Tag: secret superstar

Alontae Taylor named a ‘Secret Superstar’ for the Saints in 2023

Alontae Taylor was named a ‘Secret Superstar’ for the New Orleans Saints in 2023. He’s built a lot of momentum, but first he needs to win a starting job:

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There doesn’t seem to be any stopping the momentum propelling Alontae Taylor. The second-year New Orleans Saints cornerback is carrying lofty expectations into 2023 (not slowed by his new jersey number), with Doug Farrar over at Touchdown Wire being the latest NFL analyst to bring up Taylor as an underrated talent around the league.

Here’s what Farrar had to say of Taylor’s prospects while highlighting a pass breakup against Los Angeles Rams receiver Van Jefferson last season:

The Saints got Taylor in the second round of the 2022 draft out of Tennessee, and the rookie proved to be a natural in Dennis Allen’s aggressive, man-heavy coverages. Last season, Taylor allowed just 29 catches on 64 targets for 283 yards, 87 yards after the catch, no touchdowns, no interceptions, 10 pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 58.3. Among rookie cornerbacks who played at least 20% of their teams’ snaps, only Sauce Gardner allowed a lower passer rating at 53.9, and Taylor’s was the fifth-lowest in the league, regardless of tenure.

Whether in the slot, or playing overhang roles, Taylor is aggressive when he needs to be, and he can also hang back and wait for things to develop. It’s not easy playing press in the slot no matter how experienced you are; you’re vulnerable to receivers who can move to both sides, and the boundary is no longer your friend.

Taylor is going to be competing with Paulson Adebo in training camp for the opportunity to start across from Marshon Lattimore, but reports out of voluntary workouts this spring say the Saints have been training him in covering the slot.

That’s not something Taylor did often in college at Tennessee (only 44 snaps from 2018 to 2021) or in his rookie year with New Orleans (just 22 snaps in 2022), but if he can comfortably handle coverage assignments out wide and in the slot it will help him get on the field early and often regardless of how that battle with Adebo unfolds.

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Chiefs RG Trey Smith named secret superstar of NFL Week 4

Our friends at @TheNFLWire were big fans of #Chiefs RG Trey Smith’s performance in Week 4.

After an exciting win in Week 4 over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, one member of the Kansas City Chiefs earned recognition on Touchdown Wire’s weekly Secret Superstar list.

In Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts, the offensive line didn’t play well for Kansas City. They struggled to open up holes in the running game and they allowed pressure at key moments of the game. It made life difficult for Patrick Mahomes and the rest of the offense. Andy Reid challenged the offensive line to perform better prior to the tilt with the Buccaneers on “Sunday Night Football.” They accepted that challenge and passed with flying colors.

According to Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar, Trey Smith was instrumental in that performance.

“One of the oddest mysteries of the 2021 season was how the Chiefs completely blew up their offensive line, putting five new starters in there who were all better at gap than zone blocking. And then, they ran far more zone than gap, when they were better (go figure) in gap concepts. This season, Kansas City is incorporating more ass-whomping ideas up front, and Trey Smith, selected in the sixth round of the 2021 draft out of Tennessee, is benefiting as much as anybody.

In 2022, Smith has allowed no sacks, no quarterback hits, and just seven quarterback hurries in a passing game that obviously relies on quarterback improvisation and play extension. And while Smith is an excellent mauler in the run game, check out this ‘let the bodies hit the floor’ rep against Buccaneers defensive tackle Rakeem Nunez-Roches on a Patrick Mahomes deep pass.”

You can go watch that repetition over at Touchdown Wire. It’s as good as advertised and comes against a former Chief in Nunez-Roches. Sunday night marked Smith’s best day in pass protection all season long. His run blocking, specifically in the gap scheme calls in Week 4, was also superb.

Smith has been wildly consistent all season, which is crazy to think about when you consider that he suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 that had him questionable on the injury report for Week 2. He also battled through a pectoral injury during the game against the Buccaneers. He’s been this good in Year 2 and he’s only been fully healthy for a few quarters of football. Just imagine what his performance will be like once he gets off the injury report.

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Chiefs TE Matt Bushman named secret superstar of preseason Week 3

#Chiefs TE Matt Bushman was named one of the Secret Superstars of preseason Week 3 by our friends at @TheNFLWire.

No player for the Kansas City Chiefs was more of a standout in preseason Week 3 than TE Matt Bushman.

After not playing in preseason Week 2 due to what Andy Reid said was a knee issue, Bushman burst onto the scene in Week 3 with a monster performance. He led the team in yards (73) and touchdowns (2), kicking off his big day with a 56-yard touchdown reception in what appeared to be a coverage bust by the Green Bay Packers.

“Bushman’s got phenomenal hands and he’s shown that all through (training) camp,” Chiefs HC Andy Reid said after his performance.

Our friend Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire named Bushman one of the NFL’s Secret Superstars of preseason Week 3. He had this to say about the performance:

“An undrafted free agent out of BYU who signed with the Raiders in 2021 and had no targets in two games, Bushman signed with the Chiefs and helped his new team against the Packers with two touchdown catches, and three receptions overall for 73 yards. He kinda looked like a nice reinforcement for when the Chiefs want to throw some two-tight end packages together with Travis Kelce and whoever’s around.”

Unfortunately, Bushman suffered a fractured clavicle on his final catch of the night. That puts his chances of making the 53-man roster in doubt. Those chances were already slim with Jody Fortson and Noah Gray also looking like locks to make the team, but the injury to Blake Bell offered some hope. It’s possible that Bushman heads to injured reserve during 53-man roster cuts and is later released with an injury settlement before rejoining the team on the practice squad.

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Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed named Secret Superstar of Week 15

Sneed put on a show against the New Orleans Saints.

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After an exciting win in Week 15 over the New Orleans Saints, one member of the Kansas City Chiefs earned recognition on Touchdown Wire’s weekly Secret Superstar list.

Chiefs rookie CB L’Jarius Sneed started the season filling in for suspended CB Bashaud Breeland. He burst onto the scene, leading the NFL in interceptions by Week 2. Unfortunately, he suffered a fractured clavicle in Week 3 against the Baltimore Ravens, ending his big for Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Thankfully, the injury didn’t end his season. Now that he’s back, he’s playing a different position and thriving once again.

Sneed coming off a game where he had two standout plays, including an early interception and a sack of Saints QB Drew Brees. He did surrender his first and only touchdown of the season in coverage on Sunday, but other than that he played a dominant game.

Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar has noticed that it isn’t just the splash plays that show up on the stat sheet with Sneed. It’s about the ones where you don’t hear his name called. Check out his coverage stats on the season:

“On the season, Sneed has allowed 21 receptions on 38 targets for 180 yards, 96 yards after the catch, one touchdown, three interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 43.8 — the NFL’s lowest among cornerbacks with at least 200 coverage snaps.”

When you consider that he’s done all of this as a rookie, playing both outside corner and nickel corner, it just makes you excited about the things to come in the future.

It appears that the Chiefs managed to snag one of the most dominant defensive backs in the NFL this season in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft. That’ll pay dividends the remainder of the year and during the next three seasons. Kansas City will need all the young and cheap talent that they can get their hands on to supplement a roster that carries the richest contract in the history of all sports.

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Wyatt Teller, Terrance Mitchell tabbed as ‘secret superstars’ from Week 2

Teller and Mitchell got recognized for being great while under the radar in Week 2

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Everyone knows about the stars studding the Cleveland Browns roster. And while Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, Nick Chubb and Odell Beckham Jr. all had strong performances in Cleveland’s Week 2 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, two unheralded Browns also stood out enough to earn spots on the Week 2 “secret superstars” list from Touchdown Wire.

Right guard Wyatt Teller and cornerback Terrance Mitchell both made the list, which honors the under-the-radar performers who played above their pay and recognition scale.

Teller was an easy choice. He dominated Cincinnati, helping pave the way for big nights from Chubb and Kareem Hunt.

Playing right guard, Teller has allowed no sacks, no quarterback hits, and just one quarterback hurry in 72 pass-blocking snaps this season, and he’s a big reason the Browns were able to run all over the Bengals with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt last Thursday night.

The NFL’s Secret Superstars of Week 2

As for Mitchell, he was money in the bank in coverage despite the Bengals throwing the ball an incredible 61 times.

One of the reasons Burrow was unsuccessful on all but one of his seven deep passes against the Browns last Thursday night was the efforts of cornerback Terrance Mitchell. Burrow targeted Mitchell 10 times, and Mitchell allowed just two catches for 19 yards and an opponent passer rating of 39.6. Mitchell, who has played for four different teams and is in the last year of a three-year, $12 million contract, busted up deep attempts to both John Ross and A.J. Green. It was as good a performance from a boundary cornerback as you’ll see from Week 2.

Getting these unheralded performances from the role players like Teller and Mitchell is a great way to bolster the big-name players on the Browns. When Cleveland gets performances like that from their non-marquee players, they’re tough to beat. Week 2 proved that.

Lions secret superstar for Week 2 against the Packers

Examining the Detroit Lions Week 2 opponent, the Green Bay Packers, to determine which Lions’player could be this week’s secret superstar.

The Detroit Lions are currently preparing for a Week 2 game with the Green Bay Packers, and while there are obvious matchups that favor one team over the other, there is one Lions player who’s talent will set them up for success.

Let’s take a closer look at this week’s potential secret superstar.

The Packers and Aaron Rodgers had a field day against the Vikings in Week 1 — 32 completions for 364 passing yards, four touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a QB rating of 127.5 — and this game could turn into a shootout quickly.

Although, as Jeff Risdon pointed out, the Lions do enter this matchup with some statistical advantages. If it’s a shootout, then it’s important to take note of the Packers yards per play allowed — a league-worst 7.8 yards allowed, with an asterisk for Vikings’ stat-padding in the fourth quarter — and completion percentage allowed. “Green Bay let Kirk Cousins go crazy,” Risdon said. “He completed 76 percent of his 25 pass attempts. The Packers defense got its hands on just one throw.”

If Rodgers stays true to form, and the Packers pass defense continues to struggle, the Lions will need to be prepared to counter with their own aggressive punch on offense and that means letting Matthew Stafford cut it loose.

If Kenny Golladay is unable to play — it looks like he won’t, based on practice reports — that would likely put Packers Jaire Alexander on Marvin Jones and Kevin King on Quintez Cephus, both potentially close battles. In the slot, the Lions should have a significant advantage with both Danny Amendola and T.J. Hockenson.

But if the Lions are going to have time to throw to their receivers, Stafford is going to need time in the pocket. Last week the Lions offensive line allowed 14 pressures, while the Packers created 11. If the Lions want those numbers to shift in their favor, it would be in their best interest to scheme ways of keeping the Packers pass rushers honest.

Enter D’Andre Swift.

Swift was on the field for 44-percent of the Lions snaps in Week 1, the most of any Lions running back. He showed he is an NFL ready pass protector — earning an 80.4 pass protection grade from PFF in Week 1 — and is capable of contributing on draws and screen plays, both of which can carve up aggressive defenses for big gains.

Despite the heartbreaking drop in the endzone to end the game, the Lions, and specifically Stafford still trust him to produce in similar situations moving forward.

“I’m throwing it to him a hundred times out of a hundred,” Stafford said of Swift. “Trust that kid. He’ll make a play.”

You want a redemption story, well here’s Swift’s chance.

Swift has the skill set to be a real problem for Green Bay and the Lions will need him to produce if they are going to maximize their offense. If he is the catalyst in an underdog victory for the Lions over the Packers, it would quickly wash away all the bad feelings from Week 1.

Safety Quandre Diggs is Seahawks’ secret superstar of wild-card round

The Seattle Seahawks have a secret superstar in the wild-card round, as safety Quandre Diggs will be returning from his high-ankle sprain.

Going into the 2019 season, the Seahawks thought they could replace future Hall of Fame safety Earl Thomas with an aggregate of young players who had not yet aligned their athleticism to their field awareness. They were wrong. To their credit, head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider went about correcting the problem by fleecing the Lions out of safety Quandre Diggs on Oct. 22. All they had to give up to get Diggs was a 2020 fifth-round pick, and Detroit even threw in a 2021 seventh-rounder.

The difference in Seattle’s secondary was immediate. From weeks 1-9, on posts, deep crossers, go routes, hitch-and-go routes, out-and-up routes — anything that would test a secondary deep — the Seahawks allowed five catches on six catchable targets for 144 yards, one touchdown, and one interception to the middle, right middle, and left middle of the field. But from weeks 10-13, Seattle didn’t allow a single reception under those conditions. Neither Diggs nor safety-mate Bradley McDougald was targeted at all on such routes. In Week 14, Diggs was one of the few bright spots in a 28-12 Week 14 loss to the Rams, picking off two Jared Goff passes and returning one for a touchdown.

Having a safety who knows what’s going on is kind of important, as Diggs showed in his pick-six. Goff tries to hit Robert Woods on a crossing route from left to right, but Diggs has it read all the way, and screams down from the deep third to take the ball away for a 55-yard score.

But Diggs suffered a sprained ankle in Week 16 against the Panthers, and it didn’t take long for Seattle’s pass defense to fall apart again. Jimmy Garoppolo took advantage in a Week 17 loss to the 49ers that cost Seattle the division title. Diggs is on pace to return to the field on Sunday against the Eagles, which is very good news for a defense desperately in need of smart safety coverage.

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