The Keys to Training Camp - NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

 The Arizona Cardinals finished the 2009 season with a 10 - 6 record that saw them win the NFC West.  They hosted the Packers on 'Wildcard Weekend' in the playoffs, winning an extraordinary game 51 - 45.  The game winning play came in overtime as MLB Karlos Dansby (now with the Dolphins) returned a fumble for a TD.  The Cards then travelled to New Orleans, and got embarrassed 45 - 14 by the eventual Superbowl winning Saints.  How do the Cardinals get back to the playoffs?

How will the offence look?

The Cardinals offence is going to look a lot different this year due to players retiring and being traded.  The biggest blow to the team will be the retirement of QB Kurt Warner (pictured).  This offence has been a pass heavy one for years now, and the talented Warner has been instrumental in their success.  The NFC West is seen as one of the worst divisions in football, but 2 division wins and a Superbowl appearance in the last 2 years, is a very impressive display.  Another reason that this passing game was so effective was the play of star WR's Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.  Boldin though was traded to the Ravens this off season.  How will this team adapt to losing 2 of its key players in 1 year?  Matt Leinart will step in at QB, which WR will fill in for Boldin?  Will they run more?  These are questions to be answered at training camp.

How will the defence look?

As well as losing key offensive players, the Cardinals have also lost major players on defence.  LB Karlos Dansby has signed with Miami, and CB's Antrel Rolle and Bryant McFadden have joined the Giants and the Steelers respectively.  To try and replace these players the Cards have bought in former Dolphins LB Joey Porter (pictured) and S Kerry Rhodes - formerly of the Jets.  I believe that both areas though are downgraded, and I worry how this defence will adapt this year.

Will they hold on to their division crown?

With all this change in the Cardinals in all phases of the game, it is quite easy to come to the conclusion that they will not be as good as last year.  But they play in a weak division, so they will be fine, right?  Not necessarily.  The rest of the division is catching on to the fact that they are seen as terrible, and are making moves to get better.  The Rams are rebuilding - but have a long way to go, the Seahawks have just bought in a new head coach - who will take a while to mould the team to his liking, but the main challenge will come from the 49'ers.  Head coach Mike Singletary (pictured) is doing a fantastic job with the 49'ers, and they are many peoples pick to overthrow the Cards this year.  Will the new team gel in time to hold off the 49'ers??



St. Louis Rams

 OK, here goes!  The Rams had the worst season of all in 2009, finishing with a 1 - 15 record.  This record obviously left them at the bottom of the division - the so called worst division in football.  This record also though left them as the worst team in the league.  This though, in some peoples eyes, can be seen as a bonus.  As the Rams are the worst team in the league, they now get to select first, as the college talent comes into the NFL.  I say that this is viewed a blessing by 'some' people, as I believe it can also be a disaster.  Not only do you have to pay this player a ridiculous amount of money (they usually become the highest payed player in the NFL) but who's to say he will be as good at this level.  This though was the situation the Rams were in - and they selected QB Sam Bradford.

When will Sam Bradford start?

Throughout the build up to the draft, people that read my articles, will recall that I didn't want the Rams to select Bradford.  To read more see here and join the facebook  That talk though is over now as they drafted Sam, and gave him a HUGE contract.  The question now is - when will he start?  Last year, 3 rookie QB's got starts in the NFL.  The Lions drafted Matt Stafford, and announced he was the starter before camp.  The Jets drafted Mark Sanchez, and let him battle for the job in camp (he won).  And the Buccs bought Josh Freeman in halfway through the season.  What do the Rams do?  In my eyes they have to see how good the O Line looks through camp.  I don't see the point of throwing Bradford in if the line is shaky, just to get beat up.  If this happens it might knock the young QB's confidence, and damage his career before it has chance to get started.

Can they play 'Spagnuolo' football?

Head coach Steve Spagnuolo (pictured) built his reputation as a coach in New York, with the Giants.  As their Defensive coordinator in their Superbowl win year, Spagnuolo was seen as a defensive genius.  He used a scheme that heaped the pressure on opposing QB's.  He would bring pressure almost every play, and you would not know where it was coming from.  The Rams did not play this way last year.  Now with a full season and another training camp behind them, will they come out like that this year?

What happens should Steven Jackson get injured?

 RB Steven Jackson (pictured) is without doubt the best player that the Rams have got.  He is probably one of the top 5 RB'sOgbonnaya.  I know absolutely nothing about either player, so look out for this at training camp.


San Francisco 49'ers

The 49'ers had a good year last year finishing 8 - 8, its first non losing season since 2002.  This record left them in 2nd place in the NFC West but they missed out on a wildcard spot.  With the Cardinals losing key players from their roster this year, the 49'ers are many peoples choice to be the NFC West champions this year.  They also have the added bonus of being the host for this years NFL London game against the Broncos.


Can Alex Smith improve?

At the beginning of last season, QB Alex Smith was seen as the back up to Shaun Hill.  Hill did not have a great start to the season so after 5 and a half games, Smith was put in, and kept the starting position.  Smith started 10 games last year, and threw for 18 TD's.  Imagine what he could have done if he had started all 16 games.  The 49'ers have also got talented players around Smith.  WR Michael Crabtree came into the starting lineup halfway through last year following a holdout, but was very impressive once there.  TE Vernon Davies also had a huge year, and will provide a big, middle of the field target for Smith.  All of the pieces seem to be coming together for this passing game to be very effective this year.

Will they be able to run the ball better?

Mike Singletary want his team to be a hard hitting, run first team.  Last year though, their pass attempts out weighed their run attempts almost 2:1.  The reason for this was that they just were unable to get the tough yards.  This was not down to the RB Frank Gore, who is a very talented player, this was down to the O line, who failed to get the push they needed.  The 49'ers were very aggressive in the draft in order to sort this problem.  They had 2 1st round picks (pick 11 and pick 17).  They used these on OT Anthony Davies (pictured) and OG Mike Iupati. Singletary will be hoping that these 2 new young prospects will bring the run blocking that Gore needs.

How will Ted Ginn fit in?

During the off season the 49'ers traded for former Dolphins WR Ted Ginn.  You may be wondering why I am bringing this up, as there is no chance Ginn will beat out Crabtree or Morgan.  This may well be true, but Ginn will be a valuable 3rd option at WR, but that is not the main reason the 49'ers have bought him in, in my opinion.  The 49'ers had a very poor kick return game last year.  In fact they were 22nd in kick return, and dead last in punt return.  Ted Ginn has proven since he come into the league that he is a very good kick returner.  Just ask the Jets - he had 2 kick returns for TD's against them in one game last year.  These kind of final pieces help make a successful franchise, and I don't think the 49'ers are far away.


Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks finished the 2009 season with a 5 - 11 record, which saw them finish in 3rd place in the NFC West.  This was the first season since legendary coach Mike Holmgren left town, and Jim Mora failed miserably.  The Seahawks have bought in former USC head coach Pete Carroll to begin rebuilding the franchise.


What will happen in the run game?

It is quite obvious that the first thing that coach Carroll thought he had to fix in Seattle was the run game.  He traded for both former Jet RB Leon Washington (pictured) and former Titan RB LenDale White (who has since been cut).  Washington is a very quick, elusive back, who they hope will be a perfect compliment to Julius Jones and Justin Forsett.  It will be interesting to see how the time and carries will be split between these 3 RB's.  Expect a real battle between Jones and Forsett for the number 1 role.  I think Washington will be the change of pace back, and may well return kicks.  This should be an interesting battle through camp.


Can the O Line improve?

Pete Carroll and the Seahawks realise that the RB's weren't the only reason for their run game problems last year. Some of that blame can lay on the O Line.  Because of this coach Carroll has bought in very talented OL coach Alex Gibbs.  Gibbs has a very good track record at improving teams run games, as soon as he arrives.  The Seahawks also drafted T Russell Okung (pictured) with their 1st round pick (6 overall).  They hope that between the coach, the rookie and newly acquired Ben Hamilton, can help open up holes for those RB's.

How will they get pressure on the QB? 

Another area of the game that the Seahawks struggled with last year was pressuring the QB.  To make things worse this year 2 DE's have left the team (Patrick Kerney - retired / Darrel Tapp - Traded) and they only selected 1 DE in the draft, in the 4th round.  They will hope that 2nd year player Aaron Curry (pictured) will be able to perform better this year.  It will be interesting to see how coach Carroll will attempt to bring pressure.

That is the final division previewed for Training Camp.  Camps have now been underway for around a week.  Check back tomorrow for the first 'Training Camp Update!'