MPL Game Of The Week

To begin Season X with a big bang, we have a battle between one of the top veterans in Sully going against one of the new talented faces in Trusion. Sully comes into this new season with a less talented team in the 49ers, but should be able to get into a good flow early with his previous experiences with the 49ers. Trusion on the other hand has never played a game in MPL before and has very little or no experience with the Cardinals. Sully comes into this game with a lot more experience, but Trusion plans on making an impact to start off his MPL career.

One of the key questions coming into this season is the question of who will start for the Arizona Cardinals at quarterback in week 1. There is no question that the Cardinals offense is full of young offensive talent at the wide receiver position and an aging playmaking running back, but they need a quarterback to put everything together. On one hand you have a young Matt Leinart. He is a young left handed quarterback who is well known for leading his USC Trojans to 2 National titles. On the other hand you have the ex-MVP Kurt Warner. Though he is well out of his prime, he still maintains the tools to be successful, as long as he holds onto the ball after getting hit that is. Edgerrin James, Anquan Boldin, and Larry Fitzgerald are the key components for this offense to become successful. Without the right quarterback, Boldin and Fitzgerald will not be able to get the ball. Without the passing game, the running game would be worthless because the defense would just stack the line putting even more pressure on the quarterbacks shoulders. I believe that quarterback is Matt Leinart. Even though Kurt Warner might be able to throw the ball a little more consistently, Warner will give the ball away too many times for a team to have a chance to win a football game.

Well there really isn’t much to say about the Cardinals defense. They have a few above average players, but other then that they have an average defense. Karlos Dansby leads this average crew into San Francisco. He has the ability to do it all, pressure the quarterback, go into coverage, and also always gets himself into the play one way or another. An aging Bertand Berry leads the front, but the question is whether or not he can still play at the level he was once at. In the secondary you have one of the best safeties in the league in Adrian Wilson and an young stud in Antrel Rolle.

Just like the Cardinals, the 49ers come in with a very talented, but young offense. At quarterback you have Alex Smith, who was previously chosen as the #1 overall pick in 2005. He has yet to prove himself as not being a bust, but Sully will try his best to prove otherwise. He has tremendous talent around him. Starting at halfback you have a rising star in Frank Gore who can carry the load and has proven it in the past. At wide receiver Smith will have a veteran possession receiver in Darrell Jackson and Arnaz Battle who will go up and get the ball if need be. Though they are good, Smith has another target who can be great, Vernon Davis. He has become one of the best tight ends in the league with his unusual speed at this position and his outstanding hands. Without Vernon Davis, I doubt the 49ers will be able to get anything going through the air, Gore has proven to be able to carry the load if this happens, but will the offensive line be ready for it?

After losing Julian Peterson a year ago, the 49ers had a huge whole in their defense that kept growing. This season, the 49ers went out and upgraded their defense. First, they acquired veteran cornerback Nate Clements through free agency. He can become the much needed lockdown corner for this defense. Then, they drafted two linebackers, Patrick Willis and Manny Lawson. With Derek Smith, this linebacker crew looks tough and with the two young rookies, they also have the speed. On the line the 49ers still have Bryant Young who has been with the 49ers through the thick and thin, he is a true 49er. Also in the secondary other then Clements they have Michael Lewis who will come up and give a big hit if not covered for.