Every season, players improve their game and take the NFL by storm. Who will these players be for the 2015 season? Over the next few weeks, I’ll provide you with one player for every team.
Previously done: AFC East, AFC North, AFC South and AFC West
Dallas Cowboys: DT Tyrone Crawford
Most of the attention given to the Cowboys’ defense this offseason has focused on defensive end, with Grey Hardy and Randy Gregory grabbing headlines. While the Cowboys have talent on the edge, they have a star brewing in the interior.
No player benefited from Rod Marinelli’s new defense in 2014 than Crawford, who plays the all-important three-technique. This spot fits the 2012 third-round pick much better than a five-technique defensive end in a 3-4 defense, which he played as a rookie. (He missed all of 2013 with a torn Achilles.)
Statistically, he wasn’t very impressive, recording 33 tackles, three sacks and one forced fumble, but the contributions of defensive tackles are rarely conveyed well in the box score. Pro Football Focus (PFF) graded him as the 13th-best defensive tackle last year.
From his spot on the defensive line, he quickly penetrates the opposing offensive line and applies pressure on the the quarterback. His work in the run game needs to improve, but the main job of a three-technique is to rush the passer.
As Crawford enters his second season at defensive tackle, his run defense and sack output should improve, putting him on the national radar.
New York Giants: DT Johnathan Hankins
Another defensive tackle who didn’t get his due for a good season in 2014, Hankins is ready to have an even better 2015.
The difference between the 2013 second-round pick’s first two seasons is incredible. As a rookie, he played only 195 snaps and recorded 16 tackles. In his second year he started all 16 games and recorded 51 tackles, seven sacks and one forced fumble. PFF had him tied for the seventh-best defensive tackle in the league, with strong grades in run defense and pass rushing.
This jump constitutes as a breakout season, but his work––on par with the best in the league––isn’t being recognized as much as it should.
Very few 320-pound defensive lineman have the quickness to rush the passer effectively in addition to strong work in the ground game, but Hankins can.
With defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul likely to miss part of the season due to injury, Hankins becomes the headliner of the defensive line in New York.
Philadelphia Eagles: TE Zach Ertz
Amidst all of the roster turnover in Philadelphia, the tight end position stayed intact, with three of the four players returning, including the top two on the depth chart.
Ertz has been in Chip Kelly’s system for his entire pro career (two years) and should finally be the unquestioned number one tight end with veteran Brent Celek taking a backseat, though still playing an important role in the offense.
An underrated player in Kelly’s offense, Ertz caught 58 passes for 702 yards and three touchdowns in his sophomore season, after 36 catches for 469 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie.
With the departure of top wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in free agency, more targets are likely to go Ertz’s way. The loss of Maclin obviously hurts, but more targets for Ertz will be beneficial for the offense. He was PFF’s fourth-best tight end as a pass catcher (fifth-best overall) and can be a dynamic receiver.
There are relatively few true game changers at the tight end position, but Ertz has the ability to become one.
Washington Redskins: LB Keenan Robinson
There weren’t many positives from the 2014 season in D.C., with the Redskins limping to another poor record. However, Robinson’s performance gave the team hope that one of their inside linebacker positions could be set for years to come.
So far, his career path has been similar to that of Crawford. Robinson was a fourth-round pick in 2012 who didn’t do much as a rookie, missed all of year two with an injury (torn pectoral) and then had a good 2014 season, leading to high expectations for 2015.
Starting all 13 games he played in 2014, he recorded 109 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one interception. PFF wasn’t very kind to him, grading him as their 44th-best inside linebacker. However, much of his struggles came in the first half of the season, which is reflected in his grade. Over the last eight weeks of the season he was PFF’s 18th-best inside linebacker while playing in only five games.
Washington’s offseason additions should improve Robinson’s game. The team spent significant money on three defensive lineman, who should occupy blockers and allow Robinson to play the run more effectively––something that was his biggest weakness in 2014.
A strong finish to last season combined with a few free agent additions mean Robinson is ready for a big season in the nation’s capital.
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