With Seahawk Injuries, Does That Mean NFC West Up For Grabs?

by StrictlyFootball on Aug 11, 2008 3:45 PM PDT Comment 23 comments

With the latest news on Bobby Engram being out for 6-8 weeks (hurts my fantasy team) does this mean the Seahawks our prime for the taking this year? Deion Branch is most likely out till mid October and with another 20 players not participating in practice because of injury, it sounds certainly plausible. The 49ers face the Seahawks twice in the first 8 weeks, and with this now clipped Seahawk offense it seems more and more likely that the 49ers may walk out holding their heads high against NFC west Champions. Lets also not forget they have a relatively unproven running game and that their o-line is shaky after loosing some depth from injury and retirement. All I know is that for the first time in a long time the Seahawks seem weaker than they have in a long time.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.

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Cardinals

The Seahawks are definitely banged up, but where do you factor the Cardinals into the situation?

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by Fooch on Aug 11, 2008 7:19 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I think the Cardinals...

I think the Cardinals are a very solid team but lack impact players. Obviously Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are star players but beyond that who do they have? Their defense is shaky and their secondary is expose-able. The reason we usually are able to defeat the Cardinals is because their strengths get shutdown against us. Their pro-bowl WRs vs. our pro-bowl CBs are a good match-up and because of their lack of a strong QB we usually win that match up. Their return game is a strength but our special teams play is in the top ten in the league. While we don’t have a great offense we have a strong running game and they have had problems in the past stopping us. Their secondary is laughable and traditionally our QBs have been able to expose that and have had big games. Also… they are the Cardinals… they find away to loose.

by StrictlyFootball on Aug 11, 2008 9:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cardinals

It’s hard to argue with much of what you said and you guys have certainly had the Cardinals number last year. I’d be surprised if the Cardinals defense isn’t greatly improved in 2008 though. The draft was dedicated to shoring up the secondary and strengthening the pass rush. I’m not by any means saying that they’ll be a top 10 defense, but they won’t be at the bottom in terms of pass defense like they were last year.

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on Aug 12, 2008 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Seaowls wasn't that great last 2 seasons.

Us and the Rams were too one-sided team. Just face it, if we could score points and the Rams could play D’s, it be us and Rams killing each other to take the nfc west crown. Seaowls were really the only complete teams in the divisions that could play both sides of the field. The Card’s can’t do nothing right. They could put up points, but their D’s can’t take them to the playoff thou.

by warriorfan4life on Aug 11, 2008 7:44 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Up 4 Grabs

This division is up for grabs.. which is what makes our situation all that much more desperate.. Our Qb’s are killing this team, as a result the coaching has become at times experimental.. we just need someone to step up, or be brought in.. The Arizona Cardinals are the most talented team in my eyes, but man their defense is full of holes.. but at least they can score, if they can play team defense they are going to be up there, Seahawks injuries i actually have not updated myself on but last year, they were hanging on by a thread, so i expect the same from a team one year older.. Rams always a wild card, last year played like garbage, Stephen Jackson ego is in the way so who knows.. This is the Niners chance to suprise some teams but (at nauseum) our QBS SUCK!! so we have no chance..

by youngbuckeroo on Aug 11, 2008 8:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Seahawks somehow find a way

It seems to be the trend the past few years

by albertoleecho on Aug 12, 2008 12:28 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It doesn’t hurt them that they play in the NFC West.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Aug 12, 2008 2:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Cardinals

On paper, the Cards should be a contender, especially if Leinart plays like Leinart again.

But, come on, they’re the Cardinals. Perennial losers. They will not win the division. The Rams are a while away from contending again.

If the Seahawks fall, it’s the Niners’ division to take. And I’m serious.

by Rishi on Aug 12, 2008 7:47 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I'm confused

We are not a good QB away from contending. We’re not the Vikings.
Yes, we have a top RB and good TEs, and okay (relative to Niner standards) WRs. The Defense is improving. Does that really sound like a contending team? How about our struggling offensive line?

Face it, our situation is a mess right now. It’s going to take a while to get out of this.

First you say that, and now we’re taking the division?

STEVE HOLM: Better than Alfonso? Why yes, of course.

by UnleashTheGore on Aug 12, 2008 8:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, we’re not taking the division. We’d only take the division if the Seahawks fail, but, as much as it hurts to say, we’re way behind the Seahawks. The thing is, they won’t fail. They’ll make a deep run in the playoffs this year.

The only point I was making is that the Niners are better than the Rams and the Cardinals this year.

by Rishi on Aug 12, 2008 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Way Behind?

I’m not going to pretend that the 49ers aren’t behind he Seahawks, but I think that WAY behind is a bit much. Their defense is head over heels better than the 49ers’, but the offense leaves quite a bit to be desired, doesn’t it?

by sfgfan on Aug 12, 2008 9:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Um… Matt Hasselbeck is leaps and bounds above any of our QBs yet.

by Rishi on Aug 12, 2008 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

... but their offensive line has seen fresher days, and the offensive unit overall is kind of in a similar position as the 49ers: a lot of new tools that must learn the system. Not quite as drastic as the 49ers case, but similar nonetheless.

by sfgfan on Aug 12, 2008 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Branch

I’m not sure how long Branch is supposed to be out. I was listening to Sirius NFL Radio and they were touring training camps and either the GM or Holmgren said that they expect Branch back, in some capacity, by the start of the year. I don’t know if he’s just blowing smoke or not but that’s what he said.

by methodrampage on Aug 12, 2008 8:21 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Deion Branch...

They said he’ll be back at the beginning of the season but Yahoo says this:

WR Deion Branch is out with a knee injury. The team says he could be back the first week of the season. Common sense says not until October.

Espn on NFL live projected mid October. All I know is that it’s unlikely he will return early, and if he does it will be very shaky and his injury may become worst.

by StrictlyFootball on Aug 12, 2008 10:50 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Niners Can Do It!! IF............

The niners can take this division if and only if they can make a move at QB. But according to alot of your previous post the Niners need to fail to get a good draft pick and pick up another unproven QB. I’m staying OFF that TRAIN

by crazytoon on Aug 13, 2008 9:37 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Wait… what?

Nobody has every said that here. Not that I’ve read, anyway.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Aug 13, 2008 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll go out on a limb and say it!

No I won’t.

Trent Kline: Decentish. Also, my website is called ChatterBalks Dot Com and on it I make jokes about things.

by groug on Aug 14, 2008 11:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey, what you do on your website is kind of like what I do on other websites.

My Dave Righetti is better than your Dave Righetti.

by howtheyscored on Aug 15, 2008 12:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

I honestly can’t remember the last time this division was so up for grabs, and yet I also struggle to remember the last time I felt so pessimistic in the preseason. The team is not good right now. I hope they surprise me. I see Seattle taking the division, but the division as a whole will be a joke.

Never forget: I am a complete idiot

by Exhibit G on Aug 13, 2008 10:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

REMEMBER that the 49ers have a...

banged up wide receiving corps. We can’t do fingersnaps until they all get healthy.

Otherwise it’s gonna be a marriage with Niner’s hottest wide receiver Josh Morgan.

"We Have a God who delights in impossibilities."

by 16to80endzone on Aug 13, 2008 12:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

We aren't really banged up...

Issac Bruce isn’t playing because of his age, and many players complain of knicks and pains in training camp to get out of participating in camp. But really only Bryant Johnson is out with an “injury”.

by StrictlyFootball on Aug 13, 2008 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If I'm not mistaken...

... Lelie’s injury is pretty real. I would also like to think that Battle’s hamstring really is bothering him, as he doesn’t seem like the type to NOT want to work if he’s already there to.

by sfgfan on Aug 13, 2008 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs