So, remember when the NFC West was the worst division in football?
Well, those days are long gone as the NFC West has quickly transformed into the meanest and toughest division in the NFL.
The San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks now form the league’s best rivalry — stemming from two coaches (Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll) that battled it out in the Pac-10 before coming to the NFL.
The Seahawks and 49ers are built in the same fashion – big, tough defences with physical running games and exciting young quarterbacks. No wonder they hate each other so much.
Don’t forget about the Rams, though. St. Louis boasted the best division record last season and are building a team in the same fashion — led by a dominant defensive line and a physical group across the board.
The Cardinals won’t be a bottom feeder either as their talent level is better than their 2012 record indicated. Arizona upgraded in a number of spots, including the most important one: quarterback.
Expect a bloodbath in what looks like a wide open NFC West, in which two or three playoff teams could emerge.
BIGGEST IMPACT ADDITION
Arizona: Carson Palmer, QB
Since Kurt Warner retired, the Cardinals have had an abysmal group of quarterbacks. Palmer was a bust with Oakland (who isn’t, though?), but he should be able to excel in Bruce Arians’ wide-open aerial attack. It helps having Larry Fitzgerald.
San Francisco: Anquan Boldin, WR
The 49ers couldn’t stop Boldin in the Super Bowl so instead they added the physical receiver from Baltimore to their roster. With little depth at the position to begin with, and Michael Crabtree out with an Achillies injury, Boldin will be counted on in a big way on his new team.
Seattle: Cliff Avril, DE
The Seahawks had an elite defence last season but still needed to get better at rushing the quarterback. Chris Clemons is coming off an ACL injury and Bruce Irvin is suspended for the first four games so Avril will have to pick up the slack early on. Seattle needs him to recover quickly from a nagging hamstring injury.
St. Louis: Jared Cook, TE
Rams coach Jeff Fisher drafted Cook in Tennessee so he quickly pounced on the tight end when he became a free agent in March. Cook gives the Rams a monster target in the middle of the field and a key option for Sam Bradford in the red zone.
BIGGEST IMPACT LOSS
Arizona: Ray Horton, defensive co-ordinator
Don’t be surprised if the Cardinals take a step back on defence. Horton was the mastermind behind the Cardinals’ defence and his creative blitz schemes, which he learned from Dick LeBeau in Pittsburgh, played a huge role in confusing opposing quarterbacks. Arizona’s pass rushers will really miss Horton in 2013.
San Francisco: Dashon Goldson, S
The 49ers couldn’t afford to keep Goldson so the Pro Bowl safety departed for Tampa Bay on a big free-agent deal. The 49ers don’t have a player on their roster that can immediately replace Goldson, and they’ll desperately miss his coverage ability and toughness on the back end of their defence.
Seattle: Alan Branch, DT
Branch was a reliable run stopper in Pete Carroll’s base defence but they wanted a cheaper player at the position, someone who could provide a more consistent pass rush. The Seahawks struggled against the run in the second half of last year and could regret letting Branch walk if the problem persists.
St. Louis: Steven Jackson, RB
Jackson has been the face of the Rams’ offence for most of the last decade so it’s strange not to see him back in St. Louis. But running backs begin to decline at his age (30) and the Rams figure they can get similar production at a much cheaper cost with second-year player Daryl Richardson taking over.
WHO NEEDS TO STEP UP?
Arizona: Levi Brown, OT
Amazingly, the Cardinals drafted Brown over Adrian Peterson back in 2007. That’s not a typo. Brown has done little to help what has been a pourous offensive line and, with a new regime in Arizona, the big offensive tackle has one last chance to prove his worth.
San Francisco: Carlos Rogers, CB
After back-to-back strong regular seasons with the 49ers, Rogers was exposed in the playoffs. It was no surprise San Francisco brought in Nnamdi Asomugha and Eric Wright to push for a starting job. With cornerback Chris Culliver out for the season, the 49ers need Rogers playing at a high level.
Seattle: Doug Baldwin, WR
Baldwin struggled with injuries in 2012 and wasn’t the same player after leading the Seahawks in receiving as an undrafted rookie in 2011. Percy Harvin’s injury gives Baldwin the opportunity to be featured out of the slot and he should receive significant playing time in the team’s three-receiver set.
St. Louis: Sam Bradford, QB
Bradford has done very little to live up to his lofty draft position (No. 1 overall in 2010). For the first time in his NFL career, however, he’s playing the same offensive scheme for the second year in a row and is surrounded by the best group of skill players he’s seen in St. Louis. Bradford needs to become the leader of this franchise.
BREAKOUT PLAYER
Arizona: Michael Floyd, WR
Having Palmer and pass-friendly coach Bruce Arians in Arizona should really benefit Arizona’s group of receivers. The biggest benefactor could be Michael Floyd, who was the team’s first-round pick in 2012. Floyd did little on the field in his rookie season but has drawn rave reviews for his skill set and work ethic over the off-season.
San Francisco: Glenn Dorsey, DL
The 49ers have a roster loaded with proven players and rookies, so finding a breakout player was a bit of a challenge. Dorsey was a highly-talented player coming out of LSU but never found his footing in Kansas City. In San Francisco, he should be able to find a situational role where he can excel.
Seattle: Golden Tate, WR
Harvin’s injury won’t just benefit Baldwin. It should have massive implications for Golden Tate. Tate is in a contract year and appears ready to become the go-to receiver in Seattle. He showed great chemistry with Russell Wilson in the second half of 2012 and will be targeted significantly more in his fourth NFL season.
St. Louis: Robert Quinn, DE
Quinn might be the best defensive pass rusher you’ve never heard of. He is a freakish athlete with an elite first step, playing on one of the league’s best and most unheralded defensive lines. Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson are certainly familiar with Quinn, who could become a Pro Bowler in 2013.
KEY ROOKIE
Arizona: Tyrann Mathieu, S
The Honey Badger has lit up the pre-season and appears ready to make an immediate impact with the Cardinals. Mathieu was kicked out of LSU for a number (a high number) of failed drug tests and needs to keep his head on right as his profile grows in the pro game.
San Francisco: Eric Reid, S
Reid may not start right away but San Francisco is counting on the LSU product to eventually replace Goldson at free safety. The 49ers will bring their first-round pick along slowly as he’s reportedly had difficulty adjusting to the speed of the NFL game in training camp and pre-season games.
Seattle: Jordan Hill, DT
The Seahawks’ defensive line wore down at the end of last season so Hill was brought in to help add much-needed depth at defensive tackle. Hill can provide a solid interior rush, especially on third down in the nickel package. He’s a bit banged up to start the year but should contribute down the stretch.
St. Louis: Tavon Austin, WR
Austin was easily the most explosive playmaker coming out of this year’s draft and it was no surprise the Rams moved up to get him at No. 8. Austin is small at 5-foot-8, but has a very similar skill set to Percy Harvin, but without the weird injuries. Good luck trying to stop him on that fast track at the Edward Jones Dome
NFC WEST PREDICTIONS
While St. Louis is building a really impressive roster, they remain a few pieces away from competing with powerhouses like San Francisco and Seattle over the entire season. I’ve gone back-and-forth with the Seahawks and 49ers throughout the entire off-season and wouldn’t be surprised if either ended up winning this division. The depth of the Seahawks is certainly better across the board but I still give the 49ers a very very slight edge because of a superior pass rush and the injuries piling up on Seattle’s defensive line. That’s so critical in today’s NFL. Nonetheless, it will be a great battle all season long
1) San Francisco 12-4
2) Seattle 11-5
3) St. Louis 9-7
4) Arizona 7-9
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