In this episode we take a look at one of the most dismal divisions in professional football.  We talk about the NFC West and honestly wonder whether any of these teams are capable of finishing with a record over .500. I also wonder how we managed to get this one to 30 minutes long.  We apologize for the length, and will try to keep them shorter in the future.

Hosts: Kevin, Rich, Ryan, Sonny

 

 NFC West [30:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Over the last few years, the San Francisco 49ers probably have lots of regrets. One of them has to be the fact that they “earned” the #1overall draft slot in 2005, not the quarterback-loaded classes of ‘04 or ‘06. The result? Drafting Alex Smith, a system quarterback out of a Mountain West Conference school. Four years (and four offensive coordinators) later, Smith has been beat out for the starting job by an unknown named J.T. O’Sullivan.

Fresh off a great performance in Thursday’s pre-opener (7/8-126-1), O’Sullivan earned the job over the well-paid Smith, who delivered yet another clunker, going 6/17 for just 83 yards. According to reports, the 29-year-old  was the unanimous choice to start among head coach Mike Nolan, offensive coordinator Mike Martz,  quarterback coach Ted Tollner (SDSU!) and general manager Scot McCloughan.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never seen Alex Smith as a competent option to be the top overall selection in any draft. But in the last 10 years, I don’t think a young quarterback has ever been subjected to more coaching changes and front office chaos. How can you expect a young quarterback to develop when you’re changing his offensive coordinator every single season? The offseason should give young quarterbacks a chance to learn and hone their skills, not learn more new terminology and schemes. In the last three offseasons, Smith has been asked to absorb two of the most complex offensive systems in football: Norv Turner’s and Mike Martz’s. Good luck.

So much for Shaun Hill being the heir apparent to the starting job after a great finish to the 2007 season. This quarterback carousel should only continue into the season, as O’Sullivan will surely flop in the starter’s role. Once this happens, look for Nolan to take zero responsibility and throw his quarterbacks under the bus, just like he did with Smith.

The Rams won! Finally, my pick came true. The Rams handed it to the Saints in New Orleans, winning 37-29 and showing flashes of the brilliance we thought we would see all season. Bulger played well, Stephen Jackson is healthy, and the Rams are looking to make a considerable run back to decency.

The Patriots didn’t win…because they didn’t play. Back to handing out ass whoopings this week against Buffalo.

Peyton Manning threw 6 freaking interceptions. And yet, he didn’t look as awful as Norv Turner did. Managing 170 yards of offense with those weapons is absolutely pathetic. As for Indy, this was a game that they should have won. This team isn’t in trouble and the Colts are still the second best team in the league.

Baltimore couldn’t score on a high school team. They managed just seven points against the worst defense in the NFL. I don’t think it’s fair to put the blame on anyone, this is definitely a team effort.

Green Bay is here to stay. The Packers absolutely handled the Vikings, shutting Adrian Peterson and the entire Vikings team down. On a medical note, Peterson suffered the injury everyone feared would happen. The Vikings are really in trouble now.

What’s with the 49ers? Excuses riddled most of the first part of their season. Now, everyone is healthy and they’re still playing like garbage. Is Frank Gore the answer? Is Alex Smith really worth the first pick that the Niners spent on him? Steve Young called this offense an embarrassment; I call it full of questions.

Hosts: Sonny, Ryan, and Rich. In this episode, the entire Sportable staff discusses the NFC West. We debated the arrival of Ken Whisenhunt in Arizona, as well as the impact Norv Turner’s departure will have on Alex Smith’s development. Can the Rams return to the playoffs behind their dynamic offense? Or will the Seahawks use Qwest Field as a pedestal to another division crown?

You can find Episode 29 here. (Download mp3)

For the entire month of August, the Sportable Staff will look at one National Football League team a day. We?ll look at their offense, defense and in the end, assess their playoff chances. Previews will be done by division, starting with the NFC East. Each new division will also feature a new podcast devoted entirely to that division.

Contenders on Paper
After a busy off-season that included an $80 million signing of cornerback Nate Clements, the San Francisco 49ers must now put everything together from a rebuilding process. A solid portion of the team has the experience to contend in the NFC, but working and meshing together will be the biggest feat the Niners must conquer in 2007.

Offense
With head coach Mike Nolan being a defensive-minded leader, Norv Turner held the reigns on the 49ers offense during the last few seasons. Turner, who is noted for his work with young QB’s, seemed to get the best out of Alex Smith last year. Now that Turner is gone, most people are yapping around the water cooler that Alex Smith won’t be as good without him. That’s simply rubbish. Are we really going to sit around and say that Smith learned nothing from Turner? Great, Turner is gone, but I truly believe Alex Smith gained a tremendous amount of knowledge. Taking the hand-offs from Smith will be young stud Frank Gore. Gore is currently sidelined with a broken hand, but he should be back in time for Niners’ final pre-season game. If Gore can give other leading rushers a run for their money in the yardage category, the Niners will have an above average offense. Also, a healthy Vernon Davis returns with his freakish attributes at tight end. Darrell Jackson will lead a young receiving core after coming over from division rival Seattle. Jackson must show the way and teach Arnaz Battle and Ashlie Lelie to be consistent like Jackson. When it comes down to it, Alex Smith has to take complete control of this offense. The 49ers defense is strong enough to give the offense a chance in every game, so Smith must control the game and be smart as he steps out onto the field in the Bay.

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Mike Nolan, head coach of the San Fransisco 49′ers may not be the most successful coach on the field (a career 11-21), but this season he will be the most fashionable coach on the field. This is the result of a little known NFL ruling last week which modified NFL policy allowing coaches to wear suits during all home games.

The move is the latest in a string of events brought to fruition by the efforts of 49′ers coach Mike Nolan. Prior to the 2006 season NFL coaches were prevented from wearing suits on the sidelines during games by a licensing agreement with Reebok. Enter Nolan. When Nolan was hired by the 49′ers in 2005 he requested permission from the NFL to wear a full suit as a tribute to his father. His father, Dick Nolan, also happened to style the sidelines in a full suit as head coach of the Niners’ from 1968 to 1975. Nolan’s initial request was denied, however during the 2006 season the NFL reached a deal with Reebok which allowed for NFL coaches to wear special suits designed by Reebok for two home games each season. Whether or not it was to honor his father, or because his team happened to win their Nov. 19^th game against the Seahawks when he was wearing his suit, Nolan petitioned the league to wear a suit for all home games during the 07′ season.

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