Malcom Sex said:
I don't understand how you guys think that the Rams are a good team. We were horrible last year and picked up a bunch of washed up vets to "improve" our already sad defense. All we have is Tory Holt and Steven Jackson. Issac bruce has heart problems and failed a physical the first time around. I seriously question his productivity this year. Marc bulger throws way to many interceptions but I don't know if its because of him or if its because our idiot of a coach.
Unfortunatley I have to say that the Cardinals will take the NFC west. They made some huge moves in the offseason and already have a very solid recieving core. I love the pick up of Kurt Warner. He was a great leader for us here and I hope he does great in the upcomming season. They made improvements to defense and also picked up a solid runningback in the draft. Also they have a great coach in Dennis Green... A proven winner.
The seachickens also made big improvements. They kept the big 3 (hassleback, walter jones and alexander) and picked up some good free agents (Jamie Sharper, Andre Dyson and Jerome Pathon). Rumors is that they are trying to sign Peter Boulware also. Peter Boulware is likely to sign with them since his brother is on the team. If PB sign with seattle then the seahawks have a good chance on taking the division but, until they prove that their receiving core has improve I am predicting that they finish 3rd in the division behind us.
I'll give you some reasons why the Rams will come out on top of the NFC West.
The Rams defense, while average at best, only needs to stop opponents SOME of the time to win. Their offense is centered around speed. Steven Jackson is one of the best north/south runners in the NFL (his style is such that once he makes the first defender miss, it's tough to bring him down because he's always going straight ahead. The WR's are solid, and you'll get positive contributions from Torry Holt, Dane Looker, and Kevin Curtis regardless of whether Isaac Bruce plays or not. If you break down the Rams defense, it's not that bad. DE Leonard Little is one of the better pass-rushers in the NFL, the LB core is excellent with Chris Claiborne, Dexter Coakley, Robert Thomas, and Pisa Tinoisamoa. The CB's in the secondary are a little weak, but with S Adam Archuleta behind them, they won't give up too much deep.
The Cardinals will be the NFC's breakout team, but their defense is not ready to contend for a division title yet. The offense is strong with QB Kurt Warner under center, RB Marcal Shipp in the backfield, and WR's Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitsgerald, and Bryant Johnson catching passes. The problems sit on defense. The front seven of the team are anemic and short on depth. DT Wendell Bryant is the team's best pass-rusher, and he's in a position that doesn't pass-rush mostly. He's a better run-stopper than pass-rusher. That's why they have him at DT instead of DE. LB James Darling is the best of the LB's, and he gets no help. This team's savior on defense comes in the form of S Adrian Wilson. Luckily, he'll have some help from new CB Antrel Rolle, but this team gives up rushing yards in bunches. If you play ball control football (i.e. run the ball, control the clock, play keep-away), the Cardinals stand a serious chance of losing.
Seattle is trying to gear up for another division crown, but QB Matt Hasselbeck has no one of good worth to throw to. WR Darrell Jackson leads receivers in "Seattle Syndrome" (the ability to drop a pass thrown directly to the chest or hands), WR Koren Robinson is off the team, WR Jerome Pathon has gotten grief from coaches of previous teams for his poor route-running, WR Bobby Ingram is Darrell Jackson Jr., with worse hands and less speed, and TE Itula Mili can catch passes, but is horrible at pass and run blocking. On defense, DE Grant Wistrom is the only pass-rusher they have. I will admit they have good linebackers in Niko Koutouvides and Jamie Sharper. They also have a top 5 secondary in CB's Marcus Trufant and Kelly Herndon (Andre Dyson will be the nickle CB), FS Michael Boulware and SS Ken Hamlin. The Seahawks downfall will be their scheduling. Even though they only finished 9-7, they were division champs, which means they get a division champs schedule this year. Games against Dallas, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, and Atlanta will hurt. Arizona wasn't spared either. They get Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Detroit, Dallas, and Atlanta. St. Louis will have to face Philadelphia and Indianapolis as well, plus they'll face Minnesota, but avoid Atlanta. I'd rather face Minnesota than Atlanta (even though both will be division chanps this year). Arizona and Seattle face 5 possible 10 win teams that aren't in the division. St. Louis only faces four. I'm willing to bet that's the one game St. Louis wins the division by.
