We have reached our last division to preview. The NFC West is home to the Super Bowl runner-up in the LA Rams, plus another playoff team in Seattle in 2018. It should be an interesting division to see play out.

NFC West

Gurley Will Need Help to Stay Healthy

Rams

The Rams will still be the class of the division. They went for it in 2018, and they came really close. The Rams may not reach the same heights, but the corps of the team is still there. I think they are the most talented team in the division with the best strategic coach in McVay.

  • Coaches: Head Coach Sean McVay enters his 3rd year. The young genius was stumped in the Super Bowl against the master, plus the nebulous treatment of super star, RB Todd Gurley, was a sad end to a great season. McVay has opted to go without an actual OC this year, as each year his guys are getting poached. He does have a “Run Game” Coordinator and “Passing Game” Coordinator. Regardless, McVay is an offensive mind like no other which typically stretches the defense with the zone read with shots behind. DC Wade Phillips returns with some new faces, but his blitzing style has led to a championship in Denver.
  • Key Departures: DT Ndamukung Suh was not re-signed (as he moves on to Tampa), as well as S Lamarcus Joyner (OAK). On offense, RB CJ Anderson was not re-signed (DET) despite his late season success last year.
  • Key Additions: The Defense will get S Eric Weddle to replace Joyner. Weddle has been productive with the Chargers and Ravens. Other veterans signed were QB Blake Bortles (JAC) and LB Clay Matthews (GB).
  • Draft: The Rams did not have a 1st round pick this year. They did select S Taylor Rapp from Washington in the second. In the 3rd, they had 3 selections: RB Darrell Henderson (Memphis) who will be right behind Gurley, CB David Long (Michigan), and OT Bobby Evans (Oklahoma).
  • Final Analysis: The Rams will be good again. The key to this team is how much better is QB Jared Goff from 2018. In the Super Bowl, Goff was pedestrian at best, really costing them the title. Gurley’s health is now in question, but they have added young legs behind him. I see the Rams at the top of the NFC with at least a home game in the playoffs. Maybe a slight step back, but 11 wins looks solid.

49ers

Jimmy G Needs to Earn His Contract

The 49ers pinned their hopes in 2018 on QB Jimmy Garappolo taking them places, but an early ACL injury derailed this team. The back ups tried their best, but injuries at RB and at WR made this team a real disappointment.

  • Coaches: Head Coach Kyle Shanahan enters his 2nd season at the helm. He is known for his run game and play action pass game. Another team that does not formally have an OC. Another team employing a Run Game and Passing Game coordinator. So, Shanahan will be calling the plays. On defense, DC Robert Saleh enters his 3rd game. The young defense has to show real improvement this year or Saleh will be out the door.
  • Key Departures: No real big departures from my view here.
  • Key Additions: The 49ers improved the defense by trading for KC DE Dee Ford to help that pass rush, LB Kwon Alexander (TB) was signed to a 4 year deal to try and give them some leadership, and CB Jason Verrett (LAC). RB Tevin Coleman (ATL) is reunited with Shanahan, and he should lead this backfield.
  • Draft: With the 2nd pick overall, SF drafted DE Nick Bosa from Ohio State (younger brother of Joey in LA). Bosa is a beast who sat out almost his entire senior year, and he has started with a high ankle sprain in camp already. In the 2nd round, SF picked WR Deebo Samuel (South Carolina) who should add some electricity to this offense. In the 3rd, WR Jalen Hurd (Baylor) was added – Hurd is a 6’5″, 226 lbs beast. So, clearly, they are trying to get Jimmy G some weapons.
  • Final Analysis: Originally, I had the 49ers in the playoffs in 2019. I’m going to have to work through that schedule again, as Jimmy G has not looked good in pre-season so far. The 49ers were competitive with B talent last year, and they seem to have upgraded on each level of their defense plus a better RB and young WRs. That should translate into at least a .500 record. I’ll reserve the right to change next week in my final predictions.

Seahawks

Wilson Is the Veteran Now on the Seahawks

The Seahawks went young last year and back to their smashmouth roots en route to a playoff berth. QB Russell Wilson is still dynamic, but the success of the this team will be on the defense.

  • Coaches: Head Coach Pete Carroll impressed me last year with his ability to pivot and shed a lot of older players from the Super Bowl Champ roster. OC Brian Shottenheimer returns for his second year, and his run early and often approach worked. The effective running game really opened up the passing game and increased efficiency. Expect more of the same. On defense, DC Ken Norton, Jr. led this young group to real success in a classic 4-3 scheme. I think the continuity of coaching will help this team this year.
  • Key Departures: DE Frank Clark was lost in free agency, which will hurt, and long time S Earl Thomas was not re-signed (BAL). WR Doug Baldwin retired from football due to injuries – Wilson’s safety blanket. DT Jarran Reed will start the year on a 6 game suspension.
  • Key Additions: OG Mike Iupati was signed from Arizona.
  • Draft: In the first round, Seattle took DE LJ Collier (TCU) adding to the youth movement. With 2 second round picks, they selected – S Marquise Blair (Utah) and the physical freak WR DK Metcalf (Ole Miss). In the 3rd round, they picked LB Cody Barton (Utah) who will back up LB Bobby Wagner.
  • Final Analysis: The Seahawks are rebuilding organically from the draft. Their youth on defense along with QB Russell Wilson will be tough again. I think they will fall short of the playoffs this year, but 9 wins looks like a good bet.

Cardinals

Murray Gives AZ Hope

The Cardinals fired another coach after only one year. With new leadership again, there were more changes to the roster that should result in just as much toil. The Cardinals will be terrible and challenge the Giants and Redskins for worst record in the NFC.

  • Coaches: Steve Wilkes was fired after just one season, as the Cardinals jumped on former Texas Tech Head Coach (who was fired last year, huh), Kliff Kingsbury as the new Head Coach. Probably the most curious hire I’ve ever see an NFL team make. Kingsbury wasn’t going to get a head coaching job in college, and now he leads the Cardinals. He has assembled a staff much like Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan with no OC. In fact, he only has hired a QB Coach/Passing Game Coordinator. On defense, Kingsbury hired former Denver Head Coach, Vance Joseph as DC. Joseph was the DC in Miami in 2016. So, not a supremely experienced coordinator. Not sure his approach, but I didn’t like the Denver D under his leadership either.
  • Key Departures: QB Josh Rosen was traded at the Draft to MIA after only one season in Arizona (a first round pick) to make room for this year’s #1 overall pick. WR JJ Nelson (OAK) and OG Mike Iupati (SF) were lost in free agency. TE Jermaine Gresham was cut.
  • Key Additions: The Cardinals have opted for a ton of 1 year deals for players to fill holes, like WR Michael Crabtree (BAL) who was just signed (with Kevin White being cut). OG JR Sweezy (SEA) was signed to take Iupati’s slot and TEs Charles Clay (BUF) and Maxx Williams (BAL) were signed. On defense, DE Terrell Suggs (BAL) and LB Jordan Hicks (PHI) were signed.
  • Draft: The Cardinals made their splash by drafting QB Kyler Murray (Oklahoma) with the 1st overall pick. Murray won the Heisman Trophy and opted to play football over baseball. Murray is not a big guy, but his elusiveness may lead to big results. I’m not betting on that, actually, but we will see. In the 2nd, CB Byron Murphy (WAS) was selected and could play right away, and WR Andy Isabella (UMass) could add some speed to the WR corps. In the 3rd, DE Zach Allen (Boston College) will start Day 1 opposite Suggs.
  • Final Analysis: The Cardinals are in a classic rebuild mode. Tons of one year deals for aging veterans alongside rookies and 2nd year players which will lead to lots of losses. Kyler Murray gives the fans some hope and excitement on Sunday. However, this coaching staff is not an NFL staff, and it will show either in the 4th Quarter of games or as the season goes on. I think AZ will win no more than 5 games this year, and more like 3 or less.

That concludes the NFL division previews. Next week I’ll go team by team in their season record predictions, plus the full playoff bracket to the Super Bowl Champion. Week 3 in the pre-season, is the last chance for teams to see their starters play any kind of significant minutes.

Enjoy the action!

Wegs

About the author

I'm a 49 year old, twice divorced guy with a 20 year old. The blog has morphed a bit lately. Not just sports or dating, social commentary and now some stories from my past experience.