Bay Area Breakdown

The Bay Area teams hired their new head coaches on Wednesday, with the Raiders formalizing the widely expected addition of Jack Del Rio and the 49ers promoting defensive line coach Jim Tomsula. both organizations are boasting about the exceptional qualities of their new hires, it is tough to get excited about either man.

It is common knowledge that Del Rio, the former head coach of the Jaguars, mailed it in during his final seasons in Jacksonville. He was often criticized in league circles for his short work hours and questionable commitment.

Yes, Denver’s defense performed well under Del Rio the last couple of seasons. But that defense was generally loaded, especially in 2014 after the additions of DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib and T.J. Ward. It is pretty easy to scheme a defense around two pass rushers as dominant as Ware and Von Miller, especially when you spend the bulk of your time playing with a lead.

Del Rio will not have nearly as much defensive talent to work with in Oakland, where the Raiders have Khalil Mack and 10 jobs that should be open to competition.

It is also debatable whether Del Rio, who in Jacksonville twice dumped his starting quarterback at the onset of the regular season, is the best man to hasten the development of Derek Carr.

In San Francisco, the 49ers promoted defensive line coach Jim Tomsula to turn around a team that’s biggest problem is an inconsistent offense … makes perfect sense. The promotion will also result in the departure of Vic Fangio, who coordinated the league’s No. 5 defense this season despite a slew of critical injuries on that side of the ball.

“Our organization is excited to have Jim Tomsula leading this football team,” said GM Trent Baalke, the man largely responsible for Jim Harbaugh’s ouster. “We have had the privilege of working alongside Jim for the past eight seasons. He is a proven leader, teacher and mentor, and we look forward to seeing him apply his craft and vision to our team.”

The move is especially surprising considering the 49ers just finished a second interview with Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, who seemed like the ideal candidate to revive the career of struggling franchise quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Then again, the 49ers have mishandled their coaching position ever since entertaining trade offers for Harbaugh from the Browns last offseason.

As they say in the Bay Area … if it’s broke, why bother fixing it?

Rodgers’ Calf Injury Puts Pressure on O-Line

The real question in this week’s Seahawks-Packers game is not whether Aaron Rodgers’ injured calf can hold up, but whether his protection can. The protection was on-point last week, when Green Bay’s offensive line dominated Dallas’ weak pass rush. Things will be much more difficult this week against Seattle speed rushers Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett, a challenge made all the more difficult by the insane amounts of crowd noise at CenturyLink Field.

Avril and Bennett combined for three sacks of Rodgers when the teams met back in Week 1.

Rodgers was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday’s injury report, an improvement from last week when he missed Wednesday’s practice. However, he reports his injured calf has not noticeably improved. With his impressive mobility compromised, Rodgers will have to make plays from the pocket and get the ball out of his hands quickly.

“There’s not that many second- and third-reaction plays like we’ve had in the past,” Rodgers said. “The touchdown to Richard (Rodgers) was kind of a second-reaction play. The line is giving me time. There might be some opportunities for that, but there’s just not going to be as many run-out-of-the-pocket plays like that.”

Green Bay’s offense must perform at a much higher level than it did back in the season opener, when the Packers finished with only 175 net passing yards in a 36-16 loss. Rodgers blatantly threw away from All Pro Richard Sherman throughout that game, a strategy that ultimately proved fruitless. He will have to take more chances this time around, as yards and points don’t come easy against a defense that gives up less of each than any other unit.

The Seahawks will not let their guard down against a gimpy Rodgers. Even on one leg, Rodgers is twice the quarterback Cam Newton is, and Newton kept his Panthers in the game all the way into the fourth quarter of last week’s game in Seattle. Heck, the team the Packers just eliminated found a way to win in Seattle earlier this season, so it’s not exactly Mission Impossible.

“[Rodgers] looks hampered somewhat, and we’ve seen him at his best over the years that we’ve known him,” said Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. “You know, they figured out a way to make him effective, and we’re counting on him to be right on the money with all their offense and all the things they want to do, and if it’s different, we’ll adjust from there.”

Put it like this: Rodgers may not be able to run, but a runaway win for the Seahawks is no sure thing, especially if Green Bay’s offensive line can give give No. 12 time to operate.

Mariota Declares, Jaguars Rejoice

Oregon QB Marcus Mariota declared for the NFL Draft on Wednesday, which is outstanding news for the Jaguars, who pick No. 3 overall.

“After meeting with my family I have decided to forgo my final year of eligibility and apply for the 2015 NFL draft,” Mariota said. “My four years at the University of Oregon have been an awesome experience. I cannot thank Coach Kelly, Coach Helfrich, Coach Frost, the rest of the Oregon coaches and the support staff enough for molding me as a person, player and student-athlete.”

Why the Jaguars?

The Buccaneers, who pick first, had nothing to worry about ever since Jameis Winston made himself eligible. When that happened, Tampa Bay became an immediate lock to draft a quarterback No. 1 overall.

The Titans, who pick second and also need a quarterback, are surely ecstatic to hear this announcement.  Tennessee will choose whichever signal caller the Buccaneers pass on, although that is hardly a landscape-shifting development, especially since head coach Ken Whisenhunt doesn’t know how to develop young QBs, anyway.

The Jaguars, more than anyone else, really score. Jacksonville is now all but assured its choice of any non-quarterback in the draft. The Jags were never going to draft a quarterback, anyway, as 2014 first-round pick Blake Bortles looks like he could be the real deal if given a better supporting cast.

GM David Caldwell might go with DE Leonard Williams, the most disruptive defensive player in the draft. He could also opt to give Bortles a true No. 1 receiver in Amari Cooper. Or he could decide his young QB needs better protection and select OT Andrus Peat. And that is really the point … the Jaguars are now assured that every avenue for improvement will be available to them.

An additional benefit? The No. 3 pick will now be a prime target for teams looking to move up in the draft. If you look at the 12 teams that pick behind the Jaguars, only three of them (the Jets, Bears and Rams) would even consider drafting a quarterback in the first round. That leaves nine teams who — should they decide to move up — would want to ascend no higher than No. 3.

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