NFL FanHouse

Should Cards Shut Injured Anquan Boldin Down?

Matt Snyder — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:55:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona Cardinals, NFC West, NFL Injuries

Anquan Boldin, when healthy, is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. This isn't a secret. He's been to three Pro Bowls, enjoyed four 1,000-yard seasons, caught more than 500 passes thus far in only 87 games and scored 41 touchdowns. He's a running back in a receiver's body, though, so he has endured his fair share of injuries -- missing 16 games in his first six seasons due to injury. This season, he's played every game, but he's done so at less than 100 percent.

Looking at his numbers, it's evident he's not himself. His per-game averages show Boldin's on pace for career lows across the board. And he just doesn't seem himself, either. Considering his ankle injury isn't going away without rest -- and the fact that the gamer Boldin won't voluntarily sit out -- should the Cardinals bench him until he's healthy? One Arizona columnist says they should.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic has made a plea to head coach Ken Whisenhunt to take the decision away from Boldin -- who insists he's about 80 percent but definitely OK to play -- and bench him.

By playing at considerably less than optimal health, Boldin is hurting the team. It's hard to make him a big part of the game plan, because no one is sure how long Boldin's ankle will hold up. It doesn't appear he can accelerate as fast on his pass routes, or move quickly enough to evade tacklers when he does make the catch.

It's the age-old question: do you keep running a star out there when he's clearly not himself, or risk losing a game or two while he works himself back to health. If he was simply in pain and his performance wasn't impacted, that would be one thing. You can't tell a player to stop putting himself through voluntary pain, because it's his job to play football.

It's quite another animal when his performance is actually lacking. As I mentioned earlier, Boldin is having the worst season of his career. Sure, it's because he's injured, but he's still injured. And, as Somers points out, Boldin's altering the team's game plan by not being able to complete games. With the only way to fully heal the ankle being rest, it seems like the right move, even if it angers Boldin.

For now, Whisenhunt seems as non-committal as possible:

"That is certainly something we are going to have to consider because you don't want to go through the rest of the season with Anquan only being able to play a half or three quarters before his ankle flares up," Whisenhunt said.

"I can't tell you how impressed I am with Anquan's toughness and ... his desire to compete," Whisenhunt said. "That's a big part of our football team. That's something you lose if you try to rest him."

The Cardinals head to Chicago this Sunday to square off with a Bears team who, like Arizona, is a fringe-type playoff team. Conventional wisdom says they need Boldin on the field, but it's entirely possible they'd be better served with Steve Breaston, Jerheme Urban and Early Doucet rounding out the receiving corps opposite star Larry Fitzgerald.

After all, the Cardinals did win four of five games without Boldin last year (including the playoffs).

Should Cards Shut Injured Anquan Boldin Down? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spagnuolo, Rams Enter Bye With Rare Feeling During Rebuilding Season

Matt Snyder — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:40:00 EST

Filed under: Rams, NFC West, NFL Coaching

Steve Spagnuolo is going through a rough season in his first as an NFL head coach. He had the unenviable task of taking over a roster which was left in disarray by the previous administration. No real effort had been done to bridge the gap from The Greatest Show on Turf to the next wave of players, with the notable exception of drafting studly running back Steven Jackson before Marshall Faulk was retired.

The results to this point have hardly been surprising. Poor Spags and his troops endured seven losses, including several blowouts, before finally earning their first victory this past Sunday against the Lions. While he's cherishing this first win, Spagnuolo realizes it's the first step of many.

"We're not going to be blinded by one game: We're 1-7″ going into the bye week, he stressed. "There are a lot of good things we've got to look at and get right. That's what we're going to try to do the better part of this week ... "

"It's great to win; don't get me wrong now. I don't take that for granted. It's hard to win in this league. Players know that, coaches know that. So when you win, you should enjoy it. But after that enjoyment's done, 12 hours or whatever you get, it's back to the job."

It's good that Spagnuolo realizes this is a long road and is keeping his eye on what is important. The Rams seem to have some semblance of positive direction on their team, unlike some of the other dreadful teams out there this season -- like the Browns, Bucs and probably even the Raiders.

They have a strong-willed, well-spoken head coach who is determined to take his time righting the ship his way. They have a superstar in Jackson. They have good building blocks on the offensive line in first round pick Jason Smith and potentially Pro Bowl-caliber free agent signee Jason Brown. Despite a slow start to the career of Chris Long, there is still promise he'll form a potent front along with veteran Leonard Little and rookie linebacker James Laurinaitis. O.J. Atogwe and James Butler are a good pair of safeties as well.

There are a few more areas with a bit of promise, but most other areas are lacking to some degree -- other than kicker and punter, which can't do much for an awful team -- which is why the Rams will find wins rare the rest of the way in 2009, just like they did in the first half of the season. The headaches will begin after the bye week when the Rams have to deal with the mighty New Orleans Saints in Week 10. In fact, it's probable the Rams don't win another game in 2009 (the best bets for a win would be against Seattle at home or at Tennessee).

That won't make the season a failure, though. They need to continue to build and that all starts through the draft. A real question will be if they draft a quarterback with their early first-round selection, but that's far from being determined at this point. For now, it's time to continue building with the players they have.

Fans need to take a page from the head coach and just watch the growth of the nucleus as they hope for a turnaround to begin in 2010 and come to fruition in 2011. Anything quicker than that is just gravy.

For 2009, savor the victories without overdoing it. It's all part of the rebuilding process. One that should have started three years before it actually did.

Spagnuolo, Rams Enter Bye With Rare Feeling During Rebuilding Season originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Walter Jones on IR, Career in Question

Matt Snyder — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:35:00 EST

Filed under: Seahawks, NFC West, NFL Injuries

Walter Jones has been a staple for the Seattle Seahawks since 1997, but the Seahawks are going to have to play the entire 2009 season without him. Wednesday, during a press conference, it was announced that Jones has been placed on injured reserve, ending his season. Jones hasn't been able to shake the pain in his knee, which stemmed from microfracture surgery in December and then another scope on the same left knee in training camp.

The venerable left tackle has started 180 games on his quarterback's blind side, racking up an impressive resume in the process. The future Hall of Famer has made nine Pro Bowls and been elected as a first-team All-NFL player four times in his illustrious career.

Without him, the Seahawks have had an awful time protecting Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace this season. Much more troublesome is the assembly line of offensive lineman the Seahawks have attempted to use this season (my colleague J.J. Cooper said, "left tackle for the Seahawks this year is like being a drummer for Spinal Tap"). Sean Locklear is dubbed as the "heir apparent" to Jones at left tackle, but he's still battling back from injury himself. He does appear to be the left tackle of the future, though.

As for Jones' future, Seahawks head coach Jim Mora, Jr. would not make any statements about Jones' career being in jeopardy and said, "it's too early for a career eulogy." But is it?

Jones is turning 36 this January. He's had a hell of a time coming back from a surgery that was performed nearly a year ago. I can't imagine going through all those knee problems at a size of 6-foot-5, 325 pounds. This is nothing more than conjecture, but at some point there's only so much wear and tear the body can take. Hopefully the big man can come back, because he deserves to go out on his own terms.

Walter Jones on IR, Career in Question originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pashos' Injury Is Bad News for 49ers QBs

JJ Cooper — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:49:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, NFC West, NFL Injuries

When San Francisco right tackle Adam Snyder gave up five sacks in the first two weeks of the season, the 49ers were glad they had a Plan B.

Former Jaguars tackle Tony Pashos stepped in to replace Snyder and provided mediocre pass blocking. He wasn't good, but he wasn't nearly as bad as Snyder either--giving up three sacks in five games. For a team with a very leaky right side of the offensive line, that was actually an improvement.

But Pashos is now done for the season with a broken shoulder blade, which means that Snyder is back at right tackle. And what that means is new starting quarterback Alex Smith better be mobile.

The 49ers kept starting Snyder until this past week, but they would quickly replace him with Pashos for the majority of the game. This past week they slid Snyder inside to guard to share time with Chilo Rachal while Pashos played right tackle. After the injury, Barry Sims replaced Pashos, and he didn't play that bad, but for now at least the 49ers plan to slide Snyder back outside.

You could argue that part of the 49ers problems (Shaun Hill has been sacked 18 times) is the constant shuffling on the offensive line. If that's the case, than there could be a bright side if Pashos' injury means the team will settle on a stable starting five for the rest of the season. But for now, whether Smith or Hill is quarterbacking, San Francisco still has pass protection problems.

Pashos' Injury Is Bad News for 49ers QBs originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:49:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Crabtree to Begin NFL Career With Starting Role

Knox Bardeen — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:17:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, NFC West

It no longer matters that Michael Crabtree skipped training camp after being selected tenth in the 2009 draft, feeling he deserved the pay scale of a much higher selection. It also no longer matters that Crabtree missed San Francisco's first five games, watching from home as the 49ers compiled a 3-2 record without him. What's important now is that Crabtree finally signed his rookie contract, has worked hard over the last two weeks, and will see his first NFL action this Sunday in Houston.

It's likely he'll even be in the starting lineup instead of current No. 2 wideout Josh Morgan.

"I'm helping him learn my position and take my position," Morgan told reporters in the locker room Monday, as he said that coaches informed him Crabtree and Isaac Bruce would start on Sunday.

While the rest of his teammates were spending time with family members and relaxing during the 49ers bye week, Crabtree stayed at team headquarters, learning the playbook and catching passes from backup quarterback Alex Smith and trainers who were still present.

Head coach Mike Singletary praised Crabtree this week calling his progress, "excellent" and commenting on his hard work and time spent with coaches to catch up. Singletary went so far as to warn Crabtree that he didn't have to prove anything on Sunday, even if he later told reporters, "How much he plays depends on how much success he has [in the game]."

Making it onto the field just two weeks after signing is impressive enough for the 22-year-old receiver from Texas Tech. It shows how valuable the coaching staff feels that Crabtree can be. Adding him to the starting lineup this soon also shows that the 49ers offense needs a big boost.

San Francisco ranks 30th in the league in passing offense, having only thrown for just 804 yards in five games. The receiving corps ranks 20th in yards per reception at 11.1 yards, while only five teams have fewer receiving touchdowns.

How much Crabtree helps will not only depend on how effectively he eases into the game plan but also how long the 6-foot-1, 214-pound rookie can remain on the field. You can be sure that Morgan will be ready to spell Crabtree if he tires easily from the new experience of blocking and route-running at the NFL level.

Michael Crabtree to Begin NFL Career With Starting Role originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seahawks Find Their Scapegoat, Cut Kyle Williams

JJ Cooper — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:18:00 EST

Filed under: Seahawks, NFC West, NFL Injuries

When an offensive linemen gets injured, very few fans notice. But if you want a good explanation for why the Seahawks laid an egg this week against the Cardinals you can point the finger at Kyle Williams. The Seahawks sure did, as Williams went from starting on Sunday to out of work on Tuesday.

Williams had been battlefield promoted from the practice squad to the starting lineup when a desperate Seahawks team lost its third starting left tackle of the season. Pro Bowler Walter Jones has yet to play this season because of a knee injury. Seattle was actually well prepared for his injury, as replacement Sean Locklear has been prepped as a left tackle of the future.

But when Locklear joined Jones on the injured list in Week Four, the Seahawks suffered. Replacement Brandon Frye have up two sacks in his first start before going down with an injury of his own. So the Seahawks were left relying on an unreliable Kyle Williams. Williams gave up three sacks in his one and only start and the Seahawks offensive line in general struggled on Sunday.

Damion McIntosh will likely become Seattle's fifth starter of the season next week. He may not know the full playbook yet, but as a veteran left tackle he will be less of a turnstile than Williams. At 2-4, Seattle may be considered one of the NFL's disappointments, but it's not that surprising. There aren't many teams in the NFL that can survive the loss of three left tackles.

Seahawks Find Their Scapegoat, Cut Kyle Williams originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Laurent Robinson Out for Season, Possible QB Controversy in St. Louis

Matt Snyder — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:35:00 EST

Filed under: Rams, NFC West, NFL Injuries, NFL Quarterbacks

After three Rams losses, it's pretty evident 2009 is going to be a long season in St. Louis (the third straight of the variety). Monday, they received some more bad news -- that Laurent Robinson, a member of the already paper-thin receiving corps, will likely miss the remainder of the season after injuring his lower leg (both a fractured fibula and high ankle sprain) during Sunday's loss to Green Bay.

Quarterback Marc Bulger also left the game injured, but his injury isn't deemed as serious, now that he's been diagnosed with a bruised rotator cuff. Earlier Monday, some feared Bulger had a torn rotator cuff and would also miss the remainder of the season. Of course, clouding matters is that Kyle Boller came in relief of Bulger and looked far superior.

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Now, realizing they still have 13 games left this year, in addition to the fact that the Rams are trying to make progress for the future, there is already talk in St. Louis that Boller could be the better option as the Rams' signal-caller for the rest of 2009.

It makes a lot of sense, actually.

Bulger is 32 years old. He doesn't have an especially strong arm and he's not mobile. Boller is only 28, and he has enough physical tools to have gotten him drafted in the first round back in 2003.

Obviously, pro pedigree will factor in a bit, as Bulger has the much better professional resume. He's been to the Pro Bowl twice and taken his team to the playoffs twice. Boller was a colossal bust for the Baltimore Ravens after Brian Billick committed to him following the 2003 draft.

Here's the thing, though: Boller wasn't throwing to The Greatest Show on Turf in Baltimore. If you check out the current version of Marc Bulger (he's won just four of his past 30 starts and has a rating hovering just above 70 during that same time frame), he's just not that impressive at all. It's also entirely possible Boller just needed a change of scenery and/or is a late bloomer.

After Boller's play Sunday, it's worth it for rookie head coach Steve Spagnuolo to at least consider going with Boller. Marc Bulger had led the Rams to just one touchdown in nine quarters before leaving with an injury. Boller threw two in three quarters. Boller has far superior arm strength and pretty good agility in the pocket. And, again, he's four years younger and playing for a team who is looking toward the future.

Of course, whoever the quarterback is now has to deal with an even worse receiving corps than the sub-par-at-best group he already had. Robinson led the team with 11 catches, 141 yards and one touchdown through the first two weeks. With him out of the picture, the Rams will look to sign a free agent. The other receivers on the roster are Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, Derek Stanley and Ruvell Martin.

I think they need to see what Boller to Avery and Burton can provide the rest of the season before re-evaluating the direction of the offense. We'll see if Spagnuolo agrees quite soon, because Bulger should be ready to return within the next few weeks.

Laurent Robinson Out for Season, Possible QB Controversy in St. Louis originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 20:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comeback Cutler? Bears Win Late Again

Matt Snyder — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:15:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, Seahawks, NFC North, NFC West, NFL Quarterbacks

Since arriving in Chicago, Jay Cutler's been fighting the stigma that he's more of a stat-monger than a winner. The only way to change the feelings of the general public is to go out and win tough games. Anyone can look good during a blowout of an inferior opponent.

For the second consecutive week, Cutler has won close games in come-from-behind fashion. Last week, he led the Bears on a 72-yard, game-tying touchdown drive and then a 41-yard game-winning field goal drive against the Steelers. Sunday afternoon, Cutler brought the Bears back from an early 13-0 deficit to lead 17-13. The Bears lost the lead, but that was of no consequence, as Cutler again led them on a game-winning drive.

More Coverage: Check Box Score

With 5:03 left in the game, the Bears had the ball on their own 29 yard-line and trailed the Seahawks by two points, 19-17.

It only took the Bears six plays to move the ball 71 yards for a touchdown. Cutler found Matt Forte and Earl Bennett for short gains, respectively. The Bears also mixed in a few running plays. Then, Cutler hit Devin Hester on a quick slant and the "Windy City Flyer" did the rest of the work. Cutler's pass was actually a bit high, but Hester pulled it in, evaded two potential tacklers before simply outrunning everyone else on the field. Following the 36-yard touchdown strike, the Bears went for two, and Cutler found a wide-open Bennett in the corner of the end-zone.

Seattle moved the ball a bit before being stopped on downs with 26 seconds left on the clock, a play that obviously clinched the Bears' victory.

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Worst Uniforms in Sports History

The Seahawks were a sight for sore eyes with their neon green look in Sunday's 25-19 loss to the Bears. But Seattle isn't the only major sports team to have made a questionable jersey choice. Click through to see some of the worst offenders in sports history.

Tom Hauck, Getty Images

Worst Uniforms in Sports

Tom Hauck, Getty Images

Montreal Canadiens (2001): These outfits would not seem out of place if all the players had just finished piling out of the same Zamboni. However, the Canadiens are serious about their hockey. Fashion? Apparently, not so much.

Andre Ringuette, Getty Images

Red Sox (2007): Maybe flexing championship muscle after a well-chronicled drought gave the Boys from Beantown the courage to finally take a fashion risk.

Elise Amendola, AP

Cincinnati Bengals (2005): You know how some uniforms are so hideous that they kind of grow on you? The Bengals continue to push the envelope in an attempt to reach that level of acceptance.

Andy Lyons, Getty Images

Pittsburgh Pirates (1979): With a tip of the pillbox cap to days gone by, the Pirates rocked these uniforms in combinations that included black and gold, all gold or all black.

Focus on Sport / Getty Images

Toronto Raptors (1997): The perfect attire for eating cereal on Saturday morning does not necessarily translate into a uniform that a professional ballplayer would take pride in wearing.

Doug Pensinger, Getty Images

N.Y. Islanders (1997): The wave of colors is enough to leave the heartiest of seafarers a bit unsettled.

Ian Tomlinson, Getty Images

Tampa Bay Rays (1998): The new team on the block tries a little neon effect to announce its arrival.

Al Bello, Getty Images

Houston Rockets (2001): Pinstripes work on the baseball diamond, but look out of place on the hardwood.

Rocky Widner, NBAE / Getty Images

Washington Bullets (1975): There's patriotic and then there's this.

Focus on Sport, Getty Images

Things weren't all peachy for Chicago, though. The Bears still failed to get Forte on track in the running game, gaining just 66 yards on 21 carries. Cutler turned the ball over twice -- one pick, one lost fumble. The defense had a dreadful display of tackling on Julius Jones' first quarter touchdown and the team as a whole really appeared out of sync during the entire first quarter.

Much of the offensive woes are a direct result of poor offensive line play. Forte did well once he got into space (he had 40 yards receiving on six catches and made a few nice runs to the outside), but was bottled up nearly every time the Bears attempted to run up the middle.

Additionally, both of Cutler's turnovers were due to his being hit while in the passing pocket, not because of forcing throws where they shouldn't be -- like he did several times in Week 1 at Green Bay. He does need to keep a better grip on the ball, as he fumbled three times when hit from the blind-side. Fortunately for the Bears, only one was recovered by Seattle.

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Overall, though, he was sharp, hitting on 21 of 27 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns. The ball was spread around well to his receivers, as Bennett had four catches, Hester five, Johnny Knox one (for a touchdown) and Greg Olsen caught five -- including a touchdown.

For Seattle, that was a tough game to lose. They were playing without starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, but they were just a play or two from winning the game without him. Other than a terrible interception to Lance Briggs in the third quarter, Seneca Wallace fared admirably in Hasselbeck's absence. Jones ran well, racking up 136 yards from scrimmage. The defense did a nice job of pressuring Cutler and preventing the run -- which killed them last week when Frank Gore ran for over 200 yards. Of note, the Seahawks got an impressive showing from rookie Aaron Curry, as he accrued a sack and was the player who forced Cutler's lost fumble.

Finally, this is the second straight week the Bears' opponent has seen their kicker miss two field goals. Olindo Mare made four field goals, but missed two. And his team lost by six. Ouch.

The Bears will head home to face the Lions -- who now know how to win a game -- next week before their bye.

The Seahawks will travel to Indianapolis for a 10:00 Pacific time game next week, which should prove a really tough test.

Comeback Cutler? Bears Win Late Again originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spagnuolo: Focus Only on 2009 Rams

Matt Snyder — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:10:00 EST

Filed under: Rams, NFC West, NFL Coaching

Despite making a good amount of money to coach in the National Football League, Steve Spagnuolo has an unenviable task this year: coaching the St. Louis Rams. The Rams won just two games a year ago, and the roster was in a state of transition -- and in disrepair, really -- when he took over as the new head honcho.

If not for the ineptitude of the Lions, the 2008 Rams would have easily been the worst team in football. Only two teams scored less points and only one team (Lions, of course) allowed more. Some of the most talented players were aging and they dismissed two former stars (Orlando Pace and Torry Holt) as part of the rebuilding process after the disastrous campaign. Spagnuolo, though, is tired of hearing about and having to talk about 2008.

"It has nothing to do with teams coming forward or any teams going backward," he said. "It's all just about the 2009 Rams, and we lost a football game. We lost one football game."

On the other hand, it's kind of hard to blame fans -- who became accustomed to winning football in the earlier part of this decade before being treated to a 5-27 record the past two seasons -- for thinking "here we go again," after watching the Rams get stomped on opening weekend in Seattle.

Not that I blame Spagnuolo, either, for trying to keep his team focused on this season and hoping to muster all the wins he can out of his lackluster roster. Even if he knows this year is going to be about building a foundation for the future, he can't start acting like he doesn't care about playing winning football each week.

If you look at the upcoming schedule, in addition to realizing all the holes the Rams have, all signs point to this season being a long one. The Rams visit Washington before hosting the Packers. They then head to San Francisco -- who looked tough in defending NFC Champion Arizona's home -- before hosting the Vikings. Thus, it's pretty realistic to see the Rams starting the season 0-5.

The key for the fan-base remaining interested is going to be to keep their eyes on the future, whether Spags want to admit it or not. They have a few parts -- Steven Jackson, O.J. Atogwe, Chris Long, James Laurinaitis, Jason Brown, Jason Smith, etc. -- but not enough of a whole team to compete just yet. You could even argue it would be better for the team to have an incredibly high draft pick again this year to help round out the stable of young talent for Spagnuolo mold. In the meantime, just watch how the young players develop as NFL players.

If you do listen to Coach and focus only on this year, though, odds are it's going to be a long campaign.

Spagnuolo: Focus Only on 2009 Rams originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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St. Louis Rams 2009 Preview: Out With Greatest Show, In With Spagnuolo

Matt Snyder — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rams, NFC West, FanHouse Previews

Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

The Rams enter the 2009 season in full-on rebuilding mode. Another bad season wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing for the future of the franchise as a whole, as they need to continue to grow their young players. The remnants of the strong Rams rosters from earlier this decade are either gone or aging quickly. New head coach Steve Spagnuolo will look to mold the next generation his way, starting immediately.

Offense: What was once the Greatest Show on Turf crumbled to the 27th ranked offense in 2008. They went through some injuries to key personnel, but overall it's not a very stout unit. The offensive line is reworked, and Jason Brown up the middle will pay dividends. Rookie Jason Smith will be developing this year, so the pick may not fully pay off until 2010. Steven Jackson is a monster when healthy. Remember, this season he's had a full training camp, as opposed to last year where he held out for a significant amount of time. Plus, the Rams have added a solid blocking fullback in Mike Karney. Expect Jackson to have a big season. The passing game, on the other hand, is a problem. Their group of receivers -- Donnie Avery, Laurent Robinson, Keenan Burton and Derek Standley -- isn't going to scare anyone, despite the potential possessed by Avery. Bulger has been sub-par the past two seasons as his weaponry dwindled and appears to be in a decline. We know they'll be able to run, but will there be enough from the air attack to prevent Jackson was consistently seeing 8-man fronts? Heat Index: 4 (would be a 2 without Jackson)

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St. Louis Rams Photos

ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 03: Running back Chris Ogbonnaya #22 of the St. Louis Rams rushes against Ricardo Colclough #30 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the preseason game at the Edward Jones Dome on September 3, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricardo Colclough;Chris Ogbonnaya

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St. Louis Rams Photos

In this Nov. 23, 2008, photo, Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher (54) celebrates alongside teammate Charles Tillman after intercepting a pass during an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams in St. Louis. If the Bears are to show some of their old dominant form on defense, Tillman, Urlacher and Tommie Harris need to be healthy. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 03: Tight end Daniel Fells #46 of the St. Louis Rams dives into the end zone to score a touchdown in the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs during the preseason game at the Edward Jones Dome on September 3, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Daniel Fells

Getty Images

ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 03: Quarterback Brodie Croyle #12 of the Kansas City Chiefs drops back to pass against the defense of C.J. Ah You #98 of the St. Louis Rams during the preseason game at the Edward Jones Dome on September 3, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** C.J. Ah You;Brodie Croyle

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ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Steve Spagnuolo of the St. Louis Rams looks on during the preseason game against of the Kansas City Chiefs at the Edward Jones Dome on September 3, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Steve Spagnuolo

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ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 03: Running back Jackie Battle #26 of the Kansas City Chiefs rushes against the defense of the St. Louis Rams during the third quarter of the preseason game at the Edward Jones Dome on September 3, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jackie Battle

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Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Ron Edwards holds an ice pack over his eye as he sits on the bench during the fourth quarter of a preseason NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009, in St. Louis. The Rams won 17-9. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)

ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Todd Haley of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on from the sidelines during the during the preseason game against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on September 3, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Todd Haley

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ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 03: Wide receiver Rodney Wright #11 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs against the defense of Todd Johnson #35 and Chris Massey #45 of the St. Louis Rams during fourth quarter the preseason game at the Edward Jones Dome on September 3, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chris Massey;Todd Johnson;Rodney Wright

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ST. LOUIS, MO - SEPTEMBER 03: Tight end Brad Cottam #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs fails to make the catch against the defense of cornerback Justin King #31 of the St. Louis Rams during the second quarter of the preseason game at the Edward Jones Dome on September 3, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Brad Cottam

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Defense: The 2008 defense was almost equally as bad as the offense. Only four teams allowed more yards than the Rams and the only team who gave up more points was the Lions. This was a brutal defense. In Spagnuolo, they have brought in a defensive-minded head coach. Second-year defensive end Chris Long and rookie middle linebacker James Laurinaitis will spear-head the youth movement. Adding James Butler via free agency gives the Rams one of the stronger safety duos in the NFL -- along with O.J. Atogwe -- but they are still weak at corner. Leonard Little is a good bookend to the defensive line along with Long, but the outside linebackers and defensive tackles leave a bit to be desired. As is the case with most areas of this team, they have plenty of holes. To reiterate what we mentioned in the intro -- and it's probably tough to do so for the fans -- more important than winning games this season is watching the development of players like Long and Laurinaitis and allowing Spagnuolo and his staff to evaluate the personnel around these future centerpieces. I do, however, believe they will be slightly improved on this end of the ball due to the new coaching and the additions of Butler and Laurinaitis, along with Long's improvement. Heat Index: 3

Special Teams: Well, now we can say something good. In Donnie Jones, the Rams have arguably the best punter in the NFL. He kicks it high enough to give his coverage a chance to bottle up any sort of a return, and he kicks it deep (50 yard per punt average last season). He alone helps them in the field position battle, of course, they really need that help. The Rams finished dead last in the NFL in starting point last season, due to a dreadful kick returning game. On the other side of that, their kickoff coverage was also the worst in the NFL. Josh Brown is a quality field goal kicker, so there's another plus. Overall, things balance out and make the team have average special teams play -- due to being elite on a few ends and awful on a few others. I'm inclined to bump them up a point, though, due to the training camp intensity. Player intensity can help kickoff coverage. Heat Index: 6

Coaching: We love Spags as a defensive coordinator, but the jury's still out about him running his own team. He does appear to balance his intelligence and intensity well, so that's a good sign. He's coached under Andy Reid and Tom Coughlin, so he's learned from two of the best. The ways things stand right now, it looks like the Rams have their best coach since Dick Vermeil. Spagnuolo's supporting staff is of the same ilk as him. Ken Flajole has never been a defensive coordinator, but he was a very well respected linebackers coach in Carolina for the past six seasons. Pat Shurmur has never been an offensive coordinator, but he has been the quarterbacks coach in Philly for the past seven years. We know about Donovan McNabb, but we should also remember the great play the Eagles have always gotten out of their backups -- Jeff Garcia, Koy Detmer, A.J. Feeley -- when McNabb was injured. Tom McMahon is in his first season as a special teams coordinator, but he was the assistant for the Falcons last year, who had good special teams play. The whole staff is like this. In fact, they look much like the players' roster. There seems to be good potential for development, but 2009 is going to be a learning campaign. I like the looks of things here, but they need to prove it in their collective new positions. Heat Index: 6

Intangibles: We know the team can't have a ton of confidence or swagger, considering the miserable past two seasons. There should be a renewed feeling of hope and perhaps some optimism under the new administration. The star of the team, Jackson, has been embraced as a leader by Spagnuolo, so he'll remain happy. The young players will work hard to establish themselves as true NFL competitors, but it's going to be difficult to remain positive as they get their teeth kicked in a few times this year -- and they probably will. Heat Index: 5

Total Heat Index: 24/50 It's a work in progress. While the Rams are likely to have one of the worst records in football in 2009, they are at least headed in the right direction -- which is more than can be said in a few other places doomed to have a bad year. Unfortunately, they are probably going to have to address quarterback as they look to the future. Fortunately, they can probably squeeze 2010 out of Bulger, if they need to, after having drafted a stud quarterback (I'm expecting them to have yet another top-5 pick in the 2010 draft). But that's getting way too far ahead of ourselves. For now, the excitement with the Rams is watching the development of the young players and inexperienced coaching staff as the season progresses.

St. Louis Rams 2009 Preview: Out With Greatest Show, In With Spagnuolo originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Arizona Cardinals 2009 Preview: New Expectations in the Desert

Matt Snyder — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona Cardinals, NFC West, FanHouse Previews

Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

After what seemed like about 15 straight seasons heading into the year as the trendy "sleeper" pick of the NFL, the Arizona Cardinals finally realized their potential, winning a home playoff game for the first time in the life of many football fans (myself included) and heading to the first-ever Super Bowl. Now, all of a sudden, expectations are at an all-time high. Can the team thrive, or will they disappoint?

Offense: Do you really need me to inform you of their offensive firepower? The Cards ranked fourth in the NFL in total offense last regular season and tied for second in touchdowns. In the postseason they were even better, as Larry Fitzgerald became a bonafide household name. With Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin back, Steve Breaston having another year under his belt and the offensive line marginally improved, there's no reason to expect more than a small handful of teams -- if that -- to be better at throwing the ball than Arizona. An achilles heel for the offense last season, though, was the ground-game. The Cards have said sayonara to Edgerrin James and drafted Beanie Wells in the first round. They are hoping the combination of Beanie and Tim Hightower will be enough to keep defenses honest. Considering the Cards ranked 32nd in the NFL in rushing last season and still fourth in total offense, any added help on the ground is a bonus. The offense is already elite. Heat Index: 9

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Arizona Cardinals Photos

DENVER - SEPTEMBER 3: Cornerback Greg Toler #32 of the Arizona Cardinals dives for the ball but gets called for pass interference against Kenny McKinley #11 of the Denver Broncos during the NFL preseason game at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 3, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kenny McKinley;Greg Toler

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Arizona Cardinals Photos

In this Aug. 13, 2009 photo, Pittsburgh Steelers center Justin Hartwig (62) is seen during an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals in Pittsburgh. Hartwig signed a four-year contract on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009, two days before the season opener against Tennessee. Hartwig enters his second season as the Steelers' center and eighth in the NFL. He has started 79 career games, including some with Tennessee and Carolina. Hartwig was a sixth-round pick by Tennessee in 2002 and signed with Pittsburgh after being cut by Carolina following the 2007 season. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

In this Aug. 28, 2009, photo, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers looks to his left at the line of scrimmage, against the Arizona Cardinals during an NFL preseason football game in Glendale, Ariz. There are fewer questions on offense after a generally successful first season as a starter from Rodgers. (AP Photo/Jason Babyak)

DENVER - SEPTEMBER 3: Head coach Josh McDaniels of the Denver Broncos talks with side judge Don Carlson #39 during the NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 3, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Don Carlson;Josh McDaniels

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 03: Quarterback Ingle Martin #9 of the Denver Broncos drops back to pass against the Arizona Cardinals preseason NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 3, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Cardinals 19-0. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ingle Martin

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Josh McDaniels (R) of the Denver Broncos and head coach Ken Wisenhunt (L) of the Arizona Cardinals meet and greet after the game during preseason NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 3, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Cardinals 19-0. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh McDaniels;Ken Wisenhunt

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Josh McDaniels of the Denver Broncos walks the sideline as he faces the Arizona Cardinals during preseason NFL action at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 3, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Cardinals 19-0. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh McDaniels

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 3: Ben Graham #5 of the Arizona Cardinals puts the ball away during the NFL preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 3, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Cardinals 19-0. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ben Graham

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 3: Quarterback Tyler Palko #3 of the Arizona Cardinals points down field as he looks for a receiver during the NFL preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 3, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Cardinals 19-0. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tyler Palko

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 3: Quarterback Tyler Palko #3 of the Arizona Cardinals runs out of the pocket during the NFL preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High on September 3, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Cardinals 19-0. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tyler Palko

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Tyler Palko, front, is dragged down for a loss by Denver Broncos defensive lineman Tim Crowder in the fourth quarter of the Broncos' 19-0 victory in a preseason NFL football game in Denver on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Defense: The Cards ranked 19th in total defense, but only four really dreadful teams allowed more points (Chiefs, Broncos, Rams and Lions). They need to find ways to hold down the scoring, as to not put all the pressure on the offense this year. Replacing Roderick Hood with Bryant McFadden at corner will aid what appears to be a very strong secondary -- assuming the continued growth of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The defensive line starters are solid enough, but depth is lacking. Karlos Dansby is one of the better linebackers in the league, but he doesn't have a ton of help on that line of defense. I expect this to be a more consistent group in 2009, but they still aren't above average. Heat Index: 5

Special Teams: The Cards were actually pretty bad on special teams last season. Neil Rackers is a good kicker, but most of the rest of the team leaves something to be desired. Both kickoff and punt coverage units are among the worst in the league. They are pretty bad on both return games also, although they've been trying a bevy of possible new returners this preseason who could inject some life into the return game. They weren't good in punts last year, either, but Ben Graham can be a quality punter with a full season. Heat Index: 3

Coaching: Ken Whisenhunt is a darn good football coach, and it's hard to say anything negative about a guy who took a team to the Super Bowl after just two seasons. His assistant, Russ Grimm, is also one of the more respected coaches in football. Of course, the Cardinals also lost both of their coordinators, and the departure of Todd Haley from the offense is going to hurt. The offensive personnel is now in place, but we'll see rather quickly how big of an influence Haley was on the offense. New defensive coordinator, Bill Davis, has had that job before with little success. He was the defensive coordinator for the 49ers in 2005 and 2006. The Niners were awful defensively in those two seasons. Davis has helped with the growth of Dansby as the Cardinals' linebacker coach the past few seasons, but he's got to prove himself in the new gig. Overall, Grimm and Whisenhunt will have to carry the load. Heat Index: 6

Intangibles: Fortunately, the team doesn't have to deal with the contract demands of Boldin this year, who seems to finally be content -- or at least quiet about his discontent. They obviously are riding high, following the Super Bowl run, but they have to be worried about the ability of Warner and Boldin to stay healthy for different reasosn (Warner is old, Boldin always misses games). The departure of Haley could have an effect on the offense, though Warner's leadership should thwart some of that. You do worry about a Super Bowl hangover, and the Cards have looked pretty despondent at times in the preseason. Were they simply content with heading to the big game, or are they determined to get back and win it this time? You know Warner can handle it, but we need to see the rest of the team deal with success and follow it up. Until then, we just can't be sure. You know they aren't hurting for confidence, though. Heat Index: 7

Total Heat Index: 30/50 That's a low score for a team coming off a Super Bowl loss, but they are fairly one-dimensional. Look for them to be around 9-7 (again) or 10-6. If they make the playoffs, there's definitely a chance of them getting hot and running the table again, but with having to rely so heavily upon the offense to win them football games, it's going to be tough to sustain long stretches of success through the regular season. Plus, while their division isn't exactly the AFC South or NFC East, it's not nearly as bad as it was last year. They'll need to shape up during the regular season, or they'll be watching the playoffs from home -- which would be a falling drastically short of their now-heightened expectations.

Arizona Cardinals 2009 Preview: New Expectations in the Desert originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Seattle Seahawks 2009 Preview: No Changing What's in the Past

Chris Burke — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Seahawks, NFC West, FanHouse Previews, NFL Analysis

Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

It's a new era in Seattle -- and the Seahawks need an old star to lead them through it. Gone into retirement is former head coach Mike Holmgren after a mostly-enjoyable decade-long run with the franchise. How Seattle adjusts in its new, Jim Mora-led world will rely heavily on quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's performance. It's not unfathomable to think that Seattle could sneak up and steal the NFC West away from Super Bowl runner-up Arizona. But a daunting schedule and some major question marks on defense will make the Seahawks earn it.

Offense: The success of the Seahawks' offense begins and ends with the status of Matt Hasselbeck's back. He wasn't healthy last year, struggled, then was shut down for the last nine games of the season, and the team had major issues. If he's in good shape, this unit has a chance to be pretty decent -- if not, Seneca Wallace isn't capable of doing more than he did last year, which wasn't enough. Julius Jones has been a disappointment at running back, but the addition of Edgerrin James should provide a boost in the backfield. They'll run behind fullback Owen Schmitt, an old-school, hard-nosed fullback, and Justin Griffith is also in the mix. Adding T.J. Houshmandzadeh provided a substantial upgrade to the receivers -- combined with Nate Burleson, Deion Branch and rookie Deon Butler, that group could be tough to deal with. Tight end John Carlson has also developed into an important weapon. The offensive line underperformed in 2008, and the loss of Walter Jones to injury in the preseason is a gigantic blow. Rookie Max Unger could wind up seeing heavy minutes, but the front still isn't going to blow anyone away. Heat Index: 7

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Seattle Seahawks Photos

SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 03: Linebacker Aaron Curry #59 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates after tackling running back Michael Bush #29 of the Oakland Raiders on September 3, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 31-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

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Seattle Seahawks Photos

SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 03: Linebacker Aaron Curry #59 of the Seattle Seahawks battles tackle Cornell Green #74 of the Oakland Raiders on September 3, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 31-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 03: Running back Devin Moore #30 of the Seattle Seahawks rushes against Sam Williams #54 of the Oakland Raiders on September 3, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 31-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sam Williams;Devin Moore

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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 03: Wide receiver Jordan Kent #82 of the Seattle Seahawks leaves the field after being injured against the Oakland Raiders on September 3, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 31-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jordan Kent

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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Tom Cable of the Oakland Raiders looks on from the sidelines against the Seattle Seahawks on September 3, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 31-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tom Cable

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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Tom Cable (L) of the Oakland Raiders meets with head coach Jim Mora of the Seattle Seahawks after the game on September 3, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 31-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jim Mora;Tom Cable

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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Jim Mora of the Seattle Seahawks looks on from the sidelines against the Oakland Raiders on September 3, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 31-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jim Mora

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SEATTLE - SEPTEMBER 03: Quarterback Charlie Frye #3 of the Oakland Raiders passes as he is hit by Michael Bennett #96 of the Seattle Seahawks on September 3, 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Raiders 31-21. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Bennett;Charlie Frye

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Seattle Seahawks linebacker Aaron Curry hits Oakland Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski (5) during the second quarter Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009, in an NFL preseason football game in Seattle. The Seahawks won 31-24. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

Seattle Seahawks head coach Jim Mora, left, greets Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable after an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009, in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Raiders 31-21. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Defense: Not many teams can trade away a five-time Pro Bowler and be fine, as Seattle did with linebacker Julian Peterson, but the Seahawks still boast one of the league's top LB groups, assuming Aaron Curry is all he's been built up to be. With Curry, Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill, Seattle is stout in the middle. The problems for Seattle comes from the surrounding parts. The defensive line has some potential, assuming Patrick Kearney stays healthy at right end, and newcomer Cory Redding continues to develop on the left. The interior of Brandon Mebane and Colin Cole have to hold up and get major pressure on the QB -- because Seattle's secondary is a mess. The Seahawks gave up more yards than any team in the league in 2008, and there's not much hope for major improvement. Their best secondary player, cornerback Marcus Trufant, has landed on the PUP list, meaning he can't play before Week 7. That slides overmatched Josh WIlson into the starting lineup, opposite Ken Lucas. Deon Grant and Jordan Babineaux have their work cut out at safety. Heat Index: 6

Special Teams: Butler, a speedster out of Penn State, could provide a jolt to this unit. Between him and Justin Forsett, the Seahawks should be able to generate some field position on returns. Olindo Mare is back after a steady 2008, while punter Jon Ryan also returns. Neither Mare nor Ryan were incredible -- Ryan had an inexcuseable 12 touchbacks -- but both are reliable. Head Index: 5

Coaching: Seattle groomed Mora for this job as Holmgren's replacement early, naming him the head-coach-in-waiting midway through the 2008 season. Will that early decision pay off, though? Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp and defensive coordinator Casey Bradley are each in their first season with Seattle as well -- it's a lot of turnover for a team coming off a rocky 4-12 season. It's not hard to wonder if the franchise would have been better off completely wiping the slate clean, though, and sending Mora out with Holmgren. Heat Index: 4

Intangibles: It's going to be an interesting year in Seattle -- partly because the NFC West appears to be up for grabs, despite Arizona; and partly because the team's trying to recover from that miserable 2008 minus their guiding hand in Holmgren. Hasselbeck should be motivated to show he's healthy and that he can win without Holmgren, and since he's Seattle's leader, that's a good start. Heat Index: 7

Total Heat Index: 29/50 -- Depending on what you think of Arizona, Seattle could be right in the NFC West mix come November and December. Any success the Seahawks have, though, will rely on Hasselbeck's ability to bounce back from 2008, and the secondary's efforts to avoid getting torched on a routine basis. If Seattle can somehow be 3-3 or 4-2, then get Trufant back after their Week 7 bye, it could be an exciting chase down the stretch.

Seattle Seahawks 2009 Preview: No Changing What's in the Past originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bad Back May Force Marvel Smith to Hang It Up

JJ Cooper — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:15:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Steelers, AFC North, NFC West, NFL Injuries

When the San Francisco 49ers signed veteran right tackle Marvel Smith in the offseason, they knew they were taking a gamble. If Smith could stay healthy, the 49ers would get a solid former Pro Bowler that would solidify a position that was a disaster for the 49ers in 2008.

But they were signing a player who had been knocked out of each of the past two seasons by back problems. Smith apparently has not been able to make it out of the preseson, as the Sacramento Bee is reporting that Smith is expected to retire on Sunday or Monday. He did not make the trip to Dallas for the 49ers preseason game this weekend for what coach Mike Singletary called personal reasons.

San Francisco had already announced that Adam Snyder had beaten out Smith for the starting right tackle job, even though Snyder allowed 9 1/2 sacks (according to Stats Inc.) in 13 starts last year.

If this is the end for Smith, it's a sad end to what was a pretty solid career. Smith had spent the first nine years of his career as a starter for the Steelers, earning one Pro Bowl berth and two Super Bowl rings, although he was on the injured reserve during last year's Super Bowl run.

It's hard to fault the 49ers for taking a chance on Smith. He had surgery during the offseason and was optimistic that he had put the injury behind him. If it had worked out, he would have served as a significant upgrade for the 49ers at a bargain rate (his two-year, $10.5 million deal was largely based on incentives). But now, San Francisco is back where they started.

Bad Back May Force Marvel Smith to Hang It Up originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panic May Set in Soon for Seahawks if Jones, Trufant Don't Get Healthy

Chris Burke — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:10:00 EST

Filed under: Seahawks, NFC West, NFL Injuries

So much of sports can be chalked up to luck -- a fortunate bounce here, an untimely injury there, and an entire season can be altered. Turns out sports journalists have to deal with fickle fate as well.

Take beat writer Danny O'Neill of The Seattle Times. When O'Neill wrote an article on Wednesday afternoon telling Seahawks fans to avoid panicking over injuries to Walter Jones and Marcus Trufant, he had no idea that Seattle head coach Jim Mora would include in his Wednesday night press conference an update on both players.

Even those Seattle fans who were managing to stay calm before might be sweating just a bit after hearing Mora's announcements.

Jones, a starting offensive tackle for the Seahawks since 1997, will have arthroscopic knee surgery on his left knee Thursday. Players often come back fairly quick from that procedure if there's no major structural damage found, but Jones has microfracture on that same knee in December and is 35 years old. Neither of those facts are very encouraging for Jones' health going forward.

Trufant's ailment, a back disc problem, may actually turn out to be the more serious of the two. He's on Seattle's Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and doesn't even sound close to joining practice.

Mora said that Trufant won't need surgery, and he could stay on the PUP list and not eat up a roster spot -- though if he's still there for Week 1, he won't be able to come off until after Week 6.

"Because of the history that we have with backs here, we're very careful," Mora said.

That "history" includes Matt Hasslebeck's 2008 back injury, one that sounds similar to Trufant's, which cost Hasslebeck the entire second half of his season.

The panic-inducing issue for Seattle fans regarding both Jones and Trufant is that their potential fill-ins are substantial steps down. With Jones out of practice, Sean Locklear slid to the left tackle spot, with Na'Shan Goddard jumping in on the right. Locklear's steady -- he's got 53 starts in the last four years for Seattle -- but Goddard has made zero pro starts. Jones has nine Pro Bowl appearances, just for comparison's sake.

If Trufant misses extended time, Josh Wilson probably slides into the starting lineup across from Ken Lucas. Wilson had 76 tackles and four interceptions last year, but Trufant earned a six-year, $50.2 million deal in 2008 and teams more or less avoided him last season. He's a very good shutdown corner.

Feel free to panic, even if it's a little premature, Seattle fans. These are both troubling situations.

Panic May Set in Soon for Seahawks if Jones, Trufant Don't Get Healthy originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Marc Bulger Injured on Snap Exchange

Matt Snyder — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:50:00 EST

Filed under: Rams, NFC West, NFL Injuries

After hearing how physical a camp the Rams are running under new head coach Steve Spagnuolo, injuries shouldn't surprise us. Thus, when Marc Bulger fell injured with a broken pinky on his right (throwing) hand, it didn't seem too shocking at first glance. That is, of course, until learning what actually happened: Bulger suffered a non-displaced fracture to his pinky due to an errant snap exchange from his center. He won't be wearing a cast and expects to be back in about two weeks.

In the meantime, the person taking the snaps for the Rams' first-team offense will be none other than Kyle Boller -- the former first-rounder for the Ravens who compiled a 71.9 quarterback rating in 53 career games for Baltimore.

This would be pretty bad news for the Rams, but Bulger should have plenty of time to reacclimate himself into the offense before the season opener. Plus, he's not exactly a star himself. The Rams have gone 4-23 in his last 27 starts, in which time he's had a quarterback rating of just over 70, and thrown more interceptions than touchdown passes.

So, they are going to either have a bad quarterback, or one who has been a huge bust and didn't even play in 2008 (Boller).

Good thing they have Steven Jackson in camp and healthy.

Marc Bulger Injured on Snap Exchange originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Donnie Avery Injured, Out 4-6 Weeks

Matt Snyder — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:55:00 EST

Filed under: Rams, NFC West, NFL Injuries

The Rams have been getting noticed for their incredibly physical training camp under the new Steve Spagnuolo regime. There are many positives to having a physically intense camp, but there's always the increased risk of losing an important player to injury. Remember, the Rams dodged a close call with their franchise player last week.

Friday night, No. 1 wide receiver Donnie Avery came down with a foot injury during an intrasquad scrimmage. The injury wasn't believed to be serious, but, come Sunday, Avery was experiencing enough pain that the team ordered an MRI. The results came back with bad news.

"[The MRI] showed more than we thought," coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "It's probably a four-to-six-week injury."

The Rams open the season September 13 in Seattle, which is exactly five weeks from now. Considering Avery is a receiver who relies greatly upon his speed, this injury will put a damper on any optimism the Rams were building toward the beginning of the Spagnuolo era. The best-case scenario gives him one week to prepare to the opener, which isn't near enough to get him up to full speed. It's more likely he misses the first game or two and takes a few weeks to get back into the swing after that.

Even worse, the Rams are pretty thin in terms of proven playmakers at receiver. Without Avery, the starters look to be Keenan Burton (13 catches for 172 yards last season) and Ronald Curry (19 catches for 181 yards last season). Laurent Robinson and Tim Carter would also be in the mix.

Fantasy Spin:
Obviously, this hurts Avery's value in a big way. Even if he makes it back in time for the season, there is great concern he'll open the season slowly. This knocks him down from a WR3 to a WR4 in most leagues. Thus, Marc Bulger's already dwindling value takes a hit. Of the options who might replace Avery, if only for a game, Curry is the most intriguing. He's a great athlete who has shown flashes of emerging, yet he's always been buried in Oakland (running team with poor quarterback play).

Also, Steven Jackson will be leaned upon even more heavily should Avery miss time. If Jackson can stay healthy, he's going to see 30 touches a game.

Monitor Avery's progress up to your draft day and see how quickly he's healing.

Donnie Avery Injured, Out 4-6 Weeks originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 09 Aug 2009 18:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Physical Rams Camp Getting Noticed

Matt Snyder — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:40:00 EST

Filed under: Rams, NFC West, NFL Training Camp

To understate things a bit, the 2-14 Rams were a bad football team in 2008. If not for a brief two-game reprieve after firing Scott Linehan and the presence of the winless Detroit Lions, St. Louis would have easily been the worst team in football. Just one year removed, most people doubt the Rams can quickly reverse their fortunes, despite one-year flips by the Falcons and Dolphins last season.

While they may not immediately transform into winners, new head coach Steve Spagnuolo -- who came over from the incredibly physical NFC East -- is already changing the environment in St. Louis. According to everyone who has visited the Rams, this is one of the most intense and physical camps in recent memory.

Steve Wyche of NFL.com notes a fast-pace and high level of contact, in addition to a lack of negativity. If a mistake is made by a player, the coaches will tell him how to do it right, instead of simply informing the player he's wrong. This took Wyche back to a relatively similar situation last season.

I saw Falcons coach Mike Smith use the same strategy last year in his first camp with the Falcons and, as we know, it paid benefits. The positive reinforcement amid a demanding camp helps guys, especially young guys, which the Rams have plenty of, get through.

John Clayton of ESPN and Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch both witnessed what Thomas described as a "hellacious" hit by Chris Chamberlain on Steven Jackson. Jackson is the face of the Rams franchise, a legitimate star running back, and he was cut down at the knees by last year's seventh-round pick who is trying to make the roster. Spagnuolo's only complaint was to keep the hits away from the knees in camp. Jackson himself was fine with the contact.

"It happens in football," he said. "He got a little low. But it's understood. It was an accident. It wasn't anything done intentionally."

All things considered, it really is night and day from 2008 in Camp Ram. This time last year, the Rams were going through the motions, without pads half the time, and Jackson was sitting at home awaiting a new contract.

This time around, Spagnuolo is pushing his young team to the limit, and Jackson has emerged as the leader of the team with departures of long-time Rams Orlando Pace and Torry Holt.

"I'm just trying to be an all-around captain for the offense, and set my example on the practice field," Jackson said. "Show guys how to practice. Show guys how to work."

"He's right on target," Spagnuolo said. "He's done a great job. He did a great job in the offseason. He's in great shape. So far so good."

So things sound like they are going well under the Spagnuolo regime thus far, even though it's only been around a week of intensity.

When the calendar turns, things will get a lot more real. The Rams don't look to have the horses, other than Jackson, to put together a scary offense and the defense is still a young work in progress. All the contact drills, intensity and leadership in the world can't account for a lack of game-ready talent.

That being said, 2009 is supposed to be a rebuilding year in St. Louis. Anything more than five wins will be gravy. The importance in the 2009 season is in the foundation for the future of the franchise. From all early accounts, Spagnuolo, along with some help from his dynamic running back, has the team headed in the right direction.

Physical Rams Camp Getting Noticed originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 06 Aug 2009 14:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Summer Scramble: NFC West Burning Questions and Prediction

Dan Graziano — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Rams, Seahawks, NFC West, FanHouse Previews, NFL Predictions, NFL Analysis

It's July, the slowest month of the year for the NFL, and it's driving you nuts. You need a fix. A hit. Anything NFL to pull you through the dog days. FanHouse is here to help with an in-depth look at each division that should have you plenty prepared for training camp. We're calling it Summer Scramble, and this afternoon we look at some Burning Questions in the NFC West and offer a ridiculously early prediction.

Will Arizona's defense play like it did in the playoffs? Or in the 2008 regular season?

Only four teams allowed more than the 26.6 points per game the Cardinals surrendered in the regular season last year. That number dropped to 22.3 PPG in the postseason, where Arizona went 3-1 and came within a tail feather of a Super Bowl championship. Free agent defensive back Bryant McFadden, along with draft picks Rashad Johnson and Greg Toler, should help shore up the secondary/ And if second-year defensive end Calais Campbell can step in for free-agent defection Antonio Smith and get some pressure on opposing quarterbacks, the Arizona pass defense should be greatly improved in 2009. In this division, if Arizona improves at all, in any area, that should be enough to get the Cardinals back to the playoffs.

How are the 49ers going to score points?

They don't know who their quarterback is going to be. Their top draft pick, WR Michael Crabtree, isn't in camp yet and is coming off foot surgery. They're working with their seventh different offensive coordinator in seven years. The offensive line gave up 55 sacks last year. It's hard to imagine San Francisco being any kind of serious threat to score through the air. That means it's all going to fall on running back Frank Gore, third-round draft pick Glen Coffee and fullback Moran Norris. The Niners' defense, led by emerging young linebacker Patrick Willis, is good enough to force turnovers and keep the team in games, but somebody's going to have to emerge in the passing game to keep opposing defenses from loading up against the run.

Can Matt Hasselbeck stay healthy in Seattle?

The Seahawks have worked to put the pieces in place around their 33-year-old quarterback, but it's not going to matter if he can't play any more than seven games this year. Seattle believes itself deep at WR with Nate Burleson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Deion Branch and Deon Butler. They like their running game led by Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett. On defense, they feel they have as strong a linebacking corps as any team in the league, thanks to the addition of first-rounder Aaron Curry and in spite of the loss of Julian Peterson. But it's all going to come down to the healthy and effectiveness of Hasselbeck, whose back and knee problems made 2008 a lost season for him.

Is Steve Spagnuolo enough to make the Rams a good defensive team?

Gonna go with "no" on this one, even though we think very highly of Spagnuolo as a defensive coach and believe he probably has the leadership qualities it will take to make him a good NFL head coach. His problems this year, though, will result from the relative youth and inexperience of the players on his defense. Chris Long should improve under Spagnuolo and new defensive coordinator Ken Flajole. And draft pick James Laurinaitis will provide an upgrade in the linebacking corps. But this is still a defensive unit that has a lot of learning and improvement to do. And with the pathetic offense the Rams feature, they're going to need to be able to keep points off the scoreboard.

RIDICULOUSLY EARLY PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1. Cardinals (10-6): Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald and that electric passing offense are still in place, and the defense should be better. They cruise back into the postseason.

2. 49ers (8-8): Mike Singletary's bunch is a team on the rise, but there's still work to do before they can contend in the NFC.

3. Seahawks (7-9): Hasselbeck could have a big year left in him, but at his age, it's better to bet the other way.

4. Rams: (3-13): They weren't much better last year than the Lions were. This year, they're worse.

Check out the entire Summer Scramble series:

July 7: NFC East Position Battles to Watch
July 8: NFC East Burning Questions and Prediction
July 9: AFC East Position Battles to Watch
July 10: AFC East Burning Questions and Prediction
July 14: NFC North Position Battles to Watch
July 15: NFC North Burning Questions and Prediction
July 16: AFC North Position Battles to Watch
July 17: AFC North Burning Questions and Prediction
July 21: NFC South Position Battles to Watch
July 22: NFC South Burning Questions and Prediction
July 23: AFC South Position Battles to Watch
July 24: AFC South Burning Questions and Prediction
Earlier Today: NFC West Position Battles to Watch
Tomorrow: AFC West Position Battles to Watch
Friday: AFC West Burning Questions and Prediction

Summer Scramble: NFC West Burning Questions and Prediction originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Summer Scramble: NFC West Position Battles to Watch

Nancy Gay — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Rams, Seahawks, NFC West

It's July, the slowest month of the year for the NFL, and it's driving you nuts. You need a fix. A hit. Anything NFL to pull you through the dog days. FanHouse is here to help with an in-depth look at each division that should have you plenty prepared for training camp. We're calling it Summer Scramble, and today we look at the NFC West's looming position battles.

--49ers quarterbacks: Bay Area fans have lost patience with Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft whose career has been derailed by too many coaches, offensive philosophies and three shoulder surgeries in two seasons. That made journeyman Shaun Hill an instant favorite last season: he's accurate, gritty and finds ways to win (7-3 record as a 49ers' starter). Coach Mike Singletary has declared an open battle to capture the starting job and Smith is a sentimental favorite for some in the organization. He reworked his contract to a new two-year deal that reduced his guaranteed pay.

PREDICTION: Smith will make it interesting with his ability to throw deep, but Hill's the more dependable quarterback under center and on the run. Singletary has confidence in Hill and so do the receivers. He'll start in Week 1.

--Cardinals running backs: Edgerrin James and J.J. Arrington no longer are in the Cardinals' backfield so the competition is wide open between first-round pick Chris "Beanie" Wells and second-year rusher Tim Hightower. Coaches want to see if Wells can make West Coast-offense catches out of the backfield. Hightower established himself in '08 as a dependable short-yardage back and he led the team with 10 rushing touchdowns. Can he learn to break through tackles and gain more than his 2.8-yard-per-carry average last season?

PREDICTION: Wells was a first-round pick, and when skill players are drafted that high, the franchise intends for them to start. Wells finishes No. 1 with Hightower handling short-yardage duties once again.

--Rams wide receivers: A new coaching staff led by Steve Spagnuolo and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur wants to install a West Coast passing attack and power running game. Veteran receivers Drew Bennett and Torry Holt are gone, and young receivers such as Donnie Avery, the first receiver picked in the '08 draft, are being featured. Who will start opposite Avery: Laurent Robinson or Keenan Burton? Robinson arrived via trade from Atlanta after coaches there lost confidence in him. Burton's coming off knee surgery, but coaches like his ability in the slot.

PREDICTION: Avery nails down a starting job and Burton makes a successful return from his knee injury to win the other starting spot in camp.

--Seahawks right defensive end: There will be plenty of movement on this defensive line, which was ravaged by injuries in '08. Keeping left end Patrick Kerney healthy won't be easy; he's coming off shoulder surgery three years in a row. But the most interesting battle is at right end. Seattle picked up Cory Redding in a trade and the sixth-year veteran is versatile enough to play end in rushing situations and tackle on passing downs. Redding will compete with Darryl Tapp and '08 first-round pick Lawrence Jackson.

PREDICTION: Redding will win the starting job and share time with Tapp and Jackson when he rotates inside in obvious passing situations.

Later Today: NFC West Burning Questions and Prediction
Tomorrow: AFC West Position Battles to Watch
Friday: AFC West Burning Questions and Prediction

Summer Scramble: NFC West Position Battles to Watch originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lions Trade Ronald Curry to Rams for Orien Harris

Josh Alper — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: Lions, Rams, NFC North, NFC West

A little more than a week before the start of training camp, the Rams ensured that they'd have a wide receiver whose name isn't meant with blank stares. St. Louis dealt defensive tackle Orien Harris to the Lions on Wednesday for Ronald Curry, a rare swap of two players who have never played a regular-season snap for the team that traded them.

Curry should slot in alongside Donnie Avery in the Rams' starting offense, which is a lot better situation than the one he left in Detroit. The Lions signed him in April, but he became an unneeded part after the team dealt for Dennis Northcutt in late June.

Curry shouldn't have any such trouble with St. Louis. His size -- 6-2, 210 pounds -- and experience make him stand out among the small and young receiving crew already on the roster. With a suspect offensive line, Marc Bulger is going to need people who can catch short passes and make something of them.

Curry isn't anyone's idea of an elite receiver, but he can do that. He's had at least 50 catches in three different seasons, although his 19 catches in 2008 does make his upside somewhat suspect. At any rate, expect a lot of balls to head in his direction this season.

Harris is in a similar boat. He was behind several players on the Rams' depth chart, and obviously never showed the team enough after coming over in a May trade for running back Brian Leonard. With the Lions, however, he'll enter a wide-open competition for playing time, which will only grow if Grady Jackson is slow to return from knee surgery or suspended as a result of a positive drug test he says was triggered by the controversial StarCaps supplement.

Lions Trade Ronald Curry to Rams for Orien Harris originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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