NFC West (Or the NFL's Football Championship Subdivision)
- Arizona Cardinals (9-7 in 2008, my prediction - atop NFC West)
- So much for all that talk about how they were the most unworthy team to ever make the playoffs, stunning the Falcons, Panthers, and Eagles - and ever so close to taking out the Steelers in the Super Bowl. Even though teams usually struggle following the Super Bowl and many pundits have proclaimed a slump for the Cards, I don't believe so. They retain almost all their starters from last year - and a relatively solid defense that still has playmakers in Karlos Dansby, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Adrian Wilson (the face of the franchise, in my opinion) - but who I believe really has to step up is my former classmate Calais Campbell. He has the tools, but needs to start showing them on the field. A sackless rookie season might be fine as a backup, but now as a starter, he needs to provide adequate run support as a 3-4 end and still be able to attack the pocket to free Clark Haggans and Bert Berry. Offensively, I still believe they're set. As long as Kurt Warner stays healthy, there should be no reason why the passing game should miss a beat - the Fitz, Boldin, the excellent slot receiver Steve Breaston, and Early Doucet should still be productive receivers in the spread offense. Although Ken Whisenhunt would still prefer to be be balanced - hence the drafting of Beanie Wells, I believe the team should be kept a primarily passing team, using Beanie and Tim Hightower later in the game to wear down a defense and speed the clock up - which they couldn't do with last year. Dance with what brung you, is my belief. Although, however, now nobody will be surprised by the Cardinals - but their divisional opponents are the AFC South and the NFC North, not to mention playing the 49ers and Rams four times. Whether they make another playoff push is debatable, but I feel they should be able to keep their division title.
- Player to Watch: Calais Campbell
- Team MVP: Kurt Warner
- Player I miss the most: Mad flashback, but anybody remember David Boston? I miss him. The '00-'01 David Boston in this offense would be ridiculous.
- Player on the decline: Matt Leinart - will he ever get a chance with the ageless Warner?
- San Francisco 49ers (7-9 in 2008, my prediction: 2nd in NFC West, miss playoffs)
- Perhaps one of the biggest storylines out of the Yay Area this offseason was the whole Michael Crabtree fiasco. Drafted 10th, but wants to be paid like a 6th, since he believes he's better than Darrius Heyward-Bey, picked up by Al 'Palpatine' Davis' Raiders. Let him sit, I say. A rookie who thinks he's above the NFL's system is clearly an incorrigible persona, and I'm sure the Niners remember all too well the T.O. troubles of a few years back. Mike Singletary was a tough, hard-nosed linebacker, and he's a no nonsense coach (outside of the pants incident - yeesh) - and he'll draw as much as he can from his squad this year. I'm thinking along the lines of .500 - simply because of the QB situation. Alex Smith was a fiasco - he probably has one more year to try to seem like a #1 pick - and as for Shaun Hill, whom I believe in as a Trent Dilfer-type manager and not a game winner - well, who does he have to throw to? The venerable Isaac Bruce? Josh Morgan and Jason Hill? Who? They drafted Crabtree in an effort to step up the passing game (kind of how Vernon Davis was supposed to be Alex Smith's safety blanket) - and one isn't around and the other, I hope, has finally matured. When you have Frank Gore (and I should mention I've been thoroughly impressed by the preseason antics of Glen Coffee) - you need only a little from your passing attack. I believe in Shaun Hill. Vernon, step it up. As for the defense, the overpaid Justin Smith has made nary a difference so far. The stars are Patrick Willis and Manny Lawson, sideline to sideline linebackers who have kept this defense competitive (ranked 13th last year). They are the cogs to the entire unit - and a no-name secondary headed by the also overpaid Nate Clements (I've seen him get burned and outplayed WAY too oftenly to justify his contract) and Michael Lewis might not be able to hold up to the divisions' passing attacks - at least those of 'Zona and the Seahawks. They need playmakers on offense. Doesn't it seem every year is a rebuilding year? Through the mess of Dennis Erickson, Mike Nolan - why did they fire Steve Mariucci after he made the playoffs with them in '01-'02? Mike Nolan and his nice suits couldn't save the Niners. We'll see if Mike can.
- Player to Watch: Vernon Davis. Another athletically gifted player who needs to develop the maturity and determination to succeed. The team needs him to become an Antonio Gates.
- Team MVP: Is there any doubt? Frank Gore. To put up the numbers he has with barely a passing game and a no-name line speaks to his talent.
- Player I miss the most: Jeff Garcia. It seems like only yesterday he was scrambling out of the pocket, throwing to the petulant T.O. and my favorite named-receivers of all time: JJ Stokes and Tai Streets. The Niners now have a backup RB named Kory Sheets. Maybe they should make a rap group.
Player on the decline: Nate Clements. Boy are those Buffalo years a distant memory. Being beaten by the 3rd string receiver on a preseason game burns. Literally. His attack and speed dropped by half. BRN! (bonus points if you get the reference)
- Seattle Seahawks: (4-12 in '08, my prediction of 3rd, barely sub-.500 record)
- It'll be an interesting season without the venerable Mike Holmgren and his enormous mustache on the sideline. I had grown fond of his Santa Claus looks and ability to seemingly take the Seahawks to the playoffs every year regardless. Then last year, Matt Hasselbeck suffered that back injury, the receiver-plague struck, and not even a solid defense could help the stagnant offense. But now, Matt is back, and has a solid core of pass-catchers, provided they can stay healthy. TJ 'I'm-boycotting-madden' Whosyomommeh joins up with Deion Branch and Nate Burleson to provide a triumvirate of sure-handed pass catchers (anybody remember dropsies-plagued Darrell Jackson and Koren Robinson?) and who I feel should be an important weapon in their offense this year, TE John Carlson. Their leading receiver from a year ago, he offers a big target in the middle of the field, the target Jerramy Stevens was supposed to be but never was. If the line can keep Matt and his back happy, they should be able to resume their pass-oriented attack that kept them in the playoffs for so many years. However, I'm a little more concerned about the Julius Jones/Edgerrin James running game. Discards from their previous franchises, I never saw anything out of Jones while he was a Cowboy to merit him being a #1 runner. And the Edge has lost his edge. Wasn't happy with his role in Arizona last year, but now he has been humbled and will gladly accept a similar role in Seattle, if only to try to stick it to Arizona twice a year. The defense still has weaknesses on the line and in the secondary (to bring back Ken Lucas, even - with Marcus Trufant out til Nov) - but the linebackers are an exceptionally solid group that should keep this team in games - able to stop the run, but not the pass. Aaron Curry was a splendid addition to Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill, but they can't cover receivers. And I'm unsure of the front seven will be able to apply any significant pressure to cover up for a lackluster secondary.
- Player to Watch: John Carlson. Expect big numbers from him. More than 60 balls.
- Team MVP: Matt Hasselbeck. The offense revolves around him. Shaun who?
- Player I Miss: Ricky Watters. Shaun's predecessor. And Chad Brown too. Wait, weren't these both retreads from other teams, too?
- Player on the Decline: Patrick Kerney. Oh wait, they released him. Julian Peterson. Oh wait, they released him. What's with all these retreads?! Walter Jones. His best years are behind him. Now he's turning into Orlando Pace, an oft-injured former superstar at LT. They got close to winning it all with him, but now his time is running out.
- St. Louis Rams (2-14 in '08, last place finish, .250 or less)
- Does anybody miss the Greatest Show on Turf? Heck, does anybody miss Marc Bulger's heyday? Wasn't that just a few years ago? Crazy ol' Mike Martz' is long gone - and so is Scott Linehan. So is Warner. And Holt. And Bruce. And Faulk. Even Az-Zahir Hakim. And Ricky Proehl. So what's left? An oftenly injured Marc Bulger who can't stay upright due to his turnstile-like line (one can only hope Jason Smith and Alex Barron can become good bookends) - Donnie Avery, a speedster receiver - the powerful Steven Jackson, their most important weapon - and that's it. Can you name any of their receivers? I barely can. Where is the talent? Looking over their drafts, its tragic. Tye Hill, gone. Jimmy Kennedy, gone. Robert Thomas? Gone. The D-line, on paper, looks solid, with Leonard Little, Chris Long, and Adam Carriker (albeit his injury issue). But Little won't be around forever, and although Long and Carriker have shown flashes, they need to live up to their first-round billing soon. I believe they can under Spagnuolo. James Laurinaitis was an excellent draft choice, who should start at MLB for them for many years. He has the pedigree and awareness to make plays from Day 1. Will Witherspoon still has speed and a few good years left in him. In the secondary, only OJ Atogwe (who, you say?) is a proven playmaker. They will struggle with the passing attacks of the division. But this is another rebuilding year. Steven Jackson can't carry the team forever, lest he become this generations' Earl Campbell. But the talent on the o-line, receiving corps, and secondary clearly isn't there, and they need to start planning on a QB for the future. They've been getting lucky with Trent Green, then Warner, then Bulger - but soon they might need a young lad of their own. But I believe it's safe to say that those 400-500 point seasons of a few years ago are all but memories.
- Player to Watch: Chris Long. Ready for the big-time. Their defensive minded coach will bring out all his talent and skill.
- Team MVP: Is it even close? Steven Jackson. Without him, there is no offense on this team.
- Player I Miss: Aeneas Williams. The venerable CB from years past I will always remember during their playoff and SB runs of the late 90s and early 00s. And they could sure use him now!
- Player on the Decline: I would say Orlando Pace, but now he's an overpaid Bear. They have few veterans to pick from, so I'll pick Marc Bulger - who just seems so fragile on the field. Another injury this year might be the last of his career. I'll never forget the image of him getting hurt making a tackle on a corner during an interception return some years ago. And they said Chad P had no toughness.
Well, that'll about wrap it up for tonight - AFC South tomorrow. Need to resume this studio work too...and I am out of clips that feature my favorite friend Charles, so I'll part with another C&H strip, which reminds me of the ever-so-many stupid females I know with nary a brain cell:
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