We already talked about Pete Prisco's bold prediction that Carlos Dunlap, who finished the 2010 season with 9.5 sacks even though he was only in the game for like 12 total minutes, would have a breakout year in 2011.
It seems as though that there's some sort of equation that if a player had a semi-successful season the previous year, especially if that player is young, they are poised to have a breakout season the following year. Now that I know the equation, I'm sure to make a lot of money by saying who's going to have a breakout season and who isn't.
Well I'm here to tell you about another nostradamus-type figure who's making more predictions about who will have breakout seasons in 2011. NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks came out with a list of 10 players that he feels could be great in 2011 based off their 2010 performances.
Of course, Carlos Dunlap is on that list:
In a few years, taking Dunlap in the second round of the 2010 draft might look like one of the biggest steals. He finished his rookie season with 9.5 sacks in only 12 games as a situational player. Given his combination of burst, explosiveness and rush skill, Dunlap is on his way to becoming a perennial double-digit sack artist as a pro.
The Bengals' willingness to part with Chad Ochocinco might be influenced more by Simpson's breakthrough at the end of the season rather than the addition of A.J. Green. He posted back-to-back 100-yard receiving games to close out the year, and finally showed the promise that prompted the Bengals to select him ahead of DeSean Jackson in the 2008 draft.