ESPN Depth Chart Ratings: NFC West

[Mitch]

Just saw this on Sportscenter...Mark Schlereth's ratings:

Offense:

1. Seahawks

2. Rams

3. 49ers

4. Cardinals

Schlereth notes that "Whiz wants to play physical, but saying it and doing it are two different things."


Defense:

1. Seahawks

2. 49ers

3. Cardinals

4. Rams

Schlereth notes that "Bertrand berry hasn't been able to stay healthy...there's a lot of young talent, but..."

Trey Wingo seemed suprised that Schlereth ranked the Cardinal offense last..."Really," he said.

Well, this is all good, by my way of thinking. Right now so much depends on two things: (1) the o-line; (2) the d-line. And, there is no question, improvement in both areas will be key. Both areas were focussed on in the off-season...as we know Whiz has started by trying to build from the inside out.

 

[football karma]

Offensively -- I would put the Rams ahead of the Seahawks, then the Cardinals, then 49ers.

Defensively -- the Cardinals are better than both the Rams and the 49ers-- Seahawks still the best.

 

[Feeble Mcjackson]

I dont know about where the cardinals rank, but i do know Coach Green lost the bears game, the chiefs game, and the rams game all with his great decisions. This team IMO is closer then ESPN realizes.

 

[SuperSpck]

I dont know about where the cardinals rank, but i do know Coach Green lost the bears game, the chiefs game, and the rams game all with his great decisions. This team IMO is closer then ESPN realizes.

Hi!

Offensively -- I would put the Rams ahead of the Seahawks, then the Cardinals, then 49ers.

Defensively -- the Cardinals are better than both the Rams and the 49ers-- Seahawks still the best.

I know all the teams are close, but offensively the Niners right now have a healthy Frank Gore (a beast) the Rams have a healthy Stephen Jackson. Those two young men are pretty scary. I'd say Alexander and James are a wash (not identical talent, just about equal in their careers and remaning abilities). The difference between the teams as we all know is the line.

Jackson and Gore are young enough to offset a few line troubles and Alexander still has a couple of good components on his line.

This leave AZ with a lot to prove.

Defensively AZ's in a new system this year. It's an unknown quantity and until we see them a number of games into the season it'll be guess work as to where they stand.

 

[Duckjake]

Offensively -- I would put the Rams ahead of the Seahawks, then the Cardinals, then 49ers.

Defensively -- the Cardinals are better than both the Rams and the 49ers-- Seahawks still the best.

Overall the division had probably the worst defenses in the NFL last year with the 49ers,Cards and Rams all in the bottom 5 and the Seahawks out of the top half. In points allowed they were 32nd, 29th, 28th and 19th.

The Cards haven't put a decent defense on the field, really, since 1994. The additions and subtractions of both coaches and players this off-season give no indication that is going to change this fall. The new coaches just have too far to go especially with the change to the 3-4. Hopefully we'll see some positive results by 2008.

 

[Redheart]

The Cards haven't put a decent defense on the field, really, since 1994. The additions and subtractions of both coaches and players this off-season give no indication that is going to change this fall. The new coaches just have too far to go especially with the change to the 3-4. Hopefully we'll see some positive results by 2008.

Re-building years.

 

[seesred]

WE had a pretty good defence in 98'. This years D will depend a lot on our corners. If Rolle can play up to his draft number we will be much improved.

GBR
40

 

[kerouac9]

Overall the division had probably the worst defenses in the NFL last year with the 49ers,Cards and Rams all in the bottom 5 and the Seahawks out of the top half. In points allowed they were 32nd, 29th, 28th and 19th.

The Cards haven't put a decent defense on the field, really, since 1994. The additions and subtractions of both coaches and players this off-season give no indication that is going to change this fall. The new coaches just have too far to go especially with the change to the 3-4. Hopefully we'll see some positive results by 2008.

Lindy's NFL Preview called the NFC West division "the division that defense forgot."

 

[Jasper]

I think we have the best depth in the league.

We just need about half a dozen starters.

 

[Duckjake]

WE had a pretty good defence in 98'. This years D will depend a lot on our corners. If Rolle can play up to his draft number we will be much improved.

GBR
40

Not really. They ranked 25th in points allowed and 21st in yardage out of 30 teams that season and gave up 120 more points than the 1994 team did and only 11 fewer than last year's D. Of course those numbers are skewed some by the horrendous start the '98 team had losing 38-10 and 33-14 to open the season.

 

[Totally_Red]

I think we have the best depth in the league.

We just need about half a dozen starters.

Even the so-called depth in the lines is suspect after the release of Clancy and Brown. But I see your point.

Needs: starting free safety, tight end, OLT. Fill in the other three.

 

[ajcardfan]

When you have Oliver Ross and Mike Gandy listed as your starting tackles (at least one will start for sure) it's not surprising people think poorly of your offense. I'm SSOOOOO sick of crappy oline play. I'd love to see big improvement, but I just can't at this point.

 

[Duckjake]

When you have Oliver Ross and Mike Gandy listed as your starting tackles (at least one will start for sure) it's not surprising people think poorly of your offense. I'm SSOOOOO sick of crappy oline play. I'd love to see big improvement, but I just can't at this point.

It would be cool if the coaches could actually say what was wrong and what they planned to do to fix the problems from the last two years. But obviously you can't let your opponents know what you are up to.

I'd love to know why the coaches think that Gandy, Ross and Levi are better Tackles than LJ Shelton, LDavis and Reggie Wells. Notice I said coaches not wise guy ASFN posters.

 

[kerouac9]

Needs: starting free safety, tight end, OLT. Fill in the other three.

CB, OLB, DE.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Needs:

LT, LG, C, RG, RT.

 

[Shane]

Needs:

LT, LG, C, RG, RT.

 

[PoolBoy]

whatever i dont care what espn says, id like to be the underdog for once, we are always over hyped, lets be the saints of last year.

 

[CtCardinals78]

whatever i dont care what espn says, id like to be the underdog for once, we are always over hyped, lets be the saints of last year.

That would be sweet. Unfortuantly for us the Saints had a number of things working in their favor last year.
1) They cleaned house and gutted the roster getting rid of 25(I believe) players from the previous year
2) The competition in the NFC South has been steadily declining while the level of competition in the NFC West has improved greatly.

I would like nothing more than to see this team rock the NFC West and the NFC. I really do not see anything better than 7-9 this year. God I really really really hope I am wrong. We'll see. The key to success this season really relies on this team having chemistry and playing with cohesiviness (sp?). That is the real X factor for this team. If it's there we could go places if it's not we could see Darren McFadden in an AZ jersey this time next year. All indications point in a positive direction w/ players showing up to workouts and choosing to work out in AZ.

Although it's important for them to play well together. IMO the there are several players that are going to have to step up big time to ensure success. They are in order of importance:
1) Levi Brown
2) Oliver Ross
3) Antrel Rolle
4) Allen Branch or Gabe Watson whoever the NT ends up being
5) Karlos Dansby
6) Bert Berry
7) Darnell Dockett
8) Bert Berry

 

[SeaChicken]

Needs:

LT, LG, C, RG, RT.

I don't think the situation is quite that desperate but that was a damned funny post.

 

[1usctrojan]

I don't think the situation is quite that desperate but that was a damned funny post.

Maybe not quite so funny.......the only one I have absolute confidence in is RG.......'cause Deuce has much more incentive to play tough.......a close friendship - protecting his best friend.

 

[Black Jesus]

Although it's important for them to play well together. IMO the there are several players that are going to have to step up big time to ensure success. They are in order of importance:
1) Levi Brown
2) Oliver Ross
3) Antrel Rolle
4) Allen Branch or Gabe Watson whoever the NT ends up being
5) Karlos Dansby
6) Bert Berry
7) Darnell Dockett
8) Bert Berry

Levi Brown can't step it up because we dont know who he is yet...

Here is the list...
1. Oliver Ross
2. Antrel Rolle
3. Nick Leckey/Step
4. Edgerrin James
5. Matt Leinart
6. BJ
7. Eric Green
8. Darnell Dockett.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Levi Brown can't step it up because we dont know who he is yet...

He can step up to the plate and be worthy of the #5 pick in the draft.

 

[Skkorpion]

Call me naive, I am hoping the days of relying on rookies to contribute much are over. If Levi Brown just begins contributing by week 8, I'll be happy.

 

[SuperSpck]

Call me naive, I am hoping the days of relying on rookies to contribute much are over. If Levi Brown just begins contributing by week 8, I'll be happy.

 

[Stout]

Call me naive, I am hoping the days of relying on rookies to contribute much are over. If Levi Brown just begins contributing by week 8, I'll be happy.

Unfortunately, our bungling on the OL in FA has made it imperative that Levi Brown contribute from day 1. If we have to wait until week 8 to see him in the lineup, our season is over.