There is a lot of change happening in the National Football
League; players being signed, coaches getting canned, and franchises starting off
the year with a clean slate (the draft in April will only add to the chaos).
Not only are teams adjusting, but the new season will cause several players to
flourish. After their flashes of brilliance in 2011, here are 3 players
destined for a breakout season come 2012.
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| CJ Spiller |
1. RB CJ
Spiller: For 2 years, CJ Spiller had sat on the bench, watching running back
Fred Jackson dominate defenses day in and day out. That all changed when
Jackson fractured his fibula against the Miami Dolphins last year. In the final
6 games of the season, Spiller averaged 74 yards per game, with 5 total
touchdowns. Over the course of the season, Spiller also maintained an average
of 5.2 yards per carry, a statistic higher than Maurice Jones-Drew, Adrian
Peterson and LeSean McCoy. While playing for Clemson as a senior, Spiller ran
for 1,212 yards with 12 touchdowns. The 6th overall draft-pick possesses
extraordinary speed (official 40-yard dash time of 4.37) capable of blowing by
defenders. With Jackson still harnessing an injury, it is likely that Buffalo
will have the two rushers split the carries, at least for the first few games.
Once the 2012 season is in full bloom, CJ Spiller will become one of the elite
rushers in the NFL.
2. QB Matt Flynn: Though quarterback Matt Flynn has started
in just two professional games, the LSU alum is one of the largest gambles made
by an NFL team in recent history. Against Detroit in Week 17, Flynn showed off
his arm by passing for a whopping 480 yards and 6 touchdowns, both Packer
records. Back in 2010, Matt Flynn gave Tom Brady and the New England Patriots a
run for their money while Aaron Rodgers nursed a concussion. Now that Flynn is
a Seahawk, he has several decent receivers like Sidney Rice and Mike Williams. Arm
strength, accuracy, and confidence are all apparent attributes, so don’t be
surprised when Matt Flynn leads Seattle to yet another playoff birth.
3. WR Malcom Floyd: Unlike most NFL players, wide receiver
Malcom Floyd showed his true potential at age 30. The 6’6” Charger has
exceptional speed for someone his size, which is why Floyd is such a dangerous
option deep down field. In 2010, Malcom Floyd had the highest yards per catch
average among any wide receivers, with a minimum of 10 receptions. Though the
Chargers acquired Robert Meachem to replace Vincent Jackson, it will take time
for him to be a part of this offense. As for tight end Antonio Gates, the 8 time
pro bowler has been battling injuries for the past two years, and there is no
guarantee he can stay healthy in 2012. In his 9th NFL season, Floyd
should blossom as one of the leagues most deadly receivers.
Via Chargerzfan32
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