Across the Shield: Darron Lee Turns Heads & Big Hank Wins Games Whiles Ezekiel Elliott & Terrelle Pryor Drop Ball

New York Meets Manimal

Darron Lee has played substantial minutes during the Jets first two games, and in a shocking turn of events he's still good at football. Sunday, he made a few of the Manimal plays Buckeye fans came to know and love.

After just two games, Jets fans are already starting to take notice of the former Buckeye's freak athleticism and aggressive play-style.

Here's New York Jets beat writer Connor Hughes of NJ.com answering a fan's mailbag question regarding how impressive Lee has been:

On the field? He can play. You're seeing how much more comfortable he's getting day-by-day, and he's starting not to think as much. He had a tackle for loss on Bills running back LeSean McCoy Thursday that blew my mind. He saw a slight opening between the center and guard, then burst through and wrapped up. 

There was no hesitation. Lee saw his opening, and took it. I don't think I've ever seen a linebacker as athletically gifted as he is. 

Off the field? He's just as impressive. Lee is one of the more well-spoken players I've ever covered. That's saying a lot for a rookie. He acts, walks and composes himself like a 10-year pro. 

Here is the play Hughes was referring to:

Over his first two games, Lee has a combined 11 total tackles including one tackle for a loss.

With The Manimal reigning on the defensive side of the ball, Nick Mangold bolstering the offensive line and Jalin Marshall emerging as a legitimate receiving threat as well as a dangerous return man, it looks like the Big Apple is turning Scarlet and Gray.

Fumblitis?

Ezekiel Elliott was not fumble prone at Ohio State. During his three college seasons, he put the ball on the ground just four times. Ball security has never been an issue, but it sure was Sunday.

Elliott, who earned the starting running back spot for the Dallas Cowboys as just a rookie, fumbled twice during the team's game against the Washington Redskins, losing one of them.

When the ball hit the turf for the second time, Elliott's day was done. The Cowboys benched Elliott in favor of veteran Alfred Morris during crunch time. Morris scored what turned out to be the game winning touchdown, giving Dallas a 27-23 victory.

“Obviously you have to protect the football,” Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett told the Star-Telegram. “That’s line one in football, and certainly line one for a running back. He’ll learn from the experiences.”

Aside from the two fumbles, Elliott's outing was even better than his NFL debut in week one. He finished the day with 21 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown.

For Elliott though, the stats don't outshine the ball-security issues.

“It really doesn’t matter what I did,” Elliott said. “I had those two fumbles, and that’s what was important.”

Dropping the Ball

Trailing the Ravens 25-20 with under a minute left to play, the Browns were driving for a go-ahead touchdown – they didn't get it.

Quarterback Josh McCown fired a pass to former Buckeye quarterback Terrelle Pryor who got out of bounds at the 10-yard line setting up the Browns for a few legitimate scoring opportunities with about 20 seconds remaining – or so they thought.

Pryor was flagged for taunting for tossing the ball off of cornerback Lardarious Webb's shoulder while trying to flip the ball to the waiting official.

It's unclear whether the act was intentional or a result of poor coordination. You be the judge. In any case, it does not seem malicious.

The Ravens had also been flagged for defensive holding, so the penalties offset and the Browns were forced to replay the down from the 30 yard line. McCown subsequently threw an interception on the very next play.

According to former NFL Vice President of Officiating, this is the correct call, like it or not.

Pryor dropped the ball on the opponent, but I don't like that call as taunting.

Technically it is, but I don't really like it.

— Mike Pereira (@MikePereira) September 18, 2016

"We have to do a better job of getting the ball back to the ref," said Browns head coach Hue Jackson, not wishing to open his checkbook to the league.

Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Play of the Week

Our play of the week comes from an unlikely source – the interior defensive line.

The Saints were attempting a field goal late in the second quarter when Johnathan Hankins blew through the middle and blocked it down with his left paw.

Janoris Jenkins, who played under Urban Meyer at Florida, scooped the ball up and brought it all the way back the other way for a Giants score.

Ohio Against The World

I maintain that I have a chance to win at least one game with this team, given the perfect storm of scenarios. However, it did not happen this week.

Perhaps with Heuerman returning from injury any day now, my score will start to look a little more realistic, but it's always going to hurt when you take a zero at quarterback. 

***Player listed as "Injured/Physically Unable to Perform"