2011 NFL Predictions: 5 Reasons Kevin Kolb Gives the NFC West to the Cardinals

The NFC West is prime for the taking. 

In the weakest division in the NFL, the Cardinals made the most drastic quarterback upgrade in the league. The difference Kevin Kolb will make is about differentials. If Kolb is starting, Derek Anderson isn't. 

The Cardinals are only a few years removed from the Super Bowl. In a division where 8-8 looks like the likely division winner for the second year in a row, the Cardinals could get a three game bump from their biggest trade in years. 

The Larry Fitzgerald Hookup

It seems to me that a lot of the football world has forgotten just how dominant Fitzgerald was only two years ago. 

I'm sure it's something everyone will remember very quickly.

Fitzgerald's last season seemed to be incredibly overlooked. With the quarterback carousel of Derek Anderson, Max Hall and John Skelton, AKA the quarterback trifecta from hell, Fitzgerald was still able to produce 90 catches for 1,137 yards and six touchdowns. It was the lowest touchdown rate of his career and the first time since 2006 he hadn't posted double digits for scores. 

Competent QB play would've made his season spectacular.

Kevin Kolb brings a strong arm and accuracy able to take care of Fitz's incredible ball catching skills. While the likes of Andre Johnson and Roddy White are getting a lot of attention, look for Fitzgerald to post the best numbers of his career since Kurt Warner.   

Consistency

It's hard to say that Kolb is a consistent quarterback with such a large sample size of games played.

However, the one thing he gives the Cardinals is an undisputed starter. The massive contract he received, five years, $63 million with $20 million guaranteed, says they don't just plan to start him this year, he's their long term answer. 

Though Kolb is entering a new system and has had limited time to learn and succeed, he will give the Cardinals a chance week to week, something that the erratic Derek Anderson could never guarantee. 

Weak Division

Everyone knows the NFC West is abysmal. 

Last year, for the first time in NFL history, a team made the playoffs at 7-9. The division hasn't significantly increased its talent level from last year and to move up as a division from last year might mean a team going 8-8 and making the playoffs. 

Kolb will probably be at least the second best starter in the division, second only to the Rams up and coming star Sam Bradford. The Seahawks are planning on starting Tavaris Jackson, and if you watched the Seattle/Chargers preseason game, you know Cardinals fans must have been giddy over how poor Jackson looked. 

Alex Smith seems to be the starter for the 49ers. It will inevitably be his last chance to prove himself and if and when he begins to falter this season, there's a good chance we'll see rookie Colin Kaepernick taking snaps. 

Kolb is their long term starter, but in this weak division, he gives the Cardinals and their fans a chance to taste the playoffs again.

Opening Up the Run Game

The Cardinals have a strong offensive line to keep Kevin Kolb upright and to open up holes in the run game.

Former first round running back Beanie Wells signed on with the Cardinals at the wrong time. They were transitioning from the Kurt Warner era and without anyone to threaten the field vertically, Wells suffered from defenders hanging out in the box. 

Now, Ryan Williams enters the mix to give Beanie Wells some competition for starting time. Kevin Kolb is the key to both of their successes. If he can threaten teams vertically with the neigh dominant Larry Fitzgerald and company, then inevitably the Cardinals run game will succeed. 

Kolb can bring a different dynamic to the offense, creating a varied attack that has been sorely lacking. 

Turnovers

Last year, the Cardinals' quarterback trifecta threw 19 interceptions to a ridiculously low 10 touchdowns. 

Kolb takes care of the football much better. In the past two years, Kolb has thrown 11 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. While on the surface this may not appear to be a greatly increased stat line, Kolb's interception numbers are deceiving. Two of the interceptions he threw were end of half Hail Mary passes that resulted in no points. 

Either way, the turnover differential is one of the primary indicators for winning games. If Kolb's number were substituted for the Cardinal's starters last year, the Cards turnover differential would have been plus-4 on the year instead of minus-5 and that is most likely the difference in two to three wins for a team.

This Cardinals team is only a few seasons removed from the Super Bowl and they have many of the same pieces. The quarterback position was so bad last year and the Cards still managed to pull out five games. With eight games more than likely winning the division this year, Kolb seems to be the difference between a division championship and staying home.