NFC West
Seattle Seahawks (Last Year: 9-7).
Major Additions:
WR Joe Jurevicius, WR Jerome Pathon, OT Ray Willis, C Chris Spencer, DE Bryce Fisher, DT Chartric Darby, OLB Jamie Sharper, OLB Kevin Bentley, MLB Lofa Tatapu, CB Andre Dyson, CB Kelly Herndon.
Major Subtractions:
FB Heath Evans, WR Koren Robinson, WR Jerry Rice, G Chris Terry, DE Chike Okeafor, OLB Anthony Simmons, OLB Chad Brown, CB Ken Lucas, CB Bobby Taylor, S Damien Robinson.
Offense This Year: The Seahawks have the potential to have one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. They scored more than 26 points on six different occasions in 2004. They possess one of the best offensive lines in the league, behemoth running back Shaun Alexander, who rushed for 1,696 yards last season, and Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. However, a lack of consistency has plagued Seattle, ultimately leading to their demise to the St. Louis Rams in the playoffs. While the Seahawks are capable of lighting up the scoreboard, they are also known to disappear entirely. Their offense scored 17 or less points five times in 2004. Often brilliant, Hasselbeck will have a game where he connects on just 14 of 41 passes for 187 yards and four interceptions. The result? A 25-17 loss to Arizona. Hasselbeck isn't the lone Seahawk to blame. The receivers -- Koren Robinson, Darrell Jackson and Bobby Engram -- led the league in dropped passes for the second consecutive season in 2004. As a result, Robinson has been cut and Jackson is on thin ice. Seattle signed Jerome Pathon and Joe Jurevicius, but neither is capable of complementing Jackson as a second receiver. Alexander cannot escape blame either -- the league's second-leading rusher has been known to fumble at inopportune moments.
Defense This Year: Seattle was ranked 12th against the run in 2003, but lost their top three defensive tackles. They consequently were ranked 23rd last season, surrendering a pitiful 4.5 yards per carry to opponents. The Seahawks have done little to improve their run defense. Actually, they could even be worse in 2005. Defensive tackles Cedric Woodard and Rashad Moore are among the league's worst duos, while disappointing second-year Marcus Tubbs has yet to crack the starting lineup. Middle linebacker Niko Koutovides continues the lack-of-talent theme the Seahawks have in the middle of their defense. Gone from last year's team are Pro Bowl linebackers Chad Brown and Anthony Simmons. While the former was frequently injured and the latter was a cancer, Seattle didn't exactly find worthy replacements for them. They did sign Jamie Sharper, a key piece of the outstanding 2000 Baltimore Ravens defense, but Sharper is 30 and was cut by Houston because he lost some of his speed. The other outside linebacker is D.D. Lewis. Who? Exactly. The Seahawks defense should have success against the pass when they play most teams. Defensive ends Grant Wistrom and Bryce Fisher will be able to pressure the quarterback, allowing the starting defensive backs -- Andre Dyson, Marcus Trufant, Ken Hamlin and Michael Boulware -- to make plays. However, Seattle will continue to get burnt by the Rams, because they have absolutely no depth in their secondary beyond Kelly Herndon. The Rams' third and fourth wide receivers burnt Seattle's secondary in every game of St. Louis' three-game sweep over the Seahawks.
Schedule and Intangibles: The biggest question Seattle is facing this year is whether or not they can finally beat the Rams. They have been collecting savvy veterans who want to win, but Mike Holmgren is an overrated coach, whom I do not trust to overcome adversity... Seattle has one of the best kickers in the NFL. Josh Brown connected on 23 of 25 field goals in 2004. However, special teams did not produce a touchdown. That has to change... While the Seahawks were 8-0 at home in 2003, any sort of home-field advantage dissipated in 2004. They were only 5-3 at Seahawks Stadium... Seattle's first-place finish has granted them a first-place schedule, which features taxing non-divisional contests against Jacksonville, Indianapolis, Atlanta and Philadelphia. The final game of the season, a Jan. 1 battle at Lambeau Field, could decide whether or not the Seahawks qualify for the playoffs.
Additional Reading: Why Mike Holmgren could be to blame for Shaun Alexander's holdout.
Analysis: Seattle is a team with some holes on defense. They have a lot of adversity to overcome, but they also have the luxury of playing in the worst division in football.
Projection: 9-7 (1st in the NFC West).
Arizona Cardinals (Last Year: 6-10).
Major Additions:
QB Kurt Warner, RB J.J. Arrington, WR Charles Lee, OT Oliver Ross, G Elton Brown, DE Chike Okeafor, OLB Darryl Blackstock, MLB Orlando Huff, CB Antrel Rolle, CB Eric Green, S Robert Griffith, S Ernest Shazor.
Major Subtractions:
QB Shaun King, RB Emmitt Smith, WR Karl Williams, TE Freddie Jones, OT Anthony Clement, OT L.J. Shelton, G Cameron Spikes, DT Wendell Bryant, OLB Raynoch Thompson, OLB LeVar Woods, MLB Ronald McKinnon, CB Renaldo Hill, S Michael Stone.
Offense This Year: Like him or not, Kurt Warner is now the starting quarterback of the Cardinals. Warner was 5-4 with the Giants last season, throwing for 2,054 yards and six touchdowns in nine starts. Warner's greatest challenge has always been taking care of the football. He was flawless in his first three starts, but finished the season with four interceptions and three fumbles. Arizona's offensive line will have to protect the 34-year-old from creating turnovers. The Cardinals' offensive line is solid outside with offensive tackles Leonard Davis and Oliver Ross. However, the interior is pitiful. Reggie Wells, Alex Stepanovich and Jeremy Bridges currently occupy the guard and center positions. If Warner gets injured or catches a case of fumbleitis, Dennis Green will not hesitate to bench Warner in favor of the promising, young signal caller Josh McCown. Warner and McCown will have the luxury of throwing to a great group of wide receivers -- Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and Bryant Johnson. Rookie running back J.J. Arrington should be able to take some pressure off of the passing game. This year's offense will score more frequently than last year's unit, which averaged 17.8 points per contest.
Defense This Year: The Cardinals surrendered 4.8 yards per carry in 2004, ranking them 29th in the NFL. They haven't done much to improve that statistic. They replaced Ronald McKinnon with Orlando Huff at middle linebacker, which is a very minor upgrade. Arizona also failed to find a defensive tackle to play alongside Darnell Dockett. Free-agent signee Robert Griffith should help with run support at safety, but he has lost a step at the age of 34. However, things aren't all grim for Arizona on the defensive side on the ball. The Cardinals should be able to do a solid job against the pass this season. Bert Berry had 14½ sacks at the defensive end position last year, and he will be joined by Chike Okeafor, who had 8½ sacks for Seattle in 2004. Also helping to rush the opposing passer is outside linebacker Karlos Dansby, who had five sacks in his rookie campaign. The Cardinals have a solid secondary, led by cornerbacks Antrel Rolle and David Macklin, and strong safety Adrian Wilson. Arizona also has depth in their secondary -- Eric Green, Robert Tate, Ifeanyi Ohalete and Ernest Shazor are as deep as they go in the NFC West.
Schedule and Intangibles: Arizona has developed quite a homefield advantage the previous two seasons. They were able to defeat Minnesota, Cincinnati and Green Bay in 2003, and they took down New Orleans, Seattle, St. Louis and the New York Giants last year... The Cardinals failed to return a punt or a kickoff for a touchdown, which has to change if they want to win the division... Arizona has a balanced schedule in 2005. The NFC West is weak, and so are some of their non-divisional foes. The Cardinals will play Tennessee, Washington and Houston. However, they also must battle Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Carolina and Detroit.
Additional Reading: The Cardinals and 49ers will play a regular season game Oct. 2 in Mexico City.
Analysis: Arizona plays in the worst division in the NFL, so they have a chance to make the playoffs by winning the NFC West. If they can split with Seattle and St. Louis again and beat San Francisco twice, the Cardinals have a legitimate shot. Warner must keep his turnovers to a minimum.
Projection: 8-8 (2nd in the NFC West).
St. Louis Rams (Last Year: 8-8).
Major Additions:
G Rex Tucker, TE Roland Williams, OT Alex Barron, OT Matt Willig, G Richie Incognito, DT John Parella, OLB Chris Claiborne, OLB Dexter Coakley, CB Ronald Bartell Jr., CB Corey Ivy, S Michael Stone, S O.J. Atogwe, S Michael Hawthorne.
Major Subtractions:
QB Chris Chandler, TE Cameron Cleeland, OT Kyle Turley, G Tom Nutten, G Matt Lehr, DE Bryce Fisher, DE Jay Williams, OLB Tommy Polley, CB Rich Coady, S Aeneas Williams, S Antuan Edwards, S Zack Bronson.
Offense This Year: The Greatest Show on Turf. St. Louis is known for their high-octane offense, prolific passing attack and their ability to light up the scoreboard, especially at home. The Rams scored an average of 22.9 points per game at the Edward Jones Dome last season. Marc Bulger, one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, has the luxury of throwing to a great receiving corps. Torry Holt is a top-five wide out in the NFL. Isaac Bruce, 32, had 1,292 yards in 2004. Youngsters Shaun McDonald and Kevin Curtis are emerging as very good receivers. The Rams also have a great, young running back in Steven Jackson. Marshall Faulk, a former MVP, can still catch the ball out of the backfield. There are some concerns, however, with this offense. St. Louis has a void at right tackle. Alex Barron was drafted in April, and initially was placed in the starting lineup, but has since been demoted in favor of Blane Saipaia. Another problem is the Rams' inability to score on grass -- they only averaged 14.9 points in outdoor contests.
Defense This Year: The Worst Defense on Earth. Almost. The Rams have a few solid players on defense, such as defensive end Leonard Little, corner Jerametrius Butler and strong safety Adam Archuleta. That's about it. Bryce Fisher, the team's leading sacker in 2004, is now with rival Seattle. Little had seven sacks last season, but next highest was second-string defensive tackle Damione Lewis with five. Replacing Fisher at the other defensive end slot is Tony Hargrove. The defensive tackle duo of Ryan Pickett and Jimmy Kennedy could even be worse than Seattle's, despite both players being former first-round picks. The linebacking corps of Brandon Chillar, Chris Claiborne and Dexter Coakley is awful. Chillar was a fourth-round selection in 2004, Claiborne is one of the most frequently injured players in the NFL, and Coakley is past his prime at the age of 32. The secondary seems to be the strong point of this defense, which isn't saying much. Butler and Archuleta are solid players, but the other starting defensive backs -- Travis Fisher and Michael Stone -- are nothing more than mediocre. St. Louis also lacks depth in their secondary.
Schedule and Intangibles: The Rams are 14-2 the previous two seasons at home. No surprise there. However, they are also 6-10 on the road during that same time span. St. Louis has had trouble winning on the road for years, because grass and harsh weather conditions make it tedious for their skill players to run quickly... The Rams have a solid kicking game, but they have been ranked dead last in special teams under Mike Martz... Speaking of Martz, he is one of the worst coaches in the NFL, and should be fired immediately... St. Louis resides in the worst division in football, but their non-divisional schedule will prove to be taxing. Opponents outside of the NFC West include: Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Dallas and the New York Giants.
Additional Reading: Mike Martz should be fired immediately.
Analysis: St. Louis will have to win nearly every game in a shootout, because their defense is awful. They surrendered 24.5 points per game last year, and that was with Bryce Fisher, Tommy Polley and Aeneas Williams. Participating in shootouts with a hole at right tackle will prove to be treacherous for the Rams. They will probably not make the playoffs this season.
Projection: 7-9 (2nd in the NFC West).
San Francisco 49ers (Last Year: 2-14).
Major Additions:
QB Alex Smith, RB Frank Gore, WR Johnnie Morton, OT Jonas Jennings, OT Adam Snyder, G David Baas, DE Marques Douglas, NT Ronald Fields, CB Daven Holly, K Joe Nedney.
Major Subtractions:
WR Cedrick Wilson, WR Curtis Conway, OT Scott Gragg, G Kyle Kosier, DE Brandon Whiting, S Ronnie Heard, K Todd Peterson.
Offense This Year: It can't get worse than last year, can it? The 49ers averaged just 16.2 points per game in 2004. Their quarterbacks -- Tim Rattay, Ken Dorsey and Cody Pickett -- threw more interceptions (21) than touchdowns (16). Their leading rusher, Kevan Barlow, averaged just 3.4 yards per carry, and degraded his offensive line in the process. There were some bright spots, however. Tight end Eric Johnson caught 82 passes for 825 yards. And... that's about it. The amount the 49ers improve on offense depends on Alex Smith, the first-overall selection in April's draft. Smith will enjoy better blocking than his predecessors had last season. San Francisco signed left tackle Jonas Jennings this off-season; center Jeremy Newberry returns from an injury-plagued 2004 campaign; David Baas, the team's second-round pick, should be able to crack the starting lineup at right guard. Holes still remain at left guard and right tackle, but the line will undoubtedly be superior to last year's. Smith will also have to count on two young players for support. Frank Gore, drafted in the third round this year, is currently fourth on the running back depth chart. Gore must pass Barlow to give the 49ers any hope for a running game. The starting wide receiver positions are currently occupied by Brandon Lloyd and Arnaz Battle. Third on the depth chart is Rashaun Woods, the 49ers' first-round pick in 2004. Woods must step up and develop a rapport with Smith.
Defense This Year: Underrated. San Francisco's defense should keep the team in some games during the early and middle parts of the season. The stop unit is led by Julian Peterson, perhaps the best outside linebacker in the NFL. Peterson only played in five games last season, and the 49ers were competitive in four of them. When Peterson was done for the season with an injury, San Francisco's dilapidated defense surrendered 28.6 points per contest. As long as Peterson's healthy, the 49ers should be able to stop the run. They are switching to a 3-4, and they are strong up front with defensive ends Bryant Young, John Engelberger and Marques Douglas, and nose tackles Anthony Adams and Ronald Fields. San Francisco is also obviously strong at outside linebacker, where Peterson and Andre Carter reside. That's where the positives conclude. The 49ers have nothing at inside linebacker, and half of their starting secondary is very pedestrian. Cornerback Ahmed Plummer and strong safety Tony Parrish are excellent players, but the other corner, Shawntae Spencer, and free safety Mike Rumph should not be starters in this league. San Francisco also lacks depth in its secondary. The top reserve may be seventh-round rookie Daven Holly. Like I said, the 49ers defense will initially keep the team in close games, but once some starters go down, and the rest of the players are tired from being on the field so long, this unit will fall apart.
Schedule and Intangibles: The 49ers were only able to beat Arizona last season. The Cardinals have improved, so they will have to find someone new to beat... San Francisco signed Joe Nedney this off-season, which should put an end to their kicking woes... This will be Mike Nolan's first year as a head coach, so it remains to be seen how well he will do... The 49ers have a chance to pick up some wins against Washington, Tampa Bay, Tennessee and Houston.
Additional Reading: The Cardinals and 49ers will play a regular season game Oct. 2 in Mexico City.
Analysis: The 49ers hit rock bottom in 2004. They should be better than 2-14 this season, but not by much.
Projection: 3-13 (4th in the NFC West).
2001 Season Preview
2002 Season Preview
2003 Season Preview:
AFC East / AFC North / AFC South / AFC West
NFC East / NFC North / NFC South / NFC West
Playoffs / Awards
2004 Season Preview:
AFC East / AFC North / AFC South / AFC West
NFC East / NFC North / NFC South / NFC West
Playoffs / Awards / Simulation
2005 Season Preview:
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NFC East / NFC North / NFC South / NFC West
Playoffs / Awards / Simulation
2006 Season Preview:
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Playoffs / Awards / Simulation
2007 Season Preview:
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Houston / Indianapolis / Jacksonville / Tennessee
Denver / Kansas City / Oakland / San Diego
Dallas / New York Giants / Philadelphia / Washington
Chicago / Detroit / Green Bay / Minnesota
Atlanta / Carolina / New Orleans / Tampa Bay
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