Breakout Players of 2008

[Geo]

Originally Posted by no love

Manny Lawson - because last year was supposed to be his breakout year but then he got hurt

Vernon Davis - He's the second best weapon Martz has, lets hope he uses him

Hopefully the 49ers play these guys as aggressively as possible, instead of what they've been doing. I'd rush Lawson on every play and have Davis running routes on every passing play. These guys are elite talents, what they hell is the point of having Lawson held back or Davis freaking blocking, that's pointless imo. Why were 1st round picks spent, if playmakers aren't allowed to make plays. You can have JAGs do that stuff, come on.

Thankfully Martz coming in should help with Davis being used better.

[neko4]

Davis should lineup at WR every play and SF should stick Staley at TE and have him block

[Geo]

They definitely need Staley at LT. :)

[P-L]

Hopefully Calvin Johnson breaks out. Even though he had a very good rookie year, I hope Gerald Alexander makes more people notice him this year. The only other candidate on the Lions I can think of is Ikaika Alama-Francis. He'll probably see time at both DE and DT.

[yourfavestoner]

Anthony Gonzales, because I have a strong feeling that Marvin is just about done.

[Leon Sandcastle]

Can we really call 2nd year players breakout players?

This should be 3rd year players and over.

[ironman4579]

Originally Posted by no love

Nice analysis. But those percentages are so similar that it is really hard to say one was significantly better without talking about how they played. The fact is, they both did pretty well stopping the run.

Naturally when you have a larger sample of tackles to work with, the more likely you are to have tackles that are not 4 yards within the line of scrimmage, especially if Harris had 52 mores tackles or about a 40% increase.

Also I think it is easier for Willis to make tackles all over the field because of his ridiculous sideline to sideline speed. These are tackles that Harris wouldn't be making, which would also help his % of tackles within 4 yards of the LOS, but lower his total number of tackles.

Where did you get your stats btw?

I completely agree with you. The difference in percentages is negligable. The only reason I even worried about figuring Willis' numbers out was that a couple people said that Willis had "most" of his tackles near the LOS. I was just showing that Willis and Harris were very similiar in that regard. I got my stats by going over the play by plays on NFL.com and counting up each number. Just a little analysis.

[d34ng3l021]

QB: Jay Cutler. Its his 3rd season in the same offense. He has good weapons and a solid line around him. He should put up elite numbers. I will give Schaub another year before he breaks out. I think he should be solid this year though. Aaron Rodgers cause he is from the Bay Area.

RB: Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood. ;)

WR: Santonio Holmes will explode. Everything is set. He has had solid years in the past, he is going into the miracle 3rd year for WRs, and has a great QB who can get him the ball. Greg Jennings will also break out.

TE: Vernon Davis. I keep calling it year after year. I am bound to be right sometime.

DE: Jamaal Anderson. If he can get a sack, I will consider him breaking out.

[andyjo672]

Does EJ Henderson count, considering he had a great season last year but not many people noticed it...also liking the love Sidney Rice seems to be getting...

Non-Vikings:
Aaron Rodgers
Steve Smith (G-men)
Vernon Davis
D'Brickishaw Ferguson

[nfrillman]

Well, he was second in the league in interceptions and led the NFC, but somehow remains unknown to many and got snubbed from the Probowl. I am of course talking about St. Louis SS Oshiomogho Atogwe. I guess his stats don't add up to the other Probowlers.

Atogwe- 75 tackles, 8 ints, 1 td
Hamlin- 67 tackles, 5 ints
Taylor- understandable
Williams (Mr. No Coverage)- 92 tackles, 2 ints
Sharper- 63 tackles, 1 ff, 4 ints

Yep, his stats aren't quite the same as those other guys, they're better, much better in fact.

Other possible Rams breakouts:
CB- Tye Hill
DT- Adam Carriker

[Eagles own the NFC East]

Originally Posted by Incinerator

add Stewart Bradley, going to be starting at MLB this year, and I think he'll play really well.

i was thinking of him

[Geo]

Stewart Bradley is going to play MIKE? Why, the Eagles already have a pretty good starter in Omar Gaither. Who will play SAM if not Bradley, given that they released Spikes?

[kalbears13]

Kamerion Wimbley- If the Browns can get a decent pass rusher at the OLB position opposite of him via free agency or their late round draft picks and with the huge upgrades at DLine, he should have a huge year.

[Incinerator]

Stewart Bradley is going to play MIKE? Why, the Eagles already have a pretty good starter in Omar Gaither. Who will play SAM if not Bradley, given that they released Spikes?

the LB corps will look like this
WILL - Gaither
MIKE - Bradley
SAM - Gocong

Gocong was the starter at SLB this year and he played pretty well, Gaither will move back to WLB, where he first played 2 years ago. And now Bradley will be able to start at MLB. If these guys play up to their potential, the Eagles LB corps is going to be amazing.

[bored of education]

Bradley is awesome. He is one of my fav players. he single handedly prevented the saints from scoring inside the 5..3-4 straight tackles or assisted tackles or something. Kid will be special.


I think Jarrad Page has a break out year. Derrick Johnson sorta did already last year

[jaffe28]

Originally Posted by the decider13

Jay cutler for sure...Travis Henry is gonna make a huge come back. I think that the D line in general (Crowder/Thomas/Moss) could all have good seasons as well.

*prays for it*

[SaintsFanForLife]

I think laron landry will break out...

[kalbears13]

I think Michael Vick is going to break out...



...of prison.

[The Dude Abides]

Brandon McDonald of the Browns

[gdamac]

WR Calvin Johnson - easy call
DL Adam Carriker - another easy call
TE Kevin Boss - he has earned him self a bigger role no matter what happens with Shockey
WR Dwayne Bowe - dude is sic, hopefully Nnamdi can shut him down
QB Jay Cutler - pains me to say it, but he is good
WR Vincent Jackson - Started to towards the end of the year, will continue

Raider-Homer picks, I will try not to mix too much hope with opinion

Tommy Kelly - OK, this is kind of hoping and needing. It all hinges on his knee and his rehab. I have no doubt that if he is 100% he will be a disruptive force at the 3T.

Zack Miller - Will hinge on JaMarcus Russell's performance of course, but Miller is a football player.

Robert Gallery - You can laugh, that's cool. But I submit that Robert Gallery will be a pro bowl G in 2008

Justin Fargas - If he stays healthy

JaMarcus Russell - He won't break out, per se, but he will show why he was drafted at #1 and that his future is bright.

[jth1331]

Originally Posted by nfrillman

Well, he was second in the league in interceptions and led the NFC, but somehow remains unknown to many and got snubbed from the Probowl. I am of course talking about St. Louis SS Oshiomogho Atogwe. I guess his stats don't add up to the other Probowlers.

Atogwe- 75 tackles, 8 ints, 1 td
Hamlin- 67 tackles, 5 ints
Taylor- understandable
Williams (Mr. No Coverage)- 92 tackles, 2 ints
Sharper- 63 tackles, 1 ff, 4 ints

Yep, his stats aren't quite the same as those other guys, they're better, much better in fact.

Other possible Rams breakouts:
CB- Tye Hill
DT- Adam Carriker

Reminds me when everyone was clamoring about Anthony Henry's 10 interceptions or whatever a couple years ago. Interceptions don't tell the whole story. Heck, Deltha O'Neal one year had 8 and made the Pro Bowl because of it, although he didn't deserve it.
Basing a DB only on interceptions can be misleading.

I do like all the Jay Cutler talk. Hopefully the offense continues to improve and he can possibly reach 30 TD's.

[BlindSite]

DeAngelo Williams and Dante Rosario.

[BigDawg819]

WR Demetrius Williams

I don't care whose QB for the Ravens, DWill will come back like a firestorm this year.

[OzTitan]

I'm going to focus on WR's because it seems to be an almost yearly position for a few considerable breakout performances

First, some WR's who broke recently to get an idea of what to look for:

Brandon Marshall. 300y to >1300y. Classic 2nd year breakout WR, and even though he didn't have a stellar rookie season he showed signs of being a good WR.

Roddy White. Despite the horrible situation in Atlanta in 07, he broke out with a 1200y+ season in his 3rd season. Again though, not a huge shock - he had shown ability and a nice YPC to suggest he could be a breakout WR.

Wes Welker - Not a very typical breakout WR and I think his situation and system helped a lot, but a change of scenery has been a long standing cause for WR's breaking out so it's valid.

Jerricho Cotchery - Probably technically broke out in 06 but needed that follow up year to prove it. Obviously not an elite WR quite yet, but in his case the breaking out pattern is taking shape in the form of two steady early years and not a huge spike like Marshall.

Braylon Edwards - Another technical 06 breakout but 07 again was needed to confirm it.

So the patterns are coming out - young guy, in his 2nd-4th year who is not necessarily amongst already proven vets on the team at his position and could be the team's #1 in 08. He may have put up a solid year in 07 and could be on the brink of a big 08 season, or he may have not been so statistically great in 07 but has the opportunity in 08 to breakout. Otherwise, it could be a change of scenery WR, who is better used on a new team. So, my picks are:

Greg Jennings. He fits the Cotchery and Edwards mould - good year, great next year? GB might be a tricky situation with Favre gone but that won't stop a breakout WR usually.

Bernard Berrian. Fits two categories - decent 07 setting up for a possible big 08, and a change of scenery. Not exactly going to a killer passing offense but he has the opportunity to be a #1.

Jerry Porter. Change of scenery guy. Little late, but he could definitely be a big hit in Jax and again has a chance to be the #1.

Santonio Holmes. Two solid years to start, could be another one of those Cotchery/Edwards types who takes it to the next level.

Roydell Williams. Not a bad 07, still young and the Titans WR group definitely gives him the opportunity to break out, so he has the chance to be the #1.

Vincent Jackson. Building up for something and SD is a great environment to breakout at WR.

Those are reasonably "safe" picks, in that they're not totally out of no where. How about some Brandon Marshall style breakouts who may have the opportunity like he did to shine:

Sydney Rice. Won't be the "#1" to start so the situation isn't ideal but Berrian is by no means going to stop a breakout WR below him in the charts if it happens.

Derek Hagan. Didn't honestly get much of a look at this guy in 07, but he will have plenty of chances to break out on the Dolphins if he's destined to.

Jason Avant. Philly have been begging for a real breakout WR, this guy could be it. Kinda a stab in the dark though.

Mark Bradley. Well, he'll probably have the opportunity at least in Chicago WR depth wise.

Maurice Stoval. Another guy with the opportunity.

[DHVF]

Out of anyone on the Vikings primed for a breakout season, I would probably have to say that Chad Greenway is most destined. Like some have mentioned, I would not at all be surprised if Sidney Rice has a breakout season either.