by Andrew Hardison
Seventeen weeks have passed since the start of the NFL regular season and the playoffs have finally begun. Through the never ending rigors of NFL life, teams like the AFC’s Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots to the NFC’s Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints have made their way to the NFL playoffs, with former UK players like Jacob Tamme and Myron Pryor taking part in the ‘next’ round of games.
Tamme and Pryor were the only former Kentucky football players who will take part in the 2010 NFL playoffs, with Pryor’s Patriots losing big to the Baltimore Ravens Sunday, leaving Tamme as the only former Cat to realize the opportunity to get to the Super Bowl.
Let’s take a look at how our former Wildcats fared in the final week of the regular season and the first round of playoffs:
Jacob Tamme (Colts)-Week 17 saw Tamme take part on both sides of the ball, when he grabbed a nice reception for 21 yards, as well as getting a tackle while playing special team for the Colts during the team’s loss to Buffalo. Tamme has displayed quite a bit of versatility this season when he’s gotten the chance. The fact that he can essentially play both ways—something usually seen in earlier levels of football and not the NFL—has given the Colts an opportunity to use Tamme in several ways. By his senior season at Kentucky, the Colts second year tight-end displayed the ability to catch the tough ball often bailing out quarterback Andre Woodson of any inadvertent passes. His ability to tackle is apparent as well—Tamme recorded nine tackles this year—while playing for the special teams unit on multiple occasions. Whatever the case, Tamme is the last remaining former Wildcat in the playoffs with the New England Patriots losing out to the Baltimore Ravens earlier Sunday. Larry Vaught over at Vaught’s Views catches up with Tamme and gets some insight into how Tamme feels going into their playoff matchup next weekend. Good insight into Tamme and what he has gone through in his first two years and what he expects from the playoffs.
Myron Pryor (Patriots)-As stated above, Pryor was one of two former Kentucky Wildcat football players to experience the NFL playoffs and an opportunity to play for a Super Bowl. Even with starting nose-tackle Vince Wilfork dominating Sunday’s matchup against the Ravens, Pryor still got valuable time for the Patriots during a playoff game. That experience is a great positive going forward for Pryor’s career, something not many young former Wildcats are able to say about their careers. Pryor and Wilfork had a ton of work to do today as the Ravens utilized a heavy running game outpacing the Pats, 34-14. Pryor came away with four tackles on the day, one of them being assisted. Even with the Ravens rushing for 234 yards, Wilfork was the main cog of the Patriots defensive line racking up 13 tackles on the day. Wilfork and Pryor create quite a duo for New England going into next season and gives head coach Bill Belichick multiple option to play with. They are essentially the same type of player, so you have to think Pryor will be sticking around with the Patriots for some time. If he can turn the corner next season, he could very get even more playing time next season. He finished the season with 20 tackles, a good showing for a reserve rookie. Pryor’s career is promising going forward.
Keenan Burton (Rams)-Burton had a solid season in his second year for his standards, mainly because he didn’t get a ton of opportunities at the beginning of the regular season. As starters began to drop like flies due to injuries, Burton stepped in. He wound up as the Rams number two wide receiver on the team’s depth chart. In the nine games Burton started, he had 25 receptions for 253 yards and no touchdowns. One problem Burton is plagued with is injuries. His torn patella tendon that kept him out of the Rams last eight games isn’t a good sign moving forward because it doesn’t provide a lot of assurances on Burton’s part that he’ll stay healthy in the future. The injury and emergence of other wide receivers of the Rams squad could leave Burton on the waiver wire come this off-season.
Jeremy Jarmon (Redskins)-Unlike Burton, Jarmon won’t have to worry about going anywhere next season as he tries to recover from his own leg injury. He too missed significant time, but was able to show glimpses of promise for the Redskins organization. Jarmon stepped in nicely when several defensive linemen went down as he recorded 8 tackles on the season, along with one forced fumble. The Redskins aren’t blessed with a ton of younger talent, but Jarmon fills that void on an aging defensive line. Like former teammate Myron Pryor, Jarmon has a lot of potential moving forward.
Steve Johnson (Bills)-Johnson may have suffered from the ‘worst’ season of any former Wildcat simply because he didn’t get to play that much. Fellow Cat Garry Williams could say the same, but his offensive line position was occupied by a Pro-Bowl left tackle for much of the season before getting played out by teammates Travelle Wharton. Johnson didn’t have quite the roadblock, but did have guys like Terrell Owens and Lee Evans in front of him making it difficult to find a lot of playing time. If Owens decides to either retire or take his game elsewhere, things could change quickly for Johnson as he may get more playing time in 2010. Staying healthy and displaying why he should be in the NFL will be key going forward.
Wesley Woodyard (Broncos)-Woodyard may have used the 2009-2010 NFL seasons as a stage for his own future and where it may take him. The Broncos seem enamored with Woodyard and his versatility, often times playing him as a reserve linebacker in Josh McDaniels 3-4 defensive scheme. Woodyard’s ability to run sideline-to-sideline as well as his tackling ability kept him on the field longer than many may have expected at the beginning of the season. He was named a captain for the team, another surprising revelation for the second year pro out of Kentucky. 2010 should be just as prosperous for Woodyard, as the Broncos mixed veterans with some of the younger players to form one of the more formidable defenses in the early going’s of the NFL season. The team did struggle late in the season in stopping the run, something Woodyard and everyone else on defense will have to work on for next season. Woodyward racked up 8 tackles in the Broncos last four games, as he finished the season with a total of 44 to go along with one interception and one forced fumble. Woodyard, like Pryor, has a bright future ahead of him.
Garry Williams (Panthers)-offensive tackle, Andre Woodson (free agent), Rafael Little (free agent), Shane Boyd (free agent), Braxton Kelley (Broncos)-practice squad, Johnny Williams (Steelers)-practice squad, Marcus McClinton (UFL), Glenn Holt (UFL)
Don’t forget, Alan will be by the blog soon to update where the Cat’s stand in the latest polls. Also don’t forget we are in full Gator hating mode, so in case you missed it, check out “What I hate about you: Florida
Gators Edition” and Paul’s preview of the UK/UF game.
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