The way it looks right now, the Seahawks should have no trouble mowing through their so-called competition in the NFC West. They are just too talented of a team, barring an onslaught of injuries, to not win this division. The Arizona Cardinals are receiving a lot of hype at this point of the preseason, but I just don't think they have the players in the trenches to get the job done.
Assuming disaster doesn't strike the 'Hawks, here's how I see the division panning out:
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks already have two strikes against them headed into the 2006 NFL season. Actually, curses is a more appropriate term. If you believe in that type of thing, the Seahawks are facing an uphill battle this year. First, they're the last team to lose a Super Bowl. A glance at recent history shows that teams haven't faired well the season following a Super Bowl loss.
Then there's the Madden jinx associated with the popular video game series. The game's cover boys have an uncanny history of suffering serious injuries, and this year's version sports the image of league MVP Shaun Alexander. So Seahawks fans, toss a little salt over your shoulder and knock on wood if you subscribe to the curse theory.
If you don't buy that hocus pocus, the club once again looks very solid on paper, with not a lot of competition in the division. Read more...
Arizona Cardinals
For the second year in a row, the Arizona Cardinals are one of the trendy from-cellar-dweller-to-riches picks. However, I'm not inclined to buy into that theory for a second year in a row until I see some improvement from their offensive line. Yes, picking up RB Edgerrin James is a huge shot in the arm for a horrible running game, and the passing game is loaded with the weapons that could lift this unit among the most explosive offenses in the league. But if Warner, who has developed a tendency to hold the ball too long, doesn't have time to find those weapons, and if James doesn't have any holes to run through, they won't have the consistency needed to reach double-digit wins.
I do like what the Cardinals are doing on defense, and they could start to show some success from their building efforts on that side of the ball this year. However, I think they are still maybe another year of development away from joining the better defenses in the league. Overall, the Cardinals could crack the .500 mark, but I don't see them seriously challenging the Seahawks in the NFC West, nor do I see them getting beyond maybe a token appearance in the playoffs. Read more...
St. Louis Rams
Where does The Greatest Show on Turf, also known as the St. Louis Rams, go from here? Mike Martz may be gone, but that doesn't mean the offensive fireworks left with him. They still have QB Marc Bulger, along with veteran receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce. And the club's newest head coach, Scott Linehan, is no slouch either when it comes to the offensive Xs and Os. In fact, Linehan was the offensive coordinator behind the explosive offenses of the Minnesota Vikings in recent years, so he does know how to air it out.
The Rams do have their shortcomings, however, and plenty of them. Many of which are associated with the defense. And with the new coaching staff comes a big transition, so the Rams might have to take a step back this season before getting things going in the right direction again. Read more...
San Francisco 49ers
Last season the San Francisco 49ers were a downright pitiful team. And in my view, the only chance this team has of making the playoffs is if they buy tickets. This team is so full of holes, SpongeBob is jealous. There are so many questions associated with this squad, it's tough to decide where to begin.
Quarterback Alex Smith, who tossed all of one TD pass last year, has has shown a pulse in the preseason, but he lacks playmakers around him. Wide receiver Antonio Bryant was a nice addition, as was rookie tight end Vernon Davis, but the team let Brandon Lloyd walk. Right now Arnaz Battle is the No. 2 guy on the outside, with guys like Bryan Gilmore, Rasheed Marshall, and rookie Brandon Williams behind him on the depth chart.
If you asked, "who?," you're not alone.
The 49ers also still lack depth on the offensive line. And don't even get me started on their secondary, which could be a huge liability this year. Best case scenario? 49ers win six games this year... and that's being generous! Read more...
