8 Starters Who Need to See Extended Time in Preseason Week 3

The 2012 NFL regular season begins on September 5, which means that it's time for every player in the league to put their game face on.

With preseason Week 3 set to get kickoff on August 23, this is crunch time for players to hone their skills. 

Some players look just fine, while others need some fine-tuning.  

Not wanting to enter the season looking like a draft day bust or a has-been, these players need a strong preseason Week 3 to quiet the critics. 

Ryan Tannehill

The Miami Dolphins were heavily scrutinized by taking Ryan Tannehill at No. 8 in the 2012 NFL draft.

No one expected him to start the season as the No. 1 quarterback, but the NFL will be full of surprises this season. Tannehill will start Week 1, which makes preseason Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons a great test.

Although the Dolphins may be short on receiving talent, Tannehill knows this offense like the back of his hand thanks to new offensive coordinator Mike Sherman being his college coach at Texas A&M.

Look for Tannehill and the Dolphins to make something out of nothing this year.

Brandon Weeden

The Cleveland Browns made plenty of draft day noise themselves in 2012 when they took 28-year-old Brandon Weeden at No. 22 of round one.

Now the starter, Weeden needs a strong outing in preseason Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles to convince the Browns' faithful that he's ready to be the franchise quarterback they desperately need. 

Weeden showed drastic improvement in his second NFL appearance from his first, but he still has a long way to go.

Now he needs preseason Week 3 to give him the confidence boost he needs to begin his NFL career with a bang. Weeden has yet to find the end zone this preseason, but once he does he'll be ready to rock and roll.

Terrell Owens Needs a Few Catches to Redeem His Preseason Week 2 Performance

Terrell Owens didn't impress one bit last week against the Denver Broncos. 

Targeted five times, he failed to make a catch. 

There is no guarantee that Owens will make the Seattle Seahawks' 53-man roster, and he needs to turn back the clock and look like his old self in preseason Week 3. 

Expect Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll to devise a way to get Owens the ball early against the Kansas City Chiefs on August 24. 

If Owens doesn't impress, he may not be with the team come August 25. 

Russell Wilson

The Seattle Seahawks thought they acquired their franchise quarterback via free agency this offseason in quarterback Matt Flynn.

Little did they know that they got their future quarterback, but instead of Flynn, it was in the form of third-round pick Russell Wilson.

He'll make his case to become the permanent starter in Week 3 of the preseason, as he'll start against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wilson looks wise beyond his years, as he displays more poise than many of the NFL elders who surround him.

Behind Wilson, the Seahawks are a playoff sleeper.

The New York Jets Offensive Line Has to Look Professional

With an already massive amount of pressure on the New York Jets, the offensive line has played terrible this preseason.

Already allowing 12 sacks in two preseason games, it's no wonder why quarterbacks Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow have played mediocre at best. 

Facing the upstart Carolina Panthers on August 26, the Jets offensive line is in a do-or-die situation. 

With the new hybrid talent that seemingly every NFL team displays now, the Jets don't stand a chance unless their men in the trenches get it together. 

Games are won and lost at the line of scrimmage, and right now the Jets' offensive line is simply porous. 

Andrew Luck vs. Robert Griffin III Round 1

Preseason Week 3 between the Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Redskins just may get the highest ratings for an NFL preseason game in the history of the NFL.

As the No. 1 pick this season, Luck has looked like the next big thing this offseason, as he plays like he's been in the NFL for years.

As the No. 2 pick this season, Robert Griffin III needs 30 pass attempts in Week 3. In two games this preseason, he's only attempted 14 passes. There's no doubt that he's an astounding athlete, and now is the time to begin to blossom in the NFL. 

Not wanting to back down, both players will see the field for a considerable amount of time, as NFL fans everywhere will be soaking up every second. 

This game, albeit in the preseason, will leave fans yearning for a Super Bowl matchup between the two young stars. 

Peyton Manning Needs to Get His Sea Legs Again

Future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning looks like he hasn't played NFL football in over a year. 

In his first two preseason games he hasn't played great, but going deep into the second half in preseason Week 3 will help Manning get up to the speed of the NFL game again. 

He'll go up against the San Francisco 49ers, who own the league's best defense in preseason Week 3. The Niners won't let Manning walk all over them, as fans will have a better idea of exactly where Manning is at on his comeback campaign after it's all said and done. 

He may not be the quarterback he once was, but he's still great. Give him some time, he'll have his men ready to go by Week 1. 

Blaine Gabbert Can Begin to Legitimize Himself as a First-Round Pick

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blaine Gabbert needs preseason Week 3 to show everyone why he was a first-round pick in 2011.

After being labeled as one of the worst in the league last season, Gabbert had a strong outing in Week 2 this preseason, going 13-for-16 for 112 passing yards and two touchdown tosses.

What this does for him is finally gain some momentum as the Jaguars need him more than ever, because star running back Maurice Jones-Drew is currently holding out. 

The Jags face the Baltimore Ravens in preseason Week 3 as another impressive performance by Gabbert would give his team a glimmer of hope heading into the season.

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