HOLLAND MAKING MARK AS A DOLPHINS ROOKIE
Safety has been one standout this season among large Canadian contingent in NFL
This won't come as a surprise if you happened to catch any of this week's Thursday Night Football game, in which the Miami Dolphins upset the Baltimore Ravens by stone-cold shutting down their dangerous offence.
But rookie Dolphins safety Jevon Holland has been ballin' out, as the players say, and is Postmedia's top Canadian NFL player at the halfway mark of the 2021 season.
The native of Coquitlam, B.C. (he spent the first eight years of his life there before his family relocated to California) has played more snaps this season, by far, than any of the two dozen or so Canadian players currently employed in the NFL — 550.
Holland has been the most impactful Canadian, too.
The 21-year-old has started seven of Miami's nine games, missing only two snaps since Week 5.
Holland's effectiveness seems to ascend by the game. He particularly shone in Thursday night's spotlight game, as a key cog in Miami head coach and chief defensive strategist Brian Flores' bold game plan to heavily blitz dangerous Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
It worked. Marvellously. Baltimore punted nine times and was held to three points until late in the game, in Miami's authoritative 22-10 win. Holland not only had a sack, five QB pressures, two pass knock-downs and five tackles, but he blitzed 21 times.
The NFL'S Next Gen Stats said no other NFL defensive back has blitzed that many times in a single game since 2016, when Next Gen Stats began tracking this statistic — meaning in the past 1,400-plus NFL games.
Here are quick updates on how some of the most active NFL players with birth or upbringing ties to Canada have fared:
ACTIVE 53-MAN ROSTER
(Ranked by most snaps this season to fewest, excluding special-teams snaps)
JEVON HOLLAND
Safety/cornerback, Miami, rookie From: Coquitlam, B.C.
Snaps so far: 550
Starts so far: 7
Synopsis: Already has one interception, five pass breakups, one forced fumble, one recovered fumble, two tackles for loss, five quarterback hits and two sacks.
CHASE CLAYPOOL
Wide receiver, Pittsburgh, second year
From: Abbotsford, B.C. Snaps so far: 387
Starts so far: 6
Synopsis: Injuries have slowed his production: 29 catches for 433 yards and one TD. He has rushed six times for 56 yards.
BENJAMIN ST-JUSTE
Cornerback, Washington, rookie From: Montreal
Snaps so far: 318
Starts so far: 3
Synopsis: Started the last three games, but even before then played more than half the time. Has three pass breakups and 26 tackles.
TEVAUGHN CAMPBELL
Cornerback, Los Angeles Chargers, third year
From: Toronto
Snaps so far: 304
Starts so far: 2
Synopsis: Sees the field a lot again in 2021, either as slot corner or as backup outside. Has two forced fumbles and two pass breakups.
CHRISTIAN COVINGTON
Defensive lineman, L.A. Chargers, seventh year Hometown: Vancouver
Snaps so far: 302
Starts so far: 2
Synopsis: An integral member of the Chargers' D-line rotation. Has one sack, a tackle for loss and 28 tackles.
CHUBA HUBBARD
Running back, Carolina Panthers, rookie
From: Edmonton
Snaps so far: 278
Starts so far: 5
Synopsis: Played a lot when Christian Mccaffrey was on IR. Has 394 rush yards for two TDS, plus 19 catches for 152 yards.
NATHAN SHEPHERD
Defensive lineman, New York Jets, fourth year
From: Ajax, Ont.
Snaps so far: 197
Starts so far: 0
Synopsis: As a backup in eight games Shepherd has three QB hits and eight tackles. This is the last year of his rookie contract.
ANTONY (TONY) AUCLAIR
Tight end, Houston Texans, fifth year
From: Notre-dame-des-pins, Que.
Snaps so far: 182
Starts so far: 7
Synopsis: Began season on the practice squad. Now on active roster. In nine games has three catches, including his first career TD.
BRENT URBAN
Defensive lineman, Dallas Cowboys, seventh year
From: Mississauga, Ont.
Snaps so far: 161
Starts so far: 4
Synopsis: Has been on IR the past two games (triceps). His role is as a run plugger. He has one tackle and has knocked down a pass.
JOSH PALMER
Wide receiver, L.A. Chargers, rookie
From: Brampton, Ont.
Snaps so far: 123
Starts so far: 0
Synopsis: Has played in eight games. Justin Herbert has targeted him 13 times for nine connections worth 104 yards and one TD.
N'KEAL HARRY
Wide receiver, New England Patriots, third year
From: Toronto-born but raised in U.S., Caribbean
Snaps so far: 115
Starts so far: 1
Synopsis: Since returning from shoulder injury suffered in August, has five catches for 77 yards and no TDS in five games.
MICHAEL HOECHT
Defensive lineman, Los Angeles Rams, second year
From: Oakville, Toronto, Ottawa before Ohio upbringing
Snaps so far: 103
Starts so far: 3
Synopsis: Plays a lot of special teams, otherwise backs up on one of the NFL'S best defensive lines. Has two tackles.
DAVID ONYEMATA
Defensive tackle, New Orleans Saints, sixth year
From: Lagos, Nigeria, but attended U of Manitoba
Snaps so far: 64
Starts so far: 2
Synopsis: Suspended for first six games (PED violation), but already has two QB hits, one fumble recovery and seven tackles.
AMEN OGBONGBEMIGA
Linebacker, L.A. Chargers, rookie Hometown: Laos/houston/calgary
Snaps so far: 44
Starts so far: 1
Synopsis: What a story. Cracked active roster as an undrafted free agent. Has played in six games, registering 10 tackles.
AJ (ALARIC) JACKSON
Offensive tackle, Los Angeles Rams, rookie Hometown: Windsor, Ont., until high school in Detroit
Snaps so far: 9
Starts so far: 0
Synopsis: Has played in one game, on Halloween at Houston.
DAKODA SHEPLEY
Centre, Seattle Seahawks, second year
From: Windsor, Ont.
Snaps so far: 0
Starts so far: 0
Synopsis: Claimed off waivers in September, the UBC grad has played in five games, taking snaps (21) only on special teams so far.
LAURENT DUVERNAYTARDIF
Guard, New York Jets, eighth year From: Mont-saint-hilaire, Que.
Snaps so far: 0
Starts so far: 0
Synopsis: Dressed only once in K.C. before his trade last week. Expected to challenge for playing time and maybe start.