What more do you want from Ben Tate?
Just a few updates to get out of the way. The Top 100 Big Board has been updated for the combine overreactions. I’m sure I only have 30 or so. Check it out. Also, the Positional Rankings have been updated for nearly 400 prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft. So you know, look at those too.
And be sure the check out the first episode of DraftCast, a podcast hosted by myself and Michael Schottey of Drafttek.com. We kicked off our show with guests Ricky Sapp and Jon McKinney and some Free Agency questions.
Now,the article at hand.
It’s tough to find truly underrated guys at this point in the draft. With the way information gets passed around today, there are no more secrets. Run a great time at a tiny school? You can can be bigger than Snooki’s va… Anyway, self-advocating prospects are making waves like never before, but if you look closely, you can still find a player or two that just doesn’t seem to be getting the billing they deserve. Maybe they played for a historically bad team at an unheralded position. Maybe they somehow set a major record at a school known for running backs yet still slid below the radar. Or maybe I’m a little late calling some of them underrated considering one of them is already apparently a first round prospect on at least one team’s board.
Anyway, if you want to impress some friends know these names on draft day because they could come off a little earlier than expected.
1.) Amari Spievey, CB, Iowa(Big Board Rank: 37)
This is the guy I was talking about. I’ve been a fan for a while, but it looks like Spievey is finally getting his due. At 5-11 195 he’s got above average size for the position, and that 4.47 he put up put to bed any questions about his straight speed. But what I’ve noticed about Spievey is that he’s a very sound tackler who can make plays in space. He takes good angles against the run and does a nice job of getting off of blockers. Spievey’s also strong enough to be a solid press coverage player and he possesses the athleticism, the leaping ability, to make big plays. Talking to him in Indianapolis, I saw a kid who has realized some of his mistakes (transferring down to JUCO after academics issue) and was just ready to play again. He’ll make some team happy, because unlike Antonio Cromartie, Spievey thrives on making big plays in the open field.
3.) Rodger Saffold, OT, Indiana(Big Board Rank: 49)
This is another guy that’s getting a little friendly publicity lately. Saffold unintentionally hurt himself by enrolling at Indiana University, but he seems like he’s getting over that in ways that Joe Buck just never will (he’s an IU grad in case you’re averse to Buck trivia. And that’s okay). Anyway, Saffold’s been starting since midway through his freshman year, topping his career off with 41 straight. He’s got very quick feet, and that’s pushed him into serious upper-echelon left tackle talk. Plus, he’s great when pulling on running plays. If he proves to be decently athletic at his pro day and keeps this momentum he could go as early as the second round. He’s hovering inside the top ten tackles right now.
2.) Ben Tate, RB, Auburn(Big Board Rank: 50)
How in the world does a guy attend a school that’s produced Bo Jackson, Ronnie Brown, Cadillac Williams, Rudy Johnson, Kenny Irons, and about a hundred other guys before that go unnoticed after a season like this. He put up 10 TDs and over 1300 yards rushing while maintaining a 5.2 ypc average. Add in that he didn’t fumble once all season, and the fact that he did all of this against some of the best rushing defenses in the nation and you’ve got a guy that could be looking at a second round grade. He’s a powerful runner at 220 pounds, and he’s got a little wiggle to go along with that 4.45 that makes him such an effective downhill runner. Tate’s still not a consistent homerun threat, but I get the feeling he might not have realized his full potential yet.
4.) Jeremy Williams, WR, Tulane(Big Board Rank: 65)
It’s funny. When you watch the Senior Bowl and you get past Tony Pike’s mustache and focus a little more intently on Tony Sparano’s you see something other than Tim Tebow’s stats tickering across the screen. I’m a little surprised that Jeremy Williams’ stock didn’t get more of a public boost after his week in Mobile. I think teams are still pretty wary of his injury history (two knees and a broken hand). But if he can prove to be healthy again, and not a serious threat to cripple every season, he can be an effective #2. He’s a highly underrated route runner, and makes concise quick cuts while showing the awareness to come back to the ball. He was quietly an MVP candidate in the Senior Bowl game, and if he’s 100% he could be a nice steal.
5.) Antonio Coleman, OLB, Auburn(Big Board Rank: 74)
I talked to a couple of scouts at the combine. They weren’t exactly eager to divulge their every thought to me, but I managed to hear a few things. And a lot of them were about the Auburn pass rusher. Coleman is the epitome of an active passrusher. He’s got that Edward Scissorhands violence in his mitts, and he’s got the kind of experience that breeds multiple pass rushing moves. On top of that, at around 6-01 255, there have been reports that he could run in the high 4.5s at his pro day. No matter what he runs, he’s a sure tackler who put up 24 sacks in the SEC during a great career. It’s just tough to find a good 3-4 OLB who has experience standing up and plays with good leverage up close and awareness in coverage.
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Wow this is a really well-thought list. You do remarkable work and I can’t believe nobody else leaves comments here!
Another great article.
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