We've reached the Final Four in the countdown, with many of you how I could put this many people higher than quarterback Cam Newton on the list. Well, I did, for reasons stated in the comments section of the Newton post.Now let's get to our No. 4 player on the list: outside linebacker Craig Stevens.
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- Skill level: 4. There was an interesting point shortly after Gene Chizik assembled his entire staff that defensive coordinator Ted Roof was repeatedly pressed to name some players who had stood out to him early in evaluations. Without fail, Stevens' name came up every time. "Funny how that keeps happening, huh?" Roof said. The comment seemed odd. Stevens hadn't ever stood out in anybody's mind, nor done anything spectacular on the field. But Roof obviously knew what he was talking about. Stevens turned out to be one of Auburn's most-talented players last year, a mixture of speed and power with a nose for the ball and a knack for making plays. He was consistently good throughout the year and made big plays in big moments. He's exactly what you're looking for in an outside linebacker.
- Production history: 5. Stevens' tackle total has gone up every year he's been at Auburn, from 35 to 54 to 95 last year, second-most on the team to fellow linebacker Josh Bynes. Stevens made eight tackles for a loss last year, getting in on 2.5 sacks, so he can be a disruptor. He also had a memorable interception return for a touchdown (pictured above) that clinched the win against West Virginia. But the thing that stood out most about Stevens, and Bynes, was their indefatigable nature. Stevens didn't come off the field because ... well, there was nobody to replace him. He and Bynes played all 115 snaps of Auburn's overtime win against Northwestern in the Outback Bowl. There's definitely a value in not only having someone a player of this caliber and production, but also of this stamina.
- Position importance: 3. If you're ranking the linebacker positions for their importance, the middle spot is much higher on the list. Yes, you need someone on the outside athletic enough to get in the open field and cover a receiver and powerful enough to stop the run, not an easy pairing to find, but the flaw of the outside position is how easily an opponent can contain a standout player simply by running to the other side. Stevens is a good player, for sure, but there's not much he can do when teams run a sweep to the opposite side of the formation, other than trail the play and hope to catch somebody cutting back. It's the nature of the position that makes this ranking lower.
- Backup competence: 5. Can you rank the backups if you don't have any? OK, that's no longer true this year, with Auburn adding a few more bodies to its linebacking corps. Stevens has worked at both outside linebacker positions (weak-side and strong-side), so any other outside linebacker on the roster can really be considered his backup. It's not a strong group. Eltoro Freeman's erratic play and frequent injuries make you wonder if he'll ever be a consistent factor. Jonathan Evans held his own when thrust into action last year but wasn't spectacular. Who knows what the team will get out of Harris Gaston, who was injured last year. And while the freshman class of linebackers — Jessel Curry, Jake Holland, LaDarius Owens and Jawara White — has some talent, it's going to take them a while to adjust to a more complicated defensive system and the speed and physicality of the college game. In short: Auburn better hope Stevens stays healthy.
- Leadership: 4. Stevens is certainly one of the team leaders on the defense, up there with Bynes and Zac Etheridge. I ranked him a bit lower than those two, just because I think there are fewer play-calling duties for the outside linebacker in terms of recognizing defenses and calling out audibles compared to a middle linebacker or safety. But when it comes to being one of the players the team rallies around, Stevens is near the top.
- Total: 21. The first score of over 20 on the list, Stevens is certainly worthy of it. He's a good combination of a player who has a high skill level, produces and leads. That's going to get you a high score on this list. If the Tigers hope to have a defensive resurgence, it starts with players like Stevens and Bynes, smart, athletic tacklers who set the tone for the entire group. Stevens' position on the outside lowers his overall rank a little bit, but it's not enough to knock him out of the small group of players atop the list, ones that Auburn will need big seasons out of if it hopes to improve on last year's 8-5 record.
3 comments:
I'm so grateful to Stevens and Bynes for all they do for Auburn--the work, the pain, the exhaustion. I hope they're rewarded well on the next level. And if Bynes and Etheridge are two of the top three, then the other must be...?
What's up Andy, I haven't posted in a while. I have been following though. I have no problem with Newton being number five, as long as the player I have in mind is in this top 4. I definitely know Bynes and maybe Ziemba should be included. But my mind tells me that there is no way Eric Smith isn't crucial this year. He essentially has no experienced backup and will be asked to block in the run game, passing game, and catch balls out of the backfield. His knowledge of the offense and leadership skills this season will be huge. No matter which back has a big year, it will depend on the blocking of Eric Smith. WDE
let me guess.. you were on the debate team in high school?
No way I would have placed Stevens this high, but you've convinced me.
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