Originally posted by NinerGM:Originally posted by lamontb:
Hasselback is the only QB in the division worth putting any faith into as of right now. I can see how folks would take Seattle b/c this a a qb league first and fore most. Your team will go as far as your qb takes you. If they can protect him he's easily the best qb in the division. Having the best qb masks a lot of problems. See 2nd game against Seattle for evidence. Even the 1st game vs Seattle was tough til Hasselback was broke in half by Willis. I don't understand them beign rated this highly league wide though. That's a King stretch
But he has a rookie protecting his blidside. I think Okung will be great, but against Justin Smith on day one? I'll place my bets on Smith.
I really don't understand why Seattle is getting so much respect. Yes Alex Gibbs will be coaching their OL and he's great at putting together a running game. However, in Denver he had some really talented runners. In Atlanta he had a really good runner. In Seattle he has Leon Washington.
So if we have doubts about Alex Smith why not doubts about Washington - a runner coming off a catastrophic injury.
And what about defense? They really don't have a pass-rush, so even if they have a great running game, opposing teams will also be able to maintain long drives. Seattle is getting too much respect IMHO - just way too much. They have more questions than the 49ers yet people seem to be ignoring theirs and emphasizing ours.
They are likely going to be fielding the worst DL in the league this year...not exaggerating here....it was bad last year, and this year it's bad, real bad...it's worse and maybe the worst. Last year they were pathetic in the secondary, they are starting the rook Thomas in the secondary this year, but they lost the vet Grant which means Thomas is going to be running his ass off back there while trying to figure the s**t out without any help up front.
The oline is still 1-2 positions needing to be upgraded. If CarlsonH needs to stay in and block again this year (he's a piss poor blocker), you can kiss that offense goodbye...unless...they somehow manage to produce a running game for the firs time in several years (for the first time since Tobeck and Hutch left....4 f**king years ago!).
Other than those minor details above (and a few others unmentioned, like depth, and some other vets possibly being washed up etc.) I'm going to go ahead and crown their asses.