ON THE SPOT
Post NFL writer Bart Hubbuch takes a look at the 10 players and coaches most under the gun going into training camp:
1. Chip Kelly, coach, 49ers
Kelly gets another chance after his uneven stint in Philadelphia to prove he can “revolutionize” the sport. San Francisco owns one of the league’s thinnest rosters, so Kelly has his work cut out.
2. Jared Goff, QB, Rams
Goff goes from posting a losing record in college to being the No. 1 overall pick and the face of the franchise as it moves back to the country’s second-biggest city. No pressure, kid.
3. Kirk Cousins, QB, Redskins
Cousins needs to prove that his second-half run last season was no fluke. The lack of a lucrative extension t his offseason shows that even his own team is still in
“prove it” mode.
4. Rex Ryan, coach, Bills
Word is that Buffalo’s owners aren’t nearly as enamored with Ryan and his antics as they were before last season’s underachieving, 8-8 finish. If the Bills miss the playoffs yet again, Ryan could be toast.
5. Brock Osweiler, QB, Texans
No quarterback in the league has a bigger bull’s-eye on his back than Osweiler, thanks to the stunning deal — four years, $72 million — that Houston showered on him after just seven (mostly underwhelming) NFL starts in Denver.
6. Ryan Tannehill, QB, Dolphins
It’s time for Tannehill to prove his worth after failing to reach the playoffs in any of his first four NFL seasons. A new coach with a reputation for developing quarterbacks in Adam Gase should help.
7. Marvin Lewis, coach, Bengals
This could finally be the year Lewis faces the music if Cincinnati doesn’t win a playoff game. Lewis’ 0-7 postseason record is abysmal.
8. Thomas Rawls, RB, Seahawks
Rawls is a big back (5-foot-10, 220 pounds) who averaged almost 6 yards a carry as a rookie last season, but replacing Marshawn Lynch is a tall order. The rest of the league will be watching.
9. Marvin Jones, WR, Lions
Jones got a five-year, $40 million deal to jump from the Bengals in free agency. The arduous task of replacing the retired Calvin Johnson means Jones will earn every penny of his $20 million in guaranteed money.
10. Drew Brees, QB, Saints
Brees is still racking up passing records at age 37, but New Orleans has made the playoffs just one since 2011 and Brees is a free agent after this season.