NFL team reports: AFC West breakout players

SN correspondents spotlight three players on each team who are poised to step up their games this season:
DENVER BRONCOS
OLB Robert Ayers(notes). He had an average rookie season, and the injury to Elvis Dumervil(notes) has shined a white-hot spotlight in Ayers’ direction. He could respond. The coaches have raved about his work ethic, and he seems to be playing more free and loose during preseason.
CB/KR Perrish Cox(notes). His role is undefined right now, but ifootball jerseys
t should grow as the season progresses. Cox’s preseason performance will get him on the field initially as a nickel defensive back. Cox is a quick study, and his playmaking ability has pushed Alphonso Smith(notes) to irrelevance. Cox, regardless of his role on defense, is the favorite to win the kickoff returner job.
C J.D. Walton(notes). Denver’s scouting staff fell in love with Walton while watching him scrap and claw against Ndamukong Suh(notes) in college. The coaches are even more pleased now that Walton has assimilated the offense quickly and continues to demonstrate an attacking style. Only five first-year linemen in Broncos’ history have started an opener; Walton will join that group. —Lee Rasizer
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
CB Brandon Flowers(notes). He could be ready to become an elite player at his position. Flowers was poised to make that leap last year, but a preseason shoulder injury limited his play all year long. Flowers must improve at making the plays that come his way.
LT Branden Albert(notes). A holding penalty in last week’s game aside, Albert has had a solid preseason. He kept himself in better shape during the offseason and seems more capable of playing at the lighter weight of 315 pounds the coaches prefer him to carry.
S Kendrick Lewis(notes). This rookie continues to make a strong push for a starting spot. It might not come at the start of the season, but Lewis should start at some point this season. He shows good instincts, awareness and ball skills. He has more big-play ability than incumbent Jon McGraw(notes). —Adam Teicher
OAKLAND RAIDERS
RB Michael Bush(notes). He has shown flashes of being a quality every-down back the past two seasons. However, he has been forced to play behind Justin Fargas(notes) and Darren McFadden(notes). Fargas is gone and McFadden has been hampered by a hamstring injury, so Bush is in line to get a sizable workload from the outset of 2010 nfl jerseys
this season. His size, strength and speed make him a legitimate candidate to develop into a dependable lead back.
DE Matt Shaughnessy(notes). As a rookie, he learned well under veteran Greg Ellis(notes) and showed he is a reliable pass-rush threat who also holds up against the run. Shaughnessy plays hard through the whistle and has a penchant for chasing ballcarriers on the other side of the field.
TE Zach Miller. He has improved his receptions total each of his three NFL seasons. Now paired with a quarterback, Jason Campbell(notes), who has a history of favoring tight ends, Miller could surpass 1,000 yards receiving and join the upper echelon of tight ends. He knows how to get open, has great hands and is a go-to guy on critical downs. —Steve Corkran
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
WR Buster Davis. The 2007 first-round pick has struggled with injuries (mostly a severe groin tear and its residual effects) and has just 30 receptions. His talent is immense, though, so the team is committed to seeing what he can do. His speed and hands and Vincent Jackson’s(notes) absence virtually assure Davis will be a bigger part of the offense if healthy.
NT Antonio Garay(notes). His career began in 2003, but practice squad time and a year-plus off because of injury preceded the Chargers signing him last December. Now, he looks to be their starting nose tackle in what will be a rotation. He is athletic but big (6-4, 320) and strong enough to be a real force nfl football jerseys
against the run.
S Paul Oliver(notes). He won’t start unless there are injuries, but he had a fantastic camp and preseason, always around the ball. He plays both safety spots, is leaner and faster this season and is a good special teamer. He is the sort of player who can come in on sub packages and make game-changing plays (sacks, interceptions). —Kevin Acee