Kevin Kolb and Training Camp Starters with Most to Prove

Kevin Kolb significantly underwhelmed in his first year with the Arizona Cardinals, but he's not the only NFL starter who will be put under a great amount of pressure in 2012. 

Naturally, the majority of these guys are quarterbacks, as the league is now as pass-happy as ever.

These players absolutely must rebound from disappointing 2011 campaigns. If not, they could realistically lose their jobs. 

Kevin Kolb

Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt knew he was taking a major risk when the team signed Kevin Kolb to a six-year, $65 million deal last March. 

Kolb played in seven games in 2010, threw seven touchdowns, seven interceptions and dealt with injuries.

Based on how much the team was paying him, the Kolb experiment was a catastrophic failure last season. The team went 3-6 in his nine starts. 

With formidable targets Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd at his disposal, the atmosphere is as conducive to success as ever for the former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback. 

With former seventh-round pick John Skelton—who went 6-2 as a starer in 2011—nipping at his heels, Kolb has a great deal of pressure to perform in Arizona. 

His job depends on it. 

Josh Freeman

The future was radiant for Josh Freeman after his second NFL season. 

He threw for 3,451 yards, tossed 25 touchdowns and just six interceptions en route to a respectable 95.9 QB rating on an up-and-coming 10-6 Buccaneers team. 

Then came the 2011 season. 

After starting 4-2, Freeman and the Bucs imploded. 

Tampa Bay's quarterback threw 16 interceptions and the team lost the last 10 games of the year. 

The disappointment had a seismic impact on the Buccaneers organization.

One year after being labeled as one of the up-and-coming head coaches in football, Raheem Morris was fired. In his place, the team hired Greg Schiano of Rutgers, who drafted Doug Martin in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft. 

Vincent Jackson and Carl Nicks were added in free agency.

The time is now for Freeman to lead a true dark-horse team in 2012. 

Wayne Hunter

Wayne Hunter, the only non-quarterback on this list, was the victim of immense scrutiny last season with the Jets. 

The right tackle allowed 11 sacks and 28 quarterback pressures in 2011, according to Brian Costello of The New York Post.

Hunter's season was exemplified when Von Miller embarrassingly trampled him during the Denver Broncos' comeback win against the Jets on Thursday Night Football. 

Yeah, it was that bad.

Gang Green traded for offensive tackle Jeff Otah this week. However, the trade has yet to officially go through after Otah failed a team physical, according to Ben Shpigel of the Post.

If Otah's trade does go through, he'll provide great competition for Hunter, the offensive lineman that has the most to prove in 2012. 

Ryan Fitzpatrick

Ryan Fitzpatrick was a Pro Bowl candidate through seven games in 2011. After that, the wheels flew off.

He finished with a league-high 23 interceptions and the Bills mustered only one win after Halloween. 

After missing the playoffs for the 12th straight season, Buffalo's front office had enough.

They made arguably the biggest splash in free agency by signing Mario Williams to a $100 million deal. The team also signed edge-rusher Mark Anderson, who amassed 10 sacks with the Patriots last year, and re-signed offensive stars Stevie Johnson and Fred Jackson.

Buffalo hasn't fielded such a talented or deep team in over a decade. 

After a disappointing and sporadic 2011, Fitzpatrick's still seen as a weak link. 

A lot of pressure will be placed on his shoulder pads when the regular season begins, especially with Vince Young as his backup. 

Blaine Gabbert

Blaine Gabbert was atrocious in 2011. 

There's no other way to put it. 

He barely completed 50 percent of his passes, threw 15 touchdowns, 11 interceptions and led the worst passing offense in football. 

The Jaguars went 5-11 and had one of the least intimidating offenses in the NFL. 

Jacksonville added former Miami Dolphins starter Chad Henne this offseason, creating a legitimate training camp quarterback competition. 

With a disastrous rookie season fresh in the minds of the Jaguars coaching staff, Gabbert must demonstrate vast improvement or he may not even be starting when the regular season begins.