By Abu Mara With training camp on the horizon, developing player personnel is at the top of NFL coaching staff?s priorities, now that the NFL?s off-season has switched gears from hype and pomp of the NFL draft. It?s now the time of the year where organizations poke and prod their rosters hoping to find a diamond in the ruff, hoping that a young players potential manifests into NFL stardom. Here are some of the NFL breakout players of 2007. Laurence Maroney RB New England Patriots Maroney quietly crept onto the NFL scene with 745 yards rushing and six touchdowns, in limited action last season. The departure of Corey Dillon now makes Maroney the focal ball carrier in New England. Only Tom Brady was happier to see the Patriots off-season acquisitions of wide receivers Randy Moss, Donte? Stallworth, Kelly Washington and Wes Welker. The Patriots diligent off- season will force teams to focus most of their attention to the newly formed receiving core, and should directly affect the second-year running back. The speed and presence that the Patriots now have at receiver will limit and/or detour the ability of opposing defenses to bring up an extra safety, or eighth man in-the-box. If opposing defenses are forced to play the Patriots in a predominately two-deep-safety look, look for Maroney to have a breakout season and surpass the 1,500-yard and 10 touchdown barriers this season. Ronnie Brown RB Miami Dolphins Brown flashed the brilliance, with four 100-yard performances in 13 games, which Miami envisioned when they selected him with the second pick in the 2005 NFL draft. Brown also cracked the 1,000-yard barrier, with 1008 yards and 5 touchdowns. Due to the departure of Ricky Williams last season, and for the first time in his career, Brown was asked to bare the brunt of the violent collisions of a NFL running back. The Dolphins new head coach Cam Cameron, who spent the last five years coordinating the San Diego Chargers and is well experienced at getting his running backs the ball, see LaDainian Tomlinson?s five year statistical averages of 1588 yards rushing, 507 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns. Earlier this off-season the Dolphins moved veteran OT Vernon Carey from the right to left side. The Dolphins also made attempts to address the offensive line and running game this off-season when they signed OT Chris Liwienski, OT Mike Rosenthal and blocking FB Corey Schlesinger. At 6-foot, 232 pounds, Brown is big, fast and has great hands out of the backfield. With a full season of being the primary ball carrier behind him, Brown is poised for a breakout 2007 NFL season. Jay Cutler QB Denver Broncos Cutler was not coddled in his rookie season as most pundits expected. Cutler was thrown into the fray, in the midst of a playoff push. However, the rookie faired surprisingly well as the Denver Broncos starting quarterback. In his truncated five game stint, Cutler completed 59 percent of his passes while throwing nine touchdowns, on his way to becoming the first NFL rookie quarterback to throw multiple touchdowns in their first four starts. As the season progressed Cutler showed excellent erudite of Mike Shanahan?s complex offence scheme. The addition of RB Travis Henry and TE Daniel Graham, during an active off-season for the Broncos, should only accelerate the maturation process of the second-year quarterback. With an accurate cannon for an arm, and at 6 foot-3, 233 pounds, Cutler has all the physical attributes to become a star in the NFL, which could make Cutler a player to watch this up-coming season. A.J. Hawk LB Green Bay Packers On any given Sunday if you want to locate A.J. Hawk, just find the ball. Simply put, Hawk is tackling machine, which detonates at the point of attack. The prudent Hawk?s speed, awareness and tenacity have allowed him to notch up a copious amount of tackles on every level he has played on. In his rookie season Hawk had 121 tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. The Packers attempted to bolster their defense by using their first-round selection to select the space eating DT Justin Harrell, which only will help keep offensive linemen off Hawk. With a better understanding of the NFL game Hawk should become a household name after the 2007 season. Vernon Davis TE San Francisco 49ers At 6 foot-3, 253 pounds, Davis is a freak of nature unseen to man. Davis possesses the speed and agility of a receiver and the strength, size and bulk of a tight end. Davis is a walking mismatch, to quick and agile for linebackers and yet too big and strong for safeties and cornerbacks to handle. The key to Davis having a breakout season, is avoiding injuries. Davis?s rookie campaign was cut short due to a broken leg. In limited action Davis averaged 13.3 yards a catch, while hauling in three touchdowns. The presence of 1,500-yard rusher Frank Gore, coupled with the off-season additions of wide receivers Darrell Jackson and Ashley Lelie, should allow Davis to scamper through the middle of NFL defenses undeterred. With some NFL experience under his belt, Davis should flourish in his second season due to his supporting cast and freakish athletic traits. Mario Williams DE Houston Texans Williams is infamously associated for being the player selected No.1, ahead of Reggie Bush, in the 2006 NFL draft. In his first NFL season Williams notched 47 tackles, 4.5 sacks and one forced fumble. But, because Williams rushes the quarterback and not for touchdowns, some detractors have erroneously labeled him a bust before he has started his second NFL season. Dogged by a nagging foot injury in his rookie season, Williams still managed to display some of the physical dominance the Texans expected out of the NO. 1 overall selection. At 6 foot-7, 291 pounds, Williams is the prototypical defensive end. With enough speed to track down quarterbacks and enough size and bulk to hold up against the run, Williams will inevitably become a NFL star. With the addition of OLB Shawn Barber and the first round selection of DT Amobi Okoye, during the off-season, will only help Williams mature into an impact player. Michael Huff S Oakland Raiders Michael Huff is the prototype for the new age NFL safety. Huff, a former college cornerback, possesses enough speed and agility to play pass coverage, yet enough awareness to grasp his zone defensive responsibility. The versatile Huff also has penchant for stuffing running backs at the point of attack. In his rookie season Huff?s 78 tackles helped the Raiders finish No.1 in the NFL against the pass, and No. 3 in the NFL in total defense. The versatility that Huff provides, allows the Raiders to befuddle opponents with a bevy of blitzes. After starting and playing through a full NFL season Huff should enter 2007 with a great understanding of how the NFL game is played, which will make him a player to watch in 2007. Dunta Robinson CB Houston Texans Dunta Robinson is the best cornerback in the NFL that no one knows about. Robinson has enough speed, agility and awareness to become an elite cornerback in the NFL. However, due to the Texans? paucity of wins, Robinson has been forced to play in the equivalent of football Siberia. Now entering his fourth NFL season, Robinson is primed for a breakout season. In his three seasons in the NFL Robinson has totaled 258 tackles, nine interceptions and forced five fumbles. Robinson excels in man-to-man coverage, but has enough presence and awareness to support the run and play zone coverage. Robinson should be helped by the emergence of second year DE Mario Williams and this year?s selection of Amobi Okoye. Robinson, the often-forgot cornerback from Houston, will become one of the breakout players in 2007. Antonio Cromartie CB San Diego Chargers If Dunta Robinson is the best cornerback in NFL that no one knows, then Antonio Cromartie is next in line. Cromartie is a rare athlete that possesses the speed and agility to play and become an elite cornerback in the NFL. At 6 foot-3, 207 pounds, Cromartie?s size and stature is what sets him apart form other cornerbacks in the league. Cromartie, a Florida State product, missed all of his junior season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. But, a blazing fast 4.4 40-yard dash at his pro day vaulted him into the first-round in the 2006 draft. Cromartie was cosseted in his rookie year, appearing sparingly, mainly in nickel-back situations. But with no true NO.1 cornerback in San Diego, Cromartie should get every opportunity to make a name for himself this season. Joseph Addai RB Indianapolis Colts Even though Addai led all rookie running backs with 1081 yards last season, his contributions to a championship team nearly went unnoticed. Addai?s speed and shifty running style are a perfect complement to the pass-happy Colts. In his rookie season Addai averaged 4.8 yards a carry, while scoring seven touchdowns. The departure of Dominic Rhodes, last years starting running back and Super Bowl MVP, should only increase Addai?s statistics and work load. Towards the end of the season Addai started to flash the promise the Colts expected when they selected him in the first-round in 2006. Due to their plethora of talent at their skill positions, the Colts dynamic offense provides an interesting dilemma for opposing defenses and should only help Addai reach a new level this season. Other notables Braylon Edwards WR Cleveland Browns Derrick Johnson OLB Kansas City Chiefs D.J. Williams MLB Denver Broncos Ernie Sims LB Detroit Lions Vincent Jackson WR San Diego Chargers