Surprise player of the season

[TJ]

With all the negative threads popping up, I figured I start a friendly conversation about players who could possibly come out of literally no where and have a major impact on this team. I think we can all agree that Steve Breaston and Timmy Hightower were those players.

I think Greg Toler CB is going to be that guy in 2009. This player is the epidemy of "unknown." Not very many offenses are going to have significant tape on him, so he could have a bag of tricks up his sleeves. He has the tangibles to succeed in this league. Furthermore, he has a similar skill sets to DRC. You know he is going to get challenged early and often in nickel packages and if he makes the right reads on the QB, which im confident he can, he is going to wreak havoc and possibly take one to the house.

Go Cards!!

 

[Linderbee]

Well, if he does all you say, then it won't be much of a surprise now that you've predicted it!

Good one...take all the fun out of it...

 

[TJ]

Well, if he does all you say, then it won't be much of a surprise now that you've predicted it!

Good one...take all the fun out of it...

just my amateur (and biased) assessment.

 

[Duckjake]

I think the guy who is posed for a breakout year is Gabe Watson. He got stronger as the year went on as he recovered from his injury. The guy really solidifies the middle of our Dline and the play he made against the 49ers on the stuff of Gore as time ran out is something I expect to see a lot more of over the next few years.

Besides its a contract year for him.

 

[TruColor]

I'm watching Early Doucet.

I think he probably feels he needs to prove himself this year.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I think Greg Toler CB is going to be that guy in 2009. This player is the epidemy of "unknown."

Go Cards!!

BIM - epitome

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

i like the watson and doucet picks. i think expecting ANYTHING outta toler, who has been playing high school-like competition, would be an epic surprise.

i am going to pick calais as my breakout player. i think he corrals 8 sacks and knocks down a ton of passes this year, while simultaneously anchoring the corner against the run.

 

[imaCafan]

I'll go with Cody Brown. 6+ sacks from him this year....

 

[Duckjake]

i like the watson and doucet picks. i think expecting ANYTHING outta toler, who has been playing high school-like competition, would be an epic surprise.

i am going to pick calais as my breakout player. i think he corrals 8 sacks and knocks down a ton of passes this year, while simultaneously anchoring the corner against the run.

A 6'8" 285lb DE who is athletic enough to play on the kick coverage units and be one of the first guys downfield.

 

[cardsfanmd]

Am I really the only guy whose expecting Beanie to be an animal this year? I think we see the highest team rushing total the Cards have had in 15-20 years.

Of guys who aren't rooks, I am expecting to see something special from Watson and hoping/wont be surprised to see Branch finally break out. I read that he was dominating in practice by the end of last year and was kept out of the games almost as punishment for not committing himself properly earlier in the year.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Brandon Keith

Will beat our Lutui for a starting spot this year, AND will improve our running game in a noticable way.

Yet, Beanie will get the credit for awakening the Cardinal running game.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Alan Branch

(at least, I hope so)

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Am I really the only guy whose expecting Beanie to be an animal this year? I think we see the highest team rushing total the Cards have had in 15-20 years.

i think people are expecting beanie to have a good year, so he's not so much a surprise.

Of guys who aren't rooks, I am expecting to see something special from Watson and hoping/wont be surprised to be Branch finally break out. I read that he was dominating in practice by the end of last year and was kept out of the games almost as punishment for not committing himself properly earlier in the year.

and i find it difficult to beleive that down the stretch run when the team was struggling and then in a playoff run that whis would cut off his nose despite his face to make a point to a player who could have been contributing.

all that said, if the two areas of which you speak come to fruition we are going to become a near-dominant team b/c our high octane passing game will be buffered by a rugged run game and we'll be capable of grinding other teams' run games to a halt. make it so.

 

[jefftheshark]

Leinart

JTS

 

[CaptTurbo]

Leinart or Cambell.

 

[Skkorpion]

I like this subject. All good choices so far. Usually, the breakouts come from 3rd year or 2nd year players, as the better coaches planned for all along.

From the 3rd year players, my choices are TE Ben Patrick and DT Gabe Watson. Watson is technically in his 4th year but lost an entire year to that broken kneecap injury. If Patrick is the unnamed veteran TE who showed up to mini camp overweight and out of shape, he may not make the team at all. This is his critical year. Th round picks don't get long leashes.

From last year's draft, the breakout has got to be DE Calais Campbell if the defense is to improve. He's so young he probably needs another year of seasoning but necessity has made him a starter.

WR Early Doucet's injury nicks concern me. If he's healthy and if Anquan Boldin's playing time is limited for any reason, Doucet has a chance to have a breakout year too.

In my opinion, barring injury to a current oline starter, OT/OG Brandon Keith is another year away yet from significant playing time.

Among the rookies, only RB Beanie Wells has a serious chance at enough playing time to make an impact.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I'm going to stay with the TE's and say Pope. I don't think he'll have big numbers,catchwise, but i see him emerging this year as a legit redzone threat and snagging 8-10 TD's. He was also recovering from injury last year so he steps it up a notch this year. Plus, it's also a contract year for him.

On the defensive side of the ball, i'm going with Kenny Iwebema. NO particular reason, just a feeling.

 

[Shane]

I'm watching Early Doucet.

I think he probably feels he needs to prove himself this year.

Not gonna happen. No room for him to get PT with Boldin still on teh roster. He will rarely see the field.

 

[Mulli]

He shall be Levi. Brown.

 

[Shane]

He shall be Levi. Brown.

2nd. I also like Campbell!

 

[Jetstream Green]

Chris Wells, he will not only be good but a dangerous playmaker and our offense is going to be even more productive than last year...people will forget about us passing on Peterson

on defense Calais Campbell, sacks, battinging down passes...people will forget we let Smith go

 

[TJ]

i like the watson and doucet picks. i think expecting ANYTHING outta toler, who has been playing high school-like competition, would be an epic surprise.

i am going to pick calais as my breakout player. i think he corrals 8 sacks and knocks down a ton of passes this year, while simultaneously anchoring the corner against the run.

That was the knack on DRC last season that his competition in college was not very good and he would have a learning curve. It took him almost half the season to figure it out, but he came out of the wood work to supplant Green and eventually Hood for the #1 CB spot.

I see the same out of Toler, except I don't think there will be any supplanting. I see teams like the Seahawks going 3 wide against us and Toler playing the nickel CB. I have a hunch his talents will be underestimated and QBs will take ill-advised throws his way.

Toler has all of the skill set and physicality of any CB on this team.

 

[Mulli]

After TJ, do the Seahonks have two more receivers?

 

[TJ]

After TJ, do the Seahonks have two more receivers?

They think they do

 

[perivolaki]

Rashad Johnson.