Hester's Record Highlights @ProCanes Monday Recap
Oct. 3, 2011
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CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The Monday Morning ProCanes report will weed through all the NFL highlights and news to bring you the information you care about the most… what the former University of Miami Hurricanes did during the week prior.
When Houston Texans Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson went down with an injury early in his team’s match-up with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the day appeared bleak. The Pro Canes, however, officially stretched their now famous touchdown streak to 143 consecutive regular season weeks on a first-quarter score by Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss. With 787 total yards, five touchdowns, three interceptions and one record-breaking performance, the Hurricanes were once again a major force during week 4 of 2011 NFL action:
Devin Hester (Chicago Bears): 142 return yards, one touchdown
Devin Hester officially became the greatest return man in NFL history during Sunday’s 34-29 win over the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field. “The Windy City Flyer,” as he is affectionately known in Chicago, recorded his league-record 11th career punt return for a touchdown on a sprint through the Panthers’ coverage team early in the second quarter. Hester, who almost took the second-half kickoff to the house on a 73-yard gain for the Bears, managed to successfully weave his way into the record books only three minutes later on his 69-yard dash to the end zone.
ChicagoBears.com has great summary of Hester’s career and record breaking afternoon. Make sure you read: Magic Man
Video: Record-breaking return
Video: 73-yard return
Jimmy Graham (New Orleans Saints): 10 receptions, 132 yards, 1 touchdown
Sophomore slump? Try explaining that concept to Jimmy Graham. Fresh off his first career 100-yard game against Houston, Graham finished the day with career highs in both receptions (10) and yards (132), and has already eclipsed his 2010 yards total only four weeks into the season (367). His two long receptions in the fourth quarter, one of them in perfect coverage from the Jaguars defense, demonstrated the type of freakish athleticism that has earned the 24-year old recognition in only his second year in the NFL. More importantly, his 88 yards in the game’s final quarter helped secure New Orleans an important 23-10 win at Jacksonville.
Video: 59-yard grab
Video: 29-yard catch
Video: 1-yard touchdown
Frank Gore (San Francisco 49ers): 15 carries, 127 yards, 1 touchdown
Frank Gore, who began the game second on the team’s depth chart behind rookie Kendall Hunter, answered his critics on only the third snap of the day. Gore, suffering from a lingering ankle injury, took the hand-off from quarterback Alex Smith and promptly rushed 40 yards through the heart of the Philadelphia Eagles defense. The two-time Pro Bowler, who had yet to break out in 2011, finished the day with a season-high 127 yards on the ground for the 49ers. Not surprisingly, it was Gore who capped off a terrific comeback at Candlestick Park, scampering 12 yards in the fourth quarter for the deciding touchdown in San Francisco’s 24-23 win.
Video: 40-yard dash
Video: 25-yard run
Video: Game-winning touchdown
Sam Shields (Green Bay Packers): 5 tackles, 1 interception
On a day when former Hurricane Willis McGahee rushed for over 100 yards, it might come as a surprise to see a defensive player for Green Bay on the report. Sam Shields, however, played a key role for a defense that turned the Broncos offense over four times, including three interceptions. The second-year cornerback, who appeared beat on a long throw from Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton, used his incredible athleticism to make an astounding interception on the goal line. Shields turned on the jets, returning his fourth quarter pick-off for 60 yards, and helped the Packers secure a 49-23 victory at Lambeau Field.
Video: 60-yard INT return
Chris Myers and Eric Winston (Houston Texans)
Often the unsung heroes of any team, offensive linemen Chris Myers and Eric Winston deserve special recognition for their contributions to an important win for the Houston Texans. When Andre Johnson went down early in the second quarter, the Houston Texans turned to Arian Foster, the NFL’s leading rusher from the 2010 season, to carry the load. The team’s center and right tackle helped pave the way for the team’s 180 yards on the ground against a vaunted Pittsburgh defense, as the Texans pulled off an impressive 17-10 win at Reliant Stadium.
Video: 20-yard run
Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen (Carolina Panthers): 7 catches, 91 yards, 1 touchdown
The Carolina Panthers’ tight end duo of Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen were primary targets once again for rookie quarterback Cam Newton in Sunday’s matchup with the Chicago Bears. The tandem, after another successful week, has made a key impact for an aerial attack that now ranks third in the NFL (334.8 yards/game). Shockey made amends for an interference call that nullified a touchdown with a beautiful 26-yard catch down the sidelines in the third quarter. Unfortunately, Olsen’s amazing one-handed touchdown against his former team came too little too late, and the Panthers fell to the Bears at Soldier Field, 34-29.
Video: Shockey’s 26-yard catch
Video: Olsen’s impressive touchdown
Video: Shockey’s nullified TD
Other Video Highlights:
Santana Moss (Washington Redskins): 6-yard TD
Vince Wilfork (New England Patriots): Interception
Antrel Rolle (New York Giants): Interception
Ed Reed (Baltimore Ravens): Strip-Sack for TD
Even after Sunday’s countless incredible performances, the week is not yet over for former Hurricanes. Two of the most prolific pass-catchers in Miami history will square off on Monday night as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Kellen Winslow) are set to take on the Indianapolis Colts (Reggie Wayne) on Monday Night Football, with kickoff set for 8:30pm on ESPN.
Heading into the NFL opening week, UM lead all colleges with 42 alums on active NFL Rosters.
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