The NFC West is a division with a high degree of difficulty. So it was intriguing to be able to read through and see what the different writers were expecting in the upcoming 2015 season from some of their favorite teams like the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, and the San Francisco 49ers. One thing for certain, is that not all the writers agreed on any of the following questions so make sure you sit back and enjoy the NFC West Roundtable.
1. What impact rookie is going to have the biggest impact on the 2015 season?
Julian Rosen--Todd Gurley. This guy has a mix of speed and power we haven’t seen out of the draft since AP. Him and Tre' Mason will split carries in a 70/30 fashion that favors the rookie. Fisher loves to pound the rock, as we all know, and finally seems to have the tandem to do it. A sleeper is Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett. He, Doug Baldwin and Jimmy Graham will become a strong pass-catching trio. Lockett may have the best hands of any WR in this draft class.
Ben Rosener--Todd Gurley, if he’s healthy. The running back will be the star of the show in St. Louis, or rather, he’ll warrant the majority of the carries. The Rams figure to rely on the run, and Gurley has the potential to be special. Again, the big “if” is whether the former Georgia Bulldog is healthy or not. Should he start the season on the active roster, expect Gurley to start realizing his great potential sooner rather than later. If Gurley isn’t healthy, or misses an extended amount of the season, then the pick has to be Tyler Lockett. The Seahawks’ rookie won’t put up eye-popping receiving numbers thanks to the likes of Jimmy Graham, Doug Baldwin and others, but he’ll play a prominent role in the offense.
Kobey Frank--Arik Armstead of the San Francisco 49ers. With the retirement of star DL Justin Smith, it gives Armstead the chance to play early and often. I think he has the physical tools to be a star, and be like Calais Campbell in Arizona. I think Armstead will be another stud that the 49ers have a knack for finding and developing.
Zach Drapkin--Tyler Lockett. The Seahawks have been waiting for a star receiver to come around, and now that Jimmy Graham is in town, Russell Wilson has got himself a star option to pass to. However, many teams will decide to swarm Graham with coverage, in which case receivers will get 1on1 opportunities with defensive backs and linebackers. As an athletically gifted and fundamentally sound wideout from Kansas State, Lockett can provide DangerRuss with an option on the outside a bit more versatile than go to man Doug Baldwin.
Chris Blakely--It is always tough to really pick what impact a rookie will make in his first year in the NFL. That being said I really like the rookie that will have the most impact will be Tyler Lockett of the Seattle Seahawks. He isn’t the biggest player on the field, but he can be very dynamic in the return game and we all know what a good return game can do for a team. If he gets any chances to play offense, he will help stretch the field for the Seahawks and make them even more dangerous than they will probably be. The other rookie that can have a big impact will be Todd Gurley of the St. Louis Rams if he is able to fully recover from his ACL injury.
Jeremy Bowen--I’m going to have to go with two players. An immediate impact and an impact in the long run in the season. Right away: Tyler Lockett, WR Seattle Seahawks. The Hawks’ WR core isn’t quite the best core in the NFL but Lockett will provide speed and play making abilities in the slot WR spot for the Seahawks and also in the return game on special teams. Long run: Todd Gurley, St. Louis Rams. It’s not known when Gurley will be 100%, which is why I didn’t call him an immediate impact. His knee is probably not going to be 100% by opening day. But when he is healthy, given around weeks four or five, Gurley will see a lot of carries and has a massive upside, he received comparisons to Adrian Peterson in college. He will make big plays and when he is completely healthy, he will make the biggest impact out of all of the rookies in the NFC West.
Matthew Evans--I think that the impact rookie in the NFC West this season will be Arizona Cardinals 3rd Round draft pick David Johnson out of Northern Iowa. Johnson is a very athletic back (41.5 inch vertical leap at the NFL Scouting Combine) who is also a very good pass catcher out of the backfield. In his four years at Northern Iowa, he finished with 4,682 yards rushing and 49 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 141 passes for 1,734 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is already listed as the backup to Andre Ellington and if he comes out with a good showing during training camp, do not be surprised to see his touches increase as the season gets going.
Bryan Castillo--Todd Gurley was the best player selected from any of the NFC West division teams and will have the biggest impact although it may not be right away. Coming off a torn ACL it’ll be a few games into the season once Gurley is back out on the football field but when he does it’ll be huge for the Rams. With Nick Foles at quarterback and Tre Mason already at running back the Rams have a good 1-2 punch that’ll be able to play tough nosed football along with that stout defensive line. The question will be how soon Todd Gurley will be able to get into a groove but when he does watch out.
Josh Eastern--The biggest impact rookie in the NFC West is going to be the St. Louis Rams’ Todd Gurley. With an upgrade at quarterback, they will have a more balanced attack and Gurley will thrive in this offense. He is a hard-nosed runner who can be very similar to Marshawn Lynch at some point in his career. He’s going to have to learn quickly, however, because of the tough front sevens that he’ll have to face in a defensive driven division. He and Tre Mason will be a dynamic duo, but Gurley is in a very good spot to succeed in St. Louis as a rookie.
Mitchell Evans--Todd Gurley is my favorite NFC West rookie. I loved watching him in college, and could've been easily considered a Heisman finalist had he not gotten hurt. There are likely still questions on if he's even healthy, but if he's in there then he's an instant play-maker. After him I'm curious to see how Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett does. The Seahawks need wide receiver consistency and Lockett is real good.
Caleb Wahlgren--Is this a boring pick, probably, but I’m going to select D.J. Humphries, the first round pick for the Arizona Cardinals. Humphries might have been a reach pick, but the Cardinals had several issues with injuries to quarterbacks last season, and they simply have to find a way to protect Carson Palmer, as they were completely abysmal without him. He would fill in as their right tackle, and with the big free agent acquisition in Mike Iupati at Guard, the Cardinals might actually be able to run the ball, and they certainly are going to be better in pass protection. Besides that it seems like there is not a major difference between some of the other rookies. Because who knows when Todd Gurley is going to play due to his torn ACL. While I’m sure some of my colleagues will take Tyler Lockett, rookie wide receivers aren’t really known to do much historically. So Humphries is a big guy that I am able to trust to make an immediate impact in the NFC West in 2015.
2. Which would you take if forced to choose, Marshawn Lynch or Russell Wilson?
Julian Rosen--Lynch. Wilson, in my opinion, is a clutch quarterback with great game instincts but I don't think he has consistent accuracy and is forced to claw himself out of large deficits at times. Lynch has been one of the steadiest running backs of the past 3 years. He’s a true power-back who turned his career around ever since leaving Buffalo.
Ben Rosener--This is a tough one, but the pick has to be Wilson. The Hawks were solid with Lynch, but Wilson’s addition has taken the team to another level. Both players have the ability to turn a five-yard loss into a 35-yard gain, but Wilson’s dynamic skill set (724 rushing yards!) gives him the edge. Additionally, Wilson rarely makes mistakes and is constantly conscious of his own safety. Not saying Lynch isn’t, but its commonplace to see the Seahawks’ #3 end a 20-yard scramble with a slide to avoid a collision instead of attempting to eke out a few more feet.
Kobey Frank--Give me Beast Mode every day of the week. If you watched multiple Seahawks games last year, the importance of Lynch became overwhelmingly obvious. He kickstarted the offense on multiple occasions, and even at times fired up the defense. The Seahawks were much more effective with Lynch being the focal point of the Offense when compared to a pass-heavy attack led by Wilson.
Zach Drapkin--I’d take Wilson. Due to the Hawks’ offensive line problems, Wilson has to constantly read and evade defensive pressure. The multitude of ways he can beat a defense creates ample opportunity for any running back, whether it be Beast Mode or a Skittle of his. Without Wilson and his evasive Fran Tarkenton like ability in and out of the pocket, the Seahawks offense would be an absolute disaster and nowhere near the best rushing attack in the NFL.
Chris Blakely--This is almost an impossible question for me to answer, but since you are making me answer it I have to go with Russell Wilson. That may not be a popular pick, but he has a longer future in Seattle (I hope). Lynch’s body can only take so much more punishment than it has these last four years. By far he has been the best running back in the NFL for the past half-decade. The thing with Wilson is if a play breaks down he can extend it will his legs to find an open receiver or run for yards.
Jeremy Bowen--Marshawn Lynch. I’m still not very high on Russell Wilson. The guy was drafted into a team with one of, if not the best defense in the NFL and already had a solid RB with Lynch. I feel if Russell Wilson was on another team, he would not flourish like he has with Seattle. Marshawn Lynch is an animal. He’s known for his incredible run against the Saints a few years ago in the playoffs. He’s hard to tackle; it’s going to take two or three (or even more) players to tackle him. He’s heckled because he doesn’t like talk to the media. He just doesn’t like talking to him and the media can be pretty obnoxious sometimes so I can’t blame him. And unlike Russell Wilson, Lynch would still have success if he were on another team.
Matthew Evans--If we are talking short-term, my answer is Marshawn Lynch. The Beast forces teams to have to account for the possibility of the run on almost every play, save for long-yardage situations. Teams will usually put an extra player in the box to try to overload the run blocking of the Seahawks. That gives Russell Wilson one-on-one coverage on the wide receivers thus opening up the passing game when needed.
Bryan Castillo--It’s hard to pick between Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson because there’s so many factors that go into the decision such as the players around them and the coach’s game strategy. But in a vacuum I’m taking the quarterback every time, it’s a quarterback driven league and while I don’t believe Russell Wilson is worth the $25 million he’s seeking it’s hard to find a good quarterback much less an average one. And for that reason I’d go with Russell Wilson but it’s hard to pass up on some Skittles.
Josh Eastern--If I had to choose Russell Wilson or Marshawn Lynch, I would choose Wilson. It is obviously a tough choice as both are All-Pro players, but in today’s NFL, it is a quarterback driven league and you need a top of the line quarterback to succeed. Russell’s ability to get out of the pocket and be so elusive along with a rocket arm is why Wilson is such a valuable quarterback. I don’t think the Seahawks would be where they are without Lynch, but in the here and now, you need a big name quarterback to lead your team to be successful.
Mitchell Evans--At this point in their careers I'd take Russell Wilson any day. I don't see how anyone can take a declining Lynch over Wilson. Lynch is still a top-10 back in the league but his numbers and averages have declined. I think Wilson is a top talent with a promising career ahead of him still.
Caleb Wahlgren--Russell Wilson without a second guess. I know that many people are crazy about Beast Mode and if he was here, I’m sure he would say he was here so he wouldn’t get fined, but the value of the quarterback is understated as they literally have so much control on the field. Wilson is younger than Lynch. Lynch is about to turn 30 and we all know that most running backs not named Fred Jackson don’t perform terribly well after they hit 30 years of age. Plus, I think that it’s important to realize who you have if you don’t have that person. For example, if you take Lynch, then you have to put Tavaris Jackson at quarterback, and I simply don’t trust the former Viking in that division. If you take Wilson though, you have Robert Turbin coming in. Turbin obviously isn’t to the same level as Lynch, and no one would actually debate that, but I trust Wilson to be the man under center or in the shotgun to deliver the results that are needed.
3. Who is your preseason 2015 NFC West MVP?
Julian Rosen--Patrick Peterson. I think he comes back and anchors that Cardinals defense. They have an elite secondary and some young, up and coming play-makers in the front 7. He has phenomenal ball skills and seems to be the heart and soul of this defense, and possibly team as a whole.
Ben Rosener--It wouldn’t be surprising if Seattle is the only NFC West team to finish above .500. Going on that, I’d say it’s probably a pick between Seahawks. Any one of Wilson, Lynch, Graham or one of the Legion of Boom is a worthy choice. But again, I’ll go with Wilson. Russ will have a number of new toys at his disposal to begin the year with Graham and Lockett joining the usual contingent of pass catchers consisting of Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse and Luke Willson. Paul Richardson was coming into his own down the stretch before an injury prematurely ended his season. He’ll be back at some point next year, giving Wilson a full contingent of receivers that are both dynamic and dependable.
Kobey Frank--Russell Wilson is currently my favorite to be NFC West MVP. He’s going into a contract year, as it appears he’ll play out the rest of his rookie contract. Wilson is out to prove he’s worth Aaron Rodgers like money, and I think he has a real chance to do it. Consistency as a passer is the one area Wilson needs to improve in, and I think he’ll make huge strides in that area.
Zach Drapkin--Kam Chancellor. Chancellor’s hard-hitting, energized defensive fire implants fear into the hearts of opponents and ignites the Legion of Boom. He emerged as more than just an incredibly strong safety in the playoffs in 2015, using his athleticism to block field goals. With Seattle continuing to focus on building the front 7, Chancellor along with fellow LOB safety Earl Thomas will lead this defense to another dominant season, and will also guide the young DBs of the Seahawks to become more polished players worthy of being in the Legion. The whole Legion of Boom honestly deserves this NFC West MVP, but Chancellor’s mental impact and newfound exciting ability put him ahead in my mind.
Chris Blakely--The Seahawks have been the class of the NFC West for the last few years so naturally I am going to select someone from the Seahawks as preseason MVP. That being said, I am going to go with Wilson. He, besides Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers, is one of the most dynamic and most important players in the NFC West. Just look at the NFC Championship game this past season. He didn’t start off so well, but he found a way to lead his team to a comeback and get them to their second straight Super Bowl appearance. For the time being, he is the MVP of the NFC West.
Jeremy Bowen--Offense: Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks. As aforementioned, he is just too much of a beast and hands down the best offensive player in the NFC West. Defense: James Laurinaitis, LB, St. Louis Rams. This may be partially biased being that I am a Rams writer but Laurinaitis had lead the Rams defense, being a staple at MLB since being drafted in 2009. He’s registered over 100 tackles in each of his six NFL seasons with the Rams and is poised for another year. Being that the Rams haven’t had much success in the last few seasons, Laurinaitis’ play for the Rams has gone much under the radar and nearly unnoticed by other teams/fans.
Matthew Evans--As of now, I think the NFC West MVP will be Marshawn Lynch. Lynch has not run for less than 1,200 yards in the last four seasons and at age 29, he seems to be getting stronger. Last season, Lynch ran for 1,306 yards on 280 carries which was an improvement from his 1,257 yards on 301 carries in 2013. Look for Lynch to have another big season carrying the Seahawks to another deep playoff run.
Bryan Castillo--If we’re talking about an NFC West division MVP I’m going to go with Russell Wilson because of the new weapon at his disposal in the form of tight end Jimmy Graham. Wilson has never had a receiving option anywhere close to Jimmy Graham so it should pay him high dividends in the regular season. Also Marshawn Lynch may be on a carry per game limit as the Seahawks may try to keep him fresh for the stretch run, thus, putting for responsibility on Russell Wilson and the passing game.
Josh Eastern--Earl Thomas is poised for a big 2015 season and he is my pick as preseason MVP of the NFC West. He is coming off shoulder surgery, but there is no player that plays harder than Thomas and makes some incredible plays from his spot at free safety. If it wasn’t for JJ Watt a season ago he would probably have been the Defensive player of the year with the season he turned in. Look for Thomas to be everywhere on the field because he sure can fly around and he can take over a game on defense.
Mitchell Evans--I can't see it being anyone other than a Seattle Seahawk. I'm not sure who exactly will get it but I think Wilson has a real breakout year that he finally becomes a passer instead of a facilitator in the offense.
Caleb Wahlgren--Any player that I pick right now is just a wild guess as I hope that they are able to stay healthy and show that this was a decent selection. But the player that has always impressed me within this division, even from college, is Earl Thomas. He does an excellent job of playing centerfield for the Seattle Seahawks and it let’s Kam Chancellor play in the box. For Pete Carroll’s cover 3 defense, Thomas is usually dead center to stop any tight ends going over the middle and that leaves Richard Sherman and Cary Williams to go down their respective sidelines. Do Michael Bennett and Bruce Irvin both get a good pass rush to help them out? Most of the time, yes, Seattle has an impressive pass rush. But it’s because of the quality of the secondary, featuring Earl Thomas, which makes the Legion of Boom so good for the Seattle Seahawks.
4. What exactly is to be expected from Jim Tomsula's first year as an NFL Head Coach after the San Francisco 49ers nasty divorce from Jim Harbaugh?
Julian Rosen--The 49ers will quickly be reminded of the fact that their former coach took them from an average team to one of the best in the NFC in just two seasons. Harbaugh is a culture-creating leader as a head coach. The culture has been reset, especially with the loss of players like Gore and Willis. This team could surprise people and sneak into the playoffs, but I doubt it. The NFC is very deep and Tomsula has a tall task ahead of him. If he is patient, however, he could return this franchise to a respectable level. They have a handful of very good young players.
Ben Rosener--Probably not a lot. San Francisco not only lost their coach, but they lost almost everyone else of note on the team. Patrick Willis, Anthony Davis, Justin Smith and Chris Borland all retired and Andy Lee was traded. The rest of the damage was done in free agency where Frank Gore, Mike Iupati, Chris Culliver, Perrish Cox and Dan Skuta signed elsewhere. So, just to recap, that’s a Hall of Fame linebacker, a very good defensive end, both starting corners, two starting offensive linemen, two linebackers and a Pro Bowl punter… The additions of Torrey Smith, Reggie Bush and Darnell Dockett are nice, but this team lost way too much to be considered even above .500.
Kobey Frank--For it to be a success would be somewhere around a .500 record. This team had arguably the worst off-season in the NFL, and the 49ers of old appear to be gone. Tomsula seems like a yes man at this point, and is a huge step down from Harbaugh despite Harbaugh’s difficult personality.
Zach Drapkin--With the type of collapse and awful year the Niners had in 2014, anything Tomsula and San Fran accomplish will be an upgrade. The 88 record from last season masked all the internal issues with the team. If Tomsula is smart, he will find a way to replace Colin Kaepernick at QB, as Kap is just too inconsistent and has hurt the 49ers very much over his NFL career. Also, with Patrick Willis and a load of other defensive stars retiring this off-season, it will be crucial to teach the young players some discipline and have them develop chemistry as to not become one of the NFL’s worst teams on D.
Chris Blakely--When talking about the 49ers only I can think of is a dumpster fire. They were wrong in letting Harbaugh go. Yes, you read that correctly. A diehard Seahawks fan thinks it was wrong that they let him go. They had plenty of other coaches they could have gone with and the decision to go with Jim Tomsula was a bad one in my mind. He has no experience and the biggest question is does he have the locker rooms respect? If not, it will be a very, very long season for the 49ers and their fans. Nothing points to them having a good season if even a respectable one.
Jeremy Bowen--Tomsula’s first year is going to be rough. The 49ers had a hectic off-season; losing players to free agency, trades, and retirement. I’d expect a third or even fourth place finish in the NFC West for the 49ers. The 49ers aren't going to be able to make up for all of the player losses they had in the off-season and the Niners are going to have a tough season.
Matthew Evans--The expectations from the fans in the Bay Area will likely be pretty high anyway but I think that keeping the team from double digit losses will be a big success for Jim Tomsula and the San Francisco 49ers.
Bryan Castillo--I feel bad for Jim Tomsula and the San Francisco 49ers fan base because right now there’s not much to be optimistic about. They’ve lost so many key players on the defensive side of the ball that they’ll have to create a whole new identity from what they’ve been known for over the past 5 years or so. Colin Kaepernick will be set free and Tomsula may very well be forced to play a looser and freer offense. Even then the offensive line is suspect and while they have an intriguing young running back in Carlos Hyde it’s hard to have too high of expectations for this 49ers team next season.
Josh Eastern--The 49ers, in my opinion, are going to be a train wreck in 2015. Jim Tomsula is a first time head coach in the NFL and he is coming in off a tough year last year with Jim Harbaugh leaving and with some of their top players retiring. I would expect them to be in the 4-6-win range because they have so many inexperienced players and because they play in one of the toughest divisions in football. They don’t have nearly enough playmakers on offense and their defense lost some of the best players at their positions in the NFC. If you are a Niners fan, I’d be hoping for a down year in an effort to rebuild for the future.
Mitchell Evans--As the 49ers writer and fan, I don't expect much from the 49ers. I don't think anyone should expect a lot and be happy if we get above .500. There are real issues on the team roster that can't be addressed in one off-season and haven't been addressed.
Caleb Wahlgren--I don’t think it mattered much if the 49ers hired Jim Tomsula or the ghost of Vince Lombardi, they were not going to have a lot of success this season. Colin Kaepernick has gotten paid and it is really hurting San Francisco from being able to have some flexibility to pay people that they need. Frank Gore is now on the Indianapolis Colts and I don’t know how Carlos Hyde will fair starting 16 games. Patrick Willis has retired. The man who would have potentially replaced Willis, Chris Borland, has retired. Mike Iupati went to the Arizona Cardinals so their run blocking will be much more sub par this year. It just seems like this is going to be a bit of a rebuilding effort in a difficult division. I see the 49ers finishing in last in the division as they go 5-11 during the 2015 season.
5. Does having Nick Foles as the starting quarterback in St. Louis make them a potential playoff team in 2015? If so, why? If not, what do they need to fix to make the playoffs in 2016?
Julian Rosen--It does if he stays healthy. I think people need to watch out for the Vikings and Giants though, two underrated teams coming into this season. I think the NFC wildcard race will be the closest we have ever seen. The Lions, Cardinals, Rams, Vikings, Giants could all be in the mix. The Rams will have to lean on their stalwart front 7 this year but Foles is a guy who can make the throws necessary to let the defense play the way they want to. All he has to do is keep the Rams in the game. St Louis's Defensive Line can take over games in the 4th quarter.
Ben Rosener--Foles doesn’t make the Rams a potential playoff team. If Gurley is healthy, they may sniff the edge of wild card contention, but don’t count on Foles leading St. Louis to a postseason berth. The Rams are built like the pre-Russell Wilson Seahawks—great defense, strong running game, some receiving weapons. The missing link for the Hawks was strong quarterback play. The Rams need the same thing, and given Foles’ displays in Philadelphia last season, I don’t think he’s the answer. When Jeff Fisher finds a franchise quarterback, the team will be relevant. Until then they’re left with stop-gap options like Foles.
Kobey Frank--No, I don’t think Foles is going to be the piece that pushes the Rams into the playoffs. He really regressed in his 2nd year as a starter in Philadelphia, and at times seemed average. Foles struggled to get anything going against Arizona last year, and I think there’ll be similar results against the rest of the division. The Rams need more weapons, and I think once Todd Gurley gets healthy it’ll help, but they don’t have a true number 1 receiving option.
Zach Drapkin--Foles was a one and done player. He had a great 2013. 27 TDs and only 2 INTs is only impressive if you can keep it up. In 2014, Foles played only half the season in Philly and slipped back down to Earth. 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions are far less impressive, and fairly under whelmed Eagles fans. Nick Foles will not do anything to change the playoff placement for Saint Louis, and frankly, the only reason this team wins games is their very above average defense. Squared up against Sam Bradford comparisons, Foles will look like a vast improvement, but will in no way do anything to improve how the franchise fares. How can the Rams make the playoffs in the next few years? Add some actually proven offensive options that can consistently produce scoring.
Chris Blakely--Nick Foles is an interesting player in my mind. He played well in Philadelphia until he broke his collar bone last year and then it went all downhill for Eagles at that point. Some will question if he was successful only because of Chip Kelly’s system. I feel he will have a good season, but it won’t lead them to the playoffs in 2015. If they have a solid running game, they will have chance but I really don’t see it happening this year. They have a great defense and all they need is to have a few dynamic players on offense. It’s a similar situation the Seahawks were in back in 2011. They had a great defense, but horrible offense.
Jeremy Bowen--Nick Foles does make the Rams a playoff potential, being that they’ve had the glass knee (Sam Bradford) as their (supposed to be) starter. Nick Foles has had some success in his short tenure in the NFL. But it’s not solely Foles that make the Rams contenders. It’s acquisitions of players like LB Akeem Ayers and DT Nick Fairley and also having a new play caller that is not Brian Schottenheimer. I see the Rams finishing second in the NFC West and making the playoffs as a wildcard.
Matthew Evans--Having Nick Foles at quarterback does make St. Louis a potential playoff team in 2015 but the NFC is so talented, it will be tough to get in. I do not think they make the playoffs in 2015 but with another year together to grow, they will be in the playoffs in 2016. They do have the youngest offense in the National Football League with an estimated average age of 25 once the season begins.
Bryan Castillo--Nick Foles gives the St. Louis Rams a chance to make the playoffs this upcoming season but it’ll have to come in the form of a wild card berth. Their defense is certainly a force to be reckoned, at least with that stout defensive line, but the offense is still suspect. Nick Foles has to prove he’s a good quarterback outside of Chip Kelly’s system and while he has a running game to work with he doesn’t have much in the receiver category. The Rams defense will certainly keep them in games and they made a strong push last year without any type of a good quarterback but their biggest challengers come from within their own division in Arizona and Seattle. If Carson Palmer struggles upon his return and/or the Seahawks fall off after their heartbreaking Super Bowl loss the Rams will be right in the thick of things.
Josh Eastern--I do think the Rams can be a playoff team with Nick Foles at quarterback. Last season with backup quarterbacks, they still were able to put together a respectable campaign and now with Foles to go along with that up and coming defense they have, expect them to maybe nab a wild card spot. Jeff Fisher coached teams will always play hard and will always be well coached which is why you shouldn’t be surprised if they get to the playoffs.
Mitchell Evans--The Rams competed with every team in the West last season, and they had zero quarterbacks. With a decent quarterback, that defense can carry the Rams to a wild card definitely. Higher than a wild card is pushing it for this season but still do-able. I have a lot of faith in Fisher as a coach and that defense is a force.
Caleb Wahlgren--Nick Foles should be able to show as an upgrade compared to the likes of Austin Davis and Shaun Hill. Technically when he is not injured, I think Sam Bradford is a good quarterback, and potentially even better than Foles. But after all the injuries Bradford has had, a switch technically still needed to be made. Besides, it’s not like the Rams need someone to go out and throw for 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns this year. Nick Foles should be able to show that he can manage a game for the Rams and give them a chance at the playoffs, but it’s going to be a slight chance for a wild card spot. I think the NFC West will have one wild card team, but there is another team in the division that I think has a better chance then them to get that wild card spot.
6. Will Arizona be the team we saw go 9-1 to start the season or the team that finished 2-5, including playoffs, now that Todd Bowles is out of the division?
Julian Rosen--Neither. With a healthy Palmer and Ellington, they have the offense to (like the Rams) let their defense make plays. However, the defense will need a few weeks to adjust to a new system. Todd Bowles had a great thing going, and while they still have great players across the board, I think they will get off to a slower start but steadily improve into another 10-6/11-5 season.
Ben Rosener--The Cardinals will probably be somewhere in between. On paper, they don’t look like a playoff team. Arizona’s defense was stellar last season, but they lost their defensive coordinator in Bowles as well as defensive Karlos Dansby. To make matters worse, fellow linebacker Darryl Washington could miss time. Whether it was the prospect of hosting the Super Bowl, or just the ambition to be plucky underdogs, the Cardinals overachieved last season. They’ll regress this year, and last season’s playoff loss to the Panthers is the chief reason why. The team looked pathetic without Carson Palmer, accounting for 82 (yes, 82) passing yards and 27 rushing yards. If you’re counting along at home that’s a grand total of 109 yards of total offense. Palmer will help, but it won’t be enough to propel the Cardinals back into the postseason.
Kobey Frank--Arizona will be similar to the team we saw at the end of last year, but without the disaster at QB known as Ryan Lindley. Their secondary took a hit this off-season with the loss of Antonio Cromartie, and its unclear how Carson Palmer will look after tearing his ACL at age 35. I think you’ll still see a blitz heavy attack from their defense, but it didn’t seem to be as effective at the end of the year. I think they are a 10-6 team with Carson Palmer.
Zach Drapkin--Bowles was a great defensive coordinator for the Cardinals. Life will be tough without him on D, but the main problem for Arizona late last season was when Carson Palmer went down with a season ending injury. Unless Drew Stanton or Ryan Lindley can become the next Matt Flynn, there will be such uncertainty at the QB and reliance on Palmer. If Palmer stays healthy, the Cards will have a good season, obviously not like the 91 start in 2014, but if he goes down, another disaster will ensue.
Chris Blakely--Arizona’s key to a successful 2015 season is keeping Carson Palmer healthy. If he is healthy, watch out. They will be the team to beat. The only reason the Seahawks won the division and ultimately got home field advantage was because of their collapse at the end. They have great wide receivers and they need to get a solid running game to help them out. Their defense will probably still be good even though Todd Bowles is now the Head Coach of the New York Jets. If their defense stays healthy, they have a good chance.
Jeremy Bowen--I think Arizona is going to have a down year from what they did last year. The defense is fierce but the offense just isn't totally there and starting QB Carson Palmer is coming off of a torn ACL. I think we’re going to see a third or fourth place NFC West finish for the Cardinals.
Matthew Evans--I really think that if Carson Palmer stays healthy, that we will see the Arizona Cardinals team that we saw at the beginning of the season.
Bryan Castillo--If Carson Palmer comes back 100% healthy to start off the season the Arizona Cardinals will be more of the 9-1 team that started the season last year rather than the 2-5 that finished off the season. Carson Palmer was great when he was under center and was making all the right throws and not throwing interceptions like he has been prone to do. Their defense should still be formidable and they still have the receiving corps returning next season intact. Andre Ellington’s healthy is a big factor as well as he broke down towards the end of the year but Arizona should be able to keep him upright this season. Arizona will go as far as Carson Palmer can take them; if he’s healthy they’re a contender if they’ll be towards the bottom of the NFC West.
Josh Eastern--If Arizona can stay healthy, I think they have a solid shot at being the 9-1 team we saw before Carson Palmer got injured. This is another example of the NFL being a quarterback driven league and this will be the deciding factor of what Arizona Cardinals team will be. Their defense shouldn’t regress too far without Todd Bowles and their offense has some great minds behind it led by their head coach, Bruce Arians, who turned in a fantastic first season in Arizona. The biggest factor will be the injury situation and if Carson Palmer is the same QB coming off of his ACL injury from 2014.
Mitchell Evans--I think they'll be there, but not 9-1. I think a 7-3 start is likely for them through the first 10 games, but they really need to hope they get consistent quarterback play.
Caleb Wahlgren--Nobody expected the Cardinals to come out of the gate the way they did last year. But Carson Palmer getting hurt a second time really hurt their chances of doing well and performing well in the postseason. By the time the season ended, they were hardly themselves and were just struggling to get any points on the board. Does anyone really know how healthy Carson is today and if he can remain healthy all season long? No. That is the most important question for the Cardinals today though. This writer simply suggests that Palmer will stay healthy enough for long enough to get them a wild card berth into the 2015 playoffs yet again. Now if he is healthy for the playoffs, expect a much better outing as they have some good offensive weapons and an improved offensive line. 10-6 or 11-5 is very doable for this squad and it is just a question of where they will land and how healthy Carson Palmer will be.
7. What do you expect this season from Jimmy Graham in the Seattle Seahawks run first offense?
Julian Rosen--More Touchdowns, less targets. Last season he had 85 catches on over 120 targets and 10 scores. This year, I expect the Hawks to run 2 Tight End packages with Wilson in there, as well as plenty of run plays. I see Graham getting 90 targets for 65 grabs and 13 TDs. Carroll will utilize his elite red-zone skills to keep opponents guessing. Teams will be forced to defense either the Wilson scramble, the Lynch handoff or the Graham pass. You can't do all three at once.
Ben Rosener--Graham probably won’t hit the 1,200 or 1,300 receiving yard mark that we’ve seen him surpass in years past, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see him rack up somewhere between 900 and 1,000 yards. His ability to win jump balls will help his numbers in an offense led by the elusive scrambler otherwise known as Russell Wilson. While the yards through the air may go down, the touchdowns will probably go up. Graham caught 10 TDs last season, and while he may not reach his career high of 16, double digit TDs certainly aren’t out of the question. Marshawn Lynch is always going to be option number one in the red zone, but Graham will get his fair share of touches.
Kobey Frank--I think Jimmy Graham is going to lead the Seahawks in receiving next year. To put that into perspective Doug Baldwin lead the team with 66 catches 825 yards and 3 touchdowns last year. Those numbers seem easily attainable for Graham; I could definitely see him catching 6+ touchdowns. Jimmy Graham is the big deep threat the Seahawks have always wanted, and I think he’ll be used a lot.
Zach Drapkin--Graham will finally give Russell Wilson a target that makes defenses fear the Seattle passing game and not just their top running attack and play action sets. Teams now have to devote multiple defenders to defending Graham, alas opening up 1on1s for wideouts in Seattle and giving Lynch and Wilson a higher chance of finding holes to run through. Wilson’s passing is as good as any non running quarterback, so his accuracy rate will increase with Graham and the Seattle passing attack will ruse through the ranks as the rushing game stays #1. Team will be clueless what to pay more attention to, and the Hawks will keep defenses totally off balance.
Chris Blakely--When you think of Jimmy Graham, you imagine 80 plus catches, 1,000 plus receiving yards and at least ten touchdowns. The Seahawks learned not to alter their offense game plan after last year’s debacle with Percy Harvin. They will keep to the run game and mix in plays for Graham, but nothing like they did with Harvin. I’m predicting he will have 60+ catches, 900+ yards and 12 touchdowns. He will be the key in the red zone where they struggled at times last year. Even if defenses key on him, that opens lanes for the beast. Man, it would have been nice to have him in the Super Bowl last year……
Jeremy Bowen--Seahawk TEs Luke Willson and Cooper Helfet saw a lot of action late in the season last year, and being that Graham is arguably the best tight end in the league, the Seahawks are going to find ways to get Graham the ball even with a run first offense.
Matthew Evans--My expectation for Jimmy Graham in the Seattle offense is to be the big option on passing downs and in the red zone. A good estimation from me is 75 catches, 900 yards, 12 TDs.
Bryan Castillo--I expect Jimmy Graham to score double-digit touchdowns this season being he is such a monster in the red zone and near the goal-line. There are very few defenders that can handle his height and athleticism when he’s healthy and I expect him to bounce back from last season. Also Russell Wilson’s legs and ability to buy time will serve Graham well as Wilson can just throw it up to him on more than one occasion where Graham can just jump up and snatch it down. Marshawn Lynch’s number of carries will certainly be limited a little bit so it’ll open up more opportunities in the passing game which is good news for Jimmy Graham.
Josh Eastern--Jimmy Graham should have no problem getting involved in Seattle’s offense. He is an underrated blocker and he should be very involved especially with play action. The Seahawks are good at play action because they are known as a run-first offense, which opens that up basically whenever they want to run it. Being able to send Graham out as a receiver will also stretch the field and open up more opportunities for Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse, and rookie Tyler Lockett on underneath routes. Graham will definitely get his touches and will be an integral part of this Seahawks offense. At the same time, don’t expect the Seahawks to drastically change their offensive mindset with the addition of Graham.
Mitchell Evans--Graham should be a go-to for Wilson. This is one of the reasons I think Wilson has a breakout year because if you look at some of the top quarterbacks in the league (Brady, Brees, and Manning) they all had top-tier tight ends. Brady had Gronk, Brees and Graham, and Manning with Thomas. Graham should be big for the Red Zone and now they have an actual excuse to pass it when they're on the 1 yard line.
Caleb Wahlgren--I’m intrigued by the Jimmy Graham experiment to say the least. The last time they traded a first round pick for a major player in the league was when they got Percy Harvin from the Minnesota Vikings, and we all are aware of what kind of a headache, pun intended, he was for the Seahawks. I don’t really know how good Graham would have been if he didn’t have an elite quarterback like Drew Brees before, but now he is solidified as arguably the second best tight end in the league, as top honors go to Rob Gronkowski. But we should see a dip in his overall numbers, but I think that 70 catches, 800 yards, and 8 touchdowns are an adequate amount to expect from this top flight tight end from the Big Easy that is now a Seattle Seahawk.
8. The Seattle Seahawks have won the division the last 2 years and the NFC West Champion has been in the Super Bowl in the last 3 seasons. Will Seattle repeat, and will they make it to Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco?
Julian Rosen--I don't think so, but it wouldn't surprise me if they did. I think that this is Aaron Rodgers year to nudge him closer to being considered one of the all time greats to play QB. Winning a 2nd championship in less than 10 seasons would be remarkable, and something only a handful of passers (Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, Ben Roethlesberger, etc) have done. I think a Packers title is in store in 2015, but it is hard to count out Seattle in any way, shape, or form.
Ben Rosener--Seattle will repeat. I’ve already tabbed San Francisco as .500 at best, while St. Louis’ ceiling (if Gurley stays healthy) is the fringes of wild card contention. I am calling for a massive regression from the Cardinals, so I kind of have to pick the Seahawks, right? No, but in all seriousness, the Hawks will win the division. They return the same stellar defense that’s head and shoulders above the rest of the league, while Russell Wilson gets to throw passes to Jimmy Graham and Tyler Lockett while still handing the ball off to Beast Mode. Losing Max Unger will hurt, but Seattle will repeat. In terms of reaching Super Bowl 50, the Hawks should be considered the favorites in the NFC. They’ve been to the last two Super Bowls and have the best home field advantage in the league. Green Bay may be the team’s biggest threat, and while things could get dicey if the Hawks have to go on the road in the playoffs, the team has the talent to win out. However, if the Hawks can claim home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, expect another trip to the Super Bowl for Pete Carroll and company.
Kobey Frank--I think the Seahawks are the best team in the NFC. This could potentially be the best Seahawks team since Pete Carroll took over 6 years ago. The only team that could potentially stumble them is the Dallas Cowboys, but if Seattle is at full health, they will be able to handle them. Seattle will not only be in Super Bowl 50, I think they’ll win it.
Zach Drapkin--There is no reason Pete Carroll and crew cannot return to the Super Bowl and win it. The division will be the easiest part. The Niners will eventually have to just start a rebuild, the Cardinals got shut down twice by Seattle in 2014 and have shown no signs of changing that, and the Rams are just incompetent with the kind of offense they have put together. The only challenge will be getting through Green Bay, but now with Jimmy Graham adding another prong to the Carroll offense, there is even less of a chance of Seattle not advancing, even if the ‘Hawks needed luck last NFC Championship. I think it is Super Bowl #2 for Seattle in 2015-2016.
Chris Blakely--The NFC West is going to be one of the toughest divisions in the NFL yet again. It will be a dogfight every time NFC West teams face each other. That being said, I really do feel that the Seahawks will win the NFC West for the third straight year but they will not have home field advantage. That has been the key for their two runs to the Super Bowl the past two years. They are almost impossible to beat at home, only losing twice in three years. Depending what happens in the other playoff games; I feel the will fall short of their third straight Super Bowl appearance. It’s tough to do it once, yet alone twice in a row. A third time will not be the charm for the Seattle Seahawks and the 12th man.
Jeremy Bowen--The Seattle Seahawks will win their third straight NFC West title but I do not see them making it to Super Bowl 50. I think somewhere along in the playoffs, they will be upended.
Matthew Evans--Seattle will repeat as NFC West Division Champions in 2015. I don’t think that Arizona will overtake them this season and St. Louis is still a year away from being a threat to the division crowd. Though mark my words, St. Louis will win the NFC West in 2016. As for the Super Bowl, it is going to be a very tough road as there is some great competition in the NFC. The biggest question will be can Seattle win home-field advantage throughout the playoffs? That will be the big key for a return to the Super Bowl for the Seattle Seahawks.
Bryan Castillo--The Seattle Seahawks will repeat as division champions but it won’t be easy with Arizona and St. Louis giving them a run for their money. But in the end Seattle has the best roster talent and the experience to make another title run. However, I don’t see them making it to the Super Bowl this year because making three consecutive trips hasn’t been done since the Buffalo Bills of the 90s. Either the Green Bay Packers or the Dallas Cowboys will make it to Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco. Green Bay were certainly in position to beat Seattle in the NFC Championship in the playoffs and Dallas beat Seattle during the regular season at Seattle and went toe to toe with the Packers in Lambeau Field. Seattle Seahawks will still be a threat but will fall short.
Josh Eastern--I do expect the Seahawks to win this division once again. I don’t think the Cardinals are quite up to speed yet with this Seahawks team overall and they could arguably be better than they have been in the past. According to Richard Sherman, their secondary depth in the Legion of Boom could be the best they’ve had since their inception and that is scary for opposing offenses. The only thing to potentially worry about is the offensive line without center Max Unger. If they can run the ball like they have in the past, this Seattle team will be a tough one to stop. They do play one of the toughest schedules in the league, but they should be able to accept this challenge and there is no doubt that Pete Carroll will have this team poised for another run at Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco.
Mitchell Evans--I think it's a Seattle repeat until proven otherwise for the division. Super Bowl hopes should be high for them, but I can't give myself a real solid reason to why they wouldn't contend for the Super Bowl again.
Caleb Wahlgren--Seattle’s repeat isn’t a complete no brainer. They have their fair share of injury issues from last year and didn’t keep the same roster intact. But it would be foolish to think that they aren’t the favorite to repeat in the division. The Seahawks are formidable, and they will make the playoffs and are always a threat once they make it there. It appears that there is a consensus that the NFC will come down to an eventual champion between the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and the Dallas Cowboys. Seattle has only lost to the Cowboys last year of any of the three, despite the Green Bay Packers having them on the ropes for a majority of the NFC Championship Game. I’m curious to see the Seahawks in life without Unger, as they are the only team of the three that has undergone a change on their offensive line. If forced to pick today, I say that they fall in the playoffs, to either Green Bay or Dallas, as I think the other two teams have a better chance of getting that victory this time around. But it won’t be easy, as it never is, to defeat the Seattle Seahawks.