Tag: breakout player

Raiders 2024 midseason awards: Top newcomer, breakout player, best position group, more

It’s the midway mark for the NFL season. And it happens to also be the bye week for the Raiders. So, with that in mind, let’s dole out some awards.

It’s the midway mark for the NFL season. And it happens to also be the bye week for the Raiders. So, with that in mind, let’s dole out some awards.

This was an easy choice. Bowers has been on a record pace this season for rookie tight ends. His 580 yards receiving is best among tight ends and his 57 catches is second in the league at any position behind only Jets WR Garrett Wilson.

Not a lot of competition for this award. But prior to Wilkins’s injury he was one of the best free agent signings of any team this offseason. They’re hoping he can return this season.

He was benched four games into his rookie season. Now he’s playing at a high level as an earned starting cornerback. He hasn’t logged an interception, but he routinely shows great skills and sticky coverage on some very talented deep threats.

No Raiders players are either coming back from a major injury or coming back to previous from off of a down season. Perhaps that will change by season’s end, but for now, there’s simply no one who fits this award.

If you’d prefer to put Luke Getsy here, I get it. But, personally, I don’t think a lot was expected of Getsy. He was not nearly the Raiders top choice for the job and was somehow even worse. Minshew was expected to at least add a steady presence at QB to settle down the offense. He wasn’t seen as someone who would win games for the Raiders, but rather not lose them. And he hasn’t lived up to that.

Not only did he not jump in and take the reins of the offense in camp as the Raiders had hoped, he’s been benched several times this season as he has thrown more interceptions (8) than touchdowns (8).

When all else fails — and it has — at least the Raiders have their kick squad. Daniel Carlson and AJ Cole are still arguably the best kicking duo in the league.

You could also go with “Only good game” as the title of this award. That win in Baltimore looks more and more like a fluke the farther down the line we get from it. Their other win was because Deshaun Watson was so determined to lose it for the Browns. The Ravens game was the only game this season the Raiders actually went out and earned the victory. Not coincidentally, it was also the only game they increased their scoring in the second half.

There were many to choose from for this one. Just pick one, really.

Could go with the home opening loss to the Panthers in which they never led and Andy Dalton led offense to put up 33 points in in the first 47 minutes.

Maybe the Rams where the Raiders turned the ball over four times?

Perhaps the Chiefs game where the running backs averaged less than a yard per carry?

Or the Steelers game where Pittsburgh rattled off 26 unanswered?

Or the Broncos who had a 100-yard pick six and rattled off 34 unanswered?

There’s always this past week against the Bengals when the Raiders gave up scores on the Bengals first five drives — four of which went for touchdowns — and allowed a season-high 41 points?

Too many options to choose from to pick just one.

Best punter in the league. Periodt.

Yes, the best rookie has also been their best offensive player. Not ideal, but there’s no one else who is even a viable candidate for this award.

He won AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the team’s come-from-behind win in Baltimore in Week two. He’s been battling an ankle injury for several weeks, which has limited his effectiveness, but he’s still their top defender.

Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. named a potential 2024 breakout player

Will 2024 be Brian Robinson Jr’s breakout season?

What is Washington running back Brian Robinson Jr’s ceiling? As a rookie in 2022, Robinson rushed for 797 yards and two touchdowns in only 12 games. This is after he missed the first four games of his rookie season after he was shot twice in an attempted robbery just before the season.

In 2023, Robinson, as Washington’s lead back, rushed for 733 yards and five touchdowns in 15 games. While Robinson took a step back in total rushing yards, his yards per attempt were up, and he did more damage as a receiver, catching 36 passes for 368 yards and four touchdowns.

But why did Robinson rush for fewer yards while remaining healthy? The answer is former offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. The Commanders, in Bieniemy’s only year in Washington, led the NFL in passing attempts while finishing last in rushing attempts. This wasn’t a product of the Commanders being down in every game, either.

After the season, multiple players shared their frustration with the offense, including right guard Sam Cosmi.

Washington has a new head coach (Dan Quinn), offensive coordinator (Kliff Kingsbury) and quarterback (Jayden Daniels). The Commanders will run the ball in 2024, although Robinson will split some time with veteran Austin Ekeler, who does his damage in the passing game.

Pro Football Network recently named one 2024 breakout player for every team. Robinson was Washington’s pick.

Dan Quinn is changing things in a big way for the Commanders, and with a ton of new pieces in place, the running game is going to be a rookie QB’s best friend. Following a season in which Robinson showed some exciting potential, 2024 could be the year he puts himself in the breakout category.

We totally agree here. Robinson will not be forgotten in Kingsbury’s offense. There has been talk that Washington will use more 12 personnel in 2024, which could be fun with a dual-threat quarterback like Daniels under center. Either way, don’t be shocked if Robinson has his best season yet.

 

Why Devonte Wyatt is Packers Wire’s pick for breakout player of 2023

First-round talent plus starting opportunity equals big-time breakout potential for Packers DL Devonte Wyatt in 2023.

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Christian Watson broke out as a burgeoning star for the Green Bay Packers in 2022. What were the main ingredients of his breakout? Incredible physical talent, and a big opportunity at his position.

Using the same pathway, second-year defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt was Packers Wire’s pick for breakout player of the 2023 season.

Wyatt, a first-round pick in 2022, played sparingly as a rookie but did flash disruptive abilities to finish the year, especially during the Packers’ season finale against the Detroit Lions.

The talent is there. Wyatt is an elite athlete with terrific burst, high energy levels and a long history of disruptive production from an interior defensive line position. Not many 300-pounders can move the way he moves, especially in terms of change-of-direction ability. Plus, he was a terrific run defender and a top interior pass-rusher at Georgia, so there’s reason to believe the same traits and abilities will eventually translate into production at the NFL level.

“With anybody up front, you want playmakers,” defensive coordinator Joe Barry said in May. “But specifically for defensive linemen, a three-technique, you want disruption…Just to be an all-around disruptive player. He has that ability, he has that quickness, he has that athleticism. Just be a disruptive force in the passing game and the run game as well.”

And Wyatt’s opportunity on the field as a second-year player in 2023 will be huge.

Gone are Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed, who combined to play over 1,000 total snaps along the defensive line last season. Wyatt, an expected starter next to Kenny Clark, will assume many of the available snaps. The Packers need him to be a consistent run defender on early downs and a go-to pass-rusher from the inside for Barry’s defense, which is under huge pressure to improve.

The breakout addition is easy for Wyatt: First-round talent plus starting opportunity. The Packers will hope the variables add up to a big season from an important player.

Raiders 2022 season awards: MVP, Rookie of the Year, Breakout player, more

Here are the #Raiders 2022 season awards including MVP, Rookie of the Year, Breakout player, and more.

There wasn’t a lot to crow about for the Raiders this season, but the awards must be given out, so that’s what I’m going to do. 

Wisconsin S Hunter Wohler named breakout candidate in 2022 by Athlon Sports

Wisconsin safety Hunter Wohler named as a top breakout candidate for 2022 by Athlon Sports:

After a true freshman season where he contributed on both defense and special teams, Wisconsin safety Hunter Wohler was named by Steven Lassan of Athlon Sports as one of the top 50 breakout candidates for this season.

Related: Ranking the Big Ten’s best home uniforms

Wohler recorded 17 total tackles, a sack and a pass deflection in his true freshman season while serving as a rotational player on defense and constant on special teams. Lassan believes that Wohler’s intangibles, alongside defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s experience, will help him take the next step this season.

The Muskego, Wis., native will likely slot into the role of either starting safeties Scott Nelson or Collin Wilder, who both graduated at the end of last.

In a new defensive scheme, Jalen Redmond on track for breakout season

After losing three key figures from last year’s defensive front, Sooners DT Jalen Redmond is projected to be one of college football’s breakout stars.

After losing three players from their defensive line to the NFL, the Oklahoma Sooners will turn over 75% of its front four from a year ago. With that much turnover, the Oklahoma Sooners will need to find new stars to rely on upfront.

One such player is returning defensive tackle Jalen Redmond. Redmond played just 309 snaps last season but was an important piece for the Sooners down the stretch. Redmond enters 2022 as a key piece to Brent Venables’ defense.

Steve Lassan of Athlon Sports expects Jalen Redmond to be one of the breakout players in college football in 2022.

Considering the track record of new Oklahoma coach Brent Venables in producing standouts along the defensive line, it’s safe to assume the Sooners will have a couple of all-conference candidates at the end of 2022. Redmond is our pick to shine, as he has accumulated 21.5 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks over 24 games since ’18. – Lassan, Athlon Sports

Redmond has the explosiveness and the first step to be a terror for the Oklahoma Sooners. His ability to create penetration will make life difficult on opposing offensive lines and quarterbacks in 2022. The talent’s always been there, but the good fortune of health hasn’t.

After sitting out the 2020 season due to COVID concerns, Redmond was limited to eight games in 2021. And in those eight games, he was still incredibly productive. He had eight tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Had he played the full 13-game season, that would translate to six sacks and 13 tackles for loss.

Redmond came through in the most important games of the season. Against Baylor, Iowa State, Oklahoma State, and Oregon, Redmond came up with eight total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks. And, of course, there was the fumble return for a touchdown against Iowa State.

In 10 games as a redshirt freshman, Redmond led the Oklahoma Sooners with 6.5 sacks. He had more sacks as a redshirt freshman than Ronnie Perkins. Let that sink in.

With Perrion Winfrey off to the NFL, the onus is on Redmond to be the wrecking ball on the interior for the Oklahoma Sooners. In a Venables defense that has produced the most sacks and the most tackles for loss over the last decade, Redmond could fit right in.

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247Sports predicts one breakout player for each Big 12 football team in 2022

This list is loaded with wide receivers.

It’s no secret that the Big 12 conference is flooded with offensive playmakers. Continue reading “247Sports predicts one breakout player for each Big 12 football team in 2022”

247Sports views Texas DL Moro Ojomo as a player set to make a jump in 2021

Moro Ojomo could take a significant leap in 2021.

There are interchanging parts all over the Longhorns roster, which means that there will be fresh faces who have an opportunity to be a key contributor for the first time.

247Sports recently released a list of players that they believe will make a leap in production for this 2021 season, and Texas defensive lineman Moro Ojomo was included.

Ojomo has seen a gradual increase in numbers every year, as during his redshirt freshman season he accounted for 13 total tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss in eight games played. Last season, where he had a larger role, Ojomo compiled 21 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks in nine games.

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Ojomo has been one of the standouts during offseason workouts under the new coaching staff, and especially during the spring game where he registered three sacks. He has made a little bit of a position switch as last season he was used as an edge rusher, but in new defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski’s scheme, Ojomo is being utilized on the interior defensive line. A role that feels much more comfortable for him in comparison to the edge position.

Texas’ defensive line is expected to be one of the strongest position groups no the roster this season, as it is one of the most experienced groups. The Longhorns will have two juniors and two seniors across the line, who will likely be in much better position to be constant disruptions in the backfield.

Athlon Sports lists Texas’ Bijan Robinson as the top breakout running back for 2021

Athlon Sports ranked the top 25 breakout running backs for the 2021 college football season.

First-year head coach Steve Sarkisian has several question marks to sort out on the offensive side of the ball this season, but running back Bijan Robinson is not one of them.

Sarkisian won’t hesitate to give Robinson 20+ touches per game on a consistent basis, something that Longhorn fans were unable to witness last season under Tom Herman.

Although he was used sparingly as a true freshman, Robinson showcased every ounce of his five-star rating. His freshman campaign ended with 703 rushing yards, including 183 in the Valero Alamo Bowl against Colorado. The more impressive part is he accomplished that on 86 carries over nine games.

Robinson set the school record for yards per carry in a game (19.1) at Kansas State and yards per carry in a season (8.2). His rare athleticism coupled with offensive guru Steve Sarkisian is a primary reason Athlon Sports listed Robinson as the top breakout running back in college football for the 2021 season.

The nation’s top running back prospect in the 2020 cycle landed at No. 1. TCU’s Zach Evans and Oklahoma’s Eric Gray landed within the top five.

The combination of the arrival of new coach Steve Sarkisian, along with a heftier workload from Robinson, should turn the sophomore into one of the top running backs in college football. Robinson showcased what’s to come in 2021 by gashing Kansas State for 172 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries and a 183-yard effort versus Colorado in the Alamo Bowl.

It’s a solid bet that Robinson will soon become a household name across the country.

The Atheltic deems Texas ex Poona Ford a breakout player for the Seahawks

Poona Ford wasn’t much of a sought-after player in the 2018 NFL Draft, but his performance in the league has teams wishing they had him.

Former Texas defensive tackle Poona Ford entered the league with a major chip on his shoulder. He was undersized and went undrafted in the 2018 NFL draft.

The Seattle Seahawks took a chance on the former Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year and it has paid dividends for both parties involved.

Ford’s playing time has increased every year with Seattle. The former Longhorn appeared in all 16 games last season and recorded career highs in tackles (39), sacks (2), and tackles for a loss (8). His consistent play and improvement garnered a two-year contract extension with Seattle.

It also gained the notion of being most likely breakout player for the Seahawks throughout the 2021 season.

The Athletic’s staff writers each picked a player from every NFL team that they feel is poised to breakout this upcoming season. Michael-Shawn Dugar selected Ford and took it a step further by mentioning how Ford has the potential to become one of the league’s best at his position. “Ford, 25, has the potential to be one of the game’s top defensive tackles,” Dugar said.

It’s certainly high praise for a young undrafted player, but Ford has taken his opportunity and ran with it.