|
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (13-4 Lost NFC Title Game to Philadelphia)- Without question Seattle was one of the big surprises last season as they emerged from the NFC West and then rolled all the way to the NFC Championship game before losing to Philadelphia. They did have some major off-season questions to be answered however. The Seahawks remained laser focused on fixing their offensive line once it became apparent that they were not going to be able to draft a franchise type quarterback. Sensing that QB Geno Smith would need to be protected, while also being able to run the ball with top back Kenneth Walker, Seattle used its first three draft picks to completely overhaul the interior of its offensive line. Kansas C Bryce Foster, Ohio State RG Donovan Jackson, and Clemosn LG Marcus Tate were taken 1,2, and 3 and their performance will be critical to the success or failure of the Seahawks' season. The team also grabbed LSU TE Mason Taylor who should compete with speedy incumbant Noah Fant. Taylor is not the downfield threat Fant has been, but he is versatile and well rounded and will likely be the top TE going forward as it is probable Fant will not be re-signed.
The defensive front seven remained mostly the same led by second year DE Byron Murphy. The team did add, though, an excellent piece in Ohio State OLB Cody Simon. Simon has speed to burn as well as solid coverage skills. The cornerback position has speed and some coverage ability but, in truth, benefitted mightiliy from the success of the front seven. The defensive front was terrific at penetrating into opposing teams' backfields for lots of TFLs and was also very good at getting after the quarterback. Georgia SS Lewis Cine was added to giove the team some help in Big Nickel sets.
Prediction: Seattle is a very steady team that will rely upon a game management offense (that is run first oriented) and a defense that gets lots of TFLs and sacks. Another solid year is probable.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (9-7-1 Lost Wild Card to Seattle)- 37 year old quarterback Matt Stafford regressed quite a bit during the off-season and how much of an impact that has could determine the final result for the team. Arizona State HB Cam Skattebo was drafted and offers a pass catching and short yardage option to a very diverse backfield. In a possible steal, the Rams were able to snag Stanford WR Elic Ayomanor in the 6th round! He has enough speed to be a deep threat, is a very good route runner, and can slot into any one of the WR roles. Clemson TE Jake Briningstool was tabbed in the 4th round. Slow footed (80 speed) and needing route running improvement, Briningstool is seen more as an in-line blocking TE then as a pass catching weapon. Purdue rookie RG Marcus Mbow could challenge incumbent Kevin Dotson although Dotson is a solid there.
Boise State rookie DE Kyle Jarrett could see time inside as a RDT. At 6'6" 313 Lbs, Jarrett certainly has the size to play inside a bit and offers speed and quickness to the position. LA used its first rounder on Georgia LOLB Jalon Walker. The ex-Bulldog does not have top tier speed (83) but has an excellent overall skill set and could be used as an every down backer even as a sub backer due to his size and ability to ward off blockers (82 IBL). The ROLB spot has some talent, but none in the group possess much in the way of coverage skills. A real worry spot has to be at corner. An aging unit, the cornerback position lacks top level speed although veterans Tre'Davious White and Darious Williams do have solid m2m coverage skills. Free safeties John Johnson and Micah Hyde are near clones and both should see time back there. Kamren Curl will likely start at SS.
Prediction: The Rams have areas of concern that the regular season will need to answer. Can Stafford keep playing well enough? Will the secondary hold up? Is the defensive front good enough?
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (9-8)- Similar to the Seahawks, The Niners retooled their offensive line by adding three members to the unit via the draft. Alabama LG Jaeden Roberts (3rd round), North Carolina C Sammy Austen (7th round), and Oregon RT Josh Conerly (1st round) should all start. And, like Seattle, how these three play will go a long way in determining the fate of the squad. QB Brock Purdy was not given much help at the WR or tailback positions and TE George Kittle will probably still be the starter there. Purdy threw the ball some 682 times last season for 5879 yards and 35 touchdowns. However, he was also sacked a stunning 127 times and really did not pay the price for that. Th new league rules could see him fall apart by mid-season should such punishment be absorbed again this season.
UCF DT Mitch Dixon could start inside alongside Javon Hargrave, but the unit lacks size and power and is more designed more for quickness and penetration than being able to hold up versus power running offensive lines. That means the linebackers will need to be excellent. That may prove possible with veterans such as Dre Greenlaw and Fred Warner and Iowa newcomer Jay Higgins manning the second level. The corners do not have great speed and only one CB has an 80+ man coverage rating. That being said, Deommodore Lenoir and Isaac Yiadom have good zone cover skills and the team may be compelled to play more zone than man. Ji-Ayir Brown and Talanoa Hufanga will be at the FS and SS spots respectively.
Prediction: The team all but eskewed the running game completely last season despite having Christian McCaffrey back there. The number of sacks did not hurt the club last year, but could be fatal this season. How San Fran deals with this, if it becomes a concern, should be interesting.
ARIZONA CARDINALS (8-9)- The Cardinals really needed quite a bit of help on offense but did not actually get it. QB Kyler Murray is back again as is aged RB James Conner and Trey Benson. WR Marvin Harrison Jr. had some big moments last season, but the receiving corps really did not get much help outside of Mississippi State 5th rounder Jae Jenkins. Jenkins is not a polished route runner nor has great hands, but he at least offers some speed (93). Wisconsin RT Jack Nelson will join an Oline that is not particularly dominant.
The defensive line got some help with the additions of Texas A&M DE Nic Scourton and USC DT Bear Alexander. Scourton, in particular, is expected to add some pass pressure to a group that simply could not get to the quarterback last year. His speed/acceleration stats, power move number (85), and pursuit rating (81) are ideal for him to become a very disruptive force. Oklahoma State MLB Nick Martin can cover, but at 220 Lbs and having a 77 IBL number he is susceptible to being run over inside. It will reamin to be seen how the Cards play defense as ROLB Zaven Collins could slide inside and allow Northeastern rookie Groton Hicks to see some time on the field. The secondary is an area that needs to be upgraded. The unit lacks top level coverage skills and speed and, if the front seven cannot get some pressure on opposing quarterbacks, the group will likely be exposed. Only Sean Murphy-Bunting has a PRC rating above 80 which could manifest itself in the form of slow conversion from zone to man responsibilities which, in turn, could lead to poor reaction times. SS Budda Baker is a Pro-Bowl level defender with FS Jalen Thmpson a solid zone defender.
Prediction: Arizona will remain a dangerous team due to a few of its playmakers, but the secondary is suspect and the pass rush must be better. The offense might not be able to consistently score enough points each week to offset the defensive flaws.
|
