2011 NFL Hot Seat: 1 Player from Each Team That Needs to Step Up
As NFL teams plan their post-lockout personnel moves, starters across the league will be challenged to step up their games or be replaced.
Whether it’s a veteran trying to hang on to a starting spot for a few more years, or a youngster trying to prove he’s not a bust, every team has players who will enter the season needing to put up or shut up.
Herein, 32 players who will be playing for their jobs in 2011.
Buffalo Bills: DE Aaron Maybin
1 of 32
Buffalo’s 2009 first-round pick, Aaron Maybin has failed to earn playing time either as a 4-3 end or a 3-4 OLB.
Buffalo says they won’t cut him this season, but if he gives them another year of standing on the sidelines (he had six total tackles last season), his Bills career could easily be over before it’s begun.
Miami Dolphins: QB Chad Henne
2 of 32
At 25, Chad Henne is young enough that the Dolphins have tried to give him a chance to develop. So far, he hasn’t taken the opportunity.
Henne has thrown more INTs than TDs in each of his two seasons as a starter. One more year of that and the Dolphins will have no choice but to find another option.
New England Patriots: OLB Tully Banta-Cain
3 of 32
The nature of a 3-4 defense is that the pass rush must start with the outside linebackers, and New England’s OLBs didn’t provide that last season. Tully Banta-Cain, who saw his sack total cut in half in 2010, must return to form to give the Pats some pressure off the edge.
Another down year from Banta-Cain will likely see New England giving his job to a younger, faster linebacker.
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New York Jets: OLB Bryan Thomas
4 of 32
Odd-numbered years have not been kind to Bryan Thomas, who had two sacks in 2009 and 2.5 in 2007. He’d do well to change that pattern in 2011.
The Jets need more big plays out of their other outside linebackers as Jason Taylor’s skills decline, and Thomas may not be equipped to provide them. Another down year could be Thomas’ last as a starter.
Baltimore Ravens: WR Derrick Mason
5 of 32
Baltimore’s 2010 season demonstrated pretty convincingly that none of their wide receivers are equipped to stretch a defense downfield. Mason, who failed to record 1,000 yards receiving for the first time in four years, just turned 37.
If Baltimore can pick up anything resembling a deep threat at WR, Mason’s days as a starter are likely done.
Cincinnati Bengals: OT Andre Smith
6 of 32
Bad luck has certainly contributed to the slow start of Andre Smith’s NFL career, as he’s broken different bones in his left foot in each of his first two seasons.
More troubling, though, are questions about his work ethic and conditioning (his return from his first broken foot was slowed by the thirty pounds he reportedly gained while out of action).
The former sixth overall pick has likely already cost himself the $5 million team option in his contract, and another year of question marks could cost him his NFL career.
Cleveland Browns: CB Sheldon Brown
7 of 32
There’s no question that some of the problems of the Cleveland secondary in 2010 came out of the unsuccessful switch to a 3-4 front.
Some of them, though, came from not getting enough performance out of players like Sheldon Brown.
Brown was playing with a torn rotator cuff for much of the season, so getting healthy will likely be enough to get him back to form. If the one-time big-play threat is held to two interceptions again next year, though, don’t be surprised to see a less expensive corner take his job by 2012.
Pittsburgh Steelers: CB William Gay
8 of 32
As the Packers’ deep WR corps showed in the Super Bowl, cornerback is one of the few areas that needs improvement on Pittsburgh’s roster. Of the regulars, the weakest is fourth-year vet William Gay at the nickelback position.
Gay has one interception in his four seasons in Pittsburgh, and while he’s unlikely to become a ball-hawk overnight, he needs to be more consistent in coverage if he wants to stick around.
Houston Texans: FS Eugene Wilson
9 of 32
Houston’s corners have their issues, but they’re also a very young group that’s still developing. Wilson, an eight-year vet, has no such excuses.
Houston cannot afford another season in which they get zero interceptions from their starting free safety. Wilson needs to create some turnovers or start looking for another job.
Indianapolis Colts: OT Ryan Diem
10 of 32
Even Peyton Manning can’t run the Colts offense while flat on his back, so Indianapolis will need its offensive line to step up in 2011. Right tackle Ryan Diem, entering his twelfth season, will be one of the players under serious scrutiny.
If the Colts’ attack doesn’t return to elite form, Diem (among other linemen) could be out of a job at season’s end.
Jacksonville Jaguars: FS Don Carey
11 of 32
The Jaguars have been a mess at the safety positions the last couple of years, which helps explain how converted CB Don Carey wound up starting at FS last season.
Unfortunately, the transition wasn’t a fun one for Carey, who managed just one interception on the season while being tormented by the high-octane passing games of the AFC South.
If he shows some growth in 2011, he’ll be fine, but another shaky season will have the Jaguars seeking Carey’s replacement.
Tennessee Titans: C Fernando Velasco
12 of 32
Chris Johnson’s rushing totals dropped by more than 600 yards last season, and part of the blame has to lie with the Titans’ offensive line.
Fernando Velasco, who had the unenviable task of replacing the retired Kevin Mawae last year, is perhaps the most important of the linemen who need to step up in 2011.
Velasco is only entering his third NFL season, but at age 26 he may not have a lot of room to develop. If the Titans don’t see significant improvement out of the center position next year, Velasco may run out of time as a developmental prospect.
Denver Broncos: SS Brian Dawkins
13 of 32
After 15 brilliant seasons, age is finally starting to catch up with Brian Dawkins. He still has the skills to make some big plays, but he’s lost enough speed that he’s starting to become a liability in coverage for the Broncos.
With a shortage of quality safeties available this offseason, Dawkins’ job is unlikely to be threatened next year. If he continues to decline, though, don’t be surprised to see him riding the bench in 2012.
Kansas City Chiefs: OLB Mike Vrabel
14 of 32
Chiefs’ GM Scott Pioli places a premium on character guys, so Vrabel’s arrest Monday for stealing beer isn’t going to help his prospects. Add in the already-declining skills of the 15-year vet, and Vrabel may well be entering his last year as an NFL starter.
Kansas City needs a playmaker opposite Tamba Hali, and Vrabel obviously isn’t a long-term answer. If the Chiefs find someone in the draft to step in at OLB, Vrabel may not even have to wait for 2012 to sit on the bench.
Oakland Raiders: WR Louis Murphy
15 of 32
Louis Murphy wasn’t even the first Raider arrested this offseason, but he may be the one with the most to prove on the field.
Off the field, his arrest Sunday for a string of misdemeanors may well run afoul of the league’s personal conduct policy, further threatening the third-year wideout’s development.
Murphy was the Raiders’ leader among wide receivers with a paltry 609 yards in 14 games last season.
Jason Campbell doesn’t deserve all the blame for the anemic passing attack, and Murphy will need to put up much bigger numbers in 2011 if he wants to remain a starter in the NFL.
San Diego Chargers: OLB Larry English
16 of 32
The Chargers’ first-round pick in 2009, Larry English lost half of 2010 to a foot injury, but there are serious questions about his performance even when healthy.
He managed just 17 tackles in eight games before the injury last year.
English has shown potential as a pass rusher (five career sacks in one and a half seasons of work), but it’s time for some of that potential to turn into performance in 2011. If not, English could find himself out of a job.
Dallas Cowboys: FS Alan Ball
17 of 32
To be fair to Alan Ball, he’s given the Cowboys far more than they could’ve expected out of a seventh-round draft choice. However, that’s not the same thing as saying that Alan Ball should be starting at safety in the NFL.
Dallas finished 26th in the NFL in pass defense, and Ball’s struggles defending the deep ball had a good deal to do with that result.
If the former CB doesn’t start playing like a legitimate safety, he may not be playing any position for Dallas after next year.
New York Giants: CB Aaron Ross
18 of 32
The Giants’ struggles in pass defense last season were highlighted by big plays from unexpected sources like Philadelphia’s Brent Celek and Washington’s Anthony Armstrong.
Nickel corner Aaron Ross has to shoulder some of the blame for the Giants’ inability to cover secondary receivers.
Ross, who didn’t record an interception last season, needs to give New York more consistent coverage downfield if he doesn’t want to be looking for a new team in 2012.
Philadelphia Eagles: DT Mike Patterson
19 of 32
If the Eagles want to be better than the middle-of-the-pack defense they played a season ago, they need more push from their defensive tackles. Trent Cole is a warrior on the outside, but needs help up the middle.
Seventh-year veteran Mike Patterson recorded a career-low 37 tackles last season. If he doesn’t start making plays again, the Eagles will be looking for a new starter at DT.
Washington Redskins: OG Will Montgomery
20 of 32
Will Montgomery finished the year as the Redskins’ starting right guard after Mike Shanahan had finished juggling the offensive line spots. If he wants to keep that job, he’ll need to give Washington more muscle inside.
The Redskins ranked 30th in the league in rushing yards, and with the backfield in flux, they’re in for another long season unless the line play improves dramatically.
If it doesn’t, Montgomery won’t be long for the starter’s spot.
Chicago Bears: WR Earl Bennett
21 of 32
The Bears need a true number one receiver to pair with Jay Cutler, and whomever they find will be taking a job away from one of the current wideouts.
Earl Bennett, undersized and without the benefit of Devin Hester’s special teams skills, will likely be the odd man out.
Bennett must use this season to prove that he’s too good to bench, or else find himself out of a job.
Detroit Lions: OLB Julian Peterson
22 of 32
When the Lions signed veteran linebacker Julian Peterson to a free-agent deal, they were looking for slightly more than the one-sack, zero-interception season Peterson provided in 2010.
Detroit is getting younger and better across the board, and Peterson could easily find himself passed over before long. He needs to make some big plays in 2011 if he still wants to be a starter in 2012.
Green Bay Packers: RB Ryan Grant
23 of 32
Ryan Grant had better hope his right ankle is back to 100 percent, because he’ll be facing a stiff challenge in training camp from playoff warrior James Starks.
Green Bay badly needs a legitimate rushing threat to complement Aaron Rodgers’ passing game, and they’ll give the job to whomever plays better, regardless of reputation.
If Grant doesn’t return in top form, he’ll find himself on the bench before the season is even over.
Minnesota Vikings: DE Everson Griffen
24 of 32
The Vikings, who have several high-priority free agents to worry about, are unlikely to re-sign DE Ray Edwards. That will leave a starting job in the hands of Everson Griffen, a second-year man out of USC.
Griffen played minimally last year as Edwards’ backup, but if he doesn’t perform, he won’t be given long to flounder.
The veteran Minnesota defense will need to play big next season to make up for uncertainty at QB, and if Griffen struggles, he could be given a very quick hook.
Atlanta Falcons: DT Peria Jerry
25 of 32
The Falcons’ 22nd-ranked pass defense needs more pressure up front than John Abraham can provide by himself.
Peria Jerry, Atlanta’s first-round pick in 2009, needs to contribute more than two sacks, and definitely more than the nine tackles he produced in 2010.
If Jerry turns in another invisible season, he may not get another chance to prove himself as an NFL tackle.
New Orleans Saints: DE Alex Brown
26 of 32
Alex Brown’s greatest asset has always been his ability to pressure the QB, but at age 31, he’s lost a step from his elite pass-rushing days. Brown produced just two sacks last season for New Orleans, the lowest total of his career.
Unless Brown can bring back some of his old magic, he’s a good bet to be out of the starting lineup within a year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DE Tim Crowder
27 of 32
Tampa Bay needs a pass-rushing threat at DE to complement second-year tackle Gerald McCoy. Starter Tim Crowder, who has averaged just 3.5 sacks in his three full NFL seasons, doesn’t appear to be the answer.
Unless the 25-year-old Crowder shows some unexpected development next season, he’ll likely find himself on the bench in 2012.
Arizona Cardinals: RB Beanie Wells
28 of 32
Arizona had the league’s worst ground game in 2010, and former first-round pick Beanie Wells didn’t do much to help. Wells’ average per carry fell to 3.4 yards last season, more than a yard worse than his rookie performance.
With Arizona’s QB situation in limbo, the Cards will likely give Wells plenty of chances to supplant journeyman Tim Hightower as their top rusher. If he doesn’t take advantage of the opportunity, he may be done as a Cardinal.
Carolina Panthers: WR Steve Smith
29 of 32
Steve Smith has been the Carolina passing game for so long that it’s hard to imagine him not producing. Still, when the offense collapsed last season, Smith’s numbers tumbled with it, to the tune of just 554 receiving yards on the year.
After 10 years in the league, Smith’s dropoff in performance may not be entirely a fluke. If he can’t produce in 2011, the Panthers will have to look for a new No. 1 wideout.
St. Louis Rams: OLB Na’il Diggs
30 of 32
Returning from surgery on his torn pectoral muscle isn’t the only challenge Na’il Diggs will be facing this season. The twelve-year vet will also need to prove he still belongs in a starting role on a young, improving defense.
Diggs has never been a big-play linebacker, but he also hasn’t broken 50 tackles in a season since 2008. If he doesn’t get to the ball with more consistency next year, he’ll likely be done as an NFL starter.
San Francisco 49ers: OLB Manny Lawson
31 of 32
San Francisco’s 22nd-ranked pass defense needs a pass rush from its linebackers to help DE Justin Smith. Lawson has the athletic ability to be dangerous as an edge rusher, but recorded just 2.5 sacks in 2010.
If he can return to his 2009 form (68 tackles, 6.5 sacks), Lawson shouldn’t have to worry about job security. If he slogs through another year of not producing big plays, he may be looking for a new team in 2012.
Seattle Seahawks: CB Marcus Trufant
32 of 32
The Seahawks’ defense was 27th in the league against the pass, and shaky cornerback play had a lot to do with it. Veteran Marcus Trufant managed just one interception in 2010.
With Pete Carroll aggressively overhauling the Seattle roster, Trufant (who’s entering his ninth season) needs to prove he’s still worth starting. Another year of subpar coverage could finish him in Seattle.
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