NFL Preview: NFC West (because it’s never too late)

Arizona Cardinals

This team got hot at just the right time last year and found themselves in the Super Bowl, battling against the Steelers when the clock struck midnight. This offense should still be pretty good, although I think they’ll miss the discipline that Todd Haley brought to the table (read: Todd Haley is an asshole, but got the players to produce). Anquan Boldin (although nursing a hammy), Larry Fitzgerald, and Steve Breaston are all back and ready to go in 2009. While I wasn’t high on Chris “Beanie” Wells coming out of THE Ohio State University, he looked pretty good in preseason. We’ll see what happens with him this year. Passing D is what it is, and it isn’t much. Still have some nice playmakers in the front seven.

Prediction: 8-10 wins and NFC West winner

St. Louis Rams

The Rams need the following to happen: 1. The Vikings’ Favre Project to implode the franchise up north; 2. The Vikings to move to Los Angeles; 3. The Rams to take the Vikings’ spot in the NFC North, and the Vikes to take theirs in the west. Only because this team is just awful and St. Louis hasn’t cared about football since Marshall Faulk was still wearing blue and gold. Steve Spagnuolo will help this squad, but his X’s and O’s in the classroom won’t be able to make up for the lack of talent on both sides of the ball.

Prediction: 2-4 wins

San Francisco 49ers

I actually like the Niners this year. Call me crazy.

Done?

Okay, let’s move forward. They have some good young talent in WR Josh Morgan, who is starting opposite Isaac Bruce, and rookie RB Glen Coffee, who will be able to fill Frank Gore’s shoes nicely if he gets hurt (likely). Mike Singletary will turn this group into winners, although it might be another year or two. The biggest weakness, and this is disputed by none, is at the quarterback position. Alex Smith was just a total waste of cap room and a roster spot. I like Shaun Hill to lead this team to more points than they had last year. Nate Davis, perhaps the biggest steal of the 2009 draft, may be the answer long term. Now, if they could only get Michael Crabtree on the football field and out of his bubble of overvalued self-worth (Editors note: that may be asking for a lot, because reports he will more than likely re-enter the draft…and free-fall). Defense will also be more stout. They seemed to gel late in the year, getting to the QB more as well as continuing their denial of opponents’ run games. How the front seven performs will play a large part in how good that secondary is.

Prediction: 7-9 wins

Seattle Seahawks

This team is one-dimensional on two sides of the ball. Their running game leaves a lot to be desired and they are downright awful defending the pass. I should note that they did cut safety Brian Russell, who now inexplicably finds himself on the Jagurs. Is the league really that thin at the safety position? The Seahawks were pretty effective when it came to stopping the run It’s fortunate that they can (in theory), and should be even better, at passing the ball with a healthy Matt Hasselbeck and the addition of T.J. Houshmandzadeh. I also think second year TE out of Notre Dame John Carlson will help the ‘Hawks’ aerial attack. I think the offseason addition of Edgerrin James was a waste and is comparable to the Vikings addition of Brett Favre. Both are big names who were productive in the NFL’s previous era (the one where Peyton Manning, Brady, McNabb, etc., ruled the gridiron, but are now being replaced by Philip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers, Jay Cutler, Eli Manning).

Prediction: 6-8 wins

Will Brett Favre or Michael Vick Return to Greatness? Come read to find out.