Every year in the NFL there are players like Peyton Hillis or Steve Johnson that emerge from relative obscurity, or take that big leap forward into NFL stardom. Who are the players you see possibly making that jump this year?
Amobe Okoye Okoye hasnt lived up the hype that surrounded him as a 19 year old top 10 pick in the 2007 NFL draft. However, I see him as a very good fit at NT if Wade Phillips runs a similar front as he did in Dallas. If he is playing a role similar to Jay Ratliff, shooting through gaps, and exploiting mismatch's on the intirior, I can see Okoye putting upPro Bowl numbers in 2011 Brian Robiski and Mohamed Massaquoi[ Both are enter that magic year 3 for WR's. The year most WR's breakout. Both are talented, and both are the type of WR's to thrive of a QB with a great short/mid range game like Colt McCoy. I can see both these guys going for 60 catch's, and one going for 80 Joe Webb Could I see Webb putting up Pro Bowl numbers in 2011. Screw no. However, if he does take over at QB, I can see him establishing himself as a bright young QB. I can see him having a year similar to what Colt McCoy had in 2010
Its subjective. We all have different criteria's for a "rising star" so Im not looking for any guidelines Me, personally I wouldnt count them as they all established themselves as viable star's. Benn however Is a guy I would include for what Im going with
For the Pats everyone brings up McCourty, Gronkowski/Hernandez and Spikes, but I think Jermaine Cunningham will be the one who has the most noticeable improvement. He only had 1 sack in 2010 but he did a solid job getting pressure on the QB (like the end of the Colts game) and setting the edge against the run. He would have gotten at least one sack against Mark Sanchez in the 45-3 game but Sanchez got away with a facemask. He had him in his grasp another time but Sanchez was able to break away, which sums up Cunningham's biggest problem last year: finishing off the QB. It wasn't like he was getting pushed around by OT's all season, he just couldn't bring the QB down effectively when he got close. He's 6-3 and 260 pounds and looked comfortable making the transition from a DE to a stand-up linebacker, so it's not like he's physically limited, he just needs to improve his technique which will come with coaching and experience.
I could see Mike Neal of the Packers having a good year if he can stay healthy, same with Sean Weatherspoon.
