San Diego Chargers: Player Most Likely To Break Out In 2014

With all of the weapons on a newly-revitalized San Diego Chargers team with a new general manager, head coach, and offensive coordinator, and who made an impressive late-season push to earn a playoff berth and, subsequently, beat the Cincinnati Bengals in the wildcard round, which player is most poised to have that highly-touted "breakout" season?

Whereas WR Keenan Allen made an incredible and immediate impact on the Chargers\' offense and will likely continue to contribute heavily to QB Philip Rivers\' passing prowess, there is much speculation and consensus that third-year TE Ladarius Green is that player to watch in the 2014-2015 season.

A fourth-round pick (#110) from Louisiana-Lafayette, Green is 24 years old, 6\'6" and 240 pounds, and runs a 4.45 40-yard dash. In his two seasons with the Chargers he has 21 regular-season receptions for 432 yards and three touchdowns. In 2013, Green boasted the highest average yards-per-reception for receivers with over ten receptions with 17 receptions for 376 yards: a 22.1 yards-per-catch average.

Since the advent of the two-tight-end set that rose to prominence a la the New England Patriots with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, many teams have employed this strategy. With the Chargers\' future hall-of-fame TE Antonio Gates getting up there in years (he is 34), while Gates is still an impact player, catching 77 receptions for 872 yards and four touchdowns, Green adds another layer of depth at the position. Gates is the possession receiver while Green is more explosive with amazing speed and fluidity. In fact, many analysts assert that Green\'s ball skills are more reminiscent of a seasoned NFL wide receiver than that of a third-year tight end. And having Gates as a mentor--come on, who wouldn\'t benefit from that?!

In the Chargers\' preseason week 2 matchup vs. Seattle on 8/15, Green was in eight-of-nine of Rivers\' first-quarter snaps before backup QB Kellen Clemens took the field. Granted, while Green only managed two catches for 20 yards, seeing more playing time will undoubtedly be a boon for the young player. Further, improvement in his route running and run blocking capabilities can only make him that much better.

Green draws much comparison to Denver\'s Julius Thomas whose stellar season last year demonstrates the tremendous impact tight ends have in this league. One need not look further than Jimmy Graham (NO), Vernon Davis (SF), Jordan Cameron (CLE), Jason Witten (DAL), and the aforementioned Gronkowski, Gates, and Thomas to appreciate the considerable value tight ends bring to an offense and there is little doubt that Green will boast similar impact this season and beyond.