NorthHawk wrote:At the beginning of the year I thought it possible that each team in the NFCW could go 3-3 in the division. It looks even more possible next year with the Rams getting more high picks and the Cards now believing in their new coach. These next few years could be a lot of fun and maybe anguish, but no more "NFC Worst".
Clem7 wrote:And if the trend continues, it will become more difficult to secure a top seed in future seasons. Important to nail it down this year.
NorthHawk wrote:In another thread someone suggested playing Michael. Maybe they are right, and it's time. I don't mind Turbin as a backup, but Michael just might have a little extra something to spark the Offense.
Zorn76 wrote:On another forum in August, I believe I had our division finishing as...
Seahawks (12 or 13 W's)
49ers (11 or 12 W's
Rams (7 W's)
Cards (6 W's)
I really underestimated AZ, and figured the Rams to be about where they are now, though they have had some solid wins this season, and even manhandled a couple (@Indy, vs Chi, vs N.O.)
That said, they are 2-5 on the road this year. And while we can't take anybody lightly after what happened last week, the Seahawks just need to play their game to take this. I do agree that the gameplan needs to be a lil' more dynamic, to say the least, to offset the pressure that Long and Quinn bring.
Screen passes, wheel routes to RB's, using Miller and Luke over the middle would go a long way in keep Stl off balance.
HawkWow wrote:Zorn76 wrote:On another forum in August, I believe I had our division finishing as...
Seahawks (12 or 13 W's)
49ers (11 or 12 W's
Rams (7 W's)
Cards (6 W's)
I really underestimated AZ, and figured the Rams to be about where they are now, though they have had some solid wins this season, and even manhandled a couple (@Indy, vs Chi, vs N.O.)
That said, they are 2-5 on the road this year. And while we can't take anybody lightly after what happened last week, the Seahawks just need to play their game to take this. I do agree that the gameplan needs to be a lil' more dynamic, to say the least, to offset the pressure that Long and Quinn bring.
Screen passes, wheel routes to RB's, using Miller and Luke over the middle would go a long way in keep Stl off balance.
They manhandled us, to an extent, as well. Austin took a bit longer to grasp the O than I expected and I thought Bradford would remain healthy for a year...why? I don't know. But had Bradford stayed healthy, I'd have to think a couple more wins would have been possible...then they are right up near the top along with us and the others. But regardless of this year, I sincerely believe they have made the most of their drafts...with more to come. Zona did better than expected for sure, but us nor the 9ers really compare when it comes to the draft classes of the other 2 teams in the division. Sooner or later, we will feel that.
I hear you on Turbin, Eagle, I have done my best to consider his limitations to be the byproduct of his limited reps, but fumbling twice on KOs??....while I put most of that blame on Pete, Turbin has to own some of that too, whether familiar with the role or not. We better pray Michael has something to offer and is not a TO machine as reported. God forbid we lose an aging, battle scarred Lynch. Happy with this year for sure...worried about our near future..for sure.
Futureite wrote:This is what makes the NFL the best professional sports league by a mile. In 2010 this div was a national joke. 3 yrs later it's unquestionably the best div in the NFL. And as with all divisions, there figures to be more unexpected turnover in future yrs due to draft, FA and injuries. Seattle and SF both have very strong FOs, so you'd expect them to remain in the mix. But even in a div like the North - where the Pack have arguably the NFL's best QB and all around talent - it took a miracle for them to win their Div for the 3rd consecutive yr. The only constant I expect is consistent turnover at the top of the division
HawkWow wrote:Definitely not saying the Pack shouldn't be a concern to the forward motion of your 9ers, they are, but the Bears D isn't the 9ers D. I could be wrong, but looking at the highlights from yesterday's game, I think the always dangerous on the move Rodgers was as fortunate as he was good. Especially on that broken coverage TD toss to Cobb. I don't see the 9ers giving up that play and I definitely think the 2 months of missed practice will hurt Rodgers worse vs SF that it did vs. Chicago.
We've already established that I'm not a huge fan (yet) of Kaep, but he brings an element to the table Cutler never dreamed of. Further, as of now, I believe Matthews is out ...that I don't understand (it's a firkin thumb...right?) but with him out, I see Harbaugh moving Kaep probably more than usual and I just think SF presents MANY more problems for GB than did the Bears yesterday. With a gun to my head, I'd call it 28-20 SF.
BTW...I spent my youth in Milwaukee. There was a time I loved the Pack as much as I love the Hawks today. So it's not easy for me to make the above prediction. Just the way I see it playing out.
Hawk Sista wrote:The Rams could've well won the NFC north, NFC east, AFC south and had a shot at the AFC north with a back up QB and rookies at RB & WR. Cards & niners would've for sure. It worked out this year that playing in the most solid division seems to have strengthened rather than weakened us.... But that is certainly not a foregone conclusion year in and year out.
For the record, I was teased mercilessly for fearing the Rams and Cards as much as the niners. Some could see the potential for the rams but I was laughed at for giving love to the Cards. Their D is straight up solid. i'm thinkin' I'm due some respect. I think their D is better than the niners right now. Had C P not thrown 4 INTs, we would've lost by more than a TD. They moved the ball on as at the clink better than most.
I'm all at once glad and worried by the strength of the Division. The Rams & the hawks are still very young too. It should be a fun 5-7 years if we don't all each other 1st.
HumanCockroach wrote:I remember having this conversation with CP ( thank god that idiot hasn't shown up yet, though Future unfortunately has) back in 2011 that the NFC west was on the rise and would be the best division in the NFL within three years ( though it came early) I was dead on, along with being the first person I know of to coin the NFC Least moniker. I almost wish he would show up so I could rub his sanctimonious nose in it ( course he would just ignore it, it's what he did after all)...LOL
c_hawkbob wrote:Hawk Sista wrote:The Rams could've well won the NFC north, NFC east, AFC south and had a shot at the AFC north with a back up QB and rookies at RB & WR. Cards & niners would've for sure. It worked out this year that playing in the most solid division seems to have strengthened rather than weakened us.... But that is certainly not a foregone conclusion year in and year out.
For the record, I was teased mercilessly for fearing the Rams and Cards as much as the niners. Some could see the potential for the rams but I was laughed at for giving love to the Cards. Their D is straight up solid. i'm thinkin' I'm due some respect. I think their D is better than the niners right now. Had C P not thrown 4 INTs, we would've lost by more than a TD. They moved the ball on as at the clink better than most.
I'm all at once glad and worried by the strength of the Division. The Rams & the hawks are still very young too. It should be a fun 5-7 years if we don't all each other 1st.
You got my respect girl! Always have
HawkWow wrote: I assumed Pete drafted Michael for such duties while grooming him to replace Lynch. I sincerely hope he didn't think Harvin would handle those duties with regularity.
Hawktawk wrote: He will be big time someday, mark my words.
Bruce Arians should be NFL coach of the year for what he did in Zona. Palmer is a washed up hack and they still were on the cusp of the postseason.
IMO Harbaugh was blessed with an extrordinary amount of talent and draft picks coming in the door. He'll start on the road this year against a very deadly opponent, we will see if his running back, er quarterback can hold it together. We will also see if Hairball has a sideline implosion. Bet on it..One and done.
monkey wrote:HawkWow wrote: I assumed Pete drafted Michael for such duties while grooming him to replace Lynch. I sincerely hope he didn't think Harvin would handle those duties with regularity.
Wait...what??
Of course Pete wanted one of the games most electric kick returners returning kicks...why wouldn't he want that?
Harvin most certainly is expected to be the kick returner, and Pete most certainly traded for him with EXACTLY that in mind! I guarantee it. Why wouldn't you want that???
As for Christine Michaels, he can barely block, and is not exactly known for his hands. He's never been a kick returner, and there is no reason to assume he'd be any good at it...
There was a reason we drafted him in spite of his being a career backup in college, but it wasn't for kick return duties. It was with the hope that someday, with patience and coaching, maybe, just maybe Christine would learn how to do all those little things like block, that he doesn't seem to care about, and never did in college.
Christine Michaels may be the most talented running back on the roster right now, he really might, he's an incredible pure runner, but running backs have to do so much more than just that, and to this point in his career, including college, he's never really been eager to learn. That's why he was a backup in college despite being the CLEARLY superior runner.
HawkWow wrote:monkey wrote:HawkWow wrote: I assumed Pete drafted Michael for such duties while grooming him to replace Lynch. I sincerely hope he didn't think Harvin would handle those duties with regularity.
Wait...what??
Of course Pete wanted one of the games most electric kick returners returning kicks...why wouldn't he want that?
Harvin most certainly is expected to be the kick returner, and Pete most certainly traded for him with EXACTLY that in mind! I guarantee it. Why wouldn't you want that???
As for Christine Michaels, he can barely block, and is not exactly known for his hands. He's never been a kick returner, and there is no reason to assume he'd be any good at it...
There was a reason we drafted him in spite of his being a career backup in college, but it wasn't for kick return duties. It was with the hope that someday, with patience and coaching, maybe, just maybe Christine would learn how to do all those little things like block, that he doesn't seem to care about, and never did in college.
Christine Michaels may be the most talented running back on the roster right now, he really might, he's an incredible pure runner, but running backs have to do so much more than just that, and to this point in his career, including college, he's never really been eager to learn. That's why he was a backup in college despite being the CLEARLY superior runner.
Pete has said he had / has no intention of using Harvin full time on return duties. So there's that. "Michael never returned kicks before" and so you are certain Pete had no designs of using him in such a capacity. Hmm, ever hear of Jermaine Kearse? How about Robert Turbin?? They had never returned kicks before either. Returning kicks is not exactly rocket science. The rest of your post is too speculative to counter. Happy new year, just the same.
Hawk Sista wrote:Anything can happen in the playoffs - we should know that better than most. Just as the Hawks beat the Saints in 2010 and lost to the Cards (@ HOME w/ the Division there for the taking) in 2013......anybody can win on a Sunday. It could be as simple as one team being on fire, or missing opportunities, or the ball bouncing a certain way (or D-jack gets an OPI, Lock gets pinched for holding, etc ). Tis why we watch the game. The way too used expressions "any given Sunday" and "it's a game of inches" became expressions for a reason.
I expect that the teams with the worst defenses in the playoffs (Philly and Green Bay) will lose. While the weather may help Philly slow down the Saints, I really think it'll help SF. GB cannot stop anyone and the weather will likely force this game out of the air and onto the ground. If that is the case, I like the Niner D vs. Eddie over the Packer D vs. Frankie. But then again, who the hell knows? It would be great to have an all NFC West NFCCG. Should be fun.
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