Cats in the NFL: The Bud Dupree Fan Club

Philip G. Pavely-USA TODAY Sports

If you’re reading this post, you don’t need me to remind you what a weird year it’s been through the first five weeks of the NFL season.

There’s been scheduling adjustments, which is why you’re getting this week’s review on a Thursday instead of the preview because there is no Thursday Night Game this week. The Browns are good, Tuesday Night Football is a thing, the Bengals have a franchise quarterback, oh and Ryan Tannehill is one of the best quarterbacks in the league. However, one thing that has remained a constant this NFL season is ex-Cats dominating on the defensive line. Josh Allen is the centerpiece on the Jacksonville Jaguars, Za’Darius Smith looks like the second-best defensive player in the NFC North behind Khalil Mack, and Bud Dupree is dominating offensive lines in a contract year.

We’ve raved about these dudes all year long, but this week Za’Darius Smith was on a bye, and Josh Allen was out due to a knee injury. So, welcome to the Bud Dupree Fan Club.

The Steelers defense didn’t seem up to par against a depleted Philadelphia Eagles offense, but I guess that can happen when you haven’t played football in two weeks due to an unexpected cancelation the week prior. Dupree had half a sack and two tackles in the game, but you can see in the two videos below the type of impact he makes on opposing quarterbacks, setting up sacks for the rest of that monster defense and getting home for some of his own.

Big Sack Bud Dupree!!! Get off is one of the best in the league!! pic.twitter.com/3aW7XpNCOt

— Coach Brandon Jordan (@CoachBTJordan) October 11, 2020

Carson Wentz, meet Pittsburgh’s DL
pic.twitter.com/kjCrWoQNHP

— PFF (@PFF) October 11, 2020

Benny Snell (Steelers)

As for the other Pittsburgh Steeler, Benny Snell, I guess Week 1 was just an anomaly. I understand James Connor is in a contract year, but I didn’t expect to see nearly zero production from Snell. He rushed seven times for just 19 yards in the victory over the Eagles as the Steelers improve to 4-0 on the year.

Lynn Bowden (Dolphins)

We are seeing a little bit more production from Bowden, however, albeit not that much. Bowden rushed three times for four yards; hopefully, this is just laying the groundwork for a more fruitful career in the league for Bowden. His Dolphins waxed the ‘Niners, improving to 2-3 on the year. It doesn’t sound too far-fetched to think Miami might make some noise going forward. Keep an eye on them in a few weeks.

Mike Edwards (Buccaneers)

Mike Edwards saw no time in the Thursday Night game.

Danny Trevathan (Bears)

Trevathan’s Chicago Bears beat the Tampa Bay Bucs on Thursday Night in a whacky 20-19 victory. Trevathan hauled in eight tackles in the victory to improve to a surprising 4-1 record on the year. It will be fun when the Green Bay Packers derail their hype train twice this year. Sorry not sorry, Bears fans.

Corey Peters (Cardinals)

Corey Peters had his least active day against the New York Jets on Sunday, but when you play the Jets you might as well give garbage time to anyone else but your starters. In 54% of the defensive snaps played, Peters got one tackle on Sunday.

Randall Cobb (Texans)

It’s a new era in Houston after the departure of Bill O’Brien, but the production was about the same for Randall Cobb. Cobb had six catches on six targets for 47 yards en route to the Texans’ first victory on the year as they beat the Josh Allen-less Jags 30-14.

Lonnie Johnson (Texans)

The same is true for Lonnie Johnson. Just the same status quo really. He brought in four tackles; nothing too eye-popping from the second-year DB.

Avery Willamson (Jets)

I know I’ve said this before, but poor Avery Williamson, man. Nothing goes right for the Jets organization and they are a legitimate candidate to go 0-16 this year. This isn’t the fault of Williamson though, he’s a legit NFL talent who’s playing under an incompetent head coach in Adam Gase and he would probably be a Pro-Bowler in any other situation. Even in a 30-10 loss to the Cardinals, he was a star with an interception, two pass break-ups, and eight tackles. Someone save this man.