The NFC West is widely considered to be the best division in the NFL. They have the reigning Superbowl Champion Seattle Seahawks, the San Francisco 49ers (who the Seahawks beat out in the NFC Championship Game), the Arizona Cardinals (possibly the best team to miss the playoffs in recent memory), and St. Louis Rams. There won’t be an easy division game for any of these teams all season.
Team-Team Quick Notes
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have lost some pieces on defense, particularly in their secondary, but look to continue their dominance in 2014. This preseason they have showed no signs that they’re ready to slow down. In particular, Russell Wilson seems to be in midseason form already.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have a lot of turnover on defense, especially with the NaVorro Bowman injury and Aldon Smith suspension. Their offense has added some new weapons for quarterback Colin Kaepernick although they haven’t showed much in the preseason.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have some key injuries on defense that could possibly slow them down. The biggest catalyst to their success will be quarterback Carson Palmer though. Palmer has to use his new receivers and protect the ball better than he usually does for them to make the playoffs in 2014.
St. Louis Rams
The Rams took a major blow when quarterback Sam Bradford tore his ACL and will miss the entire season. They will be relying heavily on their defense for any sort of success. Their defensive line is one of the best in the league.
Ranking the Quarterbacks
1. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
Wilson led the Seahawks to the Superbowl last season and won it all and hasn’t showed any signs of slowing down this year. Expect Wilson to have another solid year, especially as long as the Seahawks’ run game can stay dominant.
2. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers
Kaepernick has some new weapons on offense. Last season he played with an injured and if he can stay healthy this season he should have a much better year.
3. Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals
Palmer has always been prone to throwing interceptions. He needs to change that in 2014 if the Cardinals want to improve from last season. However, Palmer is far enough into his career I don’t see him changing that.
4. Shaun Hill, St. Louis Rams
The Rams will most likely be asking Hill to hand the ball off a lot more than they would’ve if Bradford were healthy and starting at quarterback. When Hill will inevitably be asked to do a lot, the Rams will struggle.
Ranking the Running Backs
1. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks
Lynch is a hard runner and one of the hardest backs in the NFL to tackle. This season he’ll be running behind an improved offensive line so I expect him to have another strong season.
2. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers
Every year people expect Gore to fall off in production. This year is no different but he’ll prove everyone wrong again. With rookie Carlos Hyde likely taking a good share of the snaps, Gore’s stats might drop a little but he’ll be much more fresh by the end of the season.
3. Andre Ellington, Arizona Cardinals
Ellington is extremely elusive and has very good speed. He would be able to contribute to the Cardinals a lot more if he improved his pass catching, but his running alone is still very valuable.
4. Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers
While Hyde is just a rookie and hasn’t played a single meaningful game in the NFL yet, his skill set is undeniable. He has incredible foot work and very good hands for a running back. He is big and strong but fast enough to still break some big runs. He’ll get his chances this season and will take full advantage of them.
5. Zac Stacy, St. Louis Rams
Stacy has a very complete skill set as a running back. He isn’t exceptional at any one thing but isn’t awful at any one thing. He catches the ball fairly well, has pretty good speed, gets low and runs with power, and makes defenders miss. He’ll need to do a little more this season with the Rams missing Bradford.
Ranking the Receivers
1. Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers
Crabtree missed a good part of last season with a torn Achilles tendon and was never 100% healthy, even by the end of the season. With more help on offense and going into a contract year Crabtree is looking to put up some big numbers.
2. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals
Fitzgerald hasn’t put up the numbers people have grown accustomed to from him. His skills haven’t diminished though, the lack of production has mostly been due to suspect quarterback play and the lack of other options on offense. This year the Cardinals have more weapons on offense.
3. Percy Harvin, Seattle Seahawks
Harvin is one of the most dynamic players in the NFL. He can do it all and when he’s healthy defenses have to know exactly where he is on every play. The key part of that is he has to be healthy, which has been a major problem for him during his career.
4. Anquan Boldin, San Francisco 49ers
Boldin is one of the toughest guys in the league. He is extremely consistent and has incredibly strong hands. I expect his numbers to drop some from last season but the impact he has will be just as strong as ever. Secondaries won’t be able to take a single play off with Boldin on the field.
5. Michael Floyd, Arizona Cardinals
Floyd has been getting better each year of his career in the NFL. This year is going to be his coming out party though. He’s reached a point where defenses can no longer give him single coverage every snap. He will be drawing extra attention.
Ranking the Tight Ends
1. Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers
Davis is one of the most talented tight ends in the entire league. He creates a mismatch every time he steps onto the field due to his incredible speed mixed with his size and strength.
2. Jared Cook, St. Louis Rams
Cook is another tight end with great speed. The thing holding Cook back from breaking into that upper echelon of tight ends is his route running and run blocker. Both are areas that need some improving.
3. Zach Miller, Seattle Seahawks
Miller isn’t anything special at the tight end position and certainly doesn’t strike fear in any defenders. What makes Miller a solid tight end is his route running. His routes are crisp and is what allows him to get open.
4. John Carlson, Arizona Cardinals
Carlson is the same as Miller in that he relies on his route running to get open. However, Carlson has more potential and, if he can tap into said potential, could be a very good tight end in this league.
Ranking the Rookies
1. Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers
2. Aaron Donald, St. Louis Rams
3. Greg Robinson, St. Louis Rams
4. Jimmie Ward, San Francisco 49ers
5. Tre Mason, St. Louis Rams
6. John Brown, Arizona Cardinals
7. Deone Bucannon, Arizona Cardinals
8. Paul Richardson, Seattle Seahawks
9. E.J. Gaines, St. Louis Rams
10. Justin Britt, Seattle Seahawks
Ranking the Offensive Lines
1. San Francisco 49ers
Despite losing center Jonathan Goodwin, the 49ers still have one of the best lines in football and have solid depth. Alex Boone reporting after signing a new two-year contract sure does help.
2. St. Louis Rams
The Rams have addressed their offensive line through the draft. That have a lot of potential on their line and are just hoping their players all reach that potential. If most of them do, their line will be extremely good.
3. Seattle Seahawks
Last season the Seahawks’ line had a lot of injuries and was forced to play some inexperienced guys. This year they come into the season much healthier and have a few improved pieces. I expect much improvement from this group.
4. Arizona Cardinals
With a quarterback like Carson Palmer the offensive line needs to be really good at pass protection. The Cardinals’ line isn’t. They’ve addressed the line via free agency and they’ll be getting their top draft pick in 2013 back from injury so they’ll be better than last season. But they’re still the worst line in the division.
Ranking the Defensive Lines
1. St. Louis Rams
The Rams have the best defensive line in the NFL. They’re young, strong, fast, can stop the run, and can absolutely get to the passer. Every offensive line they play with have their hands full with this group.
2. San Francisco 49ers
A lot of people don’t realize how good the 49ers’ defensive line is. They’re also very deep at this position too. They’re already more healthy on the defensive line than they were last season. I expect big things from this group.
3. Arizona Cardinals
While this group suffered a major blow when they lost Darnell Dockett for the season, they’re still a very good group. Guys like Calais Campbell and Dan Williams will need to step up but I fully expect they’ll answer the call in 2014.
4. Seattle Seahawks
While the Seahawks’ defensive line is ranked last in the division, that’s more of a testament to how good the defensive lines are in the NFC West. The Seahawks have a very good line, especially when it comes to getting to the opposing quarterback.
Ranking the Linebackers
1. San Francisco 49ers
Even with NaVorro Bowman and Aldon Smith missing the first half of the season this is still the best linebacking corps in the NFL. People seem to forget perennial All-Pro Patrick Willis is still playing. This unit is loaded with talent and very deep.
2. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have a group at this position built with speed in mind. It’s a unit that can cover receivers when they need to and be all over the field in a hurry. This is a versatile group.
3. St. Louis Rams
The Rams have a solid group of linebackers. None of them are great at any one thing but they’re not terrible at any one thing either. Behind a defensive line like the Rams have, they don’t need elite linebackers.
4. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals lost a lot when Daryl Washington got suspended for the entire season. He was their defensive playcaller and leader of the front seven. Their inside linebackers are easily the weakest part of their defense with their outside linebackers not far behind.
Ranking the Secondaries
1. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have the best secondary yet again. They have All-Pros all over their defensive backfield. When you have the best safety in the game, Earl Thomas, paired with arguably the best cornerback, Richard Sherman, it’s no wonder they always have the best secondary in the league.
2. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals have a very good secondary right now. It’s going to get even better once they get Tyrann Mathieu back from injury. Adding a hard hitter like rookie safety Deone Bucannon will give them a bit of intimidation they didn’t really have in the secondary last season.
3. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have a good secondary but it’s a bit unproven at the cornerback position. Tramaine Brock has a limited number of starts under his belt, as does their other starter Chris Culliver. Culliver is also coming off a torn ACL in 2013.
4. St. Louis Rams
The Rams have a lot of young players in their secondary. If these players develop like I expect some of them will, the Rams will have a very good defensive backfield for years to come. But right now, they don’t have many pieces back there that are especially talented.
Overall Offensive Rankings
1. San Francisco 49ers
2. Seattle Seahawks
3. Arizona Cardinals
4. St. Louis Rams
Overall Defensive Rankings
1. Seattle Seahawks
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Arizona Cardinals
4. St. Louis Rams
Final NFC West Power Rankings
1. Seattle Seahawks
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Arizona Cardinals
4. St. Louis Rams