Some people may remember that last year I had a series of posts where I predicted some players who could breakout and end up having big time years. Now with a new series only a week or two away, I thought it was a good time to reflect on how those predictions looked now. This is the first installment where I predicted quarterbacks and running backs that would breakout last year. Let's see how the predictions panned out.
Quarterback:
Jay Cutler Broncos:
What I said: Cutler may have thrown 20 touchdowns last year, but he is only reaching his potential. The Broncos acquired some new targets for Cutler in Keary Colbert and Darrell Jackson and if Brandon Marshall is suspended, it will soften the blow. Plus he always has Tony Scheffler to throw the ball to and he is on the verge of becoming an elite tight end. Don't be surprised if Cutler throws 30 touchdowns this year.
Now: Cutler may not have thrown for 30 touchdowns like I predicted, but numbers wise it was his best as a pro throwing for over 4500 yards and 25 touchdowns. Cutler wasn't one to shy away from headlines this offseason. He was traded to the Bears due to his frustration after new head coach Josh McDaniels was looking into getting his old pupil Matt Cassel. Cutler won't have as good a supporting cast in Chicago, but they are an immediate contender in the NFC North.
Hit or Miss: Push
Trent Edwards Bills:
What I said: Edwards was solid as a rookie last year as he was a very good game manager and ended up throwing 7 touchdowns. Now that he has a full year of the offense under his belt along with a 6'6 red zone threat in James Hardy, don't be surprised if Edwards throws 20 touchdowns this year.
Now: Edwards was solid in his first year as a starter completing nearly 66 percent of his passes along with 11 touchdowns. The main problem was that the Bills receiving corps were depleted last year and lacked size after James Hardy suffered a season ending injury. This year, Terrell Owens enters the picture and he is usually on his best behavior the first year with a new team so Edwards could put up some big numbers.
Hit or Miss: Push
Drew Stanton Lions:
What I said: Many people forgot about Stanton last year as he went on injured reserve with a knee injury during preseason. But he is a name you want to remember this year. If the Lions struggle out of the gate, Stanton should see some playing time and with the targets he has in Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson, he could put up some big numbers. That and the fact the Lions usually play from behind, it wouldn't be surprising if Stanton threw at least 15 touchdowns.
Now: It doesn't look that good for Stanton. Three quarterbacks played before him last year and with Matthew Stafford now in the picture, it doesn't look like Stanton will get the chance to play. As of right now he is a project as it is hard to learn a system when you have two offensive coordinators in two years. If he doesn't make the Lions roster this year, look for Stanton to try and catch on with a team like the Colts where he is in no rush to play and he will have two or three years to learn the offense.
Hit or Miss: Miss
JaMarcus Russell Raiders:
What I said: The Raiders got some new weapons on offense this offseason and nobody benefits more than Russell. Russell now has a year of learning the offense and has a good group of receivers led by Javon Walker and Ronald Curry. When the Raiders start pulling it together later on in the season, people will be talking about how well Russell is performing and how he could lead them to the playoffs in 2009.
Now: Like I predicted, the Raiders came on late in the season and it was in large part due to Russell. In the last two games of the year which were both Raiders wins, Russell threw for 384 yards 4 touchdowns and an interception. If he continues to play the way he did at the end of the year, the Raiders could surprise people in a very weak AFC West.
Hit or Miss: Push
Troy Smith Ravens:
What I said: If you've read my previous posts, you can see that I am very high on Smith and think he should be the starter in Baltimore. He was solid in limited playing time last year and could thrive under new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron as he will take pressure off of him by getting a ground game going. Joe Flacco might be the long term answer for the Ravens, but don't be surprised if Smith shines when he gets his chance.
Now: If it wasn't for tonsillitis that caused him to drop 20 pounds, Smith would have been the started in Baltimore. Things didn't work out that badly for the Ravens though as Joe Flacco came in and played very well in his rookie season. Even if he played, Smith wasn't the quarterback of the future so unless he gets traded, he will be a quality backup option.
Hit or Miss: Miss
Tyler Thigpen Chiefs:
What I said: When most people see this, the first thing that comes to mind is, "Who?" but Thigpen could have a big impact this season. Thigpen has already impressed the Chiefs as he passed Damon Huard for 2nd on the depth chart entering training camp. Thigpen has a strong arm, good mechanics and 4.7 speed which is solid for a quarterback. He's only a few bad games from Brodie Croyle from starting and if Croyle plays anything like last year, Thigpen could be playing quickly.
Now: Even though the Chiefs only won two games last year, they were actually pretty fun to watch when Thigpen was at the helm. In 11 starts he threw for over 2600 yards and 18 touchdowns and he also led all quarterbacks with 386 rushing yards. Unfortunately, Thigpen won't get to start this year after the Chiefs traded for Matt Cassel. This shouldn't be the last we hear of Thigpen though as a team should be more than willing to give him a chance when he is a free agent due to his performance last year.
Hit or Miss: Hit
Running back:
Marshawn Lynch Bills:
What I said: In his rookie season, Lynch ended up with over 1100 rushing yards to go along with 7 touchdowns. The scary part is, he missed 3 games. If Lynch played the whole season, Adrian Peterson might not have ended up with the rookie of the year award. Lynch's sophomore campaign should be even better as he now has a year of the offense under his belt and it doesn't hurt that he plays the Dolphins and Jets a combined 4 times. By the end of this year, Lynch could be mentioned in the same breath as the elite running backs in the league.
Now: Lynch did make the Pro Bowl in his second year, but he isn't in the elite category yet. His numbers actually declined in his second year and his suspension didn't help. With the improved passing game, Lynch could have a big year the only problem is after his arrest this offseason will he be around to enjoy it for all 16 games.
Hit or Miss: Push
Selvin Young Broncos:
What I said: With Travis Henry gone, Young is now the starting back for one of the best rushing attacks in the league. He had a solid rookie year averaging over 5 yards a carry for 729 yards. WIth all of that in mind, Young looks like he's ready to put up big rushing numbers in typical Broncos fashion. Don't be surprised if he has over 1300 rushing yards this year.
Now: In a year in which the Broncos went through multiple backs, Young took a major step backwards in his second season. Granted, he did miss 8 games but he only ran for 303 yards and one touchdown. Considering the arrival of Knowshon Moreno, Young probably won't start this year but the 5 yards a carry average is a good indication he would be a very good third down back.
Hit or Miss: Miss
LenDale White Titans:
What I said: Many people bash White for his weight, but last year he had a career best 1110 yards in the starting role with 7 touchdowns. But if those numbers sound impressive, get this, he played all of last season on a torn meniscus. Now with Chris Johnson in the backfield to help carry the load, White could be even more productive this season. 1200 yards and double digit touchdowns isn't out of the question.
Now: White was a touchdown machine last year scoring 15 good for third in the league. He and Johnson formed the duo of "Smash and Dash" which is arguably the best running back tandem in the league. This could help White in the long run as the wear and tear from his bruising running style is toned down to sharing carries. If the passing game improves, White and Johnson could be even more explosive this year.
Hit or Miss: Hit
Pierre Thomas Saints:
What I said: When people think of Thomas, two questions come to mind. First, who names their son Pierre and the other is who is this guy? Well, I can only answer one of those questions but it should help. When Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush both went down with injuries, Thomas had his first career start in week 17 against the Bears where he had both 100 rushing and receiving yards. He is a north south runner and a good receiver. So basically he is what you get when you combine McAllister and Bush. With McAllister and Bush's health issues, Thomas could get some starts for the Saints this year and it wouldn't be surprising if he had over 1000 all purpose yards.
Now: Thomas had a very big year with over 900 total yards and 12 touchdowns. With Deuce McAllister gone, Thomas should get even more carries this year and it wouldn't be surprising if he is one of the top running backs in fantasy football either. While many people expect Reggie Bush to be the feature back in New Orleans, look for Thomas to be the featured back by the end of the year.
Hit or Miss: Hit
No comments:
Post a Comment