Surprise Stars this year?

[Brady6]

Predictions for biggest surprises of 13' season...

Bleacher report published a column outlining their predictions for the biggest surprises of the 2013 training camp, and although I'm not the biggest fan of the the content in the article I did think it posed an interesting question.

Predicting 8 Surprises of Patriots Training Camp | Bleacher Report

So my question for my patsfans members is; who will be the biggest surprises of the 2013 season?

I personally have the following players and predictions. (See Below)

Shane Vereen- 1000 yards of total offense (rushing and receiving).
Brandon Ford- 30 receptions for 350 yards.
Michael Buchanan- 4 sacks and 1 forced fumble.
Tavon Wilson- 75 tackles and 6 interceptions.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Make your predictions.

I'm going with Justin Francis and/or Armond Armstead. Both will get a huge opportunity to shine this year. Kyle Love and Brandon Deaderick were both released, so they should get a ton of snaps. Those two being released also shows BB has some confidence in AA and Francis.

Francis went under the radar most of last year but got a lot of snaps late in the season. I think this kid is going to be a stud.

Ras-I Dowling, if healthy, could be another one.

 

[Marqui]

Defense: Marcus Benard
Offense: Zach Sudfeld

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Tavon Wilson- 75 tackles and 6 interceptions.

With McCourty and Adrian Wilson starting at Safety, I highly doubt Tavon Wilson will see many snaps unless one of them gets injured for an extended amount of time.

I also think he's a bust. Just my 2 cents, but it was a bad pick at the time and he hasn't shown much to prove otherwise.

 

[Marqui]

I also like Kenbrell Thompkins, don't know if he's a surprise at this point though.

 

[Brady6]

With McCourty and Adrian Wilson starting at Safety, I highly doubt Tavon Wilson will see many snaps unless one of them gets injured for an extended amount of time.

I also think he's a bust. Just my 2 cents, but it was a bad pick at the time and he hasn't shown much to prove otherwise.

He had 41 tackles (combined) and 4 interceptions in his rookie year, on a productivity scale he was just as good as Barron and Smith who went ahead of him in the draft. So I do not think he was a bust at all. Those are impressive rookie statistics for a 1st year DB who was not a starter.

I think Adrian Wilson will be used primarily at safety in the box on early downs against rushing teams, and as a hybrid LB in dime packages, for that reason I think there will still be plenty of opportunity for Tavon Wilson, also keep in mind he will play 275-300 ST snaps which should yield him 10 tackles. In terms of interceptions I think he has shown a knack for being in the right place at the right time.

 

[Brady6]

I also like Kenbrell Thompkins, don't know if he's a surprise at this point though.

I think anytime you're talking about a UDFA it is a surprise.

 

[Joey007]

Offense: Kenbrell Thompkins will put up 450 yards and 5 TD's.

Defense: Armstead will push double digit sacks.

 

[stumeister]

Offense - Knock on wood - Mallet
Defense - Collins

 

[Rob0729]

I'm going with Tommy Kelly. Considering he used to be a top DT in the league, it is a bit of stretch. But he had a down season last year and many people think he is done. I think he and not Adrian Wilson could have the Rodney Harrison rebound (many people in the media are comparing Wilson to Harrison). I think he could be a pass rush demon and be a Pro Bowler again.

 

[stumeister]

I'm going with Tommy Kelly. Considering he used to be a top DT in the league, it is a bit of stretch. But he had a down season last year and many people think he is done. I think he and not Adrian Wilson could have the Rodney Harrison rebound (many people in the media are comparing Wilson to Harrison). I think he could be a pass rush demon and be a Pro Bowler again.

I almost pulled the trigger on Kelly, but went with Collins instead. I do think Kelly will have a good year.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

He had 41 tackles (combined) and 4 interceptions in his rookie year, on a productivity scale he was just as good as Barron and Smith who went ahead of him in the draft. So I do not think he was a bust at all. Those are impressive rookie statistics for a 1st year DB who was not a starter.

I think Adrian Wilson will be used primarily at safety in the box on early downs against rushing teams, and as a hybrid LB in dime packages, for that reason I think there will still be plenty of opportunity for Tavon Wilson, also keep in mind he will play 275-300 ST snaps which should yield him 10 tackles. In terms of interceptions I think he has shown a knack for being in the right place at the right time.

He got benched for the end of the season because he failed on 2 similar deep passes that gave up TD's.

His numbers are also inflated due to special teams coverage.

 

[Brady6]

I'm going with Tommy Kelly. Considering he used to be a top DT in the league, it is a bit of stretch. But he had a down season last year and many people think he is done. I think he and not Adrian Wilson could have the Rodney Harrison rebound (many people in the media are comparing Wilson to Harrison). I think he could be a pass rush demon and be a Pro Bowler again.

I agree; also I think Kelly's down season was a bit overblown, he had 45 total tackles 4 stuffs and and pass knockdowns all of which were right around his career average. The only stat that was down was sacks, which given the entire Raiders defense had 25 for the season indicates it was more of a overall scheme issue. Desmond Bryant led the team with 4 sacks, Seymour had 3 sacks, both players are considered to be very good interior pass rushers.

 

[Brady6]

He got benched for the end of the season because he failed on 2 similar deep passes that gave up TD's.

His numbers are also inflated due to special teams coverage.

He actually got benched early for giving up similar TD passes in weeks 6 (Seattle) and 8 (St Louis). He was back on the field and late in season and played very well especially in the the playoffs as the dime safety.

He also only had 5 special teams tackles in 2012, hardly indicative of inflation. For a safety who played 42% of the teams snaps, his statistics were very good. I think you're reading to much into what the Kiper Jr. of the world said when he was selected. He isn't Eric Berry but he is a solid player.

 

[JMC00]

He had 41 tackles (combined) and 4 interceptions in his rookie year, on a productivity scale he was just as good as Barron and Smith who went ahead of him in the draft. So I do not think he was a bust at all. Those are impressive rookie statistics for a 1st year DB who was not a starter.
.

It's hilarious how people who call him a bust after a season love to ignore that the fact that depending on the week he was the 3rd or 4th safety.

Mark Barron played 99 percent of Tampa's defensive snaps (most on the team)
88 tackles, 10 PD, 1 INT, 1 FF, 5 STF

Harrison Smith played 92 percent of Minnesota's defensive snaps
104 tackles, 11 PD, 3 INT, 1 Sack, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 STF

Tavon Wilson played 42 percent of New England's defensive snaps
44 tackles, 6 PD, 4 INT, 2 FR

You want to what the safeties that were taken after Wilson in rounds 3-5 contributed.

Brandon Taylor (3rd round, #73 overall)- 6 tackles
Brandon Hardin (3rd round, #79 overall) - injured reserve
Christian Thompson (4th round, #130 overall)- nothing recorded
Jerron McMillian (4th round, #133 overall)- 27 tackles, 5 PD, 1 INT
Matt Johnson (4th round, #135 overall)- injured reserve
Corey White (5th round, #162 overall)- 31 tackles, 3 PD, 1 INT
George Iloka (5th round, #167 overall)- 2 tackles

 

[manxman2601]

Defense: Marcus Benard
Offense: Zach Sudfeld

I agree on Marcus Benard. For offense I'm taking Josh Boyce.

 

[Claremonster]

It's hilarious how people who call him a bust after a season love to ignore that the fact that depending on the week he was the 3rd or 4th safety.

Mark Barron played 99 percent of Tampa's defensive snaps (most on the team)
88 tackles, 10 PD, 1 INT, 1 FF, 5 STF

Harrison Smith played 92 percent of Minnesota's defensive snaps
104 tackles, 11 PD, 3 INT, 1 Sack, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 STF

Tavon Wilson played 42 percent of New England's defensive snaps
44 tackles, 6 PD, 4 INT, 2 FR

You want to what the safeties that were taken after Wilson in rounds 3-5 contributed.

Brandon Taylor (3rd round, #73 overall)- 6 tackles
Brandon Hardin (3rd round, #79 overall) - injured reserve
Christian Thompson (4th round, #130 overall)- nothing recorded
Jerron McMillian (4th round, #133 overall)- 27 tackles, 5 PD, 1 INT
Matt Johnson (4th round, #135 overall)- injured reserve
Corey White (5th round, #162 overall)- 31 tackles, 3 PD, 1 INT
George Iloka (5th round, #167 overall)- 2 tackles

Casey Hayward

Year Team G Total Tkl Ast Sacks Int Yds Avg Lg TD Pass Def
2012 Green Bay Packers 16 53 40.0 13 0 6 81 13.5 24 0 20

 

[manxman2601]

Casey Hayward

Is a cornerback...

 

[Brady6]

Casey Hayward

Year Team G Total Tkl Ast Sacks Int Yds Avg Lg TD Pass Def
2012 Green Bay Packers 16 53 40.0 13 0 6 81 13.5 24 0 20

He is actually a CB, spent most of his time in the slot. Excellent player just the same though.

 

[manxman2601]

He is actually a CB, spent most of his time in the slot. Excellent player just the same though.

One of my binkies that year. d%#*!@t! we could have had him this year too in Leon McFadden. d%#*!@t x 2!!