ESPN NFL

The question in the headline seems misplaced given popular perceptions about the team that subtracted Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby, Antrel Rolle and others.

But all is not lost for the two-time defending NFC West champion Cardinals.

It'll take a team effort for Arizona to pull off another division title, just as it took one to complete this blog entry -- the fourth and final one in our series asking whether NFC West teams have improved this offseason. Facebook friend Barrett came through with the portion of our analysis focusing on offense. Branden, a Facebook friend I've tailgated with before Cardinals games, joined fellow Cardinals fans Jack and Jacob in filling out the remaining categories. I'm pleased by the final result and hope you find it thought-provoking.

Thanks to all the others who answered the call. My only regret was not being able to use them all.

Quarterback

Barrett: It's Matt Leinart's time to prove capable of leading an NFL team from behind center. If he falters, Derek Anderson will be waiting to show that he can return to his Pro Bowl form from 2007 -- when he had targets such as Kellen Winslow Jr. and Braylon Edwards. Fifth-round rookie John Skelton may have the physical attributes Ken Whisenhunt looks for in a quarterback, but he remains a project. Verdict: worse.

Sando: Max Hall is another rookie quarterback to watch on the Cardinals' roster. I hear they like what they've seen so far. I also think Leinart can outperform the low expectations his critics have set for him. But there's no getting around the obvious here. The Cardinals were better at quarterback when they had Warner.

Running back

Barrett: In a pass-oriented offense, Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower combined to rush for 1,391 yards and 15 touchdowns, but they also fumbled the ball nine times and lost six of those. Both backs are looking to get even more carries this season, with Jason Wright and LaRod Stephens-Howling perhaps having an increased opportunity to get touches over last season (combined nine attempts for 32 yards last season). Verdict: same.

Sando: This group should only improve as Wells gets more seasoning and the Cardinals give him more opportunities. The knock on him coming out of college was that he was soft. Cardinals players challenged Wells to prove doubters wrong. Wells responded by running tough and running hard. The prime-time game against the New York Giants comes to mind. I think Wells can take it to another level.

Wide receiver

Barrett: Even with Boldin being traded away to the Ravens, Larry Fitzgerald will still be a top receiver. Steve Breaston is no stranger to lining up as the No. 2 in Boldin's absence. Early Doucet showed what he is capable of during last season's playoff run. Now, let's see if he can produce similarly over the course of a full season. Andre Roberts is an excellent draft pick for depth to compete with Onrea Jones at the No. 4 spot and I expect him to spell Breaston for punt-return duties. However formidable this receiving corps still seems, the Cardinals will miss what No. 81 brought as a player, competitor, teammate and leader. Verdict: worse.

Sando: The Cardinals somehow won a higher percentage of games recently when Boldin did not play. I agree they'll miss the toughness he brought. Boldin might have helped an inexperienced quarterback such as Leinart more than he helped Warner. Breaston brings more speed to the offense. Depth is certainly worse without Boldin, but it was also apparent Boldin might be declining some. I'll agree with your general assessment.

Tight end

Barrett: Anthony Becht, Ben Patrick and Stephen Spach are all back from last season, plus Dominique Byrd. Tight ends caught a whopping 23 passes for the Cardinals last season. It seems their primary function in Whisenhunt's offense is to offer run blocking and an occasional check-down. However, this may change ever so slightly as the focus shifts to a more balanced attack. Verdict: same.

Sando: If there's an upgrade, it comes from having Patrick for a full 16 games. He missed the first four last season while serving an NFL suspension. Once Patrick returned, the Cardinals felt more comfortable using two tight ends. Wells had good success running from some of these double-tight personnel groupings. I think we could see more of those now that Warner is gone and the team has fewer front-line options at wide receiver.

Offensive line

Barrett: With the free-agent additions of Alan Faneca and Rex Hadnot, starting quality and depth are already improved on a unit that has seen more postseason action in the past two seasons than any other offensive line in the NFL. This lessens any blow the line might take if an overweight Deuce Lutui does not return. There's also a second-year man by the name of Herman Johnson who just might be big enough to take over his spot. Verdict: better.

Sando: Faneca is a huge name and I think he's got something to prove after the New York Jets dumped him. The word among NFL people is that Faneca has fallen off significantly and he could be a liability. The leadership and toughness he brings will have value, but how well can he play at this stage? I do not know. The Cardinals have in recent seasons stressed the importance of continuity on the offensive line. They'll have new people in three or four of the five starting spots, so the continuity is gone. Throw in a new starting quarterback and there's a lot of work to do. This group is better on paper based on the additions, but I'm not sure it'll be more effective (although the shift to more of a power running game could play to the strength of these linemen, something to keep in mind).

Offense overall

Barrett: Whisenhunt has always geared his offenses to the players' strengths. With key losses in Warner and Boldin and the acquisition of Faneca, it sure looks like the Cardinals are shifting toward a more balanced attack. But one thing is for certain, and that is the quarterback cannot be expected to produce the way Warner did. Verdict: worse.

Sando: You're right about Whisenhunt and his staff. They'll rise to the challenge and give the Cardinals their best chance to succeed on offense. The running game should be strong. They'll play to Leinart's strengths as well. But the points will be harder to come by and that'll make it tougher for the Cardinals to win games. The offense will be different and less prolific.

Defensive line

Branden: The line up front starts and ends with the performance of Darnell Dockett. He has become more of a leader this offseason and his play on the field already speaks for itself. Calais Campbell has made many lists as one of the breakout players in the league. Whisenhunt has brought many of his rookies along slowly, so Bryan Robinson will most likely start at nose tackle, but rookie Dan Williams should get plenty of time and I expect him to take over the starting role by midseason. Depth-wise, Alan Branch and Gabe Watson are in make-or-break seasons, and while Branch showed more ability and versatility last year in his time at defensive end, they will have to step up to strengthen depth at the position. Kenny Iwebema is a serviceable backup and special-teamer. Verdict: better.

Sando: It'll take a while for Williams to hit stride, but his addition can only improve what was already a pretty good situation for Arizona. Having the pressure on Watson and Branch can only help. It's tough for 3-4 defensive ends to get much notice, but Arizona has two of them worth our praise.

Outside linebackers

Branden: There has been talk about the age of Clark Haggans and Joey Porter. Both are 33. While they will start, expect to see plenty of others in special situations -- including Will Davis, who played well last year as a rookie until suffering a knee injury. Cody Brown is practically a rookie and needs to contribute to help this position. Others at the position include Mark Washington and CFL star Stevie "Shakespeare" Baggs. Are they better as a unit than last year? Questionable. Bertrand Berry and Chike Okeafor performed average last year, and I'm not sure how much Porter has left. Verdict: same, but young guys need to step up.

Sando: Someone pointed out to me that Porter and Haggans are younger than Berry, but it's small consolation for Arizona. You're right about the young guys needing to step forward. I could see Porter getting close to double-digit sacks even though Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. thinks Porter has declined dramatically. Others have said Porter collected "cheap" sacks in recent seasons. Cheap ones are better than none at all. This group probably isn't going to decline dramatically. It wasn't all that great last season. Okeafor is out of the league, after all, and Berry retired.

Inside linebacker

Branden: Losing Karlos Dansby will be difficult to overcome because he was a jack of all trades. However, I'm not as high on him as many others were -- Dansby had no Pro Bowls -- and I'm glad the Cardinals did not overpay for him. The addition of Paris Lenon as a stopgap and the drafting of Daryl Washington should help somewhat, but the injury to Gerald Hayes is a major issue. This group is thin and I believe the Cardinals will look to add a veteran when cuts are made. Verdict: worse.

Sando: There's little getting around the problems Arizona faces at this position. We can talk about the defensive line being strong enough to cover somewhat, and that might be the case once Williams develops at nose tackle, but we're not fooling anyone in the meantime. The Cardinals tried to sign Keith Bulluck, but they lost him to the New York Giants. They also claimed Alex Hall off waivers, but the Giants beat them to the punch on that one, too, thanks to a higher waiver priority. Expect Arizona to keep monitoring the waiver wire here.

Cornerback

Branden: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is a Pro Bowler, so that helps with one side of the field. Bryant McFadden, traded back to Pittsburgh this offseason, was not much help on the other side last year, but he fared well in run situations. Greg Toler has the physical tools to be a good corner, but he is raw and needs to show his ability this preseason. Michael Adams is a special-teamer and the others, including Trumaine McBride, are OK backups. The Cardinals generally bring multiple safeties on the field in passing situations, so depth isn't a huge concern, but it's a valid question. The performance of this group hinges on DRC's ability to stay healthy and Toler's performance. Verdict: same or better if Toler steps up.

Sando: The Cardinals aren't afraid to make changes, that's for sure. They could have stuck with McFadden, but his contract was a little steep for what they were getting in return. Whisenhunt seemed quite strong in his praise for Toler and he generally isn't wrong on these things. There's potential for this group to drop off, though. At least McFadden was a known quantity. The Cardinals take pride in developing young players and they'll need to be right on Toler to justify their decisions at the position.

Safety

Branden: Adrian Wilson is one of the five best safeties in the league, and it is a shame more people don't realize that. I think Kerry Rhodes will actually be an upgrade over Rolle as he knows where he is supposed to be, while Rolle was just learning the free safety position. I think Rolle has the potential to be better in the long run, but the starting tandem should be fine. Second-year man Rashad Johnson needs to step up and perform to the high praise from college coach Nick Saban. He just seemed lost last year. Matt Ware is a solid backup and plays well in passing situations. Hamza Abdullah is also a decent backup. Verdict: same, with the ability to be better in passing situations.

Sando: I've found informed fans to be a bit overly critical of safeties. I'm not saying that's the case with Branden, but there's definitely a feeling among some Arizona fans that Rolle was overrated and Rhodes will actually provide an upgrade. I don't really see it athletically or for the long term, but acquiring Rhodes showed the Cardinals had a plan once Rolle's contract forced their hand. The Cardinals seem encouraged by what they're seeing from Johnson recently. I heard nothing positive about him last season. Re-signing Ware stood out as an underrated move. He's had some value as one of the first defensive backs off the bench.

Defense overall

Branden: The Cardinals had more than 40 sacks last season and I think they can achieve that number again this year with their defensive line and some contribution from the outside linebacker position. I'm concerned about their inside linebackers' ability to stop the run, but again, I think much of that hinges on their ability to penetrate up front. The secondary has a chance to be very good, but I'm not sold. This was not a spectacular unit last year as evidenced by their giving up 90 points in two playoff games. They are more acquainted with the scheme and I think Billy Davis is a good defensive coordinator, but he will have to get creative again this year. The offense will not be scoring 50-plus points this year, so this unit will have to perform well for ...

Sando: Branden's evaluation cut off there for some reason, but that's OK. We've got a deep roster of contributors and I'll lean on them for the rest of this exercise. The last point Branden raised was the one I wanted to touch upon in this space. It'll be tougher getting to 40 sacks again with fewer points on the board. It'll be easier, in theory, for the other team to stick with its running game. That appears problematic for Arizona given the issues at inside linebacker. But if Hayes can return in September, perhaps the Cardinals can stabilize the middle of their defense. They're fortunate to have such a terrific box safety in Wilson. I'll now turn to Cardinals fan Jack for the section on special teams.

Special teams

Jack: I'm very excited about the special teams of the Cardinals, actually. Stephens-Howling performed quite well as a rookie returning kicks, and he should do even better this year now that he has his feet wet. Breaston didn't do well returning punts last season, so the Cardinals need to make a change, particularly with Breaston as the No. 2 receiver. I hope Andre Roberts gets a shot. As for the kickers, I hope that Jay Feely will be more consistent than Neil Rackers. Ben Graham was great last season, and I expect the same from him this year. Verdict: better.

Sando: Rackers did some great things during his tenure in Arizona, but seeing him line up in the clutch was enough to make even non-fans nervous for him. Kicker is one position where teams can plug in free agents pretty easily, so Arizona could be fine with Feely. Stephens-Howling is already one of the best special-teams players in the league. He deserves Pro Bowl consideration. Cards fan Jacob is on deck with a look at the coaching.

Coaching

Jacob: What more can be done by Whisenhunt? He is a proven winner and has taken this Cardinals franchise to heights never before imagined. Russ Grimm is widely considered one of the best head-coaching candidates. People will bang on the fact that the cardinals play in the NFC West and have been inconsistent at times throughout the year. However, they are 4-2 in the playoffs under Whisenhunt with both losses to the Super Bowl champions. Winning in the playoffs comes down to game plans, managing the emotions of the game and players -- and that is where Whisenhunt excels. His best coaching job will be showcased this year if the Cardinals can capture another division title. Verdict: same or better.

Sando: I'm sure Whisenhunt is relishing the challenge. The Cardinals are being counted out prematurely. Whisenhunt will probably get the most from them. The coaching staff will deserve high praise if Leinart develops into a winning quarterback. Whisenhunt's Arizona legacy is largely established. He can only help it this season. With that, we go back to Jack for the final two sections.

Schedule

Jack: I'd love to see the Cardinals take advantage of playing the AFC West this season. They still do have some tough games, though, most notably against Dallas, San Diego, Minnesota and New Orleans. Still, if they don't get eight or nine victories out of this schedule, it will be a disappointment.

Sando: Three of the first four games are on the road. The fifth game is at home -- against the Super Bowl-champion New Orleans Saints. Welcome back to the lineup, Matt Leinart. Finishing the season against Dallas and San Francisco gives the Cardinals an opportunity to gain ground in the NFC, but neither game will be easy.

Final thoughts

Jack: I want so badly to say the Cardinals are better than the 49ers. They can be, but they'll have to prove it. Perhaps the Cardinals' best chance is to take advantage of an easy schedule and snag a wild-card spot. I believe they'll get eight or nine victories, though. I hope for more.

Sando: The Cardinals won 10 games last season with more talent. It's reasonable to expect them to slip back into the 8-8 range. That's where I see the Cardinals finishing and it'll be no shock if they fail to reach .500 for the first time under Whisenhunt. This is a transition year. They'll find out whether Leinart is their quarterback and if they win more than eight games along the way, or even if they avoid a losing season, I'd consider 2010 a success.

OK, so we've covered every NFC West team but the Arizona Cardinals in our series examining whether these teams have improved.

Facebook friend Barrett came through with offensive breakdowns on the Cardinals, but I could use short paragraphs on the defensive line, inside linebackers, outside linebackers, cornerbacks, safeties, defense overall, special teams, coaching, schedule and final thoughts. Each section needs a "verdict" of better, worse or same.

If you're a Cardinals fan priding yourself on taking a reasonably objective view, please send contributions to me via Facebook or the mailbag and we'll get this item off the ground.

Thanks much!

Jesper from Denmark continues to see his NFC West blog legacy grow.

What began as his critical look at the St. Louis Rams has turned into a four-part series. We're back with a look at the San Francisco 49ers after covering the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday.

Thanks to all who reached out and volunteered to engage me in conversation. Facebook friend Aaron was the first to come through with his thoughts, so here we go ...

Quarterback

Aaron: Alex Smith is coming off of his best statistical season and for the first time in his career is going to have a true No. 1 receiver in Michael Crabtree, a Pro Bowl target in Vernon Davis and the same offensive coordinator. There are still questions about whether he can put the team on his back and win, but if he can show some of what he did against Seattle back in 2007, then there is a chance he could start climbing the QB ranks. David Carr has more arm strength than Shaun Hill and might finally be over his shell-shocking in Houston. Nate Davis has the tools as a No. 3 quarterback who can develop. Verdict: improved just because Alex will be more comfortable and farther ahead in the playbook than a year before.

Sando: I'd rather have Hill than Carr as a backup if I were the 49ers. He won games as the 49ers' starter, knew the offense and had the respect of teammates. I also understood the thinking in going with a more physically talented player. The 49ers wanted someone with more long-term starting potential. The 49ers should be better at quarterback as Smith becomes more experienced in the system.

Running back

Aaron: Frank Gore is Frank Gore; I love him he does everything you want a back to do. He has the power you don’t expect out of someone his size. His ankles are what worry me, though. Two years in a row, he has had to miss games because of them. Glen Coffee and Anthony Dixon have not earned any of my trust. It almost feels like they are slower less powerful versions of Gore, with worse vision. Verdict: same or slightly better because the offensive line should improve.

Sando: Coffee should be improved in his second season. As a rookie, he was thrown into the lineup before he was ready and struggled behind a floundering line. As with quarterback, I think the situation has improved more than the talent has improved. The 49ers have had an offseason to set up their offense in a way that suits Gore and Smith together. They essentially had two offenses last season, one for Gore and one for Smith. There's still reason to wonder whether a back best suited for running out of the I-formation can produce consistently playing with a quarterback most comfortable with spread-type formations. But the 49ers have had plenty of time to remedy the situation. Gore should be in better position as a result.

Wide receiver

Aaron: Crabtree gets a full offseason to get the playbook and develop chemistry with Smith. He looked like a pro when he came in and now he truly gets to show his stuff. I see a possible Pro Bowler. Josh Morgan is a solid No. 2 who can show flashes of breaking away. Ted Ginn Jr. -- if he catches the ball -- can be a game-changer from the slot or out wide. Even if he's just a decoy, Ginn will help with what I feel is the one weakness on offense -- speed. Jason Hill, I love, and I wish he could stay healthy and get a good chance. I feel he'd be a better No. 2. In the games he's played in, he's produced. The rest of the guys are playing for the No. 5 spot on the team. I'm not so sure Brandon Jones will make it or is worth what we spent on him. Verdict: better.

Mike Sando: The 49ers haven't had the personnel at this position recently to justify putting three wide receivers on the field during early downs at the expense of Delanie Walker or Moran Norris. Their three-receiver stuff was reserved mostly for third downs last season. This is one area where the 49ers need to diversify. Ginn is the key variable. The threat of what he can do could matter as much as what he actually does. The speed factor could upgrade this largely inexperienced group. The 49ers' wide receivers have 26 career touchdowns. Only the Rams' wideouts have fewer (13) among division teams. That isn't necessarily bad, but it's a reminder that this group must prove itself. Isaac Bruce's retirement opens a roster spot for a player who might develop. Crabtree should improve with a full offseason of practice.

(Read full post)

Jesper from Denmark took over the NFC West blog Tuesday with his dispassionate dissection of the St. Louis Rams.

Are the Rams really any better?

The question generated discussion on the blog and on my Facebook wall, with some Rams fans taking offense.

Four hours after the item posted, Doug from Yelm, Wash., hit my inbox with a corresponding 700-word dissection of the Seattle Seahawks. I've known Doug for years. Our kids used to play together. Our families get together around the Fourth of July. He's a huge Seahawks fan, but also a realist.

"Jesper from Denmark graced the NFC West mailbag with a position-by-position evaluation of the Rams," Doug wrote. "It would be nice to have the same type of fan-expert breakdown of all the NFC West teams."

And so our Seahawks discussion began.

Quarterback

Doug: Matt Hasselbeck suffered another injury last season on the goal line in San Francisco. He was decent without being spectacular. We can expect more of the same. Charlie Whitehurst won’t be asked to carry this team unless things go south quickly. Verdict: worse.

Sando: There were times in our Rams evaluation when we acknowledged improved depth without saying a position would improve from a talent standpoint. I think we can apply that thinking here. Seattle has strengthened its depth behind Hasselbeck by acquiring Whitehurst and third-stringer J.P. Losman. I wouldn't say Seattle is worse at the position. As long as Hasselbeck is healthy -- and at this point Doug is probably looking at his watch -- the Seahawks will be better at quarterback.

Running back

Doug: This position provides the biggest question mark for the Seahawks. The starter right now is mostly likely Justin Forsett. Julius Jones' role is undefined. Leon Washington has a chance to improve this area if he’s healthy. Verdict: worse.

Mike Sando: This position looks like a wash to me. The team had Edgerrin James and T.J. Duckett early last season. Both are long gone. Forsett appears to be ascending. Jones is decent at running, receiving and blocking. Washington is the wild card. Teams avoided running backs through most of the draft and I can't blame Seattle for addressing other areas. I'll be looking to see if Quinton Ganther becomes a factor on some level. Seattle has to be hoping its Mike Shanahan-style offense can produce Shanahan-style results in the running game without an elite back on the roster.

Wide receiver

Doug: T.J. Houshmandzadeh is really a No. 2-type receiver and Deion Branch has papier-mache joints. Deon Butler, Mike Williams and Ben Obomanu have potential but somebody needs to break out. Golden Tate could make this a much improved area. Verdict: Better, barely.

Sando: Tate looked great this offseason, but I'm usually skeptical about rookie receivers making strong contributions. It's probably not a good sign when Williams is a key X factor, but if he reports to training camp in shape, the Seahawks could be onto something. Nate Burleson was the only key departure from this group. I'd say Seattle is slightly worse here unless Branch or Williams comes through.

Tight end

Doug: John Carlson is in his prime and should produce at an even higher level. Cameron Morrah proved to be a solid backup and a good blocking tight end. Verdict: Same.

Sando: Don't forget about Chris Baker and Anthony McCoy, Doug. This is one position where I think the Seahawks have done a nice job upgrading. John Owens is gone and that should help the quarterbacks' completion percentage. The Seahawks will use two tight ends quite a bit. Baker and McCoy should upgrade the depth behind Carlson.

Offensive line

Doug: This was the biggest problem for Seattle last year. Russell Okung solidifies the left tackle spot and even as a rookie he will be better than the patchwork situation last year. Ben Hamilton is a proven starter with a firm grasp of the zone blocking scheme. Verdict: better.

Sando: We're on the same page with Okung. Even if Okung is average, he'll be better than what the Seahawks had at the position after about Week 6 last season. I'm expecting better here, no question.

Offense overall

Doug: This will be the second year in a row the Seahawks try to adopt a new system. Last year, the offense (and Hasselbeck in particular) didn’t buy into the coach’s vision. The whole offense feels like a question mark this year -- Hasselbeck’s successor on the sideline, a mix of veterans and young guys, and a bad running game that was not addressed in the offseason. Verdict: worse.

Sando: It'll come down to health at quarterback, same as last season. We'll also find out whether Hasselbeck can fit into this offensive scheme comfortably. The new staff values mobility at quarterback and Hasselbeck, though not slow, isn't all that fast, either. Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates looks like more of an up-and-comer than his predecessor, and with an improved line, Seattle should be better on offense.

Defensive end

Doug: Patrick Kerney’s retirement was way overblown. The need for a pass rush has been there since Kerney was last effective, way back in 2007. Chris Clemons and Lawrence Jackson are not going to set the world on fire. Verdict: worse.

Sando: Carroll sounds sold on Red Bryant at one end spot, though obviously not in a pass-rushing capacity. I'm a little skeptical, but we'll see. Adding Clemons for Darryl Tapp will not make a huge difference. This group looks about the same, minus the false hope that Kerney would revive his career. The Seahawks still do not know where they're going to get their pass rush.

Defensive tackle

Doug: Colin Cole, Brandon Mebane and Craig Terrill are good, but I’m not expecting to see them in the Pro Bowl. Verdict: same.

Sando: I wonder whether Terrill will earn a roster spot this season. You didn't mention Kevin Vickerson, acquired from Tennessee. I'm not seeing a huge change here, either.

Linebacker

Doug: A strength for the Seahawks and their deepest position. Lofa Tatupu, Leroy Hill and Aaron Curry are All-Pro level linebackers. David Hawthorne might be the best non-starting linebacker in the NFL. Verdict: better.

Sando: When was the last time those three linebackers played anywhere near an elite level? It's been a couple years for Tatupu. Hill has been on the cusp, but he has not really delivered. And Curry hasn't proved himself in the NFL. Hawthorne is a good backup. I'll agree that this group should improve. Tatupu is back from injury. Hill and Curry have lots to prove. Hawthorne has much to gain. Injuries are still a concern. Tatupu, Hill and Curry played together less than one full game last season. It gets old hearing about how great Seattle is at the position. Time to produce.

Cornerback

Doug: After returning from injury, Marcus Trufant was flat-out embarrassed at times last season. Kelly Jennings is not a shutdown corner. Walter Thurmond will be called on early in the season and he may still be suffering from a knee injury. Verdict: worse.

Sando: Trufant should be healthier and more comfortable this season and that will upgrade the position. You did not mention Josh Wilson, a good player and better corner than Jennings, who isn't bad. Ken Lucas is gone, but I do not see a huge drop-off from last season. Remember, too, that rookie safety Earl Thomas is a coverage player.

Safety

Doug: By all accounts, Earl Thomas is a stud and he immediately upgrades the Seahawks at safety. Kam Chancellor is a big, physical safety who should contribute right away. Jordan Babineaux and Lawyer Milloy add versatility and depth, but not much play making. Verdict: better, only because of Thomas.

Sando: Thomas does upgrade this group. The team should get more from Milloy this season. I could even see him starting and providing a veteran presence -- someone Carroll can trust to do the right thing. Milloy was the only member of the secondary to provide true toughness last season, I thought. He is old, but also old-school.

Defense overall

Doug: The Seahawks' defense was the only thing that kept them in the games they were competitive in last season. If they can get a pass rush from the outside, either at linebacker or defensive end, they will be much better. Verdict: better.

Sando: Seattle's defense needs more points on the board, so the progress the Seahawks make on offense will be a key variable here, too. I question where this team will get its pass rush, but the team will have a hard time being worse in that department. I'll agree that the defense should be improved with Trufant healthier, Tatupu back, Thomas at safety and Curry taking a step forward.

Coaching

Doug: This team gave up on Jim Mora last year. He called guys out (remember the Olindo Mare incident?) and constantly pleaded with the team to give a better effort. They never bought it. Carroll brings in a lot of recent success from the college ranks, plus enough NFL experience to know what he’s getting into. Verdict: better.

Sando: Carroll will benefit from a better climate in the front office and improved organizational stability. I also think his temperament is better suited for weathering tough times. He'll be more consistent that way and the team will respond more favorably. Bates' addition intrigues me. As noted, I sense he could be an up-and-coming assistant.

Schedule

Doug: Last season featured three road games in a row, Thanksgiving in Dallas and a road game against Green Bay in December. The schedule is better this season with four of the final six games at home and only three games kicking off at 10 a.m. PT. Verdict: better.

Sando: The schedule is tougher early in the season and an 0-3 start against the San Francisco 49ers (home), Denver Broncos (road) and San Diego Chargers (home) is certainly possible. Seattle has to like the schedule later in the season, though. Finishing at home against the Rams was a plus.

Final thoughts

Doug: Carroll brings an energetic, hopeful attitude, but it comes at a price because the Seahawks will be under their third head coach in as many seasons. This team needed a shakeup and new scheming, but results won’t happen overnight. They will be more competitive. I just don’t see how they can make the playoffs. Verdict: better (7-9).

Sando: Six or seven victories seem reasonable and it's a huge step forward if the team can get to 8-8. I expect the Seahawks to handle adversity better than they did last season. That should prevent them from falling off a cliff the way they did in 2009. It's also fair to wonder whether Hasselbeck can stay healthy and whether the team can rush the passer. Problems in those two areas could doom Seattle to another disappointing season.

Jesper from Denmark graced the NFC West mailbag with a position-by-position evaluation of the St. Louis Rams. He thinks the team has gotten worse at several positions. He also thinks I've been a little too optimistic in my assessments of the team's prospects for 2010. I liked the clear, concise way Jesper presented his case. I'll pass along his thoughts and add my own.

Quarterback

Jesper: Marc Bulger is better than A.J. Feeley. Sam Bradford is a rookie who has not been described as very pro ready. Verdict: worse.

Sando: The Rams' outlook at the position has improved, but you're right about the short-term prospects. I think the Rams would be foolish to open the regular season with Bradford at quarterback, even if Bradford looks better than Feeley during training camp. Bulger had five touchdowns, six interceptions and a 70.7 rating last season. I'm not expecting much better from the Rams at that position this season.

Running back

Jesper: Steven Jackson had more than 350 touches last season. He is coming off back surgery. It's hard to imagine him producing the same numbers, and there has been no attempt to get a decent backup. Verdict: At best the same/possibly worse.

Sando: I see this position as a downgrade for sure simply because it's unrealistic to expect the same production from Jackson following back surgery. This position could turn into a big problem for the Rams if Jackson breaks down physically. However, there's a good chance Jackson will be a productive player this season, based on my conversations with ESPN injury expert Stephania Bell.

Wide receiver

Jesper: Laurent Robinson is back from injury, but can we really judge him from seeing him play 2.5 games last year? Can he even stay healthy? Avery's receptions and yardage went down in his second season and he has in no way lived up to his status as the first receiver drafted in 2008. Then you've got a bunch of no-names, and Mardy Gilyard, a rookie (how often do rookie receivers produce?). Verdict: same.

Sando: This group could improve through better health. I agree that some of the guys appear prone to injuries. Brandon Gibson was a player you might have mentioned. Overall, though, it's not a stretch to say this group appears similar to last season. I would expect some improvement, though.

(Read full post)