NFC West

[Jikkle]

He's actually visiting us too

 

[NinerSickness]

He's actually visiting us too

I saw. He clearly wants to win a Superbowl before he hangs 'em up.

Smart move by Abraham to go to a couple of rivals & see if he can get 'em to start bidding. I hope the Niners win so they can focus on 3-4 DEs, NTs, safeties & WRs in the draft.

 

[BINGO]

Percy Harvin officially traded to Seattle Seahawks - ESPN

 

[BINGO]

Stanton the answer in Arizona?
March, 19, 2013 11:43AM ET
By Tim Kavanagh | ESPN.com

Heading into his first season as HC of the Arizona Cardinals, Bruce Arians brought a friend from his most recent stop with him: QB Drew Stanton. Stanton served as Andrew Luck's understudy in Indianapolis, and thus got to know how Arians runs his operation; on the flip side, Arians learned what Stanton could and couldn't do. It wasn't much of a surprise when Stanton landed in Arizona this past week.

Even though many in the football-loving galaxy believe the Cards could add another entrant to their QB derby -- possibly with their first-round pick (No. 7 overall) -- Arians isn't so sure he doesn't already have his starting QB on the roster.

Asked by the NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano whether he believes his 2013 starting QB is on the current roster, Arians responded, "Yes, we have a very capable one in Drew Stanton." (Quote via Pro Football Talk). "Drew knows the offense, he is more than capable of doing it. If he is our guy, I am comfortable," Arians added.

As of this point, Stanton is set to join Ryan Lindley, Brian Hoyer and John Skelton in the competition this offseason. Whether the group gets a rookie addition will be known in a little over a month.

 

[BINGO]

Rashard Mendenhall - RB - Cardinals

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert believes Rashard Mendenhall was never at 100 percent in 2012.

Mendenhall is no Adrian Peterson. He tried to return to action nine months after his ACL tear, but lacked burst and lateral quickness. He averaged just 3.56 yards per carry, had some trouble with his Achilles' tendon and got benched. If Mendenhall is going to win the feature-back job in Bruce Arians' scheme, he's going to need to prove his health.
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Mar 19 - 12:44 PM

 

[BINGO]

The Rams' new O-line
March, 19, 2013 11:07AM ET
By Tim Kavanagh | ESPN.com

When the St. Louis Rams were simply interested in signing LT Jake Long to a contract, their current LT, Rodger Saffold, hinted that he'd ask for a trade if Long was signed. Saffold's agent pumped the brakes on that a bit, but the Rams do need to figure out how everyone is going to continue to work together seeing as Long officially signed with the team as of Sunday night.

As Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch sees it, Long will slide in at LT, with Rokevious Watkins at LG, Scott Wells at C, Harvey Dahl at RG and Saffold at RT.

Bear in mind, of course, that the Rams may select an O-lineman with one of their first-round picks (No. 16 or No. 22). It'd be more likely that they take an interior OL such as Chance Warmack, Jonathan Cooper or Larry Warford, but if they like what they see from Lane Johnson or D.J. Fluker (and those players are still available when they're up), it could bring about a situation where they'd ask Saffold to kick inside. This offseason will continue to be an interesting one for Jeff Fisher's team.

 

[BINGO]

NFL Draft Blog

Will Cards be forced to reach for a QB?
March, 19, 2013 3:33PM ET
By Steve Muench

Offseason moves -- both trades and free-agent signings -- can significantly change a team's draft needs and strategies.

Teams have a much easier time picking need over value when they have already addressed their most glaring weaknesses before draft weekend. On the flip side, organizations that fail to fill big roster holes are more likely to reach to fill needs, and those picks are more likely to backfire.

So what's happened so far in the NFC West that will impact the way its teams approach the 2013 draft? Here's a look at the big moves all four teams have made and how they affect early draft strategy.




Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals have not been sitting on their hands this offseason. They signed CB Antoine Cason to replace cap casualty William Gay as a starter opposite Patrick Peterson, and free-agent signing Jerraud Powers is capable of holding up in the slot if he can stay healthy.

Arizona has also signed RB Rashard Mendenhall to soften the blow of losing Beanie Wells, and added DE Matt Shaughnessy. However, the Cards failed to make a splash where it matters the most: at quarterback.

John Skelton, Brian Hoyer, Ryan Lindley and Kevin Kolb (released) all struggled last season, and there's little reason to believe any of the three who remain on the roster will right the ship under new head coach Bruce Arians. Free-agent signing Drew Stanton is familiar with Arians' scheme after backing up Andrew Luck in Indianapolis last season, but Stanton hasn't appeared in a game since 2010.

The Cardinals might not have much choice but to reach for Geno Smith.

All of that means taking West Virginia QB Geno Smith with the seventh overall pick makes sense, even if Smith is a reach there. He isn't nearly as polished as Luck coming out, but Smith has the arm strength and touch to develop into an effective starter in Arians' scheme.

If they decide to pass on Smith in the first, the Cardinals could target an offensive tackle like Central Michigan's Eric Fisher or an edge rusher like LSU's Barkevious Mingo. After all, LOT Levi Brown missed all of last year with a triceps injury, and OLB Quentin Groves was lost to Cleveland in free agency.



St. Louis Rams

The Rams did well to sign 2008 No. 1 overall pick LOT Jake Long away from Miami, a move that will shift Rodger Saffold to the right side and give QB Sam Bradford more time to scan the field and locate the open man. The addition of TE Jared Cook's ability to stretch the field and make plays over the middle is also a plus, and should help offset the loss of free-agent WR Danny Amendola, who led the team in receiving last year.

St. Louis has the 16th and 22nd overall picks this year, and given that Brandon Gibson also left in free agency the Rams could target a receiver at No. 16. Dynamic West Virginia playmaker Tavon Austin is a definite possibility with his versatility and elite combination of speed and quickness. However, 2012 fourth-rounder Chris Givens is coming off an encouraging rookie campaign, 2011 third-rounder Austin Pettis can contribute, and 2012 second-rounder Brian Quick still has upside, so St. Louis could go in another direction.

If they do, Texas S Kenny Vaccaro should be tough to pass on if he falls to 16. The Rams cut Quintin Mikell and lost Craig Dahl to free agency, so Vaccaro would fill a big need. And forget about his average 40 time at the NFL combine.

Vaccaro shows above-average range in zone coverage and quality man-to-man cover skills on film, and he is tough and aggressive supporting the run. Getting him with the 16th pick would allow the Rams to target a pair of talented Tennessee wideouts -- Justin Hunter or Cordarrelle Patterson -- at No. 22.




San Francisco 49ers

The Niners have kept the nucleus of their Super Bowl team intact, and even made some improvements with the trade for WR Anquan Boldin and the signing of DE Glenn Dorsey. They also acquired the 34th overall pick in the trade that sent QB Alex Smith to Kansas City.

However, the losses of S Dashon Goldson and TE Delanie Walker in free agency hurt, and San Francisco could still use some help at nose tackle.

One of the best-case scenarios for the 49ers would be seeing massive Georgia NT Johnathan Jenkins slips to them at No. 31 overall, and then have Stanford TE Zach Ertz available at No. 34. That would allow them to then pick up value at safety late in the second, with FIU's John Cyprien a possibility there.

If Jenkins is off the board late in the first, keep an eye on Missouri Southern NT Brandon Williams, who carries a second-round grade but could have more value to the Niners than other teams because of his ability to plug the middle of the field.

If that's the case, pulling the trigger is the right move because the value at safety and, to a lesser degree, tight end might not be the same at the end of the first round.




Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks gave up a total of three draft picks -- including the 25th overall pick this year -- to get WR Percy Harvin from Minnesota, but it could prove well worth it if Harvin stays healthy and continues to produce at a high level.

Seattle also landed another talented edge rusher in free-agent DE Cliff Avril, and DL Jason Jones is the only Seahawks free agent who has signed with another team as it stands now.

The Seahawks won't come on the clock until the 26th pick of the second round (56th overall) where a defensive tackle like Akeem Spence of Illinois could be a good fit. Spence has the talent to push for immediate playing time as the No. 3 tackle, and the potential to develop into a productive interior pass-rusher.

On the other hand, weakside linebacker is arguably their greatest need, considering the fact that 30-year old Leroy Hill is an unrestricted free agent, and there should be good value at that position late in the second. If Connecticut's Sio Moore falls that far he would be ideal with his range, closing burst and coverage ability.

Moore is likely to be gone at that point, but Kansas State's Arthur Brown might be available, and Brown has the talent to push for a starting role as a rookie. And the idea of Pete Carroll coaching Brown alongside other young talents like 2012 second-rounder Bobby Wagner and 2011 fourth-rounder pick K.J. Wright is too good not to consider.


Steve Muench
Scouts Inc.

 

[MHSL82]

One reason Cardinals moved on from Kevin Kolb

Arians, perhaps PR wise to be nice, said that they cut Kolb because they couldn't by CBA rule meet with Kolb to get to know him or discuss football until after the $2M bonus was due. Players were obviously able to restructure deals, sign deals, and be traded. I wonder if they tried to ask him to push back the deadline at all so that they could meet with him?

On one hand, he wants to get out as fast as he can to try to sign somewhere before the spots are taken and before people commit to draft prospects.

On the other hand, if he believes he deserves the job and could win it, especially with a salary head start, it might be worth it to try and see if Arians can Harbaugh it (stay with the unpopular QB and succeed).

But, of course, if Arians doesn't like his chances with Kolb based upon what he does know without such contact, then there would be no such offer.

 

[BINGO]

I never actually said this but it was certainly on my mind a lot ever since I was reading reports of him hitting the gym days after losing the super bowl. I want him to focus on throwing more. Throwing on the run, and also improving his passes on fade routes (red zone):


Colin Kaepernick - QB - 49ers

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has cautioned Colin Kaepernick not to get "too jacked-up."

Kaepernick has spent the entire offseason in the gym. "If you're just talking about weightlifting and upper-body strength, yes, I think there is that fear," Harbaugh said. "It's something we've talked about. 'I don't want you getting too jacked-up, Colin.' I want some speed, quickness, not just (flexing chest his muscles)." It says a lot about Kaepernick's future that getting too strong is his coach's fear. Kaepernick could be on the precipice of a colossal fantasy campaign.
Source: CSN Bay Area

Mar 22 - 11:59 AM

 

[BINGO]

The 49ers' new returners
March, 22, 2013 12:34PM ET
By Tim Kavanagh | ESPN.com

Prior to the start of the 2013 league year, it became apparent that the marriage between the San Francisco 49ers and WR/returner Ted Ginn was headed to a divorce. Ginn wasn't pleased with his deployment within the offensive system, wanting to find a new team where he'd be afforded a chance to contribute more in that realm; meanwhile, the Niners felt that they could get similar work in the return game out of other options.

They'll both have the chance to prove their point in 2013, as Ginn has reached an agreement with the Carolina Panthers, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

2012 was not Ginn's best season on punt return duty; in fact, his YPA decreased each subsequent season in San Francisco. As far as his replacement, Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area reports that LaMichael James, Kyle Williams and Perrish Cox will compete to pick up that duty. James has the inside track on kickoff returns, though Williams may be used in that phase of the game as well.

 

[BINGO]

Rams can challenge in NFC West
It's not just creating debate, it's about an abundance of cheap talent
Updated: March 21, 2013, 9:12 PM ET
By Chris Sprow | ESPN Insider

The Rams are loaded with young, affordable talent, including rising running back Daryl Richardson.

If you polled evaluators across the NFL and asked them to pick out the league's most talented rosters, you'd end up with results that placed the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers at or near the top. It doesn't take a war room-trained eye to see it, which is why the latest ESPN NFL Power Rankings had those two teams at Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, as we wrap up free agency and look toward the draft.

This doesn't just happen because of very good drafting and talent evaluation -- and the Seahawks and 49ers have had plenty of both -- it's also about money.

In a league where the salary cap forces teams to creatively allocate resources and often cut players they'd prefer to keep, what you pay your quarterback drives roster construction. The top five QB cap hits for 2013 (as it stands now) will average about $19.6 million in 2013. That total is more than 15 percent of the NFL cap number, which means that on a per-player basis, those teams will have to pay the rest of a 53-man roster with the remaining 85 percent. In simple terms, if "NFL quarterback" is the most important, deterministic position in sports, paying a good one like an average player allows you to build a deeper, middle-class roster. This is why the offseason has been defined not just by signing QBs, but by making really good QBs financially realistic luxuries. (See: Brady, Tom.) NFL rosters are an oligarchy, but Seattle and San Francisco, with Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick at QB, respectively, will take cap hits of slightly more than $2 million total for their starting QBs in 2013. This won't hold true forever -- if Kaepernick and Wilson keep it up, the cash will come -- but in the meantime, it's 100-proof gravy.

In terms of roster-building in sports, there isn't a market inefficiency anywhere that can compare to paying so little for a player who determines so much. The Seahawks have utilized this current luxury by making a huge splash in free agency, deepening their pass rush in particular. The 49ers, meanwhile, dealt higher-priced Alex Smith and now have a league-high number of draft picks in 2013, this for a roster so deep they barely used A.J. Jenkins and LaMichael James, their first- and second-round picks in 2012.

But the St. Louis Rams, seemingly a given for third fiddle in the NFC West headed into 2013, have an advantage of their own, even as Sam Bradford makes good money after being drafted under the old collective bargaining agreement. And when you combine that edge with what they already have on the field, there's no reason to discount the Rams as both legit contenders for the NFC West title as soon as the coming season, and as favorites in the years to come.

First take a look at the current team.

The 2012 Rams are now billed as a team that experienced a nice year of growth after a burnt-out crater of a season in 2011. The 2012 Rams won five more games than the year before, improved their plus-minus in point differential by 165 points (a whopping 10-plus points per week!), and went a combined 2-1-1 against the Seahawks and 49ers. The improvement was so great, in fact, it almost begs for the "regression" label in 2013. Teams that improve so quickly usually do, in fact, hit recline for a year until they get used to the new posture.

But a setback in 2013 isn't certain for the Rams, in part because the 2012 team could have been even better. Last season, St. Louis held leads in six of its eight losses, and saw 80 percent of that negative point differential wrapped up in one game. It was outscored by 49 points all season, but 38 of those points came via a 45-7 Week 8 thrashing by New England. The 2012 Rams weren't particularly lucky on turnovers (minus-1 for the season), and also played one of the NFL's toughest schedules. And that winning record against the teams we now consider the best in the NFL wasn't a fluke, because the Rams have plenty of talent, and are about to add a lot more.

Seattle and San Francisco can maintain deep rosters for another couple of years because they pay so little at quarterback, but the Rams can too because they pay so little for so many key players. The trade that gave the Redskins Robert Griffin III wasn't just necessary because St. Louis is locked into Sam Bradford, it will also hand the Rams an obscene surplus of cheap, young talent. The Rams turned that No. 2 overall pick into four total first- and second-round picks in 2012, and they still have two first-round picks coming in both the 2013 and 2014 drafts. And Washington's success didn't really diminish the value of those picks, because even as St. Louis dropped on the draft board with every game both they and the Redskins won in 2012, the Rams gained an economic advantage: Those good young players keep getting cheaper. Combined, St. Louis took a cap hit of about $6 million for the four first- and second-round picks in 2012, and the Rams could take similar hits for the total value of the picks they select in the next two years from those rounds.

We've already seen those young players tip the scales for the Rams. In 2011, the Rams ranked last in the NFL in Adjusted Games Lost because of injury, according to Football Outsiders. But in part because of the emergence of young talent, they jumped to No. 6 in the NFL in 2012. The Rams' 2012 draft created an abundance of games played from the likes of Michael Brockers, Janoris Jenkins, Chris Givens and Daryl Richardson (not to mention kicker Greg Zuerlein).


Jared Cook, who piled up more than 500 yards last season for the Titans, gives the Rams a dynamic receiving threat.


But this isn't just injury luck. Success in the NFL is defined by talent, but also attrition. Put more young players on the field, and you can expect better health. Because of their draft rewards, the Rams are going to continue to put young talent on the field. Based on Snap-Weighted Age -- a Football Outsiders metric that calculates the average age of players on the field on a per-snap basis -- the Rams were already one of the younger teams in the NFL in 2012 at an average of 26.2 years old, and they'll continue to keep getting younger via the surplus of premium draft picks. This isn't just a young, talented team with reasonable expectations on the health side -- the Rams have more on the way.

And the cheap, young talent creates another advantage.

The CBA now in place doesn't just mean that teams can pay so little for premium young talent, it means that teams have more cash left over to spend in free agency. This offseason, the Rams already have found significant upgrades at left tackle through the addition of Jake Long, and in the passing game with the addition of Jared Cook, a versatile tight end.

While the Rams can assume a measure of good health with more young impact on the way, their competition in the division might assume the opposite. The 49ers were the healthiest team in the NFL last year. They lost on average four times fewer games to injury than the average NFL team. The Seahawks checked in at No. 4 leaguewide -- they lost half of what a typical team did because of injury.

The Rams also aren't taking the assumed health for granted by spending where they don't need to. For instance, "losing" running back Steven Jackson might appear to some as a loss on paper, but St. Louis was smart not to pay a premium for a running back entering his age-30 season, one they'd already gotten more than 10,000 yards and 131 games from over nine seasons. By letting Jackson walk, the Rams may have lost a pretty good player, but they stuck to a philosophy built around the direction of the roster. With more good young players soon to be added, why pay a premium for the decline phase of a veteran?

This is a franchise with a good sense of the direction of its roster.

At the NFL combine, Rams coach Jeff Fisher was asked about utilizing so many young players. "Coaches will … tell you that players make the biggest improvement from Year 1 to Year 2," Fisher said. "They're no longer rookies. They understand what they have to go through. They're gonna come [for] the offseason program. And they're gonna improve."

It's an optimistic outlook. But no team is bound to improve more over the next few seasons than the Rams. If Fisher is right, they'll get improvements from a deep 2012 rookie class in 2013, then a good 2013 rookie class in 2014, and another good 2014 rookie class in 2015.

All the while, they'll be able to maintain both reasonable assumptions of health, and the prospect of continued flexibility in free agency. Bradford's development is obviously a huge aspect to all of this, but he made strides in 2012, and the Rams are capable of adding more weapons through the draft.

As I wrote back in September, the draft isn't the crapshoot many believe it is. The bulk of future stars are drafted early, and save all conspiracy theories about teams simply wanting to play guys they took early. It's not confirmation bias -- it's talent. And no team is in better position to take advantage of this fact than the St. Louis Rams. And even in the meantime, they can't be dismissed as legit contenders in the NFC West based on what they already have.


Chris Sprow
ESPN Insider

 

[Badger8843]

The Rams and Cards can join the Jags and Raiders for the worst division in football

 

[deep9er]

The Rams and Cards can join the Jags and Raiders for the worst division in football

but the Rams already proved how tough they can be, we didn't beat them last season.

yeah, i know full well about the missed field goals, but even if Akers made those.......the Rams still proved how tough they can be.

 

[Badger8843]

but the Rams already proved how tough they can be, we didn't beat them last season.

yeah, i know full well about the missed field goals, but even if Akers made those.......the Rams still proved how tough they can be.

Correct, Sjax tore us up last year he is gone along with some of their wideouts

 

[BINGO]

Russell Wilson's next backup
April, 1, 2013 11:42AM ET
By Tim Kavanagh | ESPN.com

With the Matt Flynn-to-Oakland trade now finally official -- as reported by Jay Glazer of Fox Sports -- it's another spin on the offseason QB carousel, with another move apparently forthcoming involving current Raiders QB Carson Palmer. But it raises a significant question: Who will be Russell Wilson's backup in Seattle next season?

The Seahawks may look to strike gold in the draft again this offseason (as they did with Round 3 selection Wilson in 2012), but they're also likely to add a veteran in the meantime. According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, one player on their short list is former Bills QB Tyler Thigpen. Thigpen has experience in the read-option offense, though his skills in the other aspects of quarterbacking do fall short of Wilson's. One other free agent QB out there with experience using his legs is Vince Young, though we haven't heard anything substantive linking him to any NFL teams as yet.

 

[BINGO]

Drew Stanton - QB - Cardinals

Drew Stanton will be Carson Palmer's backup this season.
Source: azcardinals.com

Apr 3 - 10:16 AM

 

[BINGO]

NFC West draft needs: San Francisco 49ers could use Matt Elam - NFL.com

 

[BINGO]

Russell Okung - T - Seahawks

Seahawks LT Russell Okung is working on his quickness, agility, and flexibility with MMA training this offseason.

"It really involves a lot of quick bursts," said Okung. "It’s the best way to try and kind of simulate line play, so I like it." Okung is one of the premier left tackles in the league, but he struggles a bit with speed rushers off the edge. He was whistled for 13 penalties in 2012, second-most among offensive tackles.
Source: Tacoma News Tribune

Apr 11 - 5:32 PM

 

[BINGO]

Draft Preview for each team:

Scout.com: Draft Preview - San Francisco 49ers

Scout.com: Draft Preview - St. Louis Rams

Scout.com: Draft Preview - Seattle Seahawks

Scout.com: Draft Preview - Arizona Cardinals

 

[MHSL82]

Never liked this Williamson guy, liked him almost less than Mike Lombardi (didn't like his bitter comments re: not becoming our GM and our subsequent moves). But what do you think of these rankings?

Initial look: Ranking West teams by position - NFC West Blog