2010 NFL Preview Part 7: NFC West

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Team                                                                 Projected Wins-Losses (Range)

1. San Francisco 49ers                                 8-8 – 11-5

San Francisco has put together a pretty good team, but not a great one. Being in one of the easiest divisions in the NFL will definitely help them reach the playoffs for the first time since 2002. QB Alex Smith has been considered a bust since being drafted with the 1st overall pick in 2005, but he had a strong 2009 season and is coming into this year for the first time without a new Offensive Coordinator. Smith is only 26 and with his strongest supporting cast, he could have a very good season. RB Frank Gore is one of the better runners in the league, but he has a lot of mileage, and backup Brian Westbrook is no longer an impact player. With WR Michael Crabtree in training camp and the preseason this year, Alex Smith will be much more comfortable with him and Crabtree could reach 1000 yards receiving. 2nd receiver Josh Morgan has a lot of potential, but failed to deliver last season. Morgan will benefit from teams focusing on Crabtree and Pro Bowler Vernon Davis. Davis was also considered a bust until catching 13 touchdowns last season. With Crabtree, Davis, Morgan and former 1st round pick Ted Ginn Jr, San Francisco will have their best offense in years. The offensive line is much improved with rookies Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis. Defensively the 49ers could have one of the better 3-4 teams in the league. Defensive lineman Aubrayo Franklin and Isaac Sopoaga are excellent run stuffers, and DE Justin Smith can stop the run and get to the quarterback. Backup lineman Ricky Jean-Francois also has a lot of potential and can play end, tackle, and he even played some OLB in the preseason. All-Pro MLB Patrick Willis might be the best defensive player in the league, and the 49ers also have solid players with Takeo Spikes, Manny Lawson, Parys Haralson and rookie NaVarro Bowman. CB Nate Clements might have a huge contract, but is no longer the shut down corner he once was, but his return should help the Niners quite a bit. The other starting corner is Shawntae Spencer, a solid player but will get beat. FS Dashon Goldson has proven that he is a very good player and should continue to improve. At SS the 49ers have both veteran Michael Lewis and rookie Taylor Mays. Mays could eventually become the starter this season, but for now its Lewis. Coach Mike Singletary is trying to mold this team similar to the ’85 Bears, a killer defense and a ground oriented offense. I don’t think this defense is quite as good as the ’85 Bears, but it is still very good, and the offense could be as well, but only if it is more balanced.

2. Arizona Cardinals                                    5-11 – 8-8

The Arizona Cardinals were one of the better teams in the NFC the past 2 seasons, but over the offseason they lost too many key players to contend this season. The loss of future Hall of Fame QB Kurt Warner was a big one for the Cardinals, leaving former Browns player Derek Anderson as the starter. Anderson made the Pro Bowl in 2007, but has had a lot of trouble with accuracy since then. Anderson could do alright now that he has one of the best receivers in the NFL with Larry Fitzgerald, but its not likely he can duplicate Kurt Warner’s numbers. WR Anquan Boldin was traded to Baltimore, leaving the Cardinals with either Early Doucet or Steve Breaston as the number 2 receiver.  RB’s Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells are both quality players. Hightower is a good blocker and pass catcher and Wells has the potential to be great. Arizona’s offensive line is mediocre, although they added a great player and team leader with Alan Faneca. Defensive Ends Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell are both very good 3-4 rushers who can stop the run. Rookie DT Dan Williams should be able to overtake veteran Bryan Robinson for the NT position. I’m not too impressed by Arizona’s linebackers this year. They lost star MLB Karlos Dansby to the Dolphins, but drafted Daryl Washington and added Paris Lenon to make up for his loss. Washington isn’t quite ready for the NFL, and Lenon is an average player. Joey Porter was added, but is not the same player he was in his glory days. The Cardinals also lost FS Antrell Rolle, who was a good playmaker, but added Kerry Rhodes. Rhodes is a better tackler, but lacks the same playmaking ability Rolle had. SS Adrian Wilson is a physical freak and one of the best safeties in the league. CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is consistently getting better and has blossomed into a premier corner, but 2nd CB Greg Toler at this point  unproven. The Cardinals have one of the easier schedules in the league, but unless Derek Anderson plays like a NFL quarterback, and either Early Doucet or Steve Breaston step up into the void left by Anquan Boldin, Arizona will not reach the playoffs this season.

3. Seattle Seahawks                                      4-12 – 6-10

The Seahawks made a surprising move this offseason by signing former USC coach Pete Carroll to help turn the team around. Itsnot going to be an easy job. QB Matt Hasselbeck has not been very good for the past 2 season, Seattle is hoping unproven Charlie Whitehurst will be able to develop and eventually take over for Hasselbeck. RB Justin Forsett has been penciled in as the starter and has shown some potential, but Leon Washington has more big play ability. At WR, Carroll has made former USC star Mike Williams the starter. Williams has done very little at the NFL level since being drafted 10th overall in the 2005 Draft by the Detroit Lions. Rookie Golden Tate looks like he could be very good right away, but is currently buried on the depth chart. The Seahawks offensive line is a mess. Rookie LT Russell Okung should help, but if he or anyone else on the line gets injured (Okung already is), their is very little depth. The defensive line is mediocre, Brandon Mebane is the only proven starter. At linebacker Lofa Tatupu and David Hawthorne are both very good, 2nd year man Aaron Curry should be better this season after an  relatively unimpressive rookie campaign. CB Marcus Trufant is a pretty good player, but after Josh Wilson got traded to Baltimore, Kelly Jennings is mediocre at best for a 2nd CB. Rookie FS Earl Thomas could make an impact right away and Strong Safeties Lawyer Milloy and Jordan Babineaux bring veteran experience. Pete Carroll hasn’t shown that he’s a great NFL coach in his time with the Jets and Patriots, but at USC he proved that he knows how to find talent. Give him a few years and Seattle might be a pretty good team, but for at least this year they will have another rough season.

4. St. Louis Rams                                           1-15 – 4-12

“With the 1st pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, The St. Louis Rams select…” I can’t see any other result for this team, they are truly the worst team in the NFL. Rookie QB Sam Bradford will struggle, as would any quarterback with these receivers. Adding underachieving veteran Mark Clayton will only help to a certain extent as Laurent Robinson and Danny Amendola are their starters. RB Steven Jackson is the only player on this team I would consider a star. The offensive line is very young and on its way up, but will not be great for at least another season. The Rams also have one of the worst defenses in the league of not the very worst. DE Chris Long is ineffective so far and isn’t getting much help from 33 year old end James Hall. MLB James Laurinaitus is a beast, but OLB’s  Larry Grant and Na’il Diggs just aren’t very good at this point. The secondary is atrocious. CB Ronald Bartell would be a nickel back on most teams, but on St. Louis he is the number one corner. FS O.J. Atogwe is a premier safety, but needs help from the rest of this secondary. If the Rams want to contend any time soon, their going to need to strengthen their receiving corps, secondary, defensive line, and linebackers, otherwise don’t expect the Rams to do anything, no matter how good Sam Bradford is.

Check back later for NFC South Preview

This is also posted on ESPN.com