2011 IDP Game Notes: Week 17
Written By: Johnny Davis
Hello and welcome everyone to this week’s installment of “IDP Game Notes” brought to you by IDP Guru staff writer, Johnny Davis. This column is quickly turning into one of the most comprehensive, all-encompassing IDP articles anywhere. And it’s free!
Bills @ Patriots
– New England SS Patrick Chung (1 solo tackle-6 assists) returned after missing seven games with a foot injury. DE Mark Anderson (3-4, 1 sack) showed some life. WLB Jerod Mayo (4-3, pass defensed) just hasn’t been as dominant as expected.
– Buffalo SS George Wilson (6-4, forced fumble) is the man when healthy. As expected, FS Jairus Byrd (1-2) has been up and down this season. ILB Nick Barnett (3-8, int, 2 PD) closed the season strong.
Jets @ Dolphins
– Miami ILB Kevin Burnett (11-3) had his best tackling game of the season. SS Yeremiah Bell (3-1) failed to go out with a bang. ILB Karlos Dansby (2-0) left with a groin injury, and Marvin Mitchell (3-2, int, PD) took his place.
– NYJ ILB Bart Scott (5-0) displayed his middle finger to the media after a disappointing loss. Rookie DE Muhammad Wilkerson (3-0) made some noise late in the season.
Colts @ Jaguars
– Jacksonville DE Jeremy Mincey (4-1, 2 FF, 2.5 sacks) put an exclamation point on a breakout season. MLB Paul Posluszny (1-3) left this game with a shoulder injury. WLB Russell Allen (5-1, int, PD) showed potential late in the season.
– Indy MLB Pat Angerer (6-5) and FS Antoine Bethea (8-2) both finished strong. DE Robert Mathis (2-0, fumble recovery, FF, 1 sack) came alive late in the season.
Redskins @ Eagles
– Philly DE Jason Babin (1-1) surprisingly went without a sack in his last two games. DE Trent Cole (2-0, 1 sack, PD) found his way to the QB. With MLB Jamar Chaney (1-0) suffering a head injury, Keenan Clayton (8-1, PD) stepped up.
– Washington ILB London Fletcher (3-1, PD) and rookie OLB Ryan Kerrigan (2-0) were surprisingly quiet in their last game. OLB Brian Orakpo (3-0, FF, 2 sacks) wreaked havoc before leaving with a chest injury; he’s questionable for the pancake social.
Lions @ Packers
– Green Bay CB Charles Woodson and OLB Clay Matthews were inactive, but it was business as usual for ILB Desmond Bishop (6-0, FF). The safeties enjoyed all the passing: FS Morgan Burnett (5-2, fumble recovery, PD) and SS Charlie Peprah (8-3).
– Detroit SLB Justin Durant (6-3) closed the regular season with three good games. MLB Stephen Tulloch (6-1, fumble recovery) was a consistent tackler late in the season.
Bears @ Vikings
– Chicago MLB Brian Urlacher (7-3) ended an inconsistent season with a knee injury. DE Israel Idonije (4-1, 1 sack) improved his tackle numbers down the stretch.
– Minnesota DE Jared Allen (3-2, 3.5 sacks) came up .5 sack shy of the all-time season record. SLB Chad Greenway (6-2, 1 sack) was one of the most consistent tacklers in the entire league. MLB E.J. Henderson (7-1, 2 FF) picked up the tackle pace late in the season.
49ers @ Rams
– San Fran ILB Patrick Willis (3-1) made an unspectacular return from injury. ILB Navorro Bowman (9-1, 1 sack, PD) ended his breakout season on a high note. Rookie OLB Aldon Smith (2-0) failed to get a sack for the first time in five games.
– St. Louis MLB James Laurinaitis (8-1) had a studly season. WLB Chris Chamberlain (6-0, 1 sack) put his name on the fantasy map this season.
Panthers @ Saints
– As usual, the New Orleans IDPs weren’t much to get excited about. Even SS Roman Harper (3-1, 2 PD) put up mediocre fantasy numbers down the stretch. MLB Jonathan Vilma and FS Malcolm Jenkins were inactive.
– Carolina SLB James Anderson (9-6) had an outstanding finish to an outstanding season. WLB Jordan Senn (6-5) made plenty of noise as the season wound down.
Titans @ Texans
– Tennessee rookie MLB Colin McCarthy (7-1, PD) has a bright future. CB Jason McCourty (9-0, 3 PD) was an excellent source of tackles when healthy.
– Houston’s usual suspects were pretty quiet from a fantasy perspective: rookie DE J.J. Watt (1-0), OLB Connor Barwin (0-1), ILB Brian Cushing (2-2), and rookie OLB Brooks Reed (1-0).
Ravens @ Bengals
– Baltimore DE/OLB Terrell Suggs (4-2, FF, 1 sack, PD) is as good as they come. I wouldn’t bet on ILB Ray Lewis (5-2, PD) slowing down anytime soon. SS Bernard Pollard (4-1, fumble recovery, 2 PD) was productive once he was given playing time.
– Cincy DE Michael Johnson (1-2, .5 sack) showed flashes of brilliance, but he wasn’t even close to consistent. MLB Rey Maualuga (4-5) couldn’t get it done on a regular basis, either.
Steelers @ Browns
– Pittsburgh ILB Lawrence Timmons (6-0, FF, 1 sack, PD) left his owners no reason to be timid about Timmons. OLB James Harrison (2-1) closed out the regular season quietly.
– Cleveland MLB D’Qwell Jackson (9-4) had a healthy and monstrous season. DT Ahtyba Rubin (7-2, 1 sack) finished very strong. Rookie DE Jabaal Sheard (4-2, 1 sack) had a fabulous debut season.
Bucs @ Falcons
– Atlanta MLB Curtis Lofton (8-6, PD, 26-yd int return TD) finished a rollercoaster year on a high. WLB Sean Weatherspoon (3-3) didn’t do much in the last few games of the season.
– It was a forgettable season for Tampa Bay, and none of their IDPs really made an impact to close out the season. At least rookie MLB Mason Foster was good (4-2), but he wasn’t great.
Chiefs @ Broncos
– Surprisingly, Kansas City ILB Derrick Johnson (5-0) wasn’t the headliner in this game; instead, it was rookie OLB Justin Houston (6-1, fumble recovery, 1.5 sacks).
– Denver DE Elvis Dumervil (6-2) was absolutely spectacular this season once he got it going. WLB D.J. Williams (4-0, PD) was underwhelming in the last three games of the season.
Chargers @ Raiders
– San Diego ILB Donald Butler (9-1) wasn’t consistent this season, but he showed he’s capable of a big game. SS Steve Gregory (6-0) made some noise down the stretch.
– Oakland MLB Rolando McClain (9-1) ended the season with a vengeance. SS Tyvon Branch (5-1) wasn’t quite as studly as we’re used to in his last few games.
Seahawks @ Cardinals
– Arizona ILB Daryl Washington (11-0, 1 sack, PD) has a bright future. DE Darnell Dockett (5-0, 1 sack) came alive as the season wound down. DE Calais Campbell (1-0) hurt his ankle in this game.
– Seattle MLB David Hawthorne (9-4, 1 sack) closed with his best tackling day of the season. SS Kam Chancellor (6-2) has shown he can produce tackles.
Cowboys @ Giants
– With NYG DE Osi Umenyiora (2-0, 2 sacks) making a successful return from injury, DE Jason Pierre-Paul (4-1, 1 sack) and DE Justin Tuck (2-0, FF, 1 sack) did just fine. WLB Michael Boley (7-2) was productive when healthy this season.
– Dallas ILB Sean Lee (8-3) closed with a great tackling game. OLB Demarcus Ware (3-2, 1.5 sacks) was a sacking fool.
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Last Updated: January 3, 2012