With training camp just under way and OTA?s (Organized Team Activities) now behind us, NFL teams must manage the fine line of getting their players ready for the up coming season without losing an to injury along the way. It is now the time of year when NFL coaches and front office personnel hope that their young players? hard off-season work will accelerate the maturation process to NFL stardom. - Calvin Johnson WR Detroit Lions Trying to find something wrong with Calvin Johnson?s game is like picking lint off an Armani suit. Sure Johnson needs to sharpen his route running and he dropped a few balls last season, but what rookie receiver besides Randy Moss doesn?t or didn?t? The 2007 draft darling is the rare combination of size and speed. Johnson is a freakish athlete who possesses the rare ability to catch the ball in traffic and/or bracket coverage. Johnson?s 756 yards and four touchdowns were solid but weren?t the stellar numbers expected form the former No.2 pick of the NFL draft. Johnson rookie campaign was hampered by a nagging back injury, suffered in week 3, that continued to bother him early this off-season. According to sources Johnson has pronounced his back healthy, and should become the deep passing threat that the Lions thought they drafted. With Johnson?s harrumphing first season behind him, he should become a household name and put up numbers in the neighborhood of 1100 yards and seven touchdowns, which were expected last season. - LaRon Landry S Washington Redskins Due to the unfortunate circumstance of teammate Sean Taylor passing away, LaRon Landry has some huge shoes to fill. Landry will make the switch from strong to free safety this season, which should free up the ball hawking safety to become more of a defensive playmaker. The versatility that Landry provides allows the Redskins to use a myriad of defensive fronts and coverages. Landry?s impact on the Redskins defense was immediately felt. Landry?s 95 tackles and 1.5 sacks helped the Redskins make a leap in total defense from 13th in 2006 to 8th in 2007. The prudent Landry is the prototypical new age safety. Quick and agile enough to play pass coverage, yet possessing a powerful penchant for stuffing would be ball carriers at the point of attack. If Landry?s maturation process continues at the same rate, look for Landry to begin his annual pilgrimages to Hawaii for the NFL Pro-Bowl. - Marshawn Lynch RB Buffalo Bills Marshawn Lynch is a punishing ball carrier that rarely goes down on initial contact and/or out of bounds. But Lynch?s first year accomplishment of 1,115 yards and seven touchdowns drew little acclaim, because of the way Adrian Peterson?s epic rookie season took the NFL by storm. Blessed with excellent vision and balance, Lynch is a no nonsense north and south runner who enjoys pounding the ball in between the tackles. Lynch?s physical running style is the perfect fit for a Buffalo team that has to rely on its running game towards the end of the season when the temperature drops. Lynch?s ability to be a pass receiver out of the backfield adds versatility to Buffalo?s offense. Lynch?s great size, speed and vision should make him a workhorse running back that has potential to become a star in the NFL for years to come. - Brandon Marshall WR Denver Broncos Simply put, at 6 foot-4 and 230 pounds Brandon ?The Beast? Marshall is a walking miss match. Last season Marshall, who is affectionately known to Broncomaniacs as ?Baby T.O.?, quietly accumulated 102 receptions, 1325 yards receiving, and seven touchdowns. Marshall has the speed and agility of an elite receiver yet possesses the power and strength of a tight end, this putting opposing defensive backs is an interesting quandary. Marshall is a big physical receiver that excels after the catch, which is illustrated by 505 YAC (yards after the catch) last season. But, now entering his third season Marshall hasn?t come to the Broncos without his own personal baggage. Two seasons ago Marshall allegedly was in the center of an altercation the resulted in that death of teammate Darrent Williams. In the recent off-season he found trouble again when he put his arm through a glass plate, slicing and/or severing an artery, vein, nerve and a tendons in his right arm, while allegedly slipping on a McDonald?s bag. All reports out of Denver have Marshall?s right arm health. Marshall has quickly become Jay Cutler?s favorite target due to his ability to catch the ball in traffic and his penchant for bullying defensive backs. With a full NFL season under his belt and legal trouble behind him look for Marshall to flourish and become a top tier receiver. - Gaines Adams DE Tampa Bay Buccaneers Like most young defensive linemen, Gaines Adams spent the first part of last season attempting to figure out the flummoxing NFL game. By week 11 Adams? internal light had gone on, and Adams recorded five sacks in a seven game stretch to finish the season. Adams finished up his rookie season totals with 38 tackles; six sacks and two forced fumbles, and was a main component in a rebuilt Tampa Bay defense that finished second in the NFL in total defense. At 6 foot-5, and 260 pounds, Adams is a sinewy strong defensive end that possesses enough speed to harass the opposing quarterbacks. With a better understanding of the game and loads of talent, Adams could develop an impact into pass rusher. - Dwayne Bowe WR Kansas City Chiefs Dwayne Bowe was a steal late in the first round last year. Bowe?s 995 receiving yards were tops among rookie receivers last season. At 6 foot-2, and 221 pounds, Bowe is a powerful route runner that excels after the catch (Yac). Bowe snagged 70 receptions and averaged 14.2 yards a catch, while hauling in five touchdowns on a bad Chiefs team. With young Brodie Croyle and veteran Damon Huard set up for a training camp battle. The uncertainty at the quarterback position is one thing that might work against Bowe. However Bowe was able to put up quality numbers with a whole host of offensive positions influx last season. Bowe?s rare physical size and talent should make him a player to watch this up coming season. - Jon Beason MLB Carolina Panthers Jon Beason?s rookie year was largely ignored last season due to the enormous year fellow rookie 49er linebacker Patrick Willis had. Beason is a sure tackler that has enough speed to patrol sideline to sideline. Beason?s 140 tackles ranked him third in the NFL, behind Willis (174) and Denver Bronco D.J. Williams (141). Beason started every game, at middle linebacker for the 7-9 Panthers. With one NFL season under his belt, Beason should be able to take the next step and become a leader on a Panther defense and team that is expecting to make a quick turnaround and contend for a NFC playoff spot. - Amobi Okye DT Houston Texans At age 21 and entering his second season, Amobi Okye will still be one of the youngest players in the NFL. Being drafted at age 19, Okye?s first NFL season was learning experience. At 6 foot-2, 302 pounds, Okye is a natural pass rusher that possesses a never-ending motor, quick feet and outstanding instincts. Okye defiantly flash some of the brilliance the Texans expected when made him the 10th pick in 2007 NFL draft. Okye?s 32 tackles, 5.5 sacks and one forced fumble help a Texan defense and team make a substantial leap to respectability last season. This season teams will be forced to pay more attention to the emerging DE Mario Williams, which should free up Okye for more one-on-one opportunities. - Thomas Howard LB Oakland Raiders There is no other way of putting it, Thomas Howard is a problem for opposing offenses. The tenacious Howard is a sure tackler that has enough speed to play sideline to sideline. But, what sets Howard apart from other linebackers in the NFL is that he possesses the ball hawking ability of a defensive back. Howard?s 96 tackles, 6 interceptions and 1 sack were one of the few highlights of the 2007 Raiders 4-12 season. Throughout last season Howard had proved to be one of the best weak-side linebackers in the league, and spent most 2007 playing at a pro bowl level. During last season Howard an impressive streak of intercepting a pass in four straight games. The Raiders have one of the best young linebacking tandems in the NFL with Howard and MLB Kirk Morrison. The tandem is known to Raider nation as the Law offices of Morrison & Howard, due to their penchant for closing the case and defending the Raiders end zone. Now entering his third season Howard?s speed, talent and instincts should help him flourish into a top linebacker in the NFL.