With all the various upgrades all over the field, some of the vets on the team could/should be rejuvinated and have a stella year. I can't but help think that both Thomas Jones and Eric Barton are going to be immense next season. We know what TJ can do, just not with us yet, even though he still managed to get over 1K yards, he was far from the player we've seen in his Chicago days. Eric Barton, for me is one of those players that seems to have brilliant games, then fades dissapointingly away. Why? I don't know. With the introduction of Jenkins and Gholston, Harris and Barton should wreak havoc. Barton has always had a mean streak and I feel, this will be his season also. Who do you think?
TJ without a doubt will have the best chance to shine. Barton I can see having a strong season, but I think he'll be overshadowed by the rest of the LB Crew.
I say CP. I know alot of TGG users will call me crazy but I dont really care. Its my opinion. With the proper cast around him, I think he will shine once again and hey, he might even take that comeback player of the yr award yet again...lol... After CP, my next thought was TJ. I dont think TJ has ever had a massive yr. I doubt it though but his YPC will be much more than his career avg. He should get around 13-1500 yds this yr with maybe about 8 TDs. CP will get about 3500+yds along with 22+TDs and 10 Ints assuming he starts atleast 14 games. His % will be 65+ and a QB rating of around 90+. Thas my predictions. Make urs.
I think Bryan Thomas might have a second breakout year due to the upgrades in the LB crew. He def. won't be double teamed with VG and CP and Harris in the line up.
I think he's already done this, but I can see Harris taking the league by storm. He was great last year and will only get better with starting experience. Jenkins should help him out a lot.
^^I don't think he's talking about new guys. I'm gonna go with my man, Shaun. The guy's gonna be all over the place.
My list in order of the guys with huge seasons: TJ Ellis Harris Rhodes and the dark horse...Cotchery (think he'll have a monster year)
On the offensive side, it seems like a no brainer to go with TJ. On the defensive side, I'm HOPING Justin Miller finally figures out how to play CB in the NFL. If he can come out and be solid at CB #2 for us that would be a great season for him IMO. I don't necessarily have any reason to believe Miller will finally get his head out of his ass, but that would certainly be huge for the team if he did. We'd have a solid 1-2 CB combo for years.
I agree with the Ellis picks. I can see him rebounding to a good year, nothing spectacular, but 7-8 sacks would be nice.
#1) Shaun Ellis #2) Thomas Jones ...and my dark horse... i have a feeling CP will rebound yet again, and have a slightly better year than 06 (but not spectacular) when he won comeback player of year. This team is much more talented than 06. It's time to execute!
Everyone is saying Thomas Jones, I'll go in a different direction: Laverneus Coles. Coles is one tough SOB but has gotten beat up by Chad's throws that put him in very compromising positions. When Kellen Clemens wins the starting job, he'll be able to use Coles as the effective deep threat he is and he should be able to stay healthy.
It was mentioned once or twice above, but I'm going to go with Cotch. With a healthy Coles and hopefully a healthy and emerging Stuckey, as well as Keller, Franks, Leon, and Jones, there's going to be a lot of people to distract from him. Single coverage with his YAC ability could be devestating to defenses.
I'm not so sure about the rebounding part. Ellis had a nice year in 07. he was tied for the team lead in sacks with 5, which is very unusual in the 3-4. The LB's usually get the sacks. In the 3-4 defense 8 sacks would be a monster year for a DE. Hope your right I think it will be Thomas. he proved in 06 that he can play the position. last year he was off a nice fat contract, and took the year off. Unless he is a total idiot he has to realize the drafting of Gholston is not good news for him. if he doesn't come up with at least an 8 sack season again he will never get to spend most of the money he got in his contract. That's a big motivator.
I don't think Thomas will be the one making a rebound. There's no real motivation for him. He never really seemed to me to have any fire in his belly. Players like that are only motivated by (running out of) money, survival. He's get his stats here and there but he won't ever realize the potential for the position he was drafted.
