Seattle Seahawks: How Pete Carroll Succeeds in Seattle

In one day, I’ve gone from excited and optimistic, to extremely disappointed, and back to optimistic.

I was excited when Jim Mora was relieved of his duties as head coach, as many you know of my criticism of his coaching abilities. Then, when I heard of his “all over but the crime” replacement, Pete Carroll, I was disappointed.

I knew of his past coaching stints with the Jets and Patriots among others, and I wasn’t pleased. I also thought about his style, and how it would work outside the college game. I mean, his spirit and attitude are one of USC college attendee; he’s a 21-year-old in a 58-year-old’s body.

I hit rock bottom when I heard this quote on SportsCenter earlier this afternoon: “Quarterback that can take him to the SB right away in Hasselbeck.”

(Shudder) Let’s just disregard that and file it under the “ESPN is just assuming things because they have no idea what goes on in the Pacific Northwest” file.

Since then, I’ve come around to this conclusion. I believe Pete Carroll can succeed IF he takes on just the head coach hat and a semi-Holmgren position where he orchestrates his big picture.

If he wants to be GM and head coach, he will fail, and he will bring the Seahawks down with him.

This is how I see it happening. Carroll comes in as the coach and Team President. He then hires a GM who is superb at evaluating talent, especially in the college game. I do not want our three top 40 picks becoming a USC lovefest.

This way of doing things has worked in the NFL recently, particularly with the Eagles organization. If it wasn’t for Andy Reid’s inability to win the big game (or any game) he’s supposed to win, especially in the playoffs, Philadelphia would have multiple Super Bowl rings.

Because Reid is only relaying his big picture to his GM, not getting his hands dirty as far as management, he’s able to stay sane enough to be able to be an effective and successful coach.

Bill Belichick does the same thing, as did Holmgren in our glory days.

Also, unlike his previous stints, Carroll will get the respect of an NFL Head Coach. Because of his monster success at USC, he can act as young and foolish as he wants, and still command respect from his players.

People now know that he can get the job done. I highly doubt that he becomes Mora 2.0.

Another reason to like this move is Carroll’s 3-4 defense. This is a great move seeing how our strength is in our linebackers, not our D-Line.

This defense will work if we can obtain a true two gap protector (Not Colin Cole, he’s a no gap protector, kind of like a blocking sled the opposing lineman use in practice). That opportunity will come up in the draft in Dan Williams, nose tackle out of Tennessee.

Williams is an absolute head stomper on the field, while being humble enough off it to give his all for an atrocious football team. He and Mebane are two damn good top gap protectors who’ll free our linebackers to penetrate and collect sacks and TFL’s.

That’s the other thing about this move. If Carroll, Todd Leiweke, and the new GM play their cards right, they’ll might be able to convince top free agents to buy into the fact that this club is turning the corner. Getting Carroll over some no-name former offensive assistant somewhere can do that for you.

If this move pans out, Seattle may be able to capture a weak division crown as early as next year.

Just please, Pete, realize Hasselbeck is done and is not our QB of the future.

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It May Be Wrong, But It Feels So Right: Firing Jim Mora

After wasting three hours of my life watching Seahawk-Buc “football”, and throwing up a little bit in my mouth along the way, I was infuriated. However, I wanted to take a couple days to see if I could cool off. I haven’t, and I still come to the same conclusion.

Jim Mora Jr., must be politely shown the door at the end of this season.

After struggling with this issue over the last few months, I’ve this reached the conclusion for many reasons. I’ll start with his press conferences.

I don’t have that much of a problem with him calling out his players, but addressing the media is not the way to do it. Those kinds of things must happen one-on-one and the outside world must not know about it. You have to create an “us against the world” mentality with your team. That hasn’t happened.

Jim Mora is that kid on the playground who goes and talks behind his friends’ back, rather than facing his friend and working it out without anyone knowing about it.

In other words, he’s campaigning for his job, not fixing the toxic environment that is his clubhouse.

Secondly, his players have ZERO respect for him. After Mora called his team out, they come out, flat as ever, and were completely whipped against a 1-12 team coming in.

This happened against Arizona, Detroit, and St. Louis ALL AT HOME. While they came out as victors against Detroit and St. Louis, they really should have lost. If it weren’t for Marc Bulger’s incompetence and Mathew Stafford going pick-happy, the ‘Hawks would have lost those as well.

And if you, as a head coach cannot get your team ready to play division rival Arizona, with a division on the line, you have no place in this league as a head coach.

Also, for a defensive minded head coach, how can you just look on while your D-Coordinator rushes three and drops eight in zone coverage again, and again, and again while JOSH FREEMAN and the vaunted Bucs O tears you up.

I’m sorry, sometimes he’d throw in some predictable five or six man blitzes, my bad.

Ugh, writing this has really clogged my brain. I’m so mad, I can’t think of my reasons anymore, so I’ll end with this…

Mora is an incompetent leader. He doesn’t understand how to run a successful football organization. He instills absolutely no confidence or tenacity or dare I say “dirtbagery” in any of his players. Jim Lawrence Mora Jr. is a terrible, absolutely clueless head coach. While it doesn’t feel right to fire someone after their first year, there are special cases, and this is one of them.

The Seahawks need to find someone with a plan to be the team’s GM, and then give him the power to hire his own head coach (and surround him with a team of Ivy Leaguers who’ll crunch advanced stats and superior talent evaluator’s to boot, the same stuff I’ve been preaching for awhile now).

If you have anything to say on Mora’s behalf, please leave it in the comment boxes. I look forward to seeing what someone can come up with to defend Jim.

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Darnell Dockett Has Something To Teach Us

Over the last couple of days, I’ve heard a lot of whining from Seahawks fans over Darnell Dockett pressing a forearm to Matt Hasselbeck’s throat.

Honestly, it has been blown way out of proportion.

I’m not saying it was the right thing to do, even in a rivalry game. However, when trying to recover a lost fumble, there are a lot worse things that happen at the bottom of that pile, even in a Browns/Bucs type of game.

Remember in the preseason, when TJ Houshmandzadeh was supposedly bringing a “no man left behind” attitude to the Seahawks? Well where was it there? The offensive line can’t let Dockett get there in the first place; and most certainly shouldn’t let anyone (let alone a cocky Cardinal defensive lineman) give any kind of harm to your QB without immediately getting flopped back on the ground.

This kind of softness needs to die along with the Holmgren era. Under Mike Holmgren, the team was built to not get stupid penalties, to throw the rock around and move the chains. You were there to do a job, not to get chippy.

It needs to end. Like it or not, under Knapp we are headed towards being a four yards at a time running team that doesn’t take crap from anyone. This sort of east coast idea of football has been brought to the division with Whisenhunt, Singletary and Spagnuolo. It needs to happen in Seattle if we are to remain competitive in the division.

I pray Ruskell realizes this and backs off his only welcoming of the good guys in the NFL to Seattle. This season is a lost cause. This offseason, a change is in order.

It’s time Seattle, put down your coffee and throw out your Fruit Loops. Tomorrow’s breakfast is a heaping bowl of rusty nails and a can of Coors.

 

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Seattle Seahawks-Chicago Bears: The Tough Part Continues

“It’s extremely unlikely Matt will play,” said Jim Mora.

Am I alone in asking, “is this really that bad?”

The Bears’ defense is one of the most aggressive in the league. Seneca is way more mobile than Hasselbeck. If Seneca makes the correct reads about when to run and when to pass, he could easily tire out this Bears defense.

Expect to see Knapp use this. I expect to see a lot of creativeness in this game. I believe Seneca will have a day tomorrow, I really do.

Let me put this way. He has to, because even at Quest, the Bears are the better team.

 

My Keys to the Game

1. Our Front Seven vs. Their Front Seven

In other words, dominate the trenches. Matt Forte cannot have a big day. The Bears have to be one-dimensional for us to win. I’d like to see Cutler in a lot of 3rd-and-9s with thousands of Hawk fans on their feet.

 

2. Olindo Mare’s Leg

This goes for Jon Ryan as well. If the Bears consistently have to start at their 20 or even farther back, it’ll be difficult to score with a loud Quest Field. Also, I can see a lot of our drives ending at the Chicago 20 or 30-yard lines. Mare has to be money splitting the uprights tomorrow.

 

3. Hit them first/ Dominate the play clock

Chicago will come in here still high off that victory against Pittsburgh. Whether we start on offense or defense, the Hawks need to deliver the first blow. After that, we need to use Seneca legs to dominate the play clock and not give Cutler the chance to make a last-second comeback.

 

Matchup to Watch: Jay Cutler vs. 12th Man

I don’t believe Jay has ever played in Seattle. I’m very interested how someone like him can handle the noise and confusion that goes on here.

Another one to watch is Seneca vs. a depleted linebacking core. Brian Urlacher and Pisa Tonoisama are out, and defensive lineman Alex Brown is questionable. John Carlson is looking like he might have a big game.

 

Prediction: Seahawks 17, Bears 16

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Minnesota Vikings, Fans, and Brett Favre up for a Rude Awakening

Going into the season, I was liking the Vikings more and more in the NFC North.

The Packers lack identity, Jay Cutler is just beginning to tear apart the Bears, and are the Lions even playing this year?

Then, on Aug. 18 2009, which will soon be day of infamy in Minnesota, the Vikings went and signed Brett Favre. Not only that, but the contract was worth $10-12 million.

This is bad on so many levels, but I’ll start with the good.

Favre will put butts in the seats, as well as score fat TV contracts. Big money will be coming Minnesota’s way.

Another good thing about the signing is it brings a dimension to the Vikings’ offense that has been missing for a while: Arm Strength. Tavaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels were not going to give that in any form of the word or act. Favre can still wing it, and he now has an All-Pro at running back to back him up.

The last good thing to come out of this is that Brett supposedly knows the playbook. This remains to be seen, but if true, it can make for a relatively seamless transition.

And now we move to the bad.

For starters, Childress has pulled an act almost as bad as McDaniels in Denver. Childress has alienated, lied, and gone behind the backs of his team, fanbase, and especially quarterbacks Jackson and Rosenfels.

One of you will be our guy. Or not.

Yes, you will get ready. Nope, forget it, Favre’s coming back.

Changed my mind, make war with each other. Oops, Brett changed his mind, so I don’t care what you do with each other.

Or maybe not. Or maybe so. Possibly. Maybe. Could be.

Childress will be fired at the end of the season, in main part because of his part in this Soap Opera.

Favre has lost the ability to develop chemistry with anyone. Rosenfels has spent the last four or five months developing chemistry and trust amongst him and his receivers.

Now that Favre has swooped in and wants to be the man, that time isn’t just moot, it will in fact hurt the team. Favre is not the same quarterback in any way as Rosenfels, and it will take more time to develop something between him and those receivers.

Add to that is that outside of Bernard Berrian, the group is pretty lackluster. Receivers like Donald Driver who can bail Brett out of mistakes are not under contract for the Vikings.

Probably the biggest reason I don’t like this move is that Favre doesn’t fit in at all. For the Vikings to win, they will need control the clock and keep the ball out of the opposing offense’s hands as much as possible.

Favre, particularly at this point in his career, is exceedingly careless with the football. And don’t think he’ll just watch Adrian Peterson do his thing like the Vikings need to do to win.

No, you see, the diva Favre gets media attention when he wings it, so by God he will wing it. Double coverage? Triple coverage? Quadruple coverage? It doesn’t matter.

The Vikings need a game -ontrol quarterback who will neither win nor lose games by himself. Anyone who says that is remotely Favre-like, get off your meth.

For the sake of my sanity, this will be my last point I make public. Favre is getting old. It was painfully obvious last year, and this year he’ll be a year older. In the last five games of 2008, he lost to the Broncos, 49ers, Bills, and Seahawks.

To put it lightly, those defenses sucked.

Also addressing the age thing, he’ll 40 this October, and he has become more and more injury prone. How many hits can his body take? Twice a year he’ll face Aaron Kampman. Also add in the Steelers and Ravens defenses, and Mike Singletary’s and Steve Spagnuolo’s new “no mercy” mentalities.

Signing Favre was a bad, bad move by the Vikings. I’ll be willing to bet he throws more interceptions than touchdowns this season. And to think, Minnesota payed $10-12 million.

I’m not even a fan, and it makes me sick.

Cardinals, Seahawks, 49ers, Rams: The Ultimate NFC West Division Preview

Here is my take on each team in the NFC West coming into the 2009 season.

 

Arizona Cardinals

 

Short 2008 Recap

During the regular season, the Arizona Cardinals thrived on being in the NFC West.  Against divisional opponents, the Cardinals were 6-0, but followed that up with a 3-7 mark against the rest of the league.  Two of those wins were against Oakland and Kansas City, and the last was against Miami in Phoenix.

Come postseason time, however, the Cardinals put their losing history behind them, and won not one, not two, but three consecutive playoff games.  Prior to last season, they had only won two playoff games as a franchise.

It was a magical run no doubt, but one that cannot be relied on as a preview to 2009, as the Cards fell to a superior Steelers team in the Super Bowl.

In the offseason, the Cards lost offensive coordinator Todd Haley, and Anquan Boldin has been frustrated due to contractual issues.

 

Offseason Acquisitions

CB Bryant McFadden, RB Jason Wright, S Keith Lewis, TE Anthony Becht, FB Dan Kreider

 

Offseason Losses

RB Edgerrin James, DE Antonio Smith, CB Roderick Hood, RB JJ Arrington,  FB Terrelle Smith, CB Eric Green, LB Monty Beisel

 

2009 NFL Draft

In the draft, the Cardinals headlined with the picks of Chris “Beanie” Wells, Cody Brown and Rashad Johnson.  Wells and Johnson will most likely make the most immediate impacts.  Wells signed a five-year contract earlier this morning.

 

2009 Schedule:

Sun 9/13	San Francisco
Sun 9/20	at Jacksonville
Sun 9/27	Indianapolis
	bye
Sun 10/11	Houston
Sun 10/18	at Seattle
Sun 10/25	at NY Giants
Sun 11/1	Carolina
Sun 11/8	at Chicago
Sun 11/15	Seattle
Sun 11/22	at St. Louis
Sun 11/29	at Tennessee
Sun 12/6	Minnesota
Mon 12/14	at San Francisco
Sun 12/20	at Detroit
Sun 12/27	St. Louis
Sun 1/3	Green Bay

 

What we know

The Cardinals will pass the ball all over.  They will prefer high scoring, up-tempo games. Fitzgerald, Boldin, and Breaston will contribute to a significant portion of their scoring.  The offensive line is suspect, and is saved only by Kurt Warner’s intuition and quick release. 

 

What we don’t know

How much will Kurt Warner regress?  The amount could very well be the difference between division title and missing the playoffs entirely.

Also, will we see the defense of last year’s postseason or regular season?

 

2009 Outlook

Going into the season, most of the nation will expect the Cardinals to repeat as division champs.  However, it will not be nearly as easy as it was in 2008.

The Seahawks and 49ers both have new looks, at the moment are healthy, and are looking for revenge for last year’s losses.  Also, the Cards schedule is a lot tougher than last year, and getting back to 9-7 may be a struggle, assuming they sweep the division again.

Warner is the key to repeating as division champions.  If he regresses or goes down, he takes the offense (and already below average defense) with him.

To add to these issues, it’s hard to pinpoint how much the loss of Todd Haley hurts the offense, as well as the giant target they now wear—the same one that ultimately took down the Seattle Seahawks last season after years of divisional dominance.

 

2009 Prediction: 8-8, 2nd NFC West

 

Seattle Seahawks

 

2008 Recap

Injuries—that’s all I’ve got to say.  Pretty much every starter at some point was out because of injuries, or was played while hurt.

That being said, it’s not like the ‘Hawks were robbed of a Super Bowl entry, or even a divisional crown.  All year long, they were pretty bad.  On defense, they finished close to last in every major category, and the offense wasn’t much better.

All in all, it was an awful year for the Seahawks and Seahawk fans.

 

Offseason Acquisitions

DE/DT Cory Redding, WR TJ Houshmandzadeh, DT Colin Cole, CB Ken Lucas, FB Dustin Kirtman, FB Owen Schmitt, FB Justin Griffith, TE John Owens

 

Offseason Losses

OLB Julian Peterson, WR Bobby Engram, FB Leonard Weaver, DT Rocky Bernard, G Floyd Womack, RB Maurice Morris, DT Howard Green, QB Charlie Frye, WR Koren Robinson

 

2009 NFL Draft

Seattle selected Aaron Curry fourth overall, traded their second round pick for Denver’s 2010 natural first rounder, traded up to get Max Unger, and again traded up to net Deon Butler in the 3rd round.  Curry is currently unsigned.

 

2009 Schedule:

 

Sun, 9/13	St. Louis
Sun, 9/20	at San Francisco
Sun, 9/27	Chicago
Sun, 10/4	at Indianapolis
Sun, 10/11	Jacksonville
Sun, 10/18	Arizona
	bye
Sun, 11/1	at Dallas
Sun, 11/8	Detroit
Sun, 11/15	at Arizona
Sun, 11/22	at Minnesota
Sun, 11/29	at St. Louis
Sun, 12/6	San Francisco
Sun, 1213	at Houston
Sun, 12/20	Tampa Bay
Sun, 12/27	at Green Bay
Sun, 1/3	Tennessee

 

 

What we know

 

The ‘Hawks were better than their 4-12 mark last year.  Seattle will run the ball more, and should run for greater effectiveness as well.  Their linebacking corps is arguably the best in the NFL. Their defense will improve with time.

 

 

What we don’t know

 

Pretty much everything else.  Will Matt Hasselbeck, Walter Jones, and everyone on defense come back from their injuries?  How will the offensive line be affected by the change in schemes?  The Seahawks have questions everywhere, from how Jim Mora and Greg Knapp will change the offense to who will be the starting kicker.

 

 

2009 Outlook

 

As stated before, Seattle will have a tough time going 4-12 again, as they are extremely talented across the board.  If the injury bug doesn’t bite like it did last year, you have to put these guys in serious contention for the divisional crown.

 

One guy to watch is Colin Cole, as he is the one who will make this defense go.  His massive size will attract double teams and free up the linebackers and defensive end Patrick Kerney to make big plays.  Also, Brandon Mebane is also set for a breakout year at DT.

 

Much like Arizona with Kurt Warner, Matt Hasselbeck is the key. If he is not fully healthy, all bets are off. He needs to win games in the end instead of throwing decisive picks.

 

There are a lot of questions that need answers, but it’s looking like it will come down to the Cardinals and Seahawks.  Mark October 18 and November 15 on your calendars.

 

 

2009 Prediction: 9-7, 1st NFC West

 

 

San Francisco 49ers

 

 

2008 Recap

 

The 49ers went into the 2008 season desperately looking to regain the identity of their winning teams of the 1980s and 1990s.  It didn’t look like they would find it after coming off a 5-11 season and starting JT O’Sullivan under center.

 

As forecasted, in their first seven games, the Niners were 2-5 and Nolan was fired.  O’Sullivan floundered in Mike Martz’s complex system, turning over the ball 22 times in half a season.

 

Enter Mike Singletary.

 

After a 34-13 embarrassment at the hands of the already-weakened Seahawks, Singletary’s squad found a sense of direction.  Driven by their new head coach, the Niners had a 5-3 record in the second half.  If it weren’t for Martz’s ineptness, they would have upset Arizona and Miami, and likely taken the division.

 

After the season, Singletary was promoted to head coach, removing his interim tag.  In 2008 with Singletary, the 49ers may have rediscovered the long-lost concept of winning.

 

 

Offseason Acquisitions

 

DE Demetric Evans, T Marvel Smith, FB Moran Norris, WR Brandon Jones, DE/OLB Marques Harris, CB Dre Bly, QB Damon Huard

 

 

Offseason Losses

 

WR Bryant Johnson, TE Billy Bejima, NT Ronald Fields, OT Damone Duckett, CB Donald Strickland, DE Tully Banta-Cain, QB JT O’Sullivan, S Keith Lewis, TE Sean Ryan, FB David Kirtman, CB Walt Harris (under team control, torn ACL, out for season)

 

 

2009 NFL Draft

 

When Michael Crabtree fell into the Niners’ laps at pick 10, they quickly snatched him up.  However, right now he is unsigned, likely holding out for a lucrative contract.  In the fifth round, they made an interesting selection in QB Nate Davis.  With his learning disability, it’ll be interesting to watch how he develops.  He may be their QB of the future.

 

 

2009 Schedule:

 

Sun 9/13	at Arizona
Sun 9/20	Seattle
Sun 9/27	at Minnesota
Sun 10/4	St. Louis
Sun 10/11	Atlanta
	bye
Sun 10/25	at Houston
Sun 11/1	at Indianapolis
Sun 11/8	Tennessee
Thu 11/12	Chicago
Sun 11/22	at Green Bay
Sun 11/29	Jacksonville
Sun 12/6	at Seattle
Mon 12/14	Arizona
Sun 12/20	at Philadelphia
Sun 12/27	Detroit
Sun 1/3	at St. Louis

 

What we know

 

Singletary is the real deal.  This team will play old school, smashmouth football.  On offense, they will run the ball down opponents’ throats, and on defense they are dedicated to stopping the run.  The team will play with more of a sense of urgency than in years past.  Like the Seahawks and ’08 Cardinals, the 49ers will surprise some teams.

 

 

What we don’t know

 

Will Alex Smith, the former No. 1 pick, beat out Shaun Hill for the starting QB job?  Can Frank Gore stay healthy?  How can they defend the pass with what seems like no depth at corner and little talent rushing the passer?

 

 

2009 Outlook

 

I love what Singletary is doing the Bay Area, and the 49ers will be prolific winners before the Raiders, that’s for sure.  I just don’t see it happening quite yet.

 

Shaun Hill can manage a game well enough for the Niners to stick to the winning plan, but Michael Crabtree probably won’t help much this year, as receivers tend to take two or three years to make big impacts.  Frank Gore must stay healthy, as he is the cornerstone of the offense.

 

On defense, I know they can stop the run, I’m just not sold on the pass attack yet.  Switching to the 3-4 will help the pass rush, but I still see this team as below average against the pass, making them easy pickings for Kurt Warner and Matt Hasselbeck if he remains healthy.

 

2009 will be the bridge to healthy year after year contention in 2010.  In the meantime, the Niners will pull their share of upsets, as this will be one of the most exciting teams to come out of the Bay Area since the Raiders of 5 or 6 years ago.

 

 

2009 Prediction: 6-10, 3rd NFC West

 

 

St. Louis Rams

 

 

2008 Recap

 

You know how the Seahawks were a disappointment last year?  Well, the Rams might have expected to lose, but not in this manner.

 

After holding out for a new contract, Steven Jackson promptly went down with the rest of the offense.  It’s hard to score when Marc Bulger, Orlando Pace, Steven Jackson and Torry Holt are all out or playing injured.

 

The Rams proved that with an abysmal 14.5 PPG, only besting the 0-16 Lions.

 

Head coach Scott Linehan was fired after starting 0-4.  Jim Haslett injected a little hope by upsetting Washington and Dallas his first 2 games.  He then went on to lose the last ten.

 

On the bright side, WR Donnie Avery grabbed 53 receptions for 674 yards with 3 TDs as a rookie.  Rookie DE Chris Long didn’t finish well, but did have an impressive four sacks in his first seven games.  Oshiomugho Atogwe also had a nice year, forcing 11 turnovers (5 INT, 6 fumbles).

 

 

Offseason Acquisitions

 

QB Kyle Boller, FB Mike Karney, TE Billy Bejima, C James Brown, S James Butler, DT Orien Harris, WR Laurent Robinson

 

 

Offseason Losses

 

WR Tory Holt, OT Orlando Pace, FB Dan Kreider, LB Pisa Tinoisamoa, TE Anthony Becht, C Nick Leckey, C Brett Romberg, OT Brandon Groin, QB Trent Green, WR Drew Bennett, S Corey Chavous

 

 

2009 NFL Draft

 

With the second overall pick, the Rams took their LT of the future, Jason Smith, although he’ll start at RT this year.  In the second round, they took potential playmaker James Laurinitis over Rey Maualuga, a head scratcher to some.

 

 

2009 Schedule:

 

Sun 9/13	at Seattle
Sun 9/20	at Washington
Sun 9/27	Green Bay
Sun 10/4	at San Francisco
Sun 10/11	Minnesota
Sun 10/18	at Jacksonville
Sun 10/25	Indianapolis
Sun 11/1	at Detroit
bye
Sun 11/15	New Orleans
Sun 11/22	Arizona
Sun 11/29	Seattle
Sun 12/6	at Chicago
Sun 12/13	at Tennessee
Sun 12/20	Houston
Sun 12/27	at Arizona
Sun 1/3	San Francisco

 

What we know

The Rams don’t seem to be a threat, although neither did the Dolphins last year.  The Rams defense will be better and will bring a multitude of blitzes, as Spagnuolo will call the plays on defense.  The Rams play in a weak division, so a complete turnaround is not impossible.

 

What we don’t know

As far as I can see, there aren’t many questions with this team—only holes.

 

2009 Prediction

Steve Spagnuolo, like Mike Singletary, is the real deal.  However, unlike Singletary, Spags will have a hard time winning the division in 2009, or 2010 for that matter.

That being said, Steven Jackson will be underrated by some defenses, who forget he can still take over a game.  Donnie Avery looks to add to his first year success, as does Chris Long.

With Long, Witherspoon, Atogwe, and Spagnuolo, defense will likely be the name of the game for years to come.  This year I don’t see a magnificent turnaround by this squad, but they won’t be the eyesore they were last year.

That duty shifts to the likes of the Chiefs, Broncos, Browns and Buccaneers.

 

2009 Prediction: 4-12, 4th NFC West

 

I look forward to an exciting year in this division.  Feel free to comment on what you think the division will look like this year or to chime in with any angles I might have missed.

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