NFL: 10 Players in for Disappointing Seasons in 2011

The NFL has un-heard of players who emerge as star and stars who fade to mediocrity every year. 2011 will be no different.  Predicting those players can be tough though.

Will Michael Vick be able to build upon his spectacular 2010 Season?

Is Peyton Manning finally beginning to show signs of age?

Can guys like Andre Johnson and Adrian Peterson keep playing at elite levels?

How will Nmandi Asomugha adjust to joining the Eagles?

Here are 10 players in for disappointing season in 2011.

10. Arian Foster

Age: 24

2010 Stats: 327 Att, 1,616 yards, 16 TD's, 66 Rec, 604 yards, 2 TD

Arian Foster emerged from nowhere and became the NFL's leading rusher in 2010.  He's smart, balanced, and a tough runner who also brings very good pass catching skills to the table.

I don't think Foster will struggle in 2011, he will just not produce at the level he did in 2011.  Teams weren't stacking up the box against Houston last year.  They were focusing their defensive attention on the passing game -most notable WR Andre Johnson – so Foster was able to find more open holes than any rusher in the league.

While Foster is obviously the Texans guy at RB, a healthy Ben Tate – a promising sophomore who missed the entire 2010 season with a broken ankle – could cut into his carries somewhat.  It would smart for Houston not tun Foster's legs to death before he turns 27.  Tate and Steve Slaton should help keep Foster fresh.

This will be good for Houston and for Foster's future but will prevent him from putting up the gaudy numbers he did in 2010.

I see Foster rushing for around 1,100 yards and getting another 400 or so receiving. And 15 Total TD's are also a realistic goal.

9. DeAngelo Hall

Age: 27

2010 Stats: 6 INT, 65 Tack, 1 TD

Don't let DeAngelo Hall's impressive numbers and Pro Bowl MVP last year fool you.  Hall was horrible and he should continue to struggle to cover receivers again in 2011.  He can pretty much thank Jay Cutler for confusing him with receivers and sending him to the Pro Bowl.

Hall used to be one of the best corners in the game and he still has the speed and athleticism to dominate but he doesn't put any effort into staying with receivers or bumping them at the line.

When he has the ball in his hands he may be the most thrilling defensive player in the league but for every time the ball ends up in his hands he gets burned for three TD's

8. Santana Moss

Age: 32

2010 Stats: 93 rec, 1,115 yards, 6 TD

Santana Moss is coming off his best year since 2005.  I've always liked Moss.  He's a tough dude and has great deep speed, even though he has lost a step.

Moss is really the only weapon the Redskins have on offense and that's unfortunate because there's no way he puts up the kind of numbers he did in 2010 in 2011.

Not only will defenses be focused on him more but he'll have John Beck or Rex Grossman throwing him the ball.  I don't think McNabb is any good but he is better than both of those two.

I bet Moss wishes he was still a Jet.

7. Jamaal Charles

Age: 23

2010 Stats: 230 Att, 1,467 yards, 5 TD, 45 rec, 468 yards, 3 TD

Everyone seems to think Charles is in for an even bigger year in 2011 because he will most likely get more carries.  I am not on that bandwagon.

Charles is one of the most explosive and exciting players in the league but I have my doubts about him carrying the load on a run-heavy team. 

I like what the Chiefs did with him last year.  He pretty much split carries with Thomas Jones.  Whose a stronger and more durable but less explosive ballcarrier.

Charles is not even 200 pounds and I think if the Chiefs give him 300 carries year after year he's gonna wear down fast, loss speed, and have a short career.

In order for the Chiefs to have the best chance at winning for the next five years or so they need Charles at his best.  And the way to do that is to give him 250 carries max per year.

I also think Charles YPC will drop significantly from 6.4 last year.  He will be the main focus of teams defending the Chiefs.

6. Josh Freeman

Age: 23

2010 Stats: 3,451 yards, 25 TD, 6 INT

Freeman had a great year in 2010.  He cashed in on the incredible physical tools that made him a first round pick two years ago and almost carried a pretty mediocre Bucs roster to the playoffs.

I expect him to regress a bit though and have the type of year somewhere between last year and his rookie season.  Freeman has a big arm, is a dangerous runner, and seems to have figured the NFL out a lot faster than people expected.

I think Freeman will have a great career in this league but a lot of young QB's struggle a bit the year after they break out...Matt Ryan, I'm citing you and I think that's what will happen to Freeman.

It's realistic to expect a slightly less impressive year from Freeman.

5. Ryan Torain

Age: 25

2010 Stats: 164 Att, 742 yards, 4 TD

Listen, I like the All-Torain Vehicle. It's just I really don't like Washington, in case you couldn't already tell. 

I've liked Torain since his days with the Sun Devils and while I admit I thought his career was over after he tore his ACL, he rejuvenated it in Washington last year. 

I just don't think he is in for the 1,000 yard season most seem to expect.  Not only will he have Tim Hightower to takes away a bunch of touches, but the Redskins will be behind in most games so they'll be playing quickly and throwing the ball more than you would expect.

Torain has proved himself though and if I were him I'd get out of Washington as soon as possible. Even if he wasn't a starter somewhere else he could find more success in a committee.

4. Michael Vick

Age: 31

2010 Stats: 3,018 yards, 21 TD, 6 INT, 100 Att, 676 yards, 9 TD

Michael Vick is the Lil Wayne of football.  Depending on who your are you either think Lil Wayne is the best rapper in the world or think he's one of the worst.

The same goes for Vick.  You either love him and think he is the most dominant offensive player in the league or you hate him and think he is grossly overrated.  The reality is that Vick -like Weezy- belongs in the middle of those two opinions.

Eagles fans expecting the efficiency Vick showed through most of last year are in for a rude awakening.  He struggled down the stretch and in the playoffs and it's evident he still isn't the most accurate and has trouble reading defenses.  I actually felt he should have ran the ball more. Vick's signature erraticism will carry over into 2011, it's just who he is.

But his signature athleticism and big-play ability will be on display as well.

In short, Vick will have games where he looks like the best player in football but he will also have games where Philly fans wonder why they traded Kevin Kolb.

I expect around the same passing numbers but with more picks and better running numbers.  But Vick's success will ultimately depend on how far the Eagles go.

3. Jason Babin

Age: 31

2010 Stats: 58 tack, 12.5 sacks

Drafted in the first round by Houston back in 2004, Babin spent seven season struggling to tap into the pass-rushing potential that made him such a great prospect coming out of college.

Then with the Titans last year he broke out and had 12.5 sacks.

But at 31 years young I have a hard time believing that Babin's dominance in 2010 wasn't somewhat of a fluke.

I think Babin signing with the Eagles was a good move for both sides.  He will be there to keep double teams off Trent Cole -a far superior end- and will be in position to make a lot of plays.  I'd expect around eight sacks from Babin but calling him an elite pass rusher is far-fetched and inaccurate. 

2. Eli Manning

Age: 30

2010 Stats: 4,002 yards, 31 TD, 25 INT

Eli Manning recently said he belongs in the same category as Tom Brady. 

Eli, you're a good QB and you have a ring but don't kid yourself.  Eli Manning has always been a guy who can make all the throws and move a team downfield but makes a lot of dumb decisions and sometimes costs his team games.

That's what he did in 2010.  While he had a career high in TD's and threw for a lot of yards he also led the league in interceptions and I expect him to be near the top of that category again.

The Giants should be good and Eli Manning is by no means a problem but he's not the QB his numbers last year -or his self-promotion- makes him out to be.

1. Drew Brees

Age: 32

2010 Stats: 4,620 yards, 33 TD, 22 INT

Crucify me now.  I just insulted the golden boy, the NFL's Mr. Nice Guy, the guy who seems to be everyone's favorite player.

Drew Brees had another prolific season in New Orleans but 22 INT is alarming for anyone, especially a QB people mention with the likes of Brady, Manning – not you, Eli –, Rodgers and even Roethlisberger.

Saints fans defend Brees by saying it's the system that's responsible for the picks. I don't buy it.

Brees didn't look the same last year despite the Saints being pretty successful.  In fact I think it was his worst year since he came to the team and if he doesn't make better decisions the Saints are going to have a tough time getting to the Super Bowl.

We all love to root for Brees but last year the hype surrounding him outweighed his on-field performance. I think the slide will continue for this once-elite QB.