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2014 All-Emerge Team: Offense
Andy Benoit
Excerpt:
Andy Benoit
Excerpt:
It's never too early to start thinking about next season. Here's who will be breaking out once September kicks off
QuarterbackRyan Tannehill, Dolphins
Quarterback is the one position where you can’t identify an “out of nowhere” breakout guy. Fans are already familiar with everyone who plays this position, including most backups. So for our purposes, the question essentially becomes, Who will be the most improved quarterback in 2014?
The answer is Ryan Tannehill. While America has been debating the myriad hullabaloos involving RG3, marveling at the heroics of Andrew Luck and lauding Russell Wilson as the latest underdog-turned-champion, Tannehill has quietly been developing in textbook fashion. His pocket poise, throwing mechanics and field vision have improved with each of his 32 starts. He has the athleticism to make improvisational plays, and the maturity to operate within the confines of the system.
That system is changing, as former Eagles and Seahawks quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor has taken over for Mike Sherman as offensive coordinator. There won’t be a complete system overhaul—after all, it’s still head coach Joe Philbin’s playbook—but there will be a change in the coach-quarterback working operations. Philbin would not have made this move if he didn’t feel it’d help propel his young QB to stardom.
The wild card is Tannehill’s offensive line. The group that surrendered a league-high 58 sacks last season will not be back, as Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito are done in South Beach and starters Bryant McKinnie, Tyson Clabo and John Jerry are all free agents. If the Dolphins can piece together a decent front five, Tannehill will prosper. If they can’t, it will be Lazor’s job to help scheme moving pockets, run-pass disguises and quick throws to keep the quarterback upright. Either way, Tannehill should only continue to get better.
Running BackAndre Ellington, Cardinals
The 2013 sixth-round pick emerged as Part B of Arizona’s two-man backfield down the stretch of his rookie season. In Year Two, Ellington will emerge not just as the Cardinals’ featured weapon, but as a top 10 NFL back. By 2015, he’ll be top 5. There’s nothing the 5-9, 200-pounder can’t do. Sharp body control and lateral agility allow Ellington to slice inside and make defenders miss, while simple speed and quickness enable him to consistently get outside. In the passing game, Ellington is electrifying out of the backfield and a good enough route runner to line up at any wide receiver position and beat cornerbacks one-on-one.
Khiry Robinson, Saints
The secret came out in January when NBC’s Cris Collinsworth and Al Michaels shared with Saints-Eagles wild card viewers that Bill Parcells had called Sean Payton earlier that week to tell him he had the next Curtis Martin sitting at the end of his bench in Robinson. Payton had been trying to find touches for the undrafted rookie all season long. With Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles and Travaris Cadet still on the roster, that will once again be a challenge—but not if Robinson evokes more Martin comparisons in OTAs and training camp.
Wide ReceiverAndre Holmes, Raiders
The 25-year-old entered the league as an undrafted rookie in 2011 and bounced around the camps and practice squads of the Vikings, Cowboys and Patriots for two years before latching on with the Raiders in 2013. He played 10 games, averaged 39 snaps and finished with 25 receptions for 431 yards, flashing tremendous raw playmaking talent (you probably saw his 136-yard performance at Dallas on Thanksgiving). It’s hard to figure how a 6-4, 225-pounder with an NBA-caliber vertical leap and such dexterous body control toiled in anonymity for so long, but if the Raiders find someone who can consistently throw downfield (a big if), Holmes won’t stay anonymous much longer.
Marvin Jones, Bengals
Maybe Jones doesn’t qualify as an “emerger” after catching 51 balls and 10 touchdowns last season. But if he continues the torrid pace of development that he’s shown since entering the league as an unripe fifth-round pick in 2012, he’ll have at least 70 catches and 1,000 yards in 2014. If Jones played with anyone other than A.J. Green, he’d be the most acrobatic downfield receiver on his team. Working with one of the league’s best passing game position coaches, James Urban, Jones should continue to improve his route running and become a more dynamic threat anywhere on the field. And, thanks to Green, he’ll mostly face single coverage.
Marquess Wilson, Bears
Wilson played just 76 snaps as a seventh-round rookie last year, but 34 of them came in the critical season finale against Green Bay. Word is the Bears think he can soon be one of the NFL’s best slot weapons. And, at 6-3, 195 pounds, he has the size to also operate outside. Playing in Marc Trestman’s system and alongside football’s best receiving duo (Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey), he’ll have every chance to prosper.
Tight EndTim Wright, Buccaneers
Wright is a converted wide receiver, and it shows. He has the quickness, change-of-direction skills and stop/start control to consistently beat one-on-one coverage from an X-iso receiver position or the slot. The beauty is, because the 6-4, 220-pounder is a tight end, he’s often facing linebackers in those one-on-one scenarios. That could change this year if Lovie Smith and new coordinator Jeff Tedford are less committed to the run than Tampa Bay’s previous staff. But even if Wright is facing safeties or backup corners, he can still blossom into a top-five receiving tight end by the end of his second season.
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