NFC Offenses

[blstoker]

While at CBS I would look at each NFC West team each season. Due to the length of the post, I am breaking it up by position, and will post each on a separate comment.

 

[blstoker]

QB

Seattle Seahawks
Russell Wilson; Tarvaris Jackson; Brady Quinn

Wilson burst onto the scene last season out of nowhere, and even Seahawks fans were skeptical about him starting with Matt Flynn having just signed a large free agent contract. He had one of the best rookie seasons for a QB in the history of the NFL. Jackson is a guy who started for a year in Seattle the year before Wilson arrived, but I feel really could be a starter in the NFL, and a great pick up for Seattle as the back up to Wilson.

San Francisco 49ers
Colin Kaepernick; Colt McCoy; Scott Tolzien; B.J. Daniels

Kaepernick is another really young QB who made last season his coming out party. He is set up fairly well to make his second season as the 9ers starter just as successful as his first. Colt McCoy, IMO, should still be the starter in Cleveland, and should give the 9ers solid play if the need to call on him arrises. Tolzien and Daniels will battle for what I would assume would be the last QB spot.

St. Louis Rams
Sam Bradford; Kellen Clemens; Austin Davis; Tim Jenkins

Bradford is entering what may be a must produce season for him. He did have a much needed bounce back season last year, but he is gonna need to continue to improve as a QB if the Rams want to compete in a division that will be tough for any QB. Clemens has always been little more than a back up in the league, and though he can have a good performance from time to time, the Rams better hope that they don't need to call on him to start many games. Davis and Jenkins will likely battle for #3.

Arizona Cardinals
Carson Palmer; Ryan Lindley; Drew Stanton; Caleb TerBush

Palmer is clearly a major upgrade to what the Cardinals were fielding last season, but with the defenses he will face in the West he will need to cut down on his INTs if the Cardinals are going to compete. I am not sure if the Cardinals can survive if Palmer goes down, as Lindley and Stanton do not have much of a track record as starters, and what they do have is pretty bad.

Overview:

There will be those who think that because I ranked the Seahawks higher than the 9ers that it is just another homer pick for Wilson over Kaep. But really, I feel that those two may be so similar this coming season that it is more a comparison of the back up QBs than the starters. If the #1s were to go down for any extended amount of time, I feel that Jackson is the better choice than McCoy to start.

 

[blstoker]

RB

Seattle Seahawks
Marshawn Lynch; Robert Turbin; Christine Michael; Derrick Coleman
Michael Robinson; Spencer Ware

Lynch put together his best season of his career in 2012, logging career highs in attempts, yards and ypa. He's been a force to reckon with his “Quake Mode” against New Orleans in the 2010 playoffs. Robert Turbin was very successful as a rookie third down back, logging more than 500 yards from scrimmage. Christine Michael is expected to fill the void as the third RB that was left vacant with the release of Leon Washington, though it is expected he'll see more offensive action that Washington did.

San Francisco 49ers
Frank Gore; Kendall Hunter; LaMichael James; Jewel Hampton
Bruce Miller; Will Tukuafu

Gore has been a solid running back for 8 years for SF, and he's put up some good performances in that time. He's been nothing if not consistent, averaging between 73.5 and 80.0 yards per game each of the last 6 years. He did turn the dreaded 30 back in May, so if there is a concern about Gore, it would be that. Hunter showed to be more than capable as a change of pace before an injury sidelined him, fully healthy I can't see any reason he shouldn't pick up right where he left off in 2012. James showed his own abilities late in the season and in the playoffs, so the 9ers may be able to field their own 1-2-3 in the back field.

Arizona Cardinals
Rashard Mendenhall; Ryan Williams; Andre Ellington; Stepfan Taylor
Jim Dray

Mendenhall is hoping a return to his old coach from Pittsburgh will bring him some of the success he had early in his career. He will need to show he can be consistent running the ball again if the Cardinals are going to have a chance to keep Palmer healthy. Williams was unimpressive in 5 games last year, but the Cardinals were really bad everywhere, and so that may have been a team effort. Two rookies will look to complete the back field and provide some solid production.

St. Louis Rams
Daryl Richardson; Isaiah Pead; Zac Stacy; Terrance Ganaway
Eric Stevens

The departure of Steven Jackson leaves a huge void for the Rams in the backfield. Someone is going to have to step in a fill the shoes left behind. I am not sure that Richardson or Pead will be able to be that feature back.

Overview

This is another unit that the top two are very close together and could go either way. In this case, Lynch is currently better than Gore, so I went with that and gave the nod to Seattle. Unlike the QBs though, I feel there is a large drop off from the first two units to the next two, but this appears to be a case of which team will focus more on the run and which will most likely focus more on the pass.

 

[blstoker]

WR/TE

Seattle Seahawks
Percy Harvin; Sidney Rice; Golden Tate; Doug Baldwin; Chris Harper
Zach Miller; Luke Willson; Seth McGrath

Harvin is considered on of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL and will allow the Seahawks offense a chance to open up the playbook. Rice had his best season when he played with Harvin in Minnesota, and the threat of Harvin's playmaking ability has the potential to allow him to get open vertically, just like in Minnesota. Golden Tate made huge strides last season and proved he was no slouch when it came to making big plays. Baldwin has been a sure handed option for the Seahawk passing game the last two seasons, but he may see his targets go down with the addition of Harvin. Zach Miller will hopefully build on his late season emergence and give the Hawks the TE threat that he was brought in to be. Willson will need to step in a little sooner than expected with the season ending injury to Anthony McCoy.

Arizona Cardinals
Larry Fitzgerald; Michael Floyd; Andre Roberts; Jarett Dillard; Ryan Swope
Rob Housler; Jeff King; Kory Sperry

I still have great respect for Fitz, and don't want to hold the teams bad QB play against him, and was sorely tempted to put the Cards #1 here just because of him, as I have done in the past. I couldn't do it, but I believe with better QB play and a pass happy HC, he'll be having another spectacular season. It is also hard to evaluate how good the rest of the receivers were last year because of the QB play, but Roberts and Floyd could be very good targets for Palmer this season. Housler showed he was a good target for the embattled QBs last year, but I don't expect him to get as many targets this year, Palmer likes to throw to his WRs, and Housler seems to be more a short threat TE than a seem runner.

San Francisco 49ers
Anquan Boldin; Mario Manningham; A.J. Jenkins; Quinton Patton; Kyle Williams
Vernon Davis; Vance McDonald; Garrett Celek

The lose of Michael Crabtree (possibly for the season) is a huge blow to the team. The signing of Boldin will help offset that blow, but what was supposed to be one of the better 1-2 WR corps in the league is now a possible 1 looking desperately for someone to fill in at two. The man who may need to step up is Mario Manningham, who had an ok season last year, but definitely didn't live up to expectations. The 9ers would love Manningham to live up to his 2010 level. Jenkins and Patton are also expected to step up and play a role in the offense, may be even leap frog over Manningham as the starter. Vernon Davis is still one of the best TEs in the league, and there have even been reports that the team may even use him at WR. The lose of Delanie Walker may prove to be very big indeed.

St Louis Rams
Tavon Austin; Chris Givens; Brian Quick; Austin Pettis; Stedman Bailey
Jared Cook; Lance Kendricks; Mike McNeill

The Rams have had issues at WR for years, and the hope is that Austin will be an explosive playmaker that will help bring the unit our of the cellar. Givens is a very solid guy, but I'm not sure it says a lot about your receivers when he's your second best weapon. Cook will come in and give the Rams a good target at TE, and I expect him to have his best season. Add in Kendricks, and the Rams have the personel to run or throw out of a variety of 2 TE sets.

Overview
The Michael Crabtree injury is so important that had he not gotten hurt, I would have ranked the 9ers #1 on this list. As it is, the 9ers just have too many question marks at the position to rank them higher than they are. Many believe that the Seahawks have one of the best WR corps in the league, which will only make them more dangerous with their run first offense when they do pass.

 

[blstoker]

OL

San Francisco 49ers
Joe Staley; Mike Iupati; Jonathan Goodwin; Alex Boone; Anthony Davis
Kenny Wiggins; Joe Looney; Daniel Kilgore; Adam Snyder; Al Netter

This unit may be the best in the NFL, let alone the NFC West. Davis is the only starter to not have a Pro Bowl or an All Pro team selection. I love Mike Iupati, he was a guy I really wanted the Seahawks to draft, and was mortified that he went to SF, IMO the best pick that Harbaugh has made since getting to SF.

Seattle Seahawks
Russell Okung; James Carpenter; Max Unger; Paul McQuistan; Breno Giacomini
Mike Person; John Moffitt; Lemuel Jeanpierre; J.R. Sweezy; Michael Bowie

Another unit with multiple Pro Bowlers and All Pros, the Seahawks line is built to run block, and still lets too many guys through on the pass. Wilson's lack of sacks had more to do with his escapability than the time that the line gave him. The entire line plays nasty, but none nastier than Giacomini, if he can cut down on after the whistle penalties, he could be one of the better RTs in the league.

St. Louis Rams
Jake Long; Shelley Smith; Scott Wells; Harvey Dahl; Rodger Saffold
Ty Nsekhe; Barrett Jones; Tim Barnes; Chris Williams; Joe Barksdale

The Rams needed an upgrade at LT, and they went out and got one in Long. He came into the league and immediately played at a high level, but for whatever reason hasn't been quite as good the last two years. If he can return to his 2010 form, the Rams will have solidified their line, and Bradford may have the best protection of his young career.

Arizona Cardinals
Levi Brown; Jonthan Cooper; Lyle Sandlein; Daryn Colledge; Bobby Massie
Nate Potter; Earl Watford; Scott Wedige; Chilo Rachal; Pail Fanaika

This is the one reason I don't think that Palmer has a hugely successful season. The Cardinals will have some health back on the line, and hope to not repeat their 58 sack performance from last season.

Overview

As the lines go, so will the offenses. If doesn't matter how good a skill player is if the line doesn't do their job. This is the most important unit on the offense, and to be honest, the one I have the hardest time evaluating.

 

[blstoker]

Defenses and Special Teams to come soon.

 

[Kingdome fan]

I agree about RW's escapeability, except that I call it the ability to scramble. Remind you of Fran Tarkenton too?

 

[HaroldSeattle]

I agree about RW's escapeability, except that I call it the ability to scramble. Remind you of Fran Tarkenton too?

Absolutely!

 

[blstoker]

I really expected more criticism over this than the use of the word escapability over scrambling I used escapability as my word because his scrambling ability is what extended plays, but it was his ability to make defenders miss wide open shots that kept the sack numbers down. It's kind've two sides to the same coin. And yes, I have seen and agree with the comparisons to Fran Tarkenton's ability to scramble.

 

[HawkSquatch]

Jim Zorn was quite the scrambler too. He didn't have the luxury of a pro bowl line, he had to be. I know, this was ages ago. Same era as Tarkenton.

 

[Stratman72]

The thing I really love about RW is the way he sets up guys to miss tackling him. He doesn't just run around like a chicken with his head cut off. He can make a stutter step and juke the defender out of his shoes. They will blow right by him.

The play that made me go Holy Crap(can't remember which team it was right now), was when he pump faked to get the defender in the air to try and deflect the ball and then ran right under him while he was in the air. It was a thing of beauty! The keystone cops play against the Niners was pretty awesome too!

 

[BloodType49]

San Francisco 49ers
Joe Staley; Mike Iupati; Jonathan Goodwin; Alex Boone; Anthony Davis
Kenny Wiggins; Joe Looney; Daniel Kilgore; Adam Snyder; Al Netter

This unit may be the best in the NFL, let alone the NFC West. Davis is the only starter to not have a Pro Bowl or an All Pro team selection. I love Mike Iupati, he was a guy I really wanted the Seahawks to draft, and was mortified that he went to SF, IMO the best pick that Harbaugh has made since getting to SF.

Harbs didnt pick Iupati that was a Singletary pick along with A. Davis

 

[blstoker]

San Francisco 49ers
Joe Staley; Mike Iupati; Jonathan Goodwin; Alex Boone; Anthony Davis
Kenny Wiggins; Joe Looney; Daniel Kilgore; Adam Snyder; Al Netter

This unit may be the best in the NFL, let alone the NFC West. Davis is the only starter to not have a Pro Bowl or an All Pro team selection. I love Mike Iupati, he was a guy I really wanted the Seahawks to draft, and was mortified that he went to SF, IMO the best pick that Harbaugh has made since getting to SF.

Harbs didnt pick Iupati that was a Singletary pick along with A. Davis

You're right, I put him in the wrong season. Oops. When I checked pro-football-reference.com I didn't notice that they didn't have the 2013 draft up, so I just went with the last three drafts as being Harbaugh's and didn't check the season.

 

[jerseyhawksfan79]

Take out the starting QB's and only go backups, I'd take the Niners group. T-Jax and Brady Quinn just make me tremble in fear. I like Colt McCoy and I kind of wished we had him on our bench.

 

[blstoker]

Take out the starting QB's and only go backups, I'd take the Niners group. T-Jax and Brady Quinn just make me tremble in fear. I like Colt McCoy and I kind of wished we had him on our bench.

I like Colt McCoy, more than most people from what I've heard from fans, but there is no way I take him over TJack. Not only has TJack got more experience, more success and better all around numbers, but he's more athletic and has a much better understanding of the Seahawks offense than McCoy has of the Browns offense, let alone the 9ers. I feel for McCoy, and he really should be the starter in Cleveland, as he was by far the better QB last year on that team, not to mention that he was the one that was 4 years younger, but Jackson is still being beat up for his perceived shortcomings when he was in Minnesota.

I love Wilson, I loved the pick of Wilson and thought he would push for the starting job day one, as many cbs people can attest to from my posts on draft day. But, had the Hawks not gotten him, I thought that Jackson was the better option than Flynn to start last season.

 

[jerseyhawksfan79]

I like Colt McCoy, more than most people from what I've heard from fans, but there is no way I take him over TJack. Not only has TJack got more experience, more success and better all around numbers, but he's more athletic and has a much better understanding of the Seahawks offense than McCoy has of the Browns offense, let alone the 9ers. I feel for McCoy, and he really should be the starter in Cleveland, as he was by far the better QB last year on that team, not to mention that he was the one that was 4 years younger, but Jackson is still being beat up for his perceived shortcomings when he was in Minnesota.

I love Wilson, I loved the pick of Wilson and thought he would push for the starting job day one, as many cbs people can attest to from my posts on draft day. But, had the Hawks not gotten him, I thought that Jackson was the better option than Flynn to start last season.

I agree with T-Jax being more athletic and more experienced, but his decision making was horrible. With better decision making they could have been 10-6 instead of 7-9. That Cleveland team was so poorly constructed nobody could QB that team. Give Colt the playbook and practice time with the first string, I think he could guide this team to a couple of wins if Russ Wilson went down for a few games. I'm just glad we're able to have this conversation about our backups instead of our starters for once.

 

[HawkSquatch]

T-Jax has a better team here now. He wont have to make it happen himself. He wont have to force many plays because the playmakers are targets for once. I am happy with his experience overall.

 

[dude82]

I would have no problem if Jackson won the backup job. I prefer to have a backup quarterback that can run the same offense that the starter runs. He's not going to run it as well, obviously, but I'd rather have that than make the offensive unit learn two different offenses on the off chance that the starter gets hurt. Now, they might decide to run the ball more if Jackson has to come into the game for some reason or make a start for some reason, but since this offense is going to be pretty run-heavy anyway, it won't be a big departure from what we'd be doing normally, we'd just be doing more of it. They could probably even keep some of the read-options elements in the gameplan with Jackson in there. I don't think they could do that with Quinn in there. With this team and this offense, I'd just feel more comfortable with Jackson coming in if something happened to Wilson. As with any backup, though, you hope that you don't have to use him too much during the season.

 

[Cave_Johnson]

I would have no problem if Jackson won the backup job. I prefer to have a backup quarterback that can run the same offense that the starter runs. He's not going to run it as well, obviously, but I'd rather have that than make the offensive unit learn two different offenses on the off chance that the starter gets hurt. Now, they might decide to run the ball more if Jackson has to come into the game for some reason or make a start for some reason, but since this offense is going to be pretty run-heavy anyway, it won't be a big departure from what we'd be doing normally, we'd just be doing more of it. They could probably even keep some of the read-options elements in the gameplan with Jackson in there. I don't think they could do that with Quinn in there. With this team and this offense, I'd just feel more comfortable with Jackson coming in if something happened to Wilson. As with any backup, though, you hope that you don't have to use him too much during the season.

Exactly. I have little to no confidence in Quinn, but I know Jackson is at least serviceable even if he's below average as an NFL QB.

 

[jerseyhawksfan79]

I for sure agree on T-Jax as our backup over Brady Quinn. I see all of your points and understand now he's the best fit for a game or two.