Across the Shield: Ezekiel Elliott Explodes for Three Touchdowns, Marshon Lattimore Makes a Rookie of the Year Case & Malik Hooker Injures Knee

Zeke = Fed

Ezekiel Elliott's status was up in the air for much of the week, but after all was said and done, the former Buckeye back played on Sunday – and boy, did he play.

Elliott exploded out the gates, rushing seven times for 59 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter alone. By halftime, Elliott was already just 11 yards shy of the century mark – the most first-half yards in his career.

And he wasn't done. Elliott added 58 more rushing yards in the second half and an impressive 72-yard touchdown reception.

Elliott finished the game with 219 all-purpose yards, which is a new career best, and found the end zone three times during the Cowboys' 40-10 blowout win over San Francisco.

The blowout also meant extra reps for some of the bench players, including former Buckeye running back Rod Smith. Smith got 8 carries for 61 yards, including a 45-yard run late in the fourth quarter.

Of course, for every winner there is a loser. This time, the loser happened to be other former Buckeye running back Carlos Hyde.

Hyde had 14 rushes for 68 yards in the game and also pulled down four catches for 20 yards. It wasn't a bad performance, but it sure wasn't enough to make the score even respectable.

Hey @OhioStateFB remember these guys? #DALvsSF pic.twitter.com/Wg5XNjKzgm

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) October 22, 2017

El Guapo looks less happy to be there.

New Orleans Buckeyes

Last year, we sometimes joked that the Carolina Panthers were basically the Carolina Buckeyes with how many former Ohio State players they had on the roster.

That's even more true of the New Orleans Saints this year, as not only do they have four former Buckeyes on their roster, they have four former Buckeyes that are absolutely vital to the team, and that was evident on Sunday.

According to Pro Football Focus, four of the Saints' five grades from their game against the Packers were former Ohio State players.

Marshon Lattimore – 93.6 Overall Grade

After just one year as a starter at Ohio State, and six games in the NFL, Marshon Lattimore is making a strong case to be the league's defensive rookie of the year.

Marshon Lattimore is the DROY. Don't @ me.

— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) October 22, 2017

He hasn't just been good for a rookie, he's been good relative to the entire league, and he was at it again on Sunday, grading out as the Saints' top performer with a 93.6 overall grade according to Pro Football Focus.

Lattimore played 28 snaps on Sunday, was targeted three times and didn't allow a single catch, breaking up one pass and recording three total tackles.

Here's how Pro Football Focus evaluated his performance:

Rookie cornerbacks are supposed to struggle early in their careers. Nobody told that to Marshon Lattimore, who looks like a top-five cornerback through the first seven weeks of the season. Today Lattimore was targeted three times in coverage. He gave up zero receptions, with two pass breakups and the third incompletion came with him forcing the receiver to the sideline. He was targeted on another play, negated by penalty, and once again broke that pass up.

The past two weeks combined, Lattimore has allowed a catch on just 33.3 percent of targets, has one interception returned for a touchdown and an opposing passer rating of just 8.3, according to Nathan Jahnke.

Vonn Bell – 83.7 Overall Grade

Vonn Bell didn't pack the stat sheet on Sunday. He finished the game with just four total tackles, no sacks, no tackles for a loss, no forced fumbles, no interceptions and no pass breakups.

If you were watching the game, you would have hardly heard his name called on Sunday, but when you're a defensive back, sometimes that's a good thing.

Simply put, Bell did his job on Sunday afternoon. That's perhaps best reflected in the fact that the Packers had just 12 receptions for 87 yards.

Ted Ginn Jr. – 83.5 Overall Grade

Ted Ginn Jr. was the most effective receiver on the field on Sunday afternoon.

The former Buckeye speedster finished the game with seven receptions for 141 yards. Perhaps more importantly, he had no drops, hauling in the reception every time he was targeted – though he did muff a punt, which he picked up immediately afterwards.

Here's what Pro Football Focus had to say about his day:

While Ted Ginn Jr.’s hands have been criticized over the years, he had a perfect afternoon against the Packers, as he caught all seven of his targets for 141 yards, including 101 yards after the catch. Ginn Jr. caught a pass in the coverage of five different Green Bay defenders and QB Drew Brees had a passer rating of 118.8 when targeting the former Panthers receiver, which was the highest among Saints receivers against the Packers.

The only real knock against Ginn's performance is that he didn't score, but the threat of Ginn on the bubble screen did set up teammate Brandon Coleman for a touchdown. Watch the safety bite down in the following video:

The Bubble Y Over strikes again.

Michael Thomas – 79.6 Overall Grade

Sunday was just another day at the office for Michael Thomas.

The former Buckeye receiver finished the day with a modest seven catches for 82 yards on Sunday, including this gem:

In just his second year in the league, Thomas is already Drew Brees' go-to receiver. And he fell to the second round of the NFL Draft.

Joey Bosa is Still Good at Football

It's almost getting redundant at this point, but I must remind you all once again that Joey Bosa is already an unblockable monster.

The former Buckeye pass-rusher was at it once again on Sunday, finishing the game with two total tackles, two sacks, two tackles for a loss, a pass defended and had one hit on the quarterback.

With those two sacks, Bosa now has 18 sacks through his first 19 games. He also has the most quarterback pressures through his first 19 games than any pass rusher since Pro Football Focus began tracking in 2006.

Most pressures through 19 NFL games since 2006:
1.Joey Bosa-88
2.Von Miller-84
3.Aldon Smith-81
4.Ryan Kerrigan-76
5.Clay Matthews-69

— Nathan Jahnke (@PFF_NateJahnke) October 22, 2017

At the 2016 NFL Draft, Bosa said "I guess sacking Tom Brady would be pretty cool." He'll get his chance next week.

Malik Hooker Injured

The sad story of the week: Malik Hooker's rookie season is reportedly over.

The former Buckeye ball hawk tore his ACL and MCL during Sunday's game against the Jaguars, according to Ian Rapoport.

The injury happened when Jaguars receiver Keelan Cole hit Hooker low on a blindside block along the sideline.

Malik Hooker did walk off the field under his own power after this hit for the #Colts ... but that knee injury looked serious pic.twitter.com/uiYhdxvYgI

— Andy McDonnell (@Andy_McDonnell) October 22, 2017

Hooker is the second member of Ohio State's 2017 draft class to go down with a season-ending injury after Raekwon McMillan tore his ACL during the Dolphins first preseason game.

@MalikHooker24 gone be solid. We are built different !!

— Raekwon McMillan (@Kwon_daTRUTH) October 23, 2017

Hooker had 22 total tackles and three interceptions during the first seven games of his NFL career, and is looking forward to be back at full strength next season.

pic.twitter.com/CjmwxFmax5

— Malik Hooker (@MalikHooker24) October 23, 2017

And Before Y'all Say Injuries Been A Issue Make Sure Y'all Know Yalls Facts I Only Been Hurt Twice In My Life And Played Through One Of Them

— Malik Hooker (@MalikHooker24) October 23, 2017  

Rest In Peace Malik Hooker. We'll always have this: pic.twitter.com/4X3lBsF2D0

— Malik BOOker (@JayVeeThree) October 23, 2017

 Ohio Against the World

This is it. This is the week.

Barring a career performance for Jordan Reed, a defensive clinic by Philadelphia or no less than 12 fumbles from Terrelle Pryor, my all-Ohio State fantasy team will get its first win in two-and-a-half seasons this week.

The stars truly did align. Ezekiel Elliott made the 49ers look like a flag football team, Ted Ginn Jr. caught everything thrown at him, the Chargers defense pitched a shutout with three turnovers and a touchdown, Michael Thomas did what he normally does, and Carlos Hyde didn't completely suck even though his team got pasted 40-10.

Meanwhile, Intern David's team pooped the bed.

Now, we just get to watch Terrelle Pryor's Monday night victory lap stress-free.

We did it, everyone. Congratulations. We did it.