As the turning of seasons is a continuous cycle, so is the ascension and decline of players' abilities in the NFL. It is a fact that easily recognized players will fade from the public eye this season as their careers wind down, only to be replaced by new blood, hungry for media attention and the awards and recognition that come with it. Here are 30 players, starting with offense, who have shown flashes of potential and are now primed to take that leap into being among the better players at their position.
QB Tim Couch, Browns - Three years after being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 draft, Couch is finally ready to put the growing pains behind, both his own and the Browns' as an expansion franchise. Under their first year with head coach Butch Davis, the Browns improved from 3-13 to 7-9, mostly on the play of their defense. Couch was the strength of the offense, but still threw 21 interceptions to just 17 touchdowns. That was mostly the result of a non-existent running game as Couch was asked to carry the load by himself. An improved offensive line in front of first-round pick William Green will finally allow Couch the comfort zone known by most other NFL quarterbacks. A strong defense will allow Couch to not take so many risks with the end result being a dramatic improvement in his throwing statistics, along with a playoff run by the Browns.
QB Trent Dilfer, Seahawks - It seems odd to say that a Super Bowl-winning quarterback has yet to have his breakthrough season, especially after nine seasons in the league and a 15-game winning streak, but Dilfer hasn't been a 16-game starting quarterback since 1998. Known throughout the early part of his career with the Bucs for making key mistakes, Dilfer has learned to play within himself and throw the incomplete pass rather than force a pass with a low chance of success. The once cocky rookie who claimed he would win a Super Bowl within five years has now become the mature 30 year old and locker room leader capable of leading a team on the field. With the coaching of offensive mind Mike Holmgren and the amount of offensive talent the Seahawks have on offense, Dilfer's breakthrough season is finally here.
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