Top Transitional Technicians

Lorenzo Alexander is one of my favorite former Cal players. He was a versatile defensive lineman in college. He used his versatility to craft a successful 12-year NFL career. He's played linebacker, defensive line, and even a little offense for the Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals, and Oakland Raiders, and now the Buffalo Bills. He's been a nice role player for each of those teams. He's been a terrific special teams player. One of the best. As one of the best special teams players of the past decade he can recognize similar greatness in others. In his blog Lorenzo's Locker, Alexander picked ten of the top special teams players currently in the league. He calls them "transitional technicians." A term that he picked up from former Cardinals and Browns special teams ace Ron Wolfley. Transitional technician sounds even more special than special teams player. Here are Lorenzo Alexander's favorite "transitional technicians."

10. Roosevelt Nix - A rookie fullback who made his presence felt with his physical play on kickoff and punt coverage units. Reminds me of former Washington Redskin Mike Sellers. One of the few guys during my career who has dropped the boom on me.

9. D.J. Alexander - A young athletic and physical Linebacker, which makes him a difficult matchup for most teams in the NFL. Played with his hair on fire destroying everything in his way en route to the ball. Did a great job blocking in the return game as well.

8. Eric Weems - One of the best perimeter players since entering the NFL, and until Atlanta signed Devin Hester, was a strong and effective Kickoff returner. As a guy who played in the wedge, I always had to keep an eye out for Weems because he was going to be rolling off the backside.

7. Dwayne Harris - A good returner and coverage player who is aggressive and physical. Always looked forward to Dallas week mainly because I knew he was going to try and do damage.

6. Colt Anderson - Mr. Dependable! Always around the ball and does a good job in the return game as blocker. The type of guy that you don’t appreciate until he’s gone. We had some great battles back in our NFC East days. Excited about playing together.

5. Cedric Peerman - I’ve always respected Cedric as a transitional technician, but being in the AFC last year and watching more film of him, I got a real understanding of what he brings to the table on a weekly basis.  He’s built low to the ground, strong and fast, making him a matchup nightmare.

4. Johnson Bademosi - Took his game to another level this year by making what seemed like every play on kickoff and punt coverage. Even though he is a Stanford guy, I have a lot of respect for his game.

3. Darrell Stuckey - One of the toughest players to block in the NFL because of his great pad level and balance.  Even when you think you have him blocked, he finds a way to escape and make the tackle.

2. Justin Bethel - Even with an increased role on defense, he was still dominant on special teams. Utilizing his speed and cat-like quickness, he is still arguably the best coverage player in the NFL.

1. Matthew Slater - The best gunner in the NFL and perennial Pro Bowler. Commands double and triple teams and still finds ways to make plays on punt and kickoff coverage.

Alexander's Stanford jab while praising Johnson Bademosi is awesome. Go Bears!

One player that I want to highlight is Justin Bethel. In 2011 he led his itty-bitty Presbyterian Blue Hose football team into AT&T Park in San Francisco to play the California Golden Bears. Bethel was the best player on the field that day. Cal wasn't great that season, 7-6 with a Holiday Bowl loss to Texas, but they still should have thrashed itty-bitty Presbyterian. Cal won 36-21 in a surprisingly competitive game. A game made competitive by a defensive back/transitional technician that was all over the field. When the Cardinals drafted Bethel in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft I knew that they had a steal.

I was hoping that Minnesota Vikings receiver and "transitional technician" Adam Thielen had grabbed Alexander's eye. He makes so many big plays.