Apr 25, 2013; New York, NY, USA; Tavon Austin (West Virginia) is introduced by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell as the number eight overall pick to the St. Louis Rams during the 2013 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

It’s time for the 2nd installment of my evaluations of the drafts of the division rivals of our Seattle Seahawks. Obviously, it’ll take a couple years before we know how this draft will fully work out. This is just my impressions based on my pre-draft evaluations of these players

A year after taking a big risk on Janoris Jenkin, and having it pay off for them big time, the Rams showed that it wasn’t a one time thing. With another pair of risky moves this season, Fisher is showing that he’s not scared of a little risk. While that strategy might “bite” him eventually, it’s allowing him to infuse that roster with talent very quickly.

Best Pick

3rd Round pick Stedman Bailey is flashy, but he’s a polished route runner with great hands. While he might not have the high ceiling like others WRs in this draft class, he’s probably the most NFL-ready of the WRs. He’ll make an instant impact in the passing game.

Worst Pick

It’s very difficult to say any of the Rams picks were bad. “None” is apparently the answer here.

Boom or Bust

Both of the 1st round picks taken by the Rams were high risk/reward players. Linebacker Alec Ogletree, taken 30th overall, is easilly the most athletic of the LBs in the draft this year, but comes with serious character issues that scared off most NFL teams.

Wide Receiver Tavon Austin, taken 8th overall, is a similar boom or bust player. His athleticism is rare, and could make him one of the top players in the league. He’ll also be one of te smallest players in the league (height, weight, and strength all all better suited to be an MLB shortstop) and his route running leaves much to be desired. Time will tell on if the Rams got a Percy Harvin type playmaker, or just a Devon Hester type kick returner.

Overall Impressions

It’s easy for Rams fans to be excited for this draft. They got some exciting pieces. The draft will ultimately be remembered by if Ogletree and Austin work out. If both “hit,” this might be the best draft they’d had in a decade. If not, then it might be the worst in that same time span.

Either way, this team is improved over 2012, and is poised to contend for a playoff spot.

Sam Bradford

Dec 30, 2012, Seattle, WA, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (8) scrambles out of the pocket against the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

A decisive winner in this draft is one Mr. Sam Bradford, the quarterback of the St. Louis Rams. He wins on a lot of levels and for a lot of reasons. After losing Steven Jackson and Brandon Gibson in free agency, the quarterback was starring down the barrel of a decisively less loaded gun going into last weekend but  I bet he busted a move similar to any number number of touchdown dances he has been concocting after the 4th round pick of offensive guard Barrett Jones, the 6’4″, 306 pound hogmollie out of Alabama. He just couldn’t help himself, is what I’m thinking.

The Rams had already drafted the record setting, West Virginia combo of Tavon Austin and Steadman Bailey the first two nights, which had to have put Bradford into a comfortable coma for the first time since the end of the season. Then he wakes up and the Rams staff secures his offensive line with a well known name from an elite college program. A line, by the way, that was already bolstered by the free agency acquisition of Chris Long at the left tackle spot.

Not to be forgotten is the additional pickup of tight end Jared Cook via free agency and the return of receivers Austin Pettis, Brian Quick and Chris Givens. The Rams offense is a different monster and will be a completely new challenge for defensive coordinators around the league and especially in the conference. Here’s a link to a good article on the new Rams’ identity by Ramblin’ Fan.

Sep 1, 2012; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Geno Smith (12) reacts after a touchdown in the first quarter against the Marshall Thundering Herd at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

One of the best things about this time of year, and my role here at 12thMR, is getting invited to participate in mock drafts with draft experts from around the country. This week, I took part in a 2 round mock for FPFootball.

There were 8 people involved, one picking for every team in a division. I, of course, was picking for the teams in the NFC West.

Picking for teams other than the Seahawks in a draft like this was an interesting challenge. I tried to prepare and make sure I knew what each team needed and the types of players they prefer, but I doubt the fans of those teams will like the decisions I made.

I can say that I took picking for our division rivals seriously. A lot of these picks are ones that I hope they don’t make when the real draft finally gets here in April.

Take a look. And be sure to click the above link to see how the entire 2 round draft unfolded. Let me know in the comments how bad I did.

Cardinals

Strategy: Fix the offense, especially the offensive line.

Drafted Players: QB Geno Smith, OT Terron Armstead

The original plan was to select OT Eric Fisher at #7, but he came off the board before then. That also meant that when Geno Smith dropped to the Cardinals it became a no brainer.  They need a franchise QB, and he’s likely the only one in this draft class.

Besides, the Cardinals were able to draft Terron Armstead in round 2. He’s a bit of a project compared to the first round tackles, but he has a high ceiling and will be better than the embarrassingly bad tackles who played the position for Arizona last season.

Rams

Strategy: Get Sam Brandford some weapons

Drafted Players: WR Tayvon Austin, S Jonathan Cyprien, TE Zach Ertz

Austin provides the Rams with instant upgrade for the offense. He’s not a classic route runner type wide receiver, but he’s still a dynamic athlete that will help Bradford. Ertz was the best player available in round 2 and made too much sense not to select. I know the Rams signed Cook in free agency, but he’s almost exclusively a receiver and offers nothing in terms of in-line blocking. Ertz adds an element that is missing in the offense, as well and just being an overall talent upgrade for the roster.

Jonathan Cyprien is a pick that will likely get some “what the heck?” comments. After Austin was taken, Cyprien gave me a chance to change the script by taking who I thought was the best player available. Safety isn’t a huge need for the Rams, but getting Cyprien gives them a young safety to pair with their young CBs and D-line as they build that defense for the future.

Seahawks

Strategy: Seahawks only have 1 pick in the first 2 rounds. Make it count by getting a playmaker.

Drafted Players: Khaseem Greene, OLB – Rutgers

Greene was a player I didn’t think would be available at #56. He’s an outstanding OLB who, like the other starting LBs in Seattle, is versatile enough to play multiple LB spots. Good against both the run and in coverage, Greene would give Seattle one of the best 4-3 linebacking groups in the entire NFL. I was more interested in getting a starting 3-tech DT, but none were on the board that I was comfortable taking at this spot.

49ers

Strategy: Fix the secondary, especially safety.

Drafted Players: S Matt Elam, CB Desmond Trufant, WR Quinton Patton

Elam was the best safety on the board, and will start right away. Trufant further upgrades their secondary, which is the closest thing to a weakness you’ll find in the 49ers defense.

Patton at the end of round 2 was good value, and provided them with another option at WR, where they need additional talent around their young QB. Thought about taking TE Travis Kelce here to replace the recently departed Delanie Walker, but Patton was above him on my draft board and also filled a need.

Dec 19, 2011; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers former receiver Jerry Rice attends the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Candlestick Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

My countdown continues with the 2004-2005 season. In case you were wondering, that picture to the right is no mistake. Jerry Rice did in fact play in one season for the Seattle Seahawks. In 2004 Rice requested a mid-season trade from the Raiders and ended up on a Seahawks squad that was looking for a veteren presence in their recieving corps. While he did not have a huge impact, it was fun to have him in Seattle for a season.

Hopefully, 2004 will one day be bounced out of the top 10, but until it is, this is what we have. 2004 was a bitter sweet year for the Seahawks. They won the NFC West for the second time under Mike Holmgren, earning the title on the last game of the season with a dramatic 4th quarter two-point conversion stop against Atlanta.

As fate would have it, Seattle earned the 4th seed in the playoffs with a 9-7 record.  St. Louis squeaked in to the playoffs with an 8-8 record good enough for a 5th seed match against the Seahawks. The Minnesota Vikings also finished with an 8-8 record, but St. Louis won the tie breaker with a superior conference record. Earlier in the season, Seattle had lost twice to St.  Louis.  What looked like a final chance to finish off an inferior yet pesky opponent turned sour from the start. The Rams jumped out to an early lead setting the stage for a Seattle comeback.

The Seahawks did manage to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but gave up a tying field goal, and game winning touchdown to the Marc Bulger-led rams in the 4th quarter. Sadly, not even the 12th Man could give the Seahawks that little boost they needed to finish off the Rams.

Despite the overall disappointment of this season, and the subpar season point differential of -2, this team beat out the ’99 squad because it did not suffer the second half collapse, and it was the first of four straight NFC West titles for the Seahawks. That, and it was the only one of the three remaining candidates that didn’t include Brian Bosworth on the roster.

Oct 27, 2012; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners former linebacker Brian Bosworth on the sidelines prior to the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

By The Numbers:
Regular Season Record: 9-7 (AFC West Champion)
Playoff record: 0-1 (4 seed)
Points for: 371
Points against: 373
Differential: -2
Turn overs forced: 35
Turn overs allowed: 27
Differential: +8

Noteable opponetns and games:
Week 5: St. Louis Rams –The Rams team that included Marc Bulger, Issac Bruce, Torrey Holt, Marshall Faulk, and Steven Jackson simply had Seattle’s number. They won 33-27 in OT week 5, 23-12 in week 10, and 27-20 in the Wild Card Round. Shaun Alexander averaged over 132 yards per game against the Rams that season, but the Seahawks couldn’t find the end zone enough to match Marc Bulger’s passing attack.

Week 6: Tom Brady – New England QB The Seahawks lost to the eventual Super Bowl champions 20-30. Tom Brady completed passes to 8 different receivers and UW’s Correy Dillon ran for 105 yards.

Week 7: Emmit Smith –  Arizona RB  Emmit Smith recorded his final 100-yard rushing game with 106 yards against the Seahawks in a 25-17 Cardinals victory including the final touchdown of the game.

Week 11: Wes Welker  – Miami Special Teams  In 2004, Welker played for three different teams and didn’t catch a pass. In the game against Seattle, Welker returned 4 kicks and 3 punts for a total of 124 yards. The Seahawks won the game 24-17.

Week 12: Drew Bledsoe Buffalo  –  QB and ex-WSU Cougar  Bledsoe threw for 275 yards, a TD and 3 INT’s. Willis McGahee ran for 116 yards and 4 TD’s on route to a 38-9 romp by the Bills.

 Week 13: Shootout against the Cowboys  The Seahawks lost a high octane Monday Night Football game 43-39 against the Dallas cowboys. Julius Jones of the Cowboys ran for 198 and 3 TDs yards. Jerry Rice of the Seahawks caught 8 passes for 145 yards and 1 TD, proving that he was still a solid contributer even in his later years as a player.

Week 14: Randy Moss – Minnesota WR  The Seahawks survived a 4-catch, 104-yard, 1 TD performance by Randy Moss en route to a 27-23 victory. Behind Matt Hasselbeck’s 334 yards, and two second half field goals by Josh Brown the Seahawks secured the win.

Week 17: Michael Vick – Atlanta QB  This was the season that Michael Vick took the Falcons to the NFC Championship game. Allthough Vick rested for most of the game,  he would then go on to lead the Falcons to a win against the St. Louis Rams in the NFC divisional round. It was perhaps the only time that a large number of Seahawks fans have ever rooted for Michael Vick.

Offensive Standout: Shaun Alexander – 1,866 total yards, 20 total TD’s
Defensive Standout: Ken Lucas – 63 solo tackles, 8 assists, 6 INT, 1 pic 6, 1 forced fumbles.
Team Stat of the year: +8 turn over differential
Notable Draft Picks: Sean Locklear OT
That Year’s Super Bowl: XXIX New England Patriots 20 Philadelphia Eagles 17

As I do with my Seahawks predictions, I’m going to base my predictions on the ratings from Pro Football Focus, I’m just going to go into less detail.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams are much improved, and a perfect 3-0 at home. Their 15.0 rating in total defense and 7.2 in total offense are nothing to be scared of. Still, both are about league average, meaning neither is a true weakness either.

Green Bay Packers

Green Bay’s 36.1 rating on offense is higher than I expected since they haven’t been as sharp as expected offensively as we’d expected. But that is stil an impressive rating, and they finally “got right” last week. The 22.5 rating on defense isn’t elite by any means, but it is much improved from last year when they were fairly dreadful on defense.

Final Evaluation

looking at just the ratings, you’d be led to believe that this should be a blowout in favor of the Packers. I simply don’t buy that. The Pack has been inconsistent this year, especially on offense. Add in that the Rams have been surprisingly good at home, and you get a fairly close game. I still think the Packers win, but I expect it to be close.

Packers 23 – Rams 20

Sept. 9, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Adrian Wilson (24) during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals beat the Seahawks 20-16. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE

           Entering into the 2012 NFL season, it was widely believed that the class of the NFC as a whole, and most certainly for the NFC West, was the San Francisco 49ers. And with a 13-3 record in 2011, who’s to argue that? Returning all 11 of its defensive starters, while adding depth on the offensive line, as well as speed to its receiving corps, one would be remised to not entertain the thought that the 49ers were a shoe-in for a return to the NFC’s elite, and a deep playoff run. And while that’s all very well and good, entering Week 4 of the 2012 season has most experts scratching their head as to the resurgence of this once afterthought of a division.
         Week 1 started off with a rare inter-division matchup, as the ‘Hawks travelled down to Glendale and lost out in a defensive battle, 20-16. Many looked at this as a disappointing effort on the Seahawks part- as most gave Arizona, and its Quarterback carousel, little respect. However, sitting at 3-0, and in most publications Top 10, this team is the epitome of what has become a defensively dominant, offensively efficient division. Many look to the Baltimore Ravens of old as a blueprint for this style of football, and since they won a Super Bowl utilizing it, why not? Kevin Kolb seems to be on the road to redemption, while the Arizona run game sorts itself out, the defense has kept this team undefeated, even beating New England AT HOME. A statement win that helped spark the conversation regarding the new NFC West. The NFC “Worst”, no longer my friends.
         The Seattle Seahawks are 4th in Total Defense (yards per game), Arizona is 10th, the 49ers 11th, and even St. Louis is 19th. The Seahawks also lead the NFL in Scoring Defense, at 13 Points Per Game. The Cardinals are 2nd at 13.3, and the 49ers 11th at 21.7. 3 out of the 4 teams in this division boast top 15 defenses. The Rams, while sitting at 1-2 have been in all of their games, playing right alongside the Lions at home, beating the Redskins, and losing to a tough Chicago team at home. One play goes their way at the end of that Lions game, and you’ve got a one 3-0, and three 2-1 teams. I don’t know about you, but that’s something to be proud of. Talk about transforming an image that just a few years ago was reliant on West Coast Offenses, and “Greatest Shows on Turf”. Most called this division “soft”. And while these philosophies took the Seahawks, Cardinals, and Rams to Super Bowls, the general feeling I gather from the collective NFL is that this new physically dominant, brute force identity is definitely more roundly respected, if not borderline feared.
          The NFL Power Pendulum is a-swingin’ 12th Man. The NFL is no longer shouting from their posts that we’re part of the NFC Worst. Rather, they’re whispering the idea that this could be the NFC BEST. It’s still early in the season, but if the returns are any indication, they might be right.

Aug 11, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks tight end Sean McGrath (45) carries the ball and stiff arms Tennessee Titans defensive back Aaron Francisco (47) during the 2nd half at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Tennessee 27-17. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-US PRESSWIRE

Arizona Cardinals @ Kansas City Chiefs
The latest news out of Arizona following their 27-17 defeat in their second preseason game is that John Skelton is now the favored quarterback.  This should be considered an upset since the Cardinals gave up top cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2012 pick to get Kevin Kolb before the 2011 season where he was largely considered the starting QB of the future for the organization.   It also doesn’t speak that much for Skelton’s abilities, since it is largely due to Kolb’s complete ineffectualness.

There were a lot of missed opportunities and connections on offense for Arizona which might spell trouble.  They have stud-receiver Larry Fitzgerald but without a quarterback to throw to him, it could mitigate his threat to opposing secondaries.  The Cards also made a move at right tackle by moving D’Anthony Batiste to the starting lineup.

Arizona’s next game is Friday, August 17^th at 7:00pm versus Oakland.  I’ll have better insights on Arizona after this week’s game.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Tennessee Titans
I’m not going to spend a lot of time here since there are plenty of articles on this site already covering the game from various perspectives.  Some macro-level analysis is that the defense is ferocious.  (I realize I’ve been using odd adjectives lately in describing Seattle’s defense, but I promise it’s not hyperbole.)  Seattle has the type of defense that will keep the Hawks in the game no matter what the score is.  They are ball-hawking much more and just looking to lay hits on receivers.  It will be a lot of fun to watch.  Seattle beat the Titans 27-17.

Both Russell Wilson and Matt Flynn played well.  Both had one pick.  At this point, my guess is that Flynn will start, but if Wilson can continue to improve, he could be Seattle’s future starter and make Flynn’s resigning anything but certain.  Rookie running back Robert Turbin showed potential but still had trouble finding some gaps.  The offensive line also needs to cohere much more.  It looked like five really good players playing separately instead of one awesome unit which will hopefully happen after a few more games.

The Seahawks also had no penalties on either side of the ball in the first half.  Alex Barron broke the streak in the third quarter with a false start penalty.  This is not acceptable at home and considering he has a history of drawing penalties it probably hurt his standing in making the team.

Seattle’s next game is Saturday, August 18^th at 6:00pm at Denver.

St. Louis Rams @ Indianapolis Colts
Admittedly, all I saw of this game were the highlights which basically meant a lot of Andrew Luck.  The Rams got shellacked by a score of 38-3.  That being said, the Rams are a very young team and have a lot of experience to gain.  They have a new coaching staff and will most likely be a lot better during the season, especially later, than they are right now.  There isn’t a lot of insight to be garnered from the game, good or bad.  Sam Bradford is the starting quarterback and the Rams’ receivers will at least start the season healthy.  There was also little to gain by give Steven Jackson a lot of touches since he has nothing to gain and a lot to lose.

The Rams play next on Saturday, August 18^th at 5:00 pm vs. Kansas City.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Niners beat the Vikings 17-6 but are providing good evidence to anybody that believes in a bell curve or mean-regression theory.   The Niners have just signed two more tight ends following Delanie Walker hurting his knee.  The news on Aldon Smith is all but positive and it could be a while before we the Niners see him on the field which is hurting them at linebacker.  Quarterback Scott Tolzien has made himself part of the conversation for backup and is competing with Colin Kaepernick.  Brandon Jacobs went 4-for-4 on carries and first downs and looks to be a solid companion to Frank Gore during the season.

The 49ers hope to build on last season but will face a much tougher schedule and division.  They have brought in players that bolster their smash-mouth style but will almost certainly be affected by injuries more than they were last season.  The linebackers are already facing several, and this will make imposing death-by-fieldgoal on opponents that much harder.  I’m not convinced Moss will be a factor since Alex Smith does not have a very strong deep throw.  The will need to figure out a way to score more touchdowns in 2012 if they hope to win the division.

The Niners play next at Houston on Saturday, August 18^th at 5:00pm.

Dec 12, 2011; Seattle, WA, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (8) throws a pass against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Rams 30-13. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Our NFL preview is rapid drawing to a close with just 2 more teams left to go. Today we visit the one team in the NFC west that isn’t very west at all; that being the St. Louis Rams.

The Rams are coming off a very disappointing season in 2011.  In 2010 it took a week 17 loss to the Seahawks to keep them from winning the division and making the playoffs. There was high hopes for the Rams in 2011, but instead they hit rock bottom going just 2-14.

Helping me out today is Justin Stine from Ramblin Fan.

Biggest Team Need Heading Into Offseason: When talking about the Rams, it might be easier to focus on what they don’t need. QB is set with Sam Bradford, and the Rams are set at MLB and at DE. Other than that, the Rams could use help across the board. OLB is probably the biggest area of need at this point, but it’s far from the only one.

Key Free Agents Retained: Danny Amendola

Key Player Additions: Cortland Finnegan, Scott Wells, Kendall Langford

Key Players Leaving: Justin King, Jacob Bell, Brandon Lloyd

Quick Thoughts on Draft: The Rams pulled off one of the biggest draft trades in recent history, and it helped them land a nice group of picks that helped fill holes. Michael Brockers is going to help immensely on the defensive line, and Janoris Jenkins will be the steal of the draft if he stays out of trouble. Adding Brian Quick and Chris Givens will help the receiving corps, and Isaiah Pead is a much-needed backup for Steven Jackson

Quick Thoughts on 2012 schedule: For a team that won only two games last season, the Rams have a pretty difficult schedule in 2012. Week 1 at Detroit is daunting, as are games against Green Bay and New England back to back in Weeks 7 and 8. Games against Buffalo, Washington and Miami look at least winnable, but there aren’t many smooth stretches.

Most Interesting Roster Battle: I will be watching the battles at CB and WR very closely. The Rams added Finnegan and two draft picks at corner, and Bradley Fletcher shoud be healthy. The Quick and Givens additions at receiver should make things interesting for guys like Greg Salas, Danario Alexander and Austin Pettis.

Biggest Strength Heading Into 2012: Sam Bradford should be poised for a big season, and Steven Jackson is a rock. Chris Long, Robert Quinn and others at DE are a solid group, and James Laurinaitis is as good as it gets in the middle.

Biggest Weakness Heading Into 2012: The Rams addressed several needs this offseason, but they have been unable to do much at OLB. It will be interesting to see how they address the issue before the season starts.

Biggest Question Still To Be Answered: I’m a firm believer in Sam Bradford as a franchise QB, but after last season I think it’s fair to list him as the biggest question. If he gets back to being the Sam Bradford most people think he can be, this team should be greatly improved. If not, the Rams may have to look elsewhere for the future.

2012 Prediction: The Rams will be better, but they might be at least a year or two from competing for the playoffs. I’ll say 6-10 this season, but I wouldn’t be shocked if they won anywhere from 3 on the low end to 9 or 10 if everything fell perfectly.

June 19, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; A general view as the San Diego Chargers warm up during minicamp at Charger Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

I’ve avoided this story for as long as I thought I could get away with it. Franchise relocation just isn’t a topic that sits well with Seattle sports fans. But this is going to happen, so I figure I can’t ignore this topic any longer.

AEG is in the process of getting a stadium built. They’re in the environmental impact statement stage, and if they pass that, the should break ground this fall. And if that proposed site falls apart, there are at least 3 other sites that are hoping to land the NFL stadium. LA is going to get a stadium built, and when it does it’s going to get a team.

The Raiders, the Rams, Jaguars and Chargers are the other teams most commonly connected with a move to LA. The league is not considering expansion, so once the stadium is built, some city is going to lose it’s team.

Roger Goodell sent a memo to teams outlying the process required to move. It’s mostly a list of hops to jump through, but there is one thats the most important: “Evaluate all stadium opportunities in its existing market, and consult with league staff on those.” This includes sharing a stadium with another team, and appears to indicate that the Raiders will have to share the 49ers new stadium, and wont be allowed to move back to LA.

Jacksonville owner Shad Khan has said he’s not moving, and seems sincere in his motivation to keep the team there. I’d be surprised if the Jags left Florida in the next 5 years.

That really leaves the Rams and Chargers as potential suitors. I know the Rams want a new venue, and are having a tough time getting one built. The Rams were also in LA before moving to St. Louis, so there’s some history there.

If there was place to bet on such things, my money would be on San Diego moving. I lived there for a few months a couple years ago, and at the time the fight over the stadium had reached a point where all sides had given up trying.

Plus, the team would be staying in Southern California. Fans in San Diego would only have to make the 90 minute drive up I-5. It really isn’t any different that the fans of both NY teams having to drive out to Giant’s Stadium in New Jersey, or Boston area fans driving up to Foxboro. (The drive from SD to LA is a little longer, but you get the point.)

Sure, the move would alienate some of the San Diego fans, but not nearly as much as it would if the Rams or another team moved halfway across the country. Placing the Chargers in LA just makes sense on so many levels, I cant see it not happening.

Dec 24, 2011, Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) rushes against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

Please Welcome new 12th Man Rising Staff Writer Jason Rubin. 

Well, it’s settled. The opponents for the 2012 version of the Seattle Seahawks have been set. The times, venues, and dates are now being met with a flurry of examination, and speculation. Whose schedule is toughest? Easiest? Can you project how many wins, or losses your favorite NFL club is going to be faced with? Is it enough for an NFL Playoff berth? And finally, has your head exploded with this assault of the unknown? Well, here’s one fan who won’t succumb to the traps of trendy prognostication. No No. Not so fast. I’m rolling the crystal ball right onto the floor, leaving it in thousands of tiny little shards of false hope . Let’s take a gander at the schedule, and apply what we DO know in the here and now….

DATE                                                 OPPONENT                

September 9^th, 2012              at Arizona Cardinals 

-          Seahawks haven’t been very successful with road openers in recent history. Add the fact they are 1-5 in Arizona’s new Glendale digs and this game could get dicey.           

September 16^th, 2012                        Dallas Cowboys

-          Ok, this is fun. So, the ‘Hawks haven’t had a lot of success playing the Cowboys over the past few seasons. All in the Big D. However, I think we all remember the last time the ‘Boys came calling at the Clink. A nail-biter of a game transpires to a close win when Tony Romo muffs the hold on the fan favorite “Big Play Babs” 19 yard field goal attempt. Plenty of new names on both rosters, but one in particular, one familiar to the 12th man, will definitely feel it from the hostile home gathering. Seattle welcomes you, Mr. Romo.

September 24^th, 2012                        Green Bay Packers

-          Once again, there’s a lovely back story to another Green Bay-Seattle matchup. Can Matt Flynn become relevant as the ‘Hawks QB, and bury his old team on Monday Night Football? Well, that story goes out the window if T-Jax is at the helm, and Flynn is holding a clipboard. But playing the Pack always carries a touch of sentiment for someone within the Seahawks organization. Oh, and it’s on Monday Night. Love it.

September 30^th, 2012                        at St. Louis Rams

-          Straight up. The ‘Hawks own the Rams. 13 of the last 14. While this team, like all of the NFC West, is up and coming (thank you RG3), they are still 1-2 years away.

 October 7^th, 2012                   at Carolina Panthers

-          Let the Cam Newton show begin for the ‘Hawks. Yes he pretty much had one of the best rookie seasons of any QB, ever. And the Panthers are a dangerous opponent. They lost how many games last year by less than 10 points? But this fan likes to think of the Panthers in one light…2005 NFC Championship game. Yep, it was 6 years ago. Yes, most of the Panthers and Seahawks rosters have been purged. But one notable name remains on the Panthers roster. One Steven Smith. I bet he remembers that day in January, not so many years ago…pull out the game tape, and let Bam Bam spy Cam all day. Greatness.

October 14^th, 2012                 New England Patriots

-          Oh boy. Here comes Gisele. New WR’s coach for the Pats. Oh, and the rest of the members of one of the NFL’s most consistent dynasties. Never an easy matchup and this one is going to be a classic. If you haven’t noticed, this schedule is offering an early litmus test for our young Seahawks. Are they ready for the big-time? Or are we still a year away? This game will answer many questions.

October 18^th, 2012                 at San Francisco 49ers

-          One of the most underrated rivalries in the NFL. This is the first game these two will play during the 2012 NFL season, but in no way is it anything but the continuation of the “Merry Christmas” game from last year. This story is still being told, and with the physical, hot-blooded rivalry that this has become, I find myself tensing up just thinking about it.  A must win to take the division back.

October 28^th, 2012                 at Detroit Lions

-          I’ve always liked the Detroit Lions. Don’t ask me why. But I’ve always been enamored. So this is a fun one for me, as I’m sure it is for most NFL fans. Watching the young, emerging Lions face a young, formidable defense in Seattle will make for a great game. Now, can the ‘Hawks offense match the effort? That will be the key to a mid-season road victory.

November 4^th, 2012               Minnesota Vikings

-          So, the Vikings are rebuilding? So what. Any chance to see our D-Line matchup with one of the NFL’s premier RB’s is enough to tune in to this classic battle. I still remember the game years ago when Hershel Walker led a monstrous comeback at the Kingdome. Always soured my liking for the Purple People Eaters. At any rate, Christian Ponder can always put this game on his resume in his bid to be a seasoned NFL starter. “Played road game in Seattle. Couldn’t hear a thing, so just handed the ball off…”

November 11^th, 2012             New York Jets

-          This game is exciting. I mean really exciting. I will be excited to just have this exciting opportunity to be excited. Oh, Tim Tebow. You and your clean press conferences. Lucky for him I’m packing all the excitement, because his will go right out the window when he steps through the tunnel at the Clink. Exciting.

November 18^th, 2012             Bye

-          It’s been some time since we’ve had such a late bye week. But this will be a perfect time, as they always are, for our team to get healthy for the playoff push. What you got for our record so far 12^th Man? That’s right, 10-0! Niiiice.

November 25^th, 2012             at Miami Dolphins

-          Can’t remember many good games from the ‘Hawks when playing in Miami. 1-5 overall, I believe. Even with a rebuilding team, this is always a thorn in the side. Let’s go down to Miami, pound the ball with Marshawn, and get out of town with a solid Defensive win. We’re due Miami.

December 2^nd, 2012               at Chicago Bears

-          In what has seemingly become an annual matchup for the Seahawks, we find ourselves back in Chicago, where we’ve had relative success. The Bears are always ready for a physical game, and this will be nothing less than the sort. An early December game, in Chicago is bound to bring the elements, and a few bruises to boot. Great matchup.

December 9^th, 2012                Arizona Cardinals

-          Home stretch here. 3 of the last 4 are at home, and against NFC West opponents. Getting off to a good start to our finish is essential here. Home, against the Cards in December will create a ravenous state at the Clink, and it will be needed as we split with Arizona last year, both down to the wire. Who says the NFC West is the worst division in the NFL. I think by Week 14, the pundits will be singing a different tune.

December 16^th, 2012              at Buffalo Bills (Toronto)

-          Hello Canada!! The Seahawks find their last road game of the season at The Rogers Centre, formally known as the SkyDome in Toronto. The last two meetings between these teams have been all Buffalo. And this one gets no easier. With a formidable rushing attack and a young defense, this year’s version of the Buffalo Bills is no less potent, if not more so. A tough matchup on the road before heading home for the final 2 home games of the season.

December 23^rd, 2012              San Francisco 49ers

-          Round 2. Not to take anything away from the other two divisional opponents, but special attention has to be paid to the 49ers for 2 reasons in my opinion. The way the two clubs played each other last season, physical, violent. A massive makeover from the early days of the NFC West. And finally, the fact that the 49ers took the division from the Seahawks last year, with a cocky smirk on their proverbial face nonetheless. Why the NFL didn’t put this game on primetime eludes me. Maybe a flex consideration here. Late season matchup between two heated division rivals with possible playoff implications? At the Clink? How does the NFL Primetime saying go? “Come on Maaaan!!”

December 30^th, 2012              St. Louis Rams

-           See Week 4. 13 of last 14 go to the Seahawks. Add that we’re at home, in the season finale, against a division opponent and you would have to lean heavily for the ‘Hawks here. However, a healthy Sam Bradford for a full season, and a renewed confidence with the arrival of Jeff Fisher could catapult the Rams into relevancy. Only time will tell…

So that’s it. 17 weeks of illustrious Seahawk Football right there in front of us 12^th Man. Will tendencies, matchups, and rankings give us the answers we’re looking for? Most definitely not. They may be a great help to the Vegas line makers, but nothing will be officially told until the clock strikes 1:15pm PDT on September the 9^th.   Until then, I’ll settle for water cooler championships, and dreams of a February Parade.

Why We Should Be Happy About The 49’ers Success  

While I’m not exactly happy about the 49’ers taking our spot in the playoffs, I am happy we aren’t going into the playoffs at seven and nine with no chance of anything but knocking our draft pick higher. The point is the 49’ers deserve to be there. Our record this year was seven and nine again, bad enough to earn us third place in the dreaded NFC West. However, the record of seven and nine was good enough last year to win the division, making the title of dreaded well deserved. We had about as much competition and rivalry as your local racket ball court. Yet this appears to be changing, things are on the up and up and the NFC West appears to be developing into a respectful division. By not being as easily won by anyone it will make everyone stronger, especially the new millennium Seahawks. This era brought new found success to a team badly needing it. However, it also brought shame and disappointment in the post-season. The reason we continue to traditionally see the same east coast teams have success in the playoffs is that year after year their divisions stay highly competitive. If any of these teams became complacent, the Browns being a good example, it would mean total embarrassment.

This upcoming season things are looking great for our division and great for the Seahawks as well (providing some sliver of hope at quarterback, I mean it’s all we need with our run game just look at the 49’ers). The Rams have hired Jeff Fisher and unlike Josh McDaniels Fisher is the real deal and not some overhyped offensive mind. The point is Fisher knows how to win and he has the stats to prove it. With 17 seasons as head coach of the Titans Fisher has led them to one super bowl appearance, where they were one yard short of forcing overtime, one conference championship, and three division championships, as well as boasting eleven winning seasons in his 17 year tenure as head coach. Nobody can argue that with Jeff Fisher at the wheel, Sam Bradford riding shotgun, and Steven Jackson sitting behind him the Rams will be driving one dangerous car soon enough.

The Cardinals were looking pretty good at the start of this season, but an injury plagued Kevin Kolb and a lack of an off-season really hurt their chances. With all the games missed by Kolb, disregarding the lockout, he was never really able to find his niche and develop chemistry with his receivers. Later in the year the Cardinals defense came on strong and they were able to run the ball effectively. The play of John Skelton also improved greatly and he started to perform at a higher level than most people had come to expect from him. Going into the off-season the Cardinals have one of those good problems, they have two quarterbacks who are going to battle for the starting spot next season. They also will probably be keeping their eyes open in the draft for a quarterback, but I don’t expect them to take one unless very late in the draft if at all. The Cardinals’ season really mirrored that of the Seahawks in that they did not find their identity until midway through the season, by the time both teams were able to make a run it was too late in the standings. I really am expecting great things for the Seahawks next season just as I am with the Cardinals.

This entire thing always seemed like Fisher was just using Miami to leverage St. Louis into offering more money and power. Guess what? it worked. Fisher will have a say in who in the new Rams GM. The Rams also increased their offer to over $7 mil/year. Credit Fisher’s team to getting what they could in the negotiations, and blame the Dolphins for not realizing that they were just leverage.

Fisher to the Rams makes sense for both parties. The Rams have more talent than they have wins. The Rams have a QB they believe in, which is the toughest position to fill in the NFL. The Rams also have the #2 overall pick and the ability to trade down for an absolute ton of picks to speed up the rebuild.  (more…)

The Seahawks have now won 4 of their last 5 games. That 2-6 record is a distant memory, and the Seahawks can get back to .500 with a win over the Bears next week. And with that, lets jump right into my game notes:

• Marshawn Lynch had another monster game (no, I’m not getting tired of writing that.) 23 carries for 115 yards and a TD. He’s now gone over 100 in 5 straight games, and has a TD in 9 straight games. The Seahawks need to re-sign him, and soon.
• Doug Baldwin had one of the best quarters you’ll see on special teams to start the game. He had a 37 kick return, he caught a punt at the 5 to pin the Rams back deep, and then he blocked a punt that was recovered for a touchdown.
• Speaking of Baldwin, he had an outstanding game at receiver too. 7 catches for 93 yards and a TD.  (more…)

This is not a slam on Tarvaris Jackson.  I have nothing but respect for Jackson, but he should not be playing right now.  If he had played for any other team, he would have been placed on injured reserve the day after he suffered a pectoral injury against the New York Giants.  His injury is affecting his play, and the situation is getting worse.

The two interceptions Jackson threw against the St. Louis Rams were horrible throws.  The defense didn’t do anything remarkable to create those turnovers.  Jackson’s mechanics on both throws were awful.  He looked like a 50 year old weekend warrior playing flag football.  The injury is limiting his ability to throw downfield.  It won’t be long until the Seahawks start seeing eight man boxes and press coverage on every play.

The injury also seems to be affecting his mobility.  He took a couple of sacks against the Rams that any healthy quarterback, no matter how slow footed, would have easily avoided.  He saw the defenders, but couldn’t do anything about it.  The Seahawks were fortunate that they were playing the inept Rams.  A better team would have buried the Seahawks early.  (more…)

This game has a large number of cool moments that deserve to be part of any highlight reel. There was the pass thrown from WR Sydney Rice to Mike Williams for 55 yards, the interception and subsequent “beast mode” stiff arm by DE Red Bryant, and the Justin Forsett TD where he jumped out of his shoe juking a defender. This was just a fun game to watch.

Here’s my game notes:

• The penalty epidemic continues. This week it was 13 penalties for 100 yards. This has to stop, and soon.
• Speaking of penalties, Brandon Browner added (at least) 2 more to his total. Giving him 18 by my count for almost 200 yards.  He’s playing better in coverage, but if he can’t cover w/o drawing flags then its just not good enough.
• Tarvaris Jackson had one of the worst 1st quarters that you’ll see, but then settled in and had a good but unremarkable night. It seemed clear that he was in pain for most of the game, as well as being pressured more than I’d like to see.  (more…)