NFL Breakout Team 2008 - Defense
August 17, 2008
DE: Tamba Hali, 3rd yr, Kansas City Chiefs
Excellent run-defender who now gets a shot at more sacks playing on the right side.
DT: Amobi Okoye, 2nd yr, Houston Texans
Amazing natural power; could one day reach the level of a Warren Sapp.
DT: Tank Johnson, 5th yr, Dallas Cowboys
Coming off his first great offseason in years. The deciding factor will be whether he plays hard.
DE: Gaines Adams, 2nd yr, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Started getting traction in the second half of his rookie season. Physically speaking, the game is remarkably natural for him.
OLB: LaMarr Woodley, 2nd yr, Pittsburgh Steelers
Incredible fluidity. A lock to be the next dominant pass-rusher in Pittsburgh.
ILB: D’Qwell Jackson, 3rd yr, Cleveland Browns
Improved awareness and new D-linemen (Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams) in front of him will pay dividends.
OLB: A.J. Hawk, 3rd yr, Green Bay Packers
Sophomore slump is no big deal. The guy looks like an amplified version of Zach Thomas.
CB: Cortland Finnegan, 3rd yr, Tennessee Titans
Actually broke out a year ago. Further improvements will force people to take notice.
FS: Tanard Jackson, 2nd yr, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Will be the NFC’s version of Ed Reed. Terrific playmaking instincts.
SS: Atari Bigby, 3rd yr, Green Bay Packers
Hard-hitting turnover maker who came alive in the postseason last year.
CB: Tye Hill, 3rd yr, St. Louis Rams
Has genuine shutdown potential….if he can just stay healthy.
The following young players will improve in ’08 but have already surpassed “breakout” status:
LB Patrick Willis
LB Jon Beason
LB David Harris
CB Antonio Cromartie
Darrelle Revis
not bad at all
watch out for Ellis Hobbs and James Sanders this year. Hobbs was amazing in both ‘06 & ‘07 playoffs and Sanders had the game sealing pick vs philly and had an interception late aginst ravens that made brady’s comeback possible.
good picks, but you must be a heavy Packer fan because Hawk and Bigby are bad picks. Hawk should idealy be playing MLB-that’s where he would get the most out of his skills. He will be OK to good. Bigby flat out stinks. For every big hit he missed three tackles. For every INT (and he got lucky those were easy ones) he will screw up in coverage 5 fold. He is an in-the box Safety and they don’t play that. The Packers have the worst DB Coach in the NFL, but oh well he’s McCarthy’s buddy.