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The 2024 LockedOn NFL season previews continue right now. This is the 2024 LockedOn NFL season preview, only on the LockedOn podcast network. Your team every day. Welcome back to the 2024 LockedOn NFL season previews. This episode, we of course, if you recognize any of us here, are focused on the NFC West. I did not write the cold open. Of course, the San Francisco 49ers are winning the West or are they. We've got some difference of opinions I bet in this conversation. This episode is brought to you by FanDuel now through September 22nd. All FanDuel customers can bet $5 and get a three week free trial of NFL Sunday ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV visit FanDuel.com/LockedOn to get started. I am Brian Peacock, host of LockedOn 49ers and I'll be your host for this divisional preview. Joining me are my colleagues from the LockedOn podcast network. We've got none other than Alex Clancy, the host of LockedOn Cardinals, Corbin Smith of LockedOn Seahawks and Doug McCain, co-host of LockedOn Rams coming at you in this episode. We always have a lot of fun in our crossover episodes, talking to each other each year. So this is our kickoff episode for this season, getting a chance to go at each other a little bit. And today we're looking at the contenders, what makes a successful season for each team, any early hot seats, what one thing could derail each team season, win totals, MVP candidates and we're going to talk about each other's teams as well, give some flowers out to the other teams in the division as we enter a season long battle for the division title. So let's start by looking toward the end of the season first. Who will win this division? And I'm going to start with Doug and the second place team in the NFC West from last year, because I don't want to put myself first here, and I do want to hear from some of you folks. Doug McCain of LockedOn Rams, Doug, who's going to win this division in 2024? It needs to be a highly contested division, I think though. The Rams surprised the NFL last season by making the playoffs when everyone thought they were tanking for Kayla Williams, they were going to win five games and they lose a nail biter to the Lions in the wildcard round. I think the Rams are going to take us to vision. I know that sounds biased. I know like the biases is real, but I do think they have the talent. I think that really it's a make or break year for this team. I think if the Rams don't have a successful season, let's say Cooper cup doesn't find it and you have another injury plague season for him. He gets less than a thousand yards and the offensive line gets derailed and decimated by injuries again. Matthew Stafford gets banged up and the defense isn't able to fill Aaron Donald's shoes and they might go for a complete rebuild and that's why the contract is set up with Matthew Stafford. If you saw some of the offseason drama with him, what it was was, hey, it's kind of a one-year deal essentially at this point where if things go right, they'll go back to the negotiating table and move forward with him. If they don't, the Rams kind of have an out, they have an out with cup, they have an out with Stafford. That's why it's very pivotal for the seasons for them to have success. And I think it's division, win and postseason success or bust. Guys, what I heard is what the Rams are about to fall apart completely. I'm not sure what what we should expect from a team that lost the best defensive player in the world. And they were on shaky ground before while they still had that player. Judging by Alex Clancy's furrowed brow right now, I think he's got something to say about that. But we got to go to the third place team from the division last year in Corbin Smith of lockdown Seahawks first, who's going to win this division in 2024? I still think this is the 49ers division, though I do think that that window is starting to close. And this is, I think the oldest team in the NFL now, I saw the graphic yesterday. So the 49ers, their chance to win a Super Bowl, that window, I feel like it's open but it is getting narrower, it's close to slamming shut. But I'm going to have the 49ers winning this division and I think the Rams and the Seahawks are going to be right there with them and those darn Cardinals, look, I'm just going to say this right now. I don't think Arizona is a playoff team, but I think that's going to be one of those teams that you don't want to play, especially the second half of the season because they've got some really good young players. So this division has a chance to be one of the best in the entire NFL. I still think the 49ers, the class, this division, but I think that the Rams and the Seahawks, especially, have closed that gap. And so I could see this being a division that isn't decided until the last couple weeks of the season, because you do have a lot of really good players in this division and you've got some really good coaches. It's weird saying Pete Carroll being out that maybe Seattle upgraded, but there's a chance Mike McDonald could be that guy. This is just going to be a really exciting division to watch from start to finish. And I think all four teams are going to be very competitive. Alex, who's winning the West? I mean, the Atlanta Falcons living in the NFC West since 1998 have a better chance of winning the division than the Rams. What are we doing here, guys? We're just saying stuff. The 49ers are going to win the division. It's the best thing to happen for the rest of the NFC West. I said this about the Rams when they won the Super Bowl that year. That is the best thing that could have happened for the rest of the NFC West because that means Vod Miller leaves, Otto Beckham leaves, everybody got their ring and then they're off to make money elsewhere. So I think the 49ers have the, excuse me, have the shortest future pacing positivity out of any team in the NFC West because it's either quarterback or everybody else. You give them one more year, barring any sort of unforeseen massive injuries. I think they just have too much star power to not win the division. So I just think it's going to be easier for them this year, comparatively speaking. And then we'll see what happens in 2025 when it'll be wide open. Look, I was impressed with the Rams last year and clearly they can coach up a football team. And I think, you know, even though there was a no-name roster in Los Angeles, they, they were able to allow those guys to play up. Part of that though is Aaron Donald on the defensive side and then you lose your defense coordinator, Raheem Morris as well. So it's brain drain on top of that. Jack Robinson, I don't know how much he's going to make a difference losing him to the Rams offense. Both those coaches going to the Atlanta Falcons and Matthew Stafford. It's just a little too tenuous with Matthew Stafford meaning too much to them and, you know, is his arm going to hang on? How long is it going to hang on? It's hard for me to believe that the Rams can take over the 49ers. I love the direction that the Cardinals are going right now, just the fact that they've gotten the ship in the right direction. I think it's really important for that team to win the division. I can't say that. Seahawks, you just don't know. Like first time coach, a lot of young coaches on that staff, there's a lot of talent on the Seahawks roster. How will it come together? Will they be some growing pains? So too many questions for me. And Vegas degrees, the 49ers are going to win the division in 2024 over under win totals and actually the fan dual win total over under guys 11 and a half of the 49ers. There's not a team within three wins of the 49ers, according to our friends at fan dual. So 11 and a half for the 49ers, eight and a half wins for the Rams and then seven and a half wins each for the Seahawks and the Cardinals, Corbin, I'm going to go to you. Is that disrespectful to the Seahawks seven and a half over under win total? I think it is. We won nine games each of the last two seasons with a defense that just flat out stunk and I'm sorry, even if Mike McDonald isn't able to make this look like the Ravens defense the last two years, even if it's a top 15 defense with the weapons that they've got on offense and Ryan Grub, I think is going to be a fantastic NFL offensive coordinator. So I again, I don't think the Seahawks are winning this division, but they won nine games the last two years without a defense to speak up most of the year. They've got some really fun pieces on that side of the ball. I think Mike McDonald is a Wonder Kindle when it comes to coaching up on that side of the ball. So I think that seven and a half is way too low. I could see two or three teams getting to double digit wins in this division this year. I really believe there's that kind of talent in this division, but nine wins would probably be my safe spot with Seattle. Doug, if the Rams are going to win the division, they're going over eight and a half wins, right? Absolutely. I think 11 wins is a sweet spot for the Rams. I definitely think the 49ers to dethrone them. I mean, it could even take more than that. I mean, I could absolutely see a world where the 49ers do win this division. Actually, there was a poll to see who was going to win the NFC West. And I accidentally clicked on the 49ers and I meant to click on the Rams. So kind of feel bad about that, but still, I definitely think that you're new. Sorry. I messed up, but yeah, your finger tip was making the more accurate. Yeah, my finger tip was my brain, my heart. Yeah. It was definitely a little of miscalculation there, but I mean, absolutely. I think when you look at this Rams team, like I said, the way that everything sets up, haven't talked about the defense yet, but you went out there, you address the corner spot, bring into Davius white, he comes back healthy. He plays at an all pro level, Darius Williams, you go and get camera curl, but a lot of moves may kind of under the radar for this team. And look, this is a team that almost averaged 30 points per game last year on offense. And I think they're going to be even better this year. There's a lot of people sleeping on the Rams and for good reason, look, the 49ers, they've been the king of this division for a while now. We know that they still have the talent. They still have all the ingredients to get that done. But still, I think this is the year where you have to focus on the fact that when you have the best quarterback in the division, as far as just overall arm talent in Matthew Stafford, who's still out to prove that he's one of the best in the league. I think there's a world where he could finish top three in the MVP voting by the end of the season. And you have a Super Bowl winning head coach in Sean McVeigh that's reenergized and he's hungry. And like I said, at the top of the show, this is either going to be a continuation of these pillars. I mean, let's need the Rams general manager, call them the wave bearing walls, right? Aaron Donald. He was one. He's retired. Matthew Stafford. He still has it. It's been banged up, but we'll see if that continues. Cooper cut was the other one. And he hasn't been the same player since 2021. So still think 11 wins is definitely very, very possible for this team. Don't underestimate the Rams of telling you. Optimism. Do you have it, Alex, in Arizona for those Cardinals to go over seven and a half wins this year? Um, can I push? Is that possible? Can you push a half a win? Yeah. Here's the thing. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is every team in the NRC West has a murderer's row schedule. NFC North and AFC East is not going to be easy this year. So when you look at it, I could see all the teams going under because of that. It's not the inner division that I'm worried about. It's all the other games they have to play. So with Kyler Murray having and that offense having to carry the weight for a very young inexperienced defense, they're going to have to put up a 30 burger to win. And I mean, you guys know, having to win double the amount of games you won year previous, aside from completely doing what Atlanta did on their defense and doing all of these things completely reshaped the roster. It's nearly impossible. So I would say sevens the number and I think winning, I think winning 75% more games than you did the year before deserves a bravo. So I'll take the under, but just there. 11 and a half wins is a lot. It's tied for the most in the NFL. I'm actually going to go under by a half game. I have the Niners at 11 wins things. The vibes are a little weird right now around the 49ers. As of this recording, no I you signed, no Trent Williams signed. I think by the start of the season, they will be signed and if they are signed and I think that could flip really quick with vibes and you go win a primetime game against the Jets and then I'm taking the over if all that happens in a row and that could very well happen by the end of week one in the NFL season, but things feel a little weird right now and 11 and a half is a pretty big win total. I'm going to say 11 wins for the 49ers and still winning the division in 2024. We're just getting started here coming up. What's the one thing that could derail the success of each season? It's the 2024 locked on NFL season preview of the NFC West. Today's NFC West preview is sponsored by eBay Motors passion, drive and patience. The formula for winning championships, it's also what keeps your rider die alive. eBay Motors has everything you need to maintain your vehicle and level it up to peak performance. 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We also have the NFL covered nationally with the locked on NFL podcast, locked on NFL scouting, Peacock and Williamson featuring yours truly locked on fantasy football, locked on dynasty and get 24/7 coverage of the NFL with our brand new locked on NFL stream free on YouTube and Amazon fire TVs. All right, guys, we're looking at expectations now for each team and what could derail those expectations in 2024. Corbin, the Seahawks. What's the pitfall? What's the thing they need to avoid to have a successful year? Their offensive line has to at least be pedestrian and that is that you might seem like a crazy expectation, but they have been one of the worst offensive lines chronically throughout the Pete Carroll era. They have made some intriguing moves with that group. Most recently, Connor Williams signing a guy that I believe has all pro type talent when he's healthy. He's coming off a torn ACL, but he practiced some this week. So there's optimism he's going to be able to play in week one, Charles Cross looks like he's ready for a year three breakout at left tackle. They've got some good young guards that they're excited about Anthony Bradford, Christian Haynes. The big question mark is a blue is going to be healthy and right now it doesn't look like he's going to be ready for the start of the season and that really lowers the ceiling in my opinion for that offensive line. Doug, what's that thing that could derail the Rams from winning the division as you expect them to do the season? Look, there's a world where the Rams could finish with a bottom third defense even worse than that because it's like we said, you don't know how they're going to perform without Aaron Donald, but also you still have a lot of young inexperienced players along that defensive line. I mean, Bobby Brown has to take a big step forward at nose. You had neither rookies and Brady Fisk and Jared verse to really have a impact on day one. The quarterbacks really on paper are average to just slightly above average at their best. So really so many question marks on the defensive side of the football. You just don't know how they're going to perform. And then on top of everything else, you have a first time defensive coordinator in Chris Schula. So you add that all together. There's just such an unknown element to their defense that we have to see it to see if things really materialized to a defense that can actually perform well and compliment this offense and just keep them in game so they can outscore teams. Yeah, it's hard to replace someone like Aaron Donald with a rookie and even pair of rookies. And unfortunately you can't every day on the Wolverine meme. Dude, just looking at my picture of Aaron Donald looking sad. AD, if you're watching, come back, AD, come back. I mean, yeah, it's, it's pain. It'd be easier if you could play 12 guys on defense and actually replace one guy with two guys. You might have a better shot at that. Alex, it's, it's a new look team, um, firepower on offense, been added, couple draft picks on defense to that nobody's talking about. What's the derail thing? What's the thing? It's going to derail this team off the tracks in, uh, in 2024. At first, I want to give Doug a shout out for the baby comeback reference. I think went over both the other people's heads, but I got you, kid. I'm a player. What are we doing here, peacock? Yeah. So here's the thing. The biggest thing that could derail this team is the defense. And I think that's a, a trend at this point, very young defense, a lot of question marks, a lot of unknowns, but not negative question marks in the sense that what the hell are they doing? More like who's going to step up and how quickly. And they've got a couple of guys, as you mentioned, that were later around picks, Adrian Taylor Demerson from the safety position out of Texas tech, fourth round pick, and Xavier Thomas, a fifth round pick out of Clemson, who have both shown massive flashes during the preseason. Xavier Thomas was only a fifth round pick because he had a couple injuries at Clemson. But you group that together with pretty much a lack of pass rush and lack of any sort of experience in the cornerback room, aside from Sean Murphy Bunting, who's been the league since 2019. Wanna see what Tom Brady was with Tennessee last year, kind of at a down year. We don't know what we don't know yet, and it's going to be very, very quick and swift to find out all of those questions. And Jonathan Ganon and Nick Rallis have been wizards, weird, and just like the antithesis of methodical and predictable on the defensive side of the ball. If you are a talented player, you will be on the field, and they'll just move things around and change the base and scheme and everything like that to maximize the potential that they have. The offense is going to have to carry this team. I'm mirroring the other thing, the other two guys said, but I believe that the Cardinals are in the best position for the offense to carry said team, then the other two, because they've got the youngest, they got the youngest, most talented quarterback, in my opinion. They've got probably the best offensive line at this point, and they've got the best group of skill position players with Trey McBride, Marvin Arison Jr., James Conner, Trey Benson, Michael Wilson, Greg Dorch, the list goes on and on. So all they need to do is turn the switch on with Drew Petzing's offense, and the team could definitely surprise some people in 24. Like the direction that offense could be going here in the Drew Petzing, and I think they got their coaching hires right as weird as it looked. Yeah. With Jonathan Gadden, and how he started. There's no flapper in the hat, and yeah, I'm sorry, it's not buttoned up like that. Love it. And by the way, I had my prerogative from Bobby Brown in my head after Doug mentioned Bobby Brown of the Rams there. That's why I didn't get in with the base. Forty Niners are, I mentioned the vibes, that's probably the biggest thing, you know, this is a team with stars in multiple levels of the team offensively and defensively. And even last off season, we forget that things were kind of weird with Brock Hurty's injury. And you know, at the end of the preseason, Trey Lance was still in the roster for the 49ers. So vibes were kind of odd last year too, and they've overcome big losses. They haven't had the Super Bowl hangovers in the past, but if that hangover hits, I think that's probably the biggest thing that could derail this team. They've still got to flip the switch, and we're waiting for that to happen. It's too easy to say injuries. But more could affect this team than just injuries, and they've got to snap out of whatever's going on right now, because they seem to be even flat in training camp practices with music. I was about the vibes. On the vibe meter right now, Brian, have they picked up? Are they training the right direction? And what is the vibe meter like right now? No, it's bad. It's, you know, players are tired answering questions about other players' holdouts. Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch are tired of answering questions about it, but they don't have any answers either. So I feel like the brand-new thing, either if you trade them or you bring them back, whatever it is, it's got to be figured out first, and then you take that next step, and now you're into the season, and then you're just refreshed, and especially if you win a big game against Aaron Rodgers and the Jets in the week one. That's why I had the over if those things happen in a row. If those holdouts start lingering into the season, that's really bad vibes, and you start going one or something like that, then we might see some skyfallen from 49ers fans. All right, quick answers, guys, who are going to be your MVPs in this division, and Alex will start with you. I know the MVP in my fantasy team might be Kyle and Murray. Yeah, I think the only player, and I don't say this just to say it, I don't say this is not a homer thing whatsoever, the only player that is employed by a team who is in the NFC West that could actually win an NFL MVP in 2024 is Kyle and Murray. I don't think that anybody on the 49ers can, you're not going to give it to Christian McCaffrey, it's kind of a friendly fire with that because there's too many good players. I don't think Matthew Stafford with his inability to run the ball can do it, and I don't see anybody on sale. I think that Gino Smith is maybe going to struggle if he's going to have to throw the ball 25% more than he has up until this point. So I think the only guy who's equipped to put it all together and win an MVP is Kyle and Murray. So I'll say him and I'll say Christian McCaffrey because he's the best non-corner back in the NFL offense or defense. Corbin, who's the MVP of the West? I think you got to put Gino Smith in that conversation and I'm saying that from what I've watched the training camp, Ryan Grub is a great offensive coordinator and you look at the weapons that he's got. Metcalf I think is going to have the best season in his career. He just looks like a different player. Tyler Lockett can still play. Jackson Smith and Jigba has a chance to be a sophomore sensation. They've got some good pieces in the backfield. It just boils down to the offensive line. I mean, Gino Smith threw 30 touchdowns two years ago with a crappy offensive line and offense a coordinator who I wish well for Caleb Williams in Chicago having to deal with. I just think Gino Smith has all the pieces there. I agree with Clancy though, if Kyle Murray is healthy with Marvin Harrison Jr. now, those two guys you can make some really good cases for. I know Gino Smith's not being talked about nationally, but I've seen how he looks throwing in this offense. Maybe it doesn't transition to games, but you can make an argument. He's got as good of a receiving core as anybody in the NFL. And if the line's holding up, that offense could be extremely potent. Doug, who is the MVP of this division at the end of 2024? Gotta go Matthew Stafford. I think you look at the way he performed back in 2021 through close to 5,000 yards, 41 touchdowns, but 17 interceptions. I think you see less touchdowns this year, but also less interceptions because of the commitment to the run game last couple of seasons Rams 25th in the run game in 2021 last in 2022, 27 last year, 7th in the league with the emergence of Kyron Williams. You draft a blade quorum. So really, I think you judge him by the touchdown to interception ratio if the defense clicks, that only helps. As far as the league though, I definitely think that he could finish top three, not weighing the whole league. But I definitely think he's the MVP in this division because I think the years going to have is pretty going to be pretty special. I disagree through take Alex, by the way, about the only person that could win the division because I do think it would be overwhelmingly Matthew Stafford, if they have that kind of season that Doug thinks they're going to have in Los Angeles. And for Brock Purdy to win it, even though he is the best quarterback in the division, Christian McCaffrey, you have to break his leg or something because yeah, don't split though. All right, next guys, we're about to enter a grueling 18 week season where we all want the teams we cover to come out on top before the battle begins though. We give each other some flowers is the 2024 locked on NFL season preview of the NFC West This very special episode of the locked on podcast NFC West preview is brought to you by our friends at FanDuel America's number one sports book and you've heard us talk so much about FanDuel and there's a reason their America's number one sports book and they have something very special for you football fans as the football season gets ready to kick off. September 22nd, all FanDuel customers can bet $5 and get a three week free trial of NFL Sunday ticket from YouTube and YouTube TV. Then with the YouTube TV base plan, you'll be able to watch every regular season Sunday afternoon out of market game. All you need is a Google account and a current form of payment and you can cancel at any time. So if you want those tasty prop bets, the overunders in the NFC West, the 49ers might go over that 11 and a half wind total. Yeah, you can find that and so much more every sport imaginable at FanDuel just visit fanduel.com/lockedon to download America's number one sports book. The 2024 locked on NFL season preview continues. A reminder, you can get daily coverage of your favorite NFL team by subscribing to their locked on podcast. We also have the NFL covered nationally with locked on NFL locked on NFL scouting. Dcock and Williamson locked on fantasy football, locked on dynasty football and get 24/7 coverage of the NFL with our brand new locked on NFL stream free on YouTube and Amazon fire TVs. All right, guys, each host is going to pick, you can't pick your own team, Doug, with this one. Okay. Host picks something to give flowers, flowers for based off something they admire about the other, some other team in the division, you know, that defensive scheme. Is it their dedication to the run game? Anything that stands out, you know, not just, oh, I like your good QB or something like that too. Dig a little deep if you can, guys, Corbin, we'll go to you first. What's something you, what flowers do you want to give out in the NFC West? Look, I got, I got to just back up the Brinks truck without money and just have roses in there for the Arizona Cardinals run game. I, being a former running back and running backs coach, watching the way that the Cardinals chewed people up the second half last year, you know, it was hard to watch when you were covering a Seahawks Cardinals game, but like, I just think James Conner's one of the most underrated running backs in the NFL. I love the scheme, the big creases that were being created because of the way that scheme operates. And I think that's going to carry over into this year. And that's another reason that I'm saying, hey, you know, not so fast with Arizona that they're going to finish dead last. It's the team that can run the football. If the defense is able to at least be respectable by the end of the season with that run game and the weapons they've got in their passing game, Arizona could surprise some people, but I'm given the flowers for that run game because I think it is one of the most impressive in the NFL right now. Doug, you got any flowers to give out in the West? I'm definitely getting out some flowers too to the Arizona Cardinals. The Arizona Cardinals are going to be a really fun team to watch. I love to draft last couple of years. Being Paris Johnson and Marva Harrison, Jr. bringing them in. A big Buckeye guy. I figured my mom went to Ohio State so she loves her Buckeyes. So I think I just think Jonathan again, the fire he brings just kind of the commitment to just the team that kind of realizes you got the, you got the Rams, you got the 49ers and where the Cardinals are at right now, as far as their rebuild, I think they're building for the long haul. And I think the foundation they have in place, I think is impressive. I definitely think the Cardinals for sure. And I also a Kyle and Marie fantasy guy too. So there's that. I love how everyone's so willing to give flowers to the Cardinals because they're not worried about that team beating them in the standings in the NFC West. Alex, what flowers do you want to give out this year? For the Rams, it's Cooper Cup. And I don't understand why people think that Cooper Cup is done. Cooper Cup is one of the most dangerous wide receivers that we've seen in the last 20 years. Okay. He gives me Jordi Nelson vibes because Jordi Nelson was severely underrated with Aaron Rodgers. They had this report that was unmatched. And you see that with Matthew Stafford and Cooper Cup. I want to give my flowers to look, I've got some skepticism with all three of the opponents here in the NFC. Smell these, man. And, you know, I love Marvin Harrison Jr. those sweet feet and the way he runs routes, but I still got to see it. The young coaching staff, I think they might have got some really smart, smart coaches there in Seattle, but I still got to see it. I love the way that Sean McVay coaches the football team, but I'm still a little skeptical of the Rams. So I still want to see it. What I want to give out here are to be extremely talented and handsome hosts of each respective podcast. And I love getting a chance to talk to you guys twice a year and a third year. That's just not good. And leave you at the time. The listeners in the lockdown podcast network, NFC West are very lucky to have you guys hosting the shows for their teams. Guys, let's talk rookies and we got to talk conference records before we get out of here as well, too. So what's your favorite rookie dug this year in the NFC West? Favorite rookie? Man, I've probably doubled down. Say Marvin Harrison Jr. I think it's a chance. I think he is Hall of Fame potential. I mean, him and Romo Dunes, I mean, lots of talented wide receivers, but I think Marvin Harrison Jr. just everything that I watched a lot of Ohio State football in the last couple of seasons and the route running the ability to make plays and to see him with Kyler Murray. I mean, last year, he was with, with a McCord, you know, we called him a Honda McCord in Ohio, right? The way he performed. But to see him with a dynamic playmaker and Kyler Murray, who I think is out to prove that he's one of the best quarterbacks in the league still as far as the quickness, the ability. I think he's ready to reemerge. So really, really excited about that town and it's just fine to see him to have potentially a trajectory like a Larry Fitzgerald where he was just so consistent for so long. I definitely think he has the potential. I mean, a little weary to give guys Hall of Fame comparisons as a rookie where they haven't done anything, but he does feel like a guy that has all the tools to be really good for a really long period of time and be one of those guys for the, for the Cardinals. Alex. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, listen, like we're all fans when it comes down to it. We're all do fantasy football. We all do all that stuff. It's like, where's the popcorn coming from? And where the popcorn coming from and can it actually translate to wins for a team? Martin. So I have to, I have an honorable management. Martin, Jr. It's like there's very few better situations that Martin, Jr. could have gotten drafted into. He's not the first option. He's not drafted to save the offense. It's going to be James Conner, it's going to be Trey McBride. And then Martin, Jr., you will emerge as, as, as option one at some point, he can just be a young player and just continue with the Emporia as with Kyla Marie Corbin. Who's your rookie difference maker in the West? Fire Murphy. The second is a monster. Yeah. I'm not saying this because the Seahawks drafted him. Well, I was thinking this before the Seahawks picked him. I watched you. There's just guys that you see in the practice field the first time. There's like that dude is different. And you see this guy come out there and he's got calves that are the size of elm trees. And he moves like a, he moves like a squirrel almost like the dude is just insanely athletic for a guy that side. And he bull rushes like a mad man. I'm not going to compare him to Aaron Donald. And there have been a few people, John Schneider. And I think John Schneider, meaning it was like I shouldn't have said that. I'm going to say John Randall. Aaron Murphy's a great pick, Marvin Harrison, Jr., you know, the family business is football. Maybe sits Nick Bosa. He's the most ready to jump in and play week one as a rookie as we've seen in the NFL draft. But the, and those are both great answers. The correct answer though is Dominic Pooney, 49ers third round guard winning the right jar, the right guard job for the San Francisco 49ers protecting this year's MVP quarterback in Brockford. Doug, what's the order of the West this year? I think that the Rams have the potential if the defense is able to show them something and at least just crack the top 15, I think the Rams win this division. I think it goes Rams, 49ers, Cardinals and Seahawks. Ooh, Alex, what do you think? 49ers, like the problem with anything other than the 49ers is if Nick Bosa goes down, they can recover. If Fred Warner gets hurt, they can recover if any of their corners go down their passwords are so good that it doesn't matter. Like Christian McCaffrey gets hurt, they got 48 running backs. They've got so many position, skill position players on both sides of the ball at a pro bowl level that if one or two get hurt for extended periods of time, they can recover. Oh, they're just trade for somebody and give up, you know, they're 20, 48 draft picks. So like with San Francisco, I just feel like this is the last year where it's a in sharpie, they will win the division. I think that the Rams and Cardinals could be one game apart from each other sandwiched in the middle. I will give the Rams still the leg up because the Cardinals defense is a year away. I do think the Cardinals have a better record than Seattle because I think the Geno Smith will be exposed this year as what he was his entire and this isn't a slight, this is the truth. He was a back-and-quarter back for the last 90% of his career and he had this resurgence which is incredible and the fact that he finally got paid is incredible. All of those things and I don't think with this new offense, you see how much Washington threw the ball last year? I don't see this offense with Geno Smith being able to throw the volume that's necessary to be able to keep it up, but I know it's not going to be exactly the same. I just don't see it. I don't see it. I think they're going to backslide a little bit and they won't finish last in the division. Corbin, Alex clearly hasn't seen Geno Smith in Ryan Grub's offense in training camp just disrespectful from the lockdown Cardinals. Bring it on, listen, I've got the 49ers and then I've got the Seahawks finished in second with the Rams right behind them. Look, the Cardinals are coming. I think that they're a year away though. I'm not ready to make that jump, putting them up there into second or third place. I do think people are sleeping on Seattle and I think people are sleeping on Geno Smith. Like the dude's got incredible arm talent and he always has and I mentioned it earlier, the weapons that he has to throw to. I think the defense, I haven't mentioned Devin Witherspoon the entire day. Devin Witherspoon could be a perennial all pro. He's that kind of talent. Byron Murphy is going to be an impact player early. Lieutenant Woh-Soo, Leonard Wilson, there's a lot of talent on that football team. The question is, can Mike McDonald get that defense playing to its potential and is the offensive line going to allow Geno Smith to play to the level I think he's capable of? And the other thing I'll say, and this is just for Alex, I know Washington threw the ball over the place the last two years, but look at Ryan Grub's entire history. He is an offensive line guy at heart and he's had some really good run games in his career. Ben Walker, third and Zach Charbonay, they're ready to run the football in his offense. So this is not going to be a greatest show on turf type thing. They're going to run the damn ball. Yeah. Not a new career, but I will say that him with a healthy offensive line is a totally different player. Not a Geno truth. I think he's kind of a 9-8 type quarterback, but still definitely he's not their biggest brawl. I definitely agree with that. Like Geno, not enough for the Seahawks to win the West though. The 49ers are going to clinch in early November. Have a huge lead on the rest of the division. Liners won. And when teams arrive in the NFL, they arrive quickly. Arizona Cardinals tied for second, win the tie break to win second in the West with the Seahawks and a distant fourth Doug's Los Angeles Rams to finish up the Delaware. Wow. Let's see that. Fire. This is. We're going to have to. We're going to have to have this on record. I'm clicking it and I'm watching for every lockdown Rams show's motivation. This is what I'm doing, man. Well, listen to evidence, lose yourself then this and then I'm going to be fired up for every single show. So I love it. I may or may not have flipped the Rams in the Cardinals during this podcast on that. I have that effect on people, man, just the truth and just crazy things happen, you know. Absolutely. For Alex Clancy, for Corbin Smith, for Doug McCain, I am Brian Peacock. Thank you guys so much for listening to the 2024 lockdown NFL season preview of the NFC West. If you want to hear how the other divisions will play out this year, subscribe to lockdown NFL, wherever you get your podcast part of the lockdown podcast network, your team every day. Today's episode is brought to you by game time. Game time is a new feature called game time picks that makes getting tickets for your favorite live events even easier. Game time picks filters out the fluff to show you only incredible deals on great seats. So you don't have to waste time searching through thousands of tickets. 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