opponents to 52 points in 6 games. But, more impressively, the Ducks haven’t let anyone score more than 7 points in their last five games. Because the Huskies offense has been hit-or-miss this season, Eason and company have to be on point.

Additionally, Justin Herbert and the Ducks offense continues to play well. Herbert has a touchdown in his last 34 games and Oregon has a top-5 offensive line in the nation. In Week 7, two Ducks offensive lineman were featured on PFF College’s Week 7 national team. So, it’s not going to be as easy for the defense to make big plays as they did against Arizona.

Last, it’s important to remember that Oregon’s only loss is against Auburn. In a close game. Since week 1, they’ve won each game handily. The Huskies, on the other hand, have swung back and forth between impressive and unimpressive. In order to win or even compete against the Ducks, the Huskies need to:

  • Create open looks for Jacob Eason
  • Give snaps to young talent like Puka Nacua
  • Make clean tackles and capitalize on turnover-opportunities
  • Attempt fourth down conversions early and often

If the Pac-12 is anything, it’s a conference of cannibals. So, an upset win is certainly possible for the Huskies.

Washington Huskies Lose to Stanford, Now What Versus Arizona, Oregon?

Pac-12 Power Rankings

UW Football Woes

University of Washington Block W logo RGB brand colors

The Dawgs lose to the Cardinals

The UW football team just lost to a second-string quarterback who didn’t even complete the game. Davis Mills left during the third quarter and Jack West played the rest of the game… without throwing a single pass.

Against Stanford, the UW football team was lackluster and disastrous. They were outgained 482-294 yards and beat 13-23 even though they were 17-point favorites. With another unexpected loss, the Huskies lost their chance for college football playoffs and likely any chance at a Pac-12 title. 

1-2 in Conference Games

In Pac-12 football games, the UW football team is not meeting expectations. Against Cal, at least they lost to a team that beat North Texas and Mississippi in the following weeks. There was also a lightning weather-delay. If the Huskies kept winning, the ranking system could brush the Cal loss away.

But come on. A loss to Stanford. Really? This was a Stanford team that had a losing record, lost its starting quarterback and was playing three freshmen on the offensive line. It was an inexcusable loss. Their conference game record is a reflection of a defense that lacks turnovers and an offense without creativity.

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Jacob Eason in three non-conference games:

  • 77.5-percent completion percentage
  • 901 passing yards
  • 10 touchdowns
  • 1 interception

Jacob Eason in three conference games

  • 54.3-percent completion percentage
  • 548 passing yards
  • 1 touchdown
  • 2 interceptions

Is UW football’s conference record all Jacob Eason’s fault. No. Yes, he certainly has made mistakes and lacks consistency. However, his receivers, offensive system and personnel groupings aren’t doing him any favors. Against Stanford, Eason targeted Aaron Fuller 17 times for 9 receptions and 171 yards. On his other 19 targets, his receivers totaled just 7 receptions for 35 yards. With the pressure the Husky offensive line let through, Eason needed playmakers. But his receivers either couldn’t get open or dropped big-time throws.

On the year, Fuller and Hunter Bryant are the most consistent receiving threats for Washington. In 2019, the Huskies just four receivers with 10 or more receptions. The targets are heavily consolidated. But worse, Andre Baccellia totals just 6 receptions for 41 yards and zero touchdowns. He’s the wideout opposite of Fuller and lacks Pac-12 production. Yet, the coaches are still putting him out there as a starter. Either he isn’t getting open, drops passes, or he doesn’t have chemistry with Eason. Bottom line, he needs to step up or step off the field. 

If the UW football team wants to have more offensive success, they need to start experimenting with different receivers and play calls that will give Eason open looks.

Washington Huskies vs Arizona

Arizona Wildcats logo

Now, the Dawgs face off against an Arizona football team on a four-game win streak. After their loss to Hawaii, they beat Northern Arizona, Texas Tech, UCLA and Colorado. Yes, the Huskies are 9.5 favorites to win the game, but they were 17 point favorites against Stanford. Everyone saw where that got them. Arizona is a good team on a streak. They put up 35 points against Colorado last week. In comparison, UW’s highest point-total against Pac-12 competition this season in 28 points (against USC). This game is going to be tougher than expected and UW football fans might witness a three-game losing streak.

Chris Peterson and the UW football program need to figure out a better system, offensively and defensively. Whatever it is they’re doing right now is not working.

Best Offensive Performances from Pac-12 Football Week 6

What a Week for Pac-12 Football!

Pac-12 Conference states

It was another week of chaos for Pac-12 football. No other conference does it better. Unlike the rest, the Pac-12 conference rankings rotate like a Game of Thrones season. Every week brings unexpected wins, losses, winners, and losers.

Pac-12 Football’s Best Offensive Performances

With week 6 set and in the periphery, the best offensive performances clearly stand out.

Best Quarterback Performance

Khalil Tate – Arizona

If any Pac-12 football fans doubted Tate’s arm-strength prior to this game, his 75-yard touchdown shred those doubts. Tate, against a competitive Colorado team, was exceptional. He went 31 for 41 with three touchdowns and just one interception. In addition to that 75-yard bomb, Tate showed strength, touch, and precision. Unlike UW’s consolidated target share, Tate completed passes to 11 different receivers. Of those, five receivers had at least three receptions. Khalil Tate was a top-notch quarterback against Colorado.

Additionally, he displayed his dual-threat capability. On third and six, with just 57 seconds left, Tate ended the game with his legs. He rushed for 7 yards, a first down, and the win. Well done Khalil Tate.

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Best Running Back Performance

Cameron Scarlett – Stanford

Against the 15th-ranked Washington football team, Cameron Scarlett was productive and consistent. He carried the ball 33 times for 151 yards and one touchdown and upset the ranked, Pac-12 football opponent. Additionally, he caught two receptions for 32 yards. It was a good night for the senior back.

But most importantly, Scarlett was a closer. In the fourth quarter, without quarterback Davis Mills, Stanford elected to run the ball. Repeatedly. Other than when Ryan Bowman sacked Jack West, Scarlett rushed every offensive play of Stanford’s final two drives. 12 rushes on 13 plays. Those two drives took up nearly eight minutes of possession. Additionally, they resulted in a field goal (10-point lead) and a punt, placed at the Washington 17 with 54 seconds left. Scarlett closed that game for Stanford.

Best Wide Receiver Performance

Tony Brown – Colorado

Even though Colorado lost, Tony Brown can’t be blamed. He was, yet again, Colorado’s best player. He secured all 10 targets for 141 yards. 10 targets and 10 receptions. If only the Huskies had those hands.

On top of that, Tony Brown took an end-around for a 15-yard touchdown. He followed blocks, eluded defenders, stiff-armed a would-be-tackler, and earned that touchdown. His talent is becoming more and more apparent. He’s one of the best Pac-12 football receivers out there and is displaying versatility and reliability.

Best Tight End Performance

Jacob Breeland – Oregon

Against Cal, Jacob Breeland was Justin Herbert’s favorite target. 5 receptions for 87 yards. Most don’t expect to see a tight end lead his team in receptions and yards. Especially not with 17.4 yards-per-reception. But Breeland is a different type of beast for the Pac-12 football conference.

On the season, Jacob Breeland leads Oregon in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and is tied with Johnny Johnson III for most receptions. He is able to secure first downs easily. But, he also can take it to the house on a seam-route. Jacob Breeland is incredible.

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If you disagree with this list, send in your own recommendations. Each week, Unafraidshow will rank the best quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end performances from Pac-12 football. Be sure to comment, tweet Unafraidshow, or email us immad@unafraidshow.com with your favorite moments of each Pac-12 football week.

What we learned about the Huskies after UW football’s win against USC

Salvon Ahmed Washington USC Football 2019

UW Football Can Win the Pac-12 North

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To think, just a few weeks ago UW football was down and out. But, with another big win, Washington launched itself two spots to No.15 in the nation. Ahead of them, Oregon sits a No.13, eyeing a chance to claim the Pac-12. Did UW football prove enough with their win against USC?

Washington’s Defense Can Shut Down the Air Raid Offense

Against Utah, USC’s Michael Pittman Jr. caught 10 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown. That aided the Trojans to an upset win. But, against Washington, all he could accumulate was 4 receptions for 64 yards and 1 touchdown. 

More importantly, UW’s defense only allowed 163 passing yards from Matt Fink. They also picked him off three times in their win. If they want to compete against Oregon, Washington needs to slow down Justin Herbert’s offense. Against USC, they at least showed that’s possible.

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The UW Football Team Can Grind Out Wins

No, they don’t always make it pretty. But, Washington is getting the W’s. that’s the first, key take-away. Yes, they allowed 212 yards rushing to the Trojans, but they only gave up 14 points. They actually had less offensive yards than the Trojans. However, the UW football team capitalized on turnovers. 

With short fields, they put up points. Jacob Eason still shows a split-personality of elite-mediocre, but he didn’t throw any interceptions. He leaned on his playmakers and allowed Salvon Ahmed, Richard Newton, Aaron Fuller, Hunter Bryant and Andre Baccellia to take the load.

UW Football is Special

Though five games, Peyton Henry is 9-of-9 in field goals and 22-of-22 in extra points. The sophomore kicker is having a stellar season. Additionally, Joel Whitford is launching and placing his punts well. 

With close games in their future, they’ll need Henry and Whitford to stay clutch and cold. 

It’s Down to Oregon and Washington in the Pac-12 North

After Chase Garbers went down, Cal lost their hope of a 2019 playoff run. This further solidified Washington and Oregon’s race for first in the Pac-12 North. With their dominant win against USC, UW football is back in the top-15 in the nation. But, Oregon is performing equally as well on offense, with a stout defense.

In their next week, Oregon faces a free-falling Cal and Washington faces an equally undermined Stanford. Each should win handily next week. The real test is on October 19th when they face each other. Expect to see the Pac-12 North champion emerge.

The Best Pac-12 NFL Players: Week 4 Top Performances

Unafraidshow’s Best Pac-12 Players: Week 4

Another great NFL week is over. Week 4 is in the books and there are plenty of excellent Pac-12 NFL performances. Here are the best, broken down by college.

Arizona

Reggie Gilbert – Tennessee Titans

Reggie Gilbert

After making his first appearance on Unafraidshow’s Best Pac-12 NFL Players list in Week 3, Reggie Gilbert improved. In his Week 3 performance, he managed to make the most of eight snaps. It clearly impressed coaches because he logged 48 (60-percent) snaps in Week 4. 

Against Atlanta, Gilbert was an impactful force on defense. His ability to make open field tackles and pressure the quarterback was needed. Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons couldn’t get much going against the Titans.

Arizona State

Terrell Suggs – Arizona Cardinals

Timeless.

At 36 (soon to be 37), he’s still making big moves. Against the Seahawks, Suggs displayed power and presence. Yet again, he was able to make big plays. His best play of the night was his strip-sack of Russell Wilson. 

On the day, Suggs totaled 8 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, 1 quarterback hit and 1 forced fumble. Brushing off his advancing age, Suggs put in another quality performance. Games like this remind us that he will always be one of the best Pac-12 NFL players to ever play.

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Cal

Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers

For the first time this season, Aaron Rodgers surpassed 300 yards. In fact, he passed for 422 yards and 2 touchdowns. Rodgers also added 46 rushing yards, showing he’s still got athleticism. 

But, more important, Rodgers came through in the clutch. Down 27 to 34, he led his team to the opposing three-yard line. With just 28 seconds left. It was another classic Rodgers performance. 

However, Rodgers threw his first interception of the season. It was a heartbreaking throw, reminiscent to Russell Wilson’s interception in Super Bowl XLIX. Nonetheless, Rodgers showed us that he still should be regarded as one of the better Pac-12 NFL players.

Colorado

Chidobe Awuzie – Dallas Cowboys

In a tight game against the Saints, Chidobe Awuzie played well. In addition to 6 tackles and defending a pass, Awuzie got his first interception of the season. And it was a beaut!

More than just the plays, Awuzie has an incredible attitude.

On how he expects Cowboys to respond to first loss: “There’s only one way. That’s the name of the game right there. Adversity, we’ve all been through it in this league and in our lives. I think we know what type of men we are in this room.”

Chidobe Awuzie

Oregon

Marcus Mariota

Marcus Mariota is one of the more controversial picks on this Pac-12 NFL players list. Particularly because he’s been up and down this season.

Though Mariota has been inconsistent this season, he played quite well against the Atlanta Falcons. Many criticize Mariota for having a game-manger, safe-quarterback attitude. But, he showed Sunday that he can still make plays and carry a team.

On the season, Mariota has 933 passing yards, 7 passing touchdowns, 7 passing touchdowns and 112 yards. If he is able to maintain this pace, he will end the season with 

  • 28 touchdowns
  • 3,712 passing yards
  • Zero interceptions
  • 448 rushing yards

Here’s to hoping he can finish similar to this stat-line.

Oregon State

Jordan Poyer – Buffalo Bills

Keep Jordan Poyer on the best Pac-12 NFL players list! He continues to play well for the Buffalo Bills. Most recently, against the formidable New England Patriots, Poyer and the Bills made it a game. Poyer swung in for some key tackles, big hits and even forced a fumble.

And while he may disagree with the officiating, we can all agree that his play is exceptional.

Stanford

Christian McCaffrey – Carolina Panthers

  • 27 Carries
  • 93 Rushing Yards
  • 1 Rushing Touchdown
  • 10 Targets
  • 10 Receptions
  • 86 Receiving Yards

Honestly, it’s impossible for football fans to not like Christian McCaffrey. He continues to be the best dual-threat running back in the NFL. It’s also in his range of outcomes to reach 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards. He would join Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk in glory.

Bottom line, tune in to watch Christian McCaffrey every game.

UCLA

Eric Kendricks – Minnesota Vikings

In their loss to the Chicago Bears, Eric Kendricks was all over the field for the Minnesota Vikings. He led the team with 12 combined tackles. For the few Vikings fans that are still watching, Kendricks is a bright spot in a dark chasm. He is a Pro-Bowl-caliber linebacker and needs to be recognized.

USC

Everson Griffen – Minnesota Vikings

No, this isn’t a Minnesota Vikings fan page. But, Unafraidshow still has to give props when they are due for our favorite Pac-12 NFL players. Everson Griffen is a baller. In each game this season, he’s hit the opposing quarterback at least once. Among NFL players, he’s one of 11 players with at least 8 quarterback hits.

Against Mitchell Trubisky, he managed to pressure him consistently and hit him twice. No, they didn’t get the win. But, Griffen still managed to put in a solid outing for Week 4.

Utah

Marcus Williams – New Orleans Saints

For Utah, Marcus Williams is playing at a near-elite level. Per Pro-Football-Focus, Williams has an overall grade of 89.3. 2019 is his season. He’s yet another defensive Pac-12 NFL player on our list.

Not only did Williams seal the victory for the New Orlean Saints, but he played every defensive snap for the Saints. He was incredible against the Cowboys.

Lattimore may be disappointing Saints fans this year, but Marcus Williams shouldn’t.

Washington

Kevin King – Green Bay Packers

Should Kevin King have been on Unafraidshow’s Week 3 best Pac-12 NFL Players list? Certainly not. The Denver Broncos picked on his inconsistency.

But, even though Kevin King has been inconsistent for the Green Bay Packers this season, he shut Alshon Jeffrey down in Week 4. King was the Packers highest-graded PFF defender.

https://twitter.com/PFF_Anthony/status/1177633043185577985

Unfortunately for the Packers, King went down with a groin injury. Along with Davante Adams’ injury, the Packers lost key contributors in their loss to the Eagles. However, if he can come back quickly, King can add to an impressive secondary.

Washington State University

Gardner Minshew – Jacksonville Jaguars

Can we, in our Pac-12 loving hearts, ever take Gardner Minshew off this list? Jock-Strap King (per Leonard Fournette), is playing out of his mind right now.

In four games (just three starts), Minshew has 905 yards, 7 touchdowns, and just 1 interception. Additionally, his pocket-movement is beautiful. How can anyone go against the mustache at this point?

Missed the Best Pac-12 NFL Players List from Week 3?

If you somehow missed last week’s edition of this, check it out here:

https://unafraidshow.com/the-best-pac-12-nfl-players-week-3-top-performers/

The Best Pac-12 NFL Players: Week 3 Top Performers

Saints vs Seahawks 2019

Unafraidshow’s Best Pac-12 Players: Week 3

Another great NFL week is over. Week 3 is in the books and there are plenty of excellent Pac-12 NFL performances. Here are the best, broken down by college.

Arizona

Reggie Gilbert – Tennessee Titans

Finally! We can take Will Parks off this list. Granted, it’s still a stretch to name Reggie Gilbert a top performer. He only got eight defensive snaps in Week 3. But, the Arizona list of Pac-12 NFL players is quite small.

It’s important to put his eight snaps in context. This was Gilbert’s first active game for the Titans. Also, in just 8 snaps, Gilbert managed to make two solo tackles. Not a bad debut.

Arizona State

Lawrence Guy – New England Patriots

Everyone saw it coming, but the New England Patriots still put in a solid performance against the New York Jets. Part of that win was Lawrence Guy. Guy continued to block the gaps, make tackles and take on double teams. He made Le’Veon Bell bounce the ball outside and didn’t let the offensive line get any push.

Cal

Keenan Allen – Los Angeles Chargers

Against the Houston Texans, Keenan Allen had himself a game! 

  • 17 Targets
  • 13 Receptions
  • 183 Receiving Yards
  • 2 Touchdowns

Allen did everything possible to secure a win for his team. And even though the LA Chargers los the game, Allen had the best performance of his career. 183 yards was also a career best. The Cal product shed his injury-tag last season and continue to be one of the best Pac-12 NFL players.

Colorado

Ahkello Witherspoon – San Francisco 49ers

Yet again, Ahkello Witherspoon kept doing his thing. He made it quite difficult for Mason Crosby.

Unfortunately for fans of the 49ers or defense, Ahkello Witherspoon is likely to miss a month. That’s a massive hit for the 49ers. Through three games, Witherspoon only allowed 13 targets, 5 receptions and 57 yards. His Passer Rating Allowed is only 32.9 (No. 5). Most of all, his plus-114.2 Coverage Rating is the league-best.

Witherspoon is the most important piece of the 49ers defense (or team) right now. Missing him is a big deal.

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Oregon

DeForest Buckner – San Francisco 49ers

While his teammate and fellow Oregon-alum Arik Armstead was a top Pac-12 NFL player last week, DeForest Buckner got the glory in Week 4. He made defensive play after defensive play in a tight win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Buckner led his team with 8 tackles and also added a quarterback hit, a forced fumble and a clutch fumble recovery. 

Oregon State

Jordan Poyer – Buffalo Bills

As good as Steven Nelson played in Week 3, Jordan Poyer gets to sit above him on the best Pac-12 NFL players list once more. He’s just too dominant to leave out.

Against the Cincinnati Bengals, he racked up 11 tackles, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. It was an unbelievable game for him. Poyer is a big reason why the Bills continue to win.

Stanford

Christian McCaffrey – Carolina Panthers

  • 24 Carries
  • 153 Rushing Yards
  • 1 Rushing Touchdown
  • 4 Targets
  • 3 Receptions
  • 35 Receiving Yards

Stanford fans! Look away from the college games and pay attention to Christian McCaffrey instead. His elite, NFL career continues to shine a bright spotlight on the Stanford name. Ignore the Stanford program freefall and watch the rise of Christian McCaffrey. He’s one of the greatest Pac-12 NFL players to step onto the field.

UCLA

Kenny Clark – Green Bay Packers

Let’s keep Kenny Clark on the list. He’s one of the better Pac-12 NFL players and the best nose-tackle to come out of the Pac-12 in years. Against NFL centers, he continues to be a mismatch.

Clark is too strong and continues to overpower offensive linemen. Interior pressure is a huge advantage in NFL games. Clark brings that.

USC

Tyron Smith – Dallas Cowboys

This will be obvious. But, the Dallas Cowboys obliterated the Miami Dolphins. The tanking Dolphins were no match for the Cowboys. Nonetheless, Tyron Smith showed well and displayed why he’s an NFL great. 

Against Miami, the Cowboys racked up 235 rushing yards on 34 carries. It was a piece of cake for the stellar offensive line. Leading the way, as usual, was Tyron Smith. It’s been another good year for him. On 206 snaps this season, he’s allowed zero sacks and only has one penalty.

Utah

Marcus Williams – New Orleans Saints

Not only is Marcus Williams getting his second spot on Unafraidshow’s Best Pac-12 NFL Players list, but he was the Saints best defender in Week 3. On 83 defensive snaps. Wow. Marcus Williams glued himself to the field and helped the New Orleans Saints beat the Seattle Seahawks. Even though they had Teddy Bridgewater as their quarterback, the Saints made too many plays.

In the secondary, Williams continues to cover well and make tackles. It’s turning out to be a career year for Williams and he’s making a name for himself. 

Washington

Vita Vea – Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Although the Giants ultimately won the game, due to Daniel Jones’ heroics, Vita Vea played well. On just 65% of defensive snaps, he consistently gave the Giants offensive line trouble. In addition to accidentally stepping on Daniel Jones’ helmet, he totaled two quarterback hits.

After getting hit twice from the 350-pound Vea, Jones must be feeling it.

Washington State University

Gardner Minshew – Jacksonville Jaguars

If you haven’t already fallen in love with Gardner Minshew, better start now. Minshew must be in all Pac-12 hearts.

Against Tennessee in Week 3, Minshew put in a stellar game for his first NFL win. Buy in now to the Minshew hype because he’s going to be one of the great Pac-12 NFL players from WSU. 

Missed the Best Pac-12 NFL Players List from Week 1?

If you somehow missed last week’s edition of this, check it out here:

https://unafraidshow.com/the-best-pac-12-nfl-players-week-2-top-performers/