Most underrated Colts

by shake n bake on May 11, 2009 1:05 PM EDT in Colts Analysis

Oehser just put up a great post and even better discussion starter, the 5 most underrated players on the Colts roster.

His choices include 2 of our favorite whipping boys here (I agree with him on one's placement in the top 5, not so much on the other).

My picks?*

Gary Brackett, not so much to most Colts fans, but definitely to the NFL watching public. He’s been a Pro Bowl level performer for the last couple years, and excels in the toughest coverage assignment of any LB in the league. How many guys can handle playing in the heart of the run D, while being responsible for covering the deep middle 1/3rd of the field? The Chargers carving up the middle in the playoffs while Brackett was out showed how key he is.
Raheem Brock, few guys can push an end with 50+ sacks and still in the prime of his career back into a specialist role. Bonus points for doing it while playing some DT too.
Anthony Gonzalez, a lot of people don’t realize how amazing he was in limited time, he’s caught over 70% of the passes thrown to him while averaging 13.2 Yards per reception. Football Outsiders’ stats love him. He’s been top 15 in total value, and top 3 in per play value both of his years.
Charlie Johnson, less a matter of him being all that great, more a matter of how much a lot of people think he sucks. CJ’s come a long way from where he was in ‘07.
Matt Giordano the man caught Devin Hester from behind in the Superbowl. The "Hester turned off the jets" line is BS" He was a yard or two too late, but he grabbed Hester before he scored the TD, then Hester fell forward into the endzone. Gio is blazing fast, the story I’ve heard about his Pro Day was that the 4.5 40 time he ran was with one arm held at his side because of a torn pectoral. He’s a special teams beast and a very capable fill in, just ask Bo Scaife’s (lacerated) liver.

*=Addai omitted to prevent shitstorm.

What do you think of Oehser's picks and mine, and who are your top 5 underrated Colts?

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Good list but I don't think Gonzalez in underrated...

I think he’s well known outside of Colts country in my opinion. Like Oeher, I would maybe add Jennings, Bullitt, or maybe even Bethea. Even though Bethea has made a Pro Bowl, he is still over shadowed by Sanders and his play has been huge for the Colts the past few years. He came in and started as a rookie in ’06 and helped the Colts D turn it around to an eventual Super Bowl win.

by ColtsFanNChiTown on May 11, 2009 1:58 PM EDT reply actions

Tough list to come up with, so I commend you. My take:

Giordano isn’t underrated, he’s a replacement level safety and good special teamer no matter how you slice it. This obsession about him angling in on Hester baffles me. Who cares?

Good point on Charlie Johnson. He really improved last year.

I"m OK with the rest, except Brackett is not a Pro Bowl level performer. His cover skills are very good but he’s an average run-stopper.

by Merr on May 11, 2009 2:38 PM EDT reply actions

This is a great list.

Although Bracket was hurt last year and couldn’t make it back for the playoffs and Giordano is 3rd string.

Underrated: Melvin Bullet. Marlin Jackson. Pierre Garcon. Clint Session.

I’d rather talk about players that are extremely frustrating to watch because they were drafted high and are mediocre at best.

Tony Ugoh, Tim Jennings. Freddy Keiaho (Can’t play pass coverage to save his life.) and Mike Pollak who was too hurt to play in the most important game of the season. Also Gijon Robinson who can’t block to save his life.

The whole Lilja thing pisses me off. Jake Scott! How I wish he was on our team. One of the few misses by Polian.

by BlueLagoon_18 on May 11, 2009 2:42 PM EDT reply actions

Great call on GB

Brackett should have made the Pro Bowl in 2007. Losing him was devastating last year.

18to88.com

by deshawn zombie on May 11, 2009 2:49 PM EDT reply actions

Brack-ett! Brack-ett!

Cannot agree more about 2007. 2008 was up and down, presumably due to injuries.

In terms of league-wide recognition, he looks like he’s destined to have a Tarik Glenn career—playing at a shade under Pro Bowl level and overshadowed by just a couple potential HOFers who happen to share his career timeline and position. (Jon Ogden… Ray Lewis…)

It hurts because he is absolutely key—like Peyton, it’s not all about stats, but getting the guys into the right play as the “QB of the D.” Undersized, undrafted. A true symbol of the old saying “it’s not the size of the dog in the fight….” (which has really sounded sleazy since Mike Vick’s stupidity.)

I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.

by Bobman on May 11, 2009 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Brackett

Bullitt, Brock, Jackson and Bethea.

Funny, all guys on the D. Hm.

"I throw, you catch. It's NOT that hard!"
Peyton Manning, SNL, 2007

by peytonsthebest on May 11, 2009 2:54 PM EDT reply actions

Melvin Bullit

Melvin Bullit should be in there somewhere. He always steps up big when Sanders is out. and I think he is under appriciated as well

by ushoe on May 11, 2009 7:19 PM EDT reply actions

I like Bullitt a lot, but I think he's properly rated

a starting caliber safety, dynamite special teamer who lets us rest a bit easier with Sanders’ injury history.

Some Finals Week Themed Weezy

I'm a specialist vet, no testin' the best
I be in class, no pencil, no test on the desk
-Lil' Wayne "Get Your Shine On"

by shake n bake on May 11, 2009 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions

If he's rated...

Then Brackett does not belong on the list.

by bamock on May 11, 2009 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I think Colts fans have them both pegged

but from what I’ve seen Bullitt gets appropriate props for his play, while Brackett doesn’t get a lot of respect and recognition from people who aren’t fans.

Some Finals Week Themed Weezy

I'm a specialist vet, no testin' the best
I be in class, no pencil, no test on the desk
-Lil' Wayne "Get Your Shine On"

by shake n bake on May 11, 2009 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions

I haven't seen any...

Non-Colts fan giving Bullitt loads of props. But if you have, okey doke :)

by bamock on May 11, 2009 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions

FO had some love for him

that’s what I’ve got off the top of my head.

Some Finals Week Themed Weezy

I'm a specialist vet, no testin' the best
I be in class, no pencil, no test on the desk
-Lil' Wayne "Get Your Shine On"

by shake n bake on May 11, 2009 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions

one example then I'm out

“rated-ness” arguments are a bit too subjective for my taste.

http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/01/02/colts-have-learned-to-live-without-sanders/

Bullitt is a guy that can fill Sanders’ shoes so well there is hardly a dropoff in run D while Brackett is just their most consistent linebacker and his absence isn’t made much of a big deal, when it really really was a huge deal.

Some Finals Week Themed Weezy

I'm a specialist vet, no testin' the best
I be in class, no pencil, no test on the desk
-Lil' Wayne "Get Your Shine On"

by shake n bake on May 11, 2009 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions

From out of left field...

How about Justin Snow? He gets little respect—in the mock 53 man rosters recently posted he’s an add-on, almost like, “oh, yeah, gotta have one of those, guess he’ll do.” But, is there much dispute, our kickers and punters almost always get good snaps and Justin makes it downfield on punts reasonably well. To me, he’s underrated just because no one ever considers his 7 snaps a game very valuable—until the Colts miss an XP or have a punt blocked.

To me you aren’t underrated if you’ve been to the Pro Bowl, so that eliminates Saturday, Mathis and Bethea. I go with everyone who lists Brackett and Brock as underrated. Jackson, if he recovers from the knee, probably fits, as does Bullitt. You can’t be too underrated if you’re not really good enough to play your way onto the field, so that’s why to me Giordano isn’t in this group.

Of the Colts’ stars, Dallas Clark has received no Pro Bowl love because of a massive over-appreciation of Gonzalez and Gates. He might be the most underrated of all, in the sense he’s not getting post-season award commensurate with his salary.

The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in the stars, but in ourselves.

by Coltsfan58 on May 11, 2009 8:33 PM EDT reply actions

Come on, man

Gonzalez and Gates are awesome.

by eltharion_doa on May 11, 2009 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Sure, but they have been THE ONLY receiving options on their teams for years

Yes, if we had no Reggie and no Gonzo, Dallas would be getting 120 targets and 90 catches this year. People gripe that he is “a TE in name only” and FO sometimes lists him as a WR in its stats because he plays offset in the slot so much, but those guys are even less complete TEs.

I hate Joe Namath. That's how long I've been a Colts fan.

by Bobman on May 11, 2009 11:39 PM EDT reply actions

Bethea

Bethea is just as, or more, underrated than Brackett. People saying we were going to draft his replacement because we were going to let him walk next offseason are crazy.

And Giordano is not underrated. If Giordano had come in and played when Bob was hurt instead of a second year UDFA then you may have something to stand on. Saying Giordano is underrated is the equivalent of saying Senn or Sorgi is underrated.

My picks :

1. Antoine Bethea
2. Gary Brackett
3. Raheem Brock
4. Ryan Diem
5. Melvin Bullitt

Jim Sorgi runs a 4.6 40. That's all I've got to say about that.

by monstersbox on May 12, 2009 8:40 AM EDT reply actions

Charlie Johnson

I’m not sure where I read this, but somewhere Peyton Manning is quoted during the 4th quarter of the super bowl asking Charlie Johnson how long he had been in the game.

The answer? Since the first or second quarter (sorry it’s been a while).

Anyway – my point?

CJ did good enough in one game to help us win a ring, and he did it without Peyton even knowing he was in there. I think he could still improve, but I don’t even remember Lilja getting hurt during the game.

by Colts Syndrome on May 13, 2009 6:22 AM EDT reply actions

No one has ever bashed CJ's play in '06

it was ’07 when he was a disaster, but he improved a lot for ’08.

Some Finals Week Themed Weezy

I'm a specialist vet, no testin' the best
I be in class, no pencil, no test on the desk
-Lil' Wayne "Get Your Shine On"

by shake n bake on May 13, 2009 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Antoine Bethea

has been a great player for us since his arrival. No one knows who he is except colts fans and the guys he hits. He stays healthy and always plays with intensity. What a compliment to go along with Bobzilla. Very underrated. One of our best and most reliable players. Only other player, besides Peyton, to start every game.

mama said foosball is for the devil - 18forever

by 18forever on May 13, 2009 10:04 AM EDT reply actions