During August, the Last Word On Sports NFL department will be breaking down every division in the league by position. This article contains a position-by-position breakdown of the NFC West defenses. The breakdown will contain “the best” at each unit followed by “the rest” in descending order.
2018 NFC West Breakdown by Position: The Defense and Special Teams
Defensive Line
The Best: Los Angeles Rams
The Rest: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks
Assuming his holdout comes to an end, Aaron Donald will have the chance to form a fearsome interior partnership with Ndamukong Suh. The flexibility of Wade Phillips’ 3-4 front should allow them plenty of opportunities to get on the field at the same time and wreak havoc against opposing centers and guards. Michael Brockers is coming off a career-high in tackles and will look to reproduce that kind of form as he comes back from a torn ACL.
The Cardinals’ switch to a 4-3 shouldn’t have any impact on the production of Chandler Jones and Markus Golden, an edge rush duo deserving of much wider acclaim. There is plenty of talent on the interior, too. Corey Peters was third in run stop rate among defensive linemen and Olsen Pierre had 5.5 sacks in seven starts. Rodney Gunter provides useful depth but for this group to reach another level Robert Nkemdiche needs to realize his potential.
San Francisco’s interior depth is remarkable, but it has not delivered sacks. DeForest Buckner‘s outstanding first two years have gone largely unnoticed but he has been a one-man wrecking crew up front. He had 29 hurries and 19 hits last year but just three sacks. Finishing those pressures off this year is pivotal for the Niners, who will look for former third overall pick Solomon Thomas to make the leap as a sophomore. Contributions are also needed from another former first-rounder in Arik Armstead as he returns from injury. Sheldon Day boasts quickness and versatility while D.J. Jones and seventh-rounder rookie Jullian Taylor have flashed in preseason. A lack of edge talent has been the Niners’ Achilles heel, though. Cassius Marsh and Jeremiah Attaochu are tasked with fixing that.
It is the inverse issue in Seattle, where Frank Clark is developing nicely, recording nine sacks last season. The Seahawks will need to replace the 8.5 sacks Michael Bennett had in 2017 and have seen promising signs from Rasheem Green, who played off the edge and on the interior in college. Jarran Reed and Tom Johnson have some interior pass rush talent, but Seattle is lacking in that area. However, Poona Ford‘s eye-catching play in preseason offers hope that the Seahawks have found someone who can push the pocket from the middle.
Linebacker
The Best: Seattle Seahawks
The Rest: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams
While much of the veteran core of the Seahawks defense is gone, linebacker Bobby Wagner remains. An elite player at the position, Wagner excels in every facet of linebacker play. Wagner is a three-time All-Pro and has a similarly talented player next to him in K.J. Wright. A criminally underrated defender who consistently impresses defending the pass, the presence of Wright alongside Wagner in the middle of the field arguably makes the Seahawks linebackers the strength of the team. Barkevious Mingo is set to play the strong side for Seattle and will try to avoid becoming a weak link after a nice year in Indianapolis.
The Cardinals’ transition to a 4-3 defense will see Haason Reddick go from defensive end to strongside linebacker. He should be able to provide plenty of pass rush from that spot after logging 14 hurries in 2017. The coverage skills of converted safety Deone Bucannon will be pivotal to the success of the Cardinals defense. Bucannon is set to play the weakside and stay on the field on nickel downs. Josh Bynes earned a three-year extension with his play in limited time in 2017 but will come off the field in non-base downs. Depth is a problem for Arizona, with Gerald Hodges the most experienced option underneath that trio.
Reuben Foster will miss the first two games of the season through suspension. However, the 49ers will still get 14 regular-season games of a player many believe is already one of the best in the business after an outstanding rookie year. When Foster is not on the field, though, the Niners look vulnerable at linebacker. Malcolm Smith is back from a torn pectoral that cost him all of 2017 but struggled in coverage in Oakland. That is an area of the game in which backup Brock Coyle is similarly exploitable, meaning the Niners may turn to rookie Fred Warner, who had seven interceptions at BYU. The options at SAM linebacker are sparse, with the trade of Eli Harold leaving Mark Nzeocha and Pita Taumoepenu battling it out.
Linebacker is one of the few areas in which the Rams appear deficient. They’ll be seeking a more noticeable impact from former safety Mark Barron, particularly in coverage. Outside linebackers Samson Ebukam and Matt Longacre have only 7.5 sacks between them and the Rams are still searching for answers at that spot even at this late juncture. Cory Littleton is the favorite to play next to Barron on the inside after impressing throughout the offseason, though he just five starts in his career. The more experienced Ramik Wilson and rookie Micah Kiser are among those the Rams have in reserve. Don’t be surprised if Rams opponents look to attack the intermediate areas to exploit this group.
Cornerback
The Best: Los Angeles Rams
The Rest: San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks
In adding Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib this offseason, the Rams acquired the best playmaking corner in the NFL and a veteran well-versed in Phillips’ defense. Nickell Robey-Coleman emerged as one of the top slot corners in football in his first year in Los Angeles. Sam Shields has a history of concussions but by signing the former Packer the Rams added a depth piece who is capable of starting for numerous teams.
The big question surrounding the 49ers’ corners is whether Richard Sherman can be his old self post-Achilles surgery. If the answer is yes, he gives the Niners a corner still capable of locking down top-tier wideouts. Sherman is already serving as a mentor to Ahkello Witherspoon, who will look to take the next step after an encouraging rookie year. K’Waun Williams earned an extension for his 2017 play at nickel. According to the Football Outsiders Almanac, Williams’ average yards allowed after the catch (1.9) was the third-fewest among corners with at least 40 targets. Depth is the problem for the Niners, who may well lean on the versatility of Jimmie Ward and rookie D.J. Reed with each able to play nickel and free safety. Ward has also played outside corner but preseason struggles may see the 49ers look to third-rounder Tarvarius Moore.
Arizona still boasts its own shutdown guy in Patrick Peterson but has only a bunch of question-marks beyond him. The Cardinals traded for Jamar Taylor, who allowed 69.3 percent of his targets to be completed in 2017, per Pro Football Focus. And though Bene Benwikere is familiar with head coach Steve Wilks, Arizona’s options outside of Peterson do not breed confidence. They may be reticent to give Brandon Williams extended playing time after his disappointing first two years, though sixth-round rookie Christian Campbell has shown promise in preseason.
The Legion of Boom has become the Legion of Whom, but the Seahawks can be encouraged by Shaquill Griffin‘s development. Seattle will need Byron Maxwell to be the player he was during his first stint with the Seahawks to fill the void left by Sherman. If that doesn’t happen then Tre Flowers‘ conversion from safety to corner may come more keenly into focus. Dontae Johnson came over from San Francisco in a signing that has to be questioned after his dismal 2017 campaign.
Safety
The Best: Los Angeles Rams
The Rest: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks
Los Angeles’ slew of talented corners is supported by one of the league’s better safety pairings. Lamarcus Joyner shifted from slot corner to free safety and proved a nightmare for opposing offenses. He had nine pass deflections and three interceptions in 2017. Strong safety John Johnson‘s 11 pass breakups were the fifth-most among safeties, which is quite an achievement considering he only took over the starting role in October.
The Cardinals are blessed with an extremely versatile young strong safety in Budda Baker. He is rangy enough to play deep but is expected play more near the line of scrimmage in 2018. Free safety Antoine Bethea had an unexpected 2017 renaissance with nine breakups and five pass deflections. Tre Boston, who had five picks last year, was signed to a one-year deal and could prove an astute capture. The 26-year-old will look to eat into Bethea’s snaps and earn a long-term contract.
San Francisco’s has huge amounts of safety potential. Adrian Colbert started seven games following an injury to Ward and displayed remarkable range, physicality and a nose for the ball. He will start as the single-high while the box strong safety role will be occupied by Jaquiski Tartt. Tartt’s play prior to a season-ending injury earned him an extension and led to Eric Reid‘s exit. Ward and Reed’s versatility again comes into play here.
Earl Thomas‘ holdout in Seattle continues and as long as he is away from the team, the Seahawks safeties look very vulnerable. Bradley McDougald is a solid replacement for Kam Chancellor, while Tedric Thompson will need to step into Thomas’ sizeable shoes should he not return. Delano Hill backs him up at a position filled by unproven players for Seattle.
Special Teams
The Best: Los Angeles Rams
The Rest: San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals
Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein, punter Johnny Hekker, returner Pharoh Cooper and long snapper Jake McQuaide all made the Pro Bowl in 2017. That speaks to the quality of the best special teams unit in the NFL.
Zuerlein was the only reason 49ers kicker Robbie Gould was not elected to the Pro Bowl. He missed only two field goals and was perfect from 50-plus yards. Bradley Pinion has yet to justify the 2015 fifth-round pick spent on him. The Niners do, however, have a very strong kick and punt coverage unit. They will look to Dante Pettis and D.J. Reed to improve the return game.
Sebastian Janikowski is the man selected to fix the Seahawks kicking game. Fifth-round pick and Ray Guy Award winner Michael Dickson should help them flip field position on a regular basis.
Arizona’s special teams unit was again one of the worst in the NFL last year. Phil Dawson missed eight field goals and, though his fellow former 49er Andy Lee remains extremely reliable, the Cardinals finished 27th in net punting. Christian Kirk and T.J. Logan will be relied on to add some spark to the return game.
Coaching
The Best: Los Angeles Rams
The Rest: San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals
The combination of Sean McVay and Phillips is perhaps the best coaching pairing in the NFL. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is still ahead of McVay in the realm of offensive minds in the eyes of many. However, Robert Saleh’s defense will need to make strides for the Niners to keep pace with the Rams.
There is no doubting Pete Carroll knows how to motivate players, but the hiring of Brian Schottenheimer as Seahawks offensive coordinator is a puzzling one. Defensive coordinator Ken Norton had little in the way of success in Oakland.
New Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks is the only rookie coach in this division. He could vault up the rankings if Al Holcomb can make the most of a talented defensive group and the highly respected Mike McCoy gets the offense going.
Be sure to take a look at LWOPF’s breakdown of the offenses in the NFC West.
