Blue Chip/Red Chip (Offense)

September 7, 2012 stevenlourie 2012 NFL Off-Season, Blue/Red Chips

Every year, Michael Lombardi at NFL Network does a list of “blue chips” and “red chips,” meaning the top 5 players at each position, “blue chips” and then players 6-10, “red chips.” Normally, this is a pretty good list, although this year I had some major disagreements, especially the placement of Red Bryant as a blue chip defensive end when he has 2 career sacks in 5 seasons. I don’t care how good you are at stopping the run. Defensive ends get paid to get to the quarterback (in addition to stopping the run). If you can’t get to the quarterback, you’re not a blue chip. You’re not even a red chip. If a player was a great pass rusher and couldn’t stop the run, I would feel similarly (although in a passing league, I prefer the one dimensional pass rushers over the one dimensional run stuffers). Anyway, here’s Lombardi’s list on offense. And below is mine for the offense.

Blue Chips

Tom Brady (NE)

Aaron Rodgers (GB)

Drew Brees (NO)

Eli Manning (NYG)

Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)

Red Chips

Peyton Manning (DEN)

Matt Stafford (DET)

Phillip Rivers (SD)

Cam Newton (CAR)

Matt Ryan (ATL)

Notes

Peyton Manning would be a blue chip if healthy.

If this list were 11 players, which I wish it was, Romo would be a red chip. That might have been my toughest cut (Matt Ryan over Romo).

Ben Roethlisberger gets the edge over Philip Rivers because Roethlisberger is not coming off his worst year as a starter.

Matt Stafford and Cam Newton played like blue chip players last year, but I need to see them do it again.

Blue Chips

Adrian Peterson (MIN)

Maurice Jones Drew (JAC)

Arian Foster (HOU)

Ray Rice (BAL)

LeSean McCoy (PHI)

Red Chips

Matt Forte (CHI)

Chris Johnson (TEN)

Marshawn Lynch (SEA)

Fred Jackson (BUF)

Jamaal Charles (KC)

Notes

If there were a better option than Adrian Peterson, he wouldn’t have been a blue chip, but Chris Johnson is coming off a down year, Jamaal Charles, Matt Forte, and Fred Jackson are all coming off injuries, and Marshawn Lynch has had the type of up and down career that makes me need to see him do it again.

Blue Chips

Calvin Johnson (DET)

Larry Fitzgerald (ARZ)

Julio Jones (ATL)

AJ Green (CIN)

Andre Johnson (HOU)

Red Chips

Wes Welker (NE)

Hakeem Nicks (NYG)

Dwayne Bowe (KC)

Steve Smith (CAR)

Greg Jennings (GB)

Victor Cruz (NYG)

Antonio Brown (PIT)

Brandon Marshall (CHI)

Dez Bryant (DAL)

Jordy Nelson (GB)

Notes

Like Lombardi, I do 15 receivers. It’s a very deep position. I could have gone 20 and not have really been reaching for guys (Mike Wallace, Percy Harvin, Marques Colston, Steve Johnson, Roddy White).

The position may be deep, but it’s light on top level guys. Megatron and Fitzgerald are the only “sure thing” blue chippers. The other three are two 2nd year receivers with huge upsides and a former “sure thing” guy who is a little older and had some injury issues last year.

Wes Welker and Victor Cruz aren’t blue chippers for different reasons. Welker is a very scheme specific player, while Cruz needs to show me it once more.

If there’s one red chipper I’d predict to make the leap to blue chipper this year it’s Dez Bryant.

If there’s one player not listed here, in fact not even in my top-20, that could be a blue chipper at this point next year it’s Torrey Smith.

Blue Chips

Rob Gronkowski (NE)

Jimmy Graham (NO)

Vernon Davis (SF)

Jason Witten (DAL)

Antonio Gates (SD)

Red Chips

Jermichael Finley (GB)

Aaron Hernandez (NE)

Fred Davis (WAS)

Dustin Keller (NYJ)

Heath Miller (PIT)

Notes

Hernandez isn’t a blue chipper because he doesn’t block like the 5 guys in the blue chip category do, but if he improves his receiving total again, he’ll be hard to leave out next year.

Fred Davis and Jermichael Finley both have blue chip upside. Finley just needs to become more consistent and improve his focus, while Davis needs to get through a 16 game season.

Blue Chips

Joe Thomas (CLE)

Jake Long (MIA)

Andrew Whitworth (CIN)

Michael Roos (TEN)

Duane Brown (HOU)

Red Chips

Eugene Monroe (JAC)

Jordan Gross (CAR)

Tyron Smith (DAL)

Bryan Bulaga (GB)

D’Brickashaw Ferguson (NYJ)

Notes

The fact that Whitworth, Roos, and Brown have made one combined Pro-Bowl is everything that’s wrong with the Pro-Bowl. How the hell are common fans supposed to pick the best offensive linemen. Only those with access with advanced data can do that accurately. Whitworth, Ross, and Brown are all among the top-5 tackles in the league.

Ferguson would have been in the blue chip category, but he had a slightly off year last year.

Two right tackles make the list, Tyron Smith and Bryan Bulaga. A lot of teams can go after you with more than one pass rusher now, so right tackle is becoming more and more of an important position. Smith will move to the left side this year, while Bulaga will remain as one of the top right tackles in the league.

Blue Chips

Jahri Evans (NO)

Carl Nicks (TB)

Marshal Yanda (BAL)

Josh Sitton (GB)

Logan Mankins (NE)

Red Chips

Evan Mathis (PHI)

Ben Grubbs (NO)

Andy Levitre (BUF)

Mike Iupati (SF)

Steve Hutchinson (MIN)

Notes

Evan Mathis might have been the best offensive lineman in the league last year, regardless of position, but he wasn’t really anyone before he came to Philadelphia and met Howard Mudd, so I need to see it from him once more.

Mike Iupati has all the potential to be a blue chipper at this point next year.

Going the opposite way is Hutchinson, once a blue chipper, he’s now 35. He’ll have a positive impact on Tennessee’s offensive line though.

Blue Chips

Chris Myers (HOU)

Nick Mangold (NYJ)

Scott Wells (STL)

John Sullivan (MIN)

Ryan Kalil (CAR)

Red Chips

Jeff Saturday (GB)

Eric Wood (BUF)

Alex Mack (CLE)

Matt Birk (BAL)

Nick Hardwick (SD)

Notes

If Eric Wood had made it through all 16 games last year, he’d be a blue chipper. He might have been the best center in the league before he got hurt.

After all these guys, Jeff Saturday and Matt Birk are still getting it done. Their careers are coming to a close though.

John Sullivan used to be a mediocre center, but was one of the best in the league last year. If there was another option, I’d put him in the red chip group and make him prove it again, but there really wasn’t.

Click here for defense

[switch_ad_hub]

St. Louis Rams trade OT Jason Smith to the New York Jets for OT Wayne Hunter

August 27, 2012 stevenlourie 2012 NFL Off-Season, Jets, Offseason Moves 2012, Rams

The Jets and Rams are essentially swapping terrible right tackles in this deal. Smith is the better of the two, but the former 2^nd overall pick has only played in 28 games in 3 seasons and only played in more than 7 games once, starting 15 games in 2010. In 2010, he was awful, grading out as below average as a run blocker and pass protector, allowing 5 sacks, 6 quarterback hits, and 32 quarterback pressures, while committing 9 penalties. Out of 76 offensive tackles, Smith graded out as ProFootballFocus’ 56^th ranked offensive tackle that season.

He wasn’t much better in limited action in 2009 or 2011. After missing 10 games with concussions last season, Smith did not impress this offseason, evidently, and was benched for Barry Richardson, who was horrific in his own right last season as the starting right tackle for the cross state Chiefs as Richardson was ProFootballFocus’ 2^nd worst rated offensive tackle. It’s pretty pathetic that Smith couldn’t even beat him out.

Hunter, meanwhile, has been even worse over the past 2 years. In 2010, Hunter played the equivalent of 7 whole games, including playoffs, and allowed 4 sacks, 6 quarterback hits, and 15 quarterback pressures, while committing 7 penalties and struggling as a run blocker. Ironically, Hunter managed to grade out one spot lower than Smith on ProFootballFocus’ offensive tackle rankings, 57^th, despite only playing less than half the snaps that Smith played.

Hunter did not get better in 2011. In fact, he pretty much continued his awful play over an entire season. ProFootballFocus’ 67^th ranked offensive tackle out of 73, Hunter allowed 11 sacks, 11 quarterback hits, and 32 quarterback pressures, committed 11 penalties and struggled as a run blocker. After allowing 3 sacks in a preseason game against the Giants a week ago, Hunter was benched for veteran journeyman Austin Howard, who has only played in 2 games in his career, including one start where the 2010 undrafted free agent allowed 2 sacks and 2 quarterback hits.

Jason Smith is also younger, heading into only his age 26 season, while Hunter heads into his age 31 season, and has more upside as a former #2 overall pick if he can get his game together and stay healthy. However, Smith is owed 4 million fully guaranteed this season, while Howard is owed just 2.45 million fully guaranteed this season. For what it’s worth, neither tackle will see the money they are owed in 2013, as Hunter is owed a non-guaranteed 3.95 million and Smith is owed a whopping non-guaranteed 12 million (including an 11.25 million dollar roster bonus due in March of 2013).

However, I don’t know if the “upgrade” from Hunter to Smith is really worth an extra 1.55 million. If Smith can start to make good on some of his upside and prove to be a decent right tackle, it will be, but the Jets are taking a major risk. I’d rather pay Hunter 2.45 million than pay Smith 4 million. The Rams are also taking a risk, betting that Smith won’t ever emerge as a decent starting right tackle, because this deal pretty much locks them into having an awful right tackle this season, either Hunter or Richardson. However, it’s unlikely that Smith would have been much better than either of them and the Rams are saving 1.55 million this season, so I like this deal a little bit more for them.

Update: Apparently the two sides pulled some salary cap magic and restructuring Smith’s contract right before the trade so that 1.55 million of Smith’s deal would be paid to him as a signing bonus by the Rams before he went to the Jets. Essentially, these two teams are going to be paying these two players the same amount this season. Given that, this deal makes no sense for the Rams? Why trade someone who probably has no upside for someone who definitely has no upside? Smith is younger and better than Hunter. Although, admittedly the former is like comparing eating a pound of dog shit to eating 2 pounds of dog shit. Still, the Jets win this trade.

Grade for St. Louis: C

Grade for NY Jets: A

If you’re interested in doing a fantasy football league with me, here’s the link (no draft date set yet, currently standard, with the option to become PPR with group vote). http://msn.foxsports.com/fantasy/football/commissioner/Registration/Private.aspx?league=55086&password=FanSpot2

[switch_ad_hub]

Seattle Seahawks trade QB Tarvaris Jackson to Buffalo Bills

August 26, 2012 stevenlourie 2012 NFL Off-Season, Bills, Offseason Moves 2012, Seahawks

Trade for Seattle: There was just no room in Seattle for Jackson. Russell Wilson had an impressive offseason to win the starting quarterback job as a 3^rd round pick rookie, while Matt Flynn basically won the backup quarterback job by virtue of his fully guaranteed 8 million dollar salary in 2012, 6 million of which had already been paid to him in the form of a signing bonus. Jackson was owed 4 million this season and even if he had agreed to a pay cut with the Seahawks, which he did with the Bills as part of this trade, it wouldn’t have made any sense to keep him. Credit them for getting something for him.

Grade: A

Trade for Buffalo: Ryan Fitzpatrick has definitely flashed at times in his career as a starter, but he’s certainly not a proven franchise quarterback yet and he is pretty injury prone. For that reason, it’s a necessity for the Bills to protect themselves with a solid veteran quarterback. However, Vince Young, who was signed this offseason to a 1 year deal to do that, has been awful this preseason, completing just 25 of 52 (48.1%) for 276 yards (5.3 YPA), 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. His competition for the job, Tyler Thigpen, was even worse completing 11 of 23 (47.8%) for 94 yards (4.1 YPA), 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Both of them will likely be cut as part of final cuts now, or even sooner, as Jackson will be Fitzpatrick’s primary backup. For a late round pick and a reasonable salary after pay cut, this move makes a lot of sense.

Grade: A

[switch_ad_hub]

Miami Dolphins trade CB Vontae Davis to the Indianapolis Colts

August 26, 2012 stevenlourie 2012 NFL Off-Season, Colts, Dolphins, Offseason Moves 2012

Trade for Colts: Ah, so this was the big trade Jim Irsay was tweeting about. Davis was one of the potential candidates I mentioned when I wrote on the subject a few days ago, along with Denver’s Ryan Clady and Baltimore’s Cary Williams. The Colts are taking a big risk here. If Davis plays like he did last year, this is an obvious steal for them.

Last season, he allowed just 36 completions on 66 attempts (54.5%) for 496 yards (7.5 YPA), 3 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions, while deflecting 6 passes and committing 4 penalties. Only 24 and owed just over a combined two million in the next 2 seasons, the Colts could be getting a legitimate #1 cornerback who is young and cheap. At a position of major need, that’s definitely worth a 2^nd round pick (and a 6^th round pick, but that pick is pretty irrelevant in this trade). Davis will likely be the #1 cornerback in Indianapolis, moving Jerraud Powers off of opponents’ #1 receivers and filling a gapping hole in the starting lineup.

However, last year was Davis’ first elite season as the 2009 1^st round pick allowed over 60% completion and more touchdowns than interceptions in each of his first 2 seasons in the league in 2010 to 2011. It’s definitely not uncommon for a player to have a breakout 3^rd year and then continue their strong level of play, but Davis wasn’t impressing the Dolphins’ new coaching staff because he showed up out of shape to Training Camp and fell behind two cornerbacks on the depth chart.

Davis also has some injury history as he missed 4 games last season, but that’s not nearly as concerning as the potential work ethic problems. If the Colts are, in fact, getting a young, cheap, #1 cornerback for a 2^nd round pick, it’s an obvious steal, but you have to wonder why a team would give away a young, cheap #1 cornerback for a 2^nd round pick. Colts fans should know that Davis comes with a buyer beware tag. On top of that, the Colts are getting a guy roughly 2 weeks before the first game of the season. That’s not a lot of time for him to learn the playbook and the coverage scheme.

Grade: B

Trade for the Dolphins: It looked like Davis was going to open the season as the Dolphins’ #3 cornerback. Sean Smith has reportedly done the opposite of Davis this offseason, showing up to camp slimmed down 24 pounds to 6-3 190, making a strong impression, and looking poised to bounce back from a down season. In 2011 he allowed 61 completions on 104 attempts (58.7%) for 793 yards (7.6 YPA), 5 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, while deflecting 5 passes and committing 2 penalties. In 2010, he allowed 24 completions on 45 attempts (53.3%) for 325 yards (7.2 YPA), 1 touchdown and 1 interception, while deflecting 8 passes and committing 1 penalty in 11 starts at cornerback (he made 4 at safety too, but wasn’t as good).

Richard Marshall, meanwhile, is looking continue his strong play from 2011. He allowed 28 completions on 54 attempts (51.9%) for 394 yards (7.3 YPA), 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions, while deflecting 5 passes and committing 6 penalties last season. He ranked 3rd in the league in receptions per coverage snap, 7th in yards per coverage snap, and 2nd in targets per coverage snap.

However, if they’re wrong about Davis and he bounces back as a young, cheap #1 cornerback in Indianapolis, they’re going to wish they had either kept him or gotten more for him. Starting cornerback probably won’t be an issue for the Dolphins this season, but after losing Davis, they’ll still be plagued with the same depth issues they had last season, the ones that Marshall was brought in to help with.

Nolan Carroll is now their #3 cornerback. He wasn’t very good last season as their #4 cornerback, allowing 16 completions on 30 attempts (53.3%) for 239 yards (8.0 YPA), 1 touchdown, and 1 interception, while deflecting 3 passes and committing 1 penalty. At first glance, they appear to have won this trade, but like the Colts, they’re also taking a risk and hoping that Davis won’t prove to be worth the risk for the Colts. However, I think they are the winner of this trade right now.

Grade: B

[switch_ad_hub]

Tennessee Titans extend CB Jason McCourty

August 23, 2012 stevenlourie 2012 NFL Off-Season, Offseason Moves 2012, Titans

The Titans are taking a risk giving McCourty this 5 year, 43 million dollar deal with 20 million guaranteed. McCourty was actually thrown on more frequently than any cornerback in the league last year, being thrown on once every 4.6 coverage snaps. However, this was because opposing quarterbacks feared throwing on Cortland Finnegan, the opposite cornerback and the Titans’ #1 cornerback. Finnegan was thrown on once every 7.6 coverage snaps, which was the 8^th best rate in the NFL.

However, McCourty held up very well being thrown on that much. He allowed 71 completions on 117 attempts (60.7%) for 802 yards (6.9 YPA), 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions, while deflecting 10 passes and committing 2 penalties. He also graded out as ProFootballFocus’ best cornerback against the run because he ranked 4^th at his position with a run stop rate of 3.9% and 4^th at his position in run snap tackles, while missing only 1.

For his total efforts, he was ProFootballFocus’ 7^th ranked cornerback. Having an elite cornerback like Cortland Finnegan is obviously very valuable, but he would have been less valuable if opposing quarterbacks could just had success picking on the other cornerback. McCourty was picked on often, but did not allow quarterbacks to have a lot of success and was a big part of a Titans pass defense that ranked 4^th in the league in YPA allowed (6.4 YPA), despite a pass rush that ranked 31^st in the league in sacks (28) and 31^st in the league in pass rush productivity (sacks + .75 quarterback hits + .75 quarterback pressures/total pass rush snaps).

McCourty also played pretty well in 2010 in a more limited role as the 2009 6^th round pick, allowing 31 completions on 52 attempts (59.6%) for 287 yards (5.5 YPA), 4 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, while deflecting 8 passes and committing 3 penalties. However, McCourty is still only a one year wonder as he’s only been a full time starter for 1 season (he made just 6 starts in 2010) and he’s never been a full-time #1 cornerback and covered opponent’s #1 receivers because the Titans always had Cortland Finnegan to take care of that (I say full-time because Finnegan also functioned as the Titans’ slot cornerback last year and would move inside in 3-cornerback sets, often leaving McCourty to cover the opponent’s #1 wide receiver, assuming that receiver didn’t move into the slot as well).

For that reason, in a normal scenario, he wouldn’t seem to deserve this kind of money as someone as a 1 year wonder above average #2 cornerback. This is elite #1 cornerback money. He only got 7 million over 5 years less in maximum money than Cortland Finnegan got from the Rams this offseason and 4 million less in guaranteed money (Finnegan’s deal was 5 years, 50 million with 24 million guaranteed).

However, this isn’t quite a normal scenario. With Finnegan gone, McCourty will become the #1 cornerback this year. He’s talented enough and has some experience covering #1 cornerbacks (albeit only in certain scenarios) so he definitely could break out as an elite #1 cornerback this year and shed the one year wonder label at the same time.

If he had done that, he would have commanded upwards of 50 million dollars over 5 years on the open market. The cornerback franchise tag is one of the most expensive in the league (tied for 2^nd highest at 10.6 million this season) so that wouldn’t have been much of a cheaper option for the Titans and they can’t really afford to lose their #1 cornerback two offseasons in a row. The Titans are taking a chance that McCourty can emerge into that type of player this season, but they really believe in him and he definitely could make this deal look like a relative bargain.

Grade: B

[switch_ad_hub]

New England Patriots extend DT Kyle Love

August 22, 2012 stevenlourie 2012 NFL Off-Season, Offseason Moves 2012, Patriots

The Patriots essentially bought out Kyle Love’s exclusive rights year and restricted free agency year by giving him this 2 year, 3.09 million dollar deal. Love, a 2010 undrafted free agent, was set to make $540,000 this season and somewhere between 1-2 million in 2013 under a restricted free agent tender, so the Patriots are probably giving him more money than he ordinarily would have made, without getting him under team control for an extra year.

It’s tough to figure out what the Patriots were trying to accomplish with this deal, especially with someone like Love, a solid run stuffer and a versatility rotational player, but a one dimensional player who doesn’t do anything in terms of rushing the passer. He had just 2 sacks, 3 quarterback hits, and 14 quarterback pressures on 384 pass rush snaps last season, including playoffs (5.0%). Unless he has a major breakout year this year, I don’t get the purpose of this deal, but he’s not overpaid or anything.

Grade: B

[switch_ad_hub]

St. Louis Rams trade CB Josh Gordy to Indianapolis Colts

August 21, 2012 stevenlourie 2012 NFL Off-Season, Colts, Offseason Moves 2012, Rams

Trade for Colts: Needing cornerback depth having only Jerraud Powers, Justin King, and Cassius Vaughn at cornerback, the Colts sent an undisclosed late round pick to St. Louis for Josh Gordy. Gordy played 12 games, including 9 starts, for an injury plagued Rams secondary last season, but struggled, grading out as ProFootballFocus’ 96^th ranked cornerback out of 109, allowing 27 completions on 42 attempts (64.3%) for 387 yards (9.2 YPA), 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions, while deflecting 2 passes and committing 1 penalty. He was their worst rated cornerback against the run. However, they almost had to make some sort of move because of how much they lack depth at cornerback.

Grade: B

Trade for Rams: Gordy played a big role for the Rams last season, but he didn’t play well and with Bradley Fletcher coming back from injury and Cortland Finnegan and Janoris Jenkins coming in, Gordy would have been their 4^th cornerback at best this season. It’s surprising they were able to get anything for him.

Grade: A

[switch_ad_hub]

Seattle Seahawks trade MLB Barrett Ruud to New Orleans Saints

August 20, 2012 stevenlourie 2012 NFL Off-Season, Offseason Moves 2012, Saints, Seahawks

Trade for Saints: The Saints obviously felt they needed added depth at linebacker. David Hawthorne and Curtis Lofton have suffered knee and ankle injuries respectively and their statuses for week 1 are up in the air, while Chris Chamberlain tore his ACL and will be put on IR. However, Ruud, once one of the better linebackers in the league, has had his career decimated by injuries and has been one of the worst linebackers in the league over the past 2 seasons.

In 2010, he was ProFootballFocus’ 49^th ranked middle linebacker out of 50, starting 16 games for the Buccaneers, and in 2011, he was their 48^th ranked middle linebacker out of 51 and was benched midseason for Colin McCarthy, after starting the first 8 games of the season. This offseason, he signed in Seattle for a minimum contract and lost his starting job very early in the offseason to a mere 2^nd round rookie, Bobby Wagner. He comes very cheap for the Saints, an undisclosed draft pick and a veteran’s minimum salary, but he won’t provide anything positive for this team. The fact that they had to give up anything at all for him is ridiculous.

Grade: C

Trade for Seahawks: Ruud wasn’t much use to the Seahawks because he couldn’t give carve out even a situational role behind a rookie. I’m surprised they were able to get anything for him.

Grade: A

[switch_ad_hub]

New York Jets Potential Breakout Player of 2012: Muhammad Wilkerson

August 19, 2012 stevenlourie 2012 Breakout Players, 2012 NFL Off-Season, Jets

The great thing about the NFL is that there are so many positions that every year, there is almost always at least one player who has a breakout year on every team, no matter how good or bad the team is. This is one part in a 32 part segment detailing one potential breakout player for the 2012 NFL season on each NFL team. For the New York Jets, that player is defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson.

Under Head Coach Rex Ryan, the Jets love using multiple different types of fronts. They use everything from a 4-3 to a 3-4 to a 46, something they’ll be using more of this season. Because of this, they rotate defensive lineman often. However, even as a rookie, Muhammad Wilkerson, the Jets’ 1^st round pick in 2011, saw significant snaps as a defensive lineman, playing 608 snaps, evenly against the run and as a pass rusher, 2^nd on the team among defensive linemen.

Wilkerson fared pretty well, especially against the run. He ranked 5^th at his position with a 9.7% run stop rate, with 28 run stops on 290 run stopping snaps, a 9.7% rate. As a pass rusher, he wasn’t quite as good. He had 3 sacks, 4 quarterback hits, and 8 quarterback pressures on 300 pass rush snaps, good for a pedestrian 5.0% rate. His pass rush productivity rate was 4.2, which is also pretty pedestrian, as it ranked in the middle of the pack at his position.

However, Wilkerson is very talented and heading into his 2^nd year in the league, he figures to get a larger workload. He’s incredibly versatile and will fit into any one of their fronts and should lead their defensive line in snaps played this season. Already great as a run stuffer, Wilkerson, a developmental prospect coming out of Temple, improved as a pass rusher as last season went on as he had 2 sacks, 2 quarterback hits, and 6 quarterback pressures in his final 8 games, on 144 pass rush snaps, good for a rate of 6.9%. He’s definitely got the potential for a breakout season in 2012.

Miami Dolphins Potential Breakout Player of 2012: Jared Odrick

August 19, 2012 stevenlourie 2012 Breakout Players, 2012 NFL Off-Season, Dolphins

The great thing about the NFL is that there are so many positions that every year, there is almost always at least one player who has a breakout year on every team, no matter how good or bad the team is. This is one part in a 32 part segment detailing one potential breakout player for the 2012 NFL season on each NFL team. For the Miami Dolphins, that player is defensive end Jared Odrick.

Jared Odrick, a collegiate defensive tackle, was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the 1^st round in 2010 and moved to defensive end in their 3-4 defense, better known as the five-technique position. Odrick’s rookie year basically ended before it started as he broke his leg in the opener after only 22 snaps and was put on IR. In 2011, however, Odrick came back healthy and started to show some of why he was such a highly drafted player as a rotational five-technique, mostly focusing on rushing the passer.

On a crowded defensive line, Odrick played 597 snaps, 393 of which were pass rush snaps, and he had 5 sacks, 3 quarterback hits, and 16 quarterback pressures, good for a rate of 6.1%. His 5.2 pass rush productivity rate ranked 13^th at his position. He struggled against the run a little bit, but he didn’t really have to play the run all that much. Heading into his 3^rd season, Miami’s defensive line is a lot less crowded as they switch to a 4-3.

Kendall Langford, Igor Olshansky, and Phillip Merling are gone, while former rush linebacker Koa Misi will remain at linebacker. Rather than playing his collegiate position of defensive tackle, the Dolphins will be using him as a hybrid, playing him outside on running downs in the base package and inside on passing downs in sub packages.

That would seem to play best into his strength against he’s going to be good against the run as a defensive end at 6-5 300 and good as a pass rusher at defensive tackle. Also, on a thinner defensive line, Odrick figures to have plenty of opportunity for playing time. He’s also another year removed from his broken leg, which may have still affected him last season. All of that could equal a breakout season for the talented former 1^st round pick.

[switch_ad_hub]

Football Fan Spot

A site for football fans

2012 NFL Off-Season

Blue Chip/Red Chip (Offense)

St. Louis Rams trade OT Jason Smith to the New York Jets for OT Wayne Hunter

Seattle Seahawks trade QB Tarvaris Jackson to Buffalo Bills

Miami Dolphins trade CB Vontae Davis to the Indianapolis Colts

Tennessee Titans extend CB Jason McCourty

New England Patriots extend DT Kyle Love

St. Louis Rams trade CB Josh Gordy to Indianapolis Colts

Seattle Seahawks trade MLB Barrett Ruud to New Orleans Saints

New York Jets Potential Breakout Player of 2012: Muhammad Wilkerson

Miami Dolphins Potential Breakout Player of 2012: Jared Odrick