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Breakout Players: Defensive Linemen

Aaron Resnick, Playmaker Intern

Last year, defensive linemen such as Ray Edwards and Aubrayo Franklin burst onto the scene and made big impacts against both the pass and the run. With so many teams playing in a 3-4 defense, it is usually outside linebackers who come out of nowhere to put up double digit sacks. Here are some defensive linemen who should have big impacts on their team this upcoming season.

B.J. Raji, Green Bay Packers: As a top ten pick last year, Raji will be looked at to play a large part in the Packers defense this upcoming year at nose tackle. He played well in limited action recording 25 tackles and a sack even though he only started one game. In a division where you play Adrian Peterson twice, it is important to have a nose tackle that can stop the run and Raji has shown the ability to do just that.

Terrance Knighton, Jacksonville Jaguars: Outside of Jacksonville, few casual fans know who “Pot Roast” is. What they are missing out on is one of the best young defensive tackles in the league. Knighton started all 16 games for the Jaguars as a rookie last year and was a bright spot on an otherwise weak defensive line. With the signing of Aaron Kampman and the selection of Tyson Alualu in the draft, Knighton now has some quality pieces around him. Regardless of if fans come to know he is, you can be sure that offensive coordinators already do.

Calais Campbell, Arizona Cardinals: At 6’8 300 pounds, Campbell fits the prototype of what you would want a pass rusher to look like. While he was viewed by many as a top five pick entering the 2007 season, Campbell ended up falling to the second round in 2008 where early indications are that the Cardinals got a steal. Starting 15 games last year, Campbell recorded seven sacks and has just begun to tap into his potential. It wouldn’t be surprising if he had double digit sacks in his third year.

Charles Johnson, Carolina Panthers: With the departure of Julius Peppers via free agency, Johnson will be looked at to fill his shoes as a pass rusher. Last year even though he only started two games and played in 13, he recorded four sacks. That is also with a Panthers defensive line that struggled with injuries throughout the year. Johnson has the opportunity to put up big numbers for the Panthers in his fourth year.

Jacob Ford, Tennessee Titans: Even though he has only started in three games the past two seasons, Ford has been a passing down specialist recording 12.5 sacks in that span. If Ford becomes a starter, he could become a very effective player in a division where he plays the passing oriented Colts and Texans a combined four times.

Tyson Jackson, Kansas City Chiefs: Considering he is a defensive end in a 3-4, many thought Jackson was a reach with the third pick last year. However, he enters his second year in a very good situation. The Chiefs new defensive coordinator is Romeo Crennel who was with the Patriots where Richard Seymour, another 3-4 end developed into one of the NFL’s elite players. While Crennel won’t be of much help when it comes to conditioning, he knows what it takes for a player to be successful in this situation.

With an underrated pass rusher in Tamba Hali around him along with a young and improved secondary, this could be the year where Jackson begins to take his game to a level worthy of a top five pick.

Breakout Players: Tight Ends

Aaron Resnick, Playmaker Intern

This past year, tight ends Jermichael Finley, Vernon Davis and Brent Celek were players who took their games to the next level. Most of the guys who could breakout this year didn’t have many opportunities previously so it will be interesting to see if any of them turn out to be diamonds in the rough.

Zach Miller, Jacksonville Jaguars: As a converted quarterback out of Nebraska-Omaha, Miller did fairly well adjusting to the position. He is very athletic as he showed on a 62 yard catch against the Texans and got better as the year went on. Miller saved his best game for last as he scored his first two career touchdowns against the Browns in week 17. The Jaguars have always said they want to get the tight ends involved in the offense and with the way Marcedes Lewis played last year and the promise Miller showed, there is no time better than the present.

Jared Cook, Tennessee  Titans: Cook was the workout warrior of the 2009 combine checking in at 6’5 with a 41 inch vertical and running a 4.50 forty. However, that didn’t carry over to the games as he only recorded nine catches on the year. Cook now has a year under his belt and with his impressive attributes should become one of Vince Young’s favorite targets. It wouldn’t be surprising if he caught 40 passes this year.

Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions: Before having his season end with a torn ACL, Pettigrew was showing promise as a receiver recording two games where he had 70 yards or more. He is a very strong blocker and is a key piece in the Lions rebuilding stage. The Lions acquired multiple weapons on offense in Nate Burleson, Tony Scheffler and Jahvid Best to go along with Calvin Johnson and quarterback Matthew Stafford. With it appearing likely that the Lions will be playing from behind frequently, Pettigrew could be able to catch 50 passes this year.

Gary Barnidge, Carolina Panthers: Other than Steve Smith, the Panthers haven’t had many options in the passing game which is why it is surprising that they don’t use Barnidge more often. While he only caught 12 passes last year he averaged over 20 yards a catch which is ridiculous for a tight end. He has very good hands and at 6’5 could be the big target the Panthers have been looking for to compliment Smith in the receiving game.

Tennessee Titans: 2010-2011 Scouting Report

Interview with Dave Razzano by Dewey Hammond.

Dave Razzano is a former NFL scout and Playmaker Mobile correspondent with more than 22 years of professional scouting experience with the San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals under NFL coaches including Bill Walsh, George Seifert, Chuck Knox and Dick Vermeil. He's been a part of five Super Bowls with three Super Bowl wins (49ers, 1989, 1990; Rams, 2000).

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Q: What do you see with Vince Young and the Titans this season?

A: Vince Young took over at 0-6 and they ended up 8-8 so he was 8-2 as a starter, which is unbelievable. He’s a winner. He doesn’t put up the numbers but a lot of that is the talent around him. They have guys at receiver like Gage, Nate Washington, Kenny Britt is young. They don’t have elite offensive skill. They do have Chris Johnson obviously at running back and they have a nice offensive line, but they haven’t helped him in terms of getting the outside guys. I like Vince Young a lot and I think he’s working hard this offseason. He’s a playmaker and I think they can win with him. But they’ve also fallen off defensively and that hurts Vince Young. If they had the elite defense they had three or four years ago, boy, it’d be a whole different story.

Q: One guy you mentioned, Kenny Britt, immortalized for at least one season in that NFL ad where Troy Polamalu goes head and shoulders above him to grab that one-handed interception. A bit embarrassing for Britt, but he put up pretty good numbers last year, or at least had a few pretty good games when it came to the numbers. What do you see with Britt, and also wideout Lavelle Hawkins, who has been a disappointment since coming out of Cal.

A: Lavelle Hawkins, immature coming out of college. Kenny Britt, a bit immature coming out of Rutgers. A big-play guy who can go get the football but what they need to pick up is the maturity and work ethic. Damian Williams, the rookie out of USC, another guy I don’t like. They have some guys with questionable maturity and work ethic in that group. Justin Gage is a solid guy. Nate Washington should be. A guy I really love is Mark Mariani coming out of Montana. I think they took him in the sixth round. He had like 29 touchdowns, great punt return guy and a solid underneath slot receiver. He was a big-play guy up there for three years. These other young guys need to pick it up, but the problem is they often don’t change. That’s the problem with Lavelle Hawkins. I wasn’t crazy about him coming out of Cal. The maturity issues, always complaining. So Kenny Britt has the talent but he needs to harness that talent. I think he can do it. Supposedly he’s had a good offseason and it all comes down to your offseason work ethic. The starters, Gage and Washington, they can be solid, but many of the rest have suspect maturity levels.

Q: You mentioned Mariani out of Montana, they got another tight end out of Montana, they got a couple guys from Brown. What do you say to Titans fans who wonder why they’re team is drafting multiple guys from Brown and Montana?

A: Mariani was one of my favorite players. I don’t know that other kid from Brown but they had some great picks. Derrick Morgan, rookie out of Georgia Tech, was an outstanding pick. Rennie Curran is undersized but he fits the mold of the Colts. He’s explosive and active as can be. Alterraun Verner, he had like 56 pass breakups in college, four returned for TDs. He’s another guy who I think can help them this season. They did get some guys from smaller schools but they must have been highest on the board at the time. Some are better than others but you can find players anywhere.