- I’ll write this every week until somebody proves they can beat them: When it comes to the power structure in the NFL, it’s the Packers and everyone else. Outside of maybe the Saints, any other team would have tried a few feeble pass attempts at the end of that game today in New York and then settled for overtime. But not Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, who glided down the field in 14 seconds, got into field goal range and kicked a game-winner at the end of regulation. Teams will continue to move the ball on Green Bay’s defense but give Rodgers an inch and he’s going to take 80 yards (and six points). I’ve written this several times on this site: Ted Thompson built one hell of a team because while Rodgers is unbelievable, he has a slew of weapons at his disposal. I just don’t see how this team loses at home in the playoffs.

- Tim Tebow made some great throws today, which of course is a noteworthy because Tim Tebow rarely makes good throws. That said, he might as well have been throwing against air because Minnesota’s secondary let Denver’s receivers run wild the entire game. It was almost as if the Vikings gave Demaryius Thomas a free one-day pass to tour their defensive backfield. And boy did he take advantage of it.

- The Texans will be fine with T.J. Yates under center. He was fortunate that his biggest mistake (an interception return for touchdown by the Falcons’ Mike Peterson) was wiped out by a holding penalty on cornerback Dunta Robinson. But even if that play stood ,Yates played well enough to win. In fact, he outplayed a mistake-prone Matt Ryan. That said, with Andre Johnson scheduled to undergo an MRI on his hamstring, you have to wonder if the Texans will just be happy to make the playoffs if/when they do. They’ve played some gritty football this season but they’re going to be awfully worn out come January.

- The Giants deserve credit for showing up today after being humiliated by the Saints on Monday Night Football. But it’s startling how easy it is for offenses to move the chains on their defense. Granted, New York is dealing with a ton of injuries on that side of the ball but it took Aaron Rodgers just 14 seconds to get into field goal range for the game-winner today. Fourteen seconds! It takes me longer to speed dial my mother.

- The Raiders deserve a lot of credit for overcoming injuries on both sides of the ball in order to win three in a row coming into this week. But a big part of me wondered if they were winning with smokes and mirrors. Michael Bush has been outstanding but was the defense as really as good as it seemed or was its play a product of the offenses they were playing (i.e. San Diego, Minnesota and the Jay Cutler-less Bears)? That question may have been answered today. Miami racked up 362 yards of total offense, including 209 yards on the ground. Oakland’s run defense has been Jekyll and Hyde all year and today they were more Jekyll than Hyde. Now that they’re tied with the Broncos atop the AFC West it’ll be interesting to see how Oakland responds to this loss, especially with a trip to Green Bay coming up next week.

- How did so many teams miss Antonio Brown in the 2010 draft? It’s not like he didn’t tear it up at Central Michigan and clearly he has the speed to be an effective return man yet he lasted until the sixth round. He only made two catches today but his 45-yard catch-and-run was a display of pure speed. It’s almost unfair for defenses to that Big Ben is always able to break out of would-be tackles and throw to speedsters like Brown and Mike Wallace.

- They played the Rams so take this for what it’s worth: The Niners showed today that they have more than “just” Frank Gore on offense. Alex Smith (17-of-23 for 274 yards and two touchdowns) had his best game of the season, while receivers Michael Crabtree and Kyle Williams flashed a good deal of playmaking ability themselves. Given how good the defense is, if some of San Fran’s other weapons step up offensively, there’s no reason to think the Niners can’t make it to the NFC title game or beyond.

- The Falcons’ offense was completely out of sync today in Houston. Part of the reason for that was because Michael Turner was dealing with a groin injury and ran like he had four tons of cement tied to his legs. Wade Phillips’ defense also constantly harassed Matt Ryan, who wasn’t on the same page with his receivers (who kept dropping the ball). But the bigger issue is that Mike Smith and Mike Mularkey blew it by not running the no-huddle at the start of the year. It’s the offense that Ryan is most comfortable and most successful running but because the Falcons are trying to iron out kinks in live games, it’s no surprise that they sputtered against a good defense. Had Smith switched to the no-huddle months ago, the Falcons may be firing on all cylinders right now. Regardless, it’s clear that Atlanta isn’t good enough to beat the top teams in the league. They’re a classic second-tier team and I don’t see them getting over the hump this season.

- Considering Percy Harvin has been the Vikings’ entire offense the past two weeks while Adrian Peterson has been out, I don’t blame Christian Ponder for looking his way with Minnesota needing a big play with under two minutes remaining in a tied game. But in the name of Tim Tebow that was a horrible decision by Ponder on Andre Goodman’s interception. Harvin had coverage in front of him, behind him, and to the side of him. He might as well been wearing a Denver uniform he was so covered up.

- Jets, Bengals, Falcons, Lions, Bears, Giants. Nice Wild Card teams this year. Not a flaw in that group.

- Rob Gronkwoski is only 22 and he’s already the GREATEST TIGHT END TO HAVE EVER PLAYED THE GAME. Just ask his fantasy owners.

- Tyler Palko’s first career touchdown pass was even more improbable than his first career win. On a day when the 4-7 Chiefs knocked off the 7-4 Bears, Palko’s first TD as a pro came on a fluke Hail Mary to Dexter McCluster right before half. Brian Urlacher leaped into the air and batted the ball perfectly into McCluster’s hands. Who would have thought that score would be all the Chiefs needed to win?

- You heard it here first: The Panthers will beat the Falcons next Sunday in Carolina. The records say different but there’s not that big of a gap between Carolina and Atlanta right now. And with two of the Falcons’ top three corners out with injuries, Cam Newton should have a field day throwing the ball. (On a related note, that pitch-back to Newton that the Panthers ran today in their win over the Bucs was sweeeet.)

- Every team has to deal with injuries. It’s the ones that draft well and build depth through free agency that can overcome the inevitable bumps and bruises. But what’s a team to do when it losses it’s quarterback and star player in a three-week span? You almost have to feel for the Bears, who lost Matt Forte to a Grade 2 MCL sprain today. For those that watched Chicago’s loss to Kansas City, you saw a Bears team that had absolutely nothing offensively. Even though they currently own the fifth seed in the NFC, the Bears aren’t making the playoffs with a backfield tandem of Caleb Hanie and Marion Barber. It’s an unfortunate situation for a team that looked like it was postseason bound just three weeks ago.

- Following Cleveland’s loss to Baltimore, Browns coach Pat Shumur said that Peyton Hillis is dealing with an undisclosed injury and his status for Week 14 is uncertain. I’m not suggesting he’s a bad player but what team in their right mind would give Hillis a huge contract? The guy just can’t stay healthy. (Although if you’re the Browns, what choice do you have? That team has zero offense.)

- Classic Cowboys. They scratch and claw their way up the NFC East standings and with a golden opportunity to take a two-game lead over the Giants in the division, they lose to the Cardinals while scoring only 13 points. Oh, and after Jason Garrett freezes his own placekicker. Even though New York lost to Green Bay and remains one game behind Dallas with four weeks left to play, the race in the East is far from over. As Arizona proved today, that’s a very flawed team that Jerry Jones owns.

- The fact that the Cardinals continue to fight despite the fact that they have basically nothing to play for is a credit to Ken Whistenhunt. Some were suggesting that he be fired at the start of the season but he’s clearly still the right man for the job. One strong offseason and I envision the Cards challenging the Niners in the division next year.

- The Ravens have gone run-heavy the past three games following an ugly loss to the Seahawks in which they tried to win by being aggressive through the air. That makes me wonder what John Harbaugh said to Cam Cameron the week after the Seattle loss. “Hey Cam, come on in. As you’ll see behind me, Ray Rice is standing to my left and to my right is the door. It’s up to you which one you want to use from this point forward but it will be one or the other.”

- The Bengals have been one of this year’s biggest surprises and nobody thought they’d win five games nevertheless seven. But their performance today in Pittsburgh proved just how far they have in their maturation process. Andy Dalton looked like a deer caught in the headlights and if it weren’t for A.J. Green (who at this point is clearly better than Julio Jones), Cincinnati may not have cracked 100 yards of offense. The fans in Cincinnati have suffered long enough and they deserve to watch their team in the playoffs but it’s hard to imagine the Bengals winning a postseason game on the road.

- That’s almost kind of like a win for the Colts, right? Twenty-one point dog and they lose by seven. Not bad considering.

Leach has been sitting tight waiting for the right opportunity after he left Texas Tech in a controversial breakup at the end of the 2009 season. He’s been hanging out in Key West and doing some announcing. Leach is widely considered to be one of the best offensive minds in college football and he turned the Texas Tech program into consistent winners. His overall record at Texas Tech was 84–43.

Meanwhile, Washington State has become an embarrassment in the PAC-12 under Paul Wulff, going 9-41 over the past 4 years. To put it in perspective, Wulff is coming off his best season with the Cougars at 4-8. Washington State isn’t considered to be on of the marquee programs of the PAC-12, but the school has had some excellent teams over the years and has produced some good quarterbacks like Drew Beldsoe and high draft picks like Ryan Leaf.

Leach has helped to develop some excellent college quarterbacks. He coached Tim Couch at Kentucky and Couch became the #1 pick in the NFL draft. At Oklahoma he coached Josh Heupel and he coached Graham Harrell at Texas Tech. Michael Crabtree was considered the best receiver in college football under Leach’s supervision.

It looks like a great fit for both parties involved. Leach will bring a high-powered offense and some attitude to a program that has hit rock bottom. The PAC-12 is competitive, but Leach comes from the equally competitive Big-12 where he battled the likes of Oklahoma. Leach probably won’t elevate Washington State above USC and Oregon, but he’ll likely make them competitive. He should also do well with recruiting given his history of coaching scoring machines.

Leach also brings some baggage as well, so he’s a high risk/high reward candidate. The Adam James incident was ugly for Leach and for Texas Tech. For that reason, he didn’t get serious consideration from the biggest programs. For example, I couldn’t see Leach being considered for the open UCLA job. But Washington State is perfect. Given their recent history, what do they have to lose? At the same time, it’s a big enough program where Leach could do some serious damage and build a dangerous football team.

I know, I know, with championship games still hanging in the balance, it may be a little early to start looking forward to next season, but there were a few late-season performances that got me thinking about 2011. After all, it’s never too early to find a few sleepers.

Jonathan Stewart
All right, he doesn’t qualify as a sleeper, but with DeAngelo Williams’ future in Carolina in doubt — he’s a free agent and the Panthers may not want to pony up to keep him — Jonathan Stewart could emerge as a first- or second-round fantasy RB next season. “The Daily Show” was handed the keys in Week 8 and really disappointed fantasy owners with just 30 yards on 14 carries against the Rams. He looked pretty good on just five carries (for 30 yards) against the Saints before being knocked out for two games with a concussion. But after returning in Week 12 against the Browns, he rattled off five quality rushing performances, averaging 106 rushing yards and an eye-popping 5.5 yards per carry over the last five games. Granted, the Seahawks, Browns and Cardinals were all in the bottom third against the run, but the Falcons were 13th and the Steelers were 1st, and Stewart averaged 7.4 and 3.9 ypc, respectively. (The Steelers only gave up 3.0 ypc on the season, so 3.9 is actually impressive.) The fact that Stewart was able to run like this despite zero threat of a passing attack is also encouraging. If the Panthers can find a QB (or the light goes on for Jimmy Clausen), and Williams is elsewhere next season, Stewart could be in for a big 2011.

Jerome Simpson, Andre Caldwell, Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham
There’s a lot of talk about the Bengals cleaning house this summer, and that includes Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens. Both guys can still play, but the spend-a-lot-of-money-on-receivers strategy hasn’t worked in recent years and the franchise might do well to start fresh with Simpson, Caldwell and Shipley, who have all performed well in stints during their short careers. Simpson and Caldwell are both third-year players, while Shipley is a rookie. After getting the start against a good Chargers pass defense, Simpson caught six passes for 124 yards and two TDs. He has great size and could be a solid starter if given the opportunity. Caldwell had a good sophomore season (51-432-3) as the de facto WR2 in 2009, when Laveranues Coles’ production was less than expected. His targets fell off a cliff when Owens came to town. Shipley seems destined for a long career in the slot a la Wes Welker or Danny Amendola. As for Gresham, the rookie has quietly put together a really solid first season. His 52 receptions mark just the seventh time in league history that a rookie TE has caught 50+ passes. The Bengals can save $2.5 million if they cut ties with Ochocinco and T.O. is a free agent, so the Cincinnati receiving corps could look very different next season. Of course, these wideouts aren’t going to have much success if there isn’t a good QB throwing the ball The franchise has to decide what it wants to do with Carson Palmer, who has had his ups and downs this season (but looked awfully good throwing to this crew against the Chargers on Sunday).

Michael Crabtree
This guy needs a QB and a stable offensive system for a few seasons and he’ll be a star. His yards per catch (13.6) and percentage of targets that result in a reception were comparable to Terrell Owens, but T.O. got 139 targets through W15 while Crabtree had just 95. Why draft a WR in the first round if you’re not going to utilize him? Crabtree showed what he could do against the Rams in W16, catching six passes for 122 yards and a TD despite playing with both Troy Smith and Alex Smith. If the 49ers can get a good offensive mind in at O.C. (and/or head coach) and can acquire a serviceable QB (think Donovan McNabb), then Crabtree could be a 5th-6th round talent again. If we have more of the same, then he’ll be going in the late-middle rounds, which would be a shame given his talent.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead
I don’t have W16 final numbers yet, but heading into Sunday’s action, BGE was RB16 and Woody was RB31 in standard leagues (they were RB21 and RB26, respectively, in PPR formats). Considering that neither player saw much action until the third game, their stats are a little depressed. The Pats locked up Woody for a few years, but BGE is a free agent after the season. If New England brings him back, the duo should be able to form a fantasy-relevant RBBC. The Patriots are so productive offensively that they can support two fantasy RBs, especially in PPR leagues where Woodhead really shines. If everything stays the same, I’d expect the Law Firm to be a good value as a third- or fourth-round pick and Woody to be one of those middle round RBs that will make a good RB3 or flex on most fantasy rosters.

Kenny Britt
He’s obviously a wonderful talent, but there are a couple of things that could depress Britt’s ADP next August: 1) His (lack of a) work ethic and 2) his QB. He showed up to summer activities out of shape and had to work his way out of Jeff Fisher’s doghouse early in the season, resulting in just 10 catches in the first four games. The Titans may be in transition at QB with Vince Young potentially on the outs. If this situation sorts itself out and Britt shows up to camp like a professional, I could see him go in the 4th or 5th round in standard leagues (and maybe the 3rd round in PPR formats). This guy has a TON of upside.

Jahvid Best
Best exploded out of the gates with five TDs and 268 yards in his first two games, but has been hampered by a toe injury for much of the season and has seen his production decline as a result. Best has the potential to be a Brian Westbrook-type weapon out of the backfield, but the Lions are going to have to find an inside runner to handle some of the between-the-tackles duties and limit the number of hits Best is going to take. Given his fragility this season, I expect Best will be a 4th or 5th round RB who could finish in the top 10 (especially in PPR leagues) if he can stay healthy. Hopefully he takes a page from LeSean McCoy’s book this summer and finds a way to beef up without losing any speed.

Tim Tebow
Tebow’s debut against the Raiders was quite good from a fantasy perspective. He threw for 138 yards and rushed for 78 more, and accounted for two TDs (one rush and one pass). Those rushing yards and rush TDs are going to make him a fantasy weapon in years to come, but Tebow showed against the Texans that he can take advantage of a bad secondary, throwing for 308 yards while accounting for two more TDs. I bet Tebow will be a middle (7th-10th) fantasy draft pick next summer which will make him an interesting prospect for those of us who play QBBC.

It’s hard to argue that the 49ers aren’t the most disappointing team in the NFL thus far. While the Vikings, Giants and Chargers have played below expectations themselves, the Niners were supposed to be well on their way to winning the weak NFC West by now.

Instead, they’re 0-3 and were the first team to make a major coaching change earlier this week when they fired offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye on Monday. Mike Johnson will take over the position and already he’s vowing to do things differently than his predecessor.

Johnson wants to get the ball into the hands of his playmakers by spreading things out and giving defenses more looks. Michael Crabtree and tight end Vernon Davis have been underutilized so far and the hope is to confuse opponents with different packages.

Of course, Raye wanted Crabtree and Davis to get their hands on the ball more too, but when Sundays came he would stick with a more conservative approach. Communication issues between Raye, head coach Mike Singletary and quarterback Alex Smith only complicated things and subsequently led to Raye’s firing earlier this week.

The Niners take on a Falcon team this Sunday that ranks 21st in the league in total defense, but is only allowing 15.3 points per game. They’re prone to giving up the big play, so if Johnson is aggressive Smith may be able to connect with Crabtree and/or Davis in the vertical passing game. On the surface, this doesn’t appear to be a good matchup for the 49ers. But considering Atlanta is coming off an emotional victory over the Saints and could be due for a letdown, this is a situation San Fran may be able to take advantage of.

But it’s up to Johnson to deliver on what he’s saying now. Plenty of coaches and coordinators talk a good game during the week but then when game time approaches, some of them lose their gumption. They call plays too close to the vest and before they know it, their team is down by two scores and they’re playing catchup.

We’ll see how Johnson fares in his debut.

Following the 49ers’ 31-6 loss to the Seahawks on Sunday, head coach Mike Singletary reportedly “called out” quarterback Alex Smith and receiver Michael Crabtree for their performances according to CSN Bay Area News.

“Alex (Smith) is our quarterback,” Singletary declared. “At no time did I think about putting David Carr into the football game.”

That is what Singletary said in his remarks to the media. But in the 49ers’ locker room, Singletary “called out” Smith, receiver Michael Crabtree and the offensive line, a team source told Comcast SportsNet after the game.

By all accounts, Smith had a very good offseason. He demonstrated a greater knowledge of the 49ers’ offense and earned his status as a team captain. But there was no carryover into the regular-season opener.
Smith and Crabtree certainly did not grow as a tandem during training camp. Their work together was limited, as Crabtree never stepped onto the field during the exhibition season because of a neck strain.

Crabtree was called out by teammate Vernon Davis for his perceived lack of effort during the offseason, so it’s not a total surprise to see everything come to a head on Sunday. Smith’s work ethic hasn’t been questioned, but the bottom line is that if he and his top receiver aren’t on the same page then that’s a problem. Obviously Singletary went to lengths to talk to both players following the game, so hopefully the team’s issues will be ironed out by Week 2.

Either way, it wasn’t a very pretty start to the season for a team that is expected to challenge for the NFC West crown this year.

While it’s counterpart in the AFC is likely in store for a rough year as well, the NFC West is by far the worst division in football. The Cardinals are going through a major transition year, the Rams will be rebuilding for a couple of years and nobody quite knows what to make of Pete Carroll’s Seahawks.

That leaves the 49ers, who don’t come without their weaknesses but is definitely the team to beat this year in the West. Now it’s just up to Mike Singletary’s squad to execute.

Here’s how I see things shaking out in the NFC West in 2010. Be sure to check out the link entitled “2010 Question Mark” under each team’s preview, which is a breakdown of one or two potential weaknesses that could derail that squad’s hopes this season.

1. 49ers

What to Like: As you would expect from a Mike Singletary-led team, the 49ers can play a little defense. They finished a very average 15th in total defense last season, but stats don’t tell the whole story. The Niners finished sixth against the run last year by allowing just 97 yards per game, largely due to the play of inside linebacker Patrick Willis, who led the league in tackles. Takeo Spikes continues to be a steady veteran presence and nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin is highly underrated. Staying on that side of the ball, Justin Smith may not put up flashy numbers, but he’s easily one of the best 3-4 ends in the league. Offensively, the Niners have a solid core in Frank Gore, Vernon Davis and second-year player Michael Crabtree. With more consistency at quarterback, this won’t be the dreadful unit it was at times last season.
What Not to Like: The offensive line is still a concern, although removing Adam Snyder from the starting right guard spot is a plus. There are high hopes for Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis, but it’s usually not wise to rely on one rookie lineman, nevertheless two rookie linemen. There have also been mixed reviews on Alex Smith this offseason. Some think he’s ready to turn the corner, while others believe he’ll probably be just as inconsistent as ever. OC Jimmy Raye will try to balance the pass more with the run this year, which is a good thing because the team’s strengths is at running back. But Smith still has to step up and make plays when opponents successfully take away the run. Defensively, this is a unit that gave up 229.4 yards per game through the air last season, which means it needs better production out of Nate Clements, Shawntae Spencer and especially, free safety Dashon Goldson (who struggled in coverage last season).
Keep Your Eye On: The two rookie O-linemen
Iupati and Davis might be the difference between this team challenging for a division title and it failing to deliver on high expectations. Both players are excellent prospects but they’re going to have to grow up in a hurry because this team expects to compete this season.
The Final Word: If the Niners played in a more competitive division I’d be saying something along the lines of, “Improving team, but will probably come up just short of making the postseason.” But since they’ll be able to feast on the trash that is the NFC West, there’s little to no excuse for San Fran to win a division title this year. I’m not completely sold on Smith turning a new leaf, but there’s enough talent on both sides of the ball for this team to produce a 9-7 or 10-6 record. I don’t foresee them advancing in the playoffs unless a couple of players overachieve, but I still think this is a solid football team and you know they’re going to compete every week under Singletary. Plus, don’t forget that the year the Cardinals went to the Super Bowl, they were highly average in the regular season, only to turn it on during the playoffs. I’m not saying…I’m just saying.

San Francisco 49ers 2010 Question Mark: Offensive Line

2. Cardinals

What to Like: Although he won’t have Anquan Boldin lining up opposite him any more in the offense, Larry Fitzgerald remains the Cards’ biggest playmaker. Assuming Derek Anderson can get him the ball, he’ll once again have plenty of opportunities to make things happen in the passing game. In the backfield, the Cards have a future stud in Beanie Wells, although Tim Hightower is still going to get looks early in the season. Steve Breaston also gets to show what he can do in a full-time role now that Boldin is in Baltimore. Defensively, I love the addition of free safety Kerry Rhodes, who was a miscast in Rex Ryan’s defense but who once again showed superb tackling with the Jets last season. He’ll line up next to the most underrated strong safety in the game in Adrian Wilson. The Cards also have two young, talented corners in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and the improving Greg Toler. Up front, the duo of Calais Campbell and Darnell Dockett at defensive end is excellent.
What Not to Like: One of the many things that Kurt Warner did well was mask the offensive line’s poor pass protection over the years. Warner knew how to get the ball out of his hands quickly – Anderson doesn’t, which obviously could be a huge problem if the O-line continues to struggle in pass protection. Speaking of Anderson, he has all the tools to be a strong leader but he hasn’t done anything since 2007 when he almost led the Browns to the playoffs. He was brutal last season, compiling a TD-to-INT ratio of 3:10. Defensively, the loss of linebacker Karlos Dansby was massive. As I wrote in the Dolphins preview, he’s the best all-around linebacker in the game in that he can play the run and hang with tight ends and backs in coverage. Pass rush will also be a major concern, even though the team added Joey Porter. He has consistently put up good sack numbers over the years, but he doesn’t provide enough pressure on a play-to-play basis to say that pass rush won’t be a problem.
Keep Your Eye On: Beanie Wells
I don’t care if he’s currently listed behind Tim Hightower on the depth chart: Beanie Wells will be the full-time starter at some point very early in the season. While he got off to a slow start last year because of an injury, Wells turned it on down the stretch and proved that he could be a playmaker out of the backfield. Hightower is still listed as the starter because he’s much better than Wells in blitz pick up (something young players tend to struggle with), but there’s no doubt that the Cardinals’ running game is more explosive when Beanie is in the game. He is their future.
The Final Word: If Anderson can rekindle the magic he had in ’07, then the Cardinals will compete with the 49ers for the division crown. But given how bad he has looked over the past two seasons, Arizona fans shouldn’t count on him being the answer. And if he struggles, does this team have enough trust in Matt Leinart to get the job done? Will he even make the roster? Thanks to Fitzgerald, Wells and Breaston, the Cards have plenty of playmakers on the offensive side of the ball to be dangerous. But the O-line didn’t play well in preseason and pass protection will be an issue. I think their defense will be on the field a lot and considering the lack of a pass rush will be a concern, I’m not sold on this team returning to the playoffs.

Arizona Cardinals 2010 Question Mark: Quarterback

3. Seahawks

What to Like: Nobody knows if Pete Carroll will pan out but the good news is that he’s not Jim Mora, who struggles to make in-game adjustments and whose teams are usually unprepared. Carroll has won in this league before and was obviously very successful at USC, so it’s just a matter of if the players will respond to his style. Even though the Hawks finished 24th in total defense last year, the unit has a couple of nice playmakers, starting with defensive tackle Brandon Mebane and middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu, who returns from an injury-riddled 2009 season. If young players like Aaron Curry and Earl Thomas can make an impact from Week 1, this defense will definitely be improved. Offensively, adding Leon Washington to a backfield that also features sleeper Justin Forsett was a good move by the front office and rookie receiver Golden Tate will turn some heads once he gets his hands on the ball.
What Not to Like: Seattle’s biggest concern heading into the draft was offensive tackle and they did well by selecting massive Oklahoma State product Russell Okung. But Okung suffered a high ankle sprain a couple of weeks ago and now it appears that Mansfield Wrotto will start the season at left tackle, which is a grave concern. Matt Hasselbeck has always been an underrated quarterback, but does he have one more year left in him? He better, because Charlie Whitehurst has done nothing to prove that he deserves a look as the starting gig. After signing him to a five-year $40 million contract just last year, the Hawks already want to dump T.J. Houshmandzadeh, whose skills are eroding. Whether they trade him, release him or he stays on the roster, the massive free agent flop won’t make much of an impact this season. Defensively, unless Curry can figure things out in a hurry, the pass rush will likely be an issue all year. Marcus Trufant is also coming off a poor ‘09 campaign and even though the team is high on Thomas, it’s always a little uneasy to trust a rookie at any position.
Keep Your Eye On: Justin Forsett
Why the Seahawks continue to play Julius Jones when Forsett is clearly the more explosive player is beyond me. Although with that being said, Forsett needs to prove that he can take the pounding too. He has the speed and agility to be a major weapon in Seattle’s offense, but he needs someone (Washington preferably) to split carries with because he’s not a full-time player. Still, Forsett has a ton of talent and could put himself on the map if he doesn’t wear down throughout the year.
The Final Word: It would be easy to suggest that since the Seahawks have improved in some areas that they’re going to contend. But even playing in a weak NFC West I think this team is going to struggle to win more than six or seven games. Carroll has already put his stamp on this franchise and that’s a good thing. But again, he has to get the players to buy into his system or else this experiment will fail before it even gets off the ground. This is a team that couldn’t stay healthy last year and they sunk. Assuming everyone stays relatively injury-free, they could be a surprise contender. But even then, I think the Hawks have too many holes.

Seattle Seahawks 2010 Question Mark: Offensive Line

4. Rams

What to Like: When healthy, Steven Jackson is the star of this team and a player that can be relied on to produce every week. The offensive line, while not quite there yet, is improving and if Jason Smith can make strides in his second year this unit might even become a strength. Thus far, the team has to love what it has seen out of No. 1 overall pick Sam Bradford, even though expectations should be tempered. Laurent Robinson has breakout candidate written all over him, but he has to stay healthy – something he hasn’t been able to do so far as a pro. Defensively, the strength of the unit is at linebacker and is held together by second year player James Laurinaitis, who was outstanding as a rookie last season. A lot is also expected out of former No. 2 overall pick Chris Long, who is heading into his third year (which is when the game usually starts to click for defensive linemen).
What Not to Like: Bradford played well in preseason but he’s only a rookie and he’s going to need time to mature. Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan succeeded in their first years, but they also had more talent around them. Robinson and fellow receiver Danny Amendola could potentially turn out to be a nice duo, but the receiving corps is incredibly weak as a whole. Defensively, Ron Bartell was handed a nice contract last offseason and then he struggled mightily in coverage. That’s not good considering the other side will be manned by Kevin Dockery, who was brutal with the Giants last year. Craig Dahl and O.J. Atogwe are fine safeties, but Atogwe can be hit or miss.
Keep Your Eye On: Mardy Gilyard
Even though he has failed to make an impression thus far, Gilyard has a ton of talent and could be an explosive player in this league. Donnie Avery was lost to a season-ending injury, so Gilyard will have opportunities to shine if he can play catch up (he missed OTAs due to Cincinnati’s late graduation). If he does, he could provide the spark that the Rams desperately need on offense.
The Final Word: The Rams are improving but they have a long way to go. As is the case with the Lions, they just don’t have enough overall talent to be competitive on a weekly basis. If the O-line plays up to its potential and Bradford plays well as a rookie, then this team won’t be completely inept like it was last year. But still, expecting too much too soon out of a rookie quarterback is a mistake. He’s going to turn heads at times and he’s going to make dumb decisions as well. That’s just what rookies do. Hopefully in due time the Rams can start competing again but as of right now, you’re probably looking at the worst team in the league for the second straight year.

St. Louis Rams 2010 Question Marks: Receiver and Secondary

Merry training camp season, everyone. It’s been a long offseason, but football is finally gearing up again and to celebrate I’m rolling out a new series on TSR entitled “2010 NFL Question Marks,” where I discuss one or two of the biggest concerns that teams have heading into the new season. Granted, some teams have more issues than others, but I’ll primarily be focusing on the biggest problem areas. Today I’ll be discussing the 49ers and their growing concerns along the offensive line.

The NFC West has emerged as the weakest division in football. The Rams are atrocious, the Cardinals are in transition mode and nobody quite knows what to make of the new-look Seahawks.

That’s why the 49ers are so intriguing. People have fallen in love with Mike Singletary’s coaching style and are encouraged about the development of former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith. They also have a great talent at running back in Frank Gore, a suddenly decent receiving corps thanks to Michael Crabtree, a stud tight end in Vernon Davis, and a young, energetic defense that has taken on Singletary’s ferocity and swagger.

But Smith and the rest of the offense will only go as far as the offensive line takes them and as of this moment, things don’t look good for the Niners’ front five.

Singletary has already named rookies Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati the starters at right tackle and left guard, respectively. Both first-rounders certainly have the talent to succeed, but as with any young player in the NFL, Davis and Iupati will likely struggle in their first years. It’s only inevitable.

That’s why it’s important for teams to have a good supporting cast when starting rookies, which is something the Niners don’t have at the moment. Center Eric Heitmann broke his left fibula during a recent practice and will be out six to eight weeks. That’s a crushing blow considering Heitmann hasn’t missed a start since breaking his leg in 2006 and was arguably the team’s best linemen last season.

Heitmann’s injury creates a domino effect along the team’s offensive line, as former left guard David Baas now moves to center, which is a position he is highly unfamiliar with. Seeing as how the center calls the audibles, sets the line and snaps the ball, Baas’s inexperience at the position is a major concern. (Don’t forget that offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye also likes to use Smith out of the shotgun, putting even more importance on the snap.)

Adam Snyder will slide over from right tackle to right guard this season after turning in a train wreck of a 2009. He was easily the weak link on a line that had trouble gelling a year ago and if he can’t make the transition from tackle to guard, then he won’t be long for the 49ers or the NFL.

At left tackle is Joe Staley, who is highly considered the team’s best offensive linemen. But he played in just five games last year due to injuries and has trouble staying on the field on a whole. He’s a big, powerful blocker and more than capable of protecting Smith’s blindside, but he needs to stay on the field if the Niners are going to have success this season.

Now, can San Fran’s offensive line turn into a strength at some point this year? Absolutely, especially considering it’s comprised mostly of former first round picks. Plus, once Heitmann returns from injury, Baas can either provide depth or take over for Iupati or Snyder if they struggle.

But again, having two rookies start on the offensive line usually spells trouble. Plus, ask the Packers how shuffling players from one position to another worked out for them last season.

Davis and Iupati could be excellent players at some point during their careers and the 49ers did a great job of recognizing their biggest weakness and addressing it during the offseason. But as of right now, the team has more questions than answers along the O-line.