5 Detroit Lions Players Poised for a Breakout Campaign in 2015

Seeds for the world's most important crops are hidden in a "Doomsday vault" in Norway, only to be busted out in case of a cataclysmic event. The Detroit Lions weren't so careful with their potential season-savers, as they list all of their breakout candidates on their roster.

The seeds for a successful season will rest in the hands of different players this season. Ndamukong Suh is gone to the Miami Dolphins, Calvin Johnson is only getting older at age 29, and the ability to win last year without a running game isn't likely to carry over.

New players must emerge for Detroit to return to the playoffs. Click through to find out which are poised to break out of their chains and become difference-makers.

TE Eric Ebron

Matt Ludtke/Associated Press

From Tar Heel to heel, Eric Ebron had a rough transition to the NFL. Fans and fantasy owners lamented his 25-reception season and laughed at his solitary score. And the fire only burned hotter once Odell Beckham Jr. started his Madden-cover campaign.

But it's too early to give up on the 6'4", 265-pound tight end who broke Vernon Davis' ACC receiving record and blazed his way to a 4.6 40-yard dash, per NFL.com. History shows that the first year usually isn't indicative of a tight end's ceiling.

Tight ends have a notoriously tough time adjusting to the NFL. They often have to learn multiple roles, line up all over the field and remember the incredible number of route combinations that comes with that versatility. The effect has been almost universal:

Player	Receptions	Yards	Touchdowns
Vernon Davis	20	265	3
Jimmy Graham	31	356	5
Tony Gonzalez	33	368	2
Eric Ebron	25	248	1

For my money, the Lions weren't smart enough with Ebron in the red zone. The rest of the numbers were pretty much in line with two of the game's current best and one surefire Hall of Famer.

Ebron will get plenty of opportunities in 2015 to turn it around. Head coach Jim Caldwell told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press that he's "anticipating to see a pretty significant rise in his performance," leading us to believe he'll be featured more often.

Plus, Ebron didn't have an issue getting open but rather getting on the same page with his quarterback. Don't forget that it was Matthew Stafford's first year in a complicated system that was focused on limiting his risk-taking. There will be throws he'll look for in 2016 that he ignored in 2015.

And teams have to respect Detroit's top two receivers, leaving room for Ebron to work against one-on-one coverage. Thus, there will be space for plenty of production but none for excuses.

DE Ziggy Ansah

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Ziggy Ansah's 2014 season could be considered a breakout year. He finished as the fifth-best defensive end, per Pro Football Focus, and had the second-highest pass-rushing productivity score among the same group.

After one particularly dominating performance against the Chicago Bears (one sack, nine hurries, per PFF), ESPN.com's Michael Rothstein described the reasons behind his growth:

"

Last season, he was still raw and learning the game. This season, he is still learning, but it is a different type of learning. He's not learning how to play, he's learning the intricacies of the game as he understands different fronts and how different linemen will approach different strategies.

He's been incorporating that now with the physical things coaches can't teach. What other players can try all they want to replicate but have no real chance of doing so.

"

And we haven't even mentioned his excellence against the run (33 defensive stops) or his ability to diagnose plays quickly. However, there's still more work to do and no reason to think it won't pay off in 2015.

Ansah won't benefit from Suh in the middle, but Tyrunn Walker and Gabe Wright should provide some inside stress on passing downs. Plus, as he continues to pick up more tricks, he should be able to convert more of those offensive hurries (34 last year) into sacks, getting his year of double-digit sacks in his career.

RB Ameer Abdullah

Ameer Abdullah doesn't have any disappointing or developmental years behind him. He won't need them.

The Lions nabbed the former Cornhusker in the second round because he brings a skill set that Detroit's backfield is missing. He'll contribute on the ground, through the air and possibly on special teams.

Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi won't use the stretch play as often as he did last year. It doesn't fit his linemen's strengths. However, you can rest assured that Abdullah will get one or two a game because he has the vision and patience to find the seams. And once he finds the hole, he has the burst necessary to break through to the second level.

The concerns that he can't handle the inside runs because of his 205-pound frame are overblown. He's much stronger than his weight, and his hard-charging running style carries over to his attitude:

"

Ameer Abdullah: "A lot of guys want to put me in the category of third-down back. For those who say that, I ask them to turn on my film."

— Detroit Lions Fans (@DetLionBlood) May 11, 2015"

Abdullah can and will take on defenders when he needs to, and he will surprise some with his ability to run through poorly formed tackles. There isn't a run in the playbook that he can't execute well.

Lastly, there will be a huge niche for him in the passing game too. Reggie Bush was targeted 56 times last season despite his injuries, and that's with Joique Bell and Theo Riddick also getting looks. As good as Abdullah is in tight areas, he's even better in space. If the Lions utilize him on the swings and screens that Detroit usually favors, he'll be a solid No. 2 running back for fantasy purposes.

DT Tyrunn Walker

Bill Feig/Associated Press

You won't find anyone in Allen Park pining for Nick Fairley. Aside from the motivational and weight issues (which are probably one in the same), the franchise is quite pleased with the man it signed to fill the void. At least that's how general manager Martin Mayhew spun it to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press:

"

When he was not tendered, within 10 minutes, Rob Lohman was sending me e-mails about him and telling me (to) take a look at him," Mayhew said last month. "We divide the teams up by scouts in the pro department, so New Orleans was one of Rob Lohman's teams, so when he saw that guy out there, he immediately put him on my radar, and we took a look at him and contacted his agent immediately -- I thought immediately.

"

There's good reason for that. Tyrunn Walker fits the mold that Detroit covets in its defensive tackles. He's quick off the line and disrupts plays in the backfield. Sound familiar?

He's also versatile. At 6'3" and 293 pounds, he can play as a bigger defensive end or a defensive tackle. Regardless, he'll bring pressure from a variety of areas, which is why his former head coach Sean Payton told Kyle Meinke of MLive.com that he's "[s]tarting to wonder why we let him out of the building."

The New Orleans Saints couldn't keep him because of their untenable cap situation. Walker then had his pick of a few teams and chose the Lions over the Patriots because of the attacking scheme.

In just 306 snaps, Walker was able to produce 14 quarterback hurries along with three sacks and 11 stops, per Pro Football Focus. He graded out as the 21st-best interior lineman in football because of those numbers. Now imagine what he can do with Ziggy Ansah, Haloti Ngata and more opportunities. Let the fun begin.

QB Matthew Stafford

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

I'm aware Matthew Stafford broke through in 2011 with 42 touchdown passes. But if you slip back below the ice and wash down the river under said ice, it's fair to say you need to break your way out again.

That's where Stafford finds himself. He's up a certain unsavory creek in terms of his career arc, but he isn't without a paddle or an ice pick.

First, everything should come more naturally this year. Joe Lombardi's system is famously complicated, prompting him to dumb it down midseason last year. The offense still didn't hit its stride, although Stafford had his highest completion percentage since 2011. And, more importantly, he only threw 12 interceptions after tossing 19 the year prior.

Additionally, the biggest offensive issue received a lot of attention this offseason. The additions of Laken Tomlinson, a healthy LaAdrian Waddle and a greater emphasis on the power running game should set up the passing game. The shorter to-go situations will lead to less predictability and more play-action possibilities.

The improved line should shield Stafford from a few of those 45 sacks from 2014. He'll be able to step into throws with a clean pocket and deliver the ball with more accuracy instead of solely relying on his arm.

Finally, Stafford turned 27 this year. The youth excuse has officially expired. Whether that comes with another helping of maturity and on-the-field wisdom is unknown, but it certainly can't hurt.

All combine statistics are sourced from NFL.com. All advanced stats, rankings and grades are courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

Brandon Alisoglu is a Detroit Lions Featured Columnist who has written about the Lions on multiple sites. He also co-hosts a Lions-centric podcast, Lions Central Radio. Yell at him on Twitter about how wrong he is @BrandonAlisoglu.