OPTIMIST/PESSIMIST - THE NFC WEST DRAFT CLASS

By Zac, Throwing Into Traffic

In the weeks since the NFL Draft, OPTIMIST/PESSIMIST has been analyzing the draft classes by division both here and at Throwing Into Traffic. Today, we finish off our analysis with the NFC West.

Seattle Seahawks

Optimist:

There’s something about USC players that makes me take them completely for granted, but DE Lawrence Jackson is one of the names I actually knew from that team coming into this draft. While not overly fast, Jackson has solid quickness, and a long build that makes him trouble once he gets past his initial matchup, and considering he’ll be lining up with Patrick Kerney, it’s doubtful teams will be able to devote multiple blockers to stopping him. Considering that he may be a special pass rushing compliment to Kerney, if both he and physically dominant but raw DT Red Bryant can develop into their natural ability, Seattle’s mediocre pass defense (19th in the league) could see drastic improvements thanks to the front four.

Pessimist:

It’s almost like this team is TRYING to make me not care about them. Here’s the drat lineup for the Seahawks: 2 D-linemen, a tight end, a fullback, a throwaway running back, a kicker, and a LONG SNAPPER. Who the hell drafts a long snapper? Oh, I forgot, this team totally doesn’t need a WR like Adrian Arrington; the rapidly decaying Bobby Engram is all the number two option you need, and Deion Branch isn’t the worst WR signing of the last five years. Keep doing what you’re doing, Seattle, because you’re at your best when absolutely nobody even remembers you have a team.

Arizona Cardinals:

Optimist:

Nobody will accuse the Cardinals of playing it safe this year. With their first pick, the team took the biggest risk of the draft with CB Dominique Rodgers Cromartie, the workout wonder who played FCS ball and happens to share a last name with the guy who revolutionized the interception last year. Then, rather than taking one of several bland running backs available (Ray Rice has the juice, but lacks the size to contribute in a big way in the NFL), Arizona went for DE Calias Campbell, who is coming off of a mediocre senior year but is still massive for his position (6’7”, 290 lbs) and can wreak havoc on offensive linemen when he finds his groove. And as risky as both of those moves are, they were probably the right calls. Arizona had the 5th worst pass defense in the league last year, and if even one of these two can live up to their potential, that statistic should immediately improve. Throw in stocky WR Early Doucet as a slot man in the Wes Welker mold and things could be looking up in the desert.

Pessimist:

Ok…maybe the position is cursed (Lord knows if Edgerrin James and Emmitt Smith couldn’t make it work, maybe nobody can), but would it have been crazy for a team with the fourth worst running offense in the league to take a running back higher than the 5th round (Timothy Hightower seems like a nice guy, but a 4.6 40 isn’t cutting it in the pros)? Also, not to make anybody panic, because I love watching Matt Leinart get smashed in the backfield thanks to his cement feet as much as anybody (Drew Bledsoe v.2.0!!!), but maybe one of the many signal callers who dropped from the sky would have made a fun project? Again, I love the risks that this team took on day one, but I think that some more chances early on at positions of need on day two would have made things much more interesting.

San Francisco 49ers:

Optimist:

I love the moves this team made in the trenches. Even if Kentwan Balmer turns out to have been a flash in the pan thanks to a weak ACC (and bear in mind that he could easily be just as special as his physicality and stellar final season indicate), OG Chilo Rachal is versatile enough to play either guard or right tackle (a must have for an O-lineman on this team), and OC Cody Wallace did solid work at the college level, and could develop into a solid pro. Considering how badly things went for this team last year, the right move was to make low risk, high reward picks in the interest of making life easier for Alex Smith, and all three of those picks should help reduce pressure on Smith (or whoever winds up under center) next year.

Pessimist:

You know what else would reduce pressure on Alex Smith? Picking up a WR who can actually catch the ball. If Arnaz Battle, Bryant Johnson, and Ashley Lelie haven’t made it yet, they’re not going to now. Isaac Bruce is now the ghost of WR past. At this point, I’m past harping on all the WR prospects that slipped, but here was a team that could have sent a message that it wasn’t ready to quit on its QB just yet. Instead, this all feels like preparation for the installation of a new, untested signal caller, which is a shame, because Smith can still do something for a team creative enough to use his intelligence.

St. Louis Rams:

Optimist:

DE Chris Long is going to be a very good pro lineman, and turns the Rams defensive front four into the stuff of offensive nightmares. WR Donnie Avery is a burner who can turn his top end speed on in the blink of an eye, which could mean that his lack of ideal size won’t be a dealbreaker at the next level, particularly considering his sizeable body of work in college. Throw in a couple of offensive linemen who the team took flyers on in the later rounds, and it was a productive draft for a team that was nowhere near as bad as its terrible start last year would indicate.

Pessimist:

DE Chris Long is not DT Glenn Dorsey, plain and simple. Long is going to be very good; Dorsey could be the type of Albert Haynesworth defensive lineman that accounts for 2-3 wins in a season on his own. It’s the NFL, Rams GM Jay Zygmunt, you’re gonna have to get over that fear of big black guys in the locker room. Equally troubling is the decision to go with Avery over WRs Limas Sweed, Malcom Kelly, or Devin Thoman, all of whom have better size for the position, and lose very little in terms of speed (although again, Avery’s ability to hit high gears immediately can change offensive plays). I like big, splashy moves, but the road back to legitimacy is paved with unsexiness, and you have to get there before you can justify taking the kinds of chances the Rams did here.