NFC playoffs predictions /Mark Schlereth

[Clayton]

I think the Seahawks have a lot of little advantages over the rest of the NFC West and I think it starts to add up after while. I do think they are the clear favorite but that doesn't mean that 1 or 2 Wild Cards can't come from the West. An example of an advantage is that they usually play @STL in an early game but they get them in prime time this year. I also think Seattle is notably better on offense and defense this year while San Fran generally moved sideways.

STL has a ton of unknown variables and they would all have to 'hit' in order for them to contend. Their offense should look completely different and that is likely a good thing but Bradford hasn't had to be any more than a game manager until this year and he'll need to step up and get the ball to Givens, Austin, Cook, etc. STL's 2 terrible stats last year were leading the league in penalties and being the worst in the league in field position differential. Obviously the 2 are connected to a certain degree and they can be fixed relatively easily but its hard to imagine them going through the division with just 1 loss again. Its also hard to imagine them not going better outside of the division.

Every team in the division is going to bring the defense. The Cardinals have a sneaky outside chance of being relevant just due to the fact that Larry Fitzgerald is still really good and Palmer is still...ok. Probably on par with what someone should except out of Bradford.

The Niners have been collecting running backs but I think they are all downgrades compared to Gore. If Gore can still play at a high level, they are going to be a good offense. Likewise, the Rams running game might potentially take a hit but Jackson hasn't really been a star back for a couple of years, imo. I think there is a small chance that the Niners defense won't be dominant next year due to transition but even at that point, it will still be above average.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

I actually really don't like the Titans. They bolstered their Guard position and signed Bernard Pollard but that doesn't fix a lot of issues.

-Jake Locker has never been accurate. Issue #1
-WR/TE corps is nothing special give/take Justin Hunter as a wild card addition
-Their defense is bad against the run
-They lack a shutdown CB and teams can regularly throw to their #1 WR against the Titans

So basically, what the Titans want to do on offense is very erratic and their opponents will be able to do what they want on a consistent basis. This has led to the Titans being a very bad Time of Possession team that past couple of years and I don't think they did much to change that. They look like a 5-7 win team.

You make some good points.
Jake Locker has had accuracy issues. Many times because he's rushing passes and not using proper footwork. The additions Titans have made on the OL should help and more reps more coaching, more experience should help also. We'll see, I admit I have my doubts about him, but for now I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt. I think he should at least be a serviceable QB with some upside.

WR/TE Nothing special. Yet, is my answer to that. Kendall Wright is going to be a very good NFL receiver. For a rookie I thought he did pretty good in his first season. Britt wasn't fully recovered from injuries last year. He should be much better this year. Here what Roto World says about him.
Kenny Britt - Tennessee Titans - 2013 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com

Also Titans have a new receiver coach, Shawn Jefferson. I expect the receivers to be much better.

New DC Gregg Williams will help make the defense better IMO.

Frankly when you look at the Colts, I don't see a great team there.

We'll see how it works out.

 

[geneh_33]

It's not just about Wilson. We have lost no key players at any position. We have added to our pass rush(2nd biggest weakness from last season), we have solidified the nickel CB(biggest weakness from last season), added a true threat in Percy Harvin, added depth to our elite RB room. What has SF lost? Dashon Goldson, Delanie Walker, Michael Crabtree, 2/3 of their DL. Sure they added Boldin, but I don't see where they have come close to replacing what they have lost. I'm not trying to say Seattle has run away with it, but so far on paper, I can't see how anyone wouldn't think Seattle has passed SF.

I know it's not just about Wilson. I said that because I am a Russell Wilson fan from his NC State days. I am just surprised that so many Seahawks fans are willing to put so much faith in him at this point in his career.

 

[Screamin12th]

I see many talking about the running Of Keap/Wilson and RGIII. All i can say is out of those three the smartest runner is Wilson Followed by Keap then bringing up the rear is RGIII the very DISTANT rear. The guy has to understand that this is the NFL. You do not have 215-220 pound LBrs that can run you got 250 pound LBrs that can flat out run. You also got 280 pound DE and 310 pound DT that can run 4.8 40's. If you do not get down and expect to absorb hits like you did in College you are so very sadly mistaken.

If RGIII doesn't change his game he will not be around for long. He is not the most athletic QB in the league that honor goes to Michael Vick and look at his injury history. Vick still has not "matured" his game and even though he is chucked full of talent he very well might not be a starter this year or any year after. RGIII will be looking at the same situation if he doesn't evolve.

Keap needs to move more with out running as much. With his ability to move around he could by time in the pocket to allow himself to go to his 3rd read but right now its one and gun for him it seems. He needs to also mature as a passer. he has all the talent in the world but he needs to evolve himself into a QB that can be counted on in the clutch and i mean in passing not his legs. He had some clutch runs last season that awarded the 49ers a couple wins now he needs to mature his game to read a defense better and get off his first read. Not Having Crabtree and Manningham very well could retard Keaps growth this season.

Wilson, not much you can say about him other than he was a little slow on his reads. He did go through his progression like a vet but he also held the ball longer than any QB in the NFL last season as stated by Sando. With another season and a FULL offseason as the starter Wilson should improve his timing and we should see him getting the ball out much sooner. His running style throws no red flags unlike RGIII's and somewhat Keaps styles so no correction needed there.

 

[nk12thman]

I know it's not just about Wilson. I said that because I am a Russell Wilson fan from his NC State days. I am just surprised that so many Seahawks fans are willing to put so much faith in him at this point in his career.

It's really hard not to with Wilson. He has really only taken about 2 weeks off since being drafted. He's at the VMAC at 6AM, and leaves around 7PM. Listening to the local radio guys(Brock Huard, Hugh Millen, John Clayton) talk about the miles ahead of where he was this time last year leaves little room for doubt. There will be no QB in the NFL better prepared for the season.

Only 2 rookie QB's in the history of the NFL had a QBR over 100. Only 2 rookie QB's threw 26 TD's. Wilson did both, and won a playoff game.

 

[JDM]

I see many talking about the running Of Keap/Wilson and RGIII. All i can say is out of those three the smartest runner is Wilson Followed by Keap then bringing up the rear is RGIII the very DISTANT rear. The guy has to understand that this is the NFL. You do not have 215-220 pound LBrs that can run you got 250 pound LBrs that can flat out run. You also got 280 pound DE and 310 pound DT that can run 4.8 40's. If you do not get down and expect to absorb hits like you did in College you are so very sadly mistaken.

If RGIII doesn't change his game he will not be around for long. He is not the most athletic QB in the league that honor goes to Michael Vick and look at his injury history. Vick still has not "matured" his game and even though he is chucked full of talent he very well might not be a starter this year or any year after. RGIII will be looking at the same situation if he doesn't evolve.

Keap needs to move more with out running as much. With his ability to move around he could by time in the pocket to allow himself to go to his 3rd read but right now its one and gun for him it seems. He needs to also mature as a passer. he has all the talent in the world but he needs to evolve himself into a QB that can be counted on in the clutch and i mean in passing not his legs. He had some clutch runs last season that awarded the 49ers a couple wins now he needs to mature his game to read a defense better and get off his first read. Not Having Crabtree and Manningham very well could retard Keaps growth this season.

Wilson, not much you can say about him other than he was a little slow on his reads. He did go through his progression like a vet but he also held the ball longer than any QB in the NFL last season as stated by Sando. With another season and a FULL offseason as the starter Wilson should improve his timing and we should see him getting the ball out much sooner. His running style throws no red flags unlike RGIII's and somewhat Keaps styles so no correction needed there.

RG3 is much, much better as a passer than Vick. Vick had to make plays with his legs; RG3 would be capable of developing into an elite passer if he ran a 6.0. I believe the following assessment is really accurate, and better coaching should fix this issue:

On the flip side RGIII needs to run a lot smarter and he doesn't have the size like a Newton or Kaepernick to take the beating that he incurs running the way he does.

If you watch Kaepernick and even Wilson they are both very smart runners. They have good awareness and they know when to give up on a play before taking a big hit. Watching Kaepernick you'll see despite the amount of times he runs he rarely takes a big shot and in general doesn't take much of a beating since he's slides well in advance before getting hit or he gets himself out of bounds.

RGIII needs to realize it's not college anymore and defenders are bigger, stronger, and faster so you can't just completely torch them and when they hit they are going to lay the wood on you. And after you run enough for that first down don't get greedy and look to get out of bounds or slide.

 

[nk12thman]

This is the Seahawks board right? I'm not used to all this mutual respect. Great stuff guys!

 

[JDM]

I personally am not a huge fan of Wilson and think some people acting like he's the second coming of Jesus need to settle the fuck down, but I think he is a good, hard worker and someone you should be happy with, especially in the third round. I just don't think he has the physical tools to break into the elite tier.

He's definitely an intelligent player, though. RG3 is too; he just needs to focus on how to avoid hits at the NFL level. Shanahan lost a lot of my respect for every aspect of how he handled RG3 last year.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

I personally am not a huge fan of Wilson and think some people acting like he's the second coming of Jesus need to settle the fuck down, but I think he is a good, hard worker and someone you should be happy with, especially in the third round. I just don't think he has the physical tools to break into the elite tier.

He's definitely an intelligent player, though. RG3 is too; he just needs to focus on how to avoid hits at the NFL level. Shanahan lost a lot of my respect for every aspect of how he handled RG3 last year.

Yup your opinion of Russell Wilson has been noted and addressed. Let the 2013 play out to see who has the last chuckle.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

This is the Seahawks board right? I'm not used to all this mutual respect. Great stuff guys!

Kinda Cool isn't it? A board for real sports fans.

 

[blstoker]

I personally am not a huge fan of Wilson and think some people acting like he's the second coming of Jesus need to settle the **** down, but I think he is a good, hard worker and someone you should be happy with, especially in the third round. I just don't think he has the physical tools to break into the elite tier.

He's definitely an intelligent player, though. RG3 is too; he just needs to focus on how to avoid hits at the NFL level. Shanahan lost a lot of my respect for every aspect of how he handled RG3 last year.

Please keep the language clean.

 

[Clayton]

You make some good points.
Jake Locker has had accuracy issues. Many times because he's rushing passes and not using proper footwork. The additions Titans have made on the OL should help and more reps more coaching, more experience should help also. We'll see, I admit I have my doubts about him, but for now I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt. I think he should at least be a serviceable QB with some upside.

WR/TE Nothing special. Yet, is my answer to that. Kendall Wright is going to be a very good NFL receiver. For a rookie I thought he did pretty good in his first season. Britt wasn't fully recovered from injuries last year. He should be much better this year. Here what Roto World says about him.
Kenny Britt - Tennessee Titans - 2013 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com

Also Titans have a new receiver coach, Shawn Jefferson. I expect the receivers to be much better.

New DC Gregg Williams will help make the defense better IMO.

Frankly when you look at the Colts, I don't see a great team there.

We'll see how it works out.

Gregg Williams is a DC that you want on a team that gets the lead so he can get after the QB. I do think there is some potential in the Titans offense being really good but its just like a lot of other teams like Jaguars, Cardinals and Rams. You have to see it to actually see it in motion first to believe that it can happen.

The Colts were one of the worst playoff teams in the history of sports so the door is wide open in that division. If the Arizona Cardinals were in the AFC South or West, one would think that they would be favored to finish 2nd.

 

[geneh_33]

This is the Seahawks board right? I'm not used to all this mutual respect. Great stuff guys!

The Seahawks do have a very good team. I don't think any sane person that knows anything about football would say otherwise.

 

[geneh_33]

Please keep the language clean.

Man, if most of the guys on here see you post that they will curse up a storm just to show you they can and will.

 

[JDM]

Please keep the language clean.

That might be the most mild post I've made since coming here lol.

 

[nk12thman]

The Seahawks do have a very good team. I don't think any sane person that knows anything about football would say otherwise.

My comment was more directed at being used to other teams fans trolling. Most message boards don't have a true dialog.

 

[geneh_33]

My comment was more directed at being used to other teams fans trolling. Most message boards don't have a true dialog.

I gotcha.

Occasionally, this one will have a true dialogue.

 

[jerseyhawksfan79]

I personally am not a huge fan of Wilson and think some people acting like he's the second coming of Jesus need to settle the fuck down, but I think he is a good, hard worker and someone you should be happy with, especially in the third round. I just don't think he has the physical tools to break into the elite tier.

He's definitely an intelligent player, though. RG3 is too; he just needs to focus on how to avoid hits at the NFL level. Shanahan lost a lot of my respect for every aspect of how he handled RG3 last year.

I don't think anybody is saying Wilson's the second coming of Jesus since he still has a lot to prove, but you can't blame people being gitty that we have young explosive franchise QB. No one thought Tom Brady had a chance to be much, and look how he turned out for you guys.

 

[JDM]

I have seen people on here state that Wilson was elite last year and will be the second best QB in the NFL this year. Most of you are reasonable and like I said, you should be happy.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

Gregg Williams is a DC that you want on a team that gets the lead so he can get after the QB. I do think there is some potential in the Titans offense being really good but its just like a lot of other teams like Jaguars, Cardinals and Rams. You have to see it to actually see it in motion first to believe that it can happen.

The Colts were one of the worst playoff teams in the history of sports so the door is wide open in that division. If the Arizona Cardinals were in the AFC South or West, one would think that they would be favored to finish 2nd.

I wanted to make a pick that was a little out of the box. Ever year there is a surprise team, this is my surprise team pick.

One more note about there WR/ TE how do they compare to say the Pats?