March Madness

10 Teams Under the Radar

Stanford

The Cardinal is a team that is flying under the radar, nationally, because they are not a top three team in the Pac-12. They play consistent ball as they play consistently on offense and stifling defense. Four double-digit scorers in Chasson Randle, Dwight Powell, Josh Huesteis, and Anthony Brown lead them. Stanford is firmly in the field of 64 for the NCAA tournament. Unless they lose their last two games and get sent home early in the Pac-12 tournament, they should make the big dance. This will not be an easy team to beat because they manage to stay calm like their coach Johnny Dawkins. This team has upset ability as they beat Connecticut and Michigan earlier in the year.

 

BYU

BYU has big wins over Stanford and Texas. In addition, they played Iowa State, Wichita State, Oregon, and Massachusetts, which were all losses. The out of conference schedule and overall strength is there. However, the Cougars are firmly on the bubble and will more than likely have to play into the tournament. This team will have to win its final game and have to make a deep run into their conference tournament. Any losses would result in BYU missing the NCAA tournament. If they win out, this team is loaded with guys that can score the basketball. They are led by one of the nations best scorers in Tyler Haws as he scores well over 20 every game. Haws is a 6'5 guard that can score in many different ways. Matt Carlino, Kyle Collinsworth, and Eric Mika each do a good job at scoring and rebounding. With so much offensive firepower, this team will need to put the clamps down on defense. Nevertheless, the NCAA is built on elite guard play, which means Carlino and Haws can help BYU get a win or two. If Haws scoring ability translates to the tournament, think Stephen Curry at Davidson or Jimmer Fredette at BYU.

 

Oklahoma State

The Cowboys finally ended their seven game losing streak when Marcus Smart returned from his three game suspension. Although they slipped into quite a funk, they have a good chance of making the tournament. Markel Brown, L'Bryan Nash, and Phil Forte III are solid scorers that compliment Smart. These four players are volume scorers so they can get a little cold from time to time. The Big 12 is ultra competitive so the committee may be magnanimous and grant this team with a berth. If that is the case, no team wants to face a lowly seeded Oklahoma State team. They have too much firepower not to win a game and possibly go on a bit of a run like last year's Oregon team. Smart and Brown's ability to takeover can propel this team to a possible Sweet 16 appearance.

 

Oklahoma

Lon Kruger's ball club is an inconsistent ball club. They have the talent to compete with Kansas and Iowa State, but the youth to lose against a team like Texas Tech during conference play. Buddy Hield is he leading scorer for this Sooners team, but he is the most inconsistent player out of all of them. He can erupt in one half and go extremely cold in another. Jordan Woodard, Ryan Spangler, Cameron Clark, and Isaiah Cousins are double-digit scorers as well. Tyler Neal and Je'lon Hornbeak provide three point marksmen off the bench as well. This team probably seems inconsistent because of the overall depth in the Big 12. With that being said, this team is one of the toughest to prepare for because they have so much depth. It really comes down to how interested and if they view the other team as a threat for this Sooners team.

 

Arizona State

After their controversial win against Arizona, the Sun Devils have managed to climb their way up to an eight seed. Jahii Carson who scores a lot of points for this team leads them. In addition, Jordan Bachynski and Jermaine Marshall have proven to be consistent double figure scorers. The problem with this team, after those three players, is: Can they produce enough offense to win a game or two in the NCAA tournament? They have periods during the course of the game where they go on scoring droughts. Bachynski's defensive prowess can be key for Arizona State.

 

Ohio State

 This Buckeyes team has so much talent from top to bottom. With players like Aaron Craft, Lenzelle Smith Jr., Sam Thompson, Shannon Scott, LaQuinton Ross, and Amir Williams, this should easily be one of the top teams in the Big Ten and in the country. Somehow, they have struggled with all of this talent. One of the biggest concerns with this team is can they score enough points to win. They play ball-hawking defense, but they have guys that are offensively challenged outside of Ross and Smith Jr. Ohio State loves to play at a slow pace and get good shots to set up their defense. When they are making their shots, Ohio State is the most annoying team in the country to play for 40 minutes.

 

Harvard

Some spectators might remember this Crimson team from a year ago as they ruined most people's brackets. Wesley Saunders was the key to their upset over New Mexico in the NCAA tournament a year ago. Saunders returned for another year as he leads his team to, possibly, another NCAA tournament. His scoring numbers have dipped, but he has a lot of help. Harvard has six players that average more than nine points a game. With that kind of offensive balance, it is really hard to defend them because opposing players do not know where the scoring will come from. This makes Harvard a tough team to go against even if Saunders is struggling.

 

Providence

The Friars are not a deep basketball team as they have five players that play 30 plus minutes a game and a sixth play that plays 20 minutes. They are a talented team led by their senior point guard Bryce Cotton. Cotton scores over 20 points a game on a nightly basis. He also rebounds well at his size; he is a playmaker for his teammates, and an absolute bulldog on defense. LaDontae Henton, Kadeem Batts, and Tyler Harris are efficient scorers that can rebound. This is a veteran ball club that has a lot of players that are lanky athletes. If they make it to the NCAA tourney, this team's length can be their greatest asset defensively. With Cotton's elite play at point guard, this team can upset someone during the first weekend. Having a seven footer in Carson Desrosiers can be beneficial as he averages three blocks per contest. Another win over Creighton and a couple wins in the Big East Tourney should get them in the NCAA tourney.

 

Virginia

Checking this team's stat sheet can be depressing for a person that loves offense, but the Cavaliers make up for it on defense. After getting drubbed by Tennessee, Virginia has won 14 of their last 15 with their lone loss being to Duke. Also, they sit atop the ACC and broke the school record for conference wins. Joe Harris and Michael Brogdon lead this stagnant offense, but Justin Anderson provides valuable minutes with his intensity. Akil Mitchell is the X-factor for this team because he is a scorer who is underachieving dramatically this season. London Perrantes runs this team with no fear, as he never gets rattled despite being a freshman point guard. Virginia's defense and Harris's ability to take over games has many believing they can make a Final Four run. Despite those lofty expectations, many are still numb to the success of this team.

 

Michigan

Despite not having Mitch McGary, Michigan has been able to get on a bit of a roll, as they are in first place in the grueling Big Ten. Many wrote this team off after they lost Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke to the NBA Draft. In addition, when they lost McGary indefinitely, the experts doubted they would even make the NCAA tournament. Nik Stauskas and Caris LeVert have been the main reasons why the Wolverines are back in the national spotlight. Glenn Robinson III and Derrick Walton Jr. are no scrubs as they are certainly capable of big time performances. Head coach John Beilein should definitely be acknowledged for the tremendous job he has done as a coach because they are without three players from last year's championship game. With or without McGary, Michigan should make the Sweet 16.

Chasing History

Jesse Owens

James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens was a 5'10 165 pound Track and Field athlete from Oakville, Alabama. Owens had an illustrious career in Track and Field as he set many records and won many medals. He lived during a time when segregation was still rampant nationally and internationally. However, he was never deterred as he chased his dreams.

Owens family lived in Alabama until he turned nine. His parents decided to take part in the "Great Migration", which was when 1.5 million African Americans moved from the segregated south. They moved to Ohio where Owens got a job, as a student, to help his family financially. Owens was an outstanding track runner at East Technical High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He only did it to bridge the time between work and school, but he realized how much he loved it. He received his first taste of the spotlight during the 1933 National High School Championship in Chicago. He equalled the world record in the 100 yard dash with the time of 9.4 seconds. In addition, he jumped 7.56 meters in the long jumping event.

Owens would go on to The Ohio State University where he ran track without a scholarship and lived off-campus because of segregation. He still had a part-time job to support his family. Owens was recognized as the "Buckeye Bullet" because of his supernatural speed. During his time as a Buckeye, he won eight individual NCAA championships. He had a career day during the Big Ten meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1935 where he set three records. He tied the record of 9.4 seconds in the 100 yard dash, set the record in long jumping at 8.13 meters, set the record at 20.3 seconds in the 220 yard dash, and set the record at 22.6 seconds in the 220 yard low hurdles event. However, his success did not stop there.

Owens would go on to the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. This was a time when Adolf Hitler was in control of Germany and believed German athletes would dominate every event. He also believed African Americans were inferior along with the Jews. Olympic officials gave Hitler a stiff ultimatum, which was to congratulate every medalist or do not congratulate anyone. Hitler stubbornly chose not to congratulate anyone. Nevertheless, Owens won four gold medals in the 100 and 200 meter events, long jump, and 4x100 meter relay race. Owens teamed up with Ralph Metcalf, Frank Wycoff, and Foy Draper as they set the world record in the relay event at 39.8 seconds. However, Owens was not commemorated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his efforts when he returned home. Roosevelt was afraid if he acknowledged Owens that he would lose votes from Southern voters. Later, President Dwight D. Eisenhower honored Owens as the "Ambassador of Sports" in 1955. 

Before Owens passed away, he was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1970. Also, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Gerald Ford in 1976. After passing away in 1980, the USA Track and Field team created the Jesse Owens Award in 1981. It was and still is awarded to the top Track and Field athlete. Finally, his alma mater, The Ohio State University, dedicated the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium for Track and Field events only.

African American QB

Marlin Briscoe

Today, we see Cam Newton, Robert Griffin III, Colin Kaepernick, Russell Wilson, and others that are African American quarterbacks. Older generations used to watch Randall Cunningham and Warren Moon at quarterback, but the pioneer for black QBs was Marlin Briscoe. 

Marlin Briscoe was a 5'11 178 lb quarterback and wide receiver from Oakland, CA that played high school and college football in Omaha, NE. Briscoe was nicknamed "Marlin the Magician" because he could make incredible plays on the field when his team needed them. He played in the AFL and NFL from 1968 to 1976. Briscoe played for the Broncos, Bills, Dolphins, Chargers, Lions, and Patriots. 

Briscoe was drafted by the Broncos in the 14th round of the 1968 draft. He started out eighth on the depth chart for quarterbacks, but was switched to the other side of the ball to play defensive back. An injury to the Broncos starting signal caller forced Briscoe to go back to his natural position. He excelled as he accounted for 17 total touchdowns and rushed for over 300 yards. His 14 passing touchdowns is still a rookie record for the Denver Broncos. However, his success was short lived as the team had no intentions of letting him start at QB in the next season. As a result, he asked to be released and as he signed with the Buffalo Bills. Ironically, he did not play QB for the Bills as they had a star in Jack Kemp. Briscoe decided to play receiver as he led the team in receptions twice and receiving touchdowns three times. Also, he was named to the All-Pro team and was selected to the Pro Bowl during 1970. Briscoe was traded to the Miami Dolphins where he won back-to-back Super Bowls and was a part of the only undefeated team in NFL history to win a Super Bowl in 1972. Following the 1974 season, he bounced around the league for the remainder of his career as he played for San Diego, Detroit, and New England.

Final Four

Final Four Contenders

The NCAA season is in full swing as the contenders begin to separate from the pretenders, teams are beginning to realize their full potential, and some teams are just in quite a funk. These teams, on this list, may have the most talent as well as having players that play unselfishly. They each have the same goal that is to win a national championship. All of these teams will not make it to the Final Four, but they each have a shot if they handle their business. Of course, injuries, bad games, or miracles - by the other team- can knock these teams out of the tournament. However, in a perfect world these teams would have legitimate chances at punching their tickets to the Final Four.

Syracuse

The Orangemen are undefeated, thus far, as they are led by CJ Fair, Jerami Grant, and freshman guard Tyler Ennis. Syracuse has made a smooth transition from the Big East to the ACC despite a couple scares here and there. Anytime they face adversity during a game, coach Jim Boeheim settles his group down and gets them to play the way he wants them to. Also, what makes it tough when teams play Syracuse is their ability to pressure ball handlers. Boeheim likes to run a full court press zone to cause turnovers and disrupt the other team's rhythm. If Syracuse finishes the season strong and has good play during the ACC tournament, I look for them to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament like last year.

Wichita State

The "Cinderella" darlings from a year ago have not lost a game since their Final Four loss to Louisville. Gregg Marshall did not like the idea of his team being tabbed with that label. However, during the tournament, his team began to shed that label. Marshall is slowly turning his program into the modern day Gonzaga, VCU, and Butlers of the world. The Shockers are led by, NBA prospects, Fred VanVleet and Cleanthony Early. Another key player is Ron Baker as he can certainly light it up at times. Playing against subpar talent in the Missouri Valley Conference, Marshall is probably finding different ways to motivate his players in a lackluster conference. One thing is for sure, Wichita State is a top five team and likely to finish the regular season in the top five. Any team that takes them lightly will be "shocked" plain and simple.

Arizona

The desert has not received this much national buzz since hall of fame coach Lute Olsen was running the show. This is probably the most complete and deepest basketball team on this list. They have multiple players that can have big time performances so their margin for error is a wide margin. They have Nick Johnson, Aaron Gordon, Brandon Ashley, TJ McConell, Kaleb Tarczewski, Gabe York, and others. Head coach Sean Miller does a great job getting this group to play unselfishly and it starts with their leader Johnson. Arizona is also the most exciting team in the country as they throw dubious amounts of lobs. They boast big wins against San Diego State, at Michigan, and against Duke on a neutral site. The Wildcats have yet to be tested in the Pac-12, but it is hard to see them going unblemished in conference play. UCLA, Oregon, and Cal will give them their best games. Having a seven footer in Tarczewski can be key to Arizona's title hopes.

Kansas

On paper, Kansas is one of the most talented teams in all of college basketball. Andrew Wiggins is more assertive and aggressive on the offensive end. Joel Embiid plays with a certain nastiness and toughness that they need from a center. Perry Ellis and Wayne Selden are the two glue players that a coach needs in his lineup to make a run. The only thing that can stop the Jayhawks is themselves. If Wiggins gets comfortable shooting jumpers, Bill Self's group will experience an early exit in the NCAA tournament. Like Arizona's Tarczewski, Embiid is pivotal to his team's success as a seven foot rim protector.

Michigan State

The Spartans seem to be reeling right now as they look like the college version of the Chicago Bulls. As a result, you can say Tom Izzo is doing his best impersonation of Tom Thibodeau. Izzo has had players go in and out of his lineup all season with Branden Dawson and Adreian Payne being the most notable. Michigan State is a tough group though as they continue to play quality basketball. Gary Harris and Keith Appling continue to carry the load for this injury ridden basketball team. When the Spartans get all of their players healthy, this team has enough talent to get to the Final Four. With Izzo at the helm, they have enough talent to win it all. Another key component for this team is: How much of an issue is Appling's hand injury? The NCAA tournament is designed for elite guards to take over so this team cannot afford to lose a player of Appling's caliber.

Florida

Look regardless of if Chris Walker is named eligible or ineligible for the season, Florida is still a talented basketball club. It is really hard to pinpoint who is the MVG of this team. MVG meaning the Most Valuable Gator. This team is led by four seniors in Scottie Wilbekin, Patric Young, Will Yeguete, and  Casey Prather. Billy Donovan's team plays air tight defense and plays efficiently on offense. This might be Donovan's worst 3-point shooting team in the last couple years, but Michael Frazier has no problem assuming that duty. The Gators seniors have been to three straight Elite 8s and want to finally get over the hump. This group looks hungry and is as hot as anyone in the country. They still have two games against Kentucky to see if they are for real and a possible third meeting if they meet in the SEC tourney. Regardless of what happens in those matchups, Donovan and his seniors experience is something they can rely on when they experience adversity.

Duke

Jabari Parker and Duke have regained their swagger during the most critical juncture in the season. There was a point where Parker and Duke were heading south, but it is hard to keep going south with a hall of fame coach like Mike Krzyzewski. Parker might be the most important player for the Blue Devils, but Quinn Cook, Rodney Hood, Rasheed Sulaimon, and Amile Jefferson are key pieces. Coach K has managed to get his team focused and play unselfish basketball. He also does a good job of making sure everyone stays within their role. Jefferson is a perfect example of that as he rebounds and plays with a high motor. If Duke can continue their unselfish play, this group will make a run at a Final Four bid.

San Diego State

Head coach Steve Fisher's Aztecs do not have a star player. This scrappy group of gym rats plays cohesively as a team and epitomizes their coach's personality. They are led by Xavier Thames and the lanky Winston Shepard as they play tough defense and look to attack the paint. They have signature wins over Creighton, Marquette, and Kansas. The only blemish on their record is a nine point loss to Arizona. The Aztecs struggle with scoring at times because they are an athletic group who relies on its defense to get easy buckets. A few reasons why I like this ball club is because they are led by a fifth year senior in Thames, they play 40 minutes of intense basketball, and they can win ugly games.

Power Outage

Power Outage

Following the AFC Divisional Round loss to their rival, the San Diego Chargers is a team that, many would say, overachieved. They overachieved on both sides of the ball starting with their charismatic leader Philip Rivers. Rivers experienced a rebirth under first year head coach Mike McCoy, offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, and quarterbacks coach Frank Reich. The Chargers ran more of an uptempo, yet time consuming, no huddle offense. The Chargers had one of the best offensive units thanks to players like Keenan Allen, Ryan Mathews, Danny Woodhead, Ledarius Green, and Antonio Gates. They also found some stability in a shaky offensive line with players like DJ Fluker and Nick Hardwick being the anchors along the line. On defense, John Pagano did an admirable job calling plays and making sure that defense got hot during the right time. The defense struggled early on, but Eric Weddle and Donald Butler got that group of 11 guys to play cohesively as they began to force turnovers and cause sacks. 

There are a lot of areas that need to be addressed for this Chargers organization during this upcoming offseason. They have to get more stability along the offensive line through the draft or free agency. San Diego has to find another playmaker to play opposite of Keenan Allen. They can wait and see if Danario Alexander and Malcom Floyd can be of service to them coming off season ending injuries. The Chargers have to find a pass rusher opposite of Melvin Ingram and get some help in that secondary while finding a way to keep Butler at linebacker. This team has a lot of needs and it will be interesting to see how owner Alex Spanos and general manager Tom Telesco handle them.

On a positive note, San Diego was one of the big surprises of the NFL season. They went from a, dead in the water, 5-7 record to a 9-7 playoff team. They had some bad losses early on against Houston, Tennessee, Washington, and Oakland. Three out of those four losses were close games and could have been due to McCoy trying to find his way as a first time NFL head coach. He helped revive the careers of Rivers and Mathews while making sure the Chargers never quit. Sunday's final game against Denver epitomized that never quit mentality. The Chargers accomplished a lot this season and have to be happy, but they cannot become complacent with this year's success. They have to find a way to improve on both sides of the ball and take that next step. Especially, with an aging quarterback in Rivers.

Helmet To Helmet

Paying the Price

 

 The NFL legally banned helmet-to-helmet contact between 2009-2010. Players that tackle opposing players with helmet-to-helmet contact are heavily fined in today's game. Multiple offenders that break this rule are either fined heavily or suspended from their next game. Players fined for violating this rule include Vontaze Burfict, Tramon Williams, Dashon Goldson, Donte "Hitner" Whitner, Brandon Meriweather, and the list goes on. These players received fines ranging from $21,000 to $100,000 and some of them were suspended as well. The result of this rule has led to zero tolerance regarding the rule, fewer concussions, and a higher rate of lower body hits. These lower body hits bring up an interesting question: Would a player rather have a concussion or a severe lower body injury?

A concussion can be a momentary head injury and, in worst cases, sideline a player for weeks. This injury is a lot easier to bounce back from as opposed to a severe lower body injury like a ACL, MCL, PCL, leg, or foot injury. If a player wants to have a long career in the NFL, he will need a healthy body, but specially a healthy lower body. NFL players have to cut, tackle, block, throw, and make acrobatic catches during games. All of those skills require some strong legs. When a defender is running at full speed, lower body health can become a serious concern because players are being hit in their legs. I am not pleading for the NFL or any level of football to allow helmet to helmet contact, but I think most players rather be hit in the upper body. A concussion can lead to health problems that occur later in a player's life. Let's be honest, these players are not thinking about their long-term health. They want to stay on the field and make as much money as they can.

Concussions and lower body health problems are serious matters at hand. I think if lower body injuries continue to proliferate we could see this rule begin to go away. On the other hand, concussions are not anything to snub our nose at, so we may see the league look to implement a "hitting zone". I do not see this rule beginning anytime soon. The NFL is in a tough situation right now, so it's safe to say there is no explicit answer. So who's really paying for the damages the NFL or the players being fined and injured?

WRs

Top 10 First and Second Year Receivers

Playing receiver in the NFL can be really tough. A receiver can have a tremendous amount of speed, but if he cannot catch the ball he will not last too long in the league. A receiver can have the ability to catch the ball, but if he cannot score or pick up extra yardage he will not last long. The days of receivers like Joe Jurevicius are long gone. Size and speed are only part of the equation, as the NFL is in high demand for game changing pass catchers. This position can be really tough to play and it used to take three years for a young receiver to be ready to play. Now, these receivers come into the league ready to take flight. Here's a look at the top first and second year receivers.

 

Honorable Mentions: Tavon Austin, Kenny Stills, Rod Streater

 

10. Terrance Williams

 

  

Terrance Williams benefited from an injured Miles Austin as he racked up five touchdowns on big plays. Now that Austin is back, the Cowboys seem to have forgotten about the big-play ability of Williams. He is a perfect complimentary receiver to Dez Bryant as he has recorded 531 yards with five touchdowns. Being surrounded by veterans like Austin, Bryant, Tony Romo and Jason Witten will help him polish his game as he progresses.

9. Reuben Randle

 

Reuben Randle is dynamic when Eli Manning has time to throw the ball. He is usually the third or fourth option in a New York offense that consists of Victor Cruz, Hakeem Nicks, and even Brandon Myers. Randle lacks consistency as he has games where he eclipses 100 yards and others where he disappears like Houdini. He does lead the Giants with six touchdowns.

8. Deandre Hopkins

 

Deandre Hopkins was exactly what the Houston Texans could ask for in a receiver playing opposite of Andre Johnson. Despite the disappointing play of the team, Hopkins has had games where he has been extremely difficult to cover. He is extremely fluid in running his routes, which makes it easy for him to catch passes. Not to mention, he can take a crossing route for 20-30 yards. So far he has 41 catches for 631 yards and two touchdowns.

7. Kendall Wright 

 

Kendall Wright was known as a deep-threat coming out of Baylor in 2012. However, in Tennessee, Wright has been Mr. Reliable, as he always seems to come up with a huge catch for a first down. Wright catches a lot of underneath routes and keeps the chains moving, but he has the ability to sneak behind the secondary with his deceptive speed. He leads the Titans passing attack with 71 catches for 840 yards and two touchdowns.

6. T.Y. Hilton

 

T.Y. Hilton came on strong during his rookie year in 2012. Hilton has not missed a beat in 2013 with 791 yards and five touchdowns. He has games where he can just light a defense up. Then, he has games where he leaves you waiting for him to show up and make a big play. He is clearly the number one target for Andrew Luck in the Colts offense as Reggie Wayne is done for the year. Nine times out of ten the Colts will win their games based on the production of Hilton. 

5. Michael Floyd

 

Michael Floyd, like Hopkins, excels as a receiver because of Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is the primary focus of defenses, as he should be, while Floyd is able to roam free in the secondary. At times, Floyd has been the receiver to keep the Arizona Cardinals offense moving. Floyd leads the Cardinals with 860 yards, 54 catches, and four touchdowns. A lot of people had Floyd graded higher than the next receiver on this list coming out of college, but Floyd has been able to produce. 

4. Justin Blackmon

Justin Blackmon is easily the top receiver on this list if he avoids using drugs. Since coming out of Oklahoma State, Blackmon has had numerous off the field incidents. Some people in Jacksonville question his work ethic as well. When on the field, he is a mercurial threat as he can easily catch the ball for 100 yards. He had a 200-yard performance early in the year as he carved up Denver. Then, he was suspended for breaking the substance abuse policy AGAIN. Blackmon's days in Jacksonville may be numbered as a new regime took the office during the offseason. One more off the field incident and he may not be a Jaguar anymore.

3. Keenan Allen 

 

In hindsight, it is easy to say Keenan Allen has been the steal of the 2013 draft. The Chargers drafted him and could not be happier. It is still early, but Allen is probably making some general managers around the league scratch their head's because they missed this guy. Allen has posted 843 yards on 58 catches with three touchdowns. He has often been compared to Anquan Boldin because of his lack of speed, route running ability, and exceptional hands. Allen has a certain swagger about himself, as he loves playing against corners that press him at the line of scrimmage. He will also let a defensive back know how he feels after he catches a pass on them. If Allen can keep his superb play up, he should receive rookie of the year and a trip to Honolulu for the Pro Bowl.

2. Alshon Jeffery

 

 

 

 

Guess who has the most yards at receiver for the Chicago Bears. I will give you a hint: It's not Brandon Marshall. Alshon Jeffery leads the Bears with 1,109 yards, five touchdowns, and a staggering 15.8 yards per catch average. It took him a year to get situated in Chicago, but in his second year he has shown the ability to be the primary receiver. How can anyone stick this guy? He is 6'3 and has speed for his size. It probably does not hurt to get to practice against two of the best corners in the league in Tim Jennings and Charles Tillman.
 

1. Josh Gordon 

 

To a certain extent Jeffery and Josh Gordon are interchangeable in regards to the top spot on this list. Gordon has produced 1,249 yards, seven touchdowns, and 19.2 yards per catch. You can even argue Gordon has had more success than Jeffery with less than stellar quarterbacks. You can even say Gordon has been more productive with virtually no one else around him on offense that can deflect some attention from him. This is why Gordon is on the top of the list because he is the Browns offense. If Cleveland did not have him, they would be better off starting guys from defense on offense.