re: Most Underrated FB Players in 2015

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Keanu Neal

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Good answer. I love watching him play.

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Yeah you have. Tim Williams has 11.5 TFLs and 9.5 SKs barely playing at all in the first 3 games. Even now he doesn't play very many snaps on defense but yet wreaks havoc when he does.

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You don't know what I'm talking about. I know what the stats are, but I'm not just talking about stats. Let me explain what I meant when I said, "the way that he does". I chose those words for a specific reason. Sure, I've seen a number of LBs play in a dominant fashion vs. O-linemen, especially as pass rushers. But I've never seen a LB overpower O-linemen like Anderson does. Most LBs that have success vs. O-linemen beat them with speed (and sometimes that converts on a bull rush when big linemen get their momentum going back in their backpedal), moves, technique, etc. In that respect, there are a lot of guys, past and present, better than Anderson. However, RA can also square up and take an O-lineman on and win with power and explosion. He can go right through an O-lineman. I can't think of another LB that had/has as strong of a jolt/knockback on initial contact.

For a few examples of what I'm talking about:

- Anderson's TFL on Kelvin Taylor in the 4th quarter of the SECCG. (First play of Florida's second drive in the 4th quarter.) Look at what he did to Martez Ivey on that play. That's "the way" that I'm talking about.

- 2015 LSU vs Alabama:

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Lsu 1-10 at Ua38 Leonard Fournette rush over left end for loss of 2 yards to the UA40 (D. Tomlinson;Ryan Anderson).

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Anderson beat Jerald Hawkins with ease on this play.

- 2014 LSU vs. Alabama - Ryan Anderson vs. La'el Collins - I've linked the video at the specific play. Anderson is #7 -- he just destroyed Collins (who is an all-time great).


Now, I know what kind of player Tim Williams is. He's a great pass rusher, but he doesn't do this kind of stuff against the run (good individual play vs. the run is often not measured by statistics). That's not a knock against Williams -- he dominates in his own way. I think Williams and Anderson are both underrated. They don't put up huge stats because there is so much depth/rotation along the Alabama front, but it looks ridiculous for people to name Vadal Alexander All-SEC while omitting Anderson and Williams because RA and TW both dominated Alexander.

Fred Ross. Possibly the best receiver in the league in SEC play. Granted, he did make the coaches first team list so maybe he doesn't qualify as under rated anymore.

Marquis Haynes

Haynes is another really good pick. Definitely in the discussion.