kelly
07-15-2003, 01:15 PM
Breakthrough Players: Offense
By Ryan Early
NFL Insider
Monday, July 14
Updated: July 14
7:47 AM ET
Each season brings with it new stars to capture our attention and fascination. Some are easy to foresee, like Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers, who burst onto the scene last year by making 12 sacks in his 12 games played. Others have stories and journeys that defy reason before they make it into the national spotlight.
Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox bounced around different teams and found himself out of football until his career was resurrected by the now defunct XFL. His strong play there gave him the backup job in Pittsburgh, where suddenly he found himself taking over for a benched Kordell Stewart and leading his team into the playoffs.
While it is impossible to predict a story like that, here are several players poised to emerge as headline makers in the 2003 season.
Offensive Players
~ ~ ~ Patrick Ramsey, QB, Redskins - The Redskins' second-year quarterback is the biggest longshot among our breakthrough projections, but his situation has too much upside to ignore. Ramsey started six games his rookie year and went through the typical rookie quarterback growing pains, but still managed to throw for 1,539 yards and more touchdowns (9) than interceptions (8). With a full offseason to study Steve Spurrier's "Fun 'n Gun" offense, Ramsey will be much better at understanding where his receivers are and knowing how to adjust to what the defense is showing. Plus, the Redskins upgraded their offensive line and added several more receivers in wideouts Laveranues Coles, rookie Taylor Jacobs and running back Trung Canidate. The Redskins will air the ball out often, which should pad Ramsey's stats enough to keep him among the leaders in several offensive categories. The biggest danger to Ramsey's breakthrough year is the chance of the volatile Spurrier making a reactionary move to the bench when Ramsey makes a bad decision.
> http://insider.espn.go.com/insider/benefits?redir=%2Finsider%2Fstory%3Fid%3D1580318
By Ryan Early
NFL Insider
Monday, July 14
Updated: July 14
7:47 AM ET
Each season brings with it new stars to capture our attention and fascination. Some are easy to foresee, like Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers, who burst onto the scene last year by making 12 sacks in his 12 games played. Others have stories and journeys that defy reason before they make it into the national spotlight.
Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox bounced around different teams and found himself out of football until his career was resurrected by the now defunct XFL. His strong play there gave him the backup job in Pittsburgh, where suddenly he found himself taking over for a benched Kordell Stewart and leading his team into the playoffs.
While it is impossible to predict a story like that, here are several players poised to emerge as headline makers in the 2003 season.
Offensive Players
~ ~ ~ Patrick Ramsey, QB, Redskins - The Redskins' second-year quarterback is the biggest longshot among our breakthrough projections, but his situation has too much upside to ignore. Ramsey started six games his rookie year and went through the typical rookie quarterback growing pains, but still managed to throw for 1,539 yards and more touchdowns (9) than interceptions (8). With a full offseason to study Steve Spurrier's "Fun 'n Gun" offense, Ramsey will be much better at understanding where his receivers are and knowing how to adjust to what the defense is showing. Plus, the Redskins upgraded their offensive line and added several more receivers in wideouts Laveranues Coles, rookie Taylor Jacobs and running back Trung Canidate. The Redskins will air the ball out often, which should pad Ramsey's stats enough to keep him among the leaders in several offensive categories. The biggest danger to Ramsey's breakthrough year is the chance of the volatile Spurrier making a reactionary move to the bench when Ramsey makes a bad decision.
> http://insider.espn.go.com/insider/benefits?redir=%2Finsider%2Fstory%3Fid%3D1580318