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NFL Update: Chris Carson Leaps over Competition and Blake Jarwin Is Still Open

Catch up with former OSU stars after the NFL’s opening week.

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6 years ago

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Week 1 of the 2018 NFL season is in the books and it was an eventful one for several former Pokes. Let’s jump in.

Chris Carson: Still Hurdlin’

Chris Carson once again showed off his impressive vertical and appears to be, in fact, 100 percent healthy after the lower leg break that ended his 2017 season in Week 4.

Unfortunately, the second-year back was also the victim of a robbery.

Carson did rack up 51 yards on seven carries and caught three more balls for 28 yards in the air during Seattle’s season-opening loss in the Mile High City.

And he retains his starting running back role, though it appears he will be part of 1-2 punch with 2018 first round pick Rashaad Penny.

The rookie had four catches out of the backfield for 35 yards but only mustered eight rushing yards on seven attempts. Carson’s definitely the thunder to Penny’s lightning.

Tre Flowers’ Baptism by Fire

Tre Flowers made his NFL debut starting at cornerback for the Seahawks — a position he hasn’t played since high school. And to completely baptize him in flames, he was lined up across from and was responsible for two-time Pro Bowl receiver Emmanuel Sanders.

It wasn’t pretty.

Sanders caught 10 passes on his 11 targets for 135 yards and a highlight reel score. He kept his seat on my team’s bench warm with 29.5 fantasy points.

It wasn’t all bad for the rookie with now one game at the position under his belt. Flowers led the team with eight tackles, seven of them solo (thanks to Mr. Sanders). Few rookies in a similar position wouldn’t have taken their lumps.

Seattle head coach Pete Carroll was mostly pleased, stating, “I thought he played pretty good, the one fade route was really all they got on him, and he was right on it, so I don’t know, maybe I missed something else.”

Blake Jarwin is still wide open

After appearing in just one game and totaling just three snaps on offense a year ago, the former walk-on at Oklahoma State has worked his way into the No. 2 tight end spot in Dallas.

On Sunday during the Cowboys’ season-opening loss to the Carolina Panthers, Jarwin  appeared in 22 snaps on offense including this play — in which he was wide open — that could have been huge for the second-year player and his team.

 

Unfortunately, the Cowboys’ passing game sputtered behind a underwhelming offensive line performance and several more short throws by Dak Prescott. The Cowboys offense appears to be rebuilding and, if nothing else, that should afford the former Cowboy Back plenty of opportunity.

Vincent Taylor earning fans in Dade County

The Dolphins’ sixth round pick from last year saw 18 snaps on defense, as the No. 2 tackle behind Akeem Spence, but did enough during those reps to set #PhinsTwitter ablaze, calling for Taylor to play over the veteran journeyman.

Taylor racked up four total tackles (three solo) and turned in one of the better defensive grades for Miami during the weather-delayed win over the Tennessee Titans.

Russell Okung takes care of his QB

Since the Chargers brought in the former All-American left tackle at OSU, Philip Rivers went from 17th in the NFL in sack avoidance in 2016 (5.9 percent of his pass attempts) to first in 2017 (3.0 percent) with Okung guarding his blind side.

But on Sunday, Okung also protected Rivers by not allowing his lone interception to become a pick-6. Okung tackled Kansas City Chiefs safety Ron Parker who was on his way to the end zone.

Lane Taylor on-hand for an all-timer in Lambeau

If you missed the Sunday Night rivalry game in Green Bay, you missed an all-time performance from Aaron Rodgers. One for the ages.

Former OSU linemen Lane Taylor, who took over starting left guard duties for the Packers in 2016, was on the front row for every snap — even the one where his future Hall of Fame QB went down with a knee injury in the first half.

But he was also around for the 20-point comeback by Rodgers who returned in the second half a la Willis Reed after being carted to the locker room. “That was sick,” Taylor said of Rodgers’ performance.

It’s absolutely YouTube worthy if you missed it, even motivating third-string Green Bay quarterback Tim Boyle to go to the stadium’s fan shop, purchase a No. 12 jersey and wear it out afterwards.

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