Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Right now if you had to rank the QBs in the NFC West, here's how it would look:
1. Alex Smith, 49ers. Having started the majority of the games last year gives him the lead. Granted, Smith was up and down, but, that's to be expected of any QB who is trying to make the adjustments as a starter. It takes time. Few can come right in a be a star. Smith has good personnel around him: he has a Pro Bowl caliber RB & TE combo in Frank Gore and Vernon Davis, which puts pressure on the middle of opposing defenses and two young promising WRs on the edge in Michael Crabtree and Josh Morgan. If the 49ers draft a speed all-purpose threat like C.J. Spiller, this offense will be even more difficult to defend, especially if they solidify the offensive line.
2. Matt Leinart, Cardinals. While Leinart only started one game last year, and even though he struggled in his relief appearances, he garnered some valuable playing time none-the-less. Leinart's familiarity with the offense and how it was able to click under Kurt Warner is a real plus. Undoubtedly, he will have to prove that he can handle being under the microscope, as his development in Arizona will be watched very closely by the national media. What Leinart needs to do is feel comfortable in his role and not try to press too hard or over-extend himself. In order to do that he has to simply relish in the fact that he has very good talent around him. Sure, Boldin is gone, but that actually may take a little pressure off Leinart in that he won't feel like he has to keep Boldin happy with the number of times he throws his way. Having two strong RBs in Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower is a boon, as is playing behind a solid offensive line and throwing to a cadre of talented receivers in Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston, Early Doucet and Ben Patrick. Leinart has a legitmate chance to be the #1 QB in the division if he shows that some of Warner's mental and physical toughness, sheer comeptitiveness, smarts under pressure beating the blitz and hunger for putting up big points and stats has rubbed off on him.
3. Charlie Whitehurst, Seahawks. The Seahawks gave up too much to acquire Whitehurst not to start him. They have a two year window to find out if he is their QBOF. He will need to learn a new system and develop a chemistry with his new personnel. His personnel, which already features RBs Justin Forsett and Julius Jones, WRs T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Deion Branch and TEs John Carlson and Chris Baker will likely be even more improved with a couple of additions to the offensive line and likely one or two new WRs, one of whom still might be Brandon Marshall. Certainly the Seahawks are not going to let Whitehurst's strong arm go to waste. But the first key is providing him a decent running game and adequate pass protection.
4. Sam Bradford, Rams. Expect him to be starting either right from the beginning or at the very least by mid-season. Bradford has the most to learn at this point. He didn't play much last year because of his shoulder injury and he will need to adjust to the speed and physicality of the NFL. His personnel, thanks to an offensive line that has struggled in recent years, is the weakest in the division, despite having perhaps the division's most talented RB in Steven Jackson. WR Donny Avery has speed and talent, but beyond that the rest of the WRs and TEs are question marks.
The interesting thing is what the top four NFC West QB rankings will look like next year. Alex Smith is on a short leash with Chris Carr waiting in the wings for his chance. Matt Leinart is in a one year make it or break it situation because of his contract, and the Cardinals would not have offered Derek Anderson $11m in incentives for shiggs and giggles, if they weren't concerned about Leinart's situation. Charlie Whitehurst could rise quickly, but if and only if he shows he can play well after basically sitting for four years and not having thrown a single pass in a game for that stretch. On a lucrative two year deal the Seahawks can't afford to be too patient with him. The other thing is, what if Jimmy Clausen falls to the Seahawks at #6? He will certainy give them pause if he does. The Rams, on the other hand, can afford to be patient with Sam Bradford as he will likely be signed through 2016.
The curious thing for Cardinal fans is what would have happened if the Cardinals had acquired Whitehurst for their third round pick and the same deal he got from the Seahawks. The pressure would have been on the Cardinals to play Whitehurst, and Leinart's situation would have been all the more murky. But, Leinart now is clearly the front-runner, as Whiz and the local reporters have emphatically asserted.
What seems so odd is that with all the Cardinals' immediate needs on defense, they have currently signed more UFAs for the offense than the defense. The Cardinals players like Fitz and Dockett have been imploring the organization to sign OLB/DE Joey Porter (which may be quite a boost psychologically for a defense that was so roundly humiliated in the playoffs), yet Whiz and the FO seem perfectly content with sticking with a quartet in Cody Brown, Will Davis, Mark Washington and Stevie Baggs that has combined for 0 starts and 1 NFL sack...at last check, Joey Porter has 92 career sacks.
Interesting too that K Neil Racker's' future with the team may be in jeopardy in light of this weekend's visit with Jay Feeley. Whiz was quick to take the blame on Rackers' shank in the playoffs, but word did leak out that he may have been upset with Rackers for assuring the team he was fully healthy for the playoffs, when it became clear he wasn't.
It looks more and more like the Cardinals---because of their relatively quiet efforts in free agency will now have to focus their draft almost entirely on need. With as many needs as the Cardinals have on defense, it behooves them to use at least 4 of their first 5 picks (Rounds 1-4) on defense...
Others have wisely proposed this on the board, but because of the quiet free agency period, it may be wisest for the Cardinals to move down from #26 to add more picks and possibly at other spots as well. This is a deep draft on defense, and thus the more picks the Cardinals can make, the better. Plus, adding extra picks may allow them to take the T, WR and QB they would like to add.
Tomorrow I will post a trade down scenario...but if you feel up to it, beat me to it.
1. Alex Smith, 49ers. Having started the majority of the games last year gives him the lead. Granted, Smith was up and down, but, that's to be expected of any QB who is trying to make the adjustments as a starter. It takes time. Few can come right in a be a star. Smith has good personnel around him: he has a Pro Bowl caliber RB & TE combo in Frank Gore and Vernon Davis, which puts pressure on the middle of opposing defenses and two young promising WRs on the edge in Michael Crabtree and Josh Morgan. If the 49ers draft a speed all-purpose threat like C.J. Spiller, this offense will be even more difficult to defend, especially if they solidify the offensive line.
2. Matt Leinart, Cardinals. While Leinart only started one game last year, and even though he struggled in his relief appearances, he garnered some valuable playing time none-the-less. Leinart's familiarity with the offense and how it was able to click under Kurt Warner is a real plus. Undoubtedly, he will have to prove that he can handle being under the microscope, as his development in Arizona will be watched very closely by the national media. What Leinart needs to do is feel comfortable in his role and not try to press too hard or over-extend himself. In order to do that he has to simply relish in the fact that he has very good talent around him. Sure, Boldin is gone, but that actually may take a little pressure off Leinart in that he won't feel like he has to keep Boldin happy with the number of times he throws his way. Having two strong RBs in Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower is a boon, as is playing behind a solid offensive line and throwing to a cadre of talented receivers in Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston, Early Doucet and Ben Patrick. Leinart has a legitmate chance to be the #1 QB in the division if he shows that some of Warner's mental and physical toughness, sheer comeptitiveness, smarts under pressure beating the blitz and hunger for putting up big points and stats has rubbed off on him.
3. Charlie Whitehurst, Seahawks. The Seahawks gave up too much to acquire Whitehurst not to start him. They have a two year window to find out if he is their QBOF. He will need to learn a new system and develop a chemistry with his new personnel. His personnel, which already features RBs Justin Forsett and Julius Jones, WRs T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Deion Branch and TEs John Carlson and Chris Baker will likely be even more improved with a couple of additions to the offensive line and likely one or two new WRs, one of whom still might be Brandon Marshall. Certainly the Seahawks are not going to let Whitehurst's strong arm go to waste. But the first key is providing him a decent running game and adequate pass protection.
4. Sam Bradford, Rams. Expect him to be starting either right from the beginning or at the very least by mid-season. Bradford has the most to learn at this point. He didn't play much last year because of his shoulder injury and he will need to adjust to the speed and physicality of the NFL. His personnel, thanks to an offensive line that has struggled in recent years, is the weakest in the division, despite having perhaps the division's most talented RB in Steven Jackson. WR Donny Avery has speed and talent, but beyond that the rest of the WRs and TEs are question marks.
The interesting thing is what the top four NFC West QB rankings will look like next year. Alex Smith is on a short leash with Chris Carr waiting in the wings for his chance. Matt Leinart is in a one year make it or break it situation because of his contract, and the Cardinals would not have offered Derek Anderson $11m in incentives for shiggs and giggles, if they weren't concerned about Leinart's situation. Charlie Whitehurst could rise quickly, but if and only if he shows he can play well after basically sitting for four years and not having thrown a single pass in a game for that stretch. On a lucrative two year deal the Seahawks can't afford to be too patient with him. The other thing is, what if Jimmy Clausen falls to the Seahawks at #6? He will certainy give them pause if he does. The Rams, on the other hand, can afford to be patient with Sam Bradford as he will likely be signed through 2016.
The curious thing for Cardinal fans is what would have happened if the Cardinals had acquired Whitehurst for their third round pick and the same deal he got from the Seahawks. The pressure would have been on the Cardinals to play Whitehurst, and Leinart's situation would have been all the more murky. But, Leinart now is clearly the front-runner, as Whiz and the local reporters have emphatically asserted.
What seems so odd is that with all the Cardinals' immediate needs on defense, they have currently signed more UFAs for the offense than the defense. The Cardinals players like Fitz and Dockett have been imploring the organization to sign OLB/DE Joey Porter (which may be quite a boost psychologically for a defense that was so roundly humiliated in the playoffs), yet Whiz and the FO seem perfectly content with sticking with a quartet in Cody Brown, Will Davis, Mark Washington and Stevie Baggs that has combined for 0 starts and 1 NFL sack...at last check, Joey Porter has 92 career sacks.
Interesting too that K Neil Racker's' future with the team may be in jeopardy in light of this weekend's visit with Jay Feeley. Whiz was quick to take the blame on Rackers' shank in the playoffs, but word did leak out that he may have been upset with Rackers for assuring the team he was fully healthy for the playoffs, when it became clear he wasn't.
It looks more and more like the Cardinals---because of their relatively quiet efforts in free agency will now have to focus their draft almost entirely on need. With as many needs as the Cardinals have on defense, it behooves them to use at least 4 of their first 5 picks (Rounds 1-4) on defense...
Others have wisely proposed this on the board, but because of the quiet free agency period, it may be wisest for the Cardinals to move down from #26 to add more picks and possibly at other spots as well. This is a deep draft on defense, and thus the more picks the Cardinals can make, the better. Plus, adding extra picks may allow them to take the T, WR and QB they would like to add.
Tomorrow I will post a trade down scenario...but if you feel up to it, beat me to it.
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