San Francisco 49ers: Which Players Have the Most Pressure to Succeed?

We live in a society where we are constantly pressured to succeed. If we don’t, our ultimate fate could be at stake.

The similar principles apply in the world of football.

In the NFL, if you don’t meet expectations, then you may not be rewarded with ample playing time or a lucrative contract. Even worse, it may cause one to lose their job.

This is even more relevant for teams who have struggled in recent history. There is an incredible burden on a general manager to run a successful franchise because he knows the team’s fans, sponsors, and even his own job, is on the line.

That being said, he is usually unafraid to pull the trigger and make a bold decision.

With a growing supply of quality players, finding an upgrade is not very difficult. Players are surely aware of this, and as a result some know they may be on the hot seat.

Therefore, without further ado, here are the five players on the San Francisco 49ers with the most pressure to succeed in the upcoming 2010-11 season.

5. CB Nate Clements

Heading into the offseason, one of the team’s most pressing needs was to bolster the secondary with young and fresh talent.

Surprisingly, they have been passive in doing so, which probably means that they are satisfied with their current situation.

However, that may not be the case for long, especially for Nate Clements.

Back in 2007, he signed an eight-year, $80 million contract. While he hasn’t played poorly, he hasn’t exactly been stellar either.

If he can’t be the shutdown corner he’s paid to be, then the team may decide to part ways and head in a different direction.

4. WR Ted Ginn Jr.

When a team drafts a player in the first round, they usually expect him to be a cornerstone of the franchise for years to come.

So far, it’s fair to say that Tedd Ginn Jr. has failed to live up to his high expectations as a former No. 9 overall selection.

Prior to the draft, the Miami Dolphins traded Ginn Jr. to the 49ers for a fifth-round draft pick. The terms of the deal alone signify how little value he has around the league.

Luckily for him, the 49ers are in desperate need of both a No. 2 receiver as well as a return specialist—voids that he should be able to fill.

However, if he doesn’t show promise as a consistent playmaker, then he will likely be buried deep on the team’s depth chart.

This is probably his last legitimate opportunity to be a starter in the NFL, so he will need to capitalize on it.

3. DT Aubrayo Franklin

The nose tackle is one of the most important players in any 3-4 defensive scheme, and talented ones are tough to come by. At the same time, many are often very inconsistent.

In order to ensure that Aubrayo Franklin is not one of the latter, the team placed the franchise tag on him.

Looking at the big picture, his entire future with the team relies on how he performs this season.

If he fails to match the impressive season he had last year, the team will be hesitant to use the $7 million franchise tag on him, let alone sign him to a long-term deal.

2. TE Vernon Davis

“One-Year Wonder.” It’s a phrase that everybody dreads and prays that they are never associated with. Some of the most infamous include Jim McMahon and Tommy Maddox.

Unfortunately, if Vernon Davis doesn’t build upon the success he had last season, that title will accompany him as well.

With that said, he will have tremendous pressure to prove to the league that he is the real deal and was worthy of his No. 6 overall selection.

The team is apparently putting a lot of faith in him, not only in terms of their game plan, but in terms of their financial situation.

Davis is a free agent at the end of the upcoming season, and it has been reported that him and the team have been undergoing contract negotiations.

His asking price is an astounding five-year, $40 million, which would put him amongst the highest paid skill players in the league.

I personally feel that he’s not worthy of that type of money. However, if he wants to prove me and several others wrong, then he will have to be the dominant tight end he was last year.

1. QB Alex Smith

It’s no secret that the quarterback is the most essential ingredient to success. Without quality play from the position, the offense is very limited and the team usually doesn’t go very far.

That being the case, the quarterback always has pressure to succeed. In fact, the pressure has been on Alex Smith since day one.

The 49ers have had a history of very talented quarterbacks, including Hall of Famers Joe Montana and Steve Young.

After being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in 2005, many were hoping he would add to that list.

This year, in particular, is definitely a make-or-break year for him. The team has heavily invested in the offensive side of the ball, providing him with reliable playmakers and solid offensive lineman.

For the first time in his career, he will be having the same offensive coordinator for back-to-back seasons.

He no longer has any excuses, and will have to lead the team to the playoffs if he wants to keep his job as a starter.