Post columnist Steve Serby takes a look at the NFL and breaks down each team and every division as part of our 2011 NFL Preview:
1. ST. LOUIS RAMS
Coach: Steve Spagnuolo
2011 projection: 9-7
2010 record: 7-9
Over/under wins: 7 1/2
Odds to win Super Bowl: 45-1
Serby Says: GM Billy Devaney was assistant to Chargers GM Bobby Beathard when the Colts drafted Peyton Manning with the first-overall pick in 1997 and left them with Ryan Leaf as the second pick. The football gods were kinder a year ago when Devaney and Steve Spagnuolo had Sam Bradford sitting there for them at the top of the draft. The only question about Bradford was whether his shoulder could withstand the rigors of the NFL.
He took every snap as a rookie.
RB Steven Jackson, who will be helped by the arrival of G Harvey Dahl and the maturing of tackles Rodger Saffold and Jason Smith, remains the centerpiece of the offense, but new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ tutelage will help Bradford take the Huggies off. Until proven otherwise, it is a motley crew of wideouts fighting for playing time — ex-Jaguar Mike Sims-Walker, Danny Amendola, the poor man’s Wes Welker, and rookie TE Lance Kendricks, who can be a matchup nightmare for linebackers or safeties.
Spagnuolo, who unleashed hell on Tom Brady in Super Bowl XLII when he was Tom Coughlin’s defensive coordinator, drafted DE Robert Quinn to be a bookend for DE Chris Long, Howie’s boy. DE-DT James Hall seems to be
Spagnuolo’s Justin Tuck, while MLB James Laurinaitis serves as Spagnuolo’s Antonio Pierce. There are few complaints about CBs Ron Bartell and Bradley Fletcher, but S Quintin Mikell has to replace O.J. Atogwe.
The kicking game (PK Josh Brown and P Donnie Jones) is a positive, The schedule is a negative.
Drew’s Fantasy Tracker: Bradford takes next step and carries forgotten WRs Sims-Walker and Amendola with him. RB Steven Jackson finally scores on pace with his talent.
2. ARIZONA CARDINALS
Coach: Ken Whisenhunt
2011 projection: 8-8
2010 record: 5-11
Over/under wins: 6 1/2
Odds to win Super Bowl: 65-1
Serby Says: Kevin Kolb has started only seven games in his NFL career, but he is being hailed in the desert as The Messiah. Remember, Andy Reid, who knows quarterbacks, drafted him as the heir apparent to Donovan McNabb, and traded him only after Michael Vick showed himself worthy of a five-year, $80 million contract. Kolb has the kind of gun that will make Larry Fitzgerald a double-digit TD machine again, even if TE Todd Heap is the only option who can take the heat off him.
Ken Whisenhunt was hoping that No. 2 pick RB Ryan Williams could either push or supplant injury-prone Beanie Wells, but the rookie power back blew out a knee and is lost for the season. Kolb will need a quick release and good decision-making as the OL surrendered 50 sacks a year ago.
New defensive coordinator Ray Horton will like his front if second-year NT Dan Williams can be a force between DEs Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell. A pass-rushing OLB is needed in the worst way, but Joey Porter and Clark Haggans have seen their best days and could give way to a youth movement. No. 1 pick CB Patrick Peterson will crack the starting lineup sooner rather than later while S Kerry Rhodes will try to prove to Rex Ryan that he’s more than just another pretty Hollywood face with Adrian Wilson (biceps) likely out at the start.
The new kickoff rules will hurt LaRod Stephens-Howling (27.2 yard average) with two TDs. Peterson was a dynamic punt returner at LSU. Jay Feely is a fearless placekicker and superior talk radio guest.
Drew’s Fantasy Tracker: Not believers in Kolb, but he will do enough to restore value to Fitzgerald. Rest of roster is fantasy desert.
3. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Coach: Jim Harbaugh
2011 projection: 8-8
2010 record: 7-9
Over/under wins: 7 1/2
Odds to win Super Bowl: 60-1
Serby Says: When owner Jed York and GM Trent Baalke enticed hotshot Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh away from one more season with future franchise quarterback Andrew Luck, as well as the Dolphins and Broncos, 49erologists likened it to a squirrel finding an acorn. Harbaugh’s reward was a five-year, $25 million contract, a franchise that has endured eight straight non-winning seasons, and a quarterback who never should have been drafted first overall instead of Aaron Rodgers. In Alex Smith’s defense, he seemingly has had as many offensive coordinators as Clyde Frazier has suits. Smith knows he is simply keeping the seat warm for strong-armed rookie Colin Kaepernick.
Plaxico Burress was on his way to meet with the club just as the Jets closed the deal, so Smith’s wide receivers are Braylon Edwards and former No. 1 pick Michael Crabtree, who has been plagued by a foot injury and a diva reputation. But his best options are TE Vernon Davis and RB Frank Gore, who has a corps of first-round draft picks blocking for him, even after the Giants hijacked C David Baas.
MLB Patrick Willis is a modern-day Harry Carson-Lawrence Taylor hybrid, but it is No. 1 pick OLB Aldon Smith who is being counted on to help DE Justin Smith and OLB Ahmad Brooks upgrade the pass rush (36 sacks). CB Carlos Rogers will be needed when Larry Fitzgerald shows up.
PK David Akers, who left his heart in Philadelphia, and P Andy Lee form a capable duo to boot.
Drew’s Fantasy Tracker: Gore is back, but so is anemic San Fran offense. Not convinced Alex Smith can get ball to lackluster WRs Edwards and Crabtree. TE Davis overvalued in rounds 6-7.
4. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Coach: Pete Carroll
2011 projection: 6-10
2010 record: 7-9
Over/under wins: 6 1/2
Odds to win Super Bowl: 85-1
Serby Says: Ah, memories: Pete Carroll has a portable basketball hoop outside Seahawks’ headquarters. He may wish he had a faded Boomer Esiason quarterbacking his team again when he gets an extended look at Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst.
New offensive line coach Tom Cable should get the best out of LT Russell Okung and his former Raiders guard, Robert Gallery, and bring stability to a unit that was sabotaged by too much upheaval. Because of the woeful quarterback situation, RB Marshawn Lynch will be a marked man and free-agent prize WR Sidney Rice might charter a private jet to Hattiesburg and plead with Brett Favre to unretire (Jenn Sterger, report immediately to the Witness Protection Program) and throw him passes again. The beneficiary of the quarterback situation figures to be TE Zach Miller, who should make a seamless transition because of his familiarity with lousy quarterbacking in Oakland. TE John Carlson is lost for the season, however.
DE Chris Clemons is a double-digit sacker, and DT Brandon Mebane was a hot commodity during free agency. David Hawthorne replaces departed Lofa Tatupu at MLB, and ballhawk S Earl Thomas tries to bail out a revamped secondary.
The new kickoff rules won¹t help returner Leon Washington.
Drew’s Fantasy Tracker: Rice never did well with Jackson when they were in Minnesota. Why would that change outside of the dome? Lynch will waste what miles he has left.