NFC West

[Yadahell]

For what it's worth (wasn't worth much last year), here's ESPN radio honk Colin Cowherd's predicted records for the NFC West:

San Francisco 10-6
St. Louis 9-7
Seattle 7-9
Arizona 7-9

I believe he had SF as the 2nd to worst team (record wise) in the NFL at this time last year...

 

[deep9er]

For what it's worth (wasn't worth much last year), here's ESPN radio honk Colin Cowherd's predicted records for the NFC West:

San Francisco 10-6
St. Louis 9-7
Seattle 7-9
Arizona 7-9

I believe he had SF as the 2nd to worst team (record wise) in the NFL at this time last year...

the first goal is win the West, so from that point of view......works for me.

next goal would be a 1st round play-off bye, but 10-6 likely won't get it.

 

[Rvnight18]

He also said if the 49ers played in the NFC East they wouldn't have been 14-2. No shit Colin we were 13-3 in the NFC West. But we were 3-1 against the east and should have been 4-0. Guy is a moron.

 

[Jikkle]

Barring the injury bug I would be surprised if we went 10-6.

The schedule is tougher but I wouldn't call it brutal or anything and the team is actually should be much better than what it was last season.

Didn't downgrade in a single spot and either stayed status quo or upgraded. Team will get a full offseason of work in and be in the same system for the second year so everything is in favor of the 9ers doing well this season.

At best I say 13-3 again this season and at worse 11-5 again barring injuries playing a major factor.

 

[deep9er]

Barring the injury bug I would be surprised if we went 10-6.

The schedule is tougher but I wouldn't call it brutal or anything and the team is actually should be much better than what it was last season.

Didn't downgrade in a single spot and either stayed status quo or upgraded. Team will get a full offseason of work in and be in the same system for the second year so everything is in favor of the 9ers doing well this season.

At best I say 13-3 again this season and at worse 11-5 again barring injuries playing a major factor.

for me, i'll go with 11-5.

again, first priority is win the West games. since i don't like the Rams (LONG time rivalry), sweeping them would be nice.

 

[BINGO]

Support for early NFC West draft picks
May, 8, 2012 8:15PM ET
By Mike Sando | ESPN.com

The St. Louis Rams tapped into an SEC power when they selected defensive tackle Michael Brockers from LSU in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft.

They targeted quite a few players from less notable conferences throughout the remainder of the draft, selecting talent from the Southern, Gulf South, Big Sky, Mid-America, Mountain West and Lone Star conferences (along with the Big East, ACC and SEC, again).

Brian Quick from Appalachian State was one such player. The receiver, selected in the second round, wasn't widely mentioned as a player the Rams would consider early.

"Many will use the small-school component of Quick’s resume to suggest he will have a much larger learning curve to adjust to the NFL," NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell wrote. "Again, another myth tossed around as if it's gospel. Watch any college wide receiver, especially one that played in a spread, and you will see limited routes."

That would include Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon, the player linked most strongly to the Rams before the draft.

"In fact, studying both extensively on film, you can make the argument that Quick, who’s significantly bigger than Blackmon, is more naturally athletic," Cosell continued. "Quick is a very fluid and smooth athlete with excellent lateral quickness and deceptive vertical speed due to stride length. It’s not a stretch at all, when you analyze Quick’s physical and athletic attributes, to understand why the Rams selected him early."

Cosell's NFC West review touches on several early choices from the division. He explains why he thinks each selection made sense for the various teams, and why criticism is premature. He seemed to like the selections, although he did not project Seattle's Bruce Irvin or San Francisco's A.J. Jenkins as first-round selections in his mock draft, which listed Rams second-round choice Janoris Jenkins as a top-five talent.

Apologies, up front, for forgetting who passed along the link for Cosell's review. I'm counting on reading a reminder in the comments section. Thanks much.

 

[BINGO]

101ESPN St. Louis audio: Miklasz Show
May, 8, 2012 4:39PM ET
By Mike Sando | ESPN.com

The St. Louis Rams hired Jeff Fisher as coach for quite a few reasons.

They valued his experience, for sure.

Fisher"He's a great coach, he's a great teacher, he's a great leader," team owner Stan Kroenke said when the Rams introduced Fisher as their new head coach this offseason.

Bernie Miklasz asked specifically about Fisher's reputation as a teacher and developer of talent during our latest conversation on 101ESPN St. Louis.

The answer I provided could use some strengthening. After my mostly fruitless run through various online archives, Paul Kuharsky came through with a strong take based on first-hand observations. Paul covered the NFL and Fisher's Tennessee Titans for the Tennessean newspaper before becoming our AFC South blogger.

Paul's quick take on Fisher as a teacher:

"He is a good teacher and can be hands-on, particularly with punt returners and defensive backs. He didn't wander into individual periods or even special-teams periods very much. He worked with returners once in a while post-practice, but less frequently in his later years. I think he's a good teacher. He would talk about how 'we teach this when we talk about a penalty call' or 'we teach that the guy has to get his head across before he makes contact.'

"He had very specific things from the top down as far as their philosophy for doing this or that. He let his position coaches do most of that hands-on teaching stuff. He'll be far more hands-on with Janoris Jenkins than with anyone else. He'll talk about treating him the same as everyone else, and he'll baby him. The two most predictable picks in the draft after Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III were Jenkins and the Montana kid, Trumaine Johnson, who went to school with Fisher's son."

Fisher played defensive back and returned punts during his own career. That would explain his particular interest in those roles. He has been a defensive coordinator as well, and with Gregg Williams serving a suspension, it's possible Fisher could become more directly involved on that side of the ball. It might also be plausible, in my view, for Fisher to take more of a hands-on approach in his first year with the Rams. A coach might feel more comfortable stepping back after his program has been established.

 

[Yadahell]

San Francisco 49ers 2012 Opening betting lines (source: Cantor Gaming):

Week 1:
49ers (+5) at Packers.

Week 2:
Lions @ 49ers (-3.5)

Week 3:
49ers (-4.5) @ Vikings

Week 4:
49ers (+1) @ Jets

Week 5:
Bills @ 49ers (-7.5)

Week 6:
Giants @ 49ers (-3)

Week 7:
Seahawks @ 49ers (-7)

Week 8:
49ers (-3) @ Cardinals

Week 9:
Bye

Week 10:
Rams @ 49ers (-9)

Week 11:
Bears @ 49ers (-4.5)

Week 12:
49ers @ Saints (-3.5)

Week 13:
49ers (-5.5) @ Rams

Week 14:
Dolphins @ 49ers (-7)

Week 15:
49ers (+6.5) @ Patriots

Week 16:
49ers (-2.5) @ Seahawks

Week 17:
Cardinals @ 49ers (TBD)

 

[Crimsoncrew]

He also said if the 49ers played in the NFC East they wouldn't have been 14-2. No shit Colin we were 13-3 in the NFC West. But we were 3-1 against the east and should have been 4-0. Guy is a moron.

That's tough to say. We SHOULD have lost to Philly. And certainly COULD have lost to the Giants.

 

[yossarian]

That's tough to say. We SHOULD have lost to Philly. And certainly COULD have lost to the Giants.

Like Parcells always said, you are what your record says you are. We were 3-1 against the NFC East, there's nothing for games we should have lost or should have won. Does that mean we would have been 6-2 against them if we had been in the division? Not necessarily but the point is that Cowherd didn't even address our record against the NFC East, I doubt he knew it.

 

[MHSL82]

For what it's worth (wasn't worth much last year), here's ESPN radio honk Colin Cowherd's predicted records for the NFC West:

San Francisco 10-6
St. Louis 9-7
Seattle 7-9
Arizona 7-9

I believe he had SF as the 2nd to worst team (record wise) in the NFL at this time last year...

At this time last year we were 0-0, so I guess that could be second to last or first.

 

[Bemular]

Like Parcells always said, you are what your record says you are. We were 3-1 against the NFC East, there's nothing for games we should have lost or should have won. Does that mean we would have been 6-2 against them if we had been in the division? Not necessarily but the point is that Cowherd didn't even address our record against the NFC East, I doubt he knew it.

This. Well said by both you and Parcells

 

[Crimsoncrew]

Like Parcells always said, you are what your record says you are. We were 3-1 against the NFC East, there's nothing for games we should have lost or should have won. Does that mean we would have been 6-2 against them if we had been in the division? Not necessarily but the point is that Cowherd didn't even address our record against the NFC East, I doubt he knew it.

That's basically the point I was making. If you want to look back and say we should have beaten the Cowboys, you can just as easily say that we should have lost to the Eagles. Frankly more easily, as we staged a pretty improbable comeback against the Eagles. But that's revisionist history.

I don't think it's fair to say we should have gone 4-0 against the NFC East. As you say, we went 3-1. The Washington game was the only one that wasn't really in doubt after halftime or thereabouts, and even that one could have shifted with a single big play. Regardless, insinuating that the Niners did well because of the division is ridiculous.

 

[optimist4720]

The 49ers were overachievers last year but proved they have a for real D and a very vanilla O. We cant help but improve in terms of 3rd down conversion, red zone proficiency, and big play strikes given the injuries at WR last yr. I think the margin of victory will be much better this year...I think we have a repeat of last year in terms of W?L sucess and will surprise on Offense given a year to gel under coach H. 12-4 season written all over it...possibly 13-3 again.

 

[Flyingiguana]

The 49ers were overachievers last year but proved they have a for real D and a very vanilla O. We cant help but improve in terms of 3rd down conversion, red zone proficiency, and big play strikes given the injuries at WR last yr. I think the margin of victory will be much better this year...I think we have a repeat of last year in terms of W?L sucess and will surprise on Offense given a year to gel under coach H. 12-4 season written all over it...possibly 13-3 again.

underachievers, tons of injuries at wr and the coaching staff trying to figure out what works and what doesn't. the d picked it up quickly, but the offense should be much improved in harbaugh's 2nd year.

 

[deep9er]

The 49ers were overachievers last year but proved they have a for real D and a very vanilla O. We cant help but improve in terms of 3rd down conversion, red zone proficiency, and big play strikes given the injuries at WR last yr. I think the margin of victory will be much better this year...I think we have a repeat of last year in terms of W?L sucess and will surprise on Offense given a year to gel under coach H. 12-4 season written all over it...possibly 13-3 again.

agree, most certainly overachievers. even the most optimistic of 9er fan didn't REALLY believe we'd go 13-3.

thats why WE should be careful using last year as the reference point. its all too easy to think we'll start out the same as last year, AND add the new players, experience, etc.

the concern is the reference point - is this really a 13-3 team - not that we'll improve in some areas.

 

[deep9er]

underachievers, tons of injuries at wr and the coaching staff trying to figure out what works and what doesn't. the d picked it up quickly, but the offense should be much improved in harbaugh's 2nd year.

no they were NOT underachievers.

things went their way more than not, start with injuries, no one suffered a MAJOR one except Morgan.

 

[MHSL82]

The 49ers were overachievers last year but proved they have a for real D and a very vanilla O. We cant help but improve in terms of 3rd down conversion, red zone proficiency, and big play strikes given the injuries at WR last yr. I think the margin of victory will be much better this year...I think we have a repeat of last year in terms of W?L sucess and will surprise on Offense given a year to gel under coach H. 12-4 season written all over it...possibly 13-3 again.

Has someone hacked your account? This is the first time I've seen you post something actually optimistic, in my honest recollection. Granted, I haven't read every single one of your posts. But kudos to being one of the few that has said we'll have record-wise same or higher play this year.

 

[Flyingiguana]

no they were NOT underachievers.

things went their way more than not, start with injuries, no one suffered a MAJOR one except Morgan.

edwards and morgan were basically gone the whole year. we also had crabtree, walker and ginn miss significant time. having a skill position go through that much hurt big time. so ya i would say we underachieved because our passing game was neutered from the injuries.

 

[wartyOne]

He also said if the 49ers played in the NFC East they wouldn't have been 14-2. No shit Colin we were 13-3 in the NFC West. But we were 3-1 against the east and should have been 4-0. Guy is a moron.

He is the epitome of East Coast Bias, which is awesome since he comes from the Pacific Northwest.

HACK!!!!!!!!!!!

How'd that 3-13 prediction turn out last year, meatball?

Honestly, was he close with ANY of his picks last year? Want to piss off Las Vegas? Listen to Cowherd and bet the exact opposite of what his "analysis" suggests.