CFN: Most Overrated SEC Player

[Tiger Wench]

Don't think this has been posted...

Who is the most overrated player in the SEC?

Billy: Well, when you can be an all-conference receiver without being in the top ten in any receiving category, can there be any doubt it’s Julio Jones? Compared to proven producers like Greg Childs and Darvin Adams, is he getting these accolades on participation points? Sure, Jones has amazing potential, but at some point what happens on the field has to matter. And that just wasn’t there in 2009. I’ve heard all the excuses. He plays in a run-first offense -- Alabama actually threw the ball more in 2009 than they did in Jones’ very productive freshman year. He was double-covered all the time -- doesn’t hold up to film study, and besides, those double teams didn’t seem to bother him in 2008. He’s the best blocking receiver in the league -- so lobby the league office to give him the Jacobs Trophy.

The bottom line is Jones struggled to get open consistently and catch the ball during 2009. He had a bad season. It doesn’t make him a bad player (and I have no doubt he’ll be a high draft pick in April of 2011), but it doesn’t make him all-conference. Those honors should award production, not potential.

Brian: John Brantley has an immense amount of talent. He plays in one of the smartest offensive systems in the country with one of college football's smartest offensive minds as his head coach. But he is still the most overrated player in the SEC. Some preseason magazines have gone as far as having him as a second team All-SEC player…how is that even possible? Brantley is a great talent, but has he ever won a big game, made a crucial third down conversion or a game winning drive? Potential is fine when it comes to recruiting and the NFL draft, but not when we are talking about All SEC players. Until he proves he is one of the best in the SEC against SEC opponents over the course of a season, he is not first, second or third team anything. He should have a good year given all the talent around him, but to hold him up as an elite SEC QB right now is just silly.

Barrett: Without a doubt it's Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones. He's had some moments, including his performances in wins over LSU and Auburn in 2009. But 596 yards and four touchdowns in 2009 shouldn't earn him preseason first-team All-SEC accolades over Arkansas' Greg Childs or Auburn's Darvin Adams in 2010. Does Jones have the physical ability of an NFL wide receiver? Absolutely. But players with lesser physical abilities have performed better in the SEC than he has. The run-first, smash-mouth style of Alabama's offense does contribute to his lack of production to a certain extent. But with all the hype he generates, you'd think that he's put up 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons.

Russ: Alabama’s wide receiver Julio Jones. After a sweet debutante ball his freshman season, he absolutely vanished last year. In a season where he had a Heisman back grabbing every defenses’ collective eyeballs, he simply disappeared in some games. And against talented DBs, he was occasionally even made to look silly. 2009 was enough of a Copperfield performance to question the young man’s heart. What’s it going to be, Julio? One thing’s absolutely for certain – all eyes are going to be on you this year, kid.

[Snaggletiger]

Saw a stat last week that boggled my feeble mind.  Bama threw more times last year than AU.  You would think Julio would get his share.

[RWS]

Saw a stat last week that boggled my feeble mind.  Bama threw more times last year than AU.  You would think Julio would get his share.

He led the offense in receptions and yardage. Here is a breakdown:

Julio:      43 catches, 596 yards, 4 TD
Ingram:  32 catches, 334 yards, 3 TD
Maze:     31 catches, 523 yards, 2 TD
Peek:     26 catches, 313 yards, 3 TD 
Hanks:   17 catches, 272 yards, 3 TD
McCoy:   10 catches, 149 yards, 1 TD
Richardson:      16 catches, 126 yards, 0 TD 
Upchurch:      12 catches, 72 yards, 1 TD 

Then there are 9 other guys with 10 or less receptions that I'm not going to list. While Julio hasn't shown that "WOW" factor everybody was looking for, I think relative to what he is asked to do in Alabama's offense, he does a great job. Great run blocking skills, can make clutch catches, but God help him if he has to make a routine easy grab over the middle. Not sure what's up with that.

[War Eagle!!!]

He led the offense in receptions and yardage. Here is a breakdown:

Julio:      43 catches, 596 yards, 4 TD
Ingram:  32 catches, 334 yards, 3 TD
Maze:     31 catches, 523 yards, 2 TD
Peek:     26 catches, 313 yards, 3 TD 
Hanks:   17 catches, 272 yards, 3 TD
McCoy:   10 catches, 149 yards, 1 TD
Richardson:      16 catches, 126 yards, 0 TD 
Upchurch:      12 catches, 72 yards, 1 TD 

Then there are 9 other guys with 10 or less receptions that I'm not going to list. While Julio hasn't shown that "WOW" factor everybody was looking for, I think relative to what he is asked to do in Alabama's offense, he does a great job. Great run blocking skills, can make clutch catches, but God help him if he has to make a routine easy grab over the middle. Not sure what's up with that.

I dropped 2 passes in games through out my career. Both were over the middle with no one around me for 15 yards...

[AWK]

I dropped 2 passes in games through out my career. Both were over the middle with no one around me for 15 yards...

For realz?

[djsimp]

Two other overrated SEC players; Lswho QB Jefferson and USCe QB Garcia.

[No Huddle]

Don't think this has been posted...

But he made the catches when it matter (IB 3rd downs).

[djsimp]

But he made the catches when it matter (IB 3rd downs).

Thanks for the salt.

[Snaggletiger]

But he made the catches when it matter (IB 3rd downs).

Yeah, if I could just get a little help pulling this knife out of my back.  Having trouble reaching it.  Mmkthx

[GH2001]

In his defense, Julio has battled some injuries since his Freshman year. He showed up in the IB, no doubt.

I would say Brantley and Garcia are more overrated than Jones, both unproven thus far. We KNOW Jones can play, he just didn't most of last year.

[War Eagle!!!]

For realz?

No shit. Only 2 I ever dropped. I made all kind of acrobatic catches but these 2 hit me right in the hands with no one around. I still remember both like it was yesterday...

[CCTAU]

No shit. Only 2 I ever dropped. I made all kind of acrobatic catches but these 2 hit me right in the hands with no one around. I still remember both like it was yesterday...

<in a whisper> Safety's coming.....Safety's coming.....Safety's coming.....Safety's coming.....Safety's coming.....Safety's coming.....Safety's coming.....


If you've ever gone across the middle, it's in the back of your mind.

[War Eagle!!!]

<in a whisper> Safety's coming.....Safety's coming.....Safety's coming.....Safety's coming.....Safety's coming.....Safety's coming.....Safety's coming.....


If you've ever gone across the middle, it's in the back of your mind.

I really just think I just tried to run before I caught the ball on both. I didn't have a problem going across the middle and getting hit.

[Godfather]

I really just think I just tried to run before I caught the ball on both. I didn't have a problem going across the middle and getting hit.

Thats not what I heard

[War Eagle!!!]

Thats not what I heard

Your mama

[AUTiger1]

Your mama

Oh snap!

[No Huddle]

Truthfully most Alabama fans will say he drops too many balls. Some are swimming in the Kool-Aid and will not admit it but he has the drops from time to time. Just sayin'

[No Huddle]

Thanks for the salt.

Sorry I will shut my hairy pie hole. 

[Snaggletiger]

Truthfully most Alabama fans will say he drops too many balls. Some are swimming in the Kool-Aid and will not admit it but he has the drops from time to time. Just sayin'

Looking at those stats and then how Bama spread the wealth in the passing game, I wouldn't categorize him as underrated.  Hell, how many times do we hear that a player is great or not able to live up to potential because of the system they play in.  You can't argue with a system that despite being a run first, play action offense, still throws that much and spreads it around to that many pass catchers.  As far as the drops go, he's probably stereotyped much the same as Ziemba is for his false starts. 

My vote for most overrated, like someone said before, goes to Garcia.  Now, he may light it up this year...hope not....but this kid has had all the hype coming out of high school right up until now, and he's done squat...even with a supposed QB guru like Corch Superior

[DnATL]

Your mama

prefers to go deep?