Dark Horses

[FlyingGreg]

Who do you think is going to be this season's surprise (in a good way) player?

Here are some possible candidates:

Korey Toomer
Chris Harper
Luke Willson
Christine Michael
Michael Bowie
Allen Bradford
Sean McGrath
Jaye Howard

 

[jlwaters1]

Who do you think is going to be this season's surprise (in a good way) player?

Here are some possible candidates:

Korey Toomer
Chris Harper
Luke Willson
Christine Michael
Michael Bowie
Allen Bradford
Sean McGrath

I think the top 3 will all make significant contributions. Can't wait to see the "depth" play this preseason.

 

[pehawk]

Racists....

Harper's my, HORSE. I have a feeling he'll make next years Tate and Sidney decisons a bit more intersting.

 

[FlyingGreg]

I was just looking at the 90-man roster and thinking...."wow, we have a LOT of talent here".

There are going to be some very intriguing camp battles: OL (esepcially G), LB, WR, TE, DT....

 

[FlyingGreg]

Racists....

Harper's my, HORSE. I have a feeling he'll make next years Tate and Sidney decisons a bit more intersting.

Harper definitely has a chance to make the off-season decision with Rice/Tate interesting. The problem is, how many snaps is he really going to get this season barring an injury?

He will be our #5 heading into the season. Not many catches available behind Harvin, Rice, Tate, Baldwin, Miller, Willson.

 

[Sarlacc83]

Tharold Simon because he's my adopt a rookie.

I wish Scruggs was healthy so I could nominate him.

 

[FlyingGreg]

Tharold Simon because he's my adopt a rookie.

I wish Scruggs was healthy so I could nominate him.

Good ones. I'm excited to see what Simon can do in the pre-season.

Scruggs showed some pass rush potential last season.

 

[pehawk]

I'm hoping Howard makes a push.

 

[FlyingGreg]

I'm hoping Howard makes a push.

That's another good one ...

 

[sutz]

Jesse Williams.

 

[ivotuk]

Michael Bowie will push for playing time at right tackle then get suspended for off the field violations.

 

[JGfromtheNW]

I am really curious how Malcolm Smith will play this year and how many snaps he'll get. I remember reading an article on .com and they were really praising Smith and Toomer iirc.

Sad he didn't make the list

 

[FlyingGreg]

I am really curious how Malcolm Smith will play this year and how many snaps he'll get. I remember reading an article on .com and they were really praising Smith and Toomer iirc.

Sad he didn't make the list

The only reason I didn't include Smith is I don't think he is a "dark horse". I think most people are expecting good things from his this season as the #1 candidate for the Sam.

 

[Kixkahn]

I am wondering about our running backs in general. I mean yes first and foremost there is Lynch, but then you have Turbin and now Michael just alot going on there. I am up in arms over the WR group we have.

 

[Hawks46]

I think Willson, McGrath, Harper, and Jesse Williams

I don't think Christine Michael is going to get enough carries to make much of an impact, if he does anything, it's on ST, but you have Harvin returning kicks and Tate returning punts.

Speaking of which, I see Tate doing much better on PR duty than Washington; he's much harder to bring down and more elusive, but doesn't have the top end speed. Tate will have a much higher average than Leon did, but probably won't have as many really long returns.

Jessee Williams will make an impact as he will get playing time in the DL rotation. I forget the kid's name from Penn State we drafted, but I see him making the same impact, albeit from one position where Williams will probably get moved around.

Harper will make an impression as he will get some reps when Baldwin inevitably gets hurt. His size and physicality will mesh well with RW's style of not being afraid to let the receiver make a play. Man, I really wish BMW would've made it long enough to play with Russell Wilson. Wilson was throwing jump balls to Tate and Baldwin...BMW would've owned some fools going after those balls.

Willson/McGrath also to make a big contribution. I don't know if one will really shine over the other until after TC, but the oppportunity is there for someone to get serious playing time with McCoy out.

I'm very interested in seeing what Simon will bring to the table, but he's been injured the entire offseason, so he has a lot of catching up to do. IF he can get healthy, he's in the deepest position on the team. I'm not really sure he sees any playing time this year, but I'm theorizing PC didn't really need to see much out of him.

 

[kearly]

I don't know if Craig Wilkins makes the roster or plays much, but he's a player I think is worth keeping an eye on this preseason. He's a LB in the same mold as David Hawthorne or Allen Bradford (who impressed last preseason).

In terms of immediate production, I'd say Luke Willson, Jordan Hill, and Christine Michael in that order. Willson is going to see a ton of snaps. I think Hill is a nice player, not a star, but he'll see a good amount of reps and could finish the season with 2-3 sacks and a (mildly) positive PFF number. Michael is the best of the bunch by far, and if he were the bell-cow starter on day one I'd draft him in fantasy (early on if needed). But that said, I'd be very surprised if Michael sees more 100 carries next season- there are just too many talented runners to spread the ball around with.

Jesse Williams will see the field a lot, but his contribution won't appear on the stat pages.

 

[Jazzhawk]

I think, with today's news about Irvin switching to OLB, I'm choosing him to be this year's Horse.

 

[Seahawk Sailor]

Jesse Williams, definitely. People were calling for him to be drafted in the second round. I'm thinking he plays this year like he was drafted then.

 

[Seafan]

The team's biggest weakness is depth at safety. But I could be wrong. PC may have plenty of faith in the depth there. I'm hoping we never have to find out.

Harper and Simon may never be active for a regular season game this season. Toomer looks like a KJ Wright type of LB. From that list I'd pick him as the dark horse.

Off the list that kid Justin Veltung is an amazing athlete. With this roster it would take an amazing performance in preseason for him to steal a spot. I still smh at the 56" vertical.

 

[QuahHawk]

I'll take Willson as he is going to have the best opportunity to get meaningful playing time. He is fairly fast so I can only imagine how much more yardage he will get than the cumbersome Anthony McCoy did last year. During the Draft he was almost an unknown, and was considered a slight reach. Now due to injuries he will be given a golden opportuinty. Another Player I think could bust out is Chris Harper, but he's not a dark horse because I think he will need an major injury to get significant playing time but at WR if Rice, Tate, or Baldwin go down he will make the best of his opportunity and I expect some big plays from him on special teams.

I wouldn't consider Jesse Williams a dark horse as he was a projected 2nd rd pick that has already be talked about like he is getting a starting DT spot. I think he will be a good fit and play well but doesn't fit the darkhorse category.

Simon is too far down the depth chart to get playing time. I don't expect to see him over Lane or WT3, but should beat Maxwell for a roster spot.

Hill has a shot but even if he plays to his max potential as a rook I don't see much more than 3-4 sacks.

Like Williams, Michael was a 2nd round pick, we know the kid has talent so the dark horse mantra doesn't fit that well. No way he beats out Lynch for the starting spot.