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Predict the player(s) whose lightbulb goes off in 2009

Burgold

By Burgold
in The Stadium

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Burgold

Burgold

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Every year, some second or third year guy suddenly gets it and goes from being a good athlete to an important player. They suddenly know why they are doing what they are doing and their instincts and physical abilities mesh. The lightbulb goes off. Usually, it's a guy who's been giving off a decent number of sparks the year before, but hasn't quite been able to catch fire or someone who was just so totally lost that you can't imagine why he was even kept on the team.

My picks:

Laron Landry: Yeah, he's been fine, but he's invisible. I think something clicks for him in his third year and he like Taylor emerges in his third year to become more of a force, more of a playmaker.

Heyer: Frankly because this is his it year. He knows a lot of people are doubting him and pushing him back. Heyer has had a lot of moments, but hasn't quite gotten it. If he's going to get it it's now or never.

Rob Jackson: Jackson seemed to have a lot of "it" last preseason, but they didn't trust his discipline. I think if he does the skullwork that the kid could fill a role for us and be a good player.

Getting better but still a year away:

Devin Thomas: He improved as he got playing time and finally made an exciting play or two, but I don't think he's ready to make that big time jump.

Horton: I fear a sophmore slump for Horton in 2009. He started so strong and then seemed to slide a little. I can see him being a guy who already gets it and won't improve that much, a guy who'll get just a little better each year or a guy or who'll take a step back and explode.

I want to put Rheinhart on this list, but honestly I have no clue, but my instinct is that for him it is all about the lightbulb. When he gets it he'll be great, but if the flip doesn't switch soon, he'll never get a chance.

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Obibyn23

Obibyn23

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Just saying shouldn't it be light bulb turns on? Usually when someone gets it their light bulb turns on..yeah..pretty sure. Would think the light bulb going off would have the opposite effect.

As for my guys...

I think Devin Thomas will get it this year...H.B. Blades needs to step up big. Also add Fred Davis to my list.

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DCDiesel44

DCDiesel44

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After everything that has happened this off-season I'd imagine it would/has to be Jason Campbell. Putting myself in his shoes, I'd want nothing more than to prove everyone wrong and go out there and perform at my highest level. Not to mention it's his second year in the system which is a convenient first for him.

Another guy that has to be a factor for us is Devin Thomas, to me he becomes the difference maker in our offense if he becomes our #2 guy and lives up to expectations. He's got all the tools needed to get it done, now it's really just a matter of getting it done.

DeAngelo Hall, with Springs gone he needs to be the shutdown cornerback that we need him to be against opponents' #1 receivers. Do we get the pro-bowl Hall that played for the Falcons, or do we get the non-factor sub-par Hall that had a brief stint in Oakland? I personally believe it has to be the former, he performed for us well in the second part of last season and wants to prove that he's worth the money and can be our shutdown guy, not to mention he grew up a Skins fan.

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PlayAction

PlayAction

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McIntosh should be better if his knee holds up. I don't know if you would say that's a lightbulb going on - I think he knows what to do he has to be physically capable to do it. The DBs should all perform better IF the Skins can muster a pass rush. Haynesworth lets other players have the opportunity to make plays. But, I'm not sure that the geriatric crew at LDE is up to putting up significantly better sack numbers.

Candidates for the lightbulb shining are the three rookie pass catchers from last years draft. If the lightbulb doesn't shine for one of them (and they are healthy) then the prognosis for the season is very poor. I think Kelly stands the best chance of "getting it" but will he be healthy enough to play? TE is a complete mystery to me.

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Burgold

Burgold

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Ya try to use a cliche and they all bark at you.

Campbell would be a great guy to have it suddenly click and it can happen for qbs later, but for most other positions often that major aha comes a bit earlier (if it comes)

Mind you, I don't necessarily want this to be another Campbell love/hatefest.

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jfr3ek

jfr3ek

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i think JC is going to have a "lights out" season this year. He's playing with alot of doubters on his back (even the FO as proven by the Jay Cutler/ Mark Sanchez man crush). He'll prove to everyone that he deserves an extension and he'll put commentators in awe (refer to the 1st half of the 08 season).

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rumplestilskin

rumplestilskin

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Ya try to use a cliche and they all bark at you.

There would be no dogs if the cliche was used correctly and not the complete opposite. Lightbulb turned on= Electricity, good. Lightbulb turned off= no Electricity, Bad. Anyways the point does get accross and its a good thread. My pick is H.B Blades and of coarse Campbell if he isn't traded by the Dark side for future considerations or in a package for dirty Sanchez. His light has been getting brighter every year and this year is his to get Amp'd up of get the hell out.

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darrelgreenie

darrelgreenie

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Every year, some second or third year guy suddenly gets it and goes from being a good athlete to an important player.

Nice thread.

Personally, i think that Landry is already an important player.

Landry's ability to play single deep FS is the centerpiece of our defense.

I think Horton will be fine, dude is a baller.

My picks:

Jason Campbell- This year is all about JC.

Stephon Heyer- Is gonna silence his critics and solidify the RT spot

Anthony Montgomery- the addition of Haynesworth will spark Monty to return to his 2007 form when he was consider an up an coming young DT

Chris Wilson- hungry Chris Wilson will finally get more pass rushing chances to continue to show his the speed from 2007

I don't think Devin Thomas is will have breakout 70+ catch season, but if JC is the QB Devin Thomas will have an impact he'll be a difference maker.

If these dudes step-up it would be key to the team's overall success:

Chad Rhinehart- come on Rhino! you gotta beat out a a guy with a broken neck;)

Rob Jackson- could he be the pass rusher we've been hoping for?

Fred Smoot -i thought he slumped last year)

J.T. Tryon - someone has got to claim the nickleback spot

Fred Davis/Malcolm Kelly- Extra weapons for JC/JZ and Redzone targets

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Laxpunk2006

Laxpunk2006

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The guys I see as candidates:

Laron Landry- same deal as OP. Has been solid but mostly playing deep preventing big plays rather than making them.

Rocky McIntosh- Was really coming on strong before his injury. He seemed to really wear down last season and I'm hoping another year removed from his injury will make the difference. It was really remarkable he and Carlos came back that quickly in the first place. Contract year helps as well.

Carlos Rogers- In my opinion it already has and he's an elite CB. The one thing missing from his game is the interception numbers. With AH pressuring QB's I expect more oppurtunities. Everyone plays well in a contract year. I just hope we can afford him in 2010.

Anthony Montgomery- Haynesworth's presence will be huge. No longer can teams double up on Monty and I believe he can be a force against single blockers. Griffin should have a big bounce back year as well but the light has been on for him so he doesn't make my list.

On offense I'm not as confident

Jason Campbell- I've been a JC "apologist" as some would put it. While I don't think he is elite I think he can be very good with the right supporting cast. If given the oppurtunity I think he can have a very good season if a reciever or two steps up.

Devin Thomas- I like the guy. I think he can become a very good reciever in this league. I don't expect a Pro Bowl season but I think he can put up average #2 reciever numbers. If Portis is healthy we shouldn't be relying on Thomas too heavily. I like Malcolm Kelly as well but he doesn't make my list because I think his problems are physical rather than mental. He can play this game. Our coaches and players have already seen it, it's just a matter of getting on the field. In my opinion that isn't in the spirit of "the lightbulb"

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Going Commando

Going Commando

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Jason Campbell- This year is all about JC.

Anthony Montgomery- the addition of Haynesworth will spark Monty to return to his 2007 form when he was consider an up an coming young DT

You pretty much covered every young player on the roster and I wouldn't be so optimistic.

But these two names stood out to me. Last year was about Campbell too. We lived and died with him and his ability to connect with Santana Moss. If we want to win a championship, every year will be about him. I'm mixed on what we should do with him. We'll see what happens this year.

Second, I don't think Montgomery is going to see the field a whole bunch at the same time as Haynesworth. As far as I know, they are both 1 technique defensive tackles, so Montgomery will probably be the guy who comes in for Haynesworth when he rotates out. Sure they could see the field together when we mix things up, but generally not in our base formations.

Also, I think we as Redskins fans are expecting a little much from Haynesworth when we think he will suddenly transform every single player on our defense into supermen. We will see a marked improvement from the guys who play closest to him when he's on the field: Cornelius Griffin and Andre Carter, and London Fletcher's job will certainly be easier. But it'll take more than just Haynesworth occupying blockers to have the impact on 2nd string DTs and our secondary that we are looking for. Plus, history tells us that he'll only play about 60% of snaps when he's healthy, and that we can also look forward to losing him for a couple games. I loved the signing too, but I'm just trying to temper the wild confidence enthusiasm surrounding it.

That being said, I'd look for Carlos Rogers and Deangelo Hall to have huge rebound (or breakout) years. Their is stability at cornerback finally, and defenses won't really be able to pick on either one.

With Rogers, he's another year away from his terrible injury, so I think he'll be able to put a consistent, 16 (maybe more?) game season together. He was outstanding in the season's first half, but it looked like he really wore down like the rest of the team in the second.

Hall meanwhile is in a system that suits him here and we can expect him to be healthy all year. He is happy and should be productive. He takes a lot of risks in coverage it seems like but his recovery speed is second to none. Thankfully the rest of our secondary is outstanding. We'll see a lot of interceptions from him this year.

Our defense will be fun to watch next year, and if we are able to draft someone like Brian Orakpo (or my personal favorite) Robert Ayers, I think it would put us over the top into the category of truly special.

If you can utilize Betts to spell Portis and get the running game going all season long, we can easily ride that combination with our defense into the playoffs.

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