<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>2007 All-Underrated team By Dave GladowNFL.com (June 19, 2007) -- Last year, like most years, the NFL saw several players post great seasons and yet fail to receive proper recognition for their efforts. It's a common theme. For whatever reason, some players just don't seem to get their due. In an attempt to help change that, I'm presenting my All-Underrated team for public consumption. This is a starting 22 of players who had great seasons in 2006 and yet are still flying under the radar headed into 2007. I'm making no promises that any of these players can repeat what they accomplished last year, let alone improve. What I am saying is that they should be applauded for what they did last year and that folks would be wise to keep an eye on their 2007 performances -- it wouldn't surprise me to see some Pro Bowlers emerge from this group. 2007 All-Underrated team Damon Huard, QB, Chiefs -- Last season, Huard posted an 11-to-1 touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio and a 98.0 quarterback rating in relief of the injured Trent Green. He was promptly benched when Green came back. In the offseason, he was rewarded with a new contract and Green was traded, sparking new optimism. Now, the word in Kansas City is that second-year man Brodie Croyle (who has attempted seven passes and been intercepted twice) is the favorite to start. When even your own team underrates you to that degree, you deserve to be on this list. Fred Taylor, RB, Jaguars -- He was overshadowed last year by his teammate Maurice Jones-Drew, but for the sixth time in his career Taylor rushed for at least 1,100 yards while averaging at least 4.6 yards per carry. He's gotten the "Fragile Fred" tag with good reason, but there's no reason this man should be an 0-fer for his career in Pro Bowl nods with that kind of track record. Dan Kreider, FB, Steelers -- Pittsburgh is one of the few teams that still regularly uses a fullback, and Kreider is one of the best. The Steelers averaged a respectable 124.5 yards per game and 4.2 yards per carry last year with Kreider paving the way. Laveranues Coles, WR, Jets -- Coles has averaged 85 catches and 1,072 yards over the past five seasons, culminating in a 91-catch season last year, yet he never seems to get the credit he deserves. He gets it here. Mike Furrey, WR, Lions -- Entering his fourth NFL season, Furrey had recorded 21 career catches. In 2006, he notched 98 to go with 1,086 yards and six touchdowns. Furrey has limited explosiveness (as evidenced by his zero catches over 31 yards), but he shined as a possession receiver last year and few people outside the fantasy realm even noticed. Owen Daniels, TE, Texans -- Houston had options at tight end last year, so it was a surprise when a rookie, Daniels, came on to start 12 games and score five touchdowns (on 34 catches for 352 yards). He should continue to be a major factor in the Texans passing attack. Chad Clifton, OT, Packers -- A seven-year veteran, Clifton has done a solid job for the Packers over his career. Last year, he was charged with protecting Brett Favre's blind side and Favre was sacked just 21 times ... which ranked in the bottom third of the league. Justin Smiley, G, 49ers -- Last year, the 49ers improved their rushing average by 20 yards (135.8 from 105.6) and their yards per carry by a whole yard (4.9 from 3.9). Obviously, the addition of Larry Allen was a big factor in that, but equally important was the continued development of Smiley, a third-year player who really played well despite having to fight through injuries. If healthy, he could be even better. Nick Mangold, C, Jets -- As a rookie he stepped right in for the departed Kevin Mawae at center and the team didn't miss a beat. While fellow top pick D'Brickashaw Ferguson had his ups and downs at tackle, Mangold was as solid as a rock in the middle. He looks like a fixture at the spot for at least the next 12 years. Kris Dielman, G, Chargers -- The Chargers wisely came through with a big contract for Dielman this offseason, keeping one of the cornerstones of their offensive line in town for the foreseeable future. Fans will be certain to hear more of his name in the coming seasons. Jason Peters, OT, Bills -- Peters is one of the rising stars in the NFL. A converted tight end who came into the league as a true project, Peters has already blossomed into a solid offensive tackle in Buffalo. The scary part is he may not be done improving -- a rough proposition for opposing defenders. Robert Geathers, DE, Bengals -- A breakout season for Geathers in 2006 went largely unnoticed among fans and media, but the Bengals (like the Chargers with Dielman) paid attention and, more importantly, paid Geathers with a brand-new contract. Geathers notched 10 1/2 sacks in just his third season in the league. More impressively, it was the first double-digit sack performance by a Bengals player since 1992. Kelly Gregg, DT, Ravens -- Four separate players on the Ravens defense recorded at least 9 1/2 sacks last year. That doesn't happen by accident. The space-eating Gregg, who is an expert at occupying multiple blockers, is a big reason why. Allowing the team's athletic pass rushers free reign at the quarterback, Gregg does the dirty work that rarely gets noticed. Except here. Ty Warren, DT, Patriots -- Often a defensive end, other times a tackle, Warren's game is versatility in the Patriots' ever-changing defensive front. And while he can do many things, the important thing to note is that he does all of them very well. Warren had a career year in 2006 with 84 tackles and 7 1/2 sacks, and opposing offenses can no longer simply gameplan for fellow defensive lineman Richard Seymour. Seymour still gets the recognition among fans thanks to his Pro Bowl appearances, but Warren is quickly becoming his equal in on-field accomplishments. He should have been in Hawaii last year. Mark Anderson, DE, Bears -- There's nothing wrong with including a few specialists on this list, and Anderson is certainly that with just 28 total tackles last year. However, the explosive rookie also recorded an impressive 12 sacks as a situational pass rusher on a dominant Bears defense, making him a player to watch in 2007 ... especially with Alex Brown on the trading block. DeMeco Ryans, LB, Texans -- As the less-celebrated defensive rookie on the Texans (behind first-overall pick Mario Williams), Ryans did not play second fiddle to anyone in 2006, leading the NFL in tackles with 125. It wasn't a fluke either. Ryans proved adept at the mundane chore of filling lanes, but he also made his share of big plays with 3 1/2 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception. Kirk Morrison, LB, Raiders -- An unheralded player out of San Diego State, Morrison was pressed into immediate action as a rookie for a team weak at linebacker. He quickly made it into a strength, recording 91 tackles in his first season. Last year, he followed that performance up with 101 tackles, a sack, two interceptions, a fumble forced and a defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery. There's no reason not to expect even more in 2007. Demorrio Williams, LB, Falcons -- Another player who is thought more of as a specialist, Williams is one of the top nickel linebackers in the league. A young player with great range, Williams' best season came in 2005 when he notched 127 total tackles. Last year, his numbers dipped, but he still recorded two passes defensed and an interception to go along with his 90 total tackles. If he works hard, he could become a special player. Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Raiders -- It's hard to ignore eight interceptions, but Pro Bowl voters did just that last year in not awarding Asomugha a trip to Hawaii. The young athlete has gotten better every season since he entered the league in 2003, and among many scouts and coaches he's now regarded as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Terence Newman, CB, Cowboys -- It should be a crime that Newman has yet to be elected to the Pro Bowl, particularly after his masterful 2006 season. In an era when cornerbacks rarely hold their own in downfield coverage, Newman regularly wins one-on-one matchups in the deep sector of the field, so much so that teams rarely even throw at him anymore ... hurting his interception totals. Newman's ability to match up one-on-one with the opposition's best receiver also allows safety Roy Williams to do the freelancing he does (which incidentally gets him voted to the Pro Bowl and keeps Newman out). Newman is simply one of the best in the game and should be regarded as such. Kerry Rhodes, S, Jets -- As a rookie, Rhodes established himself as a steady player in the secondary with his 105 total tackles. Last season, he stepped his game up to an all-pro level, keeping his tackles up (98) while also recording five sacks, four interceptions and nine passes defensed. He's one of the league's bright young stars. Donte Whitner, S, Bills -- He may have been a rookie, but he sure didn't play that way. Despite being derided for taking Whitner as high as they did in the draft (eighth overall), the Bills laughed last as Whitner instantly became the team's top defensive back in '06. The rookie notched 104 total tackles and an interception, and he'll look to improve on those numbers in 2007.</div>http://www.nfl.com/news/story/10230829
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brooksie5 @ Jun 20 2007, 04:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Why don't they just call it the "All 2006 Breakout Season" team? That's really all they did.</div>For the most part, yeah. But it does take until a player's Second Huge Season for him to be noticed by the National Media in most cases. So technically I guess they could be both.
I agree that Damon Huard is fairly underrated, he had a big year filling in for Trent Green last season, but I think David Carr has to be right there as well. His numbers aren't eye opening, but he's never had much of an offensive line at all. His only real target has been Andre Johnson, and he was constantly double teamed. Not to mention he's only had a 1000 yard rusher twice in five seasons.It's hard to have success with no offensive line, just one target to throw to, and an inconsistent running game. If he ever gets a chance to start in Carolina, he should be able to put up much better numbers than he ever did with the Texans.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AdropOFvenom @ Jun 20 2007, 09:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brooksie5 @ Jun 20 2007, 04:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Why don't they just call it the "All 2006 Breakout Season" team? That's really all they did.</div>For the most part, yeah. But it does take until a player's Second Huge Season for him to be noticed by the National Media in most cases. So technically I guess they could be both.</div>Or it could just be that most of these guys have finished 2 or only 1 season in the NFL and they are saying that they will be good rookies. We all know most of these guys are good and have good potential, so I can't see this as the underrated list. The only maybe underrated guys on that list are Gregg, Morrison (because of his position on a shit team), Fred Taylor, and Ty Warren. Just because Damon Huard has a few good games in a season means he's underrated, yea not so much. When he was with the Dolphins he played in all 16 games for just 2 of the seasons there where he racked up his underrated stats apparently. A nice 60.2 and 79.8 rating there. Now he gets a 98 rating for 8 started games and he's underrated. This goes along with Furrey as well.DeMeco Ryans, Nnamdi Asomugha, Owen Daniels, and even somewhat Kerry Rhodes are all too early to tell. Rhodes was definitley underrated for what he did, though.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Capt. Comeback @ Jun 20 2007, 06:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Or it could just be that most of these guys have finished 2 or only 1 season in the NFL and they are saying that they will be good rookies. We all know most of these guys are good and have good potential, so I can't see this as the underrated list. The only maybe underrated guys on that list are Gregg, Morrison (because of his position on a shit team), Fred Taylor, and Ty Warren. Just because Damon Huard has a few good games in a season means he's underrated, yea not so much. When he was with the Dolphins he played in all 16 games for just 2 of the seasons there where he racked up his underrated stats apparently. A nice 60.2 and 79.8 rating there. Now he gets a 98 rating for 8 started games and he's underrated. This goes along with Furrey as well.DeMeco Ryans, Nnamdi Asomugha, Owen Daniels, and even somewhat Kerry Rhodes are all too early to tell. Rhodes was definitley underrated for what he did, though.</div>A) Damon Huard had a combined 6 starts those 2 years you are basing that information on, and while he certaintly wasn't great. Like most young players you have to remember that it was their first significant taste of NFL Action and that they'd likely improve if given the opportunity to keep playing. Like Huard has. Mike Furrey played mainly special teams before eventually being moved to Saftey in 2005, to make that kind of conversion that he did was nothing short of remarkable.
But it was nothing short of quick judgement. There are a lot of guys that have 1 good season in the NFL and suck the rest of their career.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Capt. Comeback @ Jun 20 2007, 07:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>But it was nothing short of quick judgement. There are a lot of guys that have 1 good season in the NFL and suck the rest of their career.</div>We'll if they did it year in and year out, they probably wouldn't be underrated anymore. :whistling:
Apparently you don't follow. How can you possibly call someone underrated after just 1 single year in the league, or in Furrey's case, at a new position? I'll bet you he does not put up nearly the numbers he put last year. I think he may get 45 catches if he's lucky.
Smiley was pretty damn good before last year as well. Tommie Harris called him one of the best Gs he's played against after the 05 season. Sucks we're gonna have to trade him or just let him go after this season.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Courtvision @ Jun 20 2007, 08:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I agree that Damon Huard is fairly underrated, he had a big year filling in for Trent Green last season, but I think David Carr has to be right there as well. His numbers aren't eye opening, but he's never had much of an offensive line at all. His only real target has been Andre Johnson, and he was constantly double teamed. Not to mention he's only had a 1000 yard rusher twice in five seasons.It's hard to have success with no offensive line, just one target to throw to, and an inconsistent running game. If he ever gets a chance to start in Carolina, he should be able to put up much better numbers than he ever did with the Texans.</div>There's been plenty of one year wonders at QB before. I don't view Huard as anything different just yet. Is he an A.J. Feeley or a Jake Delhomme?
Exactly what I tried to point out. You cannot judge someone because of 1 good season, you just can't, especially the fact he started only 8 games.
Randy Thomas should be in that team. He's been the most dominant RG in the league for quite a while now. Screw Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen; they can't protect the QB worth shit. But Randy Thomas is athletic as hell (great for pulling and screens) and can take on some of the biggest tackles in the league.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Punisher @ Jun 21 2007, 08:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Randy Thomas should be in that team. He's been the most dominant RG in the league for quite a while now. Screw Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen; they can't protect the QB worth shit. But Randy Thomas is athletic as hell (great for pulling and screens) and can take on some of the biggest tackles in the league.</div>Still can't believe the Jets let him go. :ranting: Very good guard, but I wouldn't call him best in the league man. That's going overboard. He's not in Hutchinson territory.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Capt. Comeback @ Jun 21 2007, 12:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Apparently you don't follow. How can you possibly call someone underrated after just 1 single year in the league, or in Furrey's case, at a new position? I'll bet you he does not put up nearly the numbers he put last year. I think he may get 45 catches if he's lucky.</div>WR wasn't a new position for him. He was a WR in St. Louis, but didn't do much on the offensive side of the ball because he wasn't quick enough, big enough, and couldn't catch well enough. We eventually moved him to safety for one season since he was not useful at all on the offensive side of the ball. He did pretty good, and led our team in interceptions. He's still not a good WR. Anyone can catch it when no one is covering them.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brooksie5 @ Jun 21 2007, 10:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Capt. Comeback @ Jun 21 2007, 12:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Apparently you don't follow. How can you possibly call someone underrated after just 1 single year in the league, or in Furrey's case, at a new position? I'll bet you he does not put up nearly the numbers he put last year. I think he may get 45 catches if he's lucky.</div>WR wasn't a new position for him. He was a WR in St. Louis, but didn't do much on the offensive side of the ball because he wasn't quick enough, big enough, and couldn't catch well enough. We eventually moved him to safety for one season since he was not useful at all on the offensive side of the ball. He did pretty good, and led our team in interceptions. He's still not a good WR. Anyone can catch it when no one is covering them.</div>Nobody catches 90 balls uncovered. :whistling: By the time Week 4 comes around and he has 20 catches already you begin to see coordinators gameplanning to stop him (as well as Roy Williams). It's impossible to get that many catches when nobody is covering him. lol
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brooksie5 @ Jun 21 2007, 01:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Capt. Comeback @ Jun 21 2007, 12:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Apparently you don't follow. How can you possibly call someone underrated after just 1 single year in the league, or in Furrey's case, at a new position? I'll bet you he does not put up nearly the numbers he put last year. I think he may get 45 catches if he's lucky.</div>WR wasn't a new position for him. He was a WR in St. Louis, but didn't do much on the offensive side of the ball because he wasn't quick enough, big enough, and couldn't catch well enough. We eventually moved him to safety for one season since he was not useful at all on the offensive side of the ball. He did pretty good, and led our team in interceptions. He's still not a good WR. Anyone can catch it when no one is covering them.</div>Quit fooling yourself, the guy caught 98 balls last season you moron.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AdropOFvenom @ Jun 21 2007, 01:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brooksie5 @ Jun 21 2007, 10:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Capt. Comeback @ Jun 21 2007, 12:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Apparently you don't follow. How can you possibly call someone underrated after just 1 single year in the league, or in Furrey's case, at a new position? I'll bet you he does not put up nearly the numbers he put last year. I think he may get 45 catches if he's lucky.</div>WR wasn't a new position for him. He was a WR in St. Louis, but didn't do much on the offensive side of the ball because he wasn't quick enough, big enough, and couldn't catch well enough. We eventually moved him to safety for one season since he was not useful at all on the offensive side of the ball. He did pretty good, and led our team in interceptions. He's still not a good WR. Anyone can catch it when no one is covering them.</div>Nobody catches 90 balls uncovered. :whistling: By the time Week 4 comes around and he has 20 catches already you begin to see coordinators gameplanning to stop him (as well as Roy Williams). It's impossible to get that many catches when nobody is covering him. lol</div>When none of them are over 30 yards it is. He just sits there and does screen passes and very short routes.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brooksie5 @ Jun 21 2007, 10:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>When none of them are over 30 yards it is. He just sits there and does screen passes and very short routes.</div>Dude, he's a possession reciever, that's his job. Catch the ball to move the Chains. He lead to 54 First Downs last year. That doesn't mean he's uncovered.
