Backyard Banter’s 2013 All-Surprise AFC Team
By: Matt Harmon
August 21, 2013
Quarterback: Brandon Weeden, QB, Cleveland Browns
Running back: Danny Woodhead, RB, San Diego Chargers
Wide Receiver: Kenbrell Thompkins, WR, New England Patriots
Tight End: Julius Thomas, TE, Denver Broncos
Offensive Line: Kelechi Osemele, OG, Baltimore Ravens
Defensive Line: Dontari Poe, DT, Kansas City Chiefs
Linebacker: Daryl Smith, MLB, Baltimore Ravens
Defensive Back: Greg Toler, CB, Indianapolis Colts
August 21, 2013
Quarterback: Brandon Weeden, QB, Cleveland Browns
- Weeden has been the star of the preseason so far, but that is not the only reason that I have him on this list. Last year I don’t think there was a quarterback more miscast in his offensive system than Brandon Weeden. Weeden is a big armed pocket passer, and the Browns under Pat Shurmur tried to force him into a timing based west coast system that could not have been a more poor fit for his skill set. Now with Rob Chudsinski and Norv Turner running this offense, I believe the system will be tailor made to Weeden’s skill set. With a good, young supporting cast in tow, we could see Weeden excel in his second season.
Running back: Danny Woodhead, RB, San Diego Chargers
- Woodhead is already something of an established player, but in his first season away from the New England Patriots, he could be in line for a bigger role. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick had the smarts to put Woodhead in position to succeed, but Philip Rivers and Mike McCoy might not have any other choice. Ahead of Woodhead on the running back depth chart is the underwhelming and injury prone Ryan Mathews. When Mathews suffers his annual injury it will be Woodhead who sees the extra work. Also, do not overlook both the injuries to San Diego’s pass catchers and the poor state of their offensive line. If Rivers does not have the time to get the ball down the field, then he will look to dump the ball off to Woodhead near the line of scrimmage.
Wide Receiver: Kenbrell Thompkins, WR, New England Patriots
- The Patriots drafted two rookie wide receivers, but it could be Thompkins that provides the most immediate impact. Thompkins has a long rap sheet with the law as he was arrested seven times by age eighteen, and expelled from high school. It was this history that kept him out of major universities like Oklahoma and Tennessee. Despite his checkered past, Thompkins is still more talented than your typical undrafted wideout and has been impressing in Patriots training camp and preseason games. In a pass catching group that is muddled with question marks, Thompkins has room to make his presence known. I have heard some compare him to Chad Johnson, and that is a good comparison, and he has the potential to make a much bigger impact than the last number 85 did for New England.
Tight End: Julius Thomas, TE, Denver Broncos
- The latest in the long line of former basketball players to give tight end a whirl, Thomas has made little impact in his first few years in the league. All that could be about to change. Healthy for the first time in awhile, Thomas has turned heads in offseason workouts, and could figure prominently in Manning’s passing attack. With defenses beating themselves up trying to figure out how to stop the superstar receiver group of the Broncos, Thomas is set up nicely to exploit favorable matchups.
Offensive Line: Kelechi Osemele, OG, Baltimore Ravens
- Osmele started off the 2012 at tackle, the position he played in college, and he was a decent player at best. However, when the Ravens shifted their offensive lineman combo late in the season, Osmele started at left guard and was completely dominant. At 6’5 and 330 pounds, Osmele has the size and strength to be a one of the best guards in the league. If he can recreate his play from the Ravens postseason run, the entire Ravens offense will benefit.
Defensive Line: Dontari Poe, DT, Kansas City Chiefs
- Dontari Poe was the star of the 2012 combine. A player from a smaller football program, Poe was an outstanding athlete running 4.89 forty and recording 44 bench presses of 225 pounds. He is the definition of the scouting term, “dancing bear”. Everyone knows this about Poe, but it remains to be seen what kind of a player he can be on an NFL field. Last year, Poe and his Chiefs teammates were subjected to what has come to be regarded as one of the worst coaching jobs in NFL history. With Andy Reid and a better staff in place, we could see a lift in the entire team’s performance, and that includes Poe. I believe talent like his, if cultivated, is too great to fall by the wayside.
Linebacker: Daryl Smith, MLB, Baltimore Ravens
- Smith was shadowed in obscurity playing in Jacksonville, but he was one of the best 4-3 outside linebackers in the league for the last decade. However, 2012 was a lost year for Smith as it was wiped out by injury, and he gained little interest in free agency. The Baltimore Ravens came calling late in the offseason and tabbed him as a potential replacement for Ray Lewis. You can already hear the glowing reports from the local and national media. If healthy, playing in Baltimore will gain Smith the national recognition he has long deserved.
Defensive Back: Greg Toler, CB, Indianapolis Colts
- Toler was an under the radar signing in the Colts’ spree, but he could be the most valuable. He was coming back from an ACL tear last year, and rarely looked right. But when he did, you could see the potential for Toler to be a big physical press corner. If he stays healthy for the Colts he could excel as the number two corner for them playing this style of defense. A good scheme fit, we could look back on this signing as one of the best from this past year’s free agency period.
Comment Form is loading comments...