NFL's Top 3 Breakout Performers In Week 2

Its week 2 in the NFL and teams are still trying figure out who they are at this point of the season. There are a lot of great match ups but let me give you my top 3 breakout performers for week 2.

#3 Steve Smith Vs Bills

In Mike Shula’s debut as offensive coordinator for the Panthers he displayed a more d attack which benefited Steve Smith as he was targetd more and collected 6 receptions, 51 yards and a touchdown. As the Panthers take on the Bills this week in Buffalo they meet a team who is thin in the secondary.Stephen Gilmore will be out and Pro bowler Jarius Byrd is uncertain at this point which means more targets for Smith. I expect Steve to have a big day with more explosive plays in week 1 as the Panthers will take more shots down field he will benefit from it.

Projected stats: 7 Receptions 120 Yards 1 Touchdown.

#2 Larry Fitzgerald Vs Lions

Larry Finally has someone who can get him the ball in Carson Palmer. Last Week he had 8 catches for 80 yards and 2 touchdowns. The matchup is simple this week if Carson gets time to throw then Chris Houston is going to have his hands full with Larry. Expect less catches but more explosive plays this week out of #11.

Projected Stats: 6 Catches 110 Yards 2 Touchdowns

#1 Terrelle Pryor Vs Jaguars

Although he threw 2 interceptions against the Colts last week Pryor had his brief flashes of brilliance. He did throw a touchdown and complete 65% of his passes going 19-29. Today I like him against a weak Jacksonville secondary who allowed Alex Smith to do basically whatever he wanted. Pryor in his Raiders debut against a weak opponent will bust out and have a great game.

Projected Stats: 20-28 250 Yards and 2 Touchdowns

Steve Smith Takes His Talents To The Slot

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12 seasons and still counting Carolina Panthers wideout Steve Smith is still getting it done at a high level. Like most great players he continuously is trying to get better and evolve his talents for the benefit of his team. At 34 years old Smith is going to be used a lot more in the slot this season which makes sense due to the fact that he has ideal slot receiver size. Smith said the following about his new role "I'm looking forward to it, As you get older as a player, you can do a couple things. You can either adapt or not adapt and fade out. For me, what I'm trying to do is adapt."

Smith is embracing that role this season due in large part to former teammate and slot receiver Ricky Proehl becoming the receivers coach, Proehl was Smith’s teammate from 2003-2005. Proehl  when speaking about his former teammate expressed the following "I'm excited about working with him inside, between the hashes,He's got all of the tools to do that, and it's something that he wants to get better at. He's already communicated that to me”. Smith’s incendiary speed and explosiveness is going to allow him to get off the line quick and make plays in the middle of the field further adding to the Panther offense.

So 12 seasons in, 11,000 yards and still counting and Steve Smith at 34 years old is still trying to find ways to evolve himself and not stay content. Love him or hate him you have to respect the hunger and work ethic of the man who wears number 89 in the electric blue on Sundays.

Throwback Thursday: Muggsy Bouges

@MuggsyBogues

Today is thrusday and here at Tru School Sports I have a new segment called “Throwback Thursday” where I look at and reflect on some of the the players, trends, and Arenas back in the day. Today we will look at Former Charlotte Hornets Point guard Muggsy Bouges. Anybody who knows Muggsy knows he beat the odds as the shortest player in NBA history at 5’3,he looked like a skittle running in a Hornets uniform around the atheltic specimans known as NBA players. He was taking by the Washington Bullets with the 12th pick in the 1987 NBA draft. After a season of not cracking the Bullets rotation he was left un protected in the 1988 expansion draft where he would be selected by the expansion Charlotte Hornets where he would be made the starting point guard. He would go on to become the shortest player in NBA history to average a double-double in the 1993-94 season averaging 10.8 points and 10.1 assists. The Hornets would make the playoffs three times in the Muggsy, Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning. Muggsy and the hornets never made the NBA finals and won a championship but during his time in the queen city the Hornets were always among the leagues best. He would go on and play the rest of his career with the Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors. He lasted 14 years in the league, Not bad for a guy who was too short, not strong enough and had an inconsistent jumpshot. These were the words of many experts and critics of Tyrone Bouges but Muggsy was fearless he wasn’t even afraid to guard the likes of a Michael Jordan or a Patrick ewing. Muggsy even made former Atlanta hawks Shooting guard Steve Smith change his position saying “he made me change my position from a point guard to shooting guard saying I wont play point guard for long”. Muggsy played with heart hustle and unmatched tenacity and his supreme confidence allowed him to be successful to the point where he made a player change his position. Next time you are playing the game of basketball and someone tells you “ your too small” or “your too short” think about Muggsy Bouges and try to emulate his defensive intensity and effort. Muggsy himself even said philosophicly “your never too small to ball”. So Muggsy Bouges i salute you!