NFC West Scorecard/Latsch

[RamBill]

NFC West Scorecard
By Nate Latsch

http://www.scout.com/nfl/rams/story/1565247-nfc-west-scorecard

The NFC West has been arguably the best division in the NFL over the past few seasons. The Seahawks look like the best of the bunch once again in 2015, but offseason moves figure to shake up the division a bit behind Seattle.

Arizona Cardinals

2014 record: 11-5

Key additions: G Mike Iupati, T D.J. Humphries

Key losses: DC Todd Bowles, DL Darnell Dockett, CB Antonio Cromartie, NT Dan Williams

Outlook: If the Cardinals can keep QB Carson Palmer healthy, they should be the second-best team in the division and have a chance to make a run in the playoffs. Palmer has one of the league’s best receiving corps to throw to with Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and John Brown. The Cardinals struggled to run the ball in 2014 but the offensive line should get a big boost with the addition of the road grading Iupati as a free agent. How effective will the defense be after losing Bowles’ leadership and key veterans like Dockett, Cromartie and Williams? They ranked fifth in the NFL in points allowed at 18.7, but repeating that kind of success isn’t likely. They signed some veteran defensive players like LaMarr Woodley, Sean Weatherspoon and Cory Redding, but those players will go into this season having to prove they can still make an impact.

San Francisco 49ers

2014 record: 8-8

Key additions: WR Torrey Smith, DL Darnell Dockett

Key losses: HC Jim Harbaugh, LB Patrick Willis, DT Justin Smith, RT Anthony Davis, G Mike Iupati, RB Frank Gore, WR Michael Crabtree, CB Chris Culliver, LB Chris Borland, P Andy Lee, CB Perrish Cox, OC Greg Roman, DC Vic Fangio

Outlook: The 49ers’ tumultuous offseason has many thinking they will sink to the bottom of the NFC West and it’s difficult to envision this team turning in a winning record in 2015. Harbaugh established San Francisco as one of the best teams in the NFC and will be missed. New head coach Jim Tomsula will have some talent to work with, but the roster turnover and replacing two coordinators will be tough to overcome. Guys like Willis, Smith and Gore were franchise cornerstones. Borland was a steal in the 2014 Draft and looked like a future star before his surprise retirement. Davis (retired) and Iupati (signed with Cardinals as a free agent) brought stability to the offensive line. QB Colin Kaepernick will have a lot to prove this season and will have a lot of new faces around him. The best of the bunch may be Smith, who had 1,128 yards receiving in 2013 and caught 11 touchdown passes in 2014. RB Carlos Hyde averaged 4.0 yards per carry as a rookie last season and will become the primary back after Gore departed as a free agent.

St. Louis Rams

2014 record: 6-10

Key additions: QB Nick Foles, RB Todd Gurley

Key losses: QB Sam Bradford, LT Jake Long, RT Joe Barksdale, C Scott Wells

Outlook: A year ago, the Rams looked like a team poised to emerge as a playoff contender. But those hopes were dashed when Bradford suffered another season-ending knee injury. The Rams changed the course of the franchise with the trade of Bradford to the Eagles for Foles, but it remains to be seen how that will ultimately work out. The Rams should have a strong defense, anchored by DE Robert Quinn and DT Aaron Donald, but the offense could struggle once again with three new starters, and possibly two rookies, on the offensive line and an unproven group of wide receivers. The Rams opted to release Long and Wells in salary cap-related moves and didn’t re-sign Barksdale, but it could take a while for the new-look line to become the run-blocking unit they want it to be.

Seattle Seahawks

2014 record: 12-4
Key additions: TE Jimmy Graham, WR Tyler Lockett

Key losses: CB Byron Maxwell, C Max Unger, G James Carpenter

Outlook: The core of the Seahawks’ back-to-back NFC championship teams remains intact with RB Marshawn Lynch, QB Russell Wilson, CB Richard Sherman, S Earl Thomas, MLB Bobby Wagner and S Kam Chancellor back to make another playoff run and they should be more motivated than ever after losing in the Super Bowl. Though they will face plenty of questions going forward, including Wilson’s contract situation, this is still a team built to win now and they got even better with the acquisition of Graham from the New Orleans Saints. The passing game should be better — Lockett, a rookie WR, is an undersized speedster who may have been a steal in the third round — but can the run game remain the best in the NFL with the subtraction of two OL starters in Unger and Carpenter and with Lynch another year closer to his 30th birthday?

 

[LACHAMP46]

It's strange how the Seahawks & 49'ers O-Lines both took key losses...And the Cards & Rams tried to really address those 2 areas....The results of these actions should be felt for the next few years....

 

[LACHAMP46]

Key additions: QB Nick Foles, RB Todd Gurley

The Rams changed the course of the franchise with the trade of Bradford to the Eagles for Foles, but it remains to be seen how that will ultimately work out.

Link

• Will Nick Foles and Todd Gurley Transform the St. Louis Rams’ Offense in 2015?
  Posted on Jul 20 2015 - 7:00am by Ryan Grimaud
  
  
  HOUSTON, TX- NOVEMBER 02: Nick Foles #9 of the Philadelphia Eagles rushes against Whitney Mercilus #59 of the Houston Texans in the first quarter in a NFL game on November 2, 2014 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)
  
  It’s no secret that the St. Louis Rams struggled with their offensive production in 2014. They placed 28th in the NFL in total yards (5,035), only four spots ahead of the Oakland Raiders who came in last with 4,515 total yards. St. Louis also placed 21st in points per game with only 20.3.
  
  Head coach Jeff Fisher will be returning for his fourth year commanding the team, although some important changes have been made in other areas for the Rams. Former quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti was promoted to offensive coordinator, and may be able to help boost the Rams production when in possession of the ball.
  
  The Rams were involved in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles which resulted in quarterback Nick Foles joining the Rams, while former Rams’ quarterback Sam Bradford was sent over to Philadelphia. With the addition of Foles alone on the St. Louis squad, the Rams may have already improved their chances in the upcoming season.
  
  Foles played in eight games in 2014, while Bradford played in seven in 2013, which provides a decent basis for comparison. Foles owned a completion percentage of 59.8, while passing for 2,163 yards. Foles also claimed a Total QBR of 62.2, while Bradford only managed a Total QBR of 48. Bradford had a similar completion percentage with 60.7, although he only threw for 1,687 yards in 2013.
  
  Bradford has also sustained some injuries over the course of his five year career that makes you question whether he will be reliable as a franchise quarterback in the future.
  
  Fisher believes that Foles was a good addition to the team’s offense. “I think what Nick has done early in his career, he’s proven he can get the job done on the field” said Fisher.
  
  The Rams also made a headline grabbing draft pick when they picked up running back Todd Gurley in the first round of this year’s draft. At the time of the draft, Gurley was coming off a torn ACL that he suffered near the end of the season while playing for the Georgia Bulldogs. While Gurley may not be ready to start in the season opener, he will definitely be playing for St. Louis this year, although the date of his debut is still unknown.
  
  Gurley has been compared to current NFL running backs Adrian Peterson (for his size and speed) and Marshawn Lynch (for his ability to drive with his legs). Gurley had a great career while playing for Georgia where he scored 36 rushing touchdowns, and ran for 3,285 yards over the course of three seasons. He should no doubt provide some threat in the running game, while also drawing defenders off of Foles to give him more passing options.
  
  Coach Jeff Fisher said that Gurley was “going to be the running back of the future for a number of years.”
  
  The Rams will be looking to make the playoffs for the first time since 2004. St. Louis’ chances of reaching the postseason seem far better after the new additions on offense. Not only have they increased their threat in the running game, but they have also acquired a new (if not better) quarterback that will turn them into real contenders in the 2015 season.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

 

[Warner4Prez]

It's strange how the Seahawks & 49'ers O-Lines both took key losses...And the Cards & Rams tried to really address those 2 areas....The results of these actions should be felt for the next few years....

Yeah, color me skeptical, but I don't think swapping out their best piece on the o-line for a TE was exactly prudent. Seahawks fans seem to take it in stride, but they are mostly 12 year olds.

 

[JUMAVA68]

Once that line gels we own this division and with all or most of our players yet to hit their prime its going to be a long ride.

 

[LumberTubs]

Seeing that long list of 49ers key losses makes me smile

 

[den-the-coach]

Gentlemen how much pressure is on Offensive Line Coach Paul Bourdreau? IMO, he's up to the task, he's a teacher and he has his guys, however, they must protect Foles. I have no worries about run blocking I feel that will be their strength, but the Rams need the law firm of Brown, Robinson & Havenstein to pass protect as well and that growth will be the indicator on how far the Rams will go in 2015.