LogFAQs > #937556689

NFC West

1. St. Louis Rams
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Seattle Seahawks
4. Toronto Wildcats

The Rams have made the playoffs in each of the past four seasons, winning the division three times. This team started 0-6 last season even with the #1 D at that point before winning 9 of their final 10 games. Even with the retirements of OLB Demarcus Ware and DE Julius Peppers, this defense should still be the cream of the crop in the division. They added DE Cassius Marsh through RFA and drafted OLB Leonard Floyd with their first pick to replace them, so there could be little to no drop off there. The offense I am optimistic about after two straight seasons of disappointment. QB Ryan Tannehill, while not performing to the level of his sensational rookie season, is still a Top 10 QB in the league. Longtime WR Roy Williams has retired, but they got a great rental in Martin Nance to replace him. The big change is at HB where the disappointing Lamar Miller is being replaced with Eddie Lacy. Lacy has never been the starter after spending three seasons in Miami, but he's been one of the more efficient HBs in a backup role. I keep thinking they will get back to something closer to their S11 level, but maybe it is time to temper my expectations for this squad. Still, I would be a little surprised to not see them in the playoffs for a fifth straight season.

I thought long and hard about who to choose second, and I decided on the 49ers. Unique games against basement dwellers Panthers and Lions were a big reason why. I criticized the 49ers draft, and I would still grade it quite low, but the moves they made in free agency helped. QB Kirby Freeman may not have lived up to his billing as the #1 overall pick, but he had a pair of great seasons and was generally an average or above average QB. This was on the Titans mind you. In his brief appearance with the Lightning and that OL and WR corps, he posted what would be in a full 16 game season arguably his second best season (2992 yards, 24 TDs, 10 INTs). Now he's going to the 49ers who boast one of the league's best OLs and while they don't have an elite WR, they do boast a deep trio there. Even at 31, his best years could still be ahead of him. After management made disastrous sweeping changes several seasons back, the defense took several seasons to get back respectability, which they did last season. Now the talent level isn't what you would like, but 3/4 of those LBs are fantastic, the safeties are developing, the CBs are hanging tough, and their young DL starter is developing and trending in the right direction. If they can continue to make strides and the offense gels immediately, it isn't out of the question seeing the 49ers win the division. At the very least, I think they should compete for a wild card.

The Seahawks are just a weird team to me. I can never figure out why they've only played up to their potential in the lone season Jablax was partially active. They probably have the highest floor and ceiling from this division as they don't have any weaknesses in their roster on paper, but it's exhausting thinking about them. While they didn't do much outside of their first three picks, I think they nailed those first three. That tradedown with the Cowboys ultimately netted them MLB Joe Schobert who is likely to be their future MLB, but the selections of C Cam Erving (who is starting at LG) and CB Bobby McCain (slot corner) could pay immediately dividends even in lower impact roles. I just really don't know what to expect from this team. I could see them doing as well as 12-4 or as worse as 7-9.

The Wildcats blew a chance of winning their first division since S2 (as the Arizona Cardinals). That might be the closest they will come to a division crown for at least another season. QB Aaron Murray played out of his mind. There is no way he is posting another upper 90s passer rating and 3:1 TD:INT ratio. It's also hard to expect an upgrade this season at HB with rookie Christian McCaffrey after the retirement of one of the league's most underrated players Laurence Maroney. I think the defense can get back to the teens. This team no longer has the talent deficiency issues that had plagued it on defense for a long time, but it also lacks stars at high impact positions (on both sides of the ball). By virtue of picking them to finish last in the division, it is more likely than not they will finish with a losing record, but if that ends up being the case, they could be the most competitive losing team in the league.
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KCF can't actually be a real person but he is - greengravy
If you smell what the rock is cooking he's cooking crap - ertyu