Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 27, 2017 51 IRISH IN THE PROS BY COREY BODDEN H eading into week 11 of the NFL season, only seven teams in the league had accumulated at least seven wins. The Minnesota Vikings (7‑2) were among that group and held a two‑game lead over the Detroit Lions (5‑4) in the NFC North Di‑ vision. Like the Lions, Min‑ nesota's roster boasts three players that claim Notre Dame as their alma mater. While wide receivers Golden Tate and TJ Jones and running back Theo Riddick boost the Detroit offense, Minnesota gets a little more balance from its former Irish stars with tight end Kyle Rudolph and safety Harrison Smith. The Vikings signed Michael Floyd in the offseason, but the wide receiver is still seeking a role with his new team. He has caught just three passes for 31 yards in four games played. Both Rudolph and Smith have per‑ formed at Pro Bowl levels through‑ out their careers in Minneapolis, with Rudolph getting selected for the all‑star contest in 2012 and Smith on track for his third straight appear‑ ance this season. Through the team's first nine games, Rudolph had 37 receptions for 308 yards and three touchdowns de‑ spite the Vikings dealing with injuries at the quarterback position. He was second on the team in receptions and targets (54) during those nine con‑ tests. In 2016, he hauled in 83 catches for 840 yards and seven scores. "Kyle Rudolph is having a typical Kyle Rudolph season as he has caught every catchable pass thrown his way in 2017," Clayton Brooks of Yahoo said. "While the yards per reception numbers are not gaudy like other tight ends around the league, Rudolph has been an invaluable red‑zone target and a move‑the‑chains guy." Meanwhile, Pro Football Focus graded Smith as the best safety in the league during the first half of the season with a 93.7 rat‑ ing. Through nine games, he had compiled 51 tackles and three interceptions. "Smith leads all safeties with an 89.6 run defense grade," Bryson Vesnaver of Pro Football Focus wrote. "He's made eight solo run stops, good for a run stop percentage of 6.6 percent when lined up in the box. He's just as good in his cov‑ erage, where his 90.8 grade ranks second. "He surrenders a mere 0.16 yards per coverage snap [seventh‑lowest among safe‑ ties with 100 snaps] and has three interceptions and two pass defenses. Quarterbacks throwing at Smith have a passer rating of just 11.2." Given his play during the first half of the season, Smith was regarded as one of the most valuable players on the Vikings for the impact he made on the defense. "The Vikings' sixth‑year safety has taken an already very good skill set to an‑ other level this season with a mixture of smart blitzes, solid run defense and excellent work in the passing game," Minneapolis Star Tribune writer Mi‑ chael Rand stated. "It has added up to Pro Football Focus's highest grade of any safety this season [93.7]. Let's not forget, too, it was Smith's interception at Chicago with the score tied 17‑17 that set up Minnesota's game‑winning field goal in a season‑defining game." NBA PLAYERS UPDATE Through Nov. 16 • Pat Connaughton (2011-2015), G, Portland Trail Blazers: Has seen action in all 14 games for the 8-6 Trail Blazers … Averaging 6.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 20.1 minutes per contest … Shooting 42.5 percent from the field including 39.6 percent behind the arc. • Jerian Grant (2011-2015), G, Chicago Bulls: Has started all 12 games for the 2-10 Bulls … Averaging 8.2 points, 6.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 27.7 minutes per game. • Demetrius Jackson (2013-2016), G, Houston Rockets: Has come off the bench in 11 games for 12-4 Houston … Averaging 5.5 minutes, 0.7 points and 1.0 rebound per outing. ✦ Harrison Smith Takes His Play To Another Level NOTRE DAME IN THE NFL: WEEK 10 HIGHLIGHTS • DeShone Kizer (Played at Notre Dame from 2014-16), QB, Cleveland Browns: Completed 21 of 37 passes for 232 yards with one touchdown and an interception in a 38-24 loss at Detroit … Has con- nected on 132 of 250 throws for 1,376 yards with four scores and 12 picks in his first eight NFL starts for the 0-9 Browns. • Manti Te'o (2009-12), LB, New Orleans Saints: Tied for the team lead in tackles with six in a 47-10 win at Buffalo … Has started four of nine games while recording 30 tackles (18 solo) and defending one pass for the 7-2 Saints. • Stephon Tuitt (2011-13), DE, Pittsburgh Steelers: Notched his first sack of the season among three tackles and also had four quarterback hurries in a 20-17 victory at Indianapolis … Has started all five games he has played in and compiled 10 stops for 7-2 Pittsburgh … Missed four games due to a left biceps injury. Pro Football Focus graded Smith as the best safety in the NFL through the first half of the season. PHOTO COURTESY MINNESOTA VIKINGS