AFC's breakout players ? Dustin Keller

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nflnation/0-9-29/AFC-s-breakout-players.html

ESPN.com's NFL experts have teamed up to examine "The State of NFL Nation" -- a weeklong look at the biggest questions facing the league. In this installment, we take on 2009 breakout stars.

Dustin Keller, TE, Jets
Keller

By Tim Graham

Dustin Keller was supposed to be Brett Favre's secret weapon last year.

This year, the secret should be out.

The New York Jets traded up to select the tight end late in the first round in 2008. Keller caught 68 passes for 881 yards and seven touchdowns as a Purdue senior. The Jets viewed him as a difficult matchup for linebackers, a true threat up the seam or in the red zone.

Heading into Week 10, Keller owned a pair of touchdowns, but had only 13 receptions for 147 yards. He was held without a catch twice.

Then Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer figured out how to use him. Over a four-game stretch in November, Favre found Keller 27 times for 313 yards and another touchdown.

Keller became a go-to target. In a 34-31 sudden-death victory over the New England Patriots in Gillette Stadium, he caught four passes -- each for a first down -- in the fourth quarter and overtime. He picked up 16 yards on a third-and-15 play to keep the winning drive alive.

Whoever plays quarterback for the Jets this year will be looking for Keller not only because he's talented, but also because the options appear limited.

Jerricho Cotchery is the top receiver coming back with 71 receptions and 858 yards. But Laveranues Coles is gone, and the rest of the receiving corps is unproven at best.

As for the depth chart at tight end, Keller clearly is at the top. The Jets released veteran Chris Baker, who signed with the Patriots. They re-signed veteran Bubba Franks, but he had only six catches last year. Also in camp are converted defensive lineman Kareem Brown, converted Cleveland State basketball player J'Nathan Bullock, undrafted rookie Jack Simmons and long snapper James Dearth.

Keller's blocking skills are suspect, but both Schottenheimer and new head coach Rex Ryan have made it a point to mention that tight ends coach Mike Devlin, the former Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals center, has been making significant progress with Keller in that regard.

If Keller can stay on the field in obvious running situations, he'll be more of a weapon this year.

"Clearly, his receiving skill is something that you think of first," Ryan said. "I know as a defensive coordinator, you'd be sitting back, going 'Great, you have to have two guys on him,' like a [Kellen] Winslow or [Antonio] Gates or somebody like that.

"That's the first thing you worry about. If he can give us something, we don't expect him to be a punishing blocker maybe like you put an extra tackle in there, but I think he can get the job done."

Lawrence Timmons, LB, Steelers
Timmons

By James Walker

Former first-round pick Lawrence Timmons probably could've started for 31 other franchises last season. But at the linebacker factory also known as the Pittsburgh Steelers, Timmons has had to wait two seasons before he finally gets his chance to start in 2009 for the reigning Super Bowl champions.

With Pittsburgh's outstanding track record of churning out great linebackers, do not be surprised if Timmons is next in line. Timmons is fast, he's physical and his athleticism gives innovative defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau more blitz and coverage options than former starter Larry Foote, who was recently released and signed by the Detroit Lions.

In limited playing time last season, Timmons recorded 65 tackles, five sacks and one interception, which he returned 89 yards to help seal a victory against the New England Patriots. He has also been one of Pittsburgh's better players on special teams.
AFC North Player Survey
In the second installment of his player surveys, AFC North blogger James Walker reveals the player voted to break out in 2009.
James Walker

Whether Timmons is a natural fit at inside linebacker remains one of the few questions. He has the natural ability to rush the passer. But so do outside linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, who combined for 27.5 sacks last season. But it has been difficult enough to find playing time for Timmons in Pittsburgh's elite defense the past two years, and Foote's departure inside opens that opportunity.

With James Farrior, Harrison, Woodley and now Timmons, Pittsburgh has the most talented and dynamic group of linebackers in the NFL. But what's scary is Timmons, although inexperienced, could be the most athletically gifted of the foursome.

Timmons' role has yet to be determined. Expect Woodley and Harrison to once again register high sack numbers, while the veteran Farrior remains the brains in the middle of the defense. Timmons could be asked to do a little bit of everything, which includes Foote's old job of stuffing the run, pressuring the quarterback up the middle, and even dropping deep in coverage if Pittsburgh decides to run more Cover 2 defenses under head coach Mike Tomlin this season.

Can Pittsburgh's No. 1-rated defense from last season get even better in 2009? With Timmons in the starting lineup, it's certainly possible.

Zach Miller, TE, Raiders

By Bill Williamson

Miller
With superstar tight end Tony Gonzalez no longer playing in the AFC West, there is room for the emergence of a young tight end in the division. Don't be surprised if you start hearing a lot about Raiders tight end Zach Miller in 2009.

I'm not saying Miller, who is 23, is going to produce numbers like Gonzalez did; Gonzalez broke every major receiving record for tight ends while playing for Kansas City since 1997. But with Gonzalez out of the way, it wouldn't be a shock if the third-year player takes his spot on the AFC Pro Bowl team.

San Diego tight end Antonio Gates, another premier tight end, went out of his way to praise Miller when I spoke with him in May. Gates said he is impressed with Miller's ball skills and he expects him to have a long career.

Miller, who was taken in the second round in 2007 out of Arizona State, has all the skills to be the next great tight end -- he has soft hands and runs perfect routes. At 6-foot-5, 255 pounds, he is a major threat after making the catch.

He already has developed into the favorite target of Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell, who was taken in the first round of the same draft as Miller. Raiders owner Al Davis -- whose teams of the past featured such star tight ends as Dave Casper, Raymond Chester and Todd Christensen -- hopes Miller and Russell grow old together.

Because Oakland has a young and unreliable receiving crew, Miller is Russell's best bail-out option. He is particularly tough on third down. While Oakland is a run-first outfit, Russell clearly feels comfortable getting the ball into Miller's hands.

He had 56 catches last season and 44 as a rookie. Expect his numbers to increase in 2009 as Miller breaks out as one of the best tight ends in the AFC.

Brian Cushing, LB, Texans
Cushing

By Paul Kuharsky

The Houston Texans believe a sturdy, rugged linebacker who could rush the passer and drop into coverage would have made a big difference for them in 2008.

They believe they've added him to the mix in 2009, and I do too. Thus the selection of Brian Cushing as the breakout candidate for the AFC South.

From strongside linebacker, where he should be able to fight off or stick with a tight end, Cushing should be able to help the defensive line and the secondary. The defensive backfield didn't get any big additions, but the Texans seem to think the group will be fine with the improvements on the front that result from the insertion of Cushing and free-agent lineman Antonio Smith.

New defensive coordinator Frank Bush has promised a more aggressive style, and the 6-foot-2, 243-pound Cushing should fit it with his intensity and passion. They expect he can help harass Peyton Manning, Kerry Collins and David Garrard while helping contain tight ends such as Dallas Clark, Bo Scaife and Marcedes Lewis.

"I haven't seen him in the pads yet, but I just feel like he's going to be that hard-nosed, tough, physical guy doing a lot of punishing out there," middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans said at the team's minicamp in June. "I'm looking forward to him bringing that aspect of the game. I think he has the natural ability to rush off the edge and I'm just eager to see him in game-time action and see how it goes."

Keep in mind, please, that we steered clear of players such as Colts receiver Anthony Gonzalez, who had 57 catches last season, Titans receiver Nate Washington, who had 40 for Pittsburgh, and Texans defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, who was strong as a rookie in 2007 but struggled last year with an ankle injury. They and others are too established to be considered possibilities as breakout candidates.

Cushing was drafted 15th overall out of USC, ahead of college teammate Clay Matthews, also a linebacker.

Coach Gary Kubiak said the team's top pick was a starter as soon as he got off the bus. But even if he's not an impact player right away, he'll have plenty of time to make his mark with the Texans.