2014 NFC West Preview

4. St. Louis Rams

2013 Record = 7-9, Last in NFC West, Missed Playoffs

2014 Schedule = Vikings, @ Buccaneers, Cowboys, BYE, @ Eagles, 49ers, Seahawks, @ Chiefs, @ 49ers, @ Cardinals, Broncos, @ Chargers, Raiders, @ Redskins, Cardinals, Giants, @ Seahawks

Blue Chippers = DE Robert Quinn

High Quality Players = LT Jake Long

Solid Contributors = RG Rodger Saffold, RT Joe Barksdale, DE Chris Long

Impact Rookies = G/T Greg Robinson (1-2, Auburn), DT Aaron Donald (1-13, Pittsburgh), CB LaMarcus Joyner (2-41, Florida State)

Good News = St. Louis was once again one of the winners of the Draft thanks to the RGIII trade.

Bad News = You’ve heard about Sam Bradford, right?

Outlook = St. Louis has a roster full of young players with tons of potential, but with the loss of Sam Bradford for the entire season, it will be hard for those players to make a leap in 2014. Sucking might not be a bad way to go for the Rams this year, as they’d be able to reboot their quarterback situation with a high draft pick next year. For now, Shaun Hill is capable enough so the Rams will at least be competitive on a regular basis. 

Prediction = A talented young defense will not be able to hold up thanks to an offense that leaves them on the field too long. 3-13

3. Arizona Cardinals

2013 Record = 10-6, Third in NFC West, Missed Playoffs

2014 Schedule = Chargers, @ Giants, 49ers, BYE, @ Broncos, Redskins, @ Raiders, Eagles, @ Cowboys, Rams, Lions, @ Seahawks, @ Falcons, Chiefs, @ Rams, Seahawks, @ 49ers

Blue Chippers = DE Calais Campbell

High Quality Players = WR Larry Fitzgerald, CB Patrick Peterson, FS Tyrann Mathieu

Solid Contributors = HB Andre Ellington, WR Michael Floyd, LT Jared Veldheer, OLB John Abraham

Impact Rookies = S Deone Bucannon (1-27, Washington State)

Good News = Andre Ellington will be given the keys to a full-time workload.

Bad News = They are running out of linebackers.

Outlook = The strength of the Cardinals last year was their top ranked run defense, but without Darnell Dockett and Daryl Washington this year, that’s going to be nearly impossible to replicate. Dockett tore his ACL during training camp, and Washington is suspended for the year due to steroid abuse. Dockett didn’t play particularly well last year, but he still kept some attention away from stud lineman Calais Campbell. The secondary is also more of a question mark, as Tyrann Mathieu might not be himself at all in 2014 after blowing his knee out last December. If Antonio Cromartie can play at a high level opposite Patrick Peterson, that will take pressure off of the Honey Badger.

            Offensively the Cardinals are loaded with talent at the skill positions, but the Achilles Heal is Carson Palmer. Palmer still has a big arm, but has become more and more turnover prone over the years. It wouldn’t be shocking if his career fell off a cliff this season. Andre Ellington projects as a poor man’s LeSean McCoy. Arizona appears bent on using him until he breaks this year. Michael Floyd came on strong at the end of 2013, and is poised to be a near equal to Larry Fitzgerald. The offensive line was a weakness last year, but free agent acquisition Jared Veldheer should bring some stability.

Prediction = Facing a tough schedule with a diminished defense, we expect the Cardinals to take a step back this year. 6-10

2. Seattle Seahawks

2013 Record = 13-3, NFC West Champions, Super Bowl Champions

2014 Schedule = Packers, @ Chargers, Broncos, BYE, @ Redskins, Cowboys, @ Rams, @ Panthers, Raiders, Giants, @ Chiefs, Cardinals, @ 49ers, @ Eagles, 49ers, @ Cardinals, Rams

Blue Chippers = HB Marshawn Lynch, CB Richard Sherman, FS Earl Thomas

High Quality Players = QB Russell Wilson, WR Percy Harvin, DE Michael Bennett, DT Brandon Mebane, DE Cliff Avril, OLB K.J. Wright, SS Kam Chancellor

Solid Contributors = WR Doug Baldwin, TE Zach Miller, LT Russell Okung, C Max Unger, DT Tony McDaniel, MLB Bobby Wagner, OLB Bruce Irvin, CB Byron Maxwell

Impact Rookies = None

Good News = Every vital part of their Super Bowl team is back this year.

Bad News = At first glance, it appears they whiffed on the draft for the first time in years.

Outlook = We’ll keep the write up short and explain why we think the Seahawks will be a wild card team this year. We don’t think there’s a huge talent difference between the Seahawks and 49ers, so minor things like the schedule can make a difference. Last year, Seattle rode a second place schedule to a division title. This year, we think playing a first place schedule is the difference between them having home-field advantage and being forced to take their act on the road in January.

Prediction = 12-4

 1. San Francisco 49ers

2013 Record = 12-4, Second in NFC West, Lost NFC Championship Game

2014 Schedule = @ Cowboys, Bears, @ Cardinals, Eagles, Chiefs, @ Rams, @ Broncos, BYE, Rams, @ Saints, @ Giants, Redskins, Seahawks, @ Raiders, @ Seahawks, Chargers, Cardinals

Blue Chippers = MLB Patrick Willis

High Quality Players = FB Bruce Miller, WR Michael Crabtree, TE Vernon Davis, LT Joe Staley, LG Mike Iupati, MLB Navarro Bowman, OLB Aldon Smith

Solid Contributors = QB Colin Kaepernick, HB Frank Gore, WR Anquan Boldin, WR Stevie Johnson, RG Alex Boone, RT Anthony Davis, DE Ray McDonald, DE Justin Smith, OLB Ahmad Brooks, CB Tramaine Brock

Impact Rookies = S Jimmie Ward (1-30, Northern Illinois), HB Carlos Hyde (2-57, Ohio State), C Marcus Martin (3-70, USC)

Good News = Of all the teams that were playoff participants last season, no one improved themselves more through the draft than the 49ers.

Bad News = Their defensive players keep getting arrested.

Outlook = We’re really banking on Jim Harbaugh’s ability to develop younger players in forecasting the 49ers to capture the NFC West, as on paper there are some red flags. Aldon Smith won’t be available until November, and they shouldn’t plan on getting anything out of Bowman after his devastating leg injury in last year’s NFC Championship Game. The secondary was a weakness in 2013, and they are primarily relying on internal developments to improve it. It would be reasonable to expect Eric Reid to make a leap to “High Quality” status by the end of the season.

            Offensively, the 49ers haven’t been this deep since the Steve Young era. Colin Kaepernick has played at a high level whenever he’s had Michael Crabtree healthy, so that should take the offense to new heights. Stevie Johnson adds an extra playmaker to take the top off the defense, which will open underneath routes for Crabtree and Anquan Boldin. Vernon Davis is still around to provide an elite red zone threat. Frank Gore keeps on trucking, but if he finally breaks down rookie Carlos Hyde should be able to fill his shoes. The offensive line is still among the league’s best, with rookie Marcus Martin potentially filling the center spot by the end of the year.

Prediction = We have the 49ers winning the Super Bowl this year, so sorry for the jinx San Francisco. 13-3

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10 Awesome Things That Happened This Past Weekend (11/4-11/6)

10. Baltimore Orioles Name Former Red Sox GM Dan Duquette GM
            Duquette got a bad rap in Boston (his comments about how he hoped to keep Roger Clemens in Boston through the “twilight” of his career after Clemens signed with Toronto being the most infamous), but the guy had as much (if not more) to do with the core of the 2004 Red Sox than Theo Epstein did. Pedro Martinez, Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon, Derek Lowe, and Jason Varitek were all players acquired by Duquette. Duquette also was the general manager of the greatest team no one remembers, the 1994 Montreal Expos. Until realignment comes it will be tough sledding, but Baltimore made a wise decision for their next general manager.         

9. Trevor Bayne Wins First Nationwide Race, Danica Finishes Eleventh

            I wouldn’t fault you for forgetting that Trevor Bayne existed before he passed Carl Edwards on Saturday. NASCAR would benefit from both Bayne and Danica Patrick having more consistent success in 2012.

8. Northwestern Upsets #9 Nebraska

            Somewhere, Michael Wilbon was very happy Saturday afternoon.        

7. Patrick Peterson Makes Incredible Game-Winning Punt Return

            This play was amazing for the following three reasons, even though it occurred in a game between two 1-6 football teams.

1. Peterson caught the ball on the 1-yard line. Any football fan that knows anything about the sport that the rule is if a punt looks like it is going to land inside the 10, let it go.
2. The runback itself looked like Bo Jackson in TECMO Super Bowl.
3. More importantly, Arizona was favored by three. Typically once a game reaches overtime it ends in a field goal (unless it’s a college game that doesn’t include LSU and Alabama). If you bet on Arizona, or picked them to win like I did, the odds were that you were either staring at a loss or a push. Peterson’s overtime clincher not only gave Arizona their second victory, but people with sick gambling addictions that actually wagered on this game a thrilling victory.

6. Packers Hang on in Shoot-Out, Win 45-38 in San Diego
            It felt like Aaron Rodgers only had the ball for five minutes in this game, but he still managed to throw for 250 and four touchdowns.

5. Tony Stewart Wins Fourth Race of Chase, Within 3 Points of Carl Edwards

            My Chase preview is starting to look more and more like a comedy piece with each trip Tony makes to victory lane. It’s going to be a lot of fun the next two weeks with Smoke and Cousin Carl locked in a tight battle. Look for Edwards to make a stand at Phoenix next week. He had the fastest car their last spring before getting crashed out.

4. LSU Wins “Game of the Century” in Overtime Over Alabama
            After watching four quarters of this game before falling asleep on my couch right before overtime, I’m still trying to figure out how two teams with quarterback play that appears to be somewhere between mediocre and putrid could be ranked 1-2 in the polls. If either team had Andrew Luck under center, they would’ve beaten the other by three touchdowns. I really hope we don’t have to watch a rematch in the BCS Championship Game.

3. NASCAR Parks Kyle Busch

            I’m all for drivers settling their business amongst themselves, but there is no rational defense for what Kyle Busch did to Ron Hornaday in the truck race Friday night. Kudos to the suits running NASCAR for finally putting an end to the “have at it” era.

2. Ravens Shock Steelers

            I’ve never thought all that much of Joe Flacco. He’s certainly been a solid quarterback during his NFL career, but I never though of him as someone who could eventually carry a franchise to a Super Bowl. Last night’s 92-yard drive to sweep the season series over the Steelers was a good way for him to win me over.

1. Eli Leads Another Late-Game Comeback Against Patriots

            It’s hard to believe, but we live in a world where Eli Manning owns Tom Brady.