San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers will now officially return all 11 2011 defensive starters in 2012, and sport one of the league’s deeper secondaries. The 49ers were able to sign cornerback Perrish Cox and re-signed safety C.J. Spillman, cornerback Carlos Rogers and extended linebacker Ahmad Brooks. Brooks is coming off a career year with 50 tackles, seven sacks, and three passes defensed as an every-down player on the NFL’s second-best defense, Brooks would have been one of the premier 3-4 outside linebackers on the market. Turning 28 next month, Brooks’ 1,123 snaps were fourth on Vic Fangio’s defense. The 49ers paid a premium, but they’re now set at linebacker with Brooks and Aldon Smith on the outside and Pro Bowlers Patrick Willis and Navorro Bowman on the inside.

Aldon Smith Smith is ticketed for a full-time role in 2012 after being limited to mostly nickel situations as a rookie.

The only real blemish to speak of is the lack of a contract for franchise tender safety Dashon Goldson. According to beat writer Mindi Bach, Goldson has no intention of signing his tender any time soon. Goldson has yet to participate in any of the 49ers’ offseason program, and was said to have “no immediate plans” to sign his tender. He’ll be guaranteed $6.212 million if/when he signs. The sides have until July 16 to reach a long-term deal. There’s been no indication the 49ers are willing to budge

San Francisco’s 2012 draft class netted some more talent in Notre Dame linebacker Darius Fleming, 49ers fifth-round OLB Darius However, Fleming tore his left ACL during his first minicamp practice. Fleming’s injury was of the non-contact variety, bending his knee awkwardly. Initial reports suggested a hamstring injury, but an MRI confirmed a torn ACL. Fortunately for the former Notre Dame star, Fleming signed a four-year, $2.264 million contract one day before the injury. Fleming will likely spend his rookie season on injured reserve.

49ers picked up CB Perrish Cox, who could still be facing league discipline even though he was found not guilty in his sexual assault case. Ben Roethlisberger was suspended for six games under similar circumstances in 2010, but eventually had his ban reduced to four games. Cox is allowed to participate in the Niners’ offseason program.

Easily a defense that made you sit even the BEST RBS in 2011, they faced the worst set of opposing runners. This year, its a slightly better set, but you can expect them to be one of the top defenses against the run again.

Their secondary got deeper and grades out higher than last year. They also faced the 4th weakest set of opposing WRs and will face the 21st in 2012. Expect some improvements in pass coverage.

Saint Louis Rams

NFL suspended Rams Williams indefinitely for his role in the Saints’ bounty scandal.He’s out for at least the 2012 season. Commissioner Roger Goodell will review his case next offseason and consider reinstatement. Williams received the harshest punishment, as he instituted the program in New Orleans after similar systems in Washington and Buffalo. Assistant head coach Dave McGinnis, formerly the Cardinals’ coach and coordinator, is expected to take over as Rams’ defensive boss.

Their big free agent get on defense was Kendall Langford. Langford will be forced to switch to a 4-3 defense after playing in a 3-4 in South Beach. Somewhat of a hybrid lineman, Langford has excelled as both a pass rusher and run stuffer during his career. His signing likely takes the Rams out of the running for free agent DL Jason Jones. Langford, 26, is viewed as an “ascending player” and received interest from several teams before signing in St. Louis. He will need to master leverage on the interior, because smaller guard and centers won’t struggle to get underneath the 6-foot-6 Langford’s pads if he comes out of his stance high.

The next The biggest name was corner Cortland Finnegan. Football Outsiders ranked Finnegan as the NFL’s stingiest cornerback in coverage last season in terms of yards-per-attempt allowed. Finnegan’s 4.3 YPA beat out Texans slot CB Brice McCain and Eagles CB Asante Samuel’s 4.4 mark. 49ers rookie Chris Culliver ranked fourth per Football Outsiders’ charting at 4.9. Pro Football Focus had similar numbers on Finnegan, although both stats and analysis websites ranked him much lower in 2010. The Rams obviously hope they’ll get the good Finnegan for the next five years.

Rams agreed to terms with LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar, formerly of the Saints. Dunbar, 27, has experience starting both at strong-side linebacker and middle linebacker, and knows the new Rams defensive scheme after spending the past several seasons playing for Gregg Williams. Dunbar is undersized at 6-foot, 226, and lacks elite talent. He’ll likely be the Rams’ starting “Sam” ‘backer in 2012, although St. Louis shouldn’t expect a difference maker. Dunbar says he’s open to playing any linebacker position in St. Louis. Dunbar was mostly a versatile reserve in New Orleans, but should primarily man the strong side in St. Louis with James Laurinaitis entrenched in the middle.

The Rams took advantage of their No. 2 overall draft slot to execute a trade with the Washington Redskins that will provide them with multiple first-round draft picks to utilize as they see fit. Then the Rams traded down again with the Dallas Cowboys to secure additional picks.

When they finally got around to drafting, the Rams wound up with five draft picks out of the first 65 players taken.
One of those picks turned out to be LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers Brockers a nice add for Rams. The former linebacker, now undersized nose tackle, has an impressive 6’6” and 303lbs frame and is best utilized as a space eater in the middle. In 17 games for LSU he only managed two sacks but still draws great reviews for his high motor and work ethic, which leaves people in a quandary. He’ll start along side fellow newcomer Kendall Langford. Long/Quinn on outside. Its a a good, young D-line.

Rams also drafted North Alabama corner Janoris Jenkins, with the pick acquired in the Robert Griffin III trade. Coach Fisher was part of the Titans brass that went all-in on Pacman Jones, so it’s hardly a surprise that he’d roll the dice on a first-round talent with red flags concerning drug use and decision making. On the positive side, Jenkins is second only to Morris Claiborne among corner prospects in terms of pure football talent. He flashed shut-down potential against the likes of A.J. Green and Julio Jones two years ago in the SEC, and should have the opportunity to start right away in an impressive tandem with Cortland Finnegan.

The Rams rounded out their draft with Montana corner Trumaine Johnson, Hawaii linebacker Aaron Brown.

In reviewing the team’s offseason, the Rams had more holes to fill than almost every other NFL team, which explains their eagerness to trade down. It will still be a few more years before all of the talent Jeff Fisher is putting together will turn in to something truly competitive. For that reason, Rams fans will need to be patient.

They should still remain stout against fantasy TEs, they finished second best overall last season and will have weaker opponents this season.

Their pass coverage ratings increase a ton and they will face the second worst set of WRs in the league this season. Expect big improvement from the ranks against WR.

They might not be the WORST defense against fantasy RBs this year, simply because they will face set of opposing RBs, but their run grades dropped a ton.

Arizona Cardinals

In free agency, Arizona signed cornerback William Gay. Gay opened Cardinals OTAs as the team’s starting left cornerback. Gay will face competition from Greg Toler and rookie Jamell Fleming in training camp, but he’s getting the first crack. Arizona’s improved cornerback depth may bode poorly for incumbent A.J. Jefferson, who opened last season as the starting left corner opposite Patrick Peterson. Jefferson was benched by Week 9.

Cardinals NT Dan Williams “(appears) to be in much better shape” than he was last offseason.
Per a team source, Williams is in a “much better state, both physically and mentally.” Williams has long struggled with his conditioning, but vowed to get and stay fit after last season, and has apparently stayed true to his word. He’s spent the past six weeks “working regularly” with Arizona’s strength-and-conditioning coach. Williams will open 2012 with a starting job.

The Cardinals gained some salary cap relief when restructuring the contract for linebacker Stewart Bradley.

As for the Cardinals’ 2012 draft class, they selected Oklahoma cornerback Jamell Fleming and Presbyterian cornerback Justin Bethel.

The Cardinals did enough to bring in competition for training camp, but it looks doubtful they did enough to close the gap on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West. 

They did manage to improve their grades against each fantasy position except TEs. They do face a very good set of fantasy point producing QBs this season, but around the same level of opponents otherwise.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks are led by Pete Carroll, who appears content in drafting players according to the beat of his own drum. Is Carroll a mad genius or is he badly missing the mark?

The Seahawks were obviously very high on the pass-rushing skills of first-round draft pick West Virginia linebacker Bruce Irvin (pictured), but if he does not have a good rookie season, there will be even more questions about the team’s player evaluation skills. Irvin is not a run defender, but will make a big impact as an edge rusher. situational pass rusher. Playing extremely out of position as a defensive end in West Virginia’s 3-3-5 defense, Irvin was second in the nation with 14 sacks in 2010. The question is, where does he play? Irvin projects best as an outside linebacker since he tends to shy away from contact, but his kind of first step and burst is highly coveted. Irvin does come with some red flags after dropping out of high school, serving a stint in juvenile jail, and was arrested for destruction of property one day after his Pro Day.

Other key draft picks included Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner, who coach Pete Carroll says has a “heck of a chance” to start at middle linebacker. Also, taking Florida defensive tackle Jaye Howard and Idaho linebacker Korey Toomer. They added a couple corners in the sixth round, drafting Jeremy Lane from Northwestern State and Winston Guy from Kentucky. In the seventh round, Seattle closed out the draft with two defensive linemen, J.R. Sweezy from North Carolina State and Greg Scruggs from Louisville. 

Seahawks GM John Schneider confirms CB Walter Thurmond III suffered a setback in his return from a broken fibula. and will likely start the 2012 season on the PUP list. Thurmond was expected to be ready for training camp after receiving a 4-6 month recovery timeline in October, so it’s possible he suffered a setback. He may find himself without a role upon his return, as Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman are locked in as starters, and Roy Lewis and Marcus Trufant will be competing for the nickel job. Veteran Marcus Trufant is expected to compete for the nickel back job behind Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner.

In free agency, the Seahawks signed defensive lineman Jason Jones. They plan to use Jones all around the defensive line, but will feature him as an inside rusher in the nickel. Jones may see some time at end on early downs, but he will primarily be a pass-rushing defensive tackle. That’s his strength. “We’re hoping that we can really feature him in all of our nickel package stuff,” said coach Pete Carroll. “… We’d like to see him as an inside rusher for those packages and then we’ll play him some outside and times in some different spots that try to utilize his quickness. … He’s got big-play ability to him.”

They also picked up linebacker Barrett Ruud, who continues to recover from groin, knee, and shoulder injuries that cost him seven games in 2011. “He is working out, and he’s doing a lot of stuff,” Carroll said. “But we’re going to be very careful with him in bringing him back.” After struggling mightily a season ago, the 28-year-old will need to get back to full health if he hopes to hold down a starting job on an up-and-coming defense.

The Seahawks had a decent offseason with regards to signing free agents, but the draft class is cause for concern.

Last season they were very good against opposing fantasy QBs and WRs, but they didn’t face any strong producers. This year they face even fewer of them, yet drop in personnel ratings vs QBs. They lose some grades against the rush, but also face one of the easiest sets of RBs in the NFL this year.