NFL preview part 8

NFC CONFERENCE WEST

Pre-season Standings

Seattle Seahawks 3 – 1

Arizona Cardinals 2 – 2

St. Louis Rams 2 – 2

San Francisco 49ers 2 – 2

Seattle Seahawks dominate this Division which says little as it is quite weak. However, under coach Homgren they are a decent side with an enviable record at the noisy home stadium. Julius Jones replaces Shaun Alexander at RB and in Matt Hasselback they have a proven quality QB.
So what is to fear?

Little really. They must match up in defense because they are small and quick and they struggle travelling on the road and with four trips East this time they need to get some away form.

St. Louis Rams – were poor last year with a 3-13 record and although a better defense may improve on that this team is stagnating and going nowhere. A good team for us to look to oppose in match-ups.

Arizona Cardinals – are slowly becoming a competent outfit and last years 8-8 record could be replicated if not beaten. They need to run the ball better and need to keep injury free, especially at tackle and in the Offensive line. However, this is not a playoff outfit and wil probably fight for second or third in the division and only that if Kurt Warner scores enough at QB.

San Francisco 49ers – the offense was anything but last year – absolutely dire and so the off-season has seen plenty of comings and goings. QB JT O’Sullivan is ordinary, Alex Smith in the second string is worse and the 49ers have no gun attack to move the chains and make yards upfield. This could be a hard season for them and I can see a change of coach come the last quarter of the season. Simply a mess of a fracnhise at the moment with no decisive coherent strategy. They are listless and opposable.