Breakout Defensive Player Predictions
I saw the thread for very specific football predictions, and it got me longing for football season to begin. So I thought I could keep it going with another predictions thread. Who do you guys/girls on the blog think will be a breakout player on defense this upcoming season? Our defense, if we stay away from injuries, should be solid once again with a strong line and many opportunites for somebody to have a breakout season.
I've got two guys: Frank Clark and Blake Countess. Countess will be poised to return with greatness after his injury. Also, somebody really needs to emerge as an elite pass rusher on the line, something that lacked last season, and Clark showed flashes of greatness last season. Who can forget about this hit?
So,commence discussion, and GO BLUE!
Edit: Embed fail... Check comments.
Throwing hat in with the James Ross crowd. Frank Clark based on "camp whispers" but James Ross based on what I saw with my own eyes last year.
I don't see Taco redshirting. Just my opinion obviously, but I think he plays.
James Ross...... I think he'll do well enough to be considered as our top defensive player, as Jake Ryan is out.
Dark horse pick? Drew Dileo.
Holy crap! There goes the secondary.
If by, "Holy crap! There goes the secondary!" you mean, "Holy crap! The other team will never complete a pass to anyone other than Drew Dileo!" then yes, I agree.
NEVER DOUBT THE THREAT.
because he's a great kid and I'd like to see a local product do well. After shuffling positions for the good of the team, any playing time is considered a "breakout" to me. Now that Kovacs is gone, Gant is my local player hero.
And yes, Magnus - I know he won't start. :)
Pip's got the ability to turn into a mammoth run stuffer this year, Countess can definitely have a bounce-back year, hopefully AP style, and potentially Clark. I'm a tad skeptical of all the hype he's been getting coming out of spring camp, simply because I haven't seen anything for myself yet. But I'm hoping he gets on the field this Fall and makes me look like an idiot.
I interpret the term "breakout player" to mean someone who really hasn't even seen the field very much, if at all, and additionally, one who will get a good amount of attention/press.
Thus, I have to go with Taco Charlton. Not only is he a bit of a physical freak, but he enrolled early, which could give him a bit of an edge over any other guys who haven't seen the field yet. Also, he will be playing DE, possibly only in passing situations, so he may be able to get a number of sacks, "pressures" or "hurries", which are some of the few stats/highlights for a DL. These plays tend to get a lot of attention from announcers and even casual fans, as most have their eyes on the ball, and the QB has the ball almost every snap.
It can be hard for the big dudes on the interior of the DL to get a lot of love from the media and fans, as they just don't pile up a lot of highlights or well-known stats while they do their invaluable dirty work in the trenches.
The LB corps should be very good, but the guys there have played enough to be fairly well-known commodities among us fans, and to me, an all-conference type year from any one of them wouldn't surprise me.
we need Taco to put on some pressure especially while Jake Ryan is out...
He showed he's got great potential last year, and I think if teams try to stay away from Countess' side of the field (ytbd), Raymon's probably going to get a chance to make a lot of huge plays
I am so stinkin excited for this year I am like a giddy little school girl.
Clark because our DE pass rush has been almost non-existant the pass few years and Gordon might have to replace some of what Ryan did as a playmaker.
Jibreel Black. It's his second year at 3-tech and he has one hell of a motor.
I would also add Raymon Taylor since he got a lot of good experience last year and I think the d-line will be at least as good as it was in 2011, so he could make some plays if the front four is better at getting pressure.
James Ross seems like he already broke out, but I can see why so many people would have him here.
JR only seems like he broke out because everyone is so high on him. He was a solid back-up last year, that's all.
Obvious is obvious--James Ross will be the breakout player in '13. But here's a list of guys I expect to take big steps forward:
- Clark -- If he doesn't, we won't win the conference
- Heitzman/Wormley -- Whoever wins the SDE job needs to be at least as good as Roh was. I think one of these guys will do it by the time B1G play starts
- Gordon -- The SLB is key to this defense's success; I think Gordon shows that he's not a big downgrade from JMFR.
- Thomas -- This kid is going to be very, very good from day one.
- Gordon -- It will be Gordon's play--not Wilson's--that will determine who well our back end holds up. Wilson is going to make some dumb mistakes; all young safeties do. If Gordon plays to an All-B1G level (even HM), then we'll be fine.
If any of the above predictions don't come true, it's unlikely we win the division. If they all do, it's unlikely we lose the division. If they all come true and the O-line gels, we have a chance at running the table.
I heard that Godin played a lot of time at SDE with the 1st team this spring so I wouldn't count him out there.
countess already broke out as a true freshman CB in 2011
for Q-Wash
and obvious Frank Clark is obvious
i think our dline will have a very high variance. Q Wash could be one of the best DLs in the big ten, or he could slip. Pipkens could destroy things, or he could bust. the DE starters arent even for sure yet, and its possible charlton could start there as well. they could tear up opponents, or they could fold in most games. thankfully our LBs and DBs are good enough to keep us at a high level in either scenario.
really good or really bad DL, no middle ground or average games?
Hmmm should be crazy season then
this guy will be all over the field....
should be able to break out of his spot on the sidelines and get another play on special teams. Possibly more, depending on how well the team plays against Akron.
He probably won't even start.
Exciting to think if Pipkins can demand double teams how much space that would open up for Ross to roam. With no lineman getting to him the guy could be making 10+ tackles a game.
I think Ross is an obvious choice.... Maybe Clark too - I have little doubt he'll make more big plays this season, but I'm still crossing my fingers on consistency.
I think Countess has the season we thought he would last year before he got hurt. Everyone was anticipating big things out of him then, but he's a forgotten man in most conversations leading into 2013, it seems.
I want to say Pipkins, but honestly I think it might be one more season before he really hits stride. I also desperately want to say Wilson, but if there is one questionable spot on D right now, it's there. If Wilson plays well, this defense is going to be awfully, awfully good. We can't possibly be that lucky, can we?
I'll call Jibreel Black my darkhorse, as I've always thought there was potential there.
The big surprise though? Cam Gordon. He is going to be a good player. I think that by the time Ryan is back, the coaches are looking for ways to play both at the same time.
will work himself into the rotation and consistently be postitive in the UFR's.