NFC West Preview
Kristian Wiles
September 11, 2009
Posted under Arizona Cardinals, NFC West, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams
Arizona Cardinals
Summary: The Cards stumbled into the playoffs last year and then pulled off a miraculous finish nearly stealing the Super Bowl away from Pittsburgh. The players and coaching staff on this team say that they have turned a corner as a franchise and expect to win again. Those of us on the outside aren’t as confident. Kurt Warner is a year older but still looks to have command under center and the rest of the team is mostly intact. Despite the new confidence in Arizona, Seattle is returning players from injury, San Francisco is improving under Singletary, and the Cardinals are still the Cardinals.
Who to Watch: The big questions for the Cardinals are at offensive line and running back. The line had problems last year protecting Warner and opening holes for the running game. This is still an issue for the defending NFC champs as their QB is a year older and they no longer have the experience at the RB position with Edgerrin James leaving for Seattle. RBs Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells are both big question marks for consistency and durability over an entire season but together could be a productive duo to balance a ‘throw first’ offense.
Fantasy: QB Kurt Warner looks to have figured it out and will produce as long as the offensive line can continue to protect him from the pass rush. His receiving core continues to be one of the best in the NFL with both Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin as great picks at wide receiver. They will put up big yards, catches, and TDs as the 1st options for the Cardinals offense.
Projected Finish: 8-8, 2nd in the division
San Francisco 49ers
Summary: It’s getting crowded on the Mike Singletary bandwagon. As the sexy pick in the NFC West this season the 49ers are feeling the pressure mounting. The team is improving but might fall short of huge success this season with missing pieces at QB and WR. Either way, Singletary will have a competitive team on the field that hits hard and plays with respect for the game.
Who to Watch: The biggest story in San Francisco this offseason is the will he/won’t he saga between the 49er organization and 1st round draft pick Michael Crabtree. The receiver has said that he is prepared to sit out the entire season and re-enter the draft next year if he doesn’t get the contract he deserves. That statement seems to indicate that he might be unhappy with the contact and the team that picked him. If he signs and joins the team, I don’t see Singletary using him much this year. It’s not his style to reward bad behavior.
Fantasy: This is pretty simple. The team’s best pick is RB Frank Gore who should have a big year with a run first approach and rookie Glen Coffee to spell him. QB Shaun Hill would be one of my last picks at the position. He has a good record thus far but doesn’t seem to be a guy who will put up numbers.
Projected Finish: 7-9, 3rd in the division
Seattle Seahawks
Summary: The Seahawks were victims of injuries last season and finished looking up at the Cardinals in the division they had dominated for several years prior to 2008. They have their QB back, a big name receiver in T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and a new motivated head coach in Jim Mora. All of this could mean another NFC West title but many are predicting another disappointing year in Seattle.
Who to Watch: Much like the Cardinals, the Seahawks have to solidify their running game. The offensive line is showing signs of wear with the reliable T Walter Jones recovering from a nagging knee injury. Julius Jones had limited success last year and must improve to remain the first option in the backfield. The newest Seahawk, Edgerrin James, is clearly in the last segment of his career but has shown some fire in the preseason.
Fantasy: Matt Hasselbeck has all the weapons in place to be successful throwing the ball. The big concern is whether this offense will be one dimensional or more balanced as it was in past years. Look for WR Houshmandzadeh to have a typical year of about 90 catches, 1,000 yards, and 7 TDs. Stay away from the Seattle running backs until the late rounds of your draft because of the questions about the personnel at RB and O-line.
Projected Finish: 9-7, 1st in the division
St. Louis Rams
Summary: The Rams have been a disappointing franchise in the rebuilding phase for the last 2 or 3 years. It doesn’t look like St. Louis is moving to the “winning phase” any time soon. This has to be disappointing to a city of fans that see their former MVP QB playing in the Super Bowl for Arizona. Look for the Rams to have another tough year and for the fans to become impatient.
Who to Watch: QB Marc Bulger has flown under the radar as an under-achiever because the Rams have struggled for the last few seasons. What the analysts that sit around the half tables on ESPN have failed to point out is the Bulger is part of that. He has thrown more INTs then TDs for two straight seasons which mean that he is forcing it more often then he should and making poor decisions. The nine year veteran needs help to win this season but should start by helping himself and reducing his turnovers.
Fantasy: Bulger is going to be under the gun this year to produce. He will have many opportunities to come from behind by throwing the ball all over the field. Look for respectable TD totals with a similar number of INTs. Stephen Jackson is one of the most gifted runners in the league but has played only 12 of 16 games for two straight seasons. He will put up 1,000 yards and 5-8 TDs but will he be around all season?
Projected Finish: 5-11, 4th in the division
