When you team is on this kind of roll, with second and third stringers contributing throughout the run, it's getting harder and harder to find a player who is considered obscure, let alone one who steps out of that roll during the game.
Watching the game you see guys named Etric Pruitt, Cornelius Wortham and the newly signed Michael "no not that one" Harden stepping up and making tackles, and at this point of the season, we're getting used to it. Now, none of these guys made a substantial enough contribution to compete for this week's MGA, but I'll bet way back in training camp, NONE of them thought that their names would even get mentioned in conjunction with this prestigeous piece of hardware.
My first thought for this week's award is Darrell Jackson. "Darrel Jackson?" you say? "The perennial #1 receiver on the Seahawks?" you say? "The dude who still held the lead in receptions and yardage three weeks after being injured? you ask?
To all those I say "Yes, THAT Darrel Jackson!"
Anyone who REALLY believed that a guy could be out for 10 weeks and come back and play like THAT...6 catches for 72 yards and 1 TD, not to mention 7 yards on an end around, and great downfield blocking in the running game...please take two steps forward. I didn't think so!
But really, as impressive as DJACK was in his triumphant return after a 10 week layoff, I don't think he's really eligible for this award.
Looking at the stat shet, I got to give a lot of consideration to Kevin Bentley, who's been thrust into the starting LB position due to the injury to D.D. Lewis, and all he did was come out and lead the team with 8 tackles! It's this sort of "plug replaceable" team that we all knew we wanted, but didn't realize we were getting, when Ruskell was making his off season acquisitions and draft choices.
But this week's Moonlight Graham Award is going to a guy who doesn't ever show up in the stat sheet, but did his best to keep the guy in front of him from showing up either. If Walter Jones is "the Eraser", then Sean Locklear is quickly earning the title "White Out", with his performances against the opposition's edge rusher on the left.
Kyle Vanden Bosch of the Titans came into the game leading the league with 12.5 sacks, and after the long day that Osi Umenyiora of the Giants gave "the Eraser" a few weeks ago, this I'm sure was a major focus of the Titan's defensive game plan.
What was the result? Matt had all day to pass, completing 21 of 27 and was sacked only once, by Travis LaBoy. The final line on Vaden Bosch? One tackled. One Assist. One bad case of being "whited out".
It's hard to remember that if it weren't for the preseason injury to Pork Chop, Sean Locklear wasn't even supposed to be starting. And on a day where the defense was struggling at best, and we really needed the offense to step up and win the game on its own, it's only right that the award goes to one of the unsung heros on the front line, who open up those huge holes for Shaun to run through, and protect Matt (and the aspirations of the franchise) with superb pass blocking.
So congratulations Sean Locklear. What may seem like one small step for you, as been one major leap for all Seahawk-kind! And with the way you're playing this season, don't be surprised if your lunar module splashes down a little West of Seattle in Hawaii!
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