Artrell Hawkins. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

        There is no other way to say it: Artrell Hawkins had a bad third quarter Sunday against Miami.

        He was beaten by receiver Oronde Gadsden for a touchdown.

        He was called for a 34-yard pass interference penalty on a third down.

        He was run over by Dolphins running back Lamar Smith's 18-yard touchdown run.

        He was pulled for a series and replaced by Rodney Heath before returning.

        Hawkins now finds himself as one of the players most likely to lose his starting job under the new regime of coach Dick LeBeau if his performance doesn't improve.

        Hawkins, a third-year starter from the University of Cincinnati, knows the spotlight is on him but refuses to give up or let down.

        “It's frustrating,” Hawkins said Wednesday of his game Sunday. “But you have to let it go. You can never lose hope. As long as you're living and you have breath, you have a chance. If you don't make the plays (you're replaced). This is a business.

        “You want to try to correct your mistakes. But at the same time, you don't want to think too much. You kind of want to it to come naturally. As long as your effort is up and the assignment is right, then you have to rely on God to let you make that play, to have that grace, to have that victory.”

        Hawkins is a gifted athlete with great speed. He's often around the ball. But he hasn't had an interception since his rookie season, a span of 19 games.

        Earlier this week, Hawkins' position coach, Ray Horton, said Hawkins plays better in practice than he does in games. LeBeau said some players are trying too hard.

        “There is a difference between practice and playing,” Hawkins said. “You go out there and get interceptions and cause fumbles (in practice). Sometimes it doesn't work in a game.

        “At practice, there aren't as many people watching you play. I don't particularly see that being a huge thing with me. I think I try hard. I'm always 100 miles an hour going to the ball. I think I've been pushing a little bit. That's natural when you know something you want and there's something you're going after. That's life.”

        There is pressure on him, Hawkins said, but there's pressure everywhere.

        “If you let the pressures affect you, if you try and come up short, if you stay down — that's what hurts you,” he said. “You can't let the pressure get to you.”

        He has a plan for Sunday.

        “I'm going to play football like I've played for the last 15 years,” Hawkins said. “I'm going out there to play because I like to play. I'm doing what I love to do.”

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