NFC West Preview

This could be one of the most compelling divisions in the league this year as each team has made great strides to capture the divisional crown away from Arizona, and the Cardinals look to prove that last year was not a fluke and they can compete for it again.

Lets start with the defending NFC and divisional champion Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals shocked the world last year, flying through the playoffs and losing to the Steelers on a last-second touch down. The major pieces of the puzzle are still intact going into the season as Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald are back, but Bolden is demanding a trade as soon as possible as he has no trust in Arizona anymore. If Bolden does leave, then defenses can now try to double Fitzgerald and slow his production down.

Steve Breaston is a great number three receiver as he grabbed 77 balls last year with 3 touchdowns, but I'm not sure if he can be a number two receiver. If Bolden does go, this will hurt the passing offense. At the running back position, James was finally released in the off season leaving Tim Hightower and JJ Arrington as the two backs with experience. Hightower finished last year with 399 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Arrington finished with a terrible 187 yards and 1 touchdown.

With their first pick, the Cardinals picked Chris Wells from Ohio State. Wells is a power back who can gain those hard-fought yards that Arizona couldn't get last year. Wells should start and Hightower should be a good replacement back, giving the Cardinals a running game to match their passing. In the off season the Cardinals lost three offensive linemen due to free-agency. Only one starter, but that is depth that was crucial on last years playoff run.

On the defensive side of the ball the Cardinals return a unit that really came alive in the playoffs. In all of their playoff games the Cardinals only allowed 299 yards rushing, and 975 passing yards, both ranked in the top ten in the NFL. The Cardinals defense sacked opposing quarterbacks ten times in four playoff games, another top ranking (only behind the Steelers). Karlos Dansby returns to command the linebacker corps with his 119 tackles  and 4 sacks. In the playoffs Dansby came alive, leading the team with 31 tackles and 1 interception.

Antrel Rolle also comes back in the secondary with his 89 tackles, and 1 interception. Joining Rolle in the secondary will be second year man Dominique Rodgers Cromartie. In his first season in the NFL Cromartie came up with 42 tackles, and 4 interceptions. With Roderick Hood being let go in free agency, Cromartie will most likely take the vacant defensive back spot. Filling out the secondary is Adrian Wilson who was a rock last year with his 75 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles. As long as the front seven gets pressure, this secondary will be very strong for this team.

This team has a way to go if they want to get back into the playoffs. The Cardinals open up against the much improved 49ers, a Jaguar team that will be hungry to make it back to the playoffs, and a Colts team that is in flux. I do believe that at the bye week the Cardinals could be 1-2. After the bye week the Cardinals play Houston and Seattle who are still rebuilding, and then go into stretch that has them playing four games against improving teams.

Going into week 11 against the Rams the Cardinals should be 5-4, and then with a easy win against the Rams they will climb to 6-4. Then things get interesting as the Cardinals must play the Titans, Vikings, and 49ers before finishing with the Lions, Rams again, and Packers. I can see this team pulling a late season push again and finishing 10-6 on the season.

If this team does not make the playoffs again I would be very surprised. They have a lot of talent, and it would be a shame for it to end early. The Super Bowl loser has missed the playoffs four of the last five seasons however, with Seattle being the one that made it.

Now this next team is one which I believe could really make a splash this year. The San Francisco 49ers finally have a coach that will provide a stable platform for this team to grow. Mike Singletary took over on Oct. 8th after Mike Nolan was fired finally. In his nine games at the helm of the 49ers, Singletary has a coaching record of 5-4. He was very competitive in games, being outscored by just four points 181-185. In the nine games he was the coach, his team allowed under 20 points six times, and over 30 points just twice.

The biggest need for this team is to find their franchise quarterback. J.T O'Sullivan is out, as he was let go as a free agent and has signed with the Bengals. O'Sullivan was a Nolan favorite but was not nearly productive enough as he threw 8 touchdowns and 11 interceptions with a QB rating of 73.8. That leaves rookie Nate Davis from Ball State, Alex Smith, and Shaun Hill.

Hill will have the inside track to start as he was most productive last year, throwing 13 scores and 8 interceptions with a rating of 87.8. Smith has been a draft bust so far, and I really don't think he will be able to beat out Hill.

At running back, Frank Gore is back after a 2008 season in which he gained 1,036 yards and 6 touchdowns, his lowest numbers in three seasons. Foster was let go in free agency, and with their second round pick the 49ers picked up Glen Coffee from Alabama who will provide the 49ers with a great one-two punch.

At receiver, the 49ers selected Michael Crabtree with their first pick. Crabtree has great speed and strength, and a nose for the end zone. He found pay dirt in 13 straight college games, and is ranked sixth on the NCAA Annuals List with 41 scores. Crabtree will join Issac Bruce in the starting group.

The 49ers are short a receiver as Johnson was lost in free agency, and tight end Bajema was well to the Rams. This leaves a very thin receiving core for this team. Bruce is the leader with his 61 catches and seven scores from last year. Gore was next with 41 grabs and two scores, followed by Vernon Davis with 31 grabs and two scores. Bruce should be the number one receiver, and Crabtree the number two, but that third spot is up for grabs.

On defense the 49ers improved towards the end of the season last year. The leader of this defense is linebacker Patrick Willis. Willis finished the year with an outstanding 141 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 interception. He is only a third year pro, and his potential is never ending.

Michael Lewis is the 49ers best defensive back, and one of the better safetys in football. Last year Lewis's numbers started to decline as he did not grab an interception for the first time since 2001. He has been in the league for eight seasons now and his better years could be in the mirror.

Nate Clements joins Lewis in the secondary, but like Lewis he had a down season in 2008, posting his lowest interception total (2) since 2005, and tackle total (63) since 2003. Clements is a ninth year pro and has lost a step, but can still be a anchor in the secondary. He could use some safety help as he was beat last year on too many go- routes.

Walt Harris rounds out the secondary after having a decent 2008 season in which he finished with 54 tackles, and three picks. Harris lead the secondary in interceptions last season, but he is a 14 year pro so that leaves the 49ers with a need to start grooming defensive backs.

In free agency the Niners lost three defensive backs, which really hurts their depth. They will need to pick up some younger players to develop them. In free agency they picked up Donald Strickland, who in 2008 with the Jets finished with 38 tackles. He should help provide some depth.

At linebacker the 49ers are maybe the strongest in the division. Besides Willis, Spikes comes back for another season after posting his best season stats in tackles (96) since 2004, and interceptions (3) since 2002.

On the defensive line, the 49ers bring back defensive end Justin Smith. Smith finished 2008 with 73 tackles and 7 sacks, which is his most since 2004. Smith is joined by defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin. Fraklin, in his first season as a full time starter, flashed potential, finishing with 43 tackles, and 1 sack. He will need to get better pressure for this defensive unit.

Parys Haralson should start at the other end spot, as he started ten games last year finishing with 39 tackles, and 8 sacks. This defensive line needs to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks to protect their aging secondary. If they can do this then the unit will be very productive.

The 49ers have a tough road if they want to get over .500 for the first time in recent history. SF opens the season with a tough game against the Cardinals. then Seattle and the Vikings round out the first three weeks. The 49ers could be 2-1 after the first three games, and be in contention right away.

After a week four game against the rebuilding Rams, the 49ers go into a very hard stretch against the Falcons, Texans, Colts, Titans, Bears, Packers, Jaguars, Seahawks, Cardinals, and Philly before a week 16 game against the Lions. At this point the 49ers should be 7-7 going into the Detroit game, and 8-7 after the game to go into the final game against the Rams. After the Rams win, the 49ers will finish the season 9-7, their first winning record in recent history.

The St Louis Rams come into the season with a brand new coach, and a new attitude. Steve Spagnuolo comes over from the Giants after he created one of the best defenses in the league. Steve hopes he can do the same for the Rams, who are dying to return to glory. On the offensive side of the ball it is a whole new ball game. Out is Orlando Pace and Terry Holt who were anchors for this team since "the greatest show on turf" days.

Holt lead the team in receptions (64), yards receiving (796), and tied for scores with three. With Holt's departure, that leaves Donnie Avery to the potential number one slot. Avery showed potential last year in his second season, grabbing 53 balls and three scores.

Dan Looker also comes back this year after a decent 2008 season that saw him make 23 catches and two scores. This team needs a number one receiver that will scare offenses and I just dont see them having that yet. So saying that, defenses will be able to stack the box to stop Jackson and the running game.

With their 24th pick the Rams took Brooks Foster out of North Carolina. Foster finished 2008 with 30 grabs and two scores at North Carolina. He is very strong and will break any arm-tackles that defenders try to put on him. I'm just not sure he is the number one receiver that the Rams need.

It looks like Steven Jackson will have to carry this team this year. Jackson only started 11 games last year before an injury made him miss time again for the second season in a row. In the 11 games he played he managed 1,042 yards and seven scores with a 4.1 yards-per-carry average. If Jackson can stay healthy this year then he will get back to his 2005 form in which he ran for over 1,500 yards.  Jackson has missed nine games the last two seasons, so the Rams should perhaps try to draft a young running back to groom.

With their final pick in the draft the Rams selected Chris Ogbonnaya out of Texas. Chris had only 378 yards this past season, but he is a very fast back, running his 40 yard dash in 4.6, so he can be a nice compliment for Jackson if he makes the team.

At quarterback Marc Bulger returns. Bulger is another Ram who missed time in 2008 and did not play well. Marc threw for 11 scores and 13 picks in 2008, the second season in a row that he threw more interceptions then touchdowns. Being in his 9th season, it might be time for the Rams to start grooming a replacement.

The Rams selected Keith Null out of West Texas A&M in the draft to be the back up to Bulger. Null holds the school record for passing yards in a season and in his career with over 9,000 yards. Marc will start the season as the starter, but if the Rams struggle again or if Marc goes down again, I wouldn't be surprised to see him lose his job to Null.Finally, the Rams brought in Kyle Boller from Baltimore to back up Bulger.

The biggest move for this team in the off season was to replace Orlando Pace at tackle. The Rams did this by selecting Jason Smith with their first pick. Smith is a very athletic offensive tackle who uses his height and long arms to easily shake off defensive ends. He is surprisingly quick for a big man. Not fast, but quick. He can reach the second level very fast, and can pull if needed. He will be a very good replacement for Pace, and should anchor the offensive line for years to come.

On the defensive side of the ball, Steve hopes to duplicate what he did in New York but he has his work cut out for him. The Rams ranked 31st in points allowed a game (29), and 28th in yards allowed a game (371.9) and rushing yards (154.7). The new coach hopes to bring a new attitude for this defense.

I do not understand the move they have made at linebacker releasing anchor Pisa Tinoisamoa. Pisa recorded 104 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles last year, his best statistics in his career. At the other linebacker spot is Will Witherspoon, who will have to  be the leader now thanks to the loss of Pisa. Last year Will recorded 72 tackles, and 1 sack in only 12 starts. He should now be the starter as he is the best option the Rams have.

Victor Adeyanju was brought back in free agency and should be a very good piece in Steve's defense. Oshiomogho Atogwe should be an anchor in the secondary, and try to build on a good 2008 season that saw him post his career high in tackles (85), and have 5 interceptions.

Jason Craft could play a bigger role in 2009, as Steve will have many new schemes that will require different packages. Jason started two games last year, and recorded 61 tackles, 3 sacks, and 1 interception. I look for his numbers to increase greatly in 2009.

Filling out defensive backfield is Corey Chavous. Chavous recorded 63 tackles in 2008, but did not record a single interception for the second time in two seasons. Corey has not played well as a Ram, only recording 224 tackles, and 1 interception in three seasons as a Ram. He has to create more turn overs for this team in 2009.