Monday ProCanes Report: Vernon Breaks Out

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. Rookie pass-rusher Olivier Vernon enjoyed a breakout game for his hometown Dolphins, recovering a blocked punt in the endzone for a touchdown and blocking a field goal of his own later in the game. Report regulars Santana Moss, Willis McGahee and Jimmy Graham also found the back of the endzone in Week Eight action.

Olivier Vernon (Miami Dolphins) – blocked punt for touchdown, blocked field goalThe first-year defensive end keyed a dominant special teams performance for the Miami Dolphins, beginning with a blocked punt recovery in the endzone for a score in the first quarter. With his early touchdown, Olivier became the third rookie ProCane to find the endzone this season, joining Travis Benjamin (Cleveland) and Lamar Miller (Miami). Vernon would enjoy his second Gangnam Style dance of the afternoon after blocking a field goal just before halftime.Video Highlights: First Career TD | Blocked Field Goal | Gangnam Style
Willis McGahee (Denver Broncos) – 23 carries, 122 yards, one touchdown
Denver’s tenth-year running back showed little signs of wear and tear in his team’s 34-14 win over New Orleans on Sunday Night Football. Averaging over five yards per carry, McGahee finished with a season-best 122 yards and the team’s first touchdown of the game on a one-yard plunge into the endzone. The Miami, Fla. native now ranks 10th in the NFL with 554 rushing yards on the season, and has recorded three 100-yard performances through seven games.Video Highlights: Opening Score | 17-Yard Run | Through the Tackles
Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis Colts) – 9 catches, 71 yardsThe 12th-year wideout maintained his top spot on the NFL’s leader board with a 71-yard showing in his team’s 19-13 overtime win over Tennessee. Wayne now stands as one of only two receivers in the league with over 700 yards (Wes Welker), having recorded 757 through seven games. He was also credited with a fiery halftime speech that riled his teammates to overcome an early deficit en route to the crucial OT win. Keyed by a dominant year from their best offensive player, the Colts are now 4-3 overall and in second place in the AFC South.
Colin McCarthy (Tennessee Titans) – 11 tacklesThe sight of second-year linebacker Colin McCarthy on the field was a pleasant one for the Tennessee Titans, who have seen their run defense struggle without one of the team’s most important playmakers. Despite his continued recovery from an ankle injury, McCarthy recorded a team-best 11 tackles in Sunday’s overtime loss to Indianapolis. After missing his team’s Week Seven win over Buffalo, McCarthy’s impact on Tennessee’s defense was obvious. Despite suffering the injury during a Week One match-up with the Patriots, McCarthy has now registered 28 tackles on the season.

ProCanes Tweets of the Week:

  Kevin Negandhi
@KNegandhiESPN I hope Marcus Lattimore is watching Willis Mcgahee tonight.. Keep that dream alive. 
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14 hours ago via Echofon ·   Nate Dunlevy
@NateDunlevy Reggie Wayne leads the NFL in receiving yards. He’s 6 catches behind two players that have played 8 games already, third overall
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13 hours ago via TweetDeck ·  Jimmy Graham
@TheJimmyGraham Happy to be back on the plane with the boys! Wheels up..
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2 days ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® ·   Grant Paulsen
@granthpaulsen RG3 on his TD pass to Moss: “I’ve got Santana Moss, one on one against a rookie.” Then stopped and said, “I know I’m a rookie myself.”
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7 days ago via Twitter for Android ·   Ben Volin
@BenVolinPBP Olivier Vernon said he did the Gangnam TD dance for his mom. “I know she was doing the same thing at home.”
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18 hours ago via TweetDeck ·