NFC West Preview (In Predicted Order Of finish)
The Rams and coach
Kenny Main have ruled the PAFL for several years now and season
8 promises to bring more of the same. The reality is Los
Angeles has benefitted mightily from having consistently good
players who do not suffer major injuries or decline. QB Tom
Brady, much like the Cincinnati Bengals’ Drew Brees, has
endlessly performed year after year allowing LA to focus on
other key elements. While Brady may have aged a bit, the talent
he is surrounded with will surely enhance his stats. RB Alvin
Kamara is a supreme back with awesome pass catching ability
while ageless WR Julio Jones and TE Travis Kelce provide
incredible firepower. Add in veteran Davante Adams and the Ram
attack is near impossible to stop. Tackles Ryan Ramczyk and Ron
Stanley form, easily, the best tandem in the league ranking #1
and #2 at the position! C Frank Ragnow and G Andrew Norwell help
to complete one of the top lines in all of football. Overall,
few, if any teams, can match the supreme talents assembles by
Main and there is little chance that any team in the West can
unseat them.
The defense is not quite as strong as seasons past but it still
ranks among the elites. DL Arik Armstead is rated #4 in the
league, LB Don’t’a Hightower checks in at #11, and DB Tyrann
Mathieu stands at #5 so you get the picture here. With the Rams
likely to put up 30+ virtually every game, the D will not need
to be fantastic but the unit, as a whole, will rank in the top
5.
The
Chargers are not a threat to the Rams but they have given the
defending champs fits in their head-to-head matchups. Coach Hank
Heinzant has done a wonderful job slowly making the Bolts
relevant but now it remains to be seen if they can finally take
the next step and make the playoffs.
Young QB Daniel Jones should be the starter but there are some
doubters out there who are beginning to think he might not be
the guy in San Diego. Heinzant has been scouring for his
franchise signal caller ever since he has taken the reins but
has shown little patience on waiting for that talent to develop
having moved a number of QBs out. The team has a solid stable
of backs in Josh Jacobs, who Heinzant drafted, and David
Montgomery. The receiving corps is a question mark with only
Courtland Sutton possessing true starter credentials. The
offensive line is actually pretty good with all-world G Quenton
Nelson steadying the group. Nelson was yet another Heinzant
draftee and he gets help from yet another drafted asset in the
form of fellow G Elgton Jenkins giving San Diego a powerful
interior road grader look for Jacobs and Montgomery to run
behind.
The defensive line has some pass rush ability but the line
backers are not quite strong enough to stop the run on a routine
basis. Marshon Lattimore and Levi Wallace bolster a secondary
that was a strength of the team a season ago and should be good
enough to limit most passing attacks.
The
Arizona Cardinals were one of the truly “Feel Good” stories a
season ago under head coach Dan Oakes. They are hoping to
repeat their efforts of last year and certainly have enough
talent to do so. QB Patrick Mahomes will soon replace the Rams’
Tom Brady as the best signal caller in the division giving hope
to the fans who call the desert their home. RBs Aaron Jones,
James Connor, and Benny Snell form a powerful trio although
Connor and Snell are injury concerns. The Cards lack a true
alpha receiver but Michael Gallup, Sterling Shepard, and Corey
Davis are adequate although, like the backfield, health will be
a worrisome spot. Arizona is virtually devoid of any tight ends
and might be seeking some help there soon. C Ben Jones, G
Brandon Brooks, and T Alejandro Villanueva give the Cards 60% of
an outstanding line and they might be just good enough to move
an unbalanced group.
The defensive line is deep and diverse but does not have a bell
cow presence there. Anthony Barr and David Mayo are solid line
backers while pass rush specialist Bruce Irvin will need to
perform. Carlton Davis is the best player in a secondary that
will probably be under siege in the rugged West.
The
one high flying Falcons have had their wings clipped in recent
times. Coach Bill Howell took over a program that was on the
verge of decline when ex-coach Rick Main headed off to
Philadelphia. QB Matt Ryan remains as a vestige of the long
gone vertical passing barrages Falcon fans had become accustomed
to. Ryan can still sling it but Atlanta has nearly zero talent
available at the receiver position in a situation that could
quickly dissolve to a critical status. RBs Mark Ingram and
LeSean McCoy can both really play but will likely be tasked with
spanning a bridge too far. The offensive line is aging in spots
and does not boast an elite talent there.
Dexter Lawrence, Ifeadi Odenigbo, and pass rusher Vic Beasely
have some skill and KJ Wright is the top line-backer in the
house but the Falcon front seven will be sorely tested this
year. As limited as the front may be, the Atlanta secondary has
no such issues. S Jamal Adams is the best in football and his
running mate, Devin McCourty, helps form the top safety duo in
the league. Casey Heyward is the #3 rated CB in the business
giving Howell some real pieces to work with here.
Final Analysis: The Rams have utterly dominated football with
back-to-back titles, the first and only undefeated season in
league history, and being the league’s all-time winningest
franchise on their resume. They should win a third straight
title easily and make it back to a fourth consecutive title
game! The Chargers and Cardinals should battle for the silver
medal but it is no guarantee that either will be good enough to
get to the post-season with Dallas, Carolina, Philadelphia,
Green Bay, Chicago, and Minnesota all with playoff caliber
rosters. Atlanta simply does not have enough weapons at wide
receiver to seriously threaten. |