DC Paul Guenther

Buster nods: 3

Worst game: Week 2 or 7 or 8

I couldn’t decide between these games. Each were complete collapses by the defense. Yeah, Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, and Deshaun Watson are great QBs. But they had extraordinary success facing the Raiders defense. Against the Chiefs in week two, they rattled off four touchdowns in the second quarter alone.

Against the Packers in Week 8, Rodgers finished with six total touchdowns (five passing) and a perfect passer rating (158.3). And the following week, Watson was taking whatever he wanted, mostly because Guenther played almost exclusively in zone, so Watson simply threw to his All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins when a linebacker was covering him. It was just too easy.

Oh, and Guenther was the one who vouched for Vontaze Burfict as the middle linebacker for this team despite Burfict being one personal foul away from a season-long suspension. That happened in the second quarter of week four to the surprise of no one but Guenther, apparently.

DE Clelin Ferrell

Buster nods: 4

Worst game: Week 3 vs. Vikings

The past two games, Ferrell has turned things around for himself, first with a great game against the run and then a great game as a pass rusher. But before that, he was the invisible man. From Week 4 through Week 8, he had a combined total of two tackles (1 solo) and was getting no pressures either.

I give him credit for what he has done the past two games, but he’ll need to keep it going before we can say he’s figured things out. If he can, perhaps he will go from Midseason Buster to season Baller. That would be quite a turnaround.

[lawrence-newsletter]