Tim Graham's AFC East Overachievers

[Gugny]

I know there are those who don't like Graham, but I think he's great. Pretty cool piece on underdogs/overachievers in our division ...

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/22925/overachievers-prevailing-in-afc-east

 

 

AFC East All-Overachiever Team

 

OFFENSE

QB Tom Brady, Patriots

Note: Sixth-round compensatory draft pick in 2000.

 

RB Fred Jackson, Bills Note: Didn't start for his prep team; undrafted from Division III Coe College in 2003.

 

RB Danny Woodhead, Patriots

Note: Undrafted from Division II Chadron State in 2008; released by Jets in September.

 

WR Wes Welker, Patriots

Note: Undrafted from Texas Tech in 2004; waived by Chargers as a rookie.

 

WR Davone Bess, Dolphins

Note: Undrafted out of Hawaii in 2008.

 

TE Jonathan Stupar, Bills Note: Limited options here, but undrafted from Virginia in '08 and leads Bills TEs in receptions.

 

T Demetrius Bell, Bills Note: Didn't play football until '05. Seventh-round draft pick in '08 from Northwestern State.

 

T Cordaro Howard, Bills Note: Premium position loaded with high picks, but undrafted rookie has started three games.

 

G Brandon Moore, Jets

Note: Undrafted out of Illinois in 2002; has started 107 straight games.

 

G Stephen Neal, Patriots

Note: Didn't play college football; undrafted wrestler from Cal State Bakersfield.

 

C Dan Koppen, Patriots

Note: Fifth-round draft choice in 2003 has started all but one game when healthy since rookie year.

 

 

DEFENSE

NT Kyle Williams, Bills Note: Fifth-round draft choice from LSU in 2006.

 

DE Mike Wright, Patriots

Note: Undrafted free agent from Cincinnati in 2005.

 

DE Mike Devito, Jets

Note: Undrafted from Division I-AA Maine in 2007.

 

OLB Cameron Wake, Dolphins

Note: Undrafted out of Penn State in 2005; didn't play in NFL until 2009.

 

OLB Tully Banta-Cain, Patriots

Note: Seventh-round draft choice from Cal in 2003; released by 49ers in 2009.

 

ILB Bart Scott, Jets

Note: Undrafted out of Southern Illinois in 2002.

 

ILB Gary Guyton, Patriots

Note: Undrafted from Georgia Tech in 2008.

 

CB Kyle Arrington, Patriots

Note: Undrafted from Hofstra in 2008; signed from Eagles' practice squad.

 

CB Drew Coleman, Jets

Note: Sixth-round pick from Texas Christian.

 

S Jim Leonhard, Jets

Note: Undrafted out of Wisconsin in 2005; waived by Bills in 2006.

 

S Yeremiah Bell, Dolphins

Note: Sixth-round pick from Eastern Kentucky in 2003; waived and re-signed to practice squad.

Edited December 10, 2010 by gugny

[Buftex]

[shrader]

I wish he hadn't tried to make a full team out of it. Seeing guys like Howard and Stupar on there really don't fit in with the whole story.

[8-8 Forever?]

I wish he hadn't tried to make a full team out of it. Seeing guys like Howard and Stupar on there really don't fit in with the whole story.

Howard is very likely your RT next year. There is no one else. Wang is a Guard. Wrotto is not a starter. Howard played well b4 being hurt. Stupar is another matter. Bills TE situation still a disaster. Shawn Nelson = James Hardy (looks pretty, but can't play). Stupar = Kelsay (great locker room guy, but who cares)

[1B4IDie]

Howard is very likely your RT next year. There is no one else. Wang is a Guard. Wrotto is not a starter. Howard played well b4 being hurt. Stupar is another matter. Bills TE situation still a disaster. Shawn Nelson = James Hardy (looks pretty, but can't play). Stupar = Kelsay (great locker room guy, but who cares)

You know in the offseason they sign and draft players, right?

If there is any position on the 2011 Oline that will change it will be RT

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

This sort of proves or at least supports a point I've made before. You can get great 3-4 LB's later in the draft or even undrafted. From the AFC East alone, great 3-4 LB's include Wake, Scott, Tully-Cain, and Guyton. Then consider other low or undrafted guys like James Harrison (undrafted).

 

No doubt that there are excellent LB's who were top picks, but makes you hope that guys like Coleman and Moats work out for us.

[Bob in STL]

Howard is very likely your RT next year. There is no one else. Wang is a Guard. Wrotto is not a starter. Howard played well b4 being hurt. Stupar is another matter. Bills TE situation still a disaster. Shawn Nelson = James Hardy (looks pretty, but can't play). Stupar = Kelsay (great locker room guy, but who cares)

 

 

It should not be very hard to draft a better OT than Howard.

[vincec]

Howard is very likely your RT next year. There is no one else. Wang is a Guard. Wrotto is not a starter. Howard played well b4 being hurt. Stupar is another matter. Bills TE situation still a disaster. Shawn Nelson = James Hardy (looks pretty, but can't play). Stupar = Kelsay (great locker room guy, but who cares)

He sure didn't look too good at RT when he was playing it. I think Wrotto was brought in b/c Howard was terrible out there.

[Buffalonian-at-Heart]

I don't care for Tim Graham but I'm not one of those that hate him. But this is another on a long list of meaningless articles he's written.

[NoSaint]

I don't care for Tim Graham but I'm not one of those that hate him. But this is another on a long list of meaningless articles he's written.

 

Normally like tim but this article would barely qualify as a good message board post.... Literally just held up 4 rosters and picked out the low pick starters and offered no insight. Yea underdogs are fan favorites, hardworkers, and cheap.... How does it compare around the league? How do these teams find diamonds in the rough? Is it coaching or scouting that gave so much success finding these players? Maybe a hypothetical gameday matchup with strength weakness and strategy.... I know not every article is a keeper but tim is better then this.

Edited December 12, 2010 by NoSaint