Not gonna lie, I'm a little nervous about the Niners.

[JeffGollin]

Remember how formidable the Bears looked to us last year? Although they came back to beat us, we proved in that game we could compete with them...or for that matter any other team in the NFL.

We're better now than we were then - both in terms of talent and, in my opinion, the way the new coaching staff is organizing, teaching and motivating this team.

Net-net: Every team in our division has gotten better (including us). All 16 regular season games will be a cat-fight. But if we pay attention to what we're supposed to do and don't become preoccupied too much with "what the other guys are doing", we're going to be OK.

 

[PACardsFan]

Joe Staley and Patrick Willis were AWESOME 1st round picks. The rest of their picks were just eh.

I am a bit worried too.

I'll take Brown & Branch over Willis & Staley. The rest of our draft was better also. We are going to play a smash mouth style of ball that will leave the niners wishing we were back in the NFC East. Worse case scenario, we split with them.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I hope Staley earns a starting spot on their weak line. We will abuse him all day. We will take both games from the niners, mark my works.

the justin has spoken

 

[ajcardfan]

I don't get the respect that Norv Turner is getting on this thread. They were 26th in total offense and 24th in scoring. By comparison, we were 18th and 19th respectively. And, according to most of the same people on this thread we were coached by complete dufuses who had the worst LT in history.

I'm not afraid of the Niners. If Whisenhunt is half as good as some of you are hoping, we will be fine.

 

[PJ1]

Niners will be improved big time. I fear them more than Seattle or St Louis. Actually wish we weren't opening on the road with them. Although a win against them on the road to start the season would be awfully sweet.

 

[nurnay]

Norv Turner may be an average Head Coach, but he is a terrific offensive cordinator. I believe their offense will take a step back next year.

I keep reminding my Niner fan friends of this every time they pipe up this week.

 

[nurnay]

I don't get the respect that Norv Turner is getting on this thread.

Because he made Alex Smith actually look pretty good. Seriously, Niner fans up here in NorCal seriously believe Smith is the answer at QB. If he were our QB, we'd be complaining right and left! Fans from just about any team in the NFL would be the same. Personally, I think Smith will look much worse this year.

Turner is widely regarded as a great OC, and even though the overall numbers for SF weren't great, the improvement in Smith was huge.

As for the Jackson trade, some say that he has the drops, yada yada yada, but he is a scoring machine.

What pissed me off when they announced the deal was, his highlights seemed to be mostly against the Cards, which seems to be the case for many other player highlight reels.

 

[football karma]

Turner is widely regarded as a great OC, and even though the overall numbers for SF weren't great, the improvement in Smith was huge.

When you ring up a passer rating of 11, improvement to "below average" I guess qualifies.

 

[nurnay]

When you ring up a passer rating of 11, improvement to "below average" I guess qualifies.

I'm not talking rating. That's certainly an easy way to write him off. I saw a lot of the Niners since I moved to NorCal, and lots of Smith the last two years, and Smith made huge strides with Turner. And let's not forget that Turner probably helped Gore a ton. I fully expect Smith and Gore to drop back. In fact, for you fantasy football folks, I'd say Gore could be the bust of the 07 season, since he'll likely be drafted pretty high.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

The Niners are young and improving .. not to be taken lightly ..

 

[RugbyMuffin]

What I like is the quality of football in our division will take a step or two up next year.

I think NFC West is getting stronger and stronger.

The Niner's have had a great offseason.

I would say we have had a solid offseason as well.

The Seahawks I think have kinda kept a good thing going in Seattle but I would say it is a stretch that they improved. Tha being said they were a very good team to begin with.

And the Rams......eh, the Rams are still going to suck badly, yet somehow squeak out 6 or 7 wins next year.

I think this will be a great year for the division.

 

[Osbern61]

The Niners are young and improving .. not to be taken lightly ..

I think it has been over 30 years since I've taken any Cardinal opponent lightly. Seriously, the last time I remember thinking it was a "sure thing' was a game against Chicago in 1975.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I think it has been over 30 years since I've taken any Cardinal opponent lightly. Seriously, the last time I remember thinking it was a "sure thing' was a game against Chicago in 1975.

Thank goodness they won too!

11-3 ? That was there record. Granted I wasn't even born then but I never thought this club had records like that!

 

[phillycard]

Remember how formidable the Bears looked to us last year? Although they came back to beat us, we proved in that game we could compete with them...or for that matter any other team in the NFL.

We're better now than we were then - both in terms of talent and, in my opinion, the way the new coaching staff is organizing, teaching and motivating this team.

Net-net: Every team in our division has gotten better (including us). All 16 regular season games will be a cat-fight. But if we pay attention to what we're supposed to do and don't become preoccupied too much with "what the other guys are doing", we're going to be OK.

I like this reponse best Jeff! Thanks all. I feel a lil' better now.

 

[Denny Green Fan]

Walter Jones and Shaun Alexander are both aging. Plus they are still stung by the loss of Hutch. On defense they need Marcus Tubbs to get healthy but he hasnt proved he can stay on the field. I think we pass Seattle soon

 

[PortlandCardFan]

I don't get the respect that Norv Turner is getting on this thread. They were 26th in total offense and 24th in scoring. By comparison, we were 18th and 19th respectively. And, according to most of the same people on this thread we were coached by complete dufuses who had the worst LT in history.

I'm not afraid of the Niners. If Whisenhunt is half as good as some of you are hoping, we will be fine.

That's just it they should have been 32nd in total offense and 32nd in scoring!!!

 

[lobo]

Remember

Net-net: Every team in our division has gotten better (including us). All 16 regular season games will be a cat-fight. But if we pay attention to what we're supposed to do and don't become preoccupied too much with "what the other guys are doing", we're going to be OK.

...And that in several sentences is the answer. We can only control what we do and try and be in the best position as we can to carry out the plan.
What ecourages me more than anthing is we have the cavalry to get the job done, and the generals in place to make sure it is done accoring to plan. Forget what the other teams are up to, it is out of our control.

 

[Duckjake]

I'm not. I think the talent we had last year would have given us alot more wins with a different coaching staff. Denny and his buddies held this team back. Now we have real coaches that will improve what we already had, plus we had a great FA season and draft. I'm confident the new staff will get the most out of this team.

Denny and his buddies didn't hold the Cardinals back last year. Warner simply couldn't hold on to the football costing the Cards key early games and so the franchise decided to go with the rookie QB and play for the future.

 

[Mulli]

Denny and his buddies didn't hold the Cardinals back last year. Warner simply couldn't hold on to the football costing the Cards key early games and so the franchise decided to go with the rookie QB and play for the future.

For the sake of argument, does that mean Leinart was responsible for the loss to the Bears?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

For the sake of argument, does that mean Leinart was responsible for the loss to the Bears?

That play was only the tip of the iceburg. A lot of other things had to go wrong in the 4th to lose the game, and they did.

 

[Mulli]

Denny and his buddies didn't hold the Cardinals back last year. Warner simply couldn't hold on to the football costing the Cards key early games and so the franchise decided to go with the rookie QB and play for the future.

This seems to support a position that Dennis Green should still be coach since Warner was responsible for the 5-11 record.

 

[PortlandCardFan]

The loss to Chicago put the Cards into such a slump... Two close games and then the debacle know Oakland vs. the Cards!!!

I don't know which of those two games (chi-town or Oakland) I hated more last year!!!!!

 

[Duckjake]

That play was only the tip of the iceburg. A lot of other things had to go wrong in the 4th to lose the game, and they did.

Like James fumble. He only lost 3 last season. Sadly one of them came against Chicago.

Or our all-star kicker missing the FG at the end.

The punt return for a TD was to be expected. It is, after all, a Cardinal tradition.

Warner's fumblitis, remember he had put the ball on the ground 10 times in four games including the season killer against St. Louis, is what prompted the Cards to go with Leinart. Leinart in contrast put the ball on the ground 8 times in 12 games.

 

[Mulli]

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Look who's talking.

For the sake of argument, does that mean Leinart was responsible for the loss to the Bears?