Breakout player of the year award goes to...

[flynismo]

Fill in the blank! And please explain why you chose that player.

My prediction is Jimmy Smith.

Three reasons:

1. Our pass rush may prove to be one of the best in franchise history

...I have high hopes for a defense with Ngata, Canty, Spears, Williams, etc opening lanes for Suggs and Dumervil. In fact, I expect the line itself to provide solid pressure. And we all know that a great pass rush can make any secondary more productive than they otherwise would be.
What's more, we have tremendous flexibility given our personnel (and assuming said personnel performs to expectations). For example, for the first time in a loooong time, we should be able to generate a good four man rush. That means an extra LB or two is dropping back into coverage, which in turn creates much smaller passing lanes -- thus decreasing any QB's margin for error.

2. The Jimmy is entering his third year (already??)

After having his first two seasons derailed by injuries, and as a result, stunting his development, he has a clean bill of health and is in the second year of our eternally changing scheme. He is also 6'1" and 210 lbs, and as we saw quite a bit in the postseason, he is as physical as they come.
He is very talented, and the cream will always rise to the top.

3. He will be playing next to Webb

Why does that matter? Well, in theory, that means he wont even be facing our opponents #1 WR the majority of the time. With this pass rush, and building off what he started putting together late last year, it is a big edge for The Jimmy.

[SecretAgentMan]

Joe Flacco.... He will finally shut those damn critics up....

 

You know, most of ESPN. Heath Evans.

 

Screw Breakout player. MVP

[SecretAgentMan]

Defensively, I agree! 

[GrimCoconut]

You know, I was thinking about this very subject earlier today and I completely agree. Jimmy Smith is my break-out player for the year. Pass rush should really help him, combined with Webb back. His biggest issue seems to be confidence--mentality. He just needs to get that and he will be G2G.

[SecretAgentMan]

Jimmy will eventually be better than Webb. Book it!

[Guest nflfan123]

On the offensive side of the ball i say Tommy Streeter if he ends up as the #2 WR.

[Geving]

I completely agree.

But just to mix it up.

 

Tandon Doss, finally takes the next step and becomes this years breakout player.

[flynismo]

Joe Flacco.... He will finally shut those damn critics up....
 
You know, most of ESPN. Heath Evans.
 
Screw Breakout player. MVP

Super Bowl MVP, yo! I dont know how much more "breakout" it gets than that!

[SecretAgentMan]

Super Bowl MVP, yo! I dont know how much more "breakout" it gets than that!

The Stat thing is what I mean.... Even without Boldin, his stats will be MVP caliber 

[Tiz]

Dickson.

[flynismo]

His biggest issue seems to be confidence--mentality. He just needs to get that and he will be G2G.

I honestly dont know that it was a ever a problem for him, but if it were, I think he overcame that during the postseason...he was playing very aggressively in a controlled manner, particularly in the SB (two most obvious examples of that were the last two plays of the game)

[GrimCoconut]

Jimmy will eventually be better than Webb. Book it!

That's a real bold statement. I'm not going to piggyback on that one. I'm one of Jimmy's biggest fans, too. 

 

I completely agree.

But just to mix it up.

 

Tandon Doss, finally takes the next step and becomes this years breakout player.

If Doss doesn't breakout, he will be officially labeled a bust. I guarantee you that.

[The Oakland Cathedral]

Too be a little different I'm going to go with Gino Gradkowski.

Reason 1 - Assuming KO isn't our LT he will be standing to Gino's left and should continue his top level mauling guard play. This should make Gino's job that much easier.

Reason 2 - Marshall Yanda will be standing to Gino's right. Having the a top 2-3 OG in the NFL on one side is a huge plus for any player and should allow Gino to shine and our offense to flourish.

Reason 3 - Sitting a season behind a phenomenal Center in Birk should have given Gino a boost in his development and enable him to thrive this year.

Reason 4 - Caldwell's offense should allow Joe to control the pocket better and get rid of the ball quicker which should even further minimize the pressure Gino will have to deal with.

This factors combined with a high-powered offense behind the line should allow Gino to look like a top-flight Center from the get go.

If I was gonna be generic I would either go Tommy Streeter, Jimmy Smith, or Pernell McPheenom.

[flynismo]

The Stat thing is what I mean.... Even without Boldin, his stats will be MVP caliber

A wise man once said "Stats are for losers".

Actually, I am concerned, to an extent, on what Flacco's stat line will look like.

On the one hand, we lost Boldin and our starting LT. We have no proven #2 WR.

On the other hand, the way Flacco played after Cameron got out of his way, I dont really think the above matters much

[GrimCoconut]

I honestly dont know that it was a ever a problem for him, but if it were, I think he overcame that during the postseason...he was playing very aggressively in a controlled manner, particularly in the SB (two most obvious examples of that were the last two plays of the game)

Here's why I feel like it was: he has a really bad habit of biting on the double move. That tells me he either is gullible, doesn't trust his instincts, is very impulsive, or has bad instincts. I just don't believe he has bad instincts, especially when I see him playing the WR pretty well, putting himself in position to be near the football. I don't think he's gullible. That doesn't make any sense to me after I watched his interviews & stuff. He doesn't come off as impulsive from his interviews. So, through process of elimination I came to the conclusion it must be a mental thing with him, where he lacks confidence in himself so he just freaks out when he sees the WR go one way. 

[Geving]

 

 

If Doss doesn't breakout, he will be officially labeled a bust. I guarantee you that.

Sure, but it seems to me like people actually have given up on him. It was hard for him to crack the rotation in Cam's system, so I think that's premature. He will get his chance this season, and  I think he has a real chance of breaking out.

[flynismo]

Too be a little different I'm going to go with Gino Gradkowski.

Reason 1 - Assuming KO isn't our LT he will be standing to Gino's left and should continue his top level mauling guard play. This should make Gino's job that much easier.

Reason 2 - Marshall Yanda will be standing to Gino's right. Having the a top 2-3 OG in the NFL on one side is a huge plus for any player and should allow Gino to shine and our offense to flourish.

Reason 3 - Sitting a season behind a phenomenal Center in Birk should have given Gino a boost in his development and enable him to thrive this year.

This factors combined with a high-powered offense behind the line should allow Gino to look like a top-flight Center.

If I was gonna be generic I would either go Tommy Streeter, Jimmy Smith, or Pernell McPheenom.

That's a great pick!

[SecretAgentMan]

A wise man once said "Stats are for losers".

Actually, I am concerned, to an extent, on what Flacco's stat line will look like.

On the one hand, we lost Boldin and our starting LT. We have no proven #2 WR.

On the other hand, the way Flacco played after Cameron got out of his way, I dont really think the above matters much

But I need a stud QB for my fantasy team :P

 

Ik, but they so damn annoying....

 

Ok. Offensively I think it will be JUICE

[GrimCoconut]

Sure, but it seems to me like people actually have given up on him. It was hard for him to crack the rotation in Cam's system, so I think that's premature. He will get his chance this season, and  I think he has a real chance of breaking out.

Some have. No doubt. I'm talking media, fans, possibly even the FO. 

[The Oakland Cathedral]

That's a great pick!

Thank you, it took me a minute to think of someone that either wasn't established yet or an obvious choice and Gino seems like he has a great shot at a breakout year.

[flynismo]

Thank you, it took me a minute to think of someone that either wasn't established yet or an obvious choice and Gino seems like he has a great shot at a breakout year.

Oh, there is definitely no such thing as an obvious choice...remember last year how Ozzie was telling the world how Cody was going to have a coming out party?
Now he is talking about how we need to improve at DT...and then drafted one!

[The Oakland Cathedral]

Oh, there is definitely no such thing as an obvious choice...remember last year how Ozzie was telling the world how Cody was going to have a coming out party?
Now he is talking about how we need to improve at DT...and then drafted one!

By obvious choice I meant the guys that people normally look at as breakout impact players like skill position players and pass rushers such as Streeter, Smith, and McPhee or Upshaw. Most people aren't like "Man I have a real strong feeling our small school Center is gonna have a breakout season this year!"

[Mahatma_Sloth]

on O Dickson

on D McPhee

[flynismo]

By obvious choice I meant the guys that people normally look at as breakout impact players like skill position players and pass rushers such as Streeter, Smith, and McPhee or Upshaw. Most people aren't like "Man I have real strong feeling our small school Center is gonna have a breakout season this year!"

Gotcha, I agree that OL get nowhere near the respect from fans that they deserve.

[Geving]

Some have. No doubt. I'm talking media, fans, possibly even the FO. 

Yeah, I don't think the FO have though. I know WR is a "fluid" situation. But I think he is one of the reasons why WR wasn't addressed earlier in the draft. I look at it as a vote of confidence that they traded away Boldin and are looking for inhouse players to fill the void. Players seem to talk him up quite a bit too. We'll see, it's definitely a make or break year.

[The Oakland Cathedral]

Gotcha, I agree that OL get nowhere near the respect from fans that they deserve.

Indeed they deserve better from fans since they make so much of what the rest of the Offense does possible.

[GrimCoconut]

Yeah, I don't think the FO have though. I know WR is a "fluid" situation. But I think he is one of the reasons why WR wasn't addressed earlier in the draft. I look at it as a vote of confidence that they traded away Boldin and are looking for inhouse players to fill the void. Players seem to talk him up quite a bit too. We'll see, it's definitely a make or break year.

Yeah, I agree. I think Doss really needs to step up his game, show himself a capable WR in camp, etc. It's his time. As it is right now, we need his help. He's going to have high expectations. I know as a rookie he had trouble getting down the playbook. Then, last year it was injuries, right? I think he needs to have a good year. I think his trouble has been just getting on the field, getting that confidence, etc. He has the skill. He showed it to us in preseason, when everyone wanted Torrey's head. 

[Ravensfan23]

Offense:
David Reed. The reason is because the guy is talented and the offense will be more spread out with 3+ WRs. The coaches and FO love this guy for a reason and i'll sure they'll give him every chance to showcase why this year. If he stays healthy he'll be the main slot WR.

Honorable Mention: Benard Peirce. He's gonna have a huge season under Caldwell and be that hammer the offense needs to balance all the uptempo/no huddle passing Flacco will do. However it's tough to be breakout player as a backup. Rice is still the man.

Defense:
Parnell Mcphee. Back to 100% health and the coaches focusing on him rushing more, he should drop the added weight he had last year. On the field with Ngata, Suggs and Dumerville, Mcphee will benefit from those guys getting plenty attention. He had 6 1/2 sacks his rookie year, I think he doubles it. 12-13 sacks and really because a household name much like Kurger did.

Honorable Mention: Art Jones. He really came on strong towards the end of the year and I expect it to continue. He'll be the start and shine. He'll do a lot of dirty work and as a 5Tech it'll be hard for him to be viewed as a breakout player, but the team and fans will praise him for what he does.

[GrimCoconut]

By obvious choice I meant the guys that people normally look at as breakout impact players like skill position players and pass rushers such as Streeter, Smith, and McPhee or Upshaw. Most people aren't like "Man I have a real strong feeling our small school Center is gonna have a breakout season this year!"

Hahaha, yeah. I have to say, Gino's my pick for the offense. For the team I went with Jimmy because I like the situation he has. He's been in the league three years, has Webb, Graham, Elam & Huff in the secondary. There's two pass rushers who are very good at what they do, with a very nice DL in front of him and hopefully some very good linebackers. 

 

I think Jimmy's going to really impress. If it's not him, I would give my vote to Gino Gradkowski. 

[hawkprey]

Deonte Thompson, and it is not the first or last time this offseason that I'll claim this.