NFC West 2011

[pawe]

NFCW sucks. But they are getting better every year.

Warner is a HOFer.
1 ring, 2 MVPs, 3 passing yards record in the superbowl. And It's cardinals defense that lost him the '08 superbowl against the steelers.

Plus, he is a feel good story. Starting as a store bagger to superbowl qb and then coming back from adversity is hall of fame character.

[JMarkJohns]

Warner, despite his up-n-down career and relatively short prime, was one of the most dynamic QBs of his generation. In per-game averages (totals not anywhere close due to down years, length of career), Warner is amongst the best to ever play, and he elevated two of the losingest franchises in the process. Not alone, of course, but at the most important time in the most important position, Warner was an invaluable leader. He had one game-winning drive (sub 2 minutes remaining) and two other game-changing drives (tie vs. New England, sub 2 minutes remaining and lead-changer vs. Pittsburgh, sub 3-minutes).

Factor in the two MVPs, I think he's in. Maybe not first ballot, but he's a HOFer no doubt. His impact on the game was elite, even if short, and the fact of his story only adds to legend, which will factor in.

[pawe]

I was at the game yesterday and Cam Newton's height and size is eye popping in real life. Det boy was side stepping and jumping over everyone when the defense blitzed and dude was really agile.

Yeah he had 422 yds but the only gameplan for a team with 2 good RBs and a very mobile scrambling QB is let him beat you with his arm and if you dont get the QB you are toast. I think the defense was really taken back at how fast and elusive Newton was and the backs (Peterson vs Smith and lol Adrian Wilson at the coverage) got torched when he escaped the pressure.

All my doubts about Kolb not being able to deliver was wiped away. Fitzgerald was a non factor throughout the game because Kolb was spreading the field with the other players.

The entire league is probably pissed at the Cards for giving Newton handfuls of confidence..Im pretty sure though he wont throw 400 yds again.

- Alex Smith with the highest QBR in the NFC West despite only having 124 yds and no td vs Kolb's 300 yds, 2 tds.

- Rams, decimated by injuries. X rays were negative for Bradford. If you dont have Jackson for much of the game, of course you'll lose.

- LOL Seahawks gunning for Andrew Luck.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

I think they were also as unprepared for Steve Smith as they were for Newton if not more. Last year Smith was in horrible and would get routinely shutdown in single coverage by any marginally good corner. In the preseason he had only one reception and his chemistry with Newton looked like it was as bad as his chemistry with Clausen. No matter who Carolina played yesterday, I think Smith woulda had a huge game as no one knew they'd be up against 2005 Steve Smith.

Fitz had a bad game but saw coverage shifted over to him and double coverage almost the entire game. When he had single coverage Kolb found him which is really all you can ask.

The division should be theirs for the taking. The Rams' defense/team for that matter still isn't there, Seattle is gonna in suck, SanFran isn't gonna score two special teams touchdowns every week and is gonna suck when they're not playing the Seahawks. 9-7 probably wins the NFC West this year.

[pawe]

And Jeremy Shockey, that mofo always play well against the Cards...scratch that, every team that has a big TE always torch the Cardinals.

Horton's blitzes yesterday was from all angles and really confused the panther's Oline. If not for Cam's athleticism, he might've been sacked 10 times. Wilson has slowed a little bit (probably form the injury) but I think Horton's blitz packages will fit him very well this season.

- I didnt watch the game between the Eagles and Rams, I just saw highlights in the big screen about them scoring on the first drive. If they were really that good specially Bradford against the cornerbacks of PHI then NFCW definitely will be a battle between them and the Cards.

[pawe]

double.

[DisgruntledLionFan#54,927]

Newton isn't going to see that type of WR separation on a weekly basis. The Cards secondary was atrocious.

That said, good start for the kid.

[symple19]

Niners got win #1 of a total of no more than 5 this year...yay

Ted Ginn was monstrous though, never seen anything like those two runbacks so close together

[pawe]

Week 2 update:

0/4
All NFC West teams sucked this week.

[Pelicans78]

I'd be surprised if the Cards didn't win the division. Probably the best coach, QB, and player in the division. If Niners had a QB, they would have a chance. Should have never benched Shaun/Sean/Shawn Hill for Alex Smith.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

I'd take Bradford over Kolb, but St. Louis has looked terrible so far that I agree it's hard to imagine a team besides AZ winning the division. I still have my doubts given that they're blitzing 5+ guys on nearly every play and getting no pressure and the offensive line sucks, but the other 3 teams are so bad.

[pawe]

It's still really a toss up. No one has a clear advantage yet even after the 2 weeks has passed.

STL is decimated by injuries and without VJ, all the scoring will be on Bradford's shoulders and frankly I think it's a little overwhelming for a 2nd yr QB specially when their WRs cant seem to have a grip on the ball...and Amendola's not there to catch short passes to help keep Bradford out of trouble situations.

SEA and Tarvaris Jackson were horrible against the Steelers. I still dont know what they saw in him and signed him for 2 years when it clearly shows he cant move the chains.

Niners, 14-0 lead and they let a win away at home against a hurt Romo. RB and defense are the strong points of the niners this season and they both failed this week. - They almost have the same problem with the Cardinals. Tale of two halves, both cant go for the kill, secondaries getting torched, no pass rush and still finding their iden y.

Cardinals' defense is atrocious. Ray Horton is a DB coach and the biggest problem now is the coverage? What the man, what the ???
- Scoring is not the problem as Kolb can move the chains and is getting big plays unlike the QBs last year.
- But the defense; 2nd in the NFL for penalty yards and gave up more yards than any team in franchise history in the first 2 games this season. I think either the fire zone blitz is too complicated right now or they dont have the right personnel to run it. I suggest tone it down and implement it fully next year after drafting the right players for it. And oh yeah, Adrian Wilson, as much of a stud he is, he cant cover for !

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

I think it's a combination of the personnel and the scheme. Haggans and Porter are getting favorable matchups but suck so much that they can't get pressure (even when it's only a running back between them and the QB). Schofield and Acho should get more snaps. They might not be any better than Porter and Haggans, but the Cards need to know what they have at OLB so they can address it moving forward. Porter and Haggans aren't getting better anytime soon.

At ILB they have solid guys but don't have the major play making presence (Mayo, Timmons, Lewis, Harris, etc.) other successful 3-4 teams have. Stewart Bradley has barely played this year fresh off being given a huge contract which isn't a good sign at all. ILB isn't a problem but it also isn't a strength like it is on most good 3-4 defenses.

Also, I constantly hear that Rhodes puts up better numbers than Antrel Rolle did and is therefore better, and maybe the numbers part is true, but Antrel Rolle doesn't have the 2-3 major ups Rhodes has every game. He was much better in coverage than Rhodes is and didn't let the offense get behind him likes Rhodes does. We don't need a free safety who can blitz and sniff out plays at the LOS, Wilson can do all that on his own, the safety playing next to him better be able to break up plays in coverage. Wilson has sucked since we basically traded Rolle for Rhodes and that's not a coincidence. When Rolle was at safety Wilson basically got to play linebacker.

[JMarkJohns]

I've actually wondered if Wilson wouldn't be better moved to an ILB/OLB role the next few years and address a free safety.

Wilson's strength has always been from wherever the QB is and the first 20 yards down field. That's a linebackers strength. He blitzes, he tackles, he is best in shorter coverage... Line him up next to Washington and see. I think if the Cardinals still had Toler and DRC, this would be even smarter, with DRC as their free safety/centerfielder and Rhodes at SS. Without CB health/depth, harder to try out.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

The same can be said about Polamalu but he still succeeds at SS because they have Ryan Clark at FS who knows his role is to compliment Polamalu and not play over aggressive like Rhodes does.

A safety who can cover is undoubtedly a need for them in the next draft. If they manage to sign Marshall long term and get a healthy Toler back, I think PP7/Marshall/Jefferson/Toler is a good enough group of corners, but they need a real free safety. Not a strong safety who's more of a free safety than Adrian Wilson. Robert Lester is someone who comes to mind unless his value skyrockets this year.

OLB is a position they should either try to address in free agency or address with later picks. 3-4 OLBs taken early don't have a high rate of success.

[dirk4mvp]

I'd be surprised if the Cards didn't win the division. Probably the best coach, QB, and player in the division. If Niners had a QB, they would have a chance. Should have never benched Shaun/Sean/Shawn Hill for Alex Smith.

I didn't know Patrick Willis played for the Cardinals I saaaiiiidddddd.

[Lincoln]

Sup dirk

[pawe]

At ILB they have solid guys but don't have the major play making presence (Mayo, Timmons, Lewis, Harris, etc.) other successful 3-4 teams have. Stewart Bradley has barely played this year fresh off being given a huge contract which isn't a good sign at all. ILB isn't a problem but it also isn't a strength like it is on most good 3-4 defenses.

This team tries so hard to be the Steelers of the west but they really should just be running a 4-3 without quick OLBs.

Wilson's strength has always been from wherever the QB is and the first 20 yards down field. That's a linebackers strength. He blitzes, he tackles, he is best in shorter coverage... Line him up next to Washington and see.

That's what I've always wondered about the defensive scheme of the Cardinals. Wilson plays like a linebacker, he shines when he blitzes and when he spies on the QB.
For some reason, the DC always makes him cover the TEs and zone coverage...That's the reason why opposing team's TEs always get their big numbers.


One positive Im still holding on is all other teams are giving up big yards of total offense too so Im hoping it's just from the NFL's will to become a more offense oriented league.

[dirk4mvp]

Sup dirk

hi

[JMarkJohns]

I've heard rumblings of Peterson as the free/cover safety. If this happens, Wilson may return to his best, or, move him to ILB and play Peterson next to Rhodes, then draft a OLB in the 1st and CB in the 2nd.

Not sure.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

I hope that's not the case. You don't need a stud free safety with a 3-4 defense, just one who keeps the offense in front of him and can prevent big plays. That's why Rex Ryan (someone who knows WAAAAAAAAAAY more about an attacking 3-4 defense than Whisenhunt or any Steeler dip he's hired) willingly dumped Kerry Rhodes like a used rag after one year of coaching him.

As a matter of fact, having a free safety who knows his role, doesn't gamble and plays within the system is more important to a 3-4 defense than having a free safety who can be out of position in coverage and still make an interception.

[pawe]

As a matter of fact, having a free safety who knows his role, doesn't gamble and plays within the system is more important to a 3-4 defense than having a free safety who can be out of position in coverage and still make an interception.

Unfortunately, that's what Kherry Rhodes is doing right now. Dude is beginning to love the big plays so when he misses, it's a TD or a big gain. Horton should learn how to instill discipline again in his team.

[DUNCANownsKOBE]

Unfortunately, that's what Kherry Rhodes is doing right now. Dude is beginning to love the big plays so when he misses, it's a TD or a big gain. Horton should learn how to instill discipline again in his team.

The thing is, Rhodes doesn't have discipline. It's why Rex Ryan willingly got rid of him and replaced him with a less talented safety who would listen.

[pawe]

49ers vs the Bengals is an absolute fest. What a lousy game.

[mojorizen7]

My Rams suck,Cardinals suck,Seattle sucks and SF looks like .

At least the Rams are getting beatdown by quality opponents though....so im not ruling out playoffs yet baby! LMFAO

Rams OLine is 100% Grade A garbage at this point.

YOUR NFC WEST FLAGSHIP