NFL NFC WEST Prediction

[phxkev]

1. San Francisco. 10-6

Mike Nolan has this team on the right track. He will be wearing a suit on the sideline during games this season which will reinforce the SF tradition of a business-like approach to the game. Off season signings of been mostly those of strong character and SF is once again becomine a first class organization. Nate Clements being signed is a direct response to Arizona's threat of the passing game of Leinart to Bouldin and Fitzgerald. But the big pick up might be Darryl Jackson from Seattle. SF now has a legitimate target for Alex Smith to throw to. Smith is a very smart guy and developed under now departed Norv Turner. This is Smith's break out year.

2. Seattle. 9-7

The Seahawks aren't what they used to be and neither is running back Shaun Alexander. The loss in the 2006 Super Bowl was devatating and many teams never recover from that. Holmgren is under pressure. This might be the team's and his last chance. Mostly though, they still miss Steve Hutchinson. This is a team that put the franchise tag on a kicker.

3. St. Louis 8-8

This is a team trying to find itself. Drafting DE Carriker out of Nebraska won't be enough to make this defense decent. And, they have a lot of tough games on their schedule.

4. Arizona 7-9

New coach Wisenhunt gets off to an OK start. The offense here is looking promising if Leinart continues to develop. But for that to happen he needs protection from his offensive line which still may be one of the worst in the NFL. This team is owned by the Bidwills and expecting anything exceptional from the Cardinals is just too much to expect. Ever. And they had nothing exciting in their draft or in free agent signings. Bottom line is that the Bidwills too closely watch their bottom line. They're too cheap to win.

The NFC West will be competitve and is wide open but I will go with San Francisco as the most improved up and comer.

[mailman]

»

» 2. Seattle. 9-7

» The Seahawks aren't what they used to be and neither is running back Shaun

» Alexander. The loss in the 2006 Super Bowl was devatating and many teams

» never recover from that. Holmgren is under pressure. This might be the

» team's and his last chance. Mostly though, they still miss Steve

» Hutchinson. This is a team that put the franchise tag on a kicker.

»

been a hawks fan since the induction in '76 , and i accept 7-9, 8-8, 9-7 every season. but if you look and see how many games seattle won in the last seonds by the kicker you'll understand why the franchised him. and i agree 100% about hutchinson. major loss. **** i could've ran behind hutch and walter jones!

[phxkev]

I think they need to retain Holmgren regardless.

I became an NFL fan because of Seattle. There was something about the Jack Patera days when Zorn to Largent was something to be excited about. Even in the Kingdome.

I'm not sold that Deion Branch was an upgrade over Darryl Jackson. And then to trade Jackson to a division rival for what, a 4th round draft choicer...... I don't understand that.

[mailman]

»

»

» I'm not sold that Deion Branch was an upgrade over Darryl Jackson. And

» then to trade Jackson to a division rival for what, a 4th round draft

» choicer...... I don't understand that.

still scratchin' my head about that one myself.

yeah seattle was exciting to watch back in the day w/ their trick plays and fake fg's. i remember watching seattle denver game first play of the game seattle threw a 70 yd td pass to open the game, then denvers first play was a 75yd td pass. bring back zorn and largent. :-D

[phisherman]

» I'm not sold that Deion Branch was an upgrade over Darryl Jackson. And

» then to trade Jackson to a division rival for what, a 4th round draft

» choicer...... I don't understand that.

Umm, Yeahhhhhhh I'm goign to have to disagree with you on that one.

As much of a big play receiver Jackson was; he still had consistency issues to deal with. With Deion Branch you are not getting a home run hitter; but more a of an outlet for Hasselback. Deion can get open almost every play and has great hands. He will have more receptions than Jackson and maybe more yards. But he will help a lot more on third down situations. 1st downs (as a statistic) are not usually mentioned by analysts but probably should be. Now don't get me wrong; I like Daryl Jackson as a player; but Deion I think gets the edge in terms of value. It would have been great to have both on the team to complement each other.