LogFAQs > #926850717

NFC West

1. St. Louis Rams
2. Seattle Seahawks
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. Toronto Wildcats

The Rams followed a 15-1 season with an 8-8 one and a quick playoff exit. What went wrong? Actually, not too much. They were actually one of the best NFC teams. Based on their rankings and Pythagorean expectation, they probably should have been 11-5. Their defense and special teams (led by otherworldly returner Roy Helu Jr.) were in line with their 15-win team. The offense was probably the chief reason why they were even subject to their poor luck in the first place. QB Ryan Tannehill had a high completion % and YPA, but he actually threw more INTs (18) than TDs (17). Also, letting HB Ronnie Brown walk and replace him with former 34th overall pick Lamar Miller did not pay off dividends. After seeing a few retirements on offense and letting another starter walk, the Rams spent their first rounder on offense (TE Austin Hooper) and heavy in free agency to beef things up. A closer return to form is in order.

The Seahawks unexpectedly surged to what was by far their best season in the league. They return all but one starter and won't expect much from their draft class (1st round OT Taylor Decker is now expected to start due to injuries) or minuscule free agent class this season barring a horrific turn of events (aka piling injuries). I don't think that will be quite good enough to win back-to-back division crowns. Their defense was actually just above-average and predicated on a very high turnover rate. The nature of the game makes it hard to expect something like that happening in consecutive seasons. QB Kirk Cousins and HB Lynell Hamilton both have an injury history that will make it tough to expect the high-flying offense from a year ago. Regression seems to be on the horizon, but given the relative weakness of the conference, I very much see this team as a prime playoff contender.

The 49ers are a weird team. I suppose inconsistent is probably a more accurate description. When this team gets going, they are among the conference's best. They can pound you to oblivion with their punishing OL and the HB said OL makes into a star. They can also keep defenses honest with one of the best WRs in the game in Andre Johnson. On defense, they have a great LB corps where all four starters pull their weight and then some. Ratings aside, I've always been impressed with their stable of CBs. The other areas are a little iffy, but they have more than enough pieces to field a league-average defense. Unfortunately, things haven't being "going" these past few seasons, and it seems like the biggest culprit is that they tend to beat themselves to an obscene amount of dumb losses. Like last season, they have a favorable schedule this season, and with this being a team with so many veterans in their final season or so in the league period or as a starter, the 49ers really need to make this season count. I don't think they are among the six favorites for playoff spots, but they can easily find themselves in the discussion. A mostly clean preseason should help in their quest.
---

KCF can't actually be a real person but he is - greengravy
https://imgur.com/VfpY7tg