MEMBER SIGN IN
Forgot Password?
Don't have an account? Click Here
Football
#StanfordNFL: Season in Review
Courtesy: Stanford Athletics  
Release: 02/08/2016
Print

Related Links

 

 #StanfordNFL: Season in Review

 
John Elway • General Manager and Executive VP of Football Operations • Denver Broncos • 5th season • @JohnElway

John Elway became the first person in NFL history to win a Super Bowl as a player and a general manager after Denver defeated Carolina, 24-10, in Super Bowl 50. Since inheriting the 2010 Denver Broncos, which went 4-12 and allowed 6,253 yards and 29.4 points/game (both league-highs), Elway has built an elite defense and acquired perhaps the most prized free agent in NFL history in Peyton Manning.

Elway has been responsible for drafting the likes of Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, Virgil Green, Derek Wolfe, Ronnie Hillman, Malik Jackson, and Danny Trevathan while snaring undrafted free agents such as All-Pro corner Chris Harris Jr., Pro Bowl running back C.J. Anderson and Shaquille Barrett. In free agency, Elway spent $125 million in 2014 alone on DeMarcus Ware, T.J. Ward, Aqib Talib and Emmanuel Sanders, surrounding them with savvy acquisitions such as Evan Mathis, Darian Stewart and Brandon Marshall.

The final piece of the puzzle for Elway was hiring his former Broncos teammate Gary Kubiak and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, whose defense ranked tops in the NFL in both pass and overall defense.

"They just kept getting stronger and stronger in the playoffs," Elway told NFL Media's Kimberly Jones. "I couldn't be more proud of them and I'm really happy for them because that's the best defense I've ever seen."

Henry Anderson • DE • Indianapolis Colts • 1st season • @HenryAnderson91

Anderson’s outstanding rookie season ended with a knee injury in a Week 9 win against the AFC Champion Denver Broncos. Entering that week, Pro Football Focus ranked him as the league’s second-best rookie behind Buffalo’s Ronald Darby. Among the league’s 34 rookie interior defenders, Anderson carried the highest Pro Football Focus rating (+10.2), well ahead of second-place Leanord Williams (+6.1) at the time.

Drafted in the third round (93rd overall), Anderson took advantage of an injury to Arthur Jones in preseason and made the defensive end position his. He made 31 tackles, one sack and defended two passes in his nine games while becoming a fan favorite in Indianapolis. 

Johnson Bademosi • DB • Cleveland Browns • 4th season • @j_bademosi24

Bademosi played as both a defensive back and a special teamer in 2015 for the 3-13 Browns, but will be an unrestricted free agent heading into next season. He finished the regular season with 27 tackles, two passes defended and a fumble recovery while further establishing himself as one of the top special teamers in the NFL. Bademosi was also named a Pro Bowl alternate as a special teamer. 

Doug Baldwin • WR • Seattle Seahawks • 5th season • @DougBaldwinJr

Entering 2015, the narrative in Seattle was that prized acquisition Jimmy Graham would be the Seahawks’ focal point of the passing game. After Graham’s struggles and an eventual season-ending injuyry on Nov. 29, Baldwin emerged as Seattle’s most potent aerial threat.

The 27-year-old had a true breakout season in his fifth season in the league, catching 78 balls for 1,069 yards and 14 touchdowns, a franchise record. Baldwin played 78 percent of Seattle’s offensive snaps while averaging 13.7 yards/catch. His four-game stretch with 10 touchdowns tied an NFL record set by Jerry Rice, becoming the first Seahawk to reach 1,000 receiving yards since Bobby Engram in 2007. Baldwin has a year remaining on a three-year, $13 million deal he signed two seasons ago. 

Alex Carter • CB • Detroit Lions • 1st season • @AlexCarter

After injuring his ankle days into training camp, Carter’s rookie season was derailed. Carter re-joined Lions’ practice in the middle of the season, but due to a combination of the team’s record, Carter’s lack of reps and playing it safe, he was shut down for the remainder of the season, keeping him out of the final five weeks of practice.

“That’s the toughest part,” Carter said of missing out on the practice time. “It’s back to getting those mental reps, but the past three weeks were good. I got a lot of work in." Carter will be primed to make an impact on defense for Detroit in 2016. Carter is one year into the four-year, $3 million contract he signed in May.

David DeCastro • G • Pittsburgh Steelers • 4th season 

DeCastro’s consistently outstanding play was rewarded with an invitation to the Pro Bowl and being named first-team All-Pro by the AP following the 2015 season. He helped the Steelers to the AFC’s top-ranked offense, while playing all 1,073 of Pittsburgh’s offensive snaps in the regular season. When asked about DeCastro, Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak said “There’s nothing David can’t do. He’s the whole package.”

Even after Le’Veon Bell’s season-ending injury, the Steelers run game still produced at a high level to go along with an outstanding aerial attack thanks to the solidarity of the line, particularly DeCastro. Pittsburgh picked up DeCastro’s fifth-year option for the 2016 season prior to the 2015 season, but could fork over a sizeable extension to the former All-America selection at Stanford. With 43 players already under contract for next season, DeCastro’s long-term future will be a priority for the Steelers. 

Jim Dray • TE • Cleveland Browns • 6th season 

Dray finished the season with six catches for 61 yards for the Browns, who recently let go of head coach Mike Pettine. Time will tell if newly-hired head coach Hue Jackson will use Dray in a Ryan Hewitt-type capacity, as he did with the Cincinnati Bengals. Dray has one year left on a three-year, $5.6 million contract he signed in 2014. 

Zach Ertz • TE • Philadelphia Eagles • 3rd season • @ZERTZ_86

Ertz’ excellent 2015 season resulted in a five-year, $42.5 million contract extension, including $20 million in guaranteed money. In 15 games, he amassed 75 catches for 853 yards and two touchdowns. After struggling with injuries for the first half the season, Ertz went on a tear, making 35 catches for 450 yards and two scores in his final four games. He also became the fourth tight end in NFL history with two games of 13 catches and 100 receiving yards. With the extension, Ertz is now one of the five highest-paid tight ends in the league, but his sights are set even higher.

“I don’t play this game to be an average tight end. I play this game to be the best tight end I can possibly be and win as many football games as I possibly can. And I’m going to push myself to accomplish those goals over the next five years,” said Ertz.

The hiring of former Kansas City offensive coordinator Doug Pederson offers even more optimism, given the emergence of Travis Kelce as one of the top tight ends in the NFL. 

Coby Fleener • TE • Indianapolis Colts • 4th season • @Coby

Fleener finished his fourth NFL season with 54 catches for 491 yards and three touchdowns for the 8-8 Indianapolis Colts. He is one of just four NFL tight ends to have played every game since 2013, and is the only Colts’ only non-specialist to not miss a game over that stretch. With both Fleener and tight end Dwayne Allen hitting free agency, the Colts will have decisions to make.

“There are a lot of things that aren’t up to me. If the Colts don’t ask me back, yes, I would to play for another team. But the Colts are my No. 1 priority right now,” said Fleener. 

Cameron Fleming • OG • New England Patriots • 2nd season • @cammyjfresh

Fleming was signed off New England’s practice squad prior to a Week 6 matchup against Indianapolis. With recurring injuries across the Patriots’ offensive line, Fleming was deployed at both right tackle and left tackle when needed. Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick was largely satisfied with the job Fleming did keeping New England’s offensive line afloat.

 "Cam is very intelligent, very smart, works hard, and he's a very diligent guy. As a rookie, he was always in that situation. There were times where he was thrown into it. He's done it this year, and it was the same thing so, again, I'm not surprised,” said Belichick, a four-time Super Bowl champion coach.

Fleming is a free agent headed into 2016 with New England owning his exclusive rights. 

Tyler Gaffney • RB • New England Patriots • 2nd season 

After being drafted by Carolina in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Gaffney has spent two seasons on injured reserve with New England. The Patriots claimed him in August of 2014, off waivers after Carolina designated him for assignment. Gaffney goes into his third NFL season with two seasons left on his contract and hopes of cracking New England’s 53-man roster. 

Ben Gardner • LB • San Diego Chargers • 2nd season • @BennyG49

Gardner was let go by Dallas in September after spending his rookie season on the sidelines with a shoulder injury. He was signed by San Diego in November, and will remain with the team through the offseason on a one-year, $450,000 contract. He will be a free agent following the 2016 season, with the Chargers owning his exclusive rights.

Toby Gerhart • RB • Jacksonville Jaguars • 6th season • @Toby_Gerhart

Having appeared in just seven games, Gerhart’s season ended prematurely on Dec. 5 with a trip to injured reserve. At the start of the season, Gerhart struggled with a core injury before sustaining a groin injury midseason, limiting him to just 44 rushing yards on 20 attempts. He is set to earn $3 million next season in the final year of a three-year, $10.5 million deal he signed in 2014. 

Ryan Hewitt • H-B • Cincinnati Bengals • 2nd season • @Huey_85

In his second NFL season, Hewitt further solidified himself as one of the elite hybrid fullbacks in a league without many such players. His steady contributions in run blocking earned him 12 starts, also finishing the season with eight catches for 99 yards.

To illustrate Hewitt’s importance to Cincinnati’s offense, his injury was followed by 306-pound rookie tackle Jake Fisher moving to fullback and the inclusion of an extra tackle in the base offense. Hewitt has one year left on a three-year, $1.5 million contract he signed as an undrafted rookie. 

Andrew Luck • QB • Indianapolis Colts • 4th season 

Luck’s injury-plagued season ended with a Week 9 hit by Denver’s Danny Trevathan, resulting in a lacerated kidney and abdomen tear. He only appeared in seven games for Indianapolis (8-8), finishing with 1,881 yards, 15 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 55.3 percent completion rate.

With one year left on his rookie deal, Luck is set to become a free agent next offseason, but Colts owner Jim Irsay is adamant that a deal can get done much sooner:

“He is going to be signed. There's a reasonably good chance we can come to that agreement this offseason. He will be here, trust me. Andrew and I have talked -- we talked after the end of the season -- and he couldn't be more excited,” he said. Luck, who was relatively coy on his contract situation, is focused on improving his own skillset with new quarterbacks coach Brian Schottenheimer.

“I think I know what my shortcomings were this year, and I’ve got to improve those. I’m sure everybody feels that way in this locker room that, ‘Hey, wish we could have done this, this and this,’ but that’s the nature of sports,” said Luck, the 2012 NFL Draft’s No. 1 pick. 

Josh Mauro • DE • Arizona Cardinals • 2nd season • @JustJoshin90

The second-year undrafted player earned a reputation as an excellent third down rusher and an important part of Bruce Arians’ rotating defensive line scheme in 2015. Mauro recorded his first NFL sack and first two forced fumbles while making 16 tackles and defending one pass.

In the NFC Championship game against Carolina, Mauro left in the first half with a calf injury and did not return, but is expected to remain with Arizona next season. Mauro’s versatility was also evident throughout the campaign, appearing at defensive end, nose tackle and even briefly at outside linebacker. 

Ty Montgomery • WR • Green Bay Packers • 1st season • @TyMontgomery2

With a preseason injury to Jordy Nelson, Green Bay expected Montgomery to help fill the void, which he did until a season-ending ankle injury in Week 6 against San Diego. The Packers had been 6-0 until the injury, with Montgomery contributing three starts, 15 catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns, while averaging 31.1 yards on seven kickoff returns.

Although the injury was thought to be short-term, a frustrated Montgomery suffered several setbacks. However, offseason ankle surgery has him moving in the right direction: "We all felt it (the surgery) was successful and now it's a matter of checking off the boxes, A through Z. This is part of the process, post-surgery, and then it's just make sure everything heals up the way it's supposed to and we'll go from there,” he said. 

Trent Murphy • LB • Washington Redskins • 2nd season • @TMurphy_93

Murphy helped Washington unexpectedly win the NFC East in his second season in the league, totaling 33 tackles with a forced fumble and 3.5 sacks. The former All-American on The Farm didn’t miss a game, making 14 starts for the 9-7 Redskins. In 2015, Murphy played 672 defensive snaps, sixth most on the team, as well as 219 special teams snaps, third most on the team. As opposed to last offseason when his focus was bulking up, Murphy will use most of 2016 to improve his quickness and agility.

“Last offseason I probably wanted to gain some strength and size and some muscle mass; originally I wanted to do that this offseason too, but now I’m thinking about staying lean and quick, especially with the way the league is going anymore I think that might be more beneficial,” he said.

Murphy has two years remaining on his four-year, $4.5 million rookie contract. 

David Parry • DT • Indianapolis Colts • 1st season • @DavidParry58

Indianapolis let Cory Redding walk away in free agency, released nose tackle Josh Chapman at the end of preseason and lost defensive tackle Arthur Jones shortly before the season. Enter David Parry, the fifth-round draft pick out of Stanford who went on to start all 16 games for the 8-8 Colts.

Parry finished the year with 31 tackles and a sack while playing 654 defensive snaps (58 percent). His consistency earned him the title as the Colts’ best rookie in 2015, according to ESPN. Parry has three years remaining on his four-year, $2.5 million rookie contract. 

Andrus Peat • OT • New Orleans Saints • 1st season • @AndrusPeat

It was an up-and-down season Peat, who appeared in 12 games for New Orleans in his rookie season. Peat started the season on the bench behind left tackle Terron Armstead and right tackle Zach Strief. He progressed to start four games at left guard and three at right tackle, but more will be expected of a player drafted 13th overall last season.

“I feel like I got a little bit behind not being in the greatest shape. I’m really going to focus on that coming into next year,” said Peat. “I had to work to get into shape rather than focusing on my technique and stuff like that. That held me back a little bit with all the stuff with the combine, taking trips and school and stuff. There was a lot of stuff going on for me. It will be good for me to be able to focus.”

Peat’s late-season performances against the likes of All-Pro defensive linemen J.J. Watt, Gerald McCoy and Kawann Short offer much encouragement for Saints fans, who have yet to see the full potential of the former All-America selection. 


Konrad Reuland • TE • Baltimore Ravens • 3rd season

Due to several injuries at the tight end position, Baltimore signed Konrad Reuland prior to its Week 14 matchup against Seattle. Reuland’s contributions were mainly as a special teamer, also appearing on 24 offensive snaps. He is a restricted free agent heading into the 2016 season. 

Ed Reynolds • S • Philadelphia Eagles • 1st season 

After spending a season and a half on Philadelphia’s practice squad, Reynolds’ NFL career began in Week 12, coming on as a sub against Detroit. He went on to make three starts, with his biggest highlight coming with 1:16 to play in a Week 14 matchup against Buffalo. Reynolds intercepted Tyrod Taylor before taking a slide to ice the game for Philadelphia. Reynolds, who made 21 tackles in six games, feels the late season experience will fuel his professional development.

“The best way to learn in this league is through experience,” he said. “So finally being able to get my feet wet a little bit, the confidence is there. I’m comfortable. So whether it’s here or anywhere else, I feel like I can thrive and be one of the top safeties in this league.”

Reynolds is under contract for 2016 with the Eagles, and will be a free agent in 2017 with Philadelphia owning his exclusive rights. 

Jordan Richards • DB • New England Patriots • 1st season 

Richards appeared in 14 games (including two starts), making 20 tackles, defending two passes and forcing a fumble. With players like Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung and Duron Harmon in the mix at safety, it was tough for Richards to see extensive playing time in 2015. However, that didn’t stop four-time Super Bowl champion coach Bill Belichick from raving about his second-round pick from a year ago.

“He’s a real mature kid, smart, works hard, very dependable player -- dependable person, dependable player. You can pretty much count on him every day, no matter what the situation is, to be in the right place, do the right things, be prepared, be ready to go, have the answer to the question you’re going to ask him. He’s on top of it,” said Belichick.

Richards is under contract for three more years in New England, which lost to Denver in the AFC Championship game. 

Richard Sherman • CB • Seattle Seahawks • 5th season • @RSherman_25

Sherman earned All-Pro honors for the fourth consecutive season, being named to the second team after three first team selections. He was targeted just 62 times by opposing quarterbacks, similar to 2013 (59) and 2014 (71), but his all-around shone brightest in 2015. Sherman made becoming a better tackler a priority heading into the season. This was evident in Seattle’s matchup against Minnesota in the divisional round, in which Sherman consistently brought down Adrian Peterson. Sherman also showed his ability to cover multiple positions as teams repeatedly attacked the side opposite him.

As always, Sherman was up for showdowns with the league’s top receivers; A.J. Green, Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown and Calvin Johnson combined for just 21 catches for 197 and no touchdowns in games against Seattle.

Sherman has three years left on a four-year, $56 million extension he signed in May of 2015. 

Shayne Skov • LB • San Francisco 49ers • 1st season • @ShayneSkov

Skov played almost exclusively as a special teamer in San Francisco’s 5-11 season. He missed just one game, making four tackles. Skov is under contract for 2016 before becoming a free agent with San Francisco owning his exclusive rights. 

Alex Smith • TE • Washington Redskins • 13th season 

Smith was signed by Washington prior to its Week 15 win against Buffalo. He would start one regular season game, but make no catches. In the Redskins’ wild-card matchup against Green Bay, he secured his first NFL catch since 2013, a 16-yard catch and run during which he bulldozed Packers linebacker Jake Ryan out of the way.

Smith, who hadn’t played in an NFL game since Week 2 of 2014 prior to his stint with Washington, has already began planning for a career after his playing days. Smith was at the Senior Bowl with the NFLPA, which offers a program designed to teach players NFL talent evaluation.

“It’s just a program that the NFLPA offered and where we can come out and get some experience, gain a little knowledge, do some networking,” he said. “And I figured that I know that the end is closer to near than further away, so [I’m] just preparing myself for the second career and whenever that time does come, hopefully I’ll have a smooth transition.”

A.J. Tarpley • LB • Buffalo Bills • 1st season • @AJTarpley

Tarpley’s season was largely uneventful before Week 16, when the undrafted rookie was thrust into action as Rex Ryan’s starting inside linebacker after an injuries to Tony Steward and Nigel Bradham. Up until then, Tarpley was primarily a special teamer, with short stints on defense. He was released by Buffalo after a Week 12 loss against Kansas City, but signed to the practice squad a week later.

Tarpley made an interception in each of the last two games to go along with eight tackles, a sack and a forced fumble on the season. Ryan would like Tarpley (listed at 232 pounds) to bulk up in the offseason, but values his high football IQ.

“I pride myself on being versatile," he said. “Especially when you’re not a starter in this league, you have to be able to back up multiple spots. So at linebacker, you have to be able to play Sam, on the ball, off the ball, Will off the ball, Mike off the ball, make the calls at Mike. Everything. There’s going to be ups and downs in any career path. For me, it was just ‘What’s next? What’s the next opportunity?”

Tarpley is under contract in Buffalo for two more seasons on a three-year, $1.5 million rookie contract. 

Stepfan Taylor • RB • Arizona Cardinals • 3rd season • @KULABAFI

Taylor spent most of the season as a special teamer for the 13-3 Cardinals, which were eliminated in the NFC Championship game by Carolina. He also racked up 58 rushing yards on 17 carries, occasionally playing some fullback as well. Taylor has one year remaining on a four-year, $2.4 million contract he signed as a fifth-rounder in 2013.

Michael Thomas • S • Miami Dolphins • 3rd season • @Michael31Thomas

In his third NFL season, Thomas was a breakout performer for Miami. He finished the year with 85 tackles, 66 of which were solo, and two passes defended, while earning Pro Football Focus first team All-Pro honors as a special teamer. He also finished third on the team in tackling. Thomas enters the offseason as a restricted free agent after playing on a one-year deal this past season. 

Levine Toilolo • TE • Atlanta Falcons • 3rd season • @LevineToilolo

Toilolo finished the season with seven catches for 44 yards, having played 522 snaps (45.8 percent) for the 8-8 Atlanta Falcons. Toilolo was part of a blocking unit which allowed DeVonta Freeman to rush for 1,056 yards on 265 attempts for 11 touchdowns. The former Cardinal has one year left on his four-year, $2.5 million contract he signed as a rookie. 

James Vaughters • LB • New England Patriots • 1st season • JVaught9

Vaughters was signed as an undrafted free agent by Green Bay, but was released Oct. 3 with an injury settlement. On Jan. 21, New England signed Vaughters to a future contract for 2016. He will join Cameron Fleming, Jordan Richards and Tyler Gaffney in the Patriots offseason programs.

Griff Whalen • WR • Indianapolis Colts • 4th season • @GriffWhalen

The former walk-on at Stanford played in 14 games for Indianapolis (8-8), a career high. Whalen caught 19 balls for 205 yards and a touchdown, pitching in 85 yards on 12 punt returns (7.1 average) and 244 yards on nine kick returns (27.1 average). Whalen is an unrestricted free agent this offseason after his one-year, $585,000 contract expired. 

David Yankey • OG • Minnesota Vikings • 2nd season • @papa_yank

The former fifth-rounder signed a future contract with the Carolina Panthers. After spending two years with the Vikings, Yankey opted for a change of scenery as he awaits his NFL debut. Yankey’s contract with Carolina will pay him $525,000 in 2016 with the team holding his exclusive rights for the 2017 season. Only players not on active 53-man rosters are eligible to sign future contracts before the official start of the 2016 season on March. 9. 


#gostanford


MORE HEADLINES

advertisement

Cardinal AXEcess

Cardinal AXEcess
FRESH FROM THE FARM
#gostanford