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We’re back! With this installment, SOTU will update you with the past TWO weeks of regular season action (Weeks 15 and 16), as many ProCanes get ready for the regular season finale and prepare for their playoff races.
WEEK 15
Week 15 was a great week for our ProCanes, accounting for FIVE touchdowns that week.
Erik Swoope
FINALLY! AND ERIK SWOOPE TOUCHDOWN!
3 years ago, @eswoope21 was a senior on @CanesHoops.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) December 20, 2016
On Sunday, he caught his first NFL TD: https://t.co/iau3oalUyt pic.twitter.com/3W6rqsBfFz
Andrew Luck finds Erik Swoope for the 27-yard touchdown! #ForTheShoe #INDvsMIN pic.twitter.com/jm8RUvhQcw
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) December 18, 2016
Swoope’s Week 15 touchdown grab was the first, like, legitimately his FIRST EVER touchdown reception of his career. Before his career with the Colts, Swoope was a former basketball player at The U, and had NEVER played organized football in his life. In his first season off the practice squad, Swoope has totaled 14 receptions, 275 yards and one touchdown. It will be fun to watch his development throughout the upcoming years. CONGRATS, ERIK!
Calias Campbell
FAT GUY TOUCHDOWN! NFL PIESMAN!
BIG Man makin' BIG plays!
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) December 18, 2016
Don't get in @Campbell93's way. #BeRedSeeRed https://t.co/ZHJ6OgsnaR
Another first! Campbell scored his first career touchdown in a 48-41 loss to the Saints. Campbell has been a consistent force for the Cardinals since they drafted him. The ninth-year vet has accumulated 50 tackles and 6.5 sacks this season, while the Cardinals playoff hopes were dashed earlier in the year.
Lamar Miller
Game. Blouses.
Boom! @millertime_6 finds paydirt...
— NFL (@NFL) December 18, 2016
The @HoustonTexans take the lead! #JAXvsHOU https://t.co/MPpqVoGDyz
Miller scored the game-winning touchdown vs. their division Jacksonville, getting them one game closer to winning the AFC South, which they eventually accomplished in Week 16. Miller missed Week 16, and it is likely he will be held out in Week 17 after securing a spot in the playoffs. Miller has run for 1,073 yards and five touchdowns in 2016.
Travis Benjamin
Benjamin and the Chargers gave their best effort in trying to defeat Oakland, but came up short in a 19-16 loss. Benjamin, however, showcased his best attribute: his speed.
Absolutely inch-perfect from Philip Rivers @TravisBenjamin3 didn't even need to break stride #OAKvsSD https://t.co/le1Onjt3oe
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) December 18, 2016
Not too sure who was supposed to be covering Benjamin on this play, but my guess is that it was David Amerson. If you forgot who that was, just look up the Miami-NC State game from 2012. You’ll remember seeing him (unsuccessfully) chase Dorsett around.
Phillip Dorsett
Speaking of Dorsett, he caught a beaauuttttyyy of a throw from Andrew Luck in the rout of the Vikings.
Andrew Luck hits Phillip Dorsett with a BOMB for the 50-yard TD! #ForTheShoe #INDvsMIN pic.twitter.com/DaBlz7W8Ef
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) December 18, 2016
Dorsett hasn’t broken out this season like some suspected, but he has been productive when needed. The touchdown grab was his lone catch of the game, good for 50 yards. Dorsett has 472 yards, two touchdowns on 29 receptions this season.
Week 16
Okay, NOW we’re back on track with WEEK 16...let’s see how our favorite ProCanes performed over the holiday weekend.
Greg Olsen
Greg Olsen is solidifying himself as one of the greatest tight ends of all time. This past weekend, Olsen made history.
Legend. @gregolsen88 is the first tight end in @NFL history to record three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. #OlsenWPMOYChallenge pic.twitter.com/z3uZVdasAf
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) December 24, 2016
The Panthers said it correctly..LEGEND. Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, Jeremy Shockey, even Jimmy Graham haven’t put up three consecutive seasons like Olsen has. He’ll even be represented in this year’s upcoming Pro Bowl (of course).
No surprise #TightEndU will be represented in the Pro Bowl by this man.
— Canes Football (@CanesFootball) December 22, 2016
Congrats, @gregolsen88! pic.twitter.com/SlNvyjWCKt
Olsen now has 1,051 yards and three touchdown catches on 77 receptions. Wide receivers are jealous of these numbers. The 10-year vet seems to be getting better and better with each season, and his numbers are a reflection of that.
Clive Walford
Clive Walford spins for a 5-yard touchdown! #RaiderNation #INDvsOAK pic.twitter.com/UIYCJBhNj8
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) December 24, 2016
I love watching Walford produce. His athleticism and room to grow are why people are so high on him and his ability. He hasn’t broken out like people thought he would this season, but there is no doubt that he will continue to get better in Oakland. Unfortunately, Walford and the Raiders will be without MVP candidate Derek Carr, who broke his fibula on a sack later in the game. Walford has recorded 32 catches, 342 yards and three TDs so far, but will need to step up in Carr’s absence.
Frank Gore
You already knew he was going to end up in this article. Gore had a decent day against the Raiders, rushing for 73 yards on 13 carries, but that wasn’t his highlight of the day. Again, Gore made history on Saturday.
It's crazy how sneaky great Frank Gore has been. pic.twitter.com/B7xJh9GWwz
— NFLonCBS (@NFLonCBS) December 26, 2016
Frank Gore is the 1st player in NFL history with 11 consecutive 1,200-yards from scrimmage seasons
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 24, 2016
Simply amazing. Gore now had 964 yards to go along with his four touchdowns on the season and is now just 36 yards away from reaching the coveted 1,000-yard mark for the season. If he can do it, Gore would be the first Colts running back to break the barrier since Joseph Addai in 2007.
Duke Johnson
DUUUUUUUUUKE! Johnson hasn’t lit up the stat sheet this season (he plays for the Browns), but his numbers look pretty good - 72 carries/354 rushing yards/1 TD, 53 receptions/514 receiving yards - in my honest opinion. Oh yeah, and this play:
This is what happens when you tilt the right joystick to the left, kids. https://t.co/duHCfcMVPc
— Josh Poloha (@JorshP) December 24, 2016
YEET! Unfortunately, Denzel Perryman was on the wrong side of the play, but what a damn move!
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That’s all from Week 16 (+15)! Hope everyone has had fantastic and blessed holiday and on behalf of the team at SOTU, we wish you a happy New Year!
Tune in TONIGHT on ESPN at 5:30 p.m. to watch the Canes take on the No. 14 West Virginia Mountaineers in the Russell Athletic Bowl.