Tag: Player of the Week

Twitter reactions after Blake Gillikin snubbed for Special Teams Player of the Week

Twitter reactions after Blake Gillikin snubbed for Special Teams Player of the Week:

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New Orleans Saints punter Blake Gillikin had the best game of his young career against the Washington Football Team, but he wasn’t recognized as NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Instead that honor belongs to T.J. Edwards, a Philadelphia Eagles backup linebacker who blocked a punt last week.

Naturally fans and media close to the team raised an uproar over this on Twitter:

Marshon Lattimore named Player of the Week, but Blake Gillikin was robbed

Marshon Lattimore named Player of the Week, but Blake Gillikin was robbed

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We received a mixed bag for this NFL’s Player of the Week awards on Wednesday, with New Orleans Saints cornerback earning his first-ever recognition on the list after racking up a personal-best six pass breakups in Sunday’s win over the Washington Football Team. But while the Saints’ punter Blake Gillikin had an incredible game in his own right, he was snubbed. Robbed, I say.

Gillikin was overlooked in favor of Philadelphia Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards, who blocked a punt in their 21-18 upset of the Carolina Panthers. Edwards also made five tackles in the game, all on defense in the game’s first half. Apparently that’s more impressive than a punter rocketing five tries for 268 yards, dropping three punts inside the opponents’ three-yard line — a feat that hasn’t happened since at least 2000. But Edwards, not Gillikin, was named the Special Teams Player of the Week.

That’s confounding, but let’s focus on the positives. Lattimore is hitting his stride at the perfect time, when the Saints’ team identity is shifting from the offense to the defense in the post-Drew Brees era. It’s also happening as he’s hitting his athletic prime and after he’s signed a long-term contract extension to remain in black and gold. More games like this from Lattimore will do a lot to keep the team competitive moving forward. He’s earned his flowers.

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Washington quarterback Taylor Heinicke is our player of the game in Week 4

Taylor Heinicke edges out Terry McLaurin as our player of the week for Week 4.

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Taylor Heinicke made his fourth start at quarterback for the Washington Football Team on Sunday and led the WFT to a thrilling 34-30 victory. Washington improved to 2-2 on the season, and both wins were due to Heinicke’s heroics.

After another standout performance, Heinicke is our player of the week for Week 4.

For the game, Heinicke completed 23 of 33 passes for 290 yards with three touchdowns. He also rushed for 43 yards, picking up multiple key first downs with his legs.

Much like his performance in the win over the Giants, Heinicke led Washington from behind in the fourth quarter. In Week 2, Heinicke led Washington back twice, the second of which set up a game-winning field goal.

On Sunday, Washington was down eight points early in the fourth quarter, and Heinicke led the team on two touchdown drives — on improbable plays — to lead Washington to a much-needed win.

Heinicke had his worst game in Week 3 against the Bills. Although by Washington standards, it wasn’t too bad. And, if you want to look at Buffalo through four weeks, Washington and Heinicke moved the ball better against the Bills than anyone else.

Washington will have another challenge this week when it returns home to face the New Orleans Saints at FedEx Field.

 

 

 

LSU linebacker Damone Clark wins SEC weekly defensive honor

Damone Clark picked up SEC honors for his game against Mississippi State.

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After setting a career-high with 15 tackles in LSU’s 28-25 win over Mississippi State, linebacker Damone Clark was named the SEC defensive player of the week by the conference.

The LSU defense was the story of the first half, holding the Bulldogs to only 3 points while committing to a three-man rush. The defense also forced two early turnovers and Clark’s career day was a huge reason why the Tigers came out on top in Starkville Saturday.

On the opening possession of the game, Clark scooped up a fumble at the LSU 30-yard line and returned it 35 yards to set up the first LSU touchdown of the day. After the game, Clark said he knew he should have scored on the fumble recovery, but luckily for him and the rest of the team, the offense was able to put up 7 points.

“I’m proud of the way our team fought,” Clark said after the game. “We fought to the end. I can’t be any more proud.”

Clark now leads the SEC with 41 tackles and is seventh in the country in solo tackles.

Once the Tigers went up 7-0, they never trailed the rest of the game, even as Mississippi State put together two touchdown drives late in the game.

LSU’s defense was on the field for 88 plays and limited the Bulldogs to 5.5 yards per play. Mississippi State’s first seven possessions of the game resulted in only three points.

On the LSU defensive game plan, Clark said after the game coaches harped on keeping “the ball in front you. No explosive plays. Don’t bite on the cheese.”

Clark and the Tigers defense forced the Bulldogs’ high-powered offense to punt three times, forced two turnovers and a missed field goal late into the third quarter.

Twitter reacts to Kenneth Walker not being named player of the week

Twitter reacts to Kenneth Walker being robbed of player of the week honors

Kenneth Walker had the best single performance of any running back in the country throughout week one. Walker led the Spartans to a huge win over the Northwestern Wildcats with a performance that included 23 carries for 264 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Many around the college football world expected Walker to get a majority of the weekly honors that are possible. That did not end up being the case.

Bijan Robinson was given the national honor of offensive player of the week. In a game against Louisiana, Robinson had 20 rushes for 103 yards and a touchdown along with 4 catches for 73 yards and a touchdown.

It is safe to say many around the Michigan State family and even the college football world feel as if Walker was robbed of the honor.

Take a look at how many reacted on Twitter over the news:

Boston’s Jayson Tatum wins 3rd Player of the Week honors this season

Turns out, breaking records set by Larry Bird will get people’s attention.

For the second time in a month, Boston Celtics All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum has been named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for week 19 of the 2020-21 NBA season, spanning April 26 to May 2.

The Duke product averaged 42.7 points per game — the most in the league for that week — 6 rebounds and as many assists per game over that stretch while shooting 54.4% from the floor and an absurd 59.1% from beyond the arc. Added to the Player of the Week award Tatum won earlier in the month and another previously this season, the St. Louis native has become the first Celtic to garner three such awards in a single season since it was done by iconic Boston big man Kevin Garnett.

His Western Conference counterpart in this honor is Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker.

Tatum has quietly but steadily turned up the heat on a case for his second consecutive All-NBA season, averaging 26.5 points, 7.4 boards and 4.4 assists on the season as a whole after a torrid April boosted his profile.

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

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Women’s college golf player of the week: Kate Smith, Nebraska

Kate Smith, a graduate student at Nebraska, became the Huskers’ first Big Ten individual medalist.

Kate Smith keeps adding to her super-senior resume. The graduate student at Nebraska made headlines last month for a hot start at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Now, Smith is the Big Ten Conference individual champion.

Smith, of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, went 9 under for 54 holes at TPC River’s Bend in Maineville, Ohio, and won the conference crown by three shots over Northwestern’s Irene Kim. A final-round 8-under 64 was key for Smith. That round included eight birdies – three of them in her first four holes – and tied Smith’s own record for best individual round in school history.

“What an amazing day,” Smith said in a school release. “I couldn’t be more proud of this team for their play this week. What a great day for the Huskers. Winning hasn’t really set in yet. My career at Nebraska has been amazing, and I wouldn’t have achieved this win today without my coaches, teammates and the support of the whole athletic department. This is a great day for Nebraska women’s golf.”

Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings: Women’s team | Women’s individual
College golf blog: The Road to Grayhawk

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Men’s college golf player of the week: Joe Highsmith, Pepperdine

Pepperdine junior Joe Highsmith won the individual title at the Western Intercollegiate after a threeway playoff lasted four holes.

Joe Highsmith earned his first collegiate victory in style.

The Pepperdine junior won last week’s Western Intercollegiate after a threeway playoff went four extra holes. The Lakewood, Washington, native made par to win at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, California, defeating BYU’s Carson Lundell. San Diego State’s Puwit Anupansuebsai was eliminated after the third playoff hole.

“Joe hit it really well, he was really impressive,” said Pepperdine head coach Michael Beard. “He’s been knocking on the door a little bit and to be able to close the deal was super special.”

“That was absolute craziness. Obviously the 20-footer in the playoff was crazy,” said Highsmith of his lengthy par save on the second playoff hole. “It may not have looked like it out there, but I was definitely feeling the nerves but was able to handle it pretty well. It’s been a while since I was in that position. This was great, it means a lot to win it here, it’s really cool for me.”

Rankings: Men’s team | Men’s individual

Women’s college golf player of the week: Ingrid Lindblad, LSU

After winning the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic, LSU’s Ingrid Lindblad has been named Golfweek’s college player of the week.

Ingrid Lindblad, one of LSU’s super sophomores, won for the first time this season on March 21 when she claimed the individual title in a deep field at the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic. It’s the third title of Lindblad’s college career.

The Swede finished the weekend at the University of Georgia Golf Course in Athens, Georgia, with a 4-under 212 total. Lindblad continues to pile up the top 10s – she has landed there at each of LSU’s tournaments this season (that’s seven times, for those counting).

She finished the final round of the Liz Murphey with consecutive birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 to claim the victory. Her first-round score of 8-under 64 puts her in a three-way tie for LSU’s school record for a single low round.

Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings: Women’s team | Women’s individual
College golf blog: The Road to Grayhawk

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Men’s college golf player of the week: Benjamin Shipp, NC State

NC State graduate student Benjamin Shipp earned men’s college golf player of the week honors with an impressive 11-shot win.

At the Schenkel Invitational it was Benjamin Shipp’s world and the rest of the field was living in it.

The North Carolina State grad student earned the fourth win of his collegiate career wire-to-wire at Forest Heights Country Club in Statesboro, Georgia, signing for the low score each day with rounds of 66-66-68 to win by 11 shots at 16 under. According to the school, Shipp’s score of 16 under is the lowest in relation to par in NC State history.

In five events this season, Shipp has earned three top-10 finishes, including a T-5 at the Wake Forest Invitational at Pinehust No. 2 earlier this month.

Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings: Men’s team | Men’s individual
College golf blog: The Road to Grayhawk

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