2011 NFL Predictions: 10 Players Guaranteed to Be Benched in 2011

Throughout the 2011 NFL season, dozens of starters will lose their jobs.  It could be due to poor performance on the field or a promising young player waiting in the wings.

This is occasionally an ideal situation for a team.  Nothing makes a team happier than when a young potential star shows enough ability to earn the starting job. 

For example, in 2010, the Cincinnati Bengals gave second-round pick Carlos Dunlap a starting job despite decent play from the team's defensive ends.

Other times, a change in starters is detrimental to a team.  A player the team was counting on to produce at a high level failed, causing the team to collapse. 

Jake Delhomme and the Cleveland Browns last season is the perfect example.  Delhomme threw seven interceptions to just two touchdowns, forcing the Browns to hand over the reins to Colt McCoy (though injury did play a part).

Regardless of the reasoning, players who were previously on the field for the first play of the game will instead be riding the pine. 

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers

There are many out there who would be shocked if DeAngelo Williams lost the starting job in Carolina.  However, they should not be.  Despite Williams signing a huge contract extension worth $43 million over five years according to ESPN, he is not the most talented runner on the Panthers team.

That title belongs to Jonathan Stewart.  Stewart may not have quite the track record that Williams does, but he is bigger and more powerful with similar speed.  Williams has also had injury problems and played in just six games during the 2010 season.

Regardless of who ends up the starter, Stewart and Williams will both be handling the rock frequently.  The Panthers may have the most talented running back duo in the NFL, but don't be surprised if Stewart outproduces Williams.

Kyle Orton, QB, Denver Broncos

This is simply a case of Orton being a good but not great player on a bad team.  Orton was extremely productive in 2009 and 2010, throwing for a total of 7,455 yards and 41 touchdowns. 

Despite this production, the former Chicago Bear has been labeled by Bronco fans as a bad player.  While this is not true, Orton simply isn't good enough to hold off his two high-profile backups. 

Brady Quinn has been known throughout the country since he first stepped on the field as a sophomore at Notre Dame.  Quinn was then drafted by the Browns and eventually traded to the Broncos. 

Quinn has been a huge disappointment thus far in his career, but his play has dramatically improved as of late, and may garner a following.

However, Quinn is not the biggest threat to Orton's job.  In 2010, Tim Tebow became one of the most heavily debated draft picks in history and was drafted by Denver with the 25th pick of the draft.  Tebow is only the third-string quarterback, but there is guaranteed to be support for the former Florida quarterback.

Even if Orton produces at a high level once more during the 2011 season, the Broncos will need to be successful in order for him to keep his starting job.  With such high-profile backups, Orton is under enormous pressure to produce, and more importantly, to win.

Jeff Linkenbach, LT, Indianapolis Colts

The fact that Linkenbach is starting for the Colts shows how much first-round draft pick Anthony Castonzo has struggled.  Indianapolis saw their offensive line as such a big weakness that the team used its first two draft picks in 2011 on offensive tackles.

Linkenbach did play some for the Colts in 2010, but saw much of his time at guard.  Now playing left tackle, Linkenbach has to deal with edge rushers, which is something he struggled with along the interior line.  Now on the outside, this problem should only get worse.

If the rumors are correct and Peyton Manning does not play immediately, Linkenbach's play will be even more exposed.  This is not to say that Castonzo will succeed, but as a first-round draft selection, he will be given a shot sooner or later.

Alex Smith, QB, San Francisco 49ers

The No. 1 overall pick in 2005, Smith has yet to come close to meeting expectations.  The former Utah quarterback has yet to show any of the traits that convinced the 49ers to invest so heavily in him.

While new head coach Jim Harbaugh's West Coast offense should help Smith out some, he simply does not have an NFL-caliber skill set.  With second-round draft pick Colin Kaepernick in waiting, the 49ers could choose to bench Smith at any moment.

What Smith lacks physically, Kaepernick has.  The 6'4" 230-pound quarterback has a rocket arm and is an excellent runner as well. 

While he is raw, the former Nevada star will likely get his chance sooner or later if Smith continues to play the way he has in the past.

Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Tennessee Titans

Hasselbeck hasn't really been healthy since 2007, and when he has been, the former Seattle quarterback has struggled immensely.  The 35-year-old is well past his prime and is best suited for a backup role at this point.

After drafting Washington quarterback Jake Locker with the eighth pick of the draft, the Titans chose to bring in Locker's mentor, Matt Hasselbeck.  While Hasselbeck is best suited for a backup role, Tennessee is paying him like a starter and he will begin the season as the No. 1 guy.

However, Locker was excellent in the preseason and could be ready soon.  The 6'2", 234-pound Locker is an excellent athlete with a rocket arm.   With Hasselbeck likely to struggle, Locker just needs to show that he can handle the mental aspect of the game, and he will likely have the starting job by midseason.

Marc Colombo, OT, Miami Dolphins

It was obvious to anyone watching the Cowboys in 2010 that the team's offensive line was dreadful.  Dallas's management realized this and cut three of the team's starting offensive linemen from last year.  One of these was Marc Colombo. 

Though his salary did play a part in the move, Colombo was cut because of his incredibly slow feet.  Now with the Dolphins, Colombo is looking to start at right tackle with Vernon Carey moving inside to guard.  This move is puzzling to say the least, as Carey is a significantly better tackle than Colombo is.

The biggest issue that Miami faces in benching Colombo is the team's guard play.  Carey should be a quality starting guard, but beyond him, the team has little.  However, if Colombo plays like he did in 2010, it shouldn't take long for him to be benched.

Michael Bennett, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A former undrafted free agent, Bennett stands out like a sore thumb among the many high draft picks on the Tampa Bay defensive line.  The 6'4" 274-pound defensive end isn't a great athlete, but he does a good job of setting the edge.

However, Da'Quan Bowers is adept at playing the run as well.  Bowers may have been a top ten pick in the 2011 NFL draft if it weren't for a knee injury, and the former Clemson defensive end is extremely talented.

With first-round draft picks Gerald McCoy and Adrian Clayborn already starting on the defensive line, there is talent in the unit.  Bowers would likely be just as good against the run as Bennett while providing more of a pass rush. 

As Bowers recovers from his knee injury and becomes more settled in Tampa Bay, he should gain the starting job with relative ease.

David Thomas, TE, New Orleans Saints

Thomas is a good, consistent player who rarely makes mistakes.  The 6'3", 248-pound tight end is a good blocker who can catch the ball as well.  The biggest problem with Thomas is that he simply isn't Jimmy Graham.

Graham only played one year of football in college, but the former Hurricane impressed enough to be a third-round draft selection.  At 6'6", 260 pounds, Graham is a phenomenal athlete and is a natural when it comes to catching the ball.

Even with Thomas starting, Graham will see plenty of playing time.  But with Graham's receiving ability, it simply does not make sense to keep him off the field. 

Graham gives an already loaded New Orleans offense yet another playmaker, while Thomas is just there.

Josh Cribbs, WR, Cleveland Browns

While Cribbs is a fantastic return man, he isn't a very good receiver.  The former Kent State quarterback does wonders with the ball in his hands, but he isn't a very good route runner and only has okay catching ability.

At 6'1", 215 pounds, Cribbs has good size and burst but doesn't have great straight line speed.  Cribbs is currently starting opposite of Brian Robiskie at wide receiver, but Mohamed Massaquoi is returning from a foot injury that caused him to miss most of training camp.

However, Massaquoi isn't the only threat to Cribbs's job.  Rookie wideout Greg Little has demonstrated superb playmaking ability and could emerge as Colt McCoy's primary receiver during the 2011 season. 

Cribbs will still see playing time on offense, but he will not be one of the Browns' top two receivers for long.

Tarvaris Jackson, QB, Seattle Seahawks

Many of the players on this list will lose their starting jobs due to young, talented backups.  Tarvaris Jackson, on the other hand, will lose his job due to bad play.  The former Vikings quarterback has never produced at even a decent level throughout the course of an entire season.

The 6'2", 225-pound Jackson is more of a runner than a passer, and with fewer weapons than ever, the Seattle quarterback will struggle.  Pete Carroll gave up a ransom in order to acquire Charlie Whitehurst, who, so far, has hardly even played.

But if Jackson struggles like he has in the past, Whitehurst will get a chance at the starting job.  This is not to say that the former Charger will succeed, but the Seahawks may be left with little choice.  Expect Seattle to miss Matt Hasselbeck in 2011.