Philadelphia Eagles: 5 Players Who Need to Step Up in 2012

Now that the 2012 NFL draft has come and gone, it is time to start looking toward the upcoming season and how the Philadelphia Eagles can fix the problems of last year's 8-8 team.

Yes, for the most part the Philadelphia Eagles had a successful draft, but that alone is not enough to push them to the top in the NFC East.  What they need is for players from last year to play at a higher level than last year.

More specifically, the following five Eagles need to step up their game in 2012 if the team wants to take home the division title and possibly a Super Bowl.

Jeremy Maclin

Many will point to his mysterious illness during the offseason and the fact that he was dealing with various injuries, but the fact is that Jeremy Maclin did not break out last season as many expected he would.

The fourth-year wide receiver was still a valuable asset to the team, but when you are a team's first-round pick, you are expected to be a stud.  At an average of 66 yards per game, Maclin did not live up to that billing last year.

The good news, however, is that he has been training hard this offseason and no longer has to worry about any serious illnesses, which means that he can be expected to bounce back in a big way.  I expect him to surpass DeSean Jackson as the team's most versatile/productive receiver this season.

Michael Vick

Whether you believe Michael Vick's 2010 season was a fluke or that his 2011 was, it is obvious that the Eagles' starting quarterback did not live up to expectations last year.

Vick's numbers weren't that bad, but what really hurt the team was the amount of turnovers he committed.  He accounted for 18 of the team's turnovers last year and was a big reason why they lost so many close games in the fourth quarter.

If he can limit the number of errors he makes each game, it will go a long way toward giving the defense more rest and ensuring that they have enough energy to keep a lead late in the game.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

With Asante Samuel gone, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is expected to fill the hole that he left behind.  Let us just hope that he plays better than he did last year.

Granted, DRC played mostly in the slot last season, a position he was ill-suited for.  With a switch back to his natural position on the outside, he should be able to rebound in a nice way and provide the Eagles with a cornerback better suited for the defensive scheme than Samuel.

DeMeco Ryans

DeMeco Ryans wasn't a Philadelphia Eagle last year, but that doesn't mean he should be exempt from this list.

Many view him as the future at middle linebacker, but he has to prove that he can handle those responsibilities again. He had his share of struggles coming back from injury and was then shifted out of position in Houston.

Fortunately, however, Ryans showed much improvement as last season wore on.  If he can carry that momentum over to this season, he can become the dominant middle linebacker the Eagles desperately need.

Nnamdi Asomugha

There may not be a single player on the current roster that has more to prove than Nnamdi Asomugha.  

After signing in the offseason last year, Asomugha did not play up to the levels of his lofty new contract.  Opposing quarterbacks did not fear him like they once did, and he oftentimes looked lost in the secondary.

The good news, however, is that much of that blame can be put on learning a new defensive scheme and not being used the right way.  With an entire offseason, the coaching staff should be able to find better ways to play Asomugha to his strengths.

If that happens, than the secondary will become much improved.