Marcus Mariota, Zach Allen amongst Secret Superstars for Week 7

As any NFL season progresses, there will likely be extra unheralded gamers who stand up from humble beginnings to change into elements, and guys whose careers have gone sideways who one way or the other discover the highway again to relevance.

We wish to have fun these gamers each week in “Secret Superstars.” This week, we have now a former second total choose who confirmed mastery of a brand new offense, two guys from what is likely to be the league’s most shocking protection in 2024, and two undrafted rookie defensive backs who’ve imprinted their names past anyone’s expectations however their very own.

Marcus Mariota, QB, Washington Commanders

The NFL world let loose a collective gasp when Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a rib damage on a 46-yard run on Sunday in opposition to the Carolina Panthers. It was Washington’s first offensive play of the day, and Daniels completed the drive that led to a 23-yard subject aim, however he was first dominated questionable to return after which out. Not what you wish to see occur to top-of-the-line rookie quarterbacks… nicely, ever.

Now, the Commanders must proceed with veteran Marcus Mariota, who signed a one-year, $6 million contract with Washington as his fifth NFL workforce in a 10-year profession. The second total choose within the 2015 draft has by no means actually lived as much as what was anticipated of him, although he’s had a few first rate seasons. So, who would have anticipated what occurred in an eventual 40-7 thwacking of the Panthers? I imply… sure, the Panthers are terrible, however this was the Marcus Mariota we have now seen.

After he changed Daniels, Mariota accomplished 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, a passer score of 132.8, and a Passing EPA of +15.2 that led all NFL quarterbacks on Sunday.

Mariota was pressured on 5 of his dropbacks, however he didn’t let that cut back his time to throw. Per Subsequent Gen Stats, Mariota discovered most of his success on dropbacks over 2.5 seconds, finishing 12 of his 16 makes an attempt for 186 yards and a landing on longer dropbacks. Mariota additionally accomplished all six of his makes an attempt on dropbacks over 4.0 seconds, totaling 88 yards and a landing.

And for those who’re going to roam round in or out of the pocket ready for routes to open, you’d higher have solutions in opposition to converging stress. Mariota actually did on this wonderful throw to Terry McLaurin with 8:54 left within the recreation…

…and on this banger of a 15-yard completion to McLaurin with 44 seconds left within the first half, Mariota had already confirmed a newfound knack for pocket motion and timing passes.

“You recognize what, I’m actually happy with Marcus,” Commanders head coach Dan Quinn mentioned. “So, in case your second will get known as, then you definitely’re able to ship for the workforce and I feel that’s a extremely highly effective factor and he was in a position to do this tonight.”

Quinn mentioned Monday that Daniels is week-to-week and a perhaps for Week 8 in opposition to the Chicago Bears. It’s clearly finest to maintain the rookie beneath wraps till he’s absolutely wholesome, as we don’t desire a re-run of what this workforce did to Robert Griffin again within the day. If Mariota can preserve this up when wanted, that’s a really good insurance coverage coverage for a 5-2 workforce trying fairly harmful on either side of the ball.

Zach Allen, DL, Denver Broncos

You recognize {that a} coach and his gamers have an hermetic lock on issues schematically when, abruptly, a bunch of unheralded folks stand out as they by no means have earlier than. That seems to be the case for Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and his crew, as a result of we have now two Denver defenders in Secret Superstars this week after the Broncos embarrassed the New Orleans Saints 33-10 final Thursday evening.

A lot of the story of that recreation was the Saints’ horrible tackling (it was simply that), and Sean Payton’s return to NOLA. However inside defensive lineman Zach Allen continued his rampage in opposition to enemy quarterbacks in that recreation with a sack, two quarterback hits, and three quarterback hurries from everywhere in the defensive position. And now Allen, chosen within the third spherical of the 2019 draft out of Boston School, and who signed a three-year, $45,75 million contract with $32.5 million assured with Denver in 2023, has stress numbers for an inside man that lead the pack within the NFL.

Allen has a minimum of 4 pressures in each recreation this season, so this isn’t a man who racks up totals one week after which disappears for a month. He’s a continuing ache within the butt for offensive traces.

“He’s actually the chief proper now,” former Broncos cornerback (and slot legend) Chris Harris not too long ago mentioned of Allen. “He’s the man that everyone ought to take discover of up entrance once they watch the Broncos’ entrance seven.”

Allen additionally not too long ago caught the eye of NFL Community and FOX Sports activities analyst Brian Baldinger, who is aware of of what he speaks, since he has his personal workplace at NFL Movies.

And no, we’re not executed with Broncos defensive gamers this week.

Cody Barton, LB, Denver Broncos

The Broncos headed into Monday ranked third in Defensive DVOA after ending thirtieth in 2023, and with a traditionally horrid begin to the season. So, the turnaround has been past spectacular. Another excuse for that constructive fliparound is the addition of linebacker Cody Barton, who performed the sport of his life in opposition to the Saints.

The well-traveled Barton, chosen within the third spherical of the 2019 draft out of Utah by the Seattle Seahawks, was a roleplayer within the Emerald Metropolis for 4 seasons earlier than he signed a one-year deal to play for regardless of the heck protection Jack Del Rio and Ron Rivera have been calling for the Washington Commanders in 2023, after which signing a one-year, $2.5 million contract to play for the Broncos this season.

Towards the Saints, Barton had a sack/pressured fumble, seven solo tackles, 5 stops, one catch allowed on three targets for 5 yards, a go breakup, and an opponent passer score of 42.4.

Barton additionally had a 52-yard fumble restoration return for a landing after yet one more Broncos stress on Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler.

That one got here with 4:19 left within the recreation, Barton had already had one other landing negated by a defensive offsides penalty.

“Tonight I did,” Barton mentioned when requested whether or not he thought he’d get a second probability at a landing. “I used to be saying all of it recreation. ‘It’s going to occur. I’m going to get it again. I’m going to get it again.’ It ended up taking place. You don’t know when it’s going to occur. You simply should be prepared when the chance presents itself. It occurs fast.”

Barton additionally practically had an interception on his go breakup with 11:28 left within the first quarter, when he adopted Saints receiver Mason Tipton throughout the sphere on a scramble drill. If solely… nicely. He was shut.

“It was simply a kind of nights the place it simply involves you and also you simply form of really feel it,” Barton concluded relating to his protection. “It was an ideal workforce win. It was simply a kind of video games. It was an ideal workforce win on the highway on a brief week. I’m pleased for everybody.

“Being on this protection is enjoyable. It’s aggressive. Everybody has an opportunity to eat. In the present day, I really feel prefer it was form of my day. A few of these larger splash performs got here my method. If this recreation have been tomorrow, you don’t know who it’s going to be. That’s form of how this protection is. It’s a whole lot of enjoyable simply working round.”

Whenever you’re enjoying this nicely, it actually is.

Eric Wilson, LB, Inexperienced Bay Packers

It’s difficult sufficient while you, as a protection, should cope with C.J. Stroud and the Houston Texans. Whenever you’re the Inexperienced Bay Packers, and also you lose key linebacker Quay Walker to a concussion early within the second quarter, that actually doesn’t assist.

Except you’re Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, you could have a playbook filled with evil for Mr. Stroud, and you’ve got reserve linebacker Eric Wilson prepared to assist blow up Houston’s normally dynamic offense. Wilson, an undrafted free agent out of Cincinnati who began his NFL profession with the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 and is on his third straight one-year contract with the Packers, upped his profession sack whole from 9 to 11 on this recreation, the place Stroud was pressured on 14 of his 29 dropbacks total. When pressured, the normally stoic Stroud accomplished three of 9 passes for 40 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, a passer score of 48.4, and a Passing EPA of -11.77 – fifth-worst for any quarterback in Week 7.

“He made some massive time performs,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur mentioned of his backup linebacker. “Particularly having the ability to are available in in reduction of Quay. Actually, Quay is the man on the market speaking to all people and to lose him was massive. He [Walker] appears to be doing okay, however Eric (Wilson), I can’t say sufficient nice issues about him. He’s the consummate professional by way of simply at all times realizing what to do after which having the ability to, when known as upon, go on the market and ship. I’m actually happy with him and we’re fortunate to have a man like that on our workforce.”

“Anytime as a protection, they have been capable of get stress,” Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans mentioned. “Whether or not it’s with the stunts or with the blitzes, it impacts the passing recreation, and also you noticed that immediately. There’s no excuses. We’ve to guard it and we have now to go make performs.”

Stroud agreed – the outcomes have been suboptimal for his aspect.

“They rush as one. They’ve a whole lot of twist video games upfront, so the extra that they twist and switch, we simply should settle just a little bit and simply attempt to stage it off. However I believed they did an excellent job sitting of their stunts. We simply should be higher in safety, and I’ve to be higher at getting the ball out on time. It’s a multitude of issues.”

It was actually a large number of issues for Hafley’s protection up entrance, and it was undoubtedly enjoyable to observe for all non-Texans followers.

Beanie Bishop Jr., CB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Beanie Bishop Jr. matriculated from Western Kentucky to Minnesota to West Virginia over a six-year school profession, and he amassed seven interceptions and 22 go breakups over that point. No NFL workforce thought that he was worthy of a draft choose, so Bishop caught on with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent. He began getting extra reps primarily as a slot defender in Week 4 in opposition to the Indianapolis Colts, and as usually occurs, opposing quarterbacks needed to see if he was going to be their Huckleberry.

The Colts, Dallas Cowboys, and Las Vegas Raiders received away with some stuff, however when the Steelers matched up with Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets on Sunday evening, BIshop was a very completely different participant. Rodgers focused him seven instances, and Bishop allowed 4 catches for 35 yards, no touchdowns, his first two NFL interceptions, and an opponent passer score of 31.0. Not that Rodgers wants assist being sad in regards to the state of his offense (or anything) nowadays, however this didn’t assist.

Bishop had seen sufficient Rodgers tendencies on tape to know what to do on his first interception with 1:21 left within the first half.

“Yeah, you recognize, A-Rod, he likes to — every time he sees the center of the sphere open, he likes to throw the ball in there and I can’t bear in mind if it was final week or a pair weeks in the past, he threw the ball proper at buddy’s helmet and form of gave him a again shoulder go, so simply having the ability to see that stuff on movie and simply having the ability to react, know that it’s coming, that’s simply how I performed it.”

The second choose with 7:39 left within the third quarter was extra about ready for Jets receiver Garrett Wilson to bobble the Rodgers throw, and capitalize on the uncertainty. Bishop did get some grief from coaches and teammates for failing to show this right into a landing.

“Yeah, guys have been giving me hell about not working quick, however I advised him have they ever seen Le’ Veon Bell run the ball? It’s persistence, you recognize? [Laughter] And coaches, they received on me earlier this week. They was like ‘Man, don’t in the reduction of in there with all of the offensive linemen.’ I’m like ‘Why not? These guys don’t work on tackling.’”

An ascending defensive again who’s additionally a quote machine? Appears like Mike Tomlin’s form of man.

Jaylen McCollough, Security, Los Angeles Rams

You by no means know when your clarion name second will likely be within the NFL. For rookie undrafted free agent security Jaylen McCollough of the Los Angeles Rams, it was a brief pick-six of Jordan Love within the Rams’ 24-19 Week 5 loss to the Inexperienced Bay Packers. In that recreation, McCollough was the “proper time, proper place” defender to remove the ball on no matter on Earth Jordan Love was attempting to do right here.

With that behind him, and with a bye week to organize for Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders, McCollough was able to get much more executed. The Tennessee alum intercepted two Gardner Minshew passes within the Rams’ 20-15 win… and he was focused simply as soon as. Which is fairly good math.

McCollough’s first choose got here with 8:35 left within the third quarter. Minshew threw late on a Texas path to receiver DJ Turner from the backfield, and McCollough was proper there to capitalize on the error.

After which, with 1:28 left within the recreation, McCollough closed issues out with this choose of Minshew’s randomness from the tip zone.

“I feel it began in opposition to Inexperienced Bay,” head coach Sean McVay mentioned postgame of how his secondary has come collectively of late. “There have been a pair performs that they made, however I believed it began in opposition to Inexperienced Bay. I feel we’re beginning to discover our identification, placing guys in the precise spots, having the ability to benefit from their talent units. We received more healthy the place you get some more healthy our bodies again on the again finish. We’ve scored two touchdowns within the final two video games. We’ve pressured some turnovers [and] been capable of actually apply a whole lot of stress. I’m actually happy with the trajectory of the place our protection goes proper now.”

Apparently, an undrafted rookie shall lead them.