Fbkid's Breakout Players: Wide Receivers

Last year, receivers such as Antonio Bryant, Lance Moore and Steve Breaston all had breakout seasons. Bryant stepped onto the national scene after he didn't even play football in the 2007 season while Moore and Breaston both came out of the shadows for high passing attacks. Here are some receivers who I think will breakout this year.


Donnie Avery Rams: Last year was a very rough one for the Rams but Avery was one of the bright spots. Avery showed during the later part of the season that he could emerge into one of the league's premiere deep threats. Now that Torry Holt is gone, Avery should be the number one receiver and considering the Rams will be playing from behind most of the time, he should put up numbers.

Earl Bennett Bears: Bennett didn't play much in his rookie season, but being reunited with his old college quarterback Jay Cutler has reason for optimism. Bennett and Cutler only played together for one season at Vanderbilt, but they hooked up for 876 yards and nine touchdowns. Considering the lack of depth the Bears have at receiver, it wouldn't be surprising if Bennett emerges as a reliable receiver opposite Devin Hester.

DeSean Jackson Eagles: Jackson had a very solid rookie campaign recording over 900 yards but he sould be an even bigger threat this year. Jackson now has a year under his belt with the offense and with the Eagles looking to throw the ball more, look for Jackson to emerge as a number one receiver. Don't be surprised if he has more then 1200 yards this year.

Mike Walker Jaguars: I am very high on Walker as he was on this list last year as well. If it weren't for injuries and other setbacks there is a very good chance that Walker could have had his breakout season last year. Now Walker should be the starting receiver opposite Torry Holt and doesn't have anyone in his way. Look for Walker's string of bad luck to end and start to emerge in his third season.

Mark Clayton Ravens: Up until last year, the Ravens had really struggled with the passing attack and Clayton showed signs he could be a vertical threat. One play that really stands out is his one handed catch against the Bengals where he went 70 yards for a touchdown. Now that Derrick Mason has retired, look for Clayton to become Joe Flacco's number one target and surpass 1000 yards for the first time in his career.

Chris Henry Bengals: Henry is best known for his trouble making antics, but he has turned the corner and is now ready to become a big time playmaker. He is currently getting rave reviews from everyone in the Bengals organization and is even being called "Randy Moss Jr" by Carson Palmer. With the loss of TJ Houshmandzadeh, look for Henry to possibly develop into the number two receiver and have a career year.

Nate Washington Titans: Washington never got to show his big play potential as a starter with the Steelers and now with the Titans, should get more balls thrown his way then ever. Even though the Titans will focus on running the ball, they will open up for play action and let Washington lose. Don't be surprised if he has over 800 yards and 6 touchdowns this season.

Fbkid's Breakout Players: Running Backs

Running back is a position where players breakout every year. Last year backs such as Michael Turner, Pierre Thomas and Derrick Ward brokeout and became names that were known by the common fan. Here are my predictions for running backs who will breakout this year and possibly make their first Pro Bowl.

Felix Jones Cowboys: Before his season ending injury, Jones showed the potential that could make him one of the game's most explosive backs. Now that Jones is healthy and the lack of depth in the Cowboys receiving corps, look for Jones to get lots of carries this year and considering that he will be doing kickoffs as well don't be surprised if he has over 2000 total yards.


Kevin Smith Lions: Smith had a very good rookie season but the thing that sticks out the most is that as the season went on and he earned more carries, he played better. Even though he played behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league, Smith still managed to have 938 yards and 8 touchdowns. Regardless of who starts at quarterback between Matthew Stafford and Daunte Culpepper, Smith should face less eight man fronts and improve on his rookie totals. Don't be surprised if he runs for over 1100 yards this year.


Ray Rice Ravens: Even though the Ravens have Willis McGahee, there is a very good chance that Rice will be the starting running back when the season starts. Rice has fresh legs and proved during his time at Rutgers that he is a very durable back. Now that Derrick Mason has retired, the Ravens will be looking to run more on offense and Rice who is also a good receiver out of the backfield, should get the majority of those carries. It wouldn't be surprising if Rice runs for over 1,000 yards this year.

Jerious Norwood Falcons: Considering he averages 5.8 yards a carry for his career, it's hard to believe the Falcons don't get Norwood the ball more. Even though the Falcons have Michael Turner ahead of Norwood, he should get lots of playing time this year. Turner had over 370 carries last year and most backs who have that heavy a workload either decline or get hurt the next year. Just ask Shaun Alexander or Larry Johnson. Considering that, Norwood should get plenty of opportunities this year and if he is as impressive as he has been with his chances so far, he should be fun to watch.

Jamaal Charles Chiefs: Charles is in a situation very similar to Norwood's. Both are very explosive and should get a lot of playing time this year as they are both behind backs who have had heavy workloads. In Charles' case, it is Larry Johnson who while he has still been productive, hasn't been the same since his 2006 season where he had 416 carries. With Todd Haley coming in as the new coach, the Chiefs will also be looking to pass the ball more and Charles is a better receiver out of the backfield. While Charles won't get tons of touches, don't be surprised if he breaks some highlight reel runs and has over 1000 total yards.

Fred Jackson Bills: Most fans don't know who Jackson is, but he is one of the league's best kept secrets. He is one of the best backup running backs in the league and is also a very good receiver out of the backfield. Due to Marshawn Lynch's three game suspension to start the season, Jackson should get lots of carries and will be able to showcase his skills in a starter's role. While the starting gig won't last the whole season, look for Jackson to still get 10-12 touches a game even when he resorts back to being Lynch's backup.

Fbkid's Top Ten Shocking Predictions for the 2009 Season

As some of you may remember, last year I made a post about my shocking predictions for the NFL season. While some were right on the mark, other's were way off. When the season is over, I will do a recap of my predictions to see how they played out. So now it's time to look in my crystal ball for my shocking predictions this upcoming football season.

1. Steve Slaton will win the rushing title: Most people would say that Adrian Peterson is a lock to win this honor but don't sleep on Slaton. Slaton ran for 1282 yards in his rookie season and that should only be the beginning. He is a perfect fit for the Texans zone blocking scheme and is going to get the ball even more this year. Don't be surprised if by the end of the year Slaton is regarded as one of the elite backs in the league.

2. The New Orleans Saints will win the NFC South: Since the division reallignment in 2002, up until last year the team that finishes last in the NFC South has always won the division the next year. With their explosive offense and improved defense, the Saints should continue the trend this year. Depending on the job Gregg Williams does as defensive coordinator, the team could be one of the last ones standing in the NFC.

3. Joe Flacco will be a victim of the "Sophomore Slump": Last year Flacco and Matt Ryan took the league by storm leading their teams as rookies into the playoffs. Both of these guys played so well because of their supporting cast. For Ryan, it consisted of playmakers like Michael Turner and Roddy White. In Flacco's case, it was the Ravens defense that is arguably the best in football. Due to the sudden retirement of Derrick Mason, Flacco has now lost his go to receiver and after Mason there is a big dropoff. If the season started today, the Ravens starting receivers would most likely be Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams. Both guys have lots of potential but neither of them have shown many glimpses of being a number one receiver. With the defense, the Ravens still have a very good chance at making the playoffs but it could be another rough year at quarterback in Baltimore after last year's breath of fresh air.

4. The Miami Dolphins won't win 8 games: Going into the 2008 season, the Cleveland Browns were a trendy pick to win the AFC North. After going 10-6 the previous year many people including myself thought they were ready to take the next step. The same thing that stopped the Browns last year is what is going to hurt the Dolphins: strength of schedule. Since they went 1-15 in 2007, the Dolphins had one of the easier schedules in the league. This year, they have the hardest. Other factors play into consideration as well. The "Wildcat" or with the addition of Pat White through the draft "Wildpat" will now be something that defenses prepare for and it progressively got less effective last season as the year went on. Chad Pennington was one of the great comeback stories last season but the playoff game against the Ravens showed that while he is a very accurate passer, he doesn't have the arm strength to scare defenses. Look for the Chad Henne era to begin in Miami by the end of this year.


5. The Houston Texans will make the playoffs: For what seemed like forever, the Cardinals were everybody's trend pick to make the playoffs. Now that they have actually been there and ended up making the Super Bowl, a new team has to fill the void. That team is the Texans. The Texans are a young team with potential the only thing that could stop them is the quarterback position. Matt Schaub has showed signs of potential but has had a hard time staying on the field. After losing one of the best backups in the league in Sage Rosenfels, the Texans signed Rex Grossman to be the backup. Depending on what Grossman shows up, this could either be an excellent move or one that gives Texans fans nightmares. The defense is improving as well as they added Antonio Smith to rush the passer alongside Mario Williams and added Brian Cushing through the draft who should get a chance to start right away. If Schaub can play a full 16 game season alongside offensive weapons such as Steve Slaton and Andre Johnson, the Texans will be a very dangerous team come playoff time.


6. The Detroit Lions will win at least four games: In most cases, predicting four wins isn't much. But for a team, that went 0-16 last year, it's a very big first step. Jim Schwartz is bringing a new state of identity to a team that for the past 50 years has had a losing culture. Schwartz has already started building through the draft and it wouldn't be surprising if his first three picks Matthew Stafford, Brandon Pettigrew and Louis Delmas were all opening day starters. As hard as it is to believe, not all of Matt Millen's draft picks were failures as Calvin Johnson, Kevin Smith and Ernie Sims are all worth building around. Johnson is arguably the most talented receiver in the league and put up pro bowl type numbers with a very messy quarterback situation. The second half of Smith's rookie year was very impressive as he improved when his workload increased. Sims will be looked upon as the leader of the defense and has been one of the game's most consistent linebackers in his three year career. The offensive line is still a very weak spot but if Schwartz and new GM Martin Mayhew make good picks in the trenches, the team could be contending in the next three years.

7. The Seattle Seahawks will make the playoffs: Due to injuries at many key positions, the Seahawks were one of the league's biggest dissapointments last year. This year should be different. Matt Hasselbeck is fully healthy and has a new weapon in T.J. Houshmandzadeh along with John Carlson who proved last year to be one of the best young tight ends in the game. The defense should be strong as well with one of the league's top pass rushers in Patrick Kearney along with two very good young linebackers in Lofa Tatupu and Aaron Curry. If there are two things to remember about the Seahawks this season here they are: the NFC West is still extremely weak and they have the Broncos 1st round pick next year and considering how the Josh McDaniels era is going so far, it could be a very high one. Even though Hasselbeck is 34, it wouldn't be surprising if the Seahawks were contenders for two or three more years.

8. Three rookie quarterbacks will be starting by week 12: Last year two rookie quarterbacks took the league by storm. This year, it wouldn't be surprising if there were three. Matthew Stafford, Mark Sanchez and Josh Freeman will all be starting by the end of this year. It is very possible that all three of these guys will be their team's opening day starters as Stafford and Sanchez are already signed. While Sanchez could be starting to give his team the best chance to win, Stafford and Freeman will most likely be starting to show their team's what's in store for the future as they both have veterans with years of starting experience ahead of them.

9. Mark Sanchez will win offensive rookie of the year: While running backs usually transition the fastest to the NFL, it is always a huge story when a rookie quarterback suceeds right away. With Sanchez being in New York, that story will be even bigger. Sanchez is in the best situation out of any rookie quarterback as he has an established offensive line, a very good defense and a rookie quarterback's best friend a good running game. It wouldn't be surprising if Sanchez put up big numbers in the big apple and if does expect him to ride the New York media train on the way to rookie of the year honors.

10. Louis Delmas will win defensive rookie of the year: Most people would have guys like Aaron Curry, Brian Cushing or Brian Orakpo here but none of them will be on the field as much as Delmas. Even though the Lions will improve this year, the offense will still struggle behind the poor offensive line and Delmas will have every opportunity to prove he is a tackling machine. The Lions are in love with him and there is a very good chance that he will be the starting safety when the year begins. Delmas is also very strong in run support and even if the defense continues to struggle, he will certainly be one of the bright spots.

Breakout Player Recap: Cornerbacks and Safeties

As passing attacks continue to thrive all around the league, it is important to have a good secondary. Some of the guys I predicted to breakout last year have worked their way into the conversation of the elite at their position. Here is a breakdown of how they did.

Cornerback:

Eric Wright Browns:

What I said: Wright had a very good rookie year as he had 76 tackles and one interception. By the end of the year, he was playing like a Pro Bowl caliber corner as teams were avoiding his side of the field. Look for Wright to continue his progress this year and possibly make his first trip to the Pro Bowl.

Now: Wright was very impressive in his second season recording 66 tackles and 3 interceptions. He also returned a interception on Monday Night Football 94 yards for a touchdown. Wright is getting better every year so it is only a matter of time before fans know who he is.

Hit or Miss: Push

Fred Bennett Texans:

What I said: With injuries in the secondary, Bennett came in and started as a rookie and showed that he has the potential to be one of the best corners in the league. Bennett only started 8 games but ended up with 62 tackles 2 forced fumbles and 3 interceptions. Look for him to have an even bigger impact this season.

Now: Bennett only started 6 games in his second year but was effective with 43 tackles two forced fumbles and two interceptions. He still showed lots of potential so look for him to breakout when he gets the chance to start for a whole year.

Hit or Miss: Miss


Darrelle Revis Jets:

What I said: Out of all the corners on the list, Revis has the best chance to be a premier corner for years to come. He showed great coverage skills as a rookie and ended up with 87 tackles and 3 interceptions. With that kind of play, Revis has a great chance of making the Pro Bowl in his second season.

Now: Revis played very well in his second season and as the year went on, teams threw at him less and less. For the year he had 58 tackles and five interceptions. The Jets defense should be one of the best in the league this year so look for him to make his second trip to the Pro Bowl this year.

Hit or Miss: Hit

Johnathan Joseph Bengals:

What I said: In his second season, Joseph had 62 tackles and 4 interceptions. Joseph has the potential to be a very good corner as he has good size and excellent speed. As Leon Hall develops, look for Joseph to have an even bigger impact this year as he and Hall have the potential to be a great cornerback tandem in a couple years.

Now: Joseph only played eight games but would have set a career high in tackles as he had 42 in the games played. It's hard to have a breakout season when your not playing so look for Joseph to play better this year.

Hit or Miss: Miss

Cortland Finnegan Titans:

What I said: Finnegan was very impressive in his second season as he had 95 tackles along with one interception. He was very impressive as he shut down many of the leagues top receivers last year. Look for him to develop into one of the leagues top corners this year.

Now: Finnegan broke out in a big way last year as he was one of the defensive stars for a Titans team that was the talk of the regular season. Finnegan made his first trip to the Pro Bowl last year and it certainly won't be his last.

Hit or Miss: Hit


Safeties:

Antrel Rolle Cardinals:

What I said: Rolle may have had 5 interceptions last year, but lots of people around the league say he didn't have the mechanics to play corner. So Rolle now moves to safety where he and Adrian Wilson are both rangy play makers who will strike fear into opposing offenses.

Now: Rolle was an impact player at safety notching 89 tackles and one interception. This was only his first year at the position so look for him to improve over time as the Cardinals defense emerges as one of the best in the NFC.

Hit or Miss: Push

LaRon Landry Redskins:

What I said: Landry had a very good rookie year as he had 95 tackles and showed that he can be one of the best safties in the game. Look for him to have an even better second season as he will have more opportunities with the Redskins improved pass rush.

Now: Landry was productive in his second year with 65 tackles two forced fumbles and two interceptions. He should continue to get better and considering that he is in a big market, could make his first Pro Bowl in a year or two.

Hit or Miss: Push



Chris Harris Panthers:

What I said: Everyone around the league knows who Harris is the only reason he is on the list is because, the majority of fans don't. Harris last year had 95 tackles and forced an incredible 8 fumbles. He also had 1 interception. Look for him to have another great season this year and if he puts up those kind of numbers, he should be headed for the Pro Bowl.

Now: For some reason, Harris didn't play as well as he did in 2007. He wasn't terrible in 2008 recording 70 tackles along with two forced fumbles and an interception but I was expecting him to take the next step. It is hard to determine what Harris will do this season but it will most likely be something in between his 2007 and 2008 campaigns.
Hit or Miss: Miss