By Gayle Saunders
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Drew Brees – Saints - Arguably the most accurate signal-caller in the league today, Brees epitomized the evolution of the NFL’s passing game with his record-breaking performance in 2011, and is in line for a monumental payday. A six-time Pro-Bowl selection who nearly surpassed Dan Marino’s long-held mark of 5,084 yards earlier in his career, Brees shattered the total as the leader of New Orleans’ potent offense this past season, posting MVP-caliber numbers (5,476 yards, 46 touchdowns, 14 interceptions). Drafted by San Diego in 2001, he has already won a Super Bowl in his career, but interested teams aren’t likely to have a chance at acquiring him in free agency, as the Saints are all but guaranteed to lock him up with big bucks.

Matt Flynn – Packers - Unlike Brees, Flynn is far from proven at the NFL level and has started merely two games since coming into the league as a seventh-round draft pick in 2008. However, his value skyrocketed with an eye-popping performance in relief of Aaron Rodgers to close Green Bay’s nearly perfect regular season. Though he’s faced questions regarding his size and arm strength, Flynn has flourished as an accurate passer with the Packers, lighting up Detroit for 480 yards and six touchdowns this past season. His work as an injury replacement vs. New England in 2010 has also garnered attention, and while he is nowhere near a surefire free agent acquisition, his upside as a starter is through the roof thanks to this season.

Kyle Orton – Chiefs - While he doesn’t compare to Brees and Flynn in terms of pure talent and upside, Orton brings a sense of stability to the table as one of the top free agent quarterbacks heading into 2012. At 29 years old, he’s likely still got a handful of quality seasons left, and while he’s never wowed anyone as a starter, his intermediate arm strength and experience could go a long way for a team in need of a veteran first-stringer. Originally a draft pick of the Bears in 2005, he found success in Denver after being traded to the Broncos as part of the Jay Cutler deal, but was ultimately waived after the emergence of Tim Tebow this past season. Picked up by the Chiefs, he played sparingly while battling injuries, but could land another starting gig on the market this offseason.

Quarterbacks

Drew Brees
Matt Flynn
Kyle Orton
Chad Henne
Alex Smith
Jason Campbell
David Garrard
Vince Young
Josh Johnson
Shaun Hill
Byron Leftwich
Sage Rosenfels
Brady Quinn
Drew Stanton
Donovan McNabb
Chad Pennington
Rex Grossman
Dennis Dixon
Chris Redman
Josh McCown
Charlie Whitehurst
Luke McCown
Charlie Batch
Jake Delhomme
J.P. Losman
Dan Orlovsky
Derek Anderson
A.J. Feeley
Caleb Hanie
David Carr
Kellen Clemens
Kyle Boller
Mark Brunell
Jeff Garcia
Kevin O’Connell

Well, we are down to the Elite 8 in the NFL and it’s nothing but the cream of the crop for the rest of the way! How do you rank the remaining playoff teams? The NFC is looking lean and mean right now with the performances of the Saints and Giants, the AFC has still yet to see their two big boys play while the feel good stories look like they might be at the end of their journey. So how do they stack up 1-8 in their odds to win it all, here is how we see it!

It’s also important to note that the difference between these teams now is so fractional that to say one team doesn’t have a chance is foolish. Any given Sunday you can can get it!

1. Green Bay Packers – they are the team to beat right now but they better be very careful this weekend. The Giants Front are “world-beaters” and for those that aren’t familiar with the term, a world beater is someone or a group of people that when they are on their game can not be beaten. Aaron Rodgers is definitely a world beater too and the key to getting the Packers into a rhythm vs this great Front 4 of NY.

2. Baltimore Ravens – We haven’t seen what they bring in this postseason yet but the Ravens should be ready at home were they are unbeaten. 8-0 in the regular season means T.J. Yates has to play the game of his young life. Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and Ed Reed await and they should be AFC Championship bound! This teams hopes begins and ends with Ray Rice however, if he gets churning and burning they are very tough to beat!

3. New England Patriots – They have Tom Brady, they have the weapons and likely won’t have much trouble with the Broncos this weekend however they do have concerns on Defense. Giving up an average 411.1 yards per game in the Regular Season the Patriots need to shore that up. If they have a bad day Offensively they could be in trouble. Brady at home is very tough to beat but in their last two home playoff games the Patriots lost to the Jets and Ravens.

4. New Orleans Saints - It’s just too hard to ignore the Offense! Many people will probably bark down my throat saying they should be ranked higher and I agree there is an argument there with all of the great things that Drew Brees is doing. However I still have reservations about their defense. They have no pass rush and that secondary isn’t good enough to run with wideouts very long.

5. New York Giants – say what you want but that Defensive showing vs the Falcons was dominating. When the other team doesn’t score, you don’t lose. The Giants were dominating. Can they do it in Lambeau vs the Champs? That remains to be seen but they are riding high on confidence and with that performance you can’t help but notice a complete team that can compete for a Super Bowl. They are good!

6. San Francisco 49ers – The Defense is definitely the catalyst for this Niners teams, they are team that is built to win the trenches. The Offense likes to impose their will and mash the football right their opponent. Frank Gore and Patrick Willis each are the main man that each unit runs through. Their postseason success however really hinges on Alex Smith and he will get a test this weekend.

7. Houston Texans – It’s just a shame this team wasn’t 100% on both sides of the ball. Without Matt Schaub and Mario Williams you really never know how good they could have been. T.J. Yates will learn first hand this weekend what the NFL playoffs vs an elite Defense means. On the road vs the Ravens could be the end of what was a truly great season. Hats off to Gary Kubiak and Wade Phillips for turning that ship around fast and getting their first Franchise playoff win!

8. Denver Broncos – As much as the Tim Tebow story feels good and it does especially after what happened vs the #1 ranked Defense, the task ahead might be a little too daunting. Tom Brady at home coming off a nice rest could spell trouble however Tim Tebow is a gamer! The Broncos proved they can throw the football which obviously changes the game plan for the Patriots. They have to play mistake free football in order to move on in the tournament.

By Gayle Saunders
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Its true folks, the 49ers are now working out former NFL QB Daunte Culpepper. At the moment the 49ers are looking for a veteran QB badly.

Enter Daunte Culpepper. Yes trust me “Everybody get your roll on” Daunte Culpepper, to back up Alex Smith. Last season with the UFL’s Sacramento team Culpepper threw 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in the eight of his starts.

After the debacle last pre season game, its possible that Alex Smith got roughed up a bit behind that fragile offensive line.
Right now the 49ers have 3 young rookies on the depth chart behind Alex Smith, that includes second-round choice Colin Kaepernick who is #2 on the depth chart. Looks like the team would rather have a veteran step into play vs. throwing Kaeperninck to the wolves.

With an inexperienced line and poor communication between them, giving up sacks could be the norm in San Fran. I’m not quite sure that the 49ers really want to damage the confidence of Kaeperninck this early in the season. Somebody should have Troy Smith on speed dial…just saying.

By Gayle Saunders
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The San Francisco 49ers have announced for the second time that their starting quarterback will be Alex Smith.

Coach Singletary made it know to the media on Tuesday morning. The 49ers who are (4-8) have a must-win game this Sunday at home against their NFC West rivals Seattle Seahawks.

On Oct. 24th Alex Smith dislocated his non-throwing left shoulder and hasn’t played since. Alex was cleared to play several weeks ago, but Singletary opted for Troy Smith to switch things up. despite being medically cleared several weeks ago. At the moment Singletary has chose to pick a starting QB each week and go from there.

“Our quarterback is going to be Alex Smith,” Singletary told KNBR. “We felt at this time, Alex with his experience and all of the other things, he would give us the best chance to win at this particular time, at this time of the year. Still very confident in what Troy has been able to do and would not rule out at any point in time him playing again. Right now it’s just a matter of looking where we are in the season and the opportunity we have before us.”

On the year Alex Smith has completed 143 of 242 passes for 1,554 yards and nine TDs and nice interceptions and has been sacked 13 times this season. His quarterback rating is 75.0 This could perhaps be Alex Smith’s last time to shine for the 49ers as he is in the final year of his contract with a team trying to end a seven-year playoff drought.

Troy Smith, who has went 3-2 in the last five games is 66 for 126 and has passed for 1,023 yards and four touchdowns, including throwing for 356 yards in a 23-20 overtime victory over the St. Louis Rams.

“I think the most important thing is the guys understand I’m going to go with the guy I figure will give us the best opportunity to win. I think they know that about me,” Singletary told the radio station. “We’re trying to win games and that’s really the bottom line. Because of the experience, obviously [Alex] knows the playbook. He’s been here, has been in the system, has gone through training camp, the whole nine yards. I just feel that right now he gives us the best chance to win.”

By Gayle Saunders
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49ers QB Alex Smith will not be in the lineup up this weekend due to a seperated shoulder, however Coach Singeltary has turned to Ex Raven QB and heisman trophy winner Troy Smith.

Most people would have thought David Carr would take the start but Singeltary will take a shot with Troy Smith. With the Niners off to a 1-6 start, Singletary has little to lose by taking a gamble. Singletary said Troy Smith had never taken first-team snaps in practice with the Niners before this week, but that he’s catching on pretty quickly.

Singletary made it known on Wednesday that Troy will get his first NFL start in three years against the Denver Broncos at London’s Wembley Stadium on Sunday. Singletary chose the former Ohio State stud ahead of Carr, who played against Carolina after Alex Smith was injured on Sunday but threw a costly late interception that led to the winning field goal for the Carolina Panthers.

“Troy Smith gives us a good opportunity to win this game,” Singletary said. “I talked to David Carr about it. He understands. We had a couple of conversations about it. That’s a personal thing between he and I, and I’m going to leave it there. Troy Smith is our starting quarterback.”

Troy Smith has spent the last threes years of his career with the Ravens where he only had two starts back in 2007. Troy Smith does have the mobility that Alex Smith and Carr don’t possess. Look for the 49ers to take advantage of his scrambling ability to give the 49ers offense some extra options.

“The way that you prepare as a professional athlete, you have to be prepared when your number is called. And that’s exactly where I’m at,” he said. “I think the easiest way to get through to your teammates that you’re serious about what’s going on is to know exactly what your job is, know exactly what everyone expects from you and go out and execute,” Troy Smith said. “At the same time you have to respect your boundaries. I believe in not stepping on anybody’s toes, I believe in getting in where you fit in.”

With Troy Smith stepping in the lineup he will get the opportunity to link up with old Ohio State teammate wide receiver Ted Ginn, whio is actually one of his best friends from childhood and his favorite target during his Ohio State days. Both of them played together in high school in Cleveland and then again at Ohio State, and Ginn stated that he can’t wait to get out on the field to play together again.

“It’s great to be able to get back in tune with a guy that you’ve been playing with your whole life,” Ginn said. “For us to go out and continue our journey that we’ve been (on) so far is great.”

By Gayle Saunders
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QB’s

Week 3 Pickups

Josh Freeman – Buccaneers Believe it or not Freeman has been a top-10 quarterback each of the first two weeks and is also tied for sixth-best on the season, Freeman has four TDs . He’ll face the Steelers in Week 3, and then he’ll be on a bye. You might be ready to play him after that.

Kyle Orton – Denver Orton has produced for the Broncos and for fantasy owners in 2010. Orton’s targets are Eddie Royal, Demaryius Thomas, Jabar Gaffney, and Daniel Graham. There is some potential in that group, especially with Thomas back and healthy. .

Alex Smith – San Francisco Smith has some nice weapons to play with in San Francisco, which always make him worth a start depending on the opponent. Right now he’s struggled to get Crabtree in the mix…once they get their chemistry back things could get brighter.

Mark Sanchez – New York Jets Sanchez got busy in the 2nd half against the Patriots. He had 3 passing touchdowns. You have to remember that the Jets will continue run the rock with Greene and Tomlinson, which doesn’t mean huge numbers in the passing game but he has his good days ahead of him as Dustin Keller has come alive.

Bruce Gradkowski – Raiders Bruce gets the nod. either way you can expect a gutsy performance. Keep a watch on him, he could provide a spark plug for the passing game in Oakland. But don’t plan on relying on Gradkowski as your savior.

Jimmy Clausen – Carolina Clausen is a shaky start, but if you need someone to fill in he’s worth putting in. The Panthers tote the rock heavy and will rely on the run game more than Clausen’s shoulders.

Ryan Fitzpatrick – Buffalo Fitzpatrick has been named the starter in Buffalo, Its tough to see a huge upside for the Buffalo offense. But Ryan is 5-4 as a starter that is the only positive I have for you. The Bills offensive line is really suspect and their big receiving threat is Lee Evans. (I’ve been waiting years for him to produce for fantasy) No Bueno!

RB’s

Thomas Jones – Kansas City Todd Haley continues to rely heavy on the savvy vet Thomas Jones. Jamaal Charles is always a threat to steal carries or some how take his position. Charles is the more explosive option, but Thomas Jones is getting more touches case and point.

Marshawn Lynch – Buffalo Lynch got allot of love and was used heavily on Sunday, but will still has Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller to deal with going forward. He might be worth a bench spot depending on your situation and desperate need.

Donald Brown – Indianapolis Brown got a nice amount of touches on Sunday. He touched the ball 17 times against the G-men and brought in a score. Brown is def worth a bench spot on your roster.

Michael Bush – Oakland Problem is Darren McFadden has been doing his thing this season, where does that leave Michael Bush. Bush is no longer a starting option however he should steal touches from McFadden down the road.

Jason Snelling – Atlanta Snelling had a tremendous game filling in for Turner and Norwood. The Falcons will rely on the run as much as possible, Michael Turner pays the light bill, but Snelling will get his “shine on” from time to time. Turner’s groin is back to normal so they say but keep Snelling on your bench in the time being.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis – New England Patriots did have the Wutang of Running backs however, Maroney and Faulk are now gone…that’s right gone! So between Fred Taylor & Sammie Morris look for Green-Ellis to get some carries in there. Bill Belichick will rely on no feature back, which scares us all!

Mike Tolbert – Chargers if you own Ryan Mathews Tolbert should be looked at. He had a good game in his opener against the Chiefs, he had two carries for 26 yards. Mathews left with an injury and Tolbert got 95 total yards and two scores. Important fact is Tolbert got his first score while Mathews was still in the game. Looks like you can add “vulture” to Tolberts resume. He is a must-grab for any Mathews owner.

John Kuhn – Green Bay Brandon Jackson didn’t quite impress like we thought he would as a starter, Which allowed Kuhn to steal some carries. Kuhn could likely see 5-8 carries a game. Kuhn is an option if you are desperate.

Rashad Jennings – Jacksonville Maurice Jones-Drew didn’t play the whole game, which opened up a window for Jennings to get some stats. Jones-Drew will lock on to the starter position as the main feature. Jennings is worthy to hold a spot on your bench, nothing more nothing less. Maurice Jones-Drew goes down he’s your guy!

Chris Ivory /DeShawn Wynn– New Orleans
Reggie Bush is probably out up to 4-6 weeks, DeShawn Wynn or Chris Ivory will be happy to take some snaps from Thomas. Ivory is still nursing an injury so Wynn looks like he has a slight advantage. If healthy Ivory is my pick though.

WR’s

Devin Hester – Chicago Many people let Hester go after week 1, It might be time to go scoop him back up! He rebounded nicely in week 2 and is worthy of starting position, especially since Devin Aromashodu got the bench. Jay Cutler has out performed himself this season and with the numbers up as well as attempt he’s bound to get in the mix. Knox is considered thee guy in from the WR corp. If you cant get him your next best target is Hester.

Demaryius Thomas – Denver Thomas was out week 1 due to injury. He made his NFL debut last week and he had an impressive 8 grabs with 97 yards and a TD. Denver has a need for a big wide receiver, and Thomas is that guy!

Louis Murphy – Raiders With Gradkowski in the mix he could be targeted early and often. Last week Murphy had 6 catches for 91 yards and a score. He was the No. 1 receiver for the Raiders this past Sunday. Raiders next 3 opponents are Arizona, Houston and San Diego expect them to try and air it out.

Kevin Walter – Texans You cant ignore that he now has scores in both games this season. His stat line in the comeback against the Redskins were 11 receptions and 144 yards. With Owen Daniels not completely healthy they look to involve Walter a bit more.

TE’s

Dustin Keller – New York Jets In week 1 Keller was a no show stats wise. However Keller pulled in 7 receptions, 115 yards, and a touchdown PLUS 9 targets in week 2. Look for Mark Sanchez’s to favor Keller down the stretch. Even though the Jets are run heavy, Keller could still be productive.

Marcedes Lewis – Jacksonville In week 1 Lewis had 2 targets BUT they were both for touchdowns. In week 2 he pulled in 5 receptions and 70 yards with 9 targets however he did not score. If your in need grab him up now..but if you can wait make sure you keep your eye on him this week and act fast…that’s if he is still there by then.

Tony Moeaki – Kansas City Moeaki has a whopping 14 targets and a score in 2 games which has put him on the fantasy map. Look for Matt Cassel to rely on him in the passing game. The kid has upside, and could possibly be the teams second leading receiver behind Bowe

Aaron Hernandez – New England Hernandez had 6 grabs for 101 yards against the Jets, In week 1 he was targeted only twice. But for a rookie you have to admit he’s off to a good start, he has to compete with the like of Moss & Welker and fellow rookie TE Rob Gronkowski. Keep your eye on his production, It looks like Brady’s confidence is already there with the youngster.

Brandon Pettigrew – Detroit Against the Eagles Pettigrew pulled in 7 receptions and 108 yds with 8 targets. Pettigrew is definitely talented but you have to remember Tony Sheffler is still hanging around as well. Either way you look at it, he’s worthy of keeping your eye on for the next couple of weeks until he shows us that he can be consistent.

By Steve O’Reilly

The NFC West is a Division that is wide open and depending who you ask, can be had by anyone. The Cardinals have the most talent, arguably, followed closely by the 49ers. The issue with the Cardinals however is Kurt Warner is gone and the new starter, Derek Anderson, leaves some a bit nervous as to how far he can take them. The Niners are young but made strides in 2009 and if they continue along that path they should be tough to beat, the issue with them is the same as the Cardinals, how much do you trust their QB. In their case it’s former 1st Overall pick Alex Smith. For the Seahawks, they brought in a new Head Coach from USC and some new players to boot but of all the NFC West teams they have the best Quarterback…when he’s upright! The St. Louis Rams also have a #1 Overall pick on their roster and he too plays Quarterback, his name is Sam Bradford and the kid from Oklahoma has been turning some heads. What lies ahead for all these West Coast squads? Let’s take a spin around the Division and break it all down!!

San Francisco 49ers – It’s important to note that picking the Niners to win the West is not definitive by any means but I am leaning towards them slightly over the Cardinals. The reason is because Mike Singletary has done a nice job at filling needs over the last few years. He needed a playmaker at Wide Receiver and drafted Michael Crabtree, who should much better without the holdout distractions and with some game experience under his belt. The Niners needed a Safety and they nabbed Taylor Mays who fits Singletary’s style of in your face football. They needed to shore up the O-Line and they used two 1st Round Picks in the 2010 Draft on a Left Guard (Mike Iupati) and a Right Tackle (Anthony Davis). Couple this with the veteran talent at the skill positions, i.e. Frank Gore and Vernon Davis and the Niners have a nice unit that mashes the football physically and speed and diversity for big play potential. The key to the car however is Alex Smith. He’s got some needed continuity now and is playing in the same offensive system from a year ago, which is the first time in his career that this has happened. Teammates Frank Gore and Vernon Davis both have said that Smith is embracing the leadership role more and is clearly taken control of the Offense. So where are the questions aside from the QB? Well, you never know how good Rookies are going to play until you see it so while Iupati and Davis look great on paper and have been solid in Preseason, it’ll bear watching how they play when Blitzes start coming from every angle. Another big concern was the Secondary. Cornerback Nate Clements is very good but Shawntae Spencer has emerged as the better Corner out in the Bay. Clements has rededicated himself and has been working hard to get back to where he once was. The problem is he lacks top end speed and gets beat deep too often. Safety in 2009 was also a concern with Michael Lewis and Mark Roman but Roman is now gone and Dashon Goldson takes over at the other Safety spot. Taylor Mays is waiting in the wing and his freak athleticism might get him on the field sooner rather than later. The one thing about Mays however is he can hit but not really known for his cover skills. The Linebackers are great, Patrick Willis is one of the top LB’s in the game and Takeo Spikes adds a very solid veteran presence. The Front 3 in the 34 Defense that San Fran runs is not highly decorated but they are very good and if you watch game tape on them you see they penetrate well and allow the Linebackers to run free. All around a solid team but not overly spectacular.

Player to Watch – Alex Smith – If he can come out and be an above 60% Completion Percentage QB than the Niners could be in business. In 2009 he was at 60.5% which was the best in his career, a few more completed passes here and there makes all the difference in the world. With their running game and TE threat of Davis, Smith really has all the weapons at his disposal.

Schedule: Wins: Seahawks, Cardinals, Rams, Rams, Chiefs, Panthers, Bucaneers
Loses: Chargers, Saints, Eagles, Seahawks, Cardinals
Could go either way: Raiders, Packers, Falcons, Broncos

Prediction – 9-7 (1st Place NFC West)

The Skinny: The Niners are the most complete team in the West right now with solid players and a few Superstars. Patrick Willis is a stud as is Frank Gore and Vernon Davis. If the Secondary holds up and the O-Line jells quickly than this is a bonafide Playoff team. If Alex Smith is hurried too often and the D’ allows big plays in the passing game than they will be a middle of the road ballclub.

Arizona Cardinals – Not too many other teams have had the turnover that the Cardinals have experienced in 2010. Gone is the leader of the Offense and this retirement can not be understated for the team and Division. Kurt Warner’s ability to sling the rock took this offense, along with the exceptional talent at Wide Receiver, to the Super Bowl in 2008. The Cardinals relied so heavy on the passing attack that they ranked near or at the bottom of the league in Rushing. The brass in Arizona saw this day coming however and they prepared for it by drafting Running Back Chris “Beanie” Wells in the 1st Round of the 2009 Draft. The team brought in Alan Faneca, the Veteran O-Lineman who will help open holes in the running game. Matt Leinart never worked out for the Cardinals and was released this offseason when his inability to move the ball was apparent. The Cardinals acquired Derek Anderson after his release from the Browns and he is now the signal caller in the desert. With nice depth at Wide Receiver, the Cards traded Anquan Boldin to the Baltimore Ravens for draft picks and it’s apparent the change in talent leads us to believe this team will go in a different direction in their Offensive strategy. Defensively, the Cardinals lost a host of starters. First to depart via Free Agency was ballhawking Safety, Antrel Rolle who is now with the New York Giants. Next to depart was Linebacker Karlos Dansby who is now a Miami Dolphin. They didn’t sit idle however, they acquired Safety Kerry Rhodes from the Jets and Linebacker Joey Porter from Miami. They resigned Darnell Dockett to a long term deal and drafted Defensive Tackle Dan Williams from Tennessee with their 1st Pick in the 2010 Draft. Up front, the Cardinals have enough talent to get after the QB and Linebackers have experience. The Secondary has an up and coming talent at Cornerback in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and one of the better Safeties in the league in Adrian Wilson. The Defense should be solid enough but the questions at QB with Derek Anderson is the big question mark. If he plays like he did in 2007 when he went to the Pro Bowl, than the Cardinals win the West and Larry Fitzgerald has a monster year. If not than they go 8-8 and no postseason.

Player to Watch – Derek Anderson – The stage is set and this is Anderson’s best chance to prove his worth. He takes over a team with a very nice offense and exceptional talent at Wide Receiver. The Running game behind Hightower and Wells should be solid and the Defense should keep in them ballgames for the most part. Anderson must produce.

Schedule – Wins: Rams, Rams, 49ers, Seahawks, Raiders, Buccaneers, Chiefs, Broncos
Losses: Chargers, Vikings, 49ers, Seahawks, Saints
Could go either way: Cowboys, Falcons, Panthers

Prediction – 8-8 (No Playoffs)

The Skinny: While this team potentially could be good there is too much turnover to believe that they will jell enough to win the Division. The Defense has new faces who’ve never played together and the Offense has a new QB who is no where close to the talent of the old one. They should change their philosophy by becoming more of a running, ball control style team and allow their Defense to keep them in games. The problem with that is it requires no mistakes or turnover. Wells has had a penchant for dropping the rock and Anderson has been known to throw a few INT’s. Larry Fitzgerald is still one of the best in the game and anything is possible but it’s hard to imagine that this team will be better than a year ago with less talent and in a Division that got better all around.

Seattle Seahawks – Pete Carroll has left the College ranks and is back in the NFL. The former New England Patriot coach finds himself staying on the West Coast right up the coastline from his former job at USC. Carroll has his hands full in retooling a team that went 5-11 in 2009. Carroll has made some changes already, notable the hiring and subsequently quitting of Alex Gibbs and the release of TJ Houshmanzedah. Gibbs was brought in to teach the Zone Blocking techniques that made the Broncos running game of yesteryear click. His style teaches small athletic lineman how to move in unison, cut the backside pursuit and open running lanes for the Back. Surprisingly, Gibbs has decided to retire (again) right before the season started however it’s safe to assume that his blocking methods will remain in tact, which is good news for Justin Forsett. The Seahawks have been a busy team bringing in a magnitude of different guys. None more surprising however than Mike Williams. The dramatic turnaround by Williams definitely shouldn’t go unnoticed. A standout at USC, Williams sat a year out of the NFL while a pending lawsuit took place as to whether or not he was old enough to play in the league. Upon his return he fizzled with 3 ball clubs and found himself out of the league for 2 full seasons. After a rededication and focus, Williams finds himself at the top of the Depth Chart in Seattle and played well enough thus far for the Seahawks to cut Houshmanzedah even though they still owe him 6.2 Million dollars. Matt Hasselbeck remains at QB and in addition to Williams has a nice speedy WR in the form of Golden Tate to throw to. The Rookie from Notre Dame was an exceptional playmaker in college and he joins veteran Deion Branch to round out the top of the WR corps. 1st Round pick in the 2010 Draft, Russell Okung figures to weigh heavy in the success of the offense as the O-Line struggled in 2009 and the great Walter Jones has now retired. Defensively, the other 1st Round selection and natural ballhawk Earl Thomas, the Safety from Texas joins veteran Lawyer Malloy and Cornerbacks Kelly Jennings and Marcus Trufant. Jennings was in a battle with Josh Wilson for the starting spot but after Wilson was traded to the Ravens, it became a moot point. Hard hitting Chris Clemons comes over from the Eagles to fill the shoes of retired Patrick Kerney. Darryl Tapp has moved on to the Eagles and the D-Line has a bunch of fresh faces. The key for Seattle is protecting the QB and limiting teams from scoring. In 2009 they ranked 25th in scoring Defense and allowed 390 Points, way too many to be considered a contender for the postseason.

Player to watch – Aaron Curry – The Linebacker from Wake Forest needs to step up and take control of this defense. Lofa Tatupu has for a long time been one of the most underrated Linebackers in the NFL but he can’t do it alone. He needs some help and it starts with Curry. To improve the Defensive ranking the Hawks need to tackle better and get after the QB more, especially now with Kerney gone. Curry was a surefire, can’t miss prospect that needs to make his way to the Pro Bowl!

Schedule – Wins: Rams, Bears, Chiefs, Giants, Cardinals, 49ers, Buccaneers
Losses: Chargers, Cardinals, 49ers, Rams, Saints
Could go either way: Broncos, Panthers, Raiders, Falcons

Prediction – 8-8 (No Playoffs)

The Skinny: The Seahawks appear to be a confident bunch even after having a bad year in 2009. The Pete Carroll era enters and brings his USC success and the confidence gained by that with him. The Seahawks have a good a chance as anyone, save the Rams, to win the NFC West due in part to a pretty easy schedule. If they can get the O-Line to play at a fairly high level and let Hasselbeck find his weapons they should be alright. Forsett takes over full time at Running Back and has a nice upside. Mike Williams might be the Comeback Player of the Year and the Defense has been upgraded where it needed it, at Free Safety and along the D-Line. If Curry steps up his game and plays at a very high level alongside Tatupu, than the Defense should be better and you never know, Seattle could squeak out 9 wins!

St. Louis Rams – The team on the rebuild has finally gotten it right and when you get it right, the rebuild process is that much faster. The Rams Front Office really wanted to ensure that they didn’t strike out with the 1st Overall pick in the 2010 Draft and if the Preseason performance of Sam Bradford is any indication then the Rams hit a Homerun!! Granted the Preseason is very vanilla and Defenses hardly show the full gambit of blitzes and packages but you still have to be impressed with Bradford’s accuracy and presence behind Center. He wowed Rams fans in every outing and looked more like a veteran than a rookie. The question is how will he handle NFL Defenses when the bullets fly, calling audibles and taking the time to go through his progressions. Many young QB’s get too quick with their initial read and if that guy isn’t open they tend to force the ball or hold onto it too long. The Rams have added a nice Veteran presence to help out the WR corps with a trade for former Ravens WR Mark Clayton. Clayton offers a solid possession receiver and an excellent character guy to show the youngsters how to be a professional on and off the field. Another Rookie with good potential is WR Mardy Gilyard. Not quite a starter Gilyard is a Yards after the Catch type guy who can make you miss and make things happen after the catch. Some of the biggest question marks for the Rams is their Offensive Line play, especially Rookie Left Tackle Rodger Saffold. The University of Indiana stud was taken 33rd Overall and provides an athletic body holding down the Blind Side. The unit is now without former 1st Round pick Alex Barron who was traded to the Cowboys for Linebacker Bobby Carpenter. The most glaring stat from the 1-15 Rams of 2009 has to be two things that are tied together, Points Differential! The Rams were dead last in the league in scoring, posting only 175 points and allowing 436. A differential of -261 was the worst in the NFL and it’s clear to see why they didn’t win that many games. Defensively, the Rams have some young talent that is ready to mature into a solid unit. Guys like Chris Long, James Laurinaitis and Larry Grant join veterans like Ron Bartell, Fred Robbins, Oshiomogho Atogwe and Na’il Diggs. Gone is longtime Defense End Lenard Little but the hope is James Hall and Georgie Selvie can fill his void. For the Rams it’s going to be tough but they have a last place schedule in 2010 and Sam Bradford, paired with perennial All Pro Steven Jackson should give fans hope. If Bradford plays as well as he did in the Preseason than this team will rally around their guy and could string together some wins. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will the Rams but Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo has experience in building a quality Defense like he had with the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. This team is adding some nice pieces and should show improvement in 2010!

Player to watch – Sam Bradford – The #1 Overall pick is always a dicey proposition because if you miss it can really set your franchise back a few years, just ask the Raiders. However, if you hit the nail on the head it gives you something to build around for the future and I believe that Bradford was the best Quarterback prospect to come out in a few years. He has the moxie and tools you look for and if the O-Line gives him some time, he could really turn some heads in 2010.

Schedule – Wins: Chiefs, Buccaneers, Seahawks, Lions
Losses: Raiders, Seahawks, Niners, Niners, Seahawks, Chargers, Falcons, Saints
Could go either way: Panthers, Redskins, Broncos

Prediction – 5-11 (No Playoffs)

The Skinny: The Rams are rebuilding but so far so good. They have their Franchise QB and Running back and look for them to get Bradford a legit #1 Wide Receiver in the first round of the 2011 Draft. The Defense needs to make some stops and the Offense has to control the ball, use the running game to dictate games and keep the D’ off the field for as long as possible. They have some young talent that will take time to mature but they have hope and Bradford will energize the fans and the locker room. Things are heading in the right direction out in St. Louis!

By Gayle Saunders
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith showed he had major balls and flattened Oakland Raider Greg Ellis, who is a defensive end. I don’t know which is crazier, your quarterback blocking a defensive end or your defensive end capable of being absolutely owned by a quarterback.

No. 1 overall selections in the NFL draft three years apart, Alex Smith and David Carr are now competing to be the No. 1 quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.

That competition began in earnest Monday when the 49ers conducted their first organized team activity practice of 2010. The team went to work without departed general manager Scot McCloughan, who left last week in what 49ers president Jed York called a “mutual parting.”

As the incumbent quarterback, Smith clearly is in the early lead, with Carr in the background becoming familiar with his new surroundings but also preparing for a shot at the job.

Whoever eventually becomes the starter will be a lot like the guy he beats out. There are striking similarities in both style and career course between the two quarterbacks, both of whom were raised in California — Smith in San Diego, Carr in Bakersfield.

“He’s a California guy,” Smith said of his new backup. “Now we’ve got two of them in the room. We joke about (the situation), that’s for sure. This is the second time around for David.”

Carr, the No. 1 pick in the 2002 draft, spent the past two seasons with the New York Giants. He was the backup to Eli Manning, the No. 1 selection in the 2004 draft.

Carr appeared in nine games and threw just 45 passes during the past two seasons with the Giants. But he might have a better opportunity to revive his career in San Francisco, where Smith hasn’t exactly established himself as the franchise quarterback the 49ers expected him to be when the team selected him with the first pick of the 2005 draft.

Carr started 75 games during his first five seasons with the Houston Texans and brings to the 49ers career passing totals of 14,366 yards and 65 touchdowns. But he hasn’t started a game since his lone season with the Carolina Panthers in 2007.

“It’s a good spot for me here,” Carr said. “It’s a fresh start with a hungry team. I think it matches where I’m at in my career. This team is ready to go out and prove as a group that they can do it. And I’m kind of in the same boat.”

The 49ers signed Carr, 30, to a two-year deal March 15. Coach Mike Singletary and other team officials have stated that Smith is the defined starter entering the season, unlike the past two years when there was open competition for the job between Smith and others.

Smith took every offensive snap for the 49ers in 2006. But after Smith sustained a career-threatening shoulder injury in 2007, journeyman J.T. O’Sullivan was San Francisco’s opening-day starter in 2008, and career backup Shaun Hill was the 49ers’ opening-day starter last season.

Smith, 25, took the job back from Hill in Week 7 last season and played every offensive snap for the remainder of the campaign. Smith was 5-5 as the starter, finishing with 2,350 yards and a career-high 18 touchdown passes. Smith’s final 81.5 passer rating was easily the best of his career.

Hill was traded to the Detroit Lions in March for an undisclosed draft pick.

Smith, who took most of the snaps with the 49ers’ first-team offense Monday, looked in control and is conducting himself with much more authority than earlier in his career. He barked out signals and directed traffic while appearing comfortable in both roles.

It helps that Smith is playing a second season with the same offensive coordinator for the first time in his NFL career. Jimmy Raye has returned this year as the 49ers’ offensive coordinator, ending a recent stretch when the team changed offensive coordinators every season over a seven-year period.

“I’m much more confident in what I can do right now, without a doubt,” Smith said. “Not just physically speaking, but the mental part for sure. Obviously, I’m more comfortable giving my insights and stronger opinions about it, as far as running things and handling things. I’m going to come out here and compete and do everything that I can to become the best quarterback I can to help this team.”