Unafraidshow’s Best Pac-12 Players: Week 2

There were some incredible performances from the NFL in Week 2. While some colleges like Cal had a multitude of options for this Best Pac-12 NFL Players list, others like Arizona barely had one. Which alumni from your college had the best Week 2? Check out the list below!

Arizona

Will Parks – Denver Broncos

While Will Parks isn’t great, he’s not bad either. Parks was on the field for 82-percent of defensive snaps for the Broncos. No, he didn’t record any counting stats. But, as a strong safety, he doesn’t have to record stats to have a positive impact. Denver held Chicago to just 16 points. More importantly, they held Mitchell Trubisky to 120 yards. It was a good game for the Denver defense. So, it also was a good day for Parks.

All in all, Will Parks is a good NFL player and gets consistent snaps for the Broncos. That’s more than the rest of the Arizona alumni can say. Yes, he was on this list last week. But until someone else from Arizona can step up, Parks will remain on the Best Pac-12 NFL Players list.

Arizona State

Vontaze Burfict – Oakland Raiders

Even though the Oakland Raiders lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 28-10, the defense actually played well. They held Mahomes and company scoreless three out of four quarters. Against KC, Vontaze Burfict played 97-percent of defensive snaps. Win, lose or tie, he was out there for the Raiders. Burfict is a consistent, albeit dirty, NFL player. The linebacker racked up 4 tackles and a pass defense, in addition to being sent after Mahomes. No, they didn’t win and no he didn’t get any sacks or turnovers. But, it was still a good game for Burfict in his new home and why Burfict is one of the best Pac-12 NFL players this year.

We gotta give @TooLoose26 major props for protecting his QB from big scary meanie Vontaze Burfict on this play. Grown man move. pic.twitter.com/S1CoHhbTM3 — 57 Sent (@ClayWendler) September 16, 2019

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Cal

Cameron Jordan – New Orleans Saints

Against the formidable Los Angeles Rams, Cameron Jordan returned a fumble 80 yards for a touchdown. Then, the refs blew it. Saints fans died a little more this week. Not only did they see their third straight game with officiating blunders. This time also came amidst a Drew Brees injury. It’s a bad time to be a Saints fan.

Nonetheless, Cameron Jordan is still a force to be reckoned with. His career makes a case for him to not only be one of the best Pac-12 NFL players this week, but all time. Even without the touchdown, Jordan accounted for:

5 Tackles

1 Tackle for a Loss

2 QB Hits

1 Sack

1 Fumble Recovery

This was also his second game straight with at least 5 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 2 QB hits and 1 sack. He is unstoppable right now. Well, unless the refs get in his way.

Colorado

Ahkello Witherspoon – San Francisco 49ers

Yet again, Witherspoon highlights Colorado with exceptional defense. However, it wasn’t all pretty.

Ahkello Witherspoon drops a pick-six, kicks the ball and it drills a security guy in the head. He gets called for delay of game. — Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) September 15, 2019

While he didn’t get the pick-6 in this game, he still made up for it with impressive play. Witherspoon totaled 5 tackles and 2 passes defended. But, his overall quarterback rating when targeted speaks volumes on his play. Ahkello was one of the best Pac-12 NFL players of any school in Weeks 1 and 2 of the NFL season.

Ahkello Witherspoon has allowed three reception on 12 targets this season and a passer rating allowed of 16.0. #49ers #NinerNation pic.twitter.com/S5hcuNtT9L — PFF SF 49ers (@PFF_49ers) September 16, 2019

With play like this, Witherspoon is making a case to earn a big paycheck. The 49ers desperately needed playmakers on defense the past few seasons and it seems Ahkello Witherspoon is stepping up weekly.

Oregon

Arik Armstead – San Francisco 49ers

Arik Armstead can get sacks pic.twitter.com/aXemgWvogj — James Brady (@JamesBradySBN) September 15, 2019

In another dominant, defensive win, Arik Armstead helped the 49ers cruise past the Cincinnati Bengals. In their win, Armstead played 43 defensive snaps. During that time, he was able to make 3 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss, 1 QB hit and 1 sack. He constantly frustrated the Bengals. The 49ers have a plethora of defensive linemen to create pressure (a lot of them that could become some of the best Pac-12 NFL players). And it looks like Arik Armstead is taking advantage of his situation.

Oregon State

Jordan Poyer – Buffalo Bills

In Week 2, the Buffalo Bills comfortably beat the New York Giants 28-14. They held Eli Manning to 250 yards on 45 attempts. He tried his best to beat them through the air, but threw more interceptions than touchdowns. One of which went to Jordan Poyer.

In their win, Jordan Poyer had 2 tackles, 1 interception and defended 1 pass. He’s had an excellent season so far. In 2019, Poyer is credited for 8 solo tackles, 1 interception, 1 sack and has only been targeted once. On top of that, the target didn’t succeed. So, he hasn’t even allowed a reception. It makes sense why his current PFF grade is 84.4. Jordan Poyer is the best Pac-12 NFL player on the Bills.

Stanford

Harrison Phillips – Buffalo Bills

Harrison Phillips celebrating his first #NFL sack. Half sack to be precise, but he didn't mind #Bills pic.twitter.com/YxJMMRRWOO — Ted Goldberg (@TedGoldbergTV) September 15, 2019

Harrison Phillips was an excellent interior defender against the New York Giants. He made plays on both Eli Manning and Saquon Barkely. Against Manning, Phillips finally got his first sack. Well, half sack. But still, that’s a big thing for an interior defender who’s job is to make defensive stops.

Harrison Phillips had himself a day! Bills send a CB blitz so Hughes and Phillips are slanting backside. Phillips stays with it and brings Barkley down. pic.twitter.com/3klmkUQZTK — Cover 1 (@Cover_1_) September 16, 2019

Against Barkely and the Giants run game, Phillips did what he does best: didn’t allow push and made defensive stops. But, as said above, Phillips also recorded 1 QB hit, 0.5 sacks and 2 passes defended It was quite the game for the big guy up front.

UCLA

Kenny Clark – Green Bay Packers

There was not a bigger mismatch on the field on Sunday than Kenny Clark vs. Garrett Bradbury. pic.twitter.com/8GOkBnRqQp — Ross Uglem (@RossUglem) September 16, 2019

Man. Kenny Clark had a game. He looked like an All-Pro against the Vikings. Clark consistently created havoc and pressured Kirk Cousins.

If you can get your nose tackle to get pressure like this in the red zone on a 3man rush and hurry a QB’s throw… It can give your defense tremendous flexibility



cc: Kenny Clark.. again pic.twitter.com/BMyopGgJWF — Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) September 17, 2019

Keep in mind that Kenny Clark is a nose tackle. A nose tackle that pressured, frustrated and sacked the opposing quarterback. In their win, Clark hit Cousins twice, sacked him once and forced a fumble. He was a large part of their divisional win.

USC

Nelson Agholor – Philadelphia Eagles

On Sunday night, the Philadelphia Eagles lost DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffrey and Dallas Goedert to injuries. Other players had to step up and fill the offensive void. That player was Nelson Agholor. Granted, it wasn’t a perfect night for Agholor.

But, other than the drops, Agholor played well. On 11 targets, he had 8 receptions for 107 yards and 1 touchdown. Of note are his two biggest plays. The first, and his only touchdown of the game, came on fourth and goal. His hands worked there.

The other, more impressive play, came on the same drive as his big drop seen earlier. Just look at this catch. On 4th and 14!

When the Eagles needed playmakers, Agholor made himself available.

Utah

Eric Weddle – Los Angeles Rams

This just in. Eric Weddle can still lay a hit. He layed the hit on Jared Cook in their Week 2 matchup, causing Cook to lose the ball and the Rams to intercept it. Keep in mind that this is just one week after Weddle took a knee from Christian McCaffrey and bled all over.

Eric Weddle down injured after McCaffrey made contact with the safety's head leaping over him. pic.twitter.com/a8KU7c0jt5 — Sports Gifs & Videos (@Supreme_gifs) September 8, 2019

#Rams Safety Eric Weddle is bleeding all over.pic.twitter.com/3ADEJXyrfc — Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 8, 2019

He’s an experienced veteran and is still willing to lay his body on the line. Against the Saints, he played well and helped stifle the non-Brees offense. This season, he has a 79.3 PFF grade, 12 tackles and a pass defended in 2019. If he manages to stay healthy with the hits he’s taking/giving, the Rams have a menace in the secondary.

Washington

Will Dissly – Seattle Seahawks

Will Dissly had himself a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. 5 Targets

5 Receptions

2 Touchdowns

2 First Downs

1 Embarrassing Pancake Block on Devin Bush

Russell Wilson put the ball only where Will Dissly could find it 👐 pic.twitter.com/V9xneo9o7L — The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) September 15, 2019

Against Pittsburgh, Russell Wilson trusted Dissly to make big plays. It was Dissly’s best game in his short NFL career. Aside from his first two weeks in 2018, Will Dissly has either gone unnoticed or was injured. Perhaps this is his year to connect with Wilson in a sans-Baldwin offense.

Washington State

Joe Dahl – Detroit Lions

For a Detroit Lions team that is constantly rotating their offensive lineman, Joe Dahl is playing well. On 117 snaps at guard, he hasn’t allowed a sack and holds a 71.6 PFF grade. He isn’t dominant yet, but he’s made a significant jump in performance from 2018 to 2019. The Lions need to keep him in more regularly and commit to offensive line continuity.

The Lions second best player yesterday per PFF? Graham Glasgow. The fourth? Joe Dahl. The 15th (!!)? Kenny Wiggins.



Why on earth are we rotating Wiggins in with Glasgow and Dahl again?



The Lions sure seem to be setting themselves up to lose Glasgow next year. I don't get it. — Scott Warheit (@swarheit) September 16, 2019

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: