People who follow a team closely invariably notice the contributions of some key players getting overlooked even as the team finds success. With the Steelers squeaking out a win over the Cardinals and getting lots of coverage we still hear very little about one of their key players, Aaron Smith. This is all the more remarkable this year since Smith missed many team practices due to his four-year-old son battling Leukemia. His teammates often had to fill him in on the playbook during games. The team kept it quiet for most of the season and the local media did too. I thought during Super Bowl media the national media would bring it up and was surprised they didn’t even after they were down to interviewing the players’ wives and mothers.
Anyway for several years now, he has been one of the dominant 3-4 DEs in the league, not as quick as Richard Seymour or as strong as Haloti Ngata perhaps but probably more consistent and hard-working then those guys. The Steelers D is heavily reliant on the linebacking corps’ ability to get off blocks and flow to the ball. To do this they need Casey Hampton and Aaron Smith to contain the gaps along the line and give them space to make plays. Time and again I see guys like Farrior and Woodley making plays because they have an open lane to the opposing backfield. D-Linemen in the 3-4 are almost always underappreciated but they make the whole thing tick.
Whose contribution to your team has flown under the radar (not just football)?
I was watching the MLB Channel’s “Top AL Plays of 2008” the other day, and the Indians’ most-of-the-time second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera was in 2 of the top 9 plays for second basemen.
I honestly believe he has the potential to be the next Omar Vizquel, if they put him at short (hell, even at second!) He’s always doing something exciting!
I think he’s underrated because A. He’s on the Indians and B. His hitting is not so good yet. Personally, I think he hits great in the clutch but that doesn’t bring your average up too well.
Anyway, now that I think of it he may not be “underrated” so much as “not known well enough yet because he’s still a rookie.” But be on the lookout for old Asdrubal. He’s comin!
For the Cubs, it would probably be shortstop Ryan Theriot. He’s overlooked because of his lack of power, but he did hit .307 last year. I’m not sure if he’ll be able to replicate that this year, but I hope he does.
No one on the Mets is underrated – they’re either overrated or detested (by their own fans, in both case). No middle ground.
Though it probably is Carlos Beltran. He’s overlooked by the fans, who don’t get that he’s one of the best defensive players in baseball and a consistent offensive threat. But he’s not flashy, and the season goes by and you forget he hit over 30 home runs again.
Chad LaRose of the Carolina Hurricanes is one of the hardest working players I’ve ever seen in action. He skates as hard as he can as long as he’s on the ice. He makes plays happen. He’s starting to get more playing time and I’m looking forward to seeing him develop in the coming seasons.
Monkees reference?