Unsung Players in the NFL
Unsung Players in the NFL
There are a lot of unsung players in the NFL as they are overshadowed by stars on their team but are instrumental in their teams success. Chester Taylor of the Minnesota Viking is overshadowed (rightly so to a point) by the super phenom Andrian Peterson (1200 yards rushing and 10 TDs). Taylor very quietly has had a very good season so far rushing for 716 yards has a 5.3 ypc and has scored 7 TDS. Taylor last week ran for 101 yards last week vs SF in a 27-7 win and Peterson only has 3 yards rushing. Taylor also last season for a Minny team that can not throw the ball that well, ran for 1216 yards, 6 Tds and caught another 42 passes. If the Vikings want to continue on their current hot streak and make the Wild Card in the NFC, Taylor must still help Peterson by being a good change of pace back and able to fill in at any moment if Peterson is still banged up, which after 3 yards rushing vs a bad SF team, might still be the case.
Ryan Grant (an undrafted free agent) of the Green Bay Packers has been a Godsend to a team that for the first 7 games, struggled to run the ball. Grant has only been a starter since week 8 and has racked up 744 yards rushing, a 5.0 ypc and has scored 5 Tds in the last 5 weeks. Favre is obviously a leader of the Packers but Grant has helped take some of the pressure of Green Bay and expecting to only be a pass team. Most teams that win in the NFL, usually have at least some sort of balance and the emergence of Grant, this has happened with Green Bay.
Before 2007, Ernest Graham of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers never had more than 28 carries in his NFL career. This year he had filled in admirably for the injured Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman. He has rushed for 798 yards a 4.2 ypc and 9 tds. He has also added 42 catches out of the backfield in Jon Grudens West Coast Offense. Most people worried about the Bucs running game when the injuries hit, but Graham has helped them lead the NFC South with a great chance to be in the playoffs come January.
When one thinks of the Jacksonville Jaguars, you usually think of a really stout defense that stops the run and causes lots of turnovers. Next I think of their QB David Garrard who only has 1 pick on the season to go with 13 Td passes. But to me the true unsung player on the Jags is the often injured Fred Taylor. In 2007 Taylor is quietly having one of his best seasons he has ever had. He has run for 944 yards and 3 Tds. Alon with Maurice Jones-Drew 655 yards rushing, 4.5 ypc and 8 td, to go along with 29 more catches, the Jags have a very good running game to go along with their very good defense. I think the Jags as a whole are a very good team that runs under the radar quite easily. The Pats, Colts, Steelers and Chargers get most of the press but to me the Jags are right behind the Cots in being a threat to super team NE.
Denver Broncos backup TE Tony Scheffler has made a living making tough 3rd down catches from Jay Cutler. So far this year, Sheff has caught 33 passes and 3 TDs. Most of Sheffs production in the last few years has been with Cutler. Before Cutler started in week 12 vs Seattle last year, Sheff has 6 catches and 0 tds. In the last 5 games he caught 12 passes and 4 TDs to finish off 2006. Sheff missed the first 4 games of 2007, but has picked it up recently. He looks more and more comfortable in the Denver offense and I predict will be a factor on their Thursday Night game this week at Houston.
Lastly Kevin Faulk of the Patriots is only one of a handful of players on their team that has been with all 3 Super Bowl teams. Faulk does not carry the ball much but year in and year out, is very good at getting the tough 3rd down catch for Tom Brady. Faulk has caught 35 passes this year and usually gets around 40 per season as strictly a 3rd down player. Also he is HUGE in protecting Brady in obvious blitzing situations. He did catch the game winning TD in a big come from behind victory over the Colts 24-20 in early November. Faulk will outlast more talented players because of his work ethic and desire to succeed.
I hope you have enjoyed a few of these unsung players and feel free to suggest anyone else for my list.
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Originally Posted by King87
