Choosing from players who are young, new or have just been buried in the rotation due to the mammoth levels of talent on our roster, who do you expect to have breakout seasons this year? Also try to list WHY you think they will have big years.
OFFENSE: I expect Joshua Jacobs to build on his success from last year and really tear it up. He doesn't need much space, he has excellent power and balance and his vision was good on the zones I saw him run. With a year of experience and a little more technique in pass-pro I think he could be our most consistent performer at tailback. Also Cam Sims. Have glimpsed flashes of excellent playmaking if he can stay healthy and play with consistency. With so many threats in the backfield it doesn't hurt to have a 6'3 guy to balance everything out.
DARK HORSE: Miller Forristal. He showed he could be a receiving threat last year and with Jalen's continued development as well as Daboll's background working with tight-ends I expect Forristall to get more targets than perhaps O.J. did.
DEFENSE: I'd say Dashawn Hand first of all. Athletically, he may be the freakiest guy we've had on defense the last 2 years. He's learned from some of the most talented and skilled D-lineman to ever come through the University of Alabama (what a statement!) and he has shown glimpses of promise when on the field. BONUS, other lineman say he is one to watch. Anthony Averett became one of my favorite players last season. A perennial backup pressed into duty when Maurice Smith bailed for Georgia, at the time I don't think many of us had high hopes for a guy who was basically the backup to a backup. Well he really showed up in a way that I didn't expect. He has speed to counter every receiving threat he's likely to see, good length and surprising physicality for a DB with a thinner frame. If he picks up where he left off last season, he's gonna get noticed.
DARK HORSES: Mack Wilson & Christian Miller. We seem to be so unbelievably loaded at linebacker that it's hard to know who's gonna pop off next. Wilson has shown a nose for the ball on special teams, giving me visions of Reuben Foster from his time there in 2014. He's also showed versatility by lining up on offense. He seems like an instinctual player who gets the game and just can't be kept off the field. Provided he can make all the reads he needs to, I expect Mack to run some people over next to Shaun Dion Hamilton. Christian Miller was mostly seen in mop-up duty last season but the guy is a freak like Tim Williams. Other players have pointed to him as a guy to look out for. He's had time to mature and has seemed to grow as time has gone on. I think his athleticism and motor win him a lot of battles this year as a featured pass-rusher.
These are some of my opinions on who I think will have breakout seasons this year. Who are YOUR picks and why?
OFFENSE: I expect Joshua Jacobs to build on his success from last year and really tear it up. He doesn't need much space, he has excellent power and balance and his vision was good on the zones I saw him run. With a year of experience and a little more technique in pass-pro I think he could be our most consistent performer at tailback. Also Cam Sims. Have glimpsed flashes of excellent playmaking if he can stay healthy and play with consistency. With so many threats in the backfield it doesn't hurt to have a 6'3 guy to balance everything out.
DARK HORSE: Miller Forristal. He showed he could be a receiving threat last year and with Jalen's continued development as well as Daboll's background working with tight-ends I expect Forristall to get more targets than perhaps O.J. did.
DEFENSE: I'd say Dashawn Hand first of all. Athletically, he may be the freakiest guy we've had on defense the last 2 years. He's learned from some of the most talented and skilled D-lineman to ever come through the University of Alabama (what a statement!) and he has shown glimpses of promise when on the field. BONUS, other lineman say he is one to watch. Anthony Averett became one of my favorite players last season. A perennial backup pressed into duty when Maurice Smith bailed for Georgia, at the time I don't think many of us had high hopes for a guy who was basically the backup to a backup. Well he really showed up in a way that I didn't expect. He has speed to counter every receiving threat he's likely to see, good length and surprising physicality for a DB with a thinner frame. If he picks up where he left off last season, he's gonna get noticed.
DARK HORSES: Mack Wilson & Christian Miller. We seem to be so unbelievably loaded at linebacker that it's hard to know who's gonna pop off next. Wilson has shown a nose for the ball on special teams, giving me visions of Reuben Foster from his time there in 2014. He's also showed versatility by lining up on offense. He seems like an instinctual player who gets the game and just can't be kept off the field. Provided he can make all the reads he needs to, I expect Mack to run some people over next to Shaun Dion Hamilton. Christian Miller was mostly seen in mop-up duty last season but the guy is a freak like Tim Williams. Other players have pointed to him as a guy to look out for. He's had time to mature and has seemed to grow as time has gone on. I think his athleticism and motor win him a lot of battles this year as a featured pass-rusher.
These are some of my opinions on who I think will have breakout seasons this year. Who are YOUR picks and why?
