Second year jump

[Oldcolt]

You hear often that players make their greatest jump between the first and second year of their careers. We have a ton of guys that could make that jump. I'm wondering, before we see them on the field, who you folks think will make the biggest jump and why.

My guy is George Odum. He is from a small school (Central Arkansas) and played linebacker in college (he still has that linebacker mentality) so he was as raw as they come last year. He wasn't drafted but came on for us at the end of the year. He has the physical tools and by improving his play dramatically thru the year showed me he has the mental makeup to do the job. I think he continues to come on and makes safety a deep position for us.

[Pez]

You hear often that players make their greatest jump between the first and second year of their careers. We have a ton of guys that could make that jump. I'm wondering, before we see them on the field, who you folks think will make the biggest jump and why.

My guy is George Odum. He is from a small school (Central Arkansas) and played linebacker in college (he still has that linebacker mentality) so he was as raw as they come last year. He wasn't drafted but came on for us at the end of the year. He has the physical tools and by improving his play dramatically thru the year showed me he has the mental makeup to do the job. I think he continues to come on and makes safety a deep position for us.

I agree, There was a stampede blue article that touted Odum as the starting safety next to Hooker this year, and that he would continue to improve.

[Racehorse]

Turay

[Chromeburn]

Fountain, Lewis, Turay.

[YDFL Commish]

Hines.

[njcoltfan]

Braden Smith

[Oldcolt]

Every one of these guys are legitimate threats to make a huge jump. Plenty of others. I'd add in Quincy Wilson. Even thought it is his third year it really is only his second year having any idea about what this is about. There is every reason to expect this team to be a hell of a lot better this year. I enjoy this time of year, before the reality games strike.

[omahacolt]

Fountain, Lewis, Turay.

I would be very surprised if fountain makes the team.

I don’t have much hope for Lewis or turay to make much noise.

[Chromeburn]

I would be very surprised if fountain makes the team.

I don’t have much hope for Lewis or turay to make much noise.

Fountain probably won’t. See if they can stash him on the practice squad. Knew he was a project when they took him.

Lewis I think will show more than Turay. With a full camp and off season. Buzz is Turay looks improved but I’ll wait and see.

[Oldcolt]

I would be very surprised if fountain makes the team.

I don’t have much hope for Lewis or turay to make much noise.

I get Fountain. We have a ton of athletic unproved receivers. Why are you down on both Lewis and Turay? I'm hoping and think there is a reasonable chance that at least one of them makes a big move.

[ukcolt]

Man when you look at this roster, we are so young....there are so many guys you could choose who are 2nd year pros. Vinny has 24 years, second most experienced guys are Sheard, Houston and Castonzo who are entering their 9th seasons next longest in tenure are Luck and Hilton with 8.

Haven't gone through the roster in depth but i suspect 70% of our roster will be going into their 3rd season or less.

[Oldcolt]

I think we may have a great coaching staff. They have all this physical talent, some from small no name (as far as the NFL is concerned) schools and the coaching staff seems to put them in situations they can mentally handle. Then they slowly add stuff. Ballard looks like he really has gotten players that are take to coaching. A winning combo

[Chromeburn]

I get Fountain. We have a ton of athletic unproved receivers. Why are you down on both Lewis and Turay? I'm hoping and think there is a reasonable chance that at least one of them makes a big move.

I'm not down on them. I think they will be most improved. I don't see either cracking the starters, but they should improve.

Ballard likes athletes at end, although the guys seem to need their technique improved and can be projects. He will throw numbers at the problem till it is solved. I expect to spend another draft pick on a pass rusher next draft. Turay showed flashes at pass rushing, but his run defense was very shoddy. Lewis I think will be better because I think he had better instruction at OSU and was buried among a lot of dominate players at that school. He also missed a lot of last season due to injury.

Finally, dline is a man's game within the game. It takes time for the average dline guy to reach his potential. Sure some guys come out of the gate fast, but usually it takes years to build your body, gain the strength, and master effective technique to be a good player. You have to be patient with guys. I always like a misture of vets and youth at the position.

Look at Grover Stewert, he had to retool his body to fit in this system, and he now looks like he is starting to get it. I think he will take a transition step.

[bertjones]

Just because they accomplished so much in their rookie seasons I
wouldn't discount the possibility that Leonard and Nelson have bigger
leaps than their classmates. I look for Leonard to be more comfortable,
more instinctive with a year under his belt with an expanding role to play.
Combine that with his work ethic and he could move into the Mack class of
elite players. As for Nelson a number of people tabbed him as the best
interior O lineman to come out of college since John Hannah. He did nothing
to disprove that notion. If he follows that trajectory we'll see a lot more
pancakes and open lanes.

[VeveJones007]

Fountain with another deep TD today, this time against the Browns.

[omahacolt]

I get Fountain. We have a ton of athletic unproved receivers. Why are you down on both Lewis and Turay? I'm hoping and think there is a reasonable chance that at least one of them makes a big move.

I simply didn’t see anything that jumped out at me that they would be difference makers

[Oldcolt]

I simply didn’t see anything that jumped out at me that they would be difference makers

Agreed. I just have hope that at least one of them will have the light go off. Sometimes it takes time, Wilson showed zilch his first year and a half. Now it's a different story. I think both of them have talent with a burst so I'm hopeful.

[Racehorse]

Turay

Looks like I may have gotten the right answer.

[ChoppedWood]

I watched the replay this morning, they said we have some #, something staggering, that were captains of their respective teams. Looks like Ballard is looking for guys that want the responsibility of being in charge, of having to hold others accountable. May be onto something very under the radar.

[Racehorse]

I watched the replay this morning, they said we have some #, something staggering, that were captains of their respective teams. Looks like Ballard is looking for guys that want the responsibility of being in charge, of having to hold others accountable. May be onto something very under the radar.

He said that building the locker room was the first step, but for some reason people doubted him.

[Oldcolt]

He said that building the locker room was the first step, but for some reason people doubted him.

Count me in as an original doubter. So many GM's talk so much shit that I just hear blah blah blah. Ballard, at least to me, has shown how wrong I was. He is really one of the only GM's that is a straight shooter. He may not open up and tell you everything but what he tells you seems to be the truth. It's not only refreshing, it bodes well for the future. People, including players, don't like to be 'played'. I would point out that part of building a locker room is taking care of your own. Ballard is doing that also.

[ChoppedWood]

I watched the replay this morning, they said we have some #, something staggering, that were captains of their respective teams. Looks like Ballard is looking for guys that want the responsibility of being in charge, of having to hold others accountable. May be onto something very under the radar.