***SWAMP MNF - WEEK 1 - ROUND 2 - LA @ SF***
***LOS ANGELES RAMS @ SAN FRANSISCO GIANTS***
Game 2 of the MNF Double Header features a NFC West battle in the Bay between two subpar teams who I think it is safe to say that nobody predicts to be very good this year. However both teams are pretty much on the same level as one another personnel wise so if ya throw in the division rivalry factor, this could be one of those times where we get a entertaining match up by surprise. The LA Rams (still feels weird to see) will christen their new/old franchise with tonight's opening game, and although on the road I think that will provide some extra excitement for them. Adrenaline will be even higher next week when they open up at home against their divisional big brother, Seattle Seahawks. That being said, I think the Niners will counter with some extra hype of their own by wanting to spoil their rival's party and start off their fancy new located franchise with a stain of a big fat "L" in the record books. The Rams drafted number 1 overall and took QB Jared Goff out of Cal and he won't even dress for tonight's game due to not being ready for the big stage just yet. The Rams will start QB Case Keenum in the meantime while they keep their number 1 pick in bubble wrap until ready to take the bull by the horns. Keenum is a decent QB but will rely heavily on Sophomore RB and freak of nature, Todd Gurley, as he should. Gurley took the league by storm in his Rookie season after critics had doubts about if he would ever be the same RB again after suffering a major knee injury in college. He silenced all that type of talk immediately and showed that he is just as advertised, but his ability to stay healthy for a full season will remain to be seen. Tonight he lines up across from veteran MLB Navarro Bowman who seems to be the only member left of that Super Bowl caliber defense that now feels like a distant memory. Bowman looks every bit of ready after battling back from an injury last year and looks to be playing at a very high level already in preseason. This man is an animal and I expect him to key on Gurley the entire game tracking him and limiting his production. I also look for the Niners to rely on an RB of their own in Carlos Hyde tonight as well tonight but I think their QB Blaine Gabbert will surprise a lot of people this season while he starts over the controversial QB Colin Kaepernick. During this offseason I thought to myself that Gabbert would win this QB battle well before any of this media mess had taken place, and that's because he is the better QB in my personal opinion. I noticed at the end of the season last year Gabbert looking pretty good throwing some really nice passes in garbage time of some SF games during the end of the season. Could he end up being a pretty decent starting QB in the NFL? He was drafted high as a potential franchise QB for the Jacksonville Jaguars years ago and busted for them. Maybe he just needed some time to marinate in the league a little bit? Only time will tell, and the Niners have plenty of it as a team who is clearly in rebuilding mode under new head coach Chip Kelly. I expect Kelly to have a formidable gameplan in place for his home debut as the leader of this historic franchise knowing he has a lot of doubters of his own after leaving the college game and failing miserably in Philadelphia as their head coach. I won't be surprised if he has some tricks up his sleeve as well and maybe even has some plays using Kaepernick to run some of the offense for his scramble ability. Who knows. This one is a real crap shoot but I will back the home team here as I think the Rams defense really lost some key leaders on their defense in Long & Laurinaitis. While I really like LB Ogletree I think he has his hands full as the new "QB" of this young defense and taking on all this new responsibility. Losing ballhawk CB Janoris Jenkins to the Giants in the offseason will also leave a huge void. The Niners also are extremely weak at CB so I expect some good 'ol rusty/sloppy play with bad defense and will back the home squad here. I will go ahead and say that Gabbert will have himself a game tonight. Not to mention the Rams being in a possible lookahead spot having their exciting home opener against another rival, the mighty Seahawks next weekend. 49ers+2.5
