Best Coast Sports

The start of the New Year marks the completion of the NFL regular season. Those teams who continue to play throughout January will be competing for a championship. Both conferences will only be represented by one Best Coast team, as the second seed in the NFC, the San Francisco 49ers. Although there is only one team, there is no shortage of top level talent that ranked amongst the top in their positions.

Philip Rivers had a rough start to his season. Many were under the impression that injuries still plague him as they did last season. Philip is one of those players that will play hurt and not broadcast his pain. He once played with a torn ACL, which is considered to be one of the gutsiest performances in history. Injuries to others proved to be the main downfall to Rivers play in the middle of the season. Lack of play makers forced him to take more chances, thus leading to more mistakes or poor execution. When the team was healthy, Philip and the Chargers bust back onto the scene to make a late push for the playoffs, but falling short. The 2012 Pro Bowl quarterbacks’ rating was the 11^th best, finishing the season at 88.7 with 4,624 yards in the air. The 27 touchdown passes and 20 interceptions led San Diego to an 8-8 record and would prove make Rivers the most valuable quarterback on the Best Coast.

Beast Mode is the new movement running through the NFL. The angry, aggressive style of Marshawn Lynch was well documented by teams coming into this season, just ask the Saints. Lynch ended the defending Super Bowl champs dream for a repeat with the 76 yard touchdown run which caused him to break eight tackles and cause seismic activity. An inexperienced offensive line halted some of his play early in the season. When it appeared the Seahawks were down and out, Lynch put the team on his back, reeling off a streak of 11 straight games with a touchdown and running for over 100 yards in five out of six games. By season end, Lynch was top 10^th in overall rushing yards with 1,204 on 285 carries. His 12 touchdowns were the fourth most in the league.

The man nicknamed Fitz has consistently been in conversation as one of the best receivers in the NFL. His catch radius is enormous and his ability to use his 6’3 frame to elevate above defenders to make catches is hard to fathom. There has been concern about the direction of his team, due to not having a reliable option as quarterback. John Skelton to Fitzgerald has been a connection that led the resilient Cardinals back into the wild card playoff picture. Larry made some clutch catches, like the diving catch in overtime against the Seahawks, leading Arizona to an 8-8 record after starting 2-6. He had 80 receptions for 1,411 yards and eight touchdowns.

By leaps and bounds the best Tight End in the west is Antonio Gates from San Diego. Like his teammate in Rivers, his lackluster start was due to a toe injury that he tried to play through but often came up hobbled. Finally taking time to heal his injury, it proved to be the best for him and the team. As he went, so did the team. In 13 games, Gates was a featured target in the red zone, causing headaches for defenses.  The 2012 Pro Bowl Tight End had 778 yards on 64 receptions and seven touchdowns.

The annual Pro Bowl game in Hawaii is the ultimate clash of super stars going head to head in a game for bragging rights to represent the conference with the most talented players. There is no true indicator about who has the best players due to the lack of defense that is played – it’s straight man-to-man all game. Offenses usually rack up hundreds of yards and post high scores. However, when the game is on the line, then the defensive effort is increased to make a stand. In 2011, the NFC and AFC will be well represented by players who play for teams that make their homes on best coast as well as players who are born out west.

The class of the NFC is brought to you in part by the San Francisco 49ers, bringing eight players to the Big Island. Starters will include Patrick Willis, Joe Staley, and Carlos Rogers who are the anchors of the top rushing defense in the NFL. Willis and Staley were selected to represent the Niners last season. Workhorse running back Frank Gore will see time as back up. A well deserved selection, as he led the NFL in rushing in the first part of the season. Justin Smith has been coming along quite nicely in the interior of the SF defense, penetrating into the offensive backfields allowing their linebackers to make plays. Special teams are sometimes overlooked, but can have a huge impact on wins and losses. Old veteran David Akers kicked his way into the Aloha State and Andy Lee net yardage on his punts was tops in the NFL. Dashon Goldson will be making his first trip as a backup safety.

Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks will also be representing the NFC. Larry Fitzgerald continues to make huge catches by putting his team on his back and helping them make a late season comeback. They will not find themselves in the playoffs, but the Cards fans can be optimistic about what is to come in the future. What is a Pro bowl without a hard hitting safety? Adrian Wilson is a feared strong safety who has the talent to play up on the line of scrimmage like a linebacker. Receivers are punished when the ball is thrown in his direction. He is by far the team leader, as well as captain, of the Bird Gang defense. Rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson made his mark by his Devin Hester-Esq. returning ability. Two of the returns turned out to be game winners or put Arizona in position to win. Second year star in the making Earl Thomas will start opposite Wilson as the Free Safety. A ball hawk when the ball is in the air, Thomas has been compared to Troy Polamalu by his head coach Pete Carroll – who coached the Pittsburgh star at USC. Game changing speed and awareness gives opposing offensive coordinators headaches. Earl will break a two year Pro Bowl drought for the Seahawks.

Oakland and San Diego will round out the AFC, bringing three players each. Cagey veteran Richard Seymour will return to the Pro Bowl for the first time as a Raider. His leadership has been very important to anchor one of the most physical units in the league. Coach Hue Jackson is building a bully similar to the old AFL team that use to call Los Angeles home. Kicker Sebastian Janikowski and punter Shane Lechler continue to consistently play at a high level. Lechler has huge leg with a net over 50 yards; unfortunately he gets a lot of practice. The colorful kicker continues to help a stagnant offense score points with his ability to nail 50+ yard field goals. The Chargers will welcome back some familiar faces. Quarterback Philip Rivers had a slow start, but the team has turned up the volume, looking like the Rivers of old, torching secondaries. His favorite target Antonio Gates will be joining him once again. Gates was another player who had a slow start due to injury but has excelled once healthy and is one of the best weapons in the redzone and on third down. Last but not least, Safety Eric Weddle has repaid the Bolts with on-field play after signing a big money contract in the off season.

The state of California has remained one of the best in putting players in the league. All pro performers will be representing their NFL teams, but will also put on from the cities they come from. Both starting quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are Golden State born and raised and also looked at as the golden boys with their iconic demeanor. Rushing leader Maurice Jones-Drew roots are in the Bay which produces great talent is the home to another star runningback in Seattle. Saints guard Carl Nicks will be protecting his best coast QB in the game. He is one of the reasons Drew Brees set the passing record. Same with Logan Mankins, who left the Patriots when a huge voice in his absence, but proved to be valuable once back in the lineup. Colorful wide receiver Steve Smith has an L.A. swagger to his game and is one of the strongest players on the field pound-for-pound. Jared Allen is from the City of Angels, but acts the complete opposite. The sack leader is a terror for quarterbacks and is more hick than Hollywood with his mullet haircut and hunter camouflage. Ferocious linebackers Lance Briggs and Clay Matthews are vital in their teams’ success. Both play a similar brand of ball by being stout against the run and vocal leaders on defensive.

- Jerome Johnson