Calling a given player 'overrated' is a tricky thing. 'Overrated' does not imply good, nor does it imply bad. Overrated simply means, in our eyes, that too much hype/speculation/what have you surrounds the shimmering aura of this college football player. And we're going to put a stop to that nefarious practice by taking an objective look... right now. Here are the SEC's "Most Overrated" Players. A tough job, mind you, because this conference is filled with outstanding players.
| 1. Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt |
 I love Vanderbilt. I've been quoted as saying as much here at FanHouse for the past eon or so, and they're easily my second favorite team in the SEC after my beloved Gators. I don't love them because they win championships, or for that matter even that they win a few games. I love them because they're a fiercely competitive team that never gives up no matter how far down they may be, and because they give everyone they play a tough game despite Vandy's difficulty in landing premiere players.So why would I tag WR Earl Bennett as an "overrated" player? In 2006 he had 1146 receiving yards and six TDs. That's a damn good year for an SEC player. But I think he's overrated, which as the abstract above clearly explains, does not mean he's a marginal player. I think he's quite good, but not 1st-team All-SEC (which is where he was voted by SEC coaches in the pre-season.) When you look at Bennett's production in 2006, the majority of his yards and TDs come via lesser teams. Against Tennessee State, Duke, Ole Miss, and Kentucky (all of which field horrendous defenses) he racked up 664 yards, over half of his year total, and 3 of his 6 TDs. Against Michigan, Alabama, and Arkansas, and Tennessee he only managed 150 combined yards and one TD. Oddly enough, one of Bennett's better games was against the Gators in Nashville, where he racked up 157 yards and a TD. However, that yardage came primarily in the second half, when the Gator defense opened the umbrella while they tried to nurse a 25-6 lead in the 4th quarter. That doesn't disqualify Bennett's results, of course, but it's a heck of a lot easier to catch passes when you're going up against deep zone coverage. Good, but not great: Earl Bennett. |
| 2. Jonathan Hefney, Tennessee |
 Hefney's a player who 'emerged' last year as a junior after languishing as somewhat of an anonymous DB in years prior. He had five INTs in 2006 and was also one of the leading tacklers for the Vols. The 5' 9" CB is another pre-season All-SEC player and has also been projected as a first-round draft pick by NFL Draft Scout.So what's the beef? First of all, for a CB Hefney could stand to be a bit faster. He runs nearly a 4.5 forty-yard dash. Second, like Bennett, most of his production comes against lesser teams. 2 of his INTs came from Marshall and Memphis and a third comes from Vanderbilt. Jonathan Hefney is a solid player, but I would be very surprised if he's drafted in the first round. I think he'll be strong for Tennessee in '06, but is not a first-team All-SEC'er. |
| 3. Brandon Cox, Auburn |
 In the SEC, a quarterback is either on an upward trend or he's stagnating and getting worse. For the past two years I've failed to understand the hype about Brandon Cox. In 2005, his first year as a starter, he fared reasonably well, throwing for 2300 yards and completing 57.8% of his passes. He also threw 15 TDs and 8 INTs. But in 2006, due in part to injury, he managed fewer total yards, threw one less TD and one extra INT. His QB rating actually went up to 138 from 132, but that was primarily as a result of a higher YPA.For once, SEC coaches agree with me because despite being one of only three senior quarterbacks in the conference, he did not earn any All-SEC honors. Brandon Cox was sacked an ungodly 34 times in '06, up quite a bit from the 20 he suffered in 2005, but all too many of those sacks came as a result of holding onto the ball too long. I believe Brandon Cox is a good quarterback; but the SEC is filled with those. To come out ahead in this conference, you'll need to bring a gold standard player to the position. To expect greatness out of Cox in '07 just doesn't seem reasonable given his past production. Look for another outstanding year from the Tigers, but Cox's presence under center isn't going to be a catalyst. |
| 4. Matt Flynn, LSU |
 If you didn't know the name going in, and I told you that an SEC powerhouse was going to start a guy who went 12-20 for 133 total yards in '06 for 2 TDs and 1 INT, would you be excited about the next great quarterback to emerge in the SEC?If you're an LSU fan, yes, you would, because you'd know it was none other than Matt Flynn, QB for the #2 ranked LSU Tigers. Don't get me wrong. I like Flynn. I think he'll do a fine job and has all the potential to be a great quarterback. But Flynn's single claim to fame came from his play in relief of an injured Jamarcus Russell against Miami in the 2005 Peach Bowl -- that's looking back one hell of a long way in the rear-view mirror. He's good enough to make FanHouse's Top 5 SEC quarterbacks but he'll have to prove he's the real deal out on the field. Can he? Yes, but for now he's overrated. |
| 5. Brandon Spikes, Florida |
 Spikes will attempt to replace the irreplaceable Brandon Siler from the '06 championship squad. As a reserve freshman LB in 2006 he ranked 13th in tackles, making 9 solo and 6 assisted. He did start one game for Florida: against the Div. I-AA (excuse me, FCS) Western Carolina Catamounts. You'd think he would have had a field day against the Ligers, but the Gators' defensive line cleaned up most of WCU's mess before he had a chance to make many tackles.Spikes is a physical specimen. At 6' 4" and 235 lbs., his style of play and overall physicality remind me of Channing Crowder (who was notable because he liked to wrestle wild hogs to stay in shape.) But as of today, Spikes is largely untested and has not made a big impact in his limited playing action. Despite that, head coach Urban Meyer is looking to Spikes to be a leader on defense. The jury is out on this one. As a Florida fan I have high expectations for Spikes. As a dispassionate AOL FanHouse SEC blogger, I say the expectations are currently set a bit higher than reality should allow. Therefore, he's overrated. |
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-05-2007 @ 1:39PM
Andy Katzer said...
For the record, Hefney's a safety.
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8-05-2007 @ 1:49PM
Beat Visitor said...
And the Most Overrated Conference??
My vote goes to the SEC.
http://www.beatvisitor.com
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8-05-2007 @ 3:16PM
Acid Reign said...
Fanhouse has ranked Brandon Cox down around 8th best in the conference, he didn't make any all-SEC teams his senior year, and he's STILL overrated?
Yeah, he took some unnecessary sacks. Problem was, though, that he could only throw the slant or screen with any velocity last year, and defenses knew it. With safeties up in the box, and corners cheating over into the slant lane, it took time for AU receivers to shake loose. The fade route to the outside, with an occasional deep post, is how that coverage is defeated. Brandon could throw neither.
This year, in the AU spring game, Brandon's throws had more zip than ever, and he made those deep outside throws. I suspect K-State's attacking defense will find out real quick...
Honestly, I've not watched enough Vanderbilt coverage to really evaluate Earl Bennett. My first-team wideouts were Marcus Monk and D. J. Hall, with backups Early Doucet and Bennett.
As to Hefney, I didn't think any NFL team drafted 5'9" corners, anymore. They sign on as free agents, and occasionally make decent nickel or dime backs. That said, I didn't see Hefney get beat deep. He played nearly flawless technique last year, in the games I saw.
My only viewing of Matt Flynn is from the 2005 SEC Championship game, and the 2005 Peach Bowl. That's ancient history, and really, he was pretty bad in one game, awesome in the next. Kid has an arm, a great OL, and dangerous players all around him.
Spikes may be overrated by Coach Meyer, but I'd say Tim Tebow is overrated by more folks! Obviously, he's talented, but he's got to show me against good defenses...
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8-05-2007 @ 3:17PM
Ryan Ferguson said...
Andy,
He projects as a CB in some places and a safety at others. I'm not sure where he starts this year... ? Is it as a safety?
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8-05-2007 @ 6:32PM
Will said...
Don't you think SEC coaches know more than you? They placed Earl Bennett on the first team, and I don't think someone who writes a blog for an antiquated company actually deserves any respect, but this stuff really annoys me. How can you call a player who will break the all-time SEC receiving yards and receptions records overrated?
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8-06-2007 @ 10:54AM
BennettDefender said...
I can see how you would make that argument for Bennett being overrated based on his stats vs. Alabama, Michigan and Arkansas.
However, those were also Chris Nickson's first three starts as a quarterback. I think that had a lot more to do with his production than Bennett not being able to rise to the top. He can put up numbers against anyone if someone is there to get him the ball.
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8-06-2007 @ 7:47PM
xk3 said...
Mr. Ferguson,
You know the SEC well, but calling Bennett overrated is absurd. He's the best overall receiver in the SEC bare none, and he's going to break the CAREER receptions with a year and a half of eligibility left! He's well on his way to crushing most SEC receiving records eventhough he's the only consistent target VU has had since Stricker graduated.
Every team knows the ball is going his way, yet no team can stop him. He led the SEC in multiple categories (beating out 3 first round draft picks) last year with a sophomore QB and a run game no one had to worry about.
If you had to include Bennett on this list at gun-point, then you get a pass... I'm we all have to live. If you did it for any other reason, then you just made a piss poor judgement.
Coincidentally, I 100% agree with every other pick you made... perhaps you could have picked just about anyone else on VU's roster outside of Goff, but not Bennett!
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8-07-2007 @ 9:24AM
John C said...
From the outside looking in, some of your points on Bennett seem to make sense. However, you also have to take into account that he has put up numbers in his first two collegiate seasons with two different QBs. Jay Cutler, 1st round draft choice and current starter for the Broncos, must have seen something in him as a Freshman to hook up with him 79 times for over 1000 yards. The last year he had to break in a new QB in Chris Nickson and still improved on his numbers from last season. With Nickson back again behind center and, Bennett's track record for improving on his past consistency, there is no reason to think that (barring injury) Bennett will improve his numbers from the previous season yet again. One might also mention that Vanderbilt has 8 home games this season which should also indictate continued success for Earl.
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8-08-2007 @ 12:22PM
Ryan Ferguson said...
To those questioning Bennett as an overrated player, I say only this.
Who would you rather have suiting up for your team? The Gators' Percy Harvin? Or Earl Bennett?
Earl Bennett won 1st-team All-SEC honors... Harvin didn't.
Harvin is likely going to be a Top 5 overall draft pick. Bennett is a late first-rounder, maybe even a second rounder.
If that isn't the clearest example of why Bennett, while being a great SEC player, is overrated, then nothing is.
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8-09-2007 @ 9:42AM
Will said...
If you think NFL potential is a solid way of analyzing whether a college player is "overrated" then you're dumber than I thought. Was Charlie Ward overrated as a college player? The guy won the Heisman and a national title, but he never played a down in the NFL. Danny Wuerffel was a great college player but not an elite pro prospect. Take Duke basketball as an analogy- Coach K recruits players who will fit in well with his system and doesn't necessarily care about their NBA potential. You simply can't evaluate a player's ability in college based on what he is projected to do in the NFL, and to do so is completely asinine.
Also, what exactly makes Harvin so great? The coaches don't feel he's one of the four best in the conference and the writers don't feel he's one of the two best. Harvin had 855 total yards and only 5 touchdowns his freshman year. Bennett bested both of those numbers.
Please stop writing until your words are worthy of being posted. Until then, take off your gator hat and stop fantasizing of Joakim Noah and Tim Tebow in banana hammocks.
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8-09-2007 @ 10:55AM
Ryan Ferguson said...
Sir, I'm saying this as respectfully as I can: the only one here exuding "dumb vibes" is you.
Bennett is the only go-to guy in the Vandy WR receiver corps, which increases the number of catches he gets. Harvin, despite his singular talent, is one of six. Even in light of this fact, Harvin still had nearly as many TDs in '06, and obviously he was a key contributor on a team that won SEC and national championships.
If you think coaches wouldn't pick Harvin over Bennett you're insane. I guarantee that if you line all the SEC coaches up and allow them to pick the offensive players they wanted, Harvin would be in the top three chosen along with Darren McFadden.
What has been lost in this debate is the fact that Early Bennett is a great wide receiver worthy of All-SEC consideration. First team? No way... and I believe after '07 you'll see why. Bennett is an outstanding player, but he wouldn't crack Florida's Top 3 WR lineup. There's nothing "bad" about Bennett. I like him. He's a good -- very good -- player in the nation's toughest conference.
But he's not the best WR in the league, which is how he's being touted now, and that is why he's 'overrated.' Don't get your panties in a wad over it.
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8-09-2007 @ 10:56AM
Ryan Ferguson said...
One further comment since we're using the Gators as a measuring stick. Chris Leak set records at Florida; he's passed for more yards than any Gators QB in history (and that's saying a lot considering the Spurrier era teams often flung the ball for 400 yards a game) yet he never earned All-SEC honors. Why? He wasn't the best QB in the league. As a Gator, I loved him, but he simply wasn't.
Bennett is probably equal in terms of skill at his position to Leak. Again, I see the 'overrated' label applying perfectly to him, DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE'S A GREAT PLAYER. I beseech thee, sir, THINK THROUGH this before opening your yap.
The banana hammock fantasy comment made me chortle, by the way. That was pretty good!
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8-10-2007 @ 11:10AM
xk3 said...
one last point...
"Bennett is the only go-to guy in the Vandy WR receiver corps, which increases the number of catches he gets."
No, that increases the number of times the ball is thrown at him. His numbers are so high because he can:
• regularly get open regardless of opponet or situation
• make extremely tough catches across the middle
• play in the slot or outside on any given play
• show up every down of every game
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8-10-2007 @ 12:20PM
xk3 said...
"DESPITE THE FACT THAT HE'S A GREAT PLAYER"
You gotta admit that even if in your mind Bennett should be on this list, there's NO way he should at the top of it! Harvin is a guy you'd love to have on your team a few times a year for the big play when he's not getting tackled by his shoestrings, but Bennett is a first down machine who extends drives, taxes secondaries and leads the offense no matter how many All-SEC and NFL caliber corners he faces week-in and week-out.
p.s. - I still disagree strongly, but good point on the Leak analogy; though Teak didn't break those records during the first half of his Junior year...
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8-10-2007 @ 12:41PM
Ryan Ferguson said...
This is not a Top 5 list. They're just listed sequentially. Bennett is not "THE" most overrated player on the list, he's just the first guy on it for no particular reason.
That probably should have been clarified in the article -- thanks for pointing it out.
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