6 and 10 Baby!

[Red Air Force]

"San Francisco 49ers
Nothing new: Jeff Garcia is still nursing a bulging disc in his back that he suffered while lifting weights on July 14. He sat out their first preseason game, aggravated it again last Tuesday, has had several epidural injections, and won't play this week either.

Let's face it; he may not play at all this preseason. Hardly ideal.

Head coach Dennis Erickson wants him to see some preseason snaps, but admits he needs to get back on the practice field first—which won't happen until Saturday at the earliest.

ESPN's Len Pasquarelli spoke with sources close to Garcia, who told him: "If this week were the [season opener], Jeff would play. It's really that simple. Now, you're always a little concerned when a back injury is involved, but all of the gloom and doom about his situation is a bit much right now."

Count me in the doom and gloom camp. If he can't play after resting his back for several days and receiving epidural injections, what's it going to be like when the season starts and defensive linemen are taking shots at him? Better start familiarizing yourself with Tim Rattay."

6-10 is starting to look much more likely than 10-6. I'll even go out on a limb and say the Garcia doesn't make it halfway through the season without needing surgery. And with Garcia down, a frustrated Owens will tear the team apart.

As far as I'm concerned, the NFC West is offically "up for grabs."

 

[AzCards21]

Agreed, Anyone that has us losing two to the 9ers should change that prediction.

 

[KingofCards]

God I hope so.

 

[Goldfield]

Might be too good to be true... But it would be sweet!

 

[cardzfan]

Garcia has a bulging disk. I can not imagine that a 300 pound lineman slamming Garcia into the ground can be good for that injury. As long as that injury exists they are nuts for letting him play.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

Originally posted by AzCards21
Agreed, Anyone that has us losing two to the 9ers should change that prediction.

tru dat


but who is the back up for the niners? tim ratay? he's pretty decent from what I remember of him. there is a long list of hasslebacks, detmers, bulgers, peetes, breezes, and other journeymen qbs that have come off the bench to light up cardinal defenses.

its almost to the point where I dread hearing that the opposing teams regular qb will NOT start.

 

[CoachBigDog]

You know what

I'm not an expert prognosticator, hell I don't think I even spelled the word correctly, but I think you guys are right about the niners. New coach, new system, ailing qb old RB and a star WR who is all about himself hmmm. 6-10 sounds very reasonable. I think that when it is all said and done ESPN should be issuing the Cards some apologies for their brash treatment - I think the Cards will open up 3-0 and the league will be talking about the desert birds in a new light. I agree with Skorpion this year and I think that this is a 10-6 team. Arizona will be proud of the job these coaches do this year. Coaches around the league and hell even coaches like myself will be amazed at Coach McCginnis' results this year. Why you ask? Because he has the toughest job in all of football. To win with Bill Bidwill as your boss you are a total magician. Rod Graves, I think has done a great job thus far changing the way things are done in this organization. Other than the loss of David Boston I would say his moves are a success. I know this, the Cards are one of the few teams well under the cap and if these rookies play this year Graves will look like a genius in the eyes of fans, coaches and his boss for saving him so much money.

 

[Rivercard]

Originally posted by CaliforniaCard
6-10 is starting to look much more likely than 10-6. As far as I'm concerned, the NFC West is offically "up for grabs."

Seems like most so-called "experts" didn't have S.F. leading the pack in the NFC West so not sure the loss of Garcia makes the division "up for grabs". Now, if St. Louis takes a dump again this year then I'd say the NFC West is up for grabs.

 

[AzCards21]

Originally posted by Crimson Warrior
tru dat


but who is the back up for the niners? tim ratay? he's pretty decent from what I remember of him. there is a long list of hasslebacks, detmers, bulgers, peetes, breezes, and other journeymen qbs that have come off the bench to light up cardinal defenses.

its almost to the point where I dread hearing that the opposing teams regular qb will NOT start.

We sure made Bulger look good didn't we. I agree it may not be the best method of predicting wins but the loss of Garcia could be huge in the whole 9er season. I think we take at least one regardless of who is QB (please! Here! at home!). With Garcia out the chances increase to a sweep just due to the internal problems they potentially have.