Will Levis, Bucky Irving among Secret Superstars for Week 10

As the NFL season progresses, we'll likely see unknown players rise from humble beginnings and players whose careers have gone sideways somehow find their way back into the spotlight.

We want to celebrate these players every week on “Secret Superstars.” This week we introduce you to a 38-year-old guy who looks half his age, a quarterback who withstood pressure and performed admirably, and both Defensive Players of the Week.

Will Levis, QB, Tennessee Titans

The Titans selected Kentucky product Will Revis in the second round of the 2023 draft in hopes of becoming the team's next true franchise quarterback. Throughout Levi's first 1.5 seasons, it didn't quite work out. Between his required growth as a pitcher and field leader and his penchant for YOLO plays reminiscent of reckless quarterbacks like Brett Favre and Jameis Winston, Levi has yet to reach the heights one would expect. do not have. When Levi injured his shoulder in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts and missed the next three games, that could only further hinder his development, right?

Probably not. When he returned in Week 10, Levi looked like a different person against the Los Angeles Chargers' multifaceted defense. He is less prone to making unnecessary bails, has more authority as a passer to navigate coverage concepts, and is more logical when taking off on planned runs, as opposed to the usual wreck. It was spot on.

Levi couldn't lead his team to a win – the Titans were on the bad side by a score of 27-17 – but he completed 18 of 23 passes for 175 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. , passer rating of 127.4, EPA +2.6. I'm not surprised by this statistic, but if you watch Levi's tape here, he's putting together some things he's never done before.

Levis was sacked seven times in this game and needs to learn more than ever how to avoid danger…but it's also true that Tennessee's offensive line is generally not good for QB health.

Still, this seems like something Levi could develop further.

Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In 2023, only Derrick Henry had more carries than Rashard White's 272 carries in the regular season (280). So when the Buccaneers replaced offensive coordinator Dave Canales with Liam Cohen after Canales took over as head coach of the Carolina Panthers, you could be forgiven for something like this: The thinking was that White would once again carry most of the mail in Tampa Bay's run game.

Not so fast. The Bucs selected Oregon running back Bucky Irving in the fourth round of the 2024 draft, but Irving put White's confidence as Tampa Bay's leading rusher into serious doubt. Irving has 96 carries for 492 yards (5.1 yards per carry) and four touchdowns this season. 363 of his rushing yards came after contact, and he had seven runs of 15 yards or more. White's 80 carries for 306 yards (3.8 YPC), 1 touchdown, 238 yards after contact, and 3 runs of 15+ yards? Well, that's why it's a debate.

Based on his 5'10, 195-pound frame and his penchant for speed outside of tackles, some may peg Irving as a scatback with limited ability in power situations . The tape tells a different story. Irving is a tenacious runner for his size, and his 30 missed forced tackles this season (tied for ninth in the league with Tuba Hubbard, David Montgomery, Jahmil Gibbs and Saquon Barkley) speak for themselves. are.

Cohen and the Bucs don't need Irving to be their main player. The rotation with him, White and Sean Tucker is great. But the best guys end up getting the most work on the smartest teams, and based on Irving's body of work thus far, he's heading in the right direction.

Koby Turner, DI, Los Angeles Rams

I love the tape of Wake Forest defensive tackle Koby Turner when he totaled 11 sacks and 48 total pressures in his rookie season after the Rams took him in the third round of the 2023 draft. , I voted him to win the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Annual award. Will Anderson Jr. of the Houston Texans won, and deservedly so, but Turner's tape was unusually ferocious.

Now, Turner has fully proven that he wasn't just a one-year wonder. He has already recorded five sacks and 34 total pressures on the Rams' defensive line this season, and with the additions of Florida State rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fisk, he's a great addition to opposing quarterbacks and ball carriers. This has become a big problem. As impressive as the first-year players were, Turner had a moment where he stepped up another gear, joining Los Angeles' growing team under defensive coordinator Chris Shula and defensive line coach Giff Smith. Become a force multiplier for your team.

That was the case against the Seattle Seahawks' awful offensive line in Week 9, where Turner had one sack and seven total pressures, but despite the Rams losing 23-15 on Monday night. The same thing happened against the Miami Dolphins. . Turner had one sack (almost three or four), three total pressures, and six stops. Whether tackling the run or the passing game, Turner is a force of destruction and has been that way throughout his short career. Don't expect that to change anytime soon.

Calais Campbell, DL, Miami Dolphins

Calais Campbell was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2008 draft out of Miami and played in his first regular season game on September 7, 2008. Seventeen seasons later, at age 38, Campbell still has it. Campbell, who is currently on a one-year, $2 million contract with the Dolphins, is still playing at a starting level while many (former) players his age have gone on to well-earned careers in broadcasting, analysis and podcasting. are.

In the Dolphins' crucial 23-15 win over the Los Angeles Rams last Monday night, Campbell had one sack, two quarterback touchdowns, two passes at the line of scrimmage, and two stops. Recorded. Basically, he was crushing blockers all along the line, making him Matthew Stafford's worst nightmare.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said after the game about Campbell's effort and cornerback Jalen Ramsey's presence: “Well, having teammates that you can lean on and know what to do and help you out.'' It's a monumental thing for me.” good. “The best leadership that exists is in the locker room. It means the quality of the players, what they have done in their careers and what they will continue to do, forcing their teammates to listen and follow. When you look at the record, you might feel like it doesn't show the quality of the team. If a team feels that way, being able to execute and show it is very important. To get through that, we need veteran players to really coach us, and I think that's the most important thing, and I think that showed for us tonight.”

At 3-6, it may be too late for the Dolphins to make any noise in the postseason, but if not, don't be surprised if Calais Campbell leads the team and leaves behind his impressive career.

Zach Baun, LB, Philadelphia Eagles

Sometimes all you need is one coach who sees you for who you are as a player. If that coach can further enhance your attributes in the right situations, you may indeed become a secret superstar over time. That's what happened to Eagles linebacker Zach Baun. The New Orleans Saints drafted Baun out of Wisconsin in the third round of the 2020 draft, but he played mostly bit parts for four seasons. And the Eagles signed him to a one-year, $3.5 million contract this offseason with a very specific purpose in mind.

It was an objective that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio wanted to expand upon after speaking with Eagles executive vice president and general manager Howie Roseman.

“When I evaluate players, there's no check boxes. I check the things that check off,” Fangio said recently about his evaluation process. “Just watching the tape, watching the movement patterns, watching the players play.

Howie originally offered him to me, but he had a vision for him as an outside linebacker/special teams backup for the Devils. After I saw that, I said, “No, I think he's an inside linebacker.” Luckily, it was a hit. ”

It really was. Baun has played some time on the line and as an outside linebacker, but his playmaking knack was exactly what Fangio envisioned.

It wasn't all Baun's effort needed for the Eagles to beat the Dallas Cowboys 34-6 last Sunday, but Baun looked his usual devilish self with several big tackles and two forced fumbles. I showed you. He became the first NFL player to have eight tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in a game since Week 14 of 2021 (Mike Hughes of the Kansas City Chiefs). Ta. The secret may be out, as Baun was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts.

1 great player + 1 coach's vision = 1 great player. Go figure!

Taron Johnson, CB, Buffalo Bills

Baun isn't the only secret superstar on this list to win the conference's Defensive Player of the Week award. Bills cornerback Taron Johnson did the same in the AFC based on his performance in Buffalo's 30-20 win over the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday.

Johnson recorded a sack and a 23-yard interception return touchdown in Buffalo's 30-20 win over Indianapolis in Week 10, and has two passes defensed, one interception return touchdown, and one interception return touchdown in one game this season. He was the only player to record one sack.

Johnson's pick-six came on Indy's first offensive play of the game, suggesting he was ready to jump into something.

That's exactly what happened.

The play Johnson was referring to may have been Tyreek Hill's 19-yard catch in Week 9 against Johnson and the Bills. Johnson drove down instead of going into intermediate coverage, which allowed Hill to easily catch it without an under defender.

As you can imagine, head coach Sean McDermott was impressed with the turnaround.

“He's one of our leaders,” McDermott said of Johnson after the game. “If you lead by example, everyone makes mistakes, but if you can learn from them, this is honestly a copycat league where people try the same plays week after week. It was one of those plays and he went for it.”

That wasn't all he did, but Johnson did a lot in this game to add to his well-deserved reputation as one of the most dynamic slot defenders in the NFL.