Everything went wrong for the St. Louis Rams last season. Injuries to Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk were the prime reasons for the team’s demise, but rest assured that the Rams are back and poised to dominate the NFC West.
The rest of the teams in the division have no chance to overtake the Rams, but the race for second place is intriguing nonetheless.
What is there to say? The Rams are winning the Super Bowl.
1. St. Louis Rams
Last year was an aberration and you better believe that the Rams-and the days of consistent 40-point games-are back.
The addition of offensive tackle Kyle Turley is momentous, since the offensive line was the reason quarterback Kurt Warner was rocked more often than not when he dropped back to pass last year.
John St. Clair is not a starter and the Rams should be praying constantly that he is not wasting a starting spot anymore.
Marshall Faulk is the best all around back in the NFL, yet his injuries ruined any chance of him having a good season last year.
But this year he is healthy, stronger and faster and is ready to take over the NFL as he has done in the past years.
Expect another 20-touchdown season from Faulk.
Torry Holt is one of the best receivers in the NFL and will solidify that claim this season, since he will finally see easier coverages with Faulk’s return.
Isaac Bruce is poison for a fantasy player, but has big play ability and can spread the field.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Rams have some problems, especially at the linebacker position, as well as the cornerbacks.
The starting corners for the Rams are Travis Fisher and Jerametrius Butler, who do not have much experience.
Aeneas Williams has been moved to the safety position alongside Adam Archuleta, which makes for a very solid pair of safeties.
In the end, the great offense will overcome most of the problems it faces and will make up for the defense’s misgivings.
The Rams will dominate this year and find themselves at the top of the division.
Predicted Finish: 12-4
2. San Francisco 49ers
Last season, the 49ers got lucky in the playoffs to get past the Giants with a great comeback and crazy ending, but this year the Niners will be lucky to make the playoffs.
Quarterback Jeff Garcia’s bulging back will bother him throughout the season, but he should perform well.
Throwing to Terrell Owens is not a hard thing to do, and now Tai Streets is the clear No. 2 wideout.
Ernie Conwell should get several receptions in the West Coast offense, but the team is hurting at the No. 3 and No. 4 wide receiver positions.
At running back, it is the same story as it has been for the past few years.
Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow will both see time with fullback Fred Beasley getting a significant amount of carries as well.
Defensively, San Francisco was burned numerous times in the secondary, but the team is a year older and can now call itself average.
Thank God.
It’s better then the crap they put out last year.
Mike Rumph has supposedly improved along with Jason Webster. At safety, the team has Zach Bronson and Tony Parrish, who are two good players.
The linebackers and defensive line are good, but it will be the secondary that will determine how will the team does defensively this season.
They will be solid, but only good enough to finish second.
Predicted Finish: 10-6
3. Seattle Seahawks
Matt Hasselbeck may have been one of the best quarterbacks at the end of last season, but we he will never lead any team to a division championship as a starter.
Seattle does, however, have some very potent players at the skill positions.
With Shaun Alexander at running back along with Darrell Jackson and Koren Robinson as the wideouts, Hasselback does have many weapons and can put up a lot of points.
But he won’t.
Well, OK, maybe they will score some points-but the injury to cornerback Shawn Springs may be crippling, especially considering their conference.
With two passing teams in the division, the Seahawks are in trouble with a battered secondary.
Springs may be out for eight weeks, and the team will have to count on Ken Lucas and rookie Marcus Trufant.
On the defensive line, the team is really hurting-they are still relying on John Randle.
Are you kidding me? Isn’t this guy dead yet?
Other than Randle, Seattle will start Antonio Cochran and Chike Okeafor, who are unproven.
The defense as a whole is below average and will be the reason the team finishes third in the division.
But they will have a winning record-happy?
Predicted Finish: 9-7
4. Arizona Cardinals
Do I really have to write this? I could just end it right here by saying, hey, it’s the Cardinals, and put up a nice 0-16 record, but I will humor that one Cardinal fan out there.
Are you happy? I know I’m not.
Emmitt Smith might be motivated by the fact that the Cowboys didn’t want him, but I don’t care.
He is old and he might pull out a couple good games, but in the end he won’t change the Cardinals’ great tradition.
In case you haven’t heard, the tradition is being so obscenely bad that they have the worst attendance in the NFL.
Jeff Blake has been doing well in practice, but come on-how well can he possibly do with this wide receiving corps?
It may be the worst in the NFL.
Arizona is looking for rookie Anquan Boldin to be the best wideout.
He is talented, but that is a lot of faith to put in a rookie.
After Boldin, the names that are surfacing are Bryant Johnson, Larry Foster, Kevin Kasper, Bryan Gilmore and Jason McAddley.
I have no idea who any of those people are, but I am sure they are all-pro material.
As for the defense, Duane Starks is a good cornerback.
OK, I think I am going to throw up so I am not going to go into the rest of the defense.
Believe me, I am really about to go to the bathroom to hurl.
This is just stupid.
My boss who gave me this assigment is stupid.
This team sucks.
Predicted Finish: 5-11