If Jake Locker Enters The Draft, The Seattle Seahawks Have To Take Him

Let’s face it Seahawks’ fans—Matt Hasselbeck is old and on his way out.  

At age 34, Hasselbeck has endured a plethora of injuries to say the least, and I can’t imagine he has more than a couple seasons left in the tank. It’s clear that Seattle will need a quarterback for the future, and Jake Locker is the answer.

After last week’s loss to the Cardinals, it appears that Seattle is out of the NFC West race, and could very well be picking in the top-five or 10 in the draft again. Now, no one knows for sure if Locker will forego his last year at Washington to enter the draft, but if he does, chances are he’ll be one of the first quarterbacks selected. 

The Seahawks probably should have drafted a quarterback to start developing under Hasselbeck by now. His contract is up at the end of this year, and who knows what his plans are. And the chances that current back-up Seneca Wallace would be named the permanent predecessor are unlikely.

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford injured his shoulder again this year, which will likely hurt his draft position. This means Locker, and possibly Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen could be the best names on the board when Seattle picks. And if draft history repeats itself, a quarterback is almost certain to go in the top-five. 

A year with Steve Sarkisian has done wonders for Locker as a pocket passer. Sark moved Locker away from the mobile-style that former Washington coach Tyrone Willingham implemented for him. 

Besides his strong arm, Locker runs about a 4.4 second 40-yard dash, making him just about as fast as anyone in the NFL.

The Seahawks have taken defensive players in the first round for the last two years, which has helped, but I think it’s time for Seattle to draft a player that they can re-build the franchise around. That player has to be Locker. 

While another year under Sarkisian at Washington would help Locker develop more, playing for a few seasons under a veteran and former pro bowler like Hasselbeck could show him a thing or two about how to be successful in the NFL. 

Locker would have a chance to play in front of his home state where people already worship the ground he walks on, and he could be the player to someday change the way things have been going for the Seahawks lately. 

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2009 AFC East Predictions: Brady, Pats Take Division Back

4. Buffalo Bills: 6-10

So they got Terrell Owens. This doesn’t really mean all that much.

Owens can’t single handedly take a lame Bills team and make them a contender. However a Lee Evans-Terrell Owens tandem could really help quarterback Trent Edwards.

If Marshawn Lynch could get his act together, Buffalo’s defense wouldn’t be half bad, but his troubles off the field seem to be out-weighing anything he’s done on the field. He put together 1,036 yards with eight touchdowns in 2008, and he’s capable of doing it again. Here’s the catch- Lynch has to be able to play.

The Bills started 4-0 in 2008, but people failed to realize they played Seattle, Jacksonville, Oakland, and St. Louis, none of who won more than five games last year. 

Head coach Dick Jauron has yet to find success in Buffalo, going 7-9 in each of his three seasons. As a matter of fact, Jauron has only had one winning season in his eight seasons as a head coach, not counting his 1-4 stint as an interim in Detroit. 

Buffalo’s defense ranked 14th in 2008, and I think they can be right around there again. Linebacker Paul Posluszny was named the team’s Defensive MVP last year, and could be on his way to his first Pro Bowl this year. 

There are quite a few returning starters on defense, giving me a feeling that Buffalo’s D could have a better year than the offense. 

The sixth hardest schedule in football will not make 2009 any easier for the Bills, as they’ll struggle and round out the AFC East.

3. Miami Dolphins: 8-8

The Dolphins were beyond a sleeper team in 2008. After winning just one game in ’07, Miami won the AFC East and shocked the NFL.

This year Miami will have the toughest schedule in the NFL which should be partially accountable for the Dolphins being just average in 2009. 

Who knows if Chad Pennington will stay healthy, but if he does, the Dolphins should be in good shape. Pennington has always been a quarterback who has a high passer rating and isn’t really known to throw lots of interceptions. 

Ronnie Brown’s health is pretty important as well. Miami’s running game can really take off due to an offensive line that is only getting better. If Brown is healthy all season, he can probably improve on his 900 yards and 10 touchdowns from last season. 

Jason Taylor returns on defense to finish out his career as a Dolphin. It’s always good to see players return to where they spent the majority of their careers, but I don’t see Taylor averaging anywhere near his standard 10 sacks or more a year that he used to get in Miami. But he can still be an impact player for the Dolphins.

Playing opposite Taylor is Joey Porter. I have a feeling these two linebackers are going to be a handful for some offenses. 

The bottom line is that Bill Parcells has been a very positive addition to the Dolphins franchise, and Tony Sparano is just getting his feet wet. I expect great things from Miami in the future, but 2009 might be a bit of a step backwards. 

2. New York Jets: 9-7

Eric Mangini is out, and the defensive minded Rex Ryan is in. This is good for the Jets franchise, and I see them winning some games this year.

Rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez might not have the easiest transition into the NFL, playing Houston, New England, Tennessee, and New Orleans to start the year. But I think Sanchez is going to have some success. 

The Jets have one of the better offensive lines in football, with Alan Faneca, D’Brickashaw Ferguson, and one of the best young centers in the game in Nick Mangold. 

Last year that same offensive line helped Thomas Jones to one of his more successful years. Behind Jones is Leon Washington, who could also have a big year, giving the Jets a double threat running game.

Consistent with the rest of the AFC East, the Jets have a pretty tough schedule, ranking seventh in the NFL. 

I like the Jets’ linebackers this year, with Bart Scott and and David Harris (if he doesn’t get traded for Brandon Marshall). Also at the linebacker position is Vernon Gholston, who I could really see fitting into Rex Ryan’s defense. 

New York could have been a 10 or 11 win team last year, and they’re probably still capable of this now. But Rex Ryan’s entrance could change a few things for the Jets. Give it time and you should be seeing this team at better than 9-7.

1. New England Patriots: 12-4

Let’s just say this now and then get on to the rest of the Patriots’ analysis: Tom Brady is back, he’s the man, and now that he’s healthy, New England should be one of the best teams in the NFL. 

The Patriots have the best coach in Bill Belichick, and even with Brady out for the whole season last year, he coached the Pats to 11 wins with Matt Cassell at QB. Belichick is the football Jesus with cut-off sleeves on his sweatshirt. 

I see no real flaws with the defense or the offense in New England. They recently made a move for the future by dealing Richard Seymour to Oakland for a 2011 first round pick. He’ll be missed, but a tough New England defense should be able to bounce back.

New England’s offense ranked fifth in the league last season with Cassell at the helm- a quarterback I find overrated. With Brady healthy, I see this offense being quite a bit better. 

No need to go much further in depth here- The Pats are the real deal. 

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2009 AFC North Predictions: Champs Edge Birds

4. Cleveland Browns: 3-13

Eric Mangini takes over a franchise that has talent but lacks leadership.

First and foremost, the quarterback issue needs to be addressed. Is it Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn? If I had to guess right now, I’d give the nod to Quinn, just because of how poorly Anderson played in 2008. Quinn deserves at least a shot.

The fact that we’re one preseason game away from Week One and the Browns still don’t know who will be behind center means that Jamal Lewis’ job is going to be pretty important. The only problem with Lewis is that he’ll accumulate a thousand yards in a season but he rarely finds the end-zone. Lewis is also over 30 years old now, which is often times when running backs start deteriorating.

Potentially taking carries away from Lewis in 2009 could be rookie James Davis from Clemson, a member of the 2006 All-ACC team. Davis went for 116 yards and a touchdown in the Browns’ preseason game against the Lions.  

The Browns’ defense isn’t good, and they were one of the worst teams in the NFL at stopping the run in 2008. However, Rob Ryan is the new defensive coordinator, and this guy knows his football. He was responsible for quite a few successful pass defenses in Oakland.

Cleveland is going to be one of the worst teams in the league this year, but now that the horrendous Romeo Crennel era is over, things should start looking up in the next few years.

3. Cincinnati Bengals: 8-8

How Marvin Lewis kept his job after the last two disastrous years in Cincinnati is a mystery. 

The Bengals haven’t been over .500 since 2005, and 2009 will be no different. Even with a healthy Carson Palmer, this team has too many off-field issues and a major lack of team chemistry.

Cincy lost T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but added Laveranues Colesan—an aging receiver who can still produce decent numbers. He could very well end up being the most productive of the Bengals’ receivers due to double coverage on Chad Ochocinco. 

Barring any troubles with the law, wide receiver Chris Henry has a promising career ahead of him. Word has it that Henry worked especially hard this offseason and has turned his act around. Palmer and Henry appear to be on the same page, which should be a nice change for a quarterback who’s had to deal with Ochocinco’s stints for nearly his whole career. 

On defense, the Bengals got an absolute steal in the second round of the draft by taking linebacker Rey Maualuga out of USC. He’ll play along side former USC teammate Keith Rivers. The future of the Bengals D looks menacing. 

Another troubled player, running back Cedric Benson, returns to the Bengals for a second season. Along with Henry, it appears that Benson has his priorities straight and will be the starting running back. 

The Bengals could be one of those teams that no one expects to do well and ends up winning 10 games. They have the talent, but as I mentioned, team chemistry may do them in. 

2. Baltimore Ravens: 10-6

Joe Flacco was the man in ’08, the defense rocked, and the Ravens were a game away from the Super Bowl.

Let’s start with the defense. Second in the total defense, with a secondary that’ll really bug a quarterback. They’re defensive line finished third in the league in defending the run as well. If you have to pick the best unit in football (offense or defense), this Baltimore D is right up there.

The Ravens’ secondary is stacked with Ed Reed, Fabian Washington, and newly acquired cornerback Domonique Foxworth. Then looking at the d-line, names like Ray Lewis, and Haloti Ngata.

Lines coach Greg Mattison was promoted to defensive coordinator with the departure of Rex Ryan. Mattison knows this defense because he’s been a part of this coaching staff, but has big shoes to fill. You have to think that Ryan was at least partially responsible for the success of Baltimore’s defense. 

Flacco threw for nearly 3,000 yards in his rookies season, and he’s known for his rocket of an arm. It will be interesting to see if last year’s Rookie of The Year can pick up where he left off.

Baltimore’s offense finished 18th last season and didn’t do a much this off-season to change that. Expect the Ravens to depend on their defense to win games, but look to Flacco for leadership.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers: 12-4

The Ravens are good, but the Steelers are just flat out better.

Super Bowl XL left a bitter taste in my mouth as a Seahawks fan, but after Pittsburgh’s second Super Bowl win in four years, it’s clear that this Steelers team is on the cusp of a dynasty.

Ben Roethlisberger is clutch, and no one can debate that. The Steelers offense features two running backs in Rashard Mendenhall and an experienced Willie Parker. This tandem worked well last season, and I don’t see them having a problem splitting carries in ’09.

As for Big Ben’s receivers, Hines Ward is still one of the better wide-outs in the game, and I believe that Santonio Holmes is well on his way to being in that same elite group. Heath Miller is also one of the league’s best tight ends. 

While Pittsburgh has a great quarterback in Roethlisberger and a good offense, there’s no doubt that the defense is statistically the better unit. If it weren’t for James Harrison and this beefy D, the Lombardi trophy could be in Phoenix right now.

The linebacker duo of James Farrior and Lawrence Timmons is just flat out terrifying. And with strong safety Troy Polamalu and cornerback Ike Taylor, this defense is no slouch.

Mike Tomlin has gone from an unknown assistant to a world champion in a two-year period. This gives me a feeling that the Steelers are going to be contenders in the AFC for years to come, and they may not be done collecting hardware. 

 

 

2009 AFC West Predictions: Bolts Cruise

NFC East: It’s the New York Giants’ Division

4. Washington Redskins: 9-7

The quarterback issue in D.C. isn’t pretty.

The Redskins shopped around for other quarterbacks this offseason, but they have decided to stick with Jason Campbell for the last year of his contract. 

I can’t imagine that Campbell is too happy with the Redskins’ Josh McDaniels-esque attempts this summer, and his poor preseason play has reflected that. 

Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts will provide an above average running game for Washington, which should be the biggest factor in the Redskins’ success this year. They finished eighth in rushing in 2008, and I’d expect similar numbers in 2009.

The Redskins went out at signed defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and drafted Brian Orakpo to add to an already strong defense. Washington finished fourth in the NFL in total defense last year, and after adding Haynesworth and Orakpo, it could be the best.

I’m not sure if Jim Zorn has everyone on board in Washington. Portis made that clear last season when he spoke out on the radio about how Zorn was a “genious.” If Zorn can build a stronger relationship with his players, especially Campbell, the Redskins will be a winning football team this season. 

Unfortunately, a winning record doesn’t guarantee anything in the stacked NFC East. 

 

3. Dallas Cowboys: 10-6

OK, so T.O. is gone, and I don’t know if this is a good thing for the Cowboys.

Sure, he was a constant attention whore and always found his way into the news. But when you put all of that aside, Owens is one of the best receivers in the league.

Now, Dallas has to rely on Roy Williams and Patrick Crayton. Both Crayton and Williams are good receivers, but I don’t consider them on the same tier as an Owens-type wideout.

Regardless, Tony Romo is a proven veteran, and I imagine he’ll work with what he’s given. We know that Romo can perform in the regular season, and we know that he is a leader.

The thing we’re yet to see is playoff success from Romo’s Cowboys—maybe that botched snap in 2007 will haunt him for the rest of his career.

The Cowboys’ defense is full of big playmakers. With a defensive line featuring DeMarcus Ware, and a secondary with Ken Hamlin and Terrance Newman, Dallas should be scary. 

Wade Phillips’ job depends on this season, in my opinion. When Phillips inherited this Cowboys’ team, there seemed to be no doubt that he’d have Dallas back on top for a while. Now, one might think that Dallas’ 13-3 record in Phillips’ first season could have been a product of Bill Parcells. 

I think there is a possibility that the window of opportunity could be coming to a close for the Phillips era, because just getting a winning record is never enough for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys. 

 

2. Philadelphia Eagles: 11-5

After falling one game short of the Super Bowl in 2008, the Eagles will be gunning for a division title, a trip to the postseason, and the one thing this team hasn’t accomplished with Andy Reid at the helm: A world championship.

Rookie receiver Jeremy Maclin could be a sleeper for Philly this year, and I look for him to contribute to this offense. Add DeSean Jackson, who now has a very successful first year under his belt, and you have a solid corps for potentially the next five or six years. 

Keeping Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook healthy will likely determine the outcome of the Eagles’ season. Both stars have struggled with injuries over the last few years, and if they can both just make it through a whole season, the Eagles will win a lot of games.

Westbrook is fresh off of surgery on his knee, which is something that fantasy owners and Eagles fans alike should watch out for. 

Who knows what Michael Vick will bring to Philadelphia in 2009. Vick might play a little receiver, act as a decoy in the backfield, or just back up McNabb. But one thing is for sure—Philly won’t be his last stop, but rather the first step in him becoming a starter again someday. As for now, he’ll help sell tickets and he just might contribute to this Eagles team. 

Cornerback is a position that the Eagles won’t have a problem with this year, and that position could carry the defense. Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel are two corners who are always known as playmakers. Throw Quintin Mikell in there and you have yourself a secondary. ,

Don’t count the Eagles out, because even as a Wild Card, they can be scary. Take last year for example. 

 

1. New York Giants: 12-4

The Giants are going to be one of the most well-rounded teams in the NFL this year. 

They have their quarterback. Overpaid or not, Eli Manning has gotten the job done in the past, and he’s going to be keep doing it. With the departures of Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, the receivers won’t have a whole lot of experience. 

Look for Steve Smith, Domenik Hixon, and rookie Hakeem Nicks to be the top receivers for New York this year. Smith and Hixon led the Giants in receptions and yards, respectively, and they should be OK without any real superstars on the roster at receiver. 

They have their running game. The Giants’ run blocking was the best in the game in 2008, and this shouldn’t change this year.

Give a lot of this credit to Shaun O’Hara and Chris Snee, who both earned Pro Bowl honors last season. All five starters from the offensive line are returning for 2009.

Behind this offensive line is the 6’4″, 260-pound Brandon Jacobs. The bottom line is that the dude can run, and he can be difficult to stop. His sidekick is Ahmad Bradshaw, and with the departure of Derrick Ward, look for Bradshaw to get some carries. 

They have their defense. Where to begin? The Giants defense is absolutely stacked. The defensive line features Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, and former Seahawk Rocky Bernard. And don’t forget about linebackers Antonio Pierce and Michael Boley either. 

They’ll have an NFC East title. On both sides of the ball, the Giants look flat-out good. The Giants will win one of the most talented divisions this year.  

2009 NFC South Predictions: Panthers, Saints Look Good

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-11

There are a lot of uncertainties about Tampa Bay this year. 

When Jon Gruden was let go, the Bucs got rid of virtually all of their coaches, and the majority of the veterans who had been playing there for a while. Ike Hilliard, Jeff Garcia, Cato June, Warrick Dunn, Joey Galloway, and Derrick Brooks were the most notable.

This season, it looks like Luke McCown will be the starting quarterback. McCown doesn’t have a whole lot of experience, but back in 2007 he played games and looked good. 

The Bucs are in a rebuilding year right now, and I wouldn’t expect to see McCown behind center for more than a year or so. With the 17th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Tampa Bay took quarterback Josh Freeman from Kansas State. If all goes well, Freeman will be the future at quarterback in Tampa. 

One aspect of the Buccaneers that I like is their running game. With Earnest Graham and Derrick Ward in the backfield, Tampa Bay’s running should pick up the slack for a passing game that may not be that great. And if Cadillac Williams is healthy, that should make them even better. 

It’s going to take a few years for the Bucs to get back to the top of the South. 

3. Atlanta Falcons: 7-9

Matt Ryan had a phenomenal rookie season, Michael Turner was one of the best running backs in the league, and Mike Smith did a terrific job in his first year as a head coach.

Things won’t be so peachy this year for the Falcons. 

Some people seem to believe that the NFL strength of schedule doesn’t mean a whole lot, but for Atlanta this year, it definitely does. They’ll play both the NFC East and AFC East, not to mention the NFC South is talented also. 

I’m not knocking the Falcon’s talent, because Ryan and Turner will both probably have good years, and they added Tony Gonzalez. But my biggest concern is that this won’t be enough.

It won’t be enough because Atlanta’s defense isn’t going to be very special this year. Up-and-coming cornerback Domonique Foxworth signed a four-year deal with Baltimore this offseason, leaving the Falcons’ secondary looking bleak. 

John Abraham will provide some leadership for a defense that is pretty young and looking to get better. 

2. New Orleans Saints: 10-6

With one of the best (if not the best) offenses in the NFL, the New Orleans Saints should contend for the NFC South this year. 

Drew Brees should have another big year, and he has a great group to throw to in Lance Moore, Marques Colston, and Jeremy Shockey at tight end.

It seems to be a foregone conclusion that Brees will be a Pro Bowler this year, and he’ll probably throw for around 4,000 yards and about 30 touchdowns. What we don’t know about the Saints is if their running game will be rejuvenated in ’09.

Reggie Bush has dealt with injuries over the last two seasons, but it appears that he’s nearly healthy again after having surgery this offseason. I really think that this is the season that Bush will need to return to his rookie season form in order for New Orleans to make the playoffs, let alone have a winning record. 

Pierre Thomas provided the Saints with a back-up running back to fall back on when Bush got hurt last year. In five starts, Thomas rushed for nine touchdowns and 625 yards.

Similar to the Atlanta Falcons, the Saints rely heavily on their offense and struggle on the defensive side of the ball. While New Orleans led the NFL in both total offense and passing in 2008, they finished 23rd in defense. 

The D will be better this year. Cornerback Malcolm Jenkins has a year of experience under his belt. New Orleans also has Jonathan Vilma, and newcomer Darren Sharper to turn to. This unit could be revamped this season.

I like the Saints to win 10.

1. Carolina Panthers: 11-5

After an early exit from the postseason in 2008, I feel like the Panthers have something to prove this year—they can win in the regular season and the playoffs.

DeAngelo Williams broke out last season with 20 touchdowns and 1,600 yards, and he should be one of the top running backs in the NFL this season. Williams is only entering his fourth year in the league, and has great hand, not fumbling once last season. Throw Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith in with Williams and you’re set.

The Panthers’ defense was a bit of a problem last season. They addressed that problem this offseason by adding defensive coordinator Ron Meeks, who spent the last seven seasons in Indianapolis. 

Meeks was partially responsible for the development of Dwight Freeney, and I could see him doing the same with another young defensive end in rookie Everette Brown. Brown will spend time behind Julius Peppers which can’t hurt his development either. 

Carolina is one of the most well-rounded teams in the NFL this year as well. They have a top-five running back (and a solid back-up in Jonathan Stewart), a reliable quarterback, and a possibly revamped defense.

I think the Panthers have what it takes to edge out the Saints by a slim margin. 

 

2009 NFC North Predictions: Why Brett Favre Won’t Tame the Chicago Bears

4. Detroit Lions: 3-13

We know they are the absolute lame duck of this division and of the NFL for that matter, but the Detroit Lions are going to win a few games this year.

Matthew Stafford should be the starter, and I think he’ll have a shot to do alright with the mediocre amount of talent he’s been given. Stafford could just be the first building block in getting the Lions back to a legit NFL franchise.

Stafford will get to throw to Calvin Johnson, who was one of the only bright spots in Detroit’s 2008 season. He improved so much from his first season, and I think he’s only going to get better through NFL experience.

The Lions also traded for linebacker Julian Peterson. He was a Pro Bowler last season, and will be another bright spot for a team that will undoubtedly struggle.

New coach, new attitude, new franchise quarterback—all good things. It’s just going to take time.

 

3. Green Bay Packers: 9-7

Aaron Rodgers is starting to get comfortable in his skin as a starter. And for most quarterbacks, success doesn’t come immediately. 

Rodgers has a couple experienced receivers in Greg Jennings and Donald Driver. Rodgers’ 4,000-plus yards, 28 touchdowns, and good passer rating last year can put some optimism for a winning season in Green Bay also.

I’m not too sure what to expect from Ryan Grant. He had average stats last season, but it will be interesting to see if he can return to ’07 form this year.

The Packers defense was still pretty good last season, and B.J. Raji could add a whole lot to that side of the ball. Green Bay also has one of the best sets of cornerbacks in the league.

Green Bay looks good, but they’ll be playing in what could pan out to be one of the tougher and more competitive divisions in football.

 

2. Minnesota Vikings: 10-6

Before Brett Favre decided to show up all movie star like, Adrian Peterson looked like the only player who would shine for the Vikes on the offensive side of the ball, and it was hard to predict what Minnesota would look like.

But now that Favre is in Minnesota, not only is the quarterback position a whole lot better, but it’s going to make Visanthe Shiancoe, Bernard Berrian, and all of the Vikings receivers better too.

Favre is coming off surgery, but it sounds like he’ll be ready to go come Week One. My only concern is that Favre could potentially one big hit away from retirement, and if that happens, Minnesota has to turn to Tavaris Jackson and/or Sage Rosenfels.

With a beefy defense, a great O-line (i.e. Steve Hutchinson), the Vikings should reach double digit victories this year. Peterson is one of the best players in the NFL, and I don’t see any reason why this team shouldn’t make the playoffs. 

 

1. Chicago Bears: 12-4

With the easiest schedule in football and a shiny new quarterback, I like the Bears to win the NFC North. 

For the past few years, Chicago has had a strong defense, but they’ve had trouble finding consistent success on offense. Jay Cutler should help this problem quite a bit.

The Bears defense didn’t really lose anyone in the offseason, and they added Pisa Tinoisamoa at linebacker. Tinoisamoa led the Rams in tackles last season, and could be an ace in the hole on a talented Bears’ defense. 

Chicago’s offense will be strong in both running and passing for the first time in a while. The Bears have a proven quarterback to go along with Matt Forte, who had a stellar rookie season in 2008.

The pieces of the puzzle are all here in 2009 for the Bears. Both sides of the ball look strong, they’re well coached, and Soldier Field is always a tough field to play on. Cutler will get his first taste of the post-season this year with Chicago. 

2009 NFC West Predictions

Regardless of people saying the NFC West is the worst division in football, they have sent two teams to the Super Bowl in the past four seasons. I think the NFC West could be one of the most competitive and wide open divisions in the game. 

Here’s how I think it’s going to shake down:

4. St. Louis Rams: 6-10

Steve Spanguolo is the right man for this job. I’m not sure if he’ll bring the Rams back to its “greatest show on turf” days, but St. Louis is now moving in the right direction.

St. Louis’ biggest problem is their lack of a great quarterback. Marc Bulger has declined considerably in each of the past two or three seasons, and as his career nears its end, I’ll be shocked if he stays healthy for 16 games. 

Bulger’s 2004 Pro Bowl year is well behind him, and in the last two seasons, he’s thrown a combined 28 interceptions with his passer rating dropping more than 20 points. 

Bulger aside, the Rams are mainly a run-oriented football team, and with a guy like Steven Jackson, there’s no reason they shouldn’t be. Jackson is one of the best running backs in the league, and he’s going to be the biggest building block in this major rebuilding process.

It won’t happen this year, but the Rams are going to be atop the NFC West some year soon. As for now, I think six wins is going to be considered a success because that’s more wins than this team has gotten in the last two years. 

3. Arizona Cardinals: 8-8

Was last season a fluke for the team that represented the NFC in the Super Bowl? It’s a close call. 

First off, I don’t see Kurt Warner pulling a miracle like he did last year by playing all 16 regular season games. This guy is old as dirt. Not to mention he had surgery this offseason. 

The biggest reason that Arizona won’t be winning this division is because of their poor defense. The Cardinals were blown out a handful of times last season (most notably a 47-7 loss to the Patriots late in the season), and never allowed less than 10 points in a game. 

This means that the Cards will have to rely heavily on their offense alone. This worked in the playoffs last year, but I just don’t see it happening again. Right now, Anquan Boldin isn’t too happy in Arizona, and this is not good. Often, when a star wide receiver has an ego and isn’t happy, it affects the whole team.

2. San Francisco 49ers: 8-8

I think the Niners could potentially be one year away from the playoffs.

The quarterback situation in Frisco isn’t too great, but if Shaun Hill can perform like he did last year, the 49ers will look just fine. It’s unfortunate that Alex Smith has had injuries, but even without them, I don’t think he’s that great.

Hill’s job will be a lot easier if Michael Crabtree decides to sign with the team. Without Crabtree, Josh Morgan will be the No. 1 option for the Niners, along with veteran Arnaz Battle. 

And let’s not forget about one of the premier tailbacks in the game—Frank Gore. It seems to be a foregone conclusion every year that Gore will be a monster. I doubt that 2009 will be any different. 

The 49ers’ defense is also something to keep an eye on. Each year, Patrick Willis inches closer and closer to becoming the best linebacker in the game, and he’ll carry this defense with players like Nate Clements and Takeo Spikes. 

1. Seattle Seahawks: 10-6

Injuries have plagued the Seahawks for the past few seasons. However, the 2008 season was by far the worst. 

The Seahawks’ receiving corps was full of inexperienced players and washed up vets, and Matt Hasselbeck missed the majority of the season as well.

With Deion Branch and Nate Burleson both healthy again, and the arrival of T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Seattle’s receivers look like one of the best units in the league. This is, of course, only if Hasselbeck can stay healthy.

My biggest doubt with Seattle is their running game. Julius Jones didn’t really have a great first year in Seattle, and the offensive line was poor also. However, Walter Jones has been one of the best guards in the league for a while now, and he knows what he’s doing.

It was really hard to watch Seattle’s defense last season. The Hawks went out this offseason and signed Ken Lucas and drafted Aaron Curry. Lofa Tatupu and Patrick Kerney will be playing with a bit of a chip on their shoulders after an embarrassing ’08 season, which is why I think the Seahawks D will be tough this year.

New coach Jim Mora is familiar with this team after serving as an assistant last year, and will put Seattle back at the top of this division. 

 

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