From Playoffs to Winless: The Tennessee Titans Are Starting to Finger Point

For a team with such high expectations going into the 2009 NFL season, the Tennessee Titans are in a state of disbelief. At 0-2, the Titans is starting to finger point trying to look for answers.

If the Titans wants to start finger pointing, point the finger at the defense.

For a unit that was stout against the pass last season, it has looked nothing like itself this season.

On Sunday against the division rival Houston Texans, quarterback Matt Schaub looked like a Pro Bowl quarterback, torching the Titans secondary for 357 yards and passing for four touchdowns.

Texans receivers were constantly running free through the secondary for most of the game.

After the 34-31 loss to the Texans, several defensive players said that they saw things that they hadn’t prepared for and thought the team did a poor job making adjustments during the game.

Adjustments were made on the sideline, but not executed, said Titans Coach Jeff Fisher.

Monday, Fisher cemented his position.

“Let me set the record straight here: When you are a good football team and you start off the season [0-2], there is going to be frustration, OK? And the only way that you get out of it is you avoid pointing fingers at anybody,” said Fisher.

“Everybody accepts the blame and you move on. There were adjustments made on the sideline for each and every thing that we saw. There was an adjustment made for that last big play that they made, I heard it. The players alluding to the fact that we’re having trouble making adjustments need to pay better attention to what is going on on the sideline.”

While blowing a 21-7 lead, the Titans gave up big pass plays of 21, 29, 33, 44 and 72 yards. On the 72-yard touchdown completion to wide receiver Andre Johnson, safety Michael Griffin failed to pick him up after Johnson left cornerback Nick Harper’s area.

According to Harper, the Titans “didn’t make any corrections on our sideline” and players weren’t where they were supposed to be at times.

“There were some plays that happened on my side, and (the Texans) flip-flopped and ran the exact same play on the other side and we still didn’t get any stops,” Harper said. “That tells me that me we didn’t make any corrections on the sideline but they made all the corrections, and that hurt us.”

The Titans, who are currently ranked last in the NFL in passing defense, need to eliminate big pass plays if they want dig them selves out of this 0-2 hole, because the road becomes much tougher from here on out.

With road games at the New York Jets, Jacksonville, and New England on the horizon, the Titans’ season could hang in the balance.

Everything the Titans did wrong against the Texans is correctable, Fisher said. He also said it’s OK that his players express their frustrations.

“But you have to come to terms with it and you move on,” Fisher said. “We corrected a a lot of things… we have a good secondary. They are giving up too many big plays, but this is a team loss, it is not a secondary loss.”

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

The Tennessee Titans Know It’s a New Year As Training Camp Begins

Forget about last year, Tennessee Titans’ fans, it’s a distant memory.

Most believed that last year was the Titans’ best chance at winning the franchise’s first Super Bowl.

Forget about how the season ended rather quickly in the AFC Divisional playoffs to the hated Baltimore Ravens, that’s in the past.

It’s time to turn the page to a new season.

Entering his 15th season as Head Coach of the Titans, Jeff Fisher is a great leader and motivator. His players love playing for him, and he is one of the more respected coaches in the NFL. Fisher is the Oilers/Titans all-time leader in wins, with 133, and knows he certainly does know how to win football games. Football experts have the Titans winning the AFC South again this year.

Fisher has a legitimate leader at quarterback in the ageless wonder, Kerry Collins.

Collins took over for the ineffective Vince Young and guided the Titans to an AFC best 13-3 record and the AFC South title. Collins was rewarded with a two-year, $15 million extension. Collins’ contract reassures that he is the man under center.

If Collins has another season like he did in 2008, Young’s tenure as a Titan could be in serious jeopardy.

Unhappy about loosing his starting job to Collins last year, Young told a Baltimore TV station on May 30th that it’s time to play for another team if the Titans didn’t want him. Young is under contract for three more seasons but will count $14 million against the salary cap in 2010.

The Titans know that they’ve got one of the better running back duos in football in Chris Johnson and the suddenly slimmer LenDale White. The duo gave opposing defenses fits last year as Johnson blazed past defenders, and White bulldozed would-be tacklers.

Johnson had an unbelievable rookie season. He rushed for 1,228 yards and nine touchdowns. The Titans plan to get the ball in Johnson’s hands more often by lining him up in the slot, as well as other spots on the field.

Entering his final year of his contract, White looks to improve his rushing total. 

After rushing for over a 1,000 yards in 2007, White took a step back in 2008. He rushed for only 773 yards but finished tied for first in the AFC with 15 rushing touchdowns. White hopes that with a lighter frame (he’s slimmed down to 227 pounds) will help him gain more yards.

During training camp, it will be interesting to see who will emerge as the starting wide outs for the Titans.

Justin Gage has the inside track at being the No. 1 starting wide receiver. Gage had a team-best 651 yards receiving and a career-high six touchdown catches. The only question remains: who will line up on the other side of Gage?

The signing of former Pittsburgh Steelers’ slot wide receiver Nate Washington was good, but not great. Washington is a good deep threat, but is he ready to become a go-to guy?

The drafting of former Rutgers University wide receiver Kenny Britt should pay off over time, but he remains unsigned. Britt finished his career as the Big East Conference’s all-time leader in receiving yards with 3,043.

The Titans’ defense will be under an enormous microscope heading into training camp.

Albert Haynesworth, the Titans’ road blocker in the middle, became the highest paid defensive player in NFL history when he bolted for the Washington Redskins during the offseason. Since 2004, the Titans are 4-11 when Haynesworth doesn’t start, so there should be some cause for concern. Is second year pro Jason Jones ready to fill the huge cleats left by Haynesworth?

With Haynesworth’s departure, there could also be a ripple effect around the play of Tony Brown, Jevon Kearse, and Kyle Vanden Bosch. Haynesworth commanded countless double teams, which allowed the rest of the line to have one-on-one matchups. The Titans rarely had to blitz because the front four generated so much pressure to opposing quarterbacks.

Secondary coach Chuck Cecil takes over for former defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who left to become the head coach of the Detroit Lions. Cecil takes over a defense that ranked seventh in the NFL last season and sent three from the starting secondary (Cortland Finnegan, Michael Griffin, and Chris Hope) to the Pro Bowl.

The Titans secondary ranked second in the NFL, behind the Green Bay Packers, in total interceptions with 19.

As training camp opens Friday, Titans’ training camp will be one of the more closely followed training camps this year.

 

A Titantic Icon: Steve McNair Made The Titans a Household Name.

It’s been three days since the announcement of former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair was found dead along with his girlfriend Sahel “Jenny” Kazemi in a downtown Nashville-area condo and the mood of the city is at an all time low.

McNair’s death has the City of Nashville feeling like it has been punched in the stomach by someone wearing a loaded boxing glove.

Before Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star begins to chastise McNair for being human and making a terrible mistake, he must realize that two families have to endure the pain of losing a loved one.

McNair, 36, left behind four sons that will go on living the rest of their lives without the leadership of their father. Outside of being one of the toughest players to ever strap on pads in the NFL, McNair was one of the toughest African American fathers who was always involved in each of his son’s lives which has become a rarity in most African American homes.

The Kazemi family, who fled from their way from Iran and settled in Florida, will have to bear the pain of losing a loved one. Many who knew Sahel “Jenny” Kazemi, 20, called her a “sweet girl”, and are going to have to wait and see what happens next.

“I hope they find the truth,” said Farzin Abdi, a nephew of Kazemi. “I just don’t know if this is everything as they say.”

Kazemi, who worked at a local Dave & Buster’s, became infatuated with the prospect of marrying the former NFL MVP. Tales of her driving McNair’s Bentley through the streets of Nashville started to become public as the tragedy at 104 Lea Avenue No. 4 started to make its way across the country. Pictures of the two vacationing and parasailing were posted on TMZ.com on Sunday.

As much as Whitlock wants to crucify McNair in making a poor decision, he must realize that McNair was not only was a strong father figure for his four children, but an inspiration for many within the the Nashville community.

He opened up a restaurant a few blocks from where I currently live and I tell you, the Cajun Catfish Sandwich is unbelievable. That same restaurant, Steve McNair’s Gridiron9 has become a makeshift memorial to honor the only quarterback in Oilers/Titans history to start in a Super Bowl.

If country music was and continues to be the heart of Nashville, than the Titans, most notably McNair, is the pulse. You can’t go any where in this city and not see someone wearing a Titans jersey. McNair perspired toughness and had a competitive fire that continuously burned from within. 

Throughout most of his career, McNair was put together more times than Mr. Potato Head. During Monday’s press conference at Baptist Sports Park, Fisher remembered the tough quarterback that was taken third overall in the 1995 NFL Draft out of Alcott State.

“The Steve McNair that I knew was a great person. He helped put this organization on the map here in Tennessee and put us in our first Super Bowl… I will miss him, as you all will miss him.”

Fisher also recalled a time when he was visiting his own son in the hospital in 2005 and seeing the battered and beat-up McNair there on an off day using a walker, with his wife Mechelle by his side.

“He was there to get an epidural injection in his back just so he could walk and practice that week,” Fisher said. “Those types of stories are those that you have never heard of. You witnessed the moments on the field and the comebacks and all those things that made him special.”

As much as this tragic ordeal has garnered national coverage, this should not be lasting impression of McNair.

In his career, McNair has thrown for 31,304 yards and 174 touchdowns. McNair is one of only three quarterbacks (Fran Tarkenton and Steve Young) to throw for over 30,000 yards and rush for 3,500 yards. 

So, as much as Whitlock wants to throw McNair under the bus, he needs to understand that McNair was human who made a costly error. As new information continues to be surfaced surrounding the death of McNair and Kazemi and their relationship will continue to come to light. For now, let their families grieve and give them the time to mourn.

McNair will continue to live within the hearts of all Titans fans and NFL fans. McNair will  always be remembered, never forgotten. It would be McNair who was held together by chicken wire and packaging tape that will forever remain, the biggest Titans fan!

 

 

 

 

The “Santa Clara 49ers” Closer Than It Appears

For years, the San Francisco 49ers have wanted a brand new stadium built in San Francisco to replace prehistoric Candlestick Park. Now the 49ers seem to be heading South down Highway 101.

The 49ers and the City of Santa Clara have agreed on a term sheet for a new state-of-the-art $937 million stadium that will become the new home for the team.

In building the new stadium in Santa Clara, the 49ers and the City of Santa Clara will provide $141 million in new funding to the Santa Clara Unified School District over a 15-year period. The school district can use the funds at their discretion on projects benefiting the community, like reducing classroom size and maintaining and attracting the best teachers.

A recent economic impact report conducted by Conventions, Sports, and Leisure International indicates that the facility could create a total of 2,230 jobs and $249 million in economic activity in the region.

The stadium with be publicly owned by a Stadium Authority, and the City of Santa Clara will retain ownership rights on the stadium’s land. The agreement must be approved by the Santa Clara City Council and a vote by the citizens of Santa Clara before the project can move forward.

“After years of hard work, we’re pleased to have reached an agreement with the City staff,” said 49ers president John York.

“The stadium will make Santa Clara an even better place to live, work, and play. Not only will this provide a world-class facility for our fans, it will also create an economic engine generating jobs and stimulus for local businesses. It’s been a successful collaboration with the City of Santa Clara, resulting in an agreement that provides the City with a significant return on its investment. We look forward with them on the next steps.”

Even though the ink is still wet on the term sheet, York sounds as if the 49ers have their bags packed with the City of San Francisco in the rear view mirror. Are the 49ers faithful ready to call their beloved San Francisco 49ers the “Santa Clara 49ers?”

“Not at all,” said long-time 49ers fan Markus Joseph. “The team is called the San Francisco 49ers because they play in San Francisco. If they move down to Santa Clara, I’m still going to call them the San Francisco 49ers because that is the team that I know!”

If the 49ers break ground on a new stadium in the City of Santa Clara and relocate there, they would join teams like the Dallas Cowboys and both the New York Giants and New York Jets that don’t play in their host cities.

The Cowboys have never called the City of Dallas home, playing at Texas Stadium in nearby Irving for 37 years. The Cowboys will move into a brand new $1.1 billion Texas Stadium in Arlington, TX this upcoming year.

Both the Giants and Jets have made Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ their home for the past 32 years, and will continue to call East Rutherford home when they move into the new Giants Stadium in 2010.

The 49ers have called the City of San Francisco home for 60 years.

For the City of Santa Clara, bringing the 49ers there would be a huge boost for the region but the citizens want their voices to be heard.

“The citizens of Santa Clara have told us that a public vote is important to them, and we will abide by the will of the voters,” York said. “Based on the new jobs, new funding for local schools and the economic impact the stadium will bring to the City, we’re confident this project will be successful at the ballot-box.”

Michael Vick As a San Francisco 49er? Hold That Thought

With rumors swirling around the San Francisco 49ers as a team possibly in the Michael Vick sweepstakes, I got one thing to say: hold that thought.

As much as it would be great to see Vick wearing the red and gold of the 49ers, is he worth the gamble and deserving of a second chance?

Vick, who was released Wednesday from the Leavenworth State Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan, will serve the final two months of a 23-month prison term for operating an illegal dogfighting ring in Hampton, VA.

For those two months in which he will be wearing an electronic monitor as part of his probation, Vick will be working a construction job making $10-an-hour. A far cry from the millions he earned as an NFL quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons.

During his up-and-down six-year NFL career, the former Virgina Tech Hokie thrilled fans with his breathtaking running ability and cannon-like arm strength. In 67 career games, Vick has passed for 11,505 yards with 71 touchdowns and 52 interceptions. Vick also has 3,859 rushing yards, ranking him third in the NFL all-time by a quarterback.

As a quarterback who was blessed with the rarest of athletic abilities, the suspended Vick owns several records.

These include the most rushing yards in a single season by a quarterback (1,039 in 2006), highest average per carry in a season (8.45 in 2006), 100-yard career rushing games by a quarterback (eight), best two game rushing yards (225 in 2004), and rushing yards in a single game (173 in 2002).

If the 49ers do decide to add the two-time Pro Bowler to the roster (who have a total of zero Pro Bowlers), not only are they giving him a second chance in the NFL, but a second chance at life.

“Obviously, I feel that everyone deserves a second chance,” said Singletary.

“You look at guys around the league, there are some guys that you just don’t know what they did. They just got lucky… Obviously, I believe guys should have a second chance. So hopefully, he gets a second chance somewhere.”

When asked if Vick could get that second chance with the 49ers, Singletary couldn’t guarantee that but kept the possibility open.

“Don’t know right now. That’s something going forward you never know. I don’t want to say absolutely not, because I’m not there,” said Singletary.

“But, I’m certainly not going to say yes. I’m just saying it’s one of those things that Scot [McCloughan] and I will continue to talk about. But, we like the guys we have here. Very excited about Shaun [Hill], very excited about Alex [Smith] and we’ve got enough on our plate right now.”

The possibility of  Vick being on the 49ers’ roster or any team’s roster, is squarely in the hands of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Vick must convince Goodell that he has learned his lesson from the dogfighting incident.

Vick definitely deserves an opportunity to resume his NFL career. Even though he hasn’t played an NFL game in nearly two years, Vick will only be 29 – prime age in the NFL.

If you think that Vick won’t be on an NFL roster this season, then you don’t know the NFL. The NFL is full of guys who were given second chances, just ask Adam Jones and Tank Johnson.

Not only could Vick be on an NFL roster, but barring a major quarterback injury or inconsistent play (pay attention Shaun Hill and Alex Smith), will see action.

Vick would become the feel good story in the NFL this season. Networks are going to be salivating at the possibility of airing a game with Vick dazzling fans once again. 

If the 49ers do sign Vick, it could help them in their efforts into building a new stadium. Vick could help boost the fan base, while repairing his image with the public.

Between now and the next two months, Vick’s situation will be intensely magnified, leaving us to ponder.

Hot Java! 49ers Hope That Coffee Can Perk Up Running Game.

When the San Francisco 49ers drafted Alabama Crimson Tide running back Glen Coffee in the middle of the third round of this past April’s NFL Draft, they envisioned a player that would complement All-Pro running back Frank Gore (who coincidentally was drafted in the third round as well).

At Alabama, Coffee was very productive for the Crimson Tide. In 35 games (17 starts) for the Crimson Tide, Coffee rushed for 2,107 yards on 410 carries while scoring 14 touchdowns. In his final season at Alabama, Coffee rushed for 1,383 yards and scored 10 touchdowns and was a semi-finalist for the Doak Walker Award which is awarded to college football’s top running back.

In a heated Southeastern Conference game against the rival Kentucky Wildcats last year, Coffee turned in one of his best performances, rushing for 218 yards on 25 carries. Coffee’s 78-yard touchdown run proved to be the difference maker as the Crimson Tide held on for the 17-14 victory. The 2008 All-SEC selection was a force to be reckoned with.

More and more teams in the NFL are relying heavily on running back tandems.

For example, Carolina Panthers electrifying runner DeAngelo Williams had 273 carries for 1,515 rushing yards with 18 touchdowns. His backup, sledgehammer Jonathan Stewart rushed for 836 yards on 184 carries and 10 touchdowns. Williams and Stewart were major reasons in the Panthers finishing third in the NFL in rushing (152.3) a game and a (12-4) season.

Coffee’s addition should help improve a 49ers rushing attack that ranked 27th in yards a game (99.9) in 2008 and give Gore more rest throughout the season. Gore runs so hard that he’s susceptible to big hits and missed games.

Since his breakout 2006 season when he rushed for a franchise record 1,695 yards and eight touchdowns in 16 starts, Gore’s starts have decreased since. In 2007, he started 15 games, and 14 games last year. Gore still managed to rush for 1,036 yards and six touchdowns on 240 carries in 2008.

The 6’0″, 209 lbs. Coffee is built a bit unusual. With thin hips, Coffee lacks the bulk in the core and lower body to be a tremendous power runner. With a running style that’s reminiscent of former Crimson Tide, Shaun Alexander, Coffee likes to run over defenders but has been know to go down easy at times. But, the 49ers do believe that the combination of Gore and Coffee will translate into a stronger running game.

Even though Coffee was known more for his running skills at Alabama, he was an underrated receiver out of the back field.

Along with his 1,383 rushing yards in his final season, Coffee also added 42 catches for 351 yards receiving and two touchdowns. When the 49ers have both Gore and Coffee lined up in the back field, opposing defenses are going to have to take notice.

Vernon Davis: It’s Time for You To Take the Lead in San Francisco

San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis is entering a possible “make or break” season this year. If the 49ers want to take the next step forward towards a division title and a playoff berth in the ever-so changing of the guard of the NFL, Davis’s performance will be key.

Flashback to last season’s Week Eight game against the Seattle Seahawks. Late in the third quarter, Davis is ordered off the field and back to the locker by then interim 49ers head coach Mike Singletary for slapping a Seahawks player’s helmet, earning the 49ers a personal foul. As Davis is leaving the field, he pretends to not know why Singletary was upset.

Remember Singletary’s postgame rant?

“I will not tolerate players that think it’s about them,” Singletary said. “We cannot make decisions that cost the team, and then come off the sideline and its nonchalant. No…I’d rather play with 10 people and just get penalized all the way until we have to do something else rather than play with 11 when I know that person is not sold out to be part of this team.”

“I told him that he would do a better job for us right now taking a shower and coming back and watching the game than going out on the field, simple as that,” Singletary said.

In the end, Davis’ penalty became costly and the 49ers got ran out of their own building losing 34-13. The loss was the 49ers’ fifth straight in a season that turned into a 7-9 finish. After the game, Davis tried to have a conversation with Singletary, but Singletary was still too hot to speak.

“I don’t think I did anything wrong,” Davis said. “If the coach thinks I did something wrong, I have to listen to him. He’s the boss. I don’t know what was going on. I already know about Coach Singletary. He wants to win, and he’s a hard-working guy. He won’t tolerate anything.”

Fast forward to the upcoming 2009 NFL season.

Entering his fourth season, Davis is far removed from being the drafted sixth overall by the 49ers in the 2006 NFL Draft out of the University of Maryland. The 6’3″, 250 lbs. Davis was going to provide the 49ers with an instant playmaking tight end that has not been on the roster since former 49ers great, Brent Jones.

If Davis is going to live up to his high draft pick and become a perennial All-Pro, he needs to have a monster season for the 49ers. The 2008 season was a step back for Davis.

Davis started all 16 games and had 31 catches for 358 receiving yards and two touchdowns. In 2007, Davis had his best season, catching 52 passes for 508 receiving yards with four touchdowns while starting 14 games. It would be tremendous for the 49ers if Davis’ 2009 season, statistically, can be a combination of both.

The more catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns for Davis, the better.

If Davis wants to point a finger towards someone for his inability to progress, he should point towards 49ers brass for a high turnover rate at offensive coordinator. Former New York Jets running backs coach Jimmy Raye will be the 49ers seventh offensive coordinator in the last seven years.

With a battle at quarterback between Shaun Hill, former first rounder Alex Smith, and Ball State’s signal caller Nate Davis (no relation) highlighting the 49ers’ upcoming training camp this summer, the other spotlight will be on the tight end. I’m most certainly sure that 49ers fans are hoping that Davis can finally realize that he is a star in the making by producing more on the field.

Whomever emerges from the quarterback competition is going to need a focused and determined Davis on every snap. If 49ers wide receivers happen to be well covered down field, get the ball to No. 85 in a hurry.

Instead of slapping opposing player’s helmets, Davis needs to act more like a veteran than a wide-eyed rookie by taking more of leadership role on a team that has not made the playoffs since 2002.

The 49ers are one of the younger teams in the NFL and Davis has become one of the organization’s most recognizable players, not for his play or marble-chiseled physique, but for his immaturity.

By stepping up and taking more of a leadership role, not only will it be beneficial for Davis’ sake, but for the team’s sake as well.

NFC West Up For Grabs: Cardinals Sit on Perch, 49ers Look to Overtake

Okay, is this the season that one of these four teams in the NFC West wins 10 games? Can someone please step up to the plate and take this division by horns instead of having it being called a “mockery” by football experts?

Arizona Cardinals Prediction for 2009: (9-7); NFC West finish: second.

How can we forget about the Arizona Cardinals who finished (9-7) and on top of the division? Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner a stellar season passing for 4,583 yards and 30 touchdowns while guiding the Cardinals to the NFC Championship.

Warner led a Cardinals offense that finished fourth in the NFL in total offense by averaging 26.7 points a game.

Wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin were major factors in Warner’s season.

Fitzgerald was dominating opposing cornerbacks, leading the team in catches (96), receiving yards (1,431), and touchdowns (12). Fitzgerald played even better in the playoffs, registering 546 yards receiving and seven touchdown catches.

Boldin,who has been rumored in many trade talks, had a great season of his own hauling in 89 catches with 1,038 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns while playing in 12 games.

The Cardinals’, which finished 19th in the NFL in total defense, has play makers on defense. Linebacker enforcer Karlos Dansby made plays all over the field, raking in 119 tackles and four sacks.

Adrian Wilson is a versatile strong safety that is dynamite against the run, and fast enough to cover tight ends and wide receivers. Rookie phenom Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie played well at cornerback last year showing toughness lining up against receivers like Terrell Owens and Steve Smith.

Rodgers-Cromartie finished with four interceptions.

So the question remains, can the Cardinals repeat as division champions and play in January?

With conference road games against the New York Giants and the Chicago Bears, and out of conference road games against the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Cardinals are going to have their work cut of for them. Both the Giants and the Titans finished in the Top 10 in the NFL in total defense last year.

The Cardinals will hope to rekindle the magic that carried them to the Super Bowl, but as we have seen over the past few years that the teams that have played in the NFC Championship game the previous year did not make it back to the game the following year.

Just like Cardinal red, the Cardinals will have a huge red spotlight on their backs this upcoming season.

San Francisco 49ers Prediction for 2009: (10-6); NFC West finish: first.

Hey 49ers fans, do you remember the heartbreaking 29-24 loss to the Cardinals on Monday Night Football back in October? Well for those of you that painfully remember that, it is time to get over it and move on. This is a brand new season and with a brand new season comes optimism.

That was the first game for interim head coach Mike Singletary, who took over for the fired Mike Nolan. After that loss, the 49ers were at (2-7) and again another staring at a sixth straight loosing season.

The following week, Singletary got his win as an NFL head coach when the 49ers dismantled the St. Louis Rams 35-16 in front of raucous Candlestick Park crowd. From there on, Singletary guided the 49ers to an impressive finish leading the team to a (5-2) record down the stretch and earning the permanent head coaching job.

After the team’s final home game, a 27-24 win over the Washington Redskins, 49ers young team president Jed York stated, “this is the last time that our season ends in December.”

With Singletary in place as head coach, the 49ers should take a step forward this year rather than take a step back like last year’s (7-9) season showed. The main question that will be continually asked, who will be Singletary’s main guy at quarterback?

Will it be the former number one overall draft pick Alex Smith? Smith, who has been placed on injured reserve the last two years needs to remain healthy if he expects to play.

Smith entered last year with a (7-5) record in the last 12 games that he played in. It doesn’t hurt either that Smith has had to learn a new offense every year since being drafted back in 2005.

Shaun Hill has played well when he has stepped on the field for the 49ers. Hill started the Monday night game against the Cardinals and showed that he is more than capable of leading the team. In the eight games that Hill started, he passed for 2,046 yards with 13 touchdowns to eight interceptions.

With the drafting of Texas Tech’s weapon wide receiver Michael Crabtree with the 10th overall pick, the 49ers are hoping that they have found a guy who is going to make plays in crucial situations.

The two-time Fred Bilentnikoff winner, given to college football’s best wide receiver, should greatly upgrade a position that showed inconsistencies at times through out the season.

Frank Gore is still the 49ers work horse, but needs to hold on to the ball more. Even though he still managed to rush for 1,036 yards and score six touchdowns, Gore still manage to fumble the ball six times which was second to only Minnesota Vikings’ running back Adrian Peterson.

Defensively, the 49ers should remain much improved this season.

Middle linebacker Patrick Willis remains a stud for the 49ers. Willis finished second in the NFL with 141 tackles and is the type of player that Singletary loves. Tough, hungry, and fast, Willis has a motor that continues to run which helps fuels that defense. Defensive end Parys Haralson led all 49ers with eight sacks.

Three of the 49ers’ first five games are against division opponets. The 49ers are going to be tested early when they have the Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks on back-to-back weeks. Then they face the Rams two weeks later.

If the 49ers can open up the season winning those early games  within the division, it will speak volumes for them the rest of the season.

Seattle Seahawks Prediction for 2009: (8-8); NFC West finish: third.

This year’s theme for the Seattle Seahawks: Rebuilding. That’s right, rebuilding.

The Seahawks are sure in a rebuilding year, coming off a (4-12) season that saw its franchise quarterback Matt Hasselbeck loss for the majority of the season with a back injury. 2008 was a nightmarish season for Hasselbeck, who threw only five touchdowns  with 10 interceptions.

Should Hasselbeck go down again, backup quarterback Seneca Wallace is more than capable of leading the Seahawks. Wallace passed for 1,532 yards with 11 touchdowns to only three interceptions in the eight games he started last year.

Either its Hasselbeck or Wallace, neither one of them should have problems completing a pass to the Seahawks new number one receiver.

When T.J. Houshmanzadeh left the Cincinnati Bengals and signed a five-year $40 million deal with the Seahawks back on March 4th, the Seahawks hit a home run. Houshmanzadeh, along with Chad Ocho Cinco put up some gaudy numbers as a unit. Now that Housmanzadeh is flying solo, his numbers could be even better this year.

Mike Holmgren, who spent nine seasons in the Emerald City as the man controlling the side lines, retired. Former Atlanta Falcons head coach Jim Mora takes over for Holmgren who wanted to spend more time with his family.

Mora a defensive guy, will have arguably the best linebacker in the division not named Patrick Willis calling his defensive schemes.

Lofa Tatupu has become a fan favorite of Seahawks fans and is one of their most recognizable players. He makes huge plays for a Seahawks defense that finished 30th in the NFL in total defense. Tatupu finished with 94 tackles one the season and provides leadership in the locker room, and off the field.

With the trade of five-time Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson to the Detroit Lions, the Seahawks spent their fourth overall draft pick on Wake Forest beast Aaron Curry. The Dick Butkus Award winning linebacker given to college football’s best linebacker, should come in and become the replacement for the departed Peterson.

By Thanksgiving, the Seahawks will know if they are playoff bound. Four of their five November contents this season will be on the road.

St. Louis Rams Prediction for 2009: (5-11); NFC West finish: fourth.

Another team in the division with a new head coach, the St. Louis Rams (2-14) was a team in disarray last season.

Gone is offensive minded Scott Linehan, and in comes defensive lobbyist Steve Spagnuolo the former Giants defensive coordinator.

Spagnuolo is inheriting a team that has not made the playoffs since 2004, and not won a division title since 2001. As a first year coach, Spagnuolo is going to have a tough time trying to mold the Rams back into competitors.

Rams quarterback Marc Bulger needs to have time and protection in order for the Rams to go any where.

In 15 starts last season, Bulger threw for 2,720 yards with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Bulger’s numbers could have been better if his offensive line could have kept him upright. Bulger was sacked 38 times last year, fourth in the NFL.

Offensive tackle Orlando Pace, the team’s number one overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft, was cut in a salary cap move. The Rams believed that they have found Pace’s replacement in Baylor University’s offensive tackle Jason Smith.

Smith, is a mountain. 6’5″, 309 lbs and will be tabbed to protect Bulger’s blind spot. Not only will he protect Bulger’s blind spot, but should open up holes for running back Steven Jackson so that he can have the chance to make some big runs.

With the release of former star wide receiver Tory Holt, the Rams will look to second year wide receiver Donnie Avery to become the team’s new go-to wide receiver.

The former University of Houston receiver showed great promise last year, finishing second  behind Holt on the team in catches (54) and receiving yards (684) while tying for the most touchdowns (3).

The Rams are about two to three years away from being serious contenders in the NFC West. With five of their first eight games of the season on the road, the Rams are going to seriously struggle and Spagnuolo will be wishing that he stayed with the Giants.

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