Arizona Cardinals - The last two seasons read well for Cards fans - NFC champions and beaten in the divisional match. It will not go this way for them in 2010, for one very simple re
ason - Kurt Warner has retired and Matt Leinart is not a sufficient replacement at QB. Which is a shame because they really do have a receiver corps with potential - if Early Doucet and Steve Breaston can match the big numbers of Larry Fitzgerald, the offense would be laughing. But when you have a QB in whom the management appear to have little trust, (if the signing of Derek Anderson and the flirting with Charlie Whitehurst and Marc Bulger are anything to go on) then there is no guarantee that these targets will be found at the crucial times. With Anquan Boldin gone, further productivity is lost. It will be up to second year pro, RB Beanie Wells, to surpass the work of Tim Hightower, who is not exactly an elite rusher in the NFL, to give the offense some certainty. Darnell Dockett and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will lead the line and secondary respectively but the loss of Antrel Rolle will be massive, with the lack of a ball-hawk deep limiting the amount of turnovers available to the team. Ken Whisenhurst has his work cut out having spent the off-season cutting rather than recruiting. 7-9.
ason - Kurt Warner has retired and Matt Leinart is not a sufficient replacement at QB. Which is a shame because they really do have a receiver corps with potential - if Early Doucet and Steve Breaston can match the big numbers of Larry Fitzgerald, the offense would be laughing. But when you have a QB in whom the management appear to have little trust, (if the signing of Derek Anderson and the flirting with Charlie Whitehurst and Marc Bulger are anything to go on) then there is no guarantee that these targets will be found at the crucial times. With Anquan Boldin gone, further productivity is lost. It will be up to second year pro, RB Beanie Wells, to surpass the work of Tim Hightower, who is not exactly an elite rusher in the NFL, to give the offense some certainty. Darnell Dockett and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will lead the line and secondary respectively but the loss of Antrel Rolle will be massive, with the lack of a ball-hawk deep limiting the amount of turnovers available to the team. Ken Whisenhurst has his work cut out having spent the off-season cutting rather than recruiting. 7-9.San Franci
sco 49ers - Ah the Niners. So popular in the 80s with the classic Montana-Rice combination, it was on that basis that the decision to bring them to Wembley was made. Much like bringing the Broncos was for the John Elway fan club. A Smith-Crabtree combination doesn't have the same ring to it. Yet it is with that combination that the Niners must compete to impress their extensive fan base. It is a known fact that QB Alex Smith is a lad, albeit one who doesn't move his feet enough. So Mike Singletary made the sensible decision of drafting a couple of O-Linemen in the first round. Good ones too (Tackle Anthony Davis and Guard Mike Iupati). The extra protection given to Smith should compensate for his deficits (lack of intangibles, whatever they are) and allow him time to play less frenetically and complete a few more passes. The burgeoning receivers, led by Michael Crabtree and TE Vernon Davis better have their hands ready. One of the more interesting characters is RB Frank Gore. He has continually looked a powerhouse over the years and showed flashes of brilliance early on in 2009, with over 200 yards in a game against the Seahawks. Yet the Niners overall running game was one of the worst in the NFL. So either Gore needs to up his productivity and consistency or they need some decent back-up, particularly when you factor in the flaky QB. The defence is solid, led by Patrick Willis and Justin Lee and will be boosted by SS Taylor Mays in the secondary. Watch out for K "Deadly" Joe Nedney! An improving outfit in a weakening division. 10-6 (first winning record in a long time!)Seattle Seahawks - My old flatmate is a Seahawks fan. Poor bastard. There is really nothing exciting at
all about this team. Especially since LenDale White got cut and Walter Jones retired. It's a shame they didn't sign Terrell Owens really, the publicity alone would have made the 'Hawks palatable. Russell Okung has been brough in to replace Jones, with the sole purpose of ensuring that QB Matt Hasselbeck's body doesn't fall apart completely. The marvellously named Golden Tate, long time target for Jimmy Clausen at Notre Dame, has also arrived. Mediocrity is prevalent right the way down the roster, although on paper the running game should be good, with Julius Jones, Justin Forsett and Leon Washington, signed from the Jets, all vying for game time. That's about it really. Oh, except I hope Lawyer Milloy keeps Earl Thomas on the sidelines. Just because of the name (query a career change for Graeme?). 5-11 and no-one will care. Except my old flatmate.
all about this team. Especially since LenDale White got cut and Walter Jones retired. It's a shame they didn't sign Terrell Owens really, the publicity alone would have made the 'Hawks palatable. Russell Okung has been brough in to replace Jones, with the sole purpose of ensuring that QB Matt Hasselbeck's body doesn't fall apart completely. The marvellously named Golden Tate, long time target for Jimmy Clausen at Notre Dame, has also arrived. Mediocrity is prevalent right the way down the roster, although on paper the running game should be good, with Julius Jones, Justin Forsett and Leon Washington, signed from the Jets, all vying for game time. That's about it really. Oh, except I hope Lawyer Milloy keeps Earl Thomas on the sidelines. Just because of the name (query a career change for Graeme?). 5-11 and no-one will care. Except my old flatmate.St. Louis Rams - There is only one reason why you get the first overall draft selection. It's becaus
e you sucked the year before. To remedy this, the Rams cut QB Marc Bulger and brought in Sam Bradford and with him several questions. Will his shoulder hold up after surgery? Will he recover his form before said injury? Can he adapt his game to an NFL offense? Will he actually make a blind bit of difference to his team's form? To answer such question, I have devised a Bradford-ometer, which will pop up at various times during the regular season (they won't make the playoffs) to decide if he really is capable at this level. See below for the prototype. A lot will depend, as usual, on RB Steven Jackson. There's not really much more to say. 3-13 if they get lucky.
e you sucked the year before. To remedy this, the Rams cut QB Marc Bulger and brought in Sam Bradford and with him several questions. Will his shoulder hold up after surgery? Will he recover his form before said injury? Can he adapt his game to an NFL offense? Will he actually make a blind bit of difference to his team's form? To answer such question, I have devised a Bradford-ometer, which will pop up at various times during the regular season (they won't make the playoffs) to decide if he really is capable at this level. See below for the prototype. A lot will depend, as usual, on RB Steven Jackson. There's not really much more to say. 3-13 if they get lucky.
I seriously will not be tuning in to any divisional games!RM
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