Name one Jets player and one non-Jets player.....just say who it is and why. On the Jets, I think it will be Justin Miller. I see him having a good trainig camp and not being the starter right away but either taking the starting spot or getting near equal time and statistically having a better year than Barrett....and also having a good year on specials...I say at TD or 2 on specials this season for Miller. Not on the Jets, I am going to say Shawn Merriman. I think he is well on his way to becoming a top 3 DE/OLB in this leage and will show it more this season. He will be a dominant player by the end of the season....and I think he will be a Pro Bowler again. I know its not really a break out season if you made the Pro Bowl the previous year....but I just think he'll be even better. If I have to pick an unknown, I will say Jesse Lumsden for Washington. He is a Canadian RB that I played with in university here in Canada and was injured in Seahawks camp last season and cut, but is apparently impressing Gibbs and Saunders down in Washington and is already the 3rd RB on their depth chart after the mini camps. He said he never was contacted by the Jets, which doesn't surprise me, but he looked great in the CFL last season, and had a work out for Buffalo in December, where he ran a 4.41 at 6'2, 230 lbs. I see him making the Redskins roster and really turning some heads....we will have a chance to see him in the preseason game against Washington in mid-August.
I think that Kerry Rhodes will break out. But Pennington and Ellis are the ones that NEED to have a breakout year.
Why Ellis....he has been solid every season...I am pretty sure he is a known guy around the league. Didn't he have like 11.5 sacks the year Abe had 16? I think Ellis has always been good but has just been overshadowed.....In my opinion, 11.5 sacks or whatever it is constituated a breakout season.....that said., I wouldnt mind seeing him better it
Pennington and Ellis can't have breakout years. Pennington already brokeout, he needs a comeback year this year. And Ellis is as good as he's getting, a solid all around end who will quietly produce, but isn't going to scare anyone. Justin Miller is my pick. He showed flashes last year and I think he'll have a very good season.
Okay, here is one that will probably throw you a bit. Going off your Merrimen pick, I'll pick someone who is already a breakout player, but will raise his game this year. LaDanian Tomlinson. What, you say? He is a bona-fide star already! Yes he is, but he also had Brees there. Regardless of what people think of Brees, he was key to that offense. Tomlinson will have to carry the offensive load now. He is going to show the world why he is the best all-around football player in the NFL. I agree on Merrimen though. He is one helluva ballplayer. On the Jets, the popular pick is probably always going to be Miller. The kid showed flashes of brilliance last year, so it makes sense. I'm going to go somewhat out on a limb, and say it will be our LB corps. I know, it's not one player, and we have Vlima, but I think the rest of the LBs will step it up this year. Cox is going to get that unit well-greased, and ready for football. Shlegal (sp?) will be a solid player by year's end. Barton and Hobson will have comeback years. And whoever else is in the rotation will only be gravy.
Look no further than my signature (which has been up since March, I might add). Both are young and showed lots of potential last season under bad circumstances. There is a new regime in town, and I expect big things out of these young up and comers. Houston will prove that he can be a decent #1 RB in this league, and Cotchery will be solid #2 possesion reciever.
Finally something we agree upon. I've been tooting Cotchery's horn for the longest time. It's time to put the naysayers to rest. Cotch will break out and do some damage from the slot, possibly even seeing action as our #2.
Just a little comment on Ellis....I think he is good enough to scare people. He was certainly scarier with Abe on the other end, but I thik Ellis has the ability to dominate a tackle and may require scheming from some of the team with the weaker tackles.
Finally something we agree upon? I don't recall ever being at odds with you... Cotchery showed us last season that he is one tough SOB who isn't afraid of making the tough catches. I would take him over a scared, butterfingered MacCareins anyday.
I agree with this statement. Also, if you look back on the stats, Ellis has consistently put up better numbers when Abe was out of the lineup. It seems like he performs better when put in the spotlight, and that is great news considering the current state of the DL.
Yeah, but I really think he is still underrated around the league (If you can believe that statement!) The guy has more potential than he has shown to this point, and this is his chance to shock the world. I don't believe Rivers will even be a capable QB. SD will regret letting go of Brees for a long time. But if he doesn't count, here is my other breakout pick. I'm sure it will be highly unpopular. Joey Harrington. I predict Culpepper out by mid-October, and Harrington given the reigns. He will then go on to show everyone why the Lions management is inept, and why at least a handful of teams should have make an effort for him. (Yeah I know, everyone thinks he sucks, but I don't. Unfortunately, he plays for the enemy.)
Yeah, we went back and forth over something a while back- I have no idea what it was, but it didn't get ugly, just a disagreement. That being said, if I was a betting man I might put some money on Cotch just stealing the spotlight in TC to the point where Jmac is sitting on the sidelines, hoping for time as the #3 as he empties the spit cups. What a waste of a 2nd round pick.
Oh well, sorry about that... The problem with JMac is that he is known for having very good camps, but not replicating that on the field once it comes to game time. In any case, Mangini should have a good grasp of what JMac is capable of since JMac has been on the team for a few years and Mangini was on the defensive coaching staff in New England for a few years. Cotchery should be a relative unknown to Mangini so he will truly need to shine in TC to take over the #2 spot. I feel that when the season starts, Cotchery will be the #3 reciever lining up in the slot, but by Week 4, JMac will be demoted into that position as Cotchery steps up to take the #2 spot. I would love to see Cotchery end up with about 500 yards on the season, and yes, a 100 yard game (something JMac has yet to accomplish).
now that counts!!!wow a ballsy and probbaly unpopular pick.....im going with julius jones....i think parcells has questioned his manhood and i think he will manage to stay healthy this year...that guy gets to the outside as fast as anyone ive seen
If you'll recall some key things you saw in Cotchery's limited play last year, it was his sure hands in taking in the pass, strong running (albeit not a burner) and perhaps most importantly, his penchant for dragging tacklers downfield with him, ala Mark Bavaro- I remember a few games where it took more than one defender to bring him to the turf, and remember that Cotchery isn't a huge guy by receiver standards.
I have faith in Cedric Houston. Behind a shotty, patched up O-Line last year, he showed some intensity when he stepped in. Just because we were in shambles doesn't mean the other team was gonna take it easy on us, and he handled the ball well. It's unfortunate that Fullbacks rarely get touted for their contributions unless they're powerhouses like Alstott or Lorenzo Neal, but I liked what I saw out of BJ Askew late last season too. I don't think he can qualify for a breakout year, but I expect quality play. Defensively, Justin Miller is a favorite to do very well, but I also look forward to seeing Coleman and Rhodes becoming more of a threatening tandem in the secondary. As for other players... Larry Johnson hands down. If his season last year was any indicator... he's going to shatter some NFL records. To hell with Edwards tho...
Cotchery I think has the most upside of anyone else on offense right now. I think he is faster and has better hands than J-Mac. Cotchery should move to the #2 WR spot by mid season at least.
Justin Miller and Jerrico Cotchery are probably the people with the fewest accomplishments and most upside on the current team. I think both of them have a shot at stardom if they're given a full shot. The move away from the cover-2 should allow Miller to use his physical style of play to it's best effect, with a lot of heavy hitting ensuing. Cotchery just needs enough plays to get settled in his role, whether that is slot, #2 or maybe even #1. He caught a ton of balls in college and was drawing favorable comparisons to Torry Holt by the end of his senior year. He arrived on the Jets the same season as a high-profile free agent (McCareins) and predictably got no real shot at playing time his rookie season as a result. The new regime has no reason to play favorites between McCareins and Cotchery and I suspect he'll break out when they give him the full shot.
