Not everyone is sold on the San Francisco 49ers being automatic repeat champs of the NFC West. Will it be the Los Angeles Rams, the Seattle Seahawks or the Arizona Cardinals that push them for the division? The 2024 NFC West preview covers predictions, win total over/unders, potential MVP candidates, top to bottom division rankings, and everything you need to know about the NFC West heading into the 2024 NFL season.
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It's the Lockdawn Podcast Network, your team every day. Why it won't be the San Francisco 49ers, winning the NFC West this season, the 2024 Lockdawn NFL season previews continue right now. This is the 2024 Lockdawn NFL season preview, only on the Lockdawn Podcast Network. Welcome back to the 2024 Lockdawn 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 22, 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/Lockdawn to get started. I am Brian Peacock, host of Lockdawn 49ers, and I'll be your host for this divisional preview. Joining me are my colleagues from the Lockdawn Podcast Network. We've got none other than Alex Clancy, the host of Lockdawn Cardinals, Corbin Smith of Lockdawn Seahawks and Doug McCain, co-host of Lockdawn 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 lockdown, 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 nailbiter to the Lions in the wildcard round. I think the Rams are going to take this division. 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. And 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 kind of the contracts are set up with Matthew Stafford. If you saw some of the offseason drama with him, kind of what it was was, hey, it's kind of a one year deal, a sense at this point where if things go right, they'll go back to 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. So 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 locked on Seahawks first, who's going to win this division in 2024, Corbin? 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 shot, 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 of 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 at 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, Odell Beckham leaves, everybody got their ring, and then they're off to make money elsewhere. So I think the 49ers 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 we'll see what happens in 2025 when it will be wide open. Look, I was impressed with the Rams last year, and clearly they can coach up a football team. And I think even though there was a no-name roster in Los Angeles, they're 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. 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 there be some growing pains? So too many questions for me. And Vegas agrees, the 49ers are going to win the division in 2024, over under win totals, and actually the fan dual win total over unders, guys, 11 and a half for 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. They 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 of most of the year. They've got some really fun pieces of 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. So 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 I'm sorry, but I messed up. I mean, your fingertip was making the more accurate. My fingertip was my brain, my heart, yeah, it was, 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 addressed the corner spot, bringing Tardavius 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 town. 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 this season. And you have a Super Bowl winning head coach in Sean McVeigh that's re-energized 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, Les 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, has 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? Can I push? Is that possible? Can you push a half a win? Here's the thing. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is every team in the NRC West has a murderers row schedule. NFC North and AMC 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 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 prime time 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 win in 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. It's the formula for winning championships. 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This is David Harrison of the locked on commanders podcast and you know we love talking stats here at the locked on podcast network. Well here's one that's super simple to remember discover automatically doubles the cash back you've earned on your credit card at the end of your first year with cash back match. That means with discover you could turn one hundred and fifty dollars cash back into three hundred dollars. That's right. You can put it towards some sports memorabilia you've had your eye on or treat yourself to a premium sports network you earn and discover doubles see terms at discover dot com slash credit card. The 2024 locked on NFL season previews continue 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 the locked on NFL podcast locked on NFL scouting peacock in Williamson featuring yours truly locked on fantasy football locked on dynasty and get twenty four seven coverage of the NFL with our brand new locked on NFL stream free on YouTube and Amazon fire TVs alright guys we're looking at expectations now for each team and what could derail those expectations in 2024 Corbin the Seahawks so what's the pit fall 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 peak Carol 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 gonna 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 instead of a lot of young inexperienced players along that defensive line me Bobby Brown has to take a big step forward at knows he had neither rookies and Brady Fiskin 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 they're not on top of everything else you have a first time defensive coordinator in Chris Shula 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 materialize to a defense they can actually perform well and compliment this offense and just keep them in game so they can outscore teams it's it's hard to replace someone like Aaron Donald with a rookie and even pair of rookies and unfortunately you can't every day I'm 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 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 fire power 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 in 2024 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 the biggest thing that could derail this team is the defense and I think that's 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 guys as you mentioned there were later round picks day during Taylor Demerson from the safety position at a 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 on a Subaru with Tom Brady who was with Tennessee last year kind of had 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 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 Eris and junior 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 Petting's offense and the team could definitely surprise some people 24. Like the direction that offense could be going here in the Drew Petting and I think they got their coaching hires right as weird as it looked yeah with Jonathan Ganon 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 was 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 basic back. 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 Purdy's injury and at you know at the end of the preseason trade lanes was still in the roster for the forty Niners 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 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 even flat in training camp practices with music about the vibes like 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 at 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 it back whatever it is 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 week one that's why I had the over if those things happen in a row if if that whole if those to hold out start lingering into the season that's that's really bad vibes and we start on one or something like that then we might see some 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 that I know the MVP and 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 homework 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. 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 I don't see anybody on sale like I think the Geno Smith is maybe going to struggle if he's gonna 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 Geno Smith in that conversation and I'm saying that from what I've watched the training camp Ryan Grubb 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 Jigma 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 Geno Smith through 30 touchdowns two years ago with a crappy offensive line and an offensive coordinator who I wish well for Caleb Williams in Chicago having to deal with it I just think Geno Smith has all the pieces there I agree with Clancy though if Kyle or Murray is healthy with Marvin Harrison Jr. now those two guys you can make some really good cases for I know Geno Smith's not being talked about nationally but I just I've seen how he looks thrown in this offense and maybe it doesn't transition to games but I 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 you perform 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 at 7th in the league with the emergence of Kyron Williams you drafted Blake Horm so really I think you judge him by the touchdown 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 gonna have is pretty gonna 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 gonna have in Los Angeles and for Brock Purdy to win it even though he is the best quarterback in the division uh Christian McCaffrey you have to break his leg or something because yeah they'll split but I would I think that would be probably Matthew Stafford in my opinion alright 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 it's the 2024 lockdown NFL season preview of the NFC West this very special episode of the lockdown podcast NFC West preview is brought to you by our friends at FanDul America's number one sportsbook and you've heard us talk so much about FanDul and there's a reason they're America's number one sportsbook and they have something very special for you football fans as the football season gets ready to kick off now through September 22nd all FanDul customers can bet five dollars 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 over-unders in the NFC West the 49ers might go over that eleven and a half win total yeah you can find that and so much more every sport imaginable at FanDul just visit FanDul dot com slash lock on to download America's number one sportsbook the 2024 lockdown NFL season preview continues a reminder you can get daily coverage of your favorite NFL team by subscribing to their lockdown podcast we also have the NFL covered nationally with locked on NFL locked on NFL scouting peacock in Williamson locked on fantasy football locked on dynasty football and get 24 seven 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 oh post 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 of the run game anything that stands out you know not just oh I like your good QB or something like that to dig a little deep if you can guys Corbin what we'll go to you first what's something you what flowers you want to give out in the NFC West look I got I gotta just back up the Brinks truck without money and just have roses in there for the Arizona Cardinals run game I think being a former running back and running backs coach watching the way that the Cardinals chewed people off 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 gonna finish dead last it's a 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 the run game because I think it is one of the most impressive in the NFL right now though you got any flowers to give out in the West I'm definitely getting out some flowers to to the Arizona Cardinals the Arizona Cardinals gonna be a really fun team to watch I love to draft last couple year think Paris Johnson and Marvin Harrison junior bringing him in 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 it's 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 of the Cardinals because they're not worried about that team beating them in the standings in the NFC West Alex but flowers 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 Jordy Nelson vibes because Jordy 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 Smellies man and you know I love Marvin Harrison Jr those sweet feet in 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 the Rams so I still want to see it so the flowers 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. I'll give you 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've got to talk conference records before we get out of here as well too so what's your favorite rookie Doug 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 him and Romo Dunes a I mean lots of talented wivers here's but I think Marvin Harrison Jr just everything that I watched a lot Ohio State football in the last couple of seasons and the route running the ability to make place and to see him with Kyler Murray I mean last year he was with with the 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 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 tool 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 so I have to I've been on a momentum of mariners and juniors like there's very few better situations that Marvin air's junior could have gotten drafted into he's not the first option he's not drafted to save the offense it's gonna be James Conner's gonna be Trey McBride and then Marvin air's junior will emerge as as option one at some point he can just be a young player and just continue with the report as with Kyle and Marie Corbin who's your rookie difference maker in the list fire Murphy the second is a monster yeah I'm not saying this because the Seahawks drafted him look 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 was like a squirrel almost like the dude is just insanely athletic for a guy that's I and he bull rushes like a madman I'm not going to compare him to Aaron Donald and there have been a few people John Schneider and I think John Schneider meeting was like I shouldn't have said that I'm gonna say John Randall Byron Murphy's a great pick uh Marvin Harrison jr you know the family business is football maybe since 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 uh the correct answer though is Dominic Poonie 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 whoo Alex what do you think 49ers like the 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 or 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 um I think that the Rams and Cardinals can be one game apart from each other in sandwich in the middle I will give the Rams still the 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 percent 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 gonna be exactly the same I just don't see I don't see it I think they're gonna 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 I've got 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 in the second or third place I just 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's gonna be an impact player early Chenowo Su Leonard women 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 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 Ken Walker third and Zach Charbonay they're ready to run the football and his offense so this is not going to be uh greatest show on turf type thing they're going to run the damn ball you know the truth but I will say that uh him with a healthy offensive line is a totally different player not a Geno truth I think he's kind of a nine eight type quarterback but still definitely he's not their biggest pro I definitely agree with that I like Geno not enough for the Seahawks to win the west though the 49ers are going to clinch in early November uh 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 that way wow let's see that fire this is there we go we're gonna have to get we're gonna have to have this on record clip and I'm watching before every lockdown Rams show is motivation this is what I'm doing man well listen M&M's lose yourself then this and then I'm gonna be fired up for every single show so I love it I may or may not have flipped the Rams and the Cardinals during this podcast on that I have that effect on people man just keep 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 hey NFL fans you can start the season with a big return on FanDuel America's number one sports book Sundays are meant for watching football so when you get a hunch in the middle of the game you can check out the latest stats view live play-by-play and so much more on the same page where you place your bets and it gets better you'll get started with $200 in bonus bets guaranteed when you place your first $5 bet that's right $200 in bonus bets so visit fanduel.com fanduel america's number one sports book a prime members you can listen to this lockdown podcast add free on amazon music download the amazon music app today
