Philadelphia Eagles' 5 Most Underrated Players

The Philadelphia Eagles' 2011 roster read like a who's who of heralded NFL talent. Before last summer and the dizzying week-long, post-lockout free-agency period that came with it, few had even dreamed it possible to assemble a depth chart with so many recognizable names outside of Madden NFL's "Franchise Mode."

The list of names on the team that carry weight with even the most casual of NFL fans sounds like a run-on sentence: Michael Vick, Vince Young, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, Jason Peters, Ronnie Brown, Steve Smith, Asante Samuel, Nnamdi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Cullen Jenkins, Jason Babin and Trent Cole... Try reading that list out loud in one breath! For your safety, make sure you are sitting down and accompanied by a spotter.

With so many popular, recognizable personalities dotted throughout the locker room, it is easy to see how a talented, low-key athlete could go largely unnoticed by many despite their on-field performance. In what proved to be one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history, a valuable lesson was readily apparent after some of the Eagles' most valuable on-field performers turned out to be those overlooked by fans and media types alike, lost in the long shadows of some of the league's most recognizable stars. Wins are not earned by the names on a sheet of paper but, instead, they are earned on the field where effort and determination are the key to success.

While several of the big names listed above struggled to even find a way on to the field, let alone live up to the out-sized expectations their collective presence brought, it was the efforts of these unheralded Eagles that helped to keep the team's playoff hopes alive late into the season. With the most pivotal season in recent franchise history fast approaching, it is time the spotlight be shined upon those whose shoulders the 2012 season truly rests—those who earn their paycheck with heart and determination, not a flashy smile or past success.

What follows are the five most underrated players on the Philadelphia Eagles. You may not see or hear these names much throughout the season, but you can rest assured their efforts hold the key to the Eagles' success.

Jason Avant, Wide Receiver

Jason Avant is the steady, consistent force that drives the Eagles' offense. Sure-handed, tough and an excellent route-runner, Avant serves as Michael Vick's safety valve on the field, a target in whom the Eagles' quarterback is confident will be where he is supposed to be on every play, ready and willing to fearlessly sacrifice his body to make the catch.

Avant was picked up by the Birds in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft following a solid career at the University of Michigan. In Ann Arbor, Avant established himself as an extremely hard-worker and an even better locker room presence, quietly leading his teammates by example, earning both All-Conference and All-Academic honors from his sophomore year onward through his senior year. That quiet, exemplary leadership did not escape him once he found himself afforded the riches of NFL life.

Despite being middle-aged by the standards of the Eagles' roster, his teammates, young and old, look to him for advice on everything from finance to religion. Avant no doubt helped to keep a disgruntled DeSean Jackson in check throughout 2011, and was surely a driving force behind the receiver's postseason mea culpa that may ultimately pave the way for Jackson to return in 2012.

On the field, Avant has steadily improved year after year. His receptions and receiving yards have climbed every year, a 14-yard drop in receiving yards from 2009 to 2010 being the only anomaly. In 2011, Avant caught 52 passes for 679 yards—good for fourth on the team behind Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Brent Celek—and one touchdown. Thirty-three of his 52 receptions resulted in first downs and 15 of those 33 first-down receptions came on third down, which tied him for 16th in the league with, among others, Rob Gronkowski and Calvin Johnson.

Avant's contributions don't stop when the Eagles don't have the ball. A ferocious special teams contributor, Avant may be best known by fans across the league for knocking himself unconscious throwing a vicious block during DeSean Jackson's "Miracle at the New Meadowlands" punt return against the New York Giants in 2010.

If Avant's steady rise continues in coming years, he may find himself as being far and away the best No. 3 receiver in the league.

Evan Mathis, Offensive Line

With all the blockbuster free-agent pickups the Eagles made in the mad rush that preceded the 2011 season, it was easy to overlook Evan Mathis, an offensive guard whom the Eagles signed away from the Cincinnati Bengals.

Mathis started all 15 games he played in and brought stability to an offensive line that many expected to be horrific at the start of the season.

Headed into his eighth NFL season out of the University of Alabama, Mathis had previously been with the Miami Dolphins and Carolina Panthers before Cincinnati, only once finding himself as a full-time starter before 2011 (in 2006 with Carolina).

In 2011, Mathis blossomed under Eagles offensive line coach Howard Mudd. Mudd prefers fast, agile, athletic linemen over huge, earth-moving bodies, and Mathis fits that preference to a "T." With his solid play and refreshingly engaging personality, Mathis has quickly become a fan favorite in Philly.

This offseason, the Eagles must work hard to resign Mathis, who came to Philly in 2011 on a one-year, $735,000 deal. Some media outlets are calling Mathis a top 10 free agent this offseason, citing a combination of his experience, the ability he showed last season and his low mileage given that he has only played two full seasons as a starter in the NFL, spending the other six years of his career as a reserve and seeing limited duty.

Given that Mathis' career was revitalized under Mudd and given his fierce defense of Andy Reid on Twitter just days after the conclusion of the Eagles' disappointing 2011 season, look for Mathis to re-sign with the Eagles and remain an important piece of the Eagles' line for years to come. 

Joselio Hanson, Cornerback

With Asante Samuel, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha all patrolling the Eagles' secondary, it is easy to see how a 5'9" career reserve would get lost in the shuffle. 

Joselio Hanson, however, is much more important to the Eagles defense's ability to shut down opposing passing games than most casual fans realize. 

Even after weeks of tinkering, the Eagles found it difficult to mesh Samuel's "off" technique, where he plays off the receiver and looks to jump routes to earn interceptions, with Asomugha's and Rodgers-Cromartie's preference to press-cover opposing receivers. Enter into the conversation Joselio Hanson, who, before the season started, saw himself waived and re-signed by the Eagles within a four-day span for salary cap reasons.

Hanson has carved himself a niche in the NFL as an excellent nickel corner. Entering his eighth season in the NFL out of Texas Tech and seventh with the Birds, Hanson, by the end of the season, often found himself on the field against three- and four-receiver sets while one of the Eagles' "Big Three" were on the bench.

The difference in the Eagles' defensive ability was palpable. After allowing an average of 23.5 points per game over the course of the season's first 12 games, the Eagles allowed an average of just 11.5 points per game over their last four games, a stretch where the Eagles seemingly scrapped their efforts to keep as many of the Big Three on the field as much as possible (granted, an injury to Rodgers-Cromartie helped to force their hand). 

Hanson's nickel coverage ability may act as the catalyst for a trade involving Asante Samuel this offseason and, if the Eagles can get anything of value in return, it would be a far better move than many will give it credit. Hanson is capable enough that the Eagles will still have one of the top defensive backfields in the league, even after losing a perennial Pro Bowler.

Todd Herremans, Offensive Line

Todd Herremans, entering his eighth season in the NFL, all with the Eagles, is underrated personified.

After a successful college career at tiny Saginaw Valley State, Herremans was not invited to the NFL combine, the annual pre-draft workout showcase for college players who project to be drafted, but managed to score private workouts with 24 NFL teams. His hard work earned him a projection as late-round draft pick, but on the second day of the 2005 NFL draft, Andy Reid and the Eagles traded up to select Herremans in the fourth round, a move many considered to be a reach.

Reid's faith in Herremans would pay off early, however, when, in his first NFL training camp, Herremans was thrust into the starting lineup as incumbent starter at left tackle, Tra Thomas, rehabbed from a blood clot in his leg. Herremans acquitted himself well in three preseason starts, but was relegated back to the bench when Thomas returned.

His next opportunity to shine came late in his rookie season, when Thomas went down again, this time with a back injury. Herremans again played well in Thomas' absence, but his season was cut short due to an ankle fracture.

The following year, Reid allowed his starting left guard, Artis Hicks, to walk in free agency, and handed the job to Herremans, who has held a starting spot in the Eagles' lineup ever since. 

In the years that have followed, Herremans proved himself to be a versatile, athletic, powerful offensive lineman, moving from spot to spot as duty called. In 2011, Herremans became the starting right tackle after incumbent starter Winston Justice went down with injury and played so well that, once Justice was healthy, Herremans retained the job. 

Headed into 2012, along with Evan Mathis and Jason Peters, Herremans is part of the foundation of what should be a vastly improved offensive line. Despite his years of success and proven versatility, and the fact that he has started 88 of his 91 career games, Herremans is rarely mentioned in any conversation about the best players on the Eagles. His steady performance has no doubt helped to contribute to the Eagles' steady success over the years, and that will only continue in 2012.

Alex Henery, Placekicker

Given David Akers' stellar season in San Francisco, many fans and pundits took the opportunity to question the Eagles' decision to allow their veteran kicker to walk before the 2011 season in favor of a rookie out of Nebraska, but those critics conveniently ignore the fact that Alex Henery had an excellent season himself, except for one game, ironically against Akers' new team, the San Francisco 49ers.

Henery connected on 24 of his 27 field goal attempts in 2011, with two of those misses coming in a one-point, Week 4 loss to the 49ers. The only other missed attempt in Henery's season came in Week 2 against Atlanta on an attempt from beyond 50 yards. His 88.9 field goal percentage was good for fifth in the league, coincidentally well ahead of Akers' 84.6 percent.

While Akers had become a fan favorite in Philadelphia, Henery has a chance to become just as popular, if not more so.

He was the NCAA's all-time most accurate kicker in his career at Nebraska, converting a ridiculous 89.5 percent of his attempts. He also holds the Nebraska record for the longest field goal in school history at 57 yards, proving he possesses a rare blend of power and accuracy.

In 2011, his longest converted attempt came from 51 yards, and he was a perfect four out of four on attempts from between 40 and 49 yards out. He also booted 32 of his 85 kickoffs into the end zone, a number that will no doubt increase as he gets stronger.

Eagles fans may have lamented the departure of Akers but, in due time, Henery will win them over with success.