I was on the 49ers board, and noticed a new thread titled "The Best D In Are Division?" aside from the use of "are" instead of our, this poster also made the claim that the 49er have the best defense in OUR division. So now I would like to break down a ranking position by position, unit by unit, team by team of where the power is in our division. Anyone can feel free to join in. But as hard as it may be, try to be honest.
QB (to me this seems obvious)
1. Seahawks (Hasslbeck)
2.Rams (Bulger)
3.Cards (Leinhart/Warner?)
4.49ers (Smith/anybody else)
RB(s)
1. Rams (Jackson)
2.49ers (Gore)
3. Seahawks (6-8 RBs will at least mean we stay fresh)
4. Cards (Edge/anybody else)
WR(s)
1. Cards (Boldin/Fitz)
2. Rams (Holt)
3. Seahawks (Engram / Burleson and a bunch of unprovens. pretty big gap between #2 and #3 on this list)
4. 49ers (over the hill Bruce and 3rd String Johnson)
TE (I don't think any of them are going to be headed to Hawaii)
1. 49ers (Davis at least he has shown some skills)
2. Rams (McMichael)
3/4 Seahawks/Cards (Carlson(Rookie)/Pope(often injured) 6 of one 1/2 dozen of the other. You guys fight it out.
OL (This is like picking the worst smelling poop)
1. Seahawks (at least we didn't get Hass killed)
2. Rams (Health is a big factor)
3. Cards (you did get Lienart killed)
4. 49ers (you go Smith and Gore both hurt. A pop warner team could blow up that line)
Overall offense
1. Rams (if you stay healthy)
2. Cards (They have the talent , but have to figure out who is playing)
3. Seahawks (experience is our best weapon)
4. 49ers (Aside from Gore your options are limited)
DE(s)
1. Seahakws (Kerney/Tapp/Jackson)
2. Cards (Smith/Laboy/Berry)
3. Rams (Little/Hall/Long)
4. 49ers (Smith/Saponga)
DT(s) (not like any of these teams did a great job stopping the run up the middle)
1. Rams
2. Seahawks
3. Cards
4. 49ers (in fainess the 49ers play a 3-4, so DT is really tough to rate)
LB(s) (this is actually pretty tough, the NFC West has some really good Line Backers)
1. Seahawks (Tatupu/Peterson/Hill) (I'd put these 3 against any other team in the NFL)
2. 49ers (Willis alone gets them the #2 spots (when is he going to sign with another team? Soon probably), again that 3-4 defense is tricky to rate)
3. Rams (Witherspoon is legit)
4. Cards (somebody had to be 4th)
CB(s)
1. Seahawks (Trufant is probably the best CB in the West, but really it is the depth at the position that seperates them)
2. 49ers (You gotta respect Clements)
3/4 Rams/Cards (Neither really stands out over the other to me)
S(s)
1/2/3 Seahawks/49ers/Rams (This one is too tough to call, I just know it isn't the Cards)
4. Cards
Overall Defense
1. Seahawks
2. 49ers
3. Rams
4. Cards
Special Teams (I am not going to bother with this one. The Rams have the best kicker, past that it is too tough to call.)
Schedule (I am only going with the 2 games that are varied)
1. Rams (Chicago/Atlanta) (this seams like the softest to me althogh ATL could be tough if Turner works out)
2. 49ers (New Orleans/Detroit) (I think NO will bounce back, but Detroit is kind of a mess. Kitna vs Smith now that is a mind numbingly awful game)
3. Seahawks (Tampa Bay/Green Bay) (TB way overachieved last year and Garcia is sitting out wanting a new contract. Green Bay will go without Farve in a really long time and we get them at Quest)
4. Cardinals (Minn/Carolina) (Man that is tough, I think the Panthers are going to be one of the most improved teams in the NFL this Season and who want to try to stop Peterson and Taylor, tough luck Cards)
2008 Overall Records
1. Rams 10-6
2. Seahawks 8-8
3. Cardinals 8-8
4. 49ers 5-11
Well I can't get anymore honest then that.
