As training camp has emerged creating a vast set of emotions of both hope for rookies and redundant routines for veterans, it is never to early to began the rampant speculations surrounding the issue of how the teams will look in the standings come season end. Through my knowledge of the sport and teams, as well as careful analysis of recent off-season acquisitions and losses, I have come up with a forecast of how I expect each team to finish in its respective division. Rounding up the NFC, this update's focus will be the NFC West. The Seattle Seahawks had a terrific year last season. The Seahawks had an MVP player in Shaun Alexander, an all-star in Matt Hasselbeck, and a solid defense which led the team for a chance to compete for the Lombardi Trophy. Unfortunately Seattle digressed a bit during the off-season, losing key guard Steve Hutchinson to the Vikings and having the ironic displeasure of seeing Shaun Alexander on the 2007 Madden game. All negativity aside, the team is still very strong both offensively and defensively (especially with star rookie Lofa Tatupu), and should have a similar season juxtaposed to last year. Causing the most trouble to the Seahawks over the past few years, the St. Louis Rams look for redemption this season after having a less than stellar year. With Marc Bulger ready to come back from injury and key defensive additions in the off-season such as Will Witherspoon, Tye Hill and Corey Chavous, the St. Louis Rams should return to the much acclaimed "greatest show on turf." Adding a new coaching staff was also a fresh idea, and my faith in the management and players of this team makes me want to predict that the Rams will be Super Bowl contenders come winter. The Arizona Cardinals have always been ridiculed as one of the lowliest teams in the league. Plagued by an inadequate fan base and a stingy market, the Cardinals had to do a lot of restructuring to try and earn a respectable status in the league. Coming into the season, it seems like Arizona has continued to propel to achieve such a remark after having one of the best drafts last April. With a healthy Kurt Warner feeding to arguably one of the best young wide receiver core with Boldin and Fitzgerald, not to mention an excellent newly acquired running back in Edgerrin James, the Cardinals may have one of the most respected offenses in the entire league. While such a situation may be true, and while I am a supporter of Dennis Green, the defense is still questionable in terms of leadership and abilities which may cost a few games. However, if Green and his staff can convince critics otherwise, the Cardinals, like the Rams may be in the hunt for a Super Bowl ring as well. Oh boy. After going through these three teams, you would have thought this was the best division in the NFL. However, with the 49ers still lingering around there can only now be a limited amount of laud. Already terrible as illustrated by previous records, I look for San Francisco to have even a worse record this season. Yes they did add Vernon Davis who I think will be one of the best tight ends in the game, but for now especially with the losses of Julian Peterson and Brandon Lloyd, the 49ners will go absolutely nowhere. Trent Dilfer did not turn many heads in Cleveland, and I expect the same in San Francisco with that hideous offense and sub par defense. Expecting a change in quarter back during midseason, I don't expect Alex Smith to do much better as he has proposed (referring himself to Troy Aikman), as, like Phillip Rivers, I thought he was overrated by the media. If I were a 49er fan I would start looking forward to the San Jose Shark's season rather than this pitiful excuse for a team. Final NFC West Season Standings (*demonstrates making the playoffs):
1. *St. Louis: 12-4
2. *Seattle: 10-6
3. Arizona: 9-7
4. San Francisco: 1-15 |
