Under-Radar Gang: Bit players who can steal spotlight
We know the stars in this weekend's NFL divisional playoffs, and usually a team's success is tied to how those players compete.
But in most of the playoff games throughout history, there are always one or two surprise players who step up in the glare of the spotlight and perform in a big way, usually outdoing what was expected.
The Under-the-Radar Gang is what I call them.
Each team in every playoff game has one or two or three players who fall into that category. Some of those who could impact this week's games are not exactly household names.
They are not named Manning, Rivers, Peterson or Brees.
You might know some of them, but after this weekend you could know a lot more about all of them.
Here's my Under-the-Radar Gang for the eight teams in this week's NFL divisional playoff games.
AFC
Baltimore Ravens
This third-year player will face a tough task against Indy speed rusher Dwight Freeney. Gaither is a rising player who has improved in pass protection over his rookie season in 2007. Gaither held Freeney without a sack in the first meeting between the Ravens and Colts this season on Nov. 22. The Ravens helped him some in that game, but he showed that he's capable of playing well against a premier pass rusher. He's also much bigger than Freeney as 6-foot-9, 340 pounds; Freeney is 6-1, 265. That means Gaither should be able to handle Freeney in the run game. The one thing Gaither has to watch out for is that Freeney spin move -- he'll set him up outside and spin inside. Freeney seems to get better and better the more pressure he gets. So Gaither can't let him get momentum because the Colts feed off that. Gaither missed five games with injuries, including a back problem, but he played in the Ravens' last two games, including last week at New England.
Indianapolis Colts
|
|
| Pierre Garcon will get chance to have a deep impact Saturday. (Getty Images) |
San Diego Chargers
ILB Brandon Siler
The Jets want to run the football and run it a lot. Siler is a thumper in the run game for the San Diego defense. He opened the season on the bench but won over the coaches with his goal-line play. When Tim Dobbins and Kevin Burnett were dinged, Siler got his chance to start seven games this season. He's had some big stops on the goal line, one against Dallas that stands out, so look for him in the middle of any running play. He isn't as good against the pass, although he did have one interception, but that isn't that big a deal against a Jets team that wants to pound the football.
New York Jets
NT Sione Pouha
We saw the Jets get a big game from running back Shonn Greene last week in an under-the-radar performance, so he can't be picked this week. That's why I went with Pouha against San Diego. The Jets have the top-ranked defense and Pouha is a big reason why. When the Jets lost Kris Jenkins with a knee injury, there was great concern that the run defense would slump. But Pouha has been a force inside and helped keep the linebackers free to get to the football. He will be big in terms of putting the Chargers in long down-and-distance situations working against center Nick Hardwick. The Jets gave up fewer rushing yards per game with Pouha than in the seven games with Jenkins.
NFC
New Orleans Saints
TE David Thomas
You might know Jeremy Shockey as the Saints tight end, but Thomas has earned a favored spot with quarterback Drew Brees as the second tight end. He isn't a power blocker, but he is a nice pass-catching tight end. The Patriots traded him to the Saints for a seventh-round pick, a deal that has paid off for the Saints. Thomas caught a career-high 35 passes with one score this season and really came on when Shockey missed time. Shockey will see plenty of coverage, and with the receivers the Saints have outside, look for Thomas to get singled a bunch. He can beat linebackers, which could lead to big plays in the passing game. It will be surprising if Thomas doesn't catch five passes for 60 yards. He had eight catches for 77 yards in the team's loss to Dallas in Week 15 and five catches in the loss to the Bucs in Week 16.
Arizona Cardinals
FS Antrel Rolle
|
|
| Safety Antrel Rolle will have to come up big in New Orleans. (AP) |
Dallas Cowboys
Nickel CB Orlando Scandrick
When the season started, the thinking was Scandrick had a chance to be a starter. But Mike Jenkins beat him out -- barely -- and Scandrick settled in as the nickel corner. He excelled there as a rookie last season and has played well again. This week, he will likely spend a lot of time on Vikings rookie receiver Percy Harvin, a converted running back who does a lot of his damage in the middle of the field and is also great after the catch. Scandrick has to handle him in man coverage, but he also has to be a sure tackler. I think Scandrick has a chance for one or two picks if the Cowboys can pressure Brett Favre.
Minnesota Vikings
DE Ray Edwards
Edwards is the other guy on the Vikings line. You know Pat and Kevin Williams inside and Jared Allen at the other end. But Edwards had an outstanding season that many missed. He will be matched against Marc Colombo and his speed should be a plus against Colombo. Edwards had 8 1/2 sacks this season, but has 35 quarterback pressures -- the same as Allen. Colombo is more of a run blocker than he is pass protector. There were some in Dallas who thought the Cowboys should have kept Doug Free in at right tackle. Free played well when Colombo missed the last seven regular-season games with a broken leg, but Colombo started last week and played well against the Eagles. He will have his hands full with Edwards.
