In our second look at the NFC West predictions, we consider if the Seahawks will have done enough to reclaim the division. We also keep a close eye on the NFC Champions and the developing 49ers.

(Take a look at the First Look… to refresh your memory of our initial thoughts)

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After some half-hearted flirting with other teams, Kurt Warner is back. Of course, he was never going anywhere and he played it straight, as is his way. It’ll be interesting to see if Leinart gets a shot this season, either through injury or bad showings from Warner. He’s shown flashes during his cameos, and will one day – he hopes – need to lead the team.
If Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin can be kept on the field at the same time, then with Breaston the receiving threat this team offers is a real as anywhere else in the league.

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A healthy Steven Jackson is critical to the Rams

A healthy Steven Jackson is critical to the Rams


The Rams are quietly going about their business, as you’d expect from a 2-14 team. There is plenty to be done, but Steve Spagnuolo has admired the way the team played towards the end of last season and has – he says – something to build on.
The core of the offence remains the same, with Steven Jackson leading the way and Marc Bulger at QB. But a Spags’ team is sure to step up the defence and generally become a better unit than has been the case over the last few seasons.
But for now I’ll stand by my previous comments: better than 2-14, but not better than 6-10.

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I talked about the Seahawks in my article about the soon-to-start Training Camps, where I admit that I was a little optimistic about their chances. I still fancy them, but think that it’s going to be a lot closer than I said before.

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San Francisco have still got to sort out their quarterback situation, and that sort of uncertainty for any teams pulls the rankings down a little bit. We also have to remember that this is a unit that came on very strongly over the second half of the season, going 5-3 where they were only 2-6 in the first half.
Rookie Glen Coffee will be in place to spell Frank Gore, giving them a Smash and Smash approach to running the ball. Explosive receiver Michael Crabtree will be a real deep threat once they get him playing, and is one reason I see the battle between Shaun Hill and Alex Smith going Smith’s way.

Summary
This is becoming a three-way battle at the top with Seattle, Arizona and San Francisco competing for the division. Ask me tomorrow, and I’ll probably say something different. But today I’m leaving it as it is. I am very close to moving the 49ers into 2nd, but without a named QB I hesitate.
I’m also pretty close to moving the Cards above the Seahawks, but haven’t seen enough from them yet.
So it’s no changes.
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