Phoenix-Talon
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It no secret that the Cowboys have Terrell Owens; the Giants have Buress; and the Commanders have Moss ...and the Eagles? Well since Stallworth is with the team that everyone is saying will make a Superbowl run this year, we're left with Brown and Curtis (but don't underestimate those WRs; youth and an experienced veteran).
But what about those unknown players who will become the new T.O.s, Buress' and Mosses of the NFL? NFL Sports had something to say ...
10 guys ready to have breakout years
Here's the link http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7011378?MSNHPHCP>1=10239
Here's the Breakdown
Over the next few weeks, we'll be diving into these topics and much, much more. This week? Let's discuss 10 guys ready to have break out years. These are the cats that are on the cusp. No Pro Bowlers, no superstars — just young and hungry NFL players ready to become household names. Get to know them now.
AFC - 1. Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers: Sure, pretty much all of San Diego's coaching staff from last season's 14-2 squad is elsewhere this year. And yes, Cam Cameron — the master of that offense in '06 — is in Miami. But outside of a few fringe players off the bench, San Diego returns the majority of its AFC West championship team. Tomlinson, Gates, Turner and Rivers may get all the headlines — but Vincent Jackson could be the name on most people's tongues come mid-season. Jackson enters camp as the assumed No. 1 receiver on a Super Bowl favorite. The three-year vet out of Northern Colorado caught 27 balls and scored six touchdowns in spot duty last season. Look for him to get more touches in Norv Turner's offense in '07. Alongside Malcolm Floyd and Craig "Buster" Davis, Jackson helps make up one of the youngest wide receiver corps in the league. It's also the one marked with the most amount of question marks.
NFC - 2. Daryn Colledge, OG, Packers: When Colledge was thrown into the starting lineup as a rookie because of an injury-ravaged Green Bay line, most observers threw in the towel on the Pack. Colledge and the rest of one of the league's youngest units then went on to protect Brett Favre awfully well. Green Bay won its last four games, capping off the season with wins over NFC North division foes Minnesota and Chicago on national TV. Colledge, a second-round pick in the 2006 draft, will be looked to as one of the anchors this season. He'll answer the call. It's not like he hasn't before.
NFC - 3. Mark Anderson, DE, Bears: Though Anderson was a top-5 overall selection the entire season. Anderson led the NFC champion Bears in sacks with 12 while playing in all 16 games for Chicago. With another year under his belt and the return of Tommie Harris, Anderson should have even more opportunities to get to the quarterback this year. Asking for 12 sacks is a bit much — but certainly possible.
AFC - 4. Dawan Landry, SS, Ravens: Brother LaRon will get most the press next year as he suits up for the crosstown rival Commanders, and teammate Ed Reed may be the one introducing his teammates on Monday Night Football. But Dawan Landry's a true star on the rise. As a rookie on the league's top-ranked defense, Landry played in 16 games, recorded 67 tackles, grabbed five interceptions, and started in the playoff battle against the Colts. His biggest afternoon was a 27-26 win over Tennessee (week 10) in which he finished with 12 tackles and a sack. Look for Landry to make an even greater name for himself this season.
NFC - 5. Mathias Kiwanuka, LB, Giants: Most NFL fans will tell you about two plays when discussing Mathias Kiwanuka's rookie season: The Vince Young tackle that wasn't, and the interception and fumble versus the Cowboys. What they won't tell you is that an undersized Kiwanuka had a pretty darn good year at defensive end in '06. In 15 games, the rookie out of BC was sixth on the Giants in tackles and recorded 5.5 sacks. Moving to outside linebacker for '07, there's great optimism among Big Blue fans for No. 97. The next L.T.? Not quite. An upgrade from last year's Giant outside linebackers? You bet.
NFC - 6. Cedric Benson, RB, Bears: After sharing the load with Thomas Jones over the past two seasons, it's all Cedric all the time in Chicago now. With Jones in the Jets backfield, the former Texas star and highly touted first-round pick is the primary ball carrier for the Bears in '07. Garrett Wolfe and Devin Hester should get some action, but Benson should be the go-to guy each week. I haven't been sold on Benson as an every down back yet. But the opportunities will be there this season. It's his 1,000 yards to lose. He should eclipse that mark and more.
AFC - 7. Braylon Edwards, WR, Browns: Edwards, the one-time third overall pick, has had a bit of a checkered NFL career thus far. Injuries, a few in-game sideline temper tantrums, a handful of curious postgame press conference comments — it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for the former Michigan star. But from all accounts out of Cleveland, Edwards is finally healthy, poised, and showing true leadership skills. He gave Charlie Frye a big boost of confidence during the off-season OTA's, and has been a positive force in the locker room since the NFL Draft. The total package of athleticism and awareness, the skills are there. This should be the year he puts it all together. The Dawg Pound can only hope.
AFC - 8. Brandon Jones, WR, Titans: When Drew Bennett signed with the Rams and Travis Henry left for Denver — most NFL fans assumed Tennessee would go out and bring in a big free-agent signing on the offensive side of the ball. A playmaker for Vince Young. Who'd they acquire? Well, Justin Gage. Hmm ... not exactly Jerry Rice. One of the reasons Tennessee stayed relatively quiet was their comfort at the wideout spot with who they already had on the roster. The likely No. 1 target? Mr. Jones. The former Oklahoma Sooner only had 27 receptions last season, but showed some real flashes. In the Titans' Week 16 win over Buffalo, Jones grabbed five balls for 101 yards and scored a touchdown. Tennessee drafted three wide receivers in April. Each rookie should get some touches. But Young-to-Jones should be the go-to combination in '07.
AFC - 9. Daniel Sepulveda, P, Steelers: Can a rookie technically have a "breakout" year? Hey, why not? I've loved watching this kid punt since his early days at Baylor when I did a FOXSports.com article with him back in '05. Since then, he did nothing but become the best punter in college football, perfecting a crazy knuckleball-like lefty boot. His kicking style will cause nightmares in the Pittsburgh weather. Will Steelers fans like him? Check out this highlight for your answer. Yeah, I think so.
NFC - 10. Hank Baskett, WR, Eagles: Baskett saved his best game of the year for the regular season finale, hauling in seven passes for 177 yards and ripping off an 89-yard touchdown versus the Falcons in Week 17. He's got the size, the hands, the skills and the awareness to be a formidable NFL receiver. He could be much more than that. With Donte Stallworth gone to New England, the wideout situation is still up for grabs quite a grab in Philly. Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown should be the first two options, but Baskett could be the big-play guy.
Does Dallas have a breakout receiver projected for 2007?
But what about those unknown players who will become the new T.O.s, Buress' and Mosses of the NFL? NFL Sports had something to say ...
10 guys ready to have breakout years
Here's the link http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7011378?MSNHPHCP>1=10239
Here's the Breakdown
Over the next few weeks, we'll be diving into these topics and much, much more. This week? Let's discuss 10 guys ready to have break out years. These are the cats that are on the cusp. No Pro Bowlers, no superstars — just young and hungry NFL players ready to become household names. Get to know them now.
AFC - 1. Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers: Sure, pretty much all of San Diego's coaching staff from last season's 14-2 squad is elsewhere this year. And yes, Cam Cameron — the master of that offense in '06 — is in Miami. But outside of a few fringe players off the bench, San Diego returns the majority of its AFC West championship team. Tomlinson, Gates, Turner and Rivers may get all the headlines — but Vincent Jackson could be the name on most people's tongues come mid-season. Jackson enters camp as the assumed No. 1 receiver on a Super Bowl favorite. The three-year vet out of Northern Colorado caught 27 balls and scored six touchdowns in spot duty last season. Look for him to get more touches in Norv Turner's offense in '07. Alongside Malcolm Floyd and Craig "Buster" Davis, Jackson helps make up one of the youngest wide receiver corps in the league. It's also the one marked with the most amount of question marks.
NFC - 2. Daryn Colledge, OG, Packers: When Colledge was thrown into the starting lineup as a rookie because of an injury-ravaged Green Bay line, most observers threw in the towel on the Pack. Colledge and the rest of one of the league's youngest units then went on to protect Brett Favre awfully well. Green Bay won its last four games, capping off the season with wins over NFC North division foes Minnesota and Chicago on national TV. Colledge, a second-round pick in the 2006 draft, will be looked to as one of the anchors this season. He'll answer the call. It's not like he hasn't before.
NFC - 3. Mark Anderson, DE, Bears: Though Anderson was a top-5 overall selection the entire season. Anderson led the NFC champion Bears in sacks with 12 while playing in all 16 games for Chicago. With another year under his belt and the return of Tommie Harris, Anderson should have even more opportunities to get to the quarterback this year. Asking for 12 sacks is a bit much — but certainly possible.
AFC - 4. Dawan Landry, SS, Ravens: Brother LaRon will get most the press next year as he suits up for the crosstown rival Commanders, and teammate Ed Reed may be the one introducing his teammates on Monday Night Football. But Dawan Landry's a true star on the rise. As a rookie on the league's top-ranked defense, Landry played in 16 games, recorded 67 tackles, grabbed five interceptions, and started in the playoff battle against the Colts. His biggest afternoon was a 27-26 win over Tennessee (week 10) in which he finished with 12 tackles and a sack. Look for Landry to make an even greater name for himself this season.
NFC - 5. Mathias Kiwanuka, LB, Giants: Most NFL fans will tell you about two plays when discussing Mathias Kiwanuka's rookie season: The Vince Young tackle that wasn't, and the interception and fumble versus the Cowboys. What they won't tell you is that an undersized Kiwanuka had a pretty darn good year at defensive end in '06. In 15 games, the rookie out of BC was sixth on the Giants in tackles and recorded 5.5 sacks. Moving to outside linebacker for '07, there's great optimism among Big Blue fans for No. 97. The next L.T.? Not quite. An upgrade from last year's Giant outside linebackers? You bet.
NFC - 6. Cedric Benson, RB, Bears: After sharing the load with Thomas Jones over the past two seasons, it's all Cedric all the time in Chicago now. With Jones in the Jets backfield, the former Texas star and highly touted first-round pick is the primary ball carrier for the Bears in '07. Garrett Wolfe and Devin Hester should get some action, but Benson should be the go-to guy each week. I haven't been sold on Benson as an every down back yet. But the opportunities will be there this season. It's his 1,000 yards to lose. He should eclipse that mark and more.
AFC - 7. Braylon Edwards, WR, Browns: Edwards, the one-time third overall pick, has had a bit of a checkered NFL career thus far. Injuries, a few in-game sideline temper tantrums, a handful of curious postgame press conference comments — it hasn't exactly been smooth sailing for the former Michigan star. But from all accounts out of Cleveland, Edwards is finally healthy, poised, and showing true leadership skills. He gave Charlie Frye a big boost of confidence during the off-season OTA's, and has been a positive force in the locker room since the NFL Draft. The total package of athleticism and awareness, the skills are there. This should be the year he puts it all together. The Dawg Pound can only hope.
AFC - 8. Brandon Jones, WR, Titans: When Drew Bennett signed with the Rams and Travis Henry left for Denver — most NFL fans assumed Tennessee would go out and bring in a big free-agent signing on the offensive side of the ball. A playmaker for Vince Young. Who'd they acquire? Well, Justin Gage. Hmm ... not exactly Jerry Rice. One of the reasons Tennessee stayed relatively quiet was their comfort at the wideout spot with who they already had on the roster. The likely No. 1 target? Mr. Jones. The former Oklahoma Sooner only had 27 receptions last season, but showed some real flashes. In the Titans' Week 16 win over Buffalo, Jones grabbed five balls for 101 yards and scored a touchdown. Tennessee drafted three wide receivers in April. Each rookie should get some touches. But Young-to-Jones should be the go-to combination in '07.
AFC - 9. Daniel Sepulveda, P, Steelers: Can a rookie technically have a "breakout" year? Hey, why not? I've loved watching this kid punt since his early days at Baylor when I did a FOXSports.com article with him back in '05. Since then, he did nothing but become the best punter in college football, perfecting a crazy knuckleball-like lefty boot. His kicking style will cause nightmares in the Pittsburgh weather. Will Steelers fans like him? Check out this highlight for your answer. Yeah, I think so.
NFC - 10. Hank Baskett, WR, Eagles: Baskett saved his best game of the year for the regular season finale, hauling in seven passes for 177 yards and ripping off an 89-yard touchdown versus the Falcons in Week 17. He's got the size, the hands, the skills and the awareness to be a formidable NFL receiver. He could be much more than that. With Donte Stallworth gone to New England, the wideout situation is still up for grabs quite a grab in Philly. Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown should be the first two options, but Baskett could be the big-play guy.
Does Dallas have a breakout receiver projected for 2007?
