The NFL season kicked off this past weekend, and the defending champs did not disappoint with a 16-36 defeat of the Green Bay Packers. However, their biggest competition in the NFC happens to be their biggest rival, the San Francisco 49ers.
The last two NFC Champions will again duke it out to see who wins the division and leads the conference. The twin powers of the NFC hover over the competition, but not at such a degree that they enter the season without questions.
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks have set off on a course not successfully navigated since 2005.
It was the last time the NFL saw a repeat champion.
The salary cap has largely ended the enduring primacy of old.
After its introduction in 1994, only two teams have repeated.
The salary cap routinely forces great teams to reduce themselves to their most essential parts.
The Seahawks were forced to unload defensive stalwarts Red Bryant,Chris Clemons,Brandon Browner,Clinton McDonald and Walter Thurmond III.
Defensive end Bryant and defensive tackle McDonald will be missed most. Their immovable presence allowed the Seahawks to man a 4-3 base defense with a plethora of undersized hybrid defensive ends best suited for the 3-4.
What they lost in personnel, they gained in security.
Key members of the self-described Legion of Boom, responsible for holding opposing signal callers to a quarterback rating of 63.4, were wedded to the team long-term.
Kam Chancellor,Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas have all been signed to extensions.
2014 Outlook
On offense,Russell Wilson will look to strike a balance between satisfying his ambitions, while remaining the good and careful steward of an offense designed to feature Marshawn Lynch.
If the offense is to take on a more explosive character, it will require the sustained health of oft-injured former Pro Bowlers wide receiver Percy Harvin, center Max Unger and left tackle Russell Okung.
On defense, they will need to replace two of the NFL’s stoutest run defenders. 34-year-old free agent signing and six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackleKevin Williams spent his whole career as a one gap perpetrator.
At Seattle he will need to flash the ability to take on double teams and control running gaps.
Recently extended defensive end Michael Bennett will be asked to replicate Bryant’s steadfastness against the rush despite weighing despite weighing 50 pounds less than his former teammate.
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers style of play can best be described as a higher form of bludgeoning.
Through creativity and disguise, offensive coordinator Greg Roman grinds down opponents, dominates possession and dictates tempo.
He stands in stark contrast to most of his colleagues whom prefer the expediency of the pass.
Roman has been lauded for embracing old school gridiron values, but in 2014 he must show mastership of the new.
In 2013,the 49ers ranked 30th in yards passing.
Wide receivers not named Anquan Boldin accounted for a cumulative 34 receptions.
Even worse, star wide receiver Michael Crabtree had only 18 more receptions than starting left tackle Joe Staley.
Allowing versatile second-string tight end Delanie Walker to leave in free agency proved disastrous.
It stripped the offense of a fourth credible receiving threat in two tight end sets, and essentially robbed the formation of the versatility and explosiveness.
Injuries to Crabtree and Mario Manningham also lent to the offense’s dismal output.
Wide receiver depth was a glaring weakness in 2013.
It still may be.
Manningham has left via free agency and his replacement, 33-year-old free agent signing
Brandon Lloyd, spent the 2013 season on a widely panned acting sabbatical.
2014 Outlook
Boldin, Crabtree and Vernon Davis return as Colin Kaepernick’s targets of choice.
Second-round tight end Vance Mcdonald may quietly emerge as an integral part of the offense, serving as Walker’s long overdue replacement.
On defense, five starters need to be replaced.
Cornerbacks Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown and Safety Donte Whitner have all found new teams.
Rush end Aldon Smith is under a nine game suspension for violating the NFL’s Personal Conduct Policy.
Young defensive backs Chris Culliver and Eric Reid are expected to ably step into starting roles.
Smith’s suspension will be harder to deal with
Ahmad Brooks and Justin Smith combined for 15 sacks, last season, and may have to carry a bigger load this years to help ease in a young secondary until Smith’s return.
Roving middle linebacker NaVorro Bowman will be replaced by former practice squad member Michael Wilhoite.
