The Doc's 2009 All-Underrated Team
At times, the media and fans
get into such a ritual of praising certain players that they simply get
lazy and don't notice the up-and-coming players. The guys who haven't
been noticed or don't get the credit they deserve because of several
factors: more well-known players playing the same position, not
performing in a large media market, or simply not shouting to the world
how great they are whenever they make a big play. The following team is
made up of players who need to be recognized. They're the guys that, as
Bill Belichick likes to say, simply "do....their....job."
Offense
Quarterback -
Jeff Garcia, Oakland: he's not the best athlete with the strongest arm,
but he does everything needed to win. He's completed 62 percent of his
passes with a 2:1 touchdown to interception ratio in his career, but
he's on his sixth team. When Donovan McNabb went down in 2006 and the
Eagles' season as circling the drain, Garcia finished up with a 95.8
passer rating and led them to the playoffs. And trust me, he wasn't the
reason the Bucs hit the skids down the stretch last year.
Running Back - Steven Jackson, St. Louis: the only reason he's
not mentioned with Tomlinson and Peterson is because he plays on a
really, really bad team and has had some "bad luck" injuries. Overall
though, he's one of the most complete backs in the game.
Fullback - Mike Sellers, Washington: I wanted to put all of them
here, because by default, it's a thankless job. Lorenzo Neal is credited
for blocking for all of the backs that went over 1,000 yards running
behind him. Well, Sellers has done the same in eight out of his nine
years in the league.
Wide Receiver - Derrick Mason, Baltimore: he's played in bad
offensive systems for his entire career (Tennessee and Baltimore), yet
he has almost 10,000 yards receiving in the nine years since he became a
full-time starter. Of course, playing with only one arm down the stretch
last year due to a bad shoulder doesn't hurt either.
Wide Receiver - Laveranues Coles, Cincinnati: if for no other
reason, with 631 career receptions, he's lost only one fumble. It will
be interesting to see what he can do when he plays with a quarterback
who has a real arm.
Tight End - Alge Crumpler, Tennessee: while many may say that
he's a well-known tight end, I include him here because he's one of the
few tight ends with good receiving numbers that is effective as a
blocker. Something that can't be said for many of his modern
counterparts.
Tackle - Eric Winston, Houston: going into his senior year at
Miami, most projected he would be a high first round pick.
Unfortunately, injury kept him from playing most of that season. If it
weren't for his relatively short arms, he would probably be one of the
best left tackles in the game.
Guard - Jake Scott, Tennessee: he's not the biggest guy in the
trenches, but he's athletic, smart, and has a mean streak. Also, the
Colts' running game dropped from 110 to just under 80 yards per game
after he left.
Center - Shaun O'Hara, New York Giants: since coming to the
Giants in 2004, they've been one of the best rushing teams in the
league. Like Scott, he's a bit undersized, but is an underrated leader
and does a great job picking up changes in the defensive fronts (see
Super Bowl XLII). After several deserving seasons, he finally made the
Pro Bowl this past year.
Guard - Jahri Evans, New Orleans: this will be his fourth year in
the NFL and he's improving exponentially. He was a raw product out of
Bloomsburg college, but has diligently worked on his technique. He
hasn't been noticed yet, but multiple Pro Bowls should be in his future.
Tackle -
Chad Clifton, Green Bay:
he's more known for taking the cheap shot from Warren Sapp than his
excellent play at the tackle spot for the past nine years.
Unfortunately, when you're in the same conference as Orlando Pace,
Bryant McKinney, Jon Runyan, Walter Jones, and Jordan Gross, you're
going to be passed over quite a bit.
Defense
End -
Adewale Ogunleye, Chicago: he's been overshadowed by teammates in Miami
(Jason Taylor) and Chicago (Alex Brown and Tommie Harris), but has been
very productive in both places. You could argue that he's been better,
and certainly more consistent) than both Brown and Harris for the Bears.
End - Aaron Smith, Pittsburgh: it's very easy to be "under the
radar" when you're a 3-4 defensive end. However, Smith is one of the few
defensive ends in the league that can play both the run and the pass at
a high level. On a different team, he'd probably have more than one Pro
Bowl on his resume.
Tackle - Haloti Ngata, Baltimore: statistically, it's difficult
to quantify the defensive tackle position, but I like Ngata for
everything that doesn't show up on the stat sheet. He's incredibly
athletic for a 335 pound tackle and easily ties up two blockers, because
of the havoc he wreaks on opposing offenses.
Tackle - Jason Ferguson, Miami: this is somewhat of a "lifetime
achievement" award. He's done the work that nobody talks about for 12
years in some really good defenses. At only 310 pounds, he plays with a
good anchor and has made a career of tying up two blockers so that
others could get their stats.
Linebacker - Karlos Dansby, Arizona: Adrian Wilson struggled in
anonymity because of playing on a bad defense in the desert. Let's hope
it doesn't take as long for everyone to see Dansby. Athletically, he can
do anything the coaches ask, and has been a producer since his rookie
year.
Linebacker - London Fletcher, Washington: 11 years ago, he came
into the league as an over-achiever and has played that way ever since.
Over the past nine years, he's averaged close to 100 tackles, 2.5 sacks,
and 1.5 interceptions from the middle linebacker position and not a Pro
Bowl to show for it.
Linebacker - Keith Bulluck, Tennessee: it's a name we've all
heard, but the playmaking machine for the Titans has only been to one
Pro Bowl in his nine years, all while being the leader of one of the
better defenses in the league.
Cornerback - Ike Taylor, Pittsburgh: when you play on a
Pittsburgh defense with James Harrison and Troy Polamalu, it's difficult
to be noticed. In addition, analysts make it out as though anyone could
walk off the street and play corner for the Steelers with that pass
rush, but that shouldn't be held against Taylor. His size, athleticism,
and intuition are more than ideal, yet he has yet to be invited to
Honolulu.
Cornerback - Will Allen, Miami: the eight year veteran is, in
many ways, the opposite of Taylor in that he lacks the size and speed of
many top-end corners, but he uses his technique and instincts to make up
for it. More than anything, he deserves to be here because he's
reliable, durable, and works at his craft.
Safety - Brian Dawkins, Denver: I know, I know, he's been to six Pro
Bowls in his career and was the face of the Eagles' defense for years.
That's exactly my point. He's a tone-setter and a captain in every sense
of the word. Think of another safety that can say that? I can only think
of Ronnie Lott. Don't say Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu, either - they bow
down to Ray Lewis and James Farrior, respectively.
Safety - Oshiomogho Atogwe, St. Louis: he's only been a starter
for three years, but he causes turnovers (21), covers well, and is
improving in run support. Isn't that what you want in a safety? And you
would think that people would remember that name.
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