Of course Arizona Cardinals tickets rule the West. How could they not? After years of futility the Cards got hot, banging their way through the playoffs with the hot arm of the ageless Kurt Warner and the astounding performance of Larry Fitzgerald. Success makes Arizona the newest target in the division. Will they revert to form or suffer the fate of so many Super Bowl participants in the past?
Arizona Cardinals Tickets – Anticipation has made Arizona Cardinals tickets the cream of the crop in the NFC West. Just making the NFL playoffs may have been Ok last year. Now, nothing less than a win in the Super Bowl will suffice. The Cardinals will return Kurt Warner, who has a firm grip on the quarterback spot despite the presence of Matt Leinart. With The Edge gone, the onus for the running game falls on the capable legs of #1 pick Beanie Wells out of Ohio State. Tim Hightower will provide capable backup. Larry Fitzgerald may be the best receiver in the NFL and Anquan Boldin is in the Top 10. On defense the addition of Bryant McFadden upgrades a weakness in the secondary, giving Antrell Rolle more freedom to be a headhunter. Overall the Cardinals should live up to the hype and win the NFC West.
Seattle Seahawks Tickets – The Seahawks have a new head coach in Jim Mora and a pair of new coordinators. Otherwise the Seahawks will return a familiar roster but one that hopefully won’t be devestated by injury like 2008. Matt Hassellbeck is supposedly completely recovered from back injuries. Again, injuries hampered Deion Branch and Nate Burleson, but they’ve been labeled healthy for now. Tapping Houshmandzadeh in the free agent market should provide insurance and extra power when everyone’s on the field. Finally, the running game has been handed to Julius Jones, the former Cowboy, who struggled in the Seahawks system last season but should be a better fit under Greg Knapps zone blocking system.
On defense Mora has his D-line getting bigger and need Pattrick Kerney to return to form. The linebacker corp should be improved with the pick of Aaron Curry of Wake Forset. Leroy Hill is back after an unsuccesful foray into free agency, and with Lofa Tatupa in the middle Seattle can field a solid group.
My pick- Seattle is 2nd in the NFC West
San Francisco 49ers Tickets – Well do I remember the glory days of the 49ers. It seems like eons ago. Mike Singletary will put his stamp on this unit. Of that I have no doubt. I do have doubts about the quarterback position, just like every other 49ers ticket holder. Alex Smith will be given one final season to prove he’s worth keeping on the roster. After that, San Francisco will was their hands of him. Right now Shaun Hill leads by a nose, based on a winning percentage in the 10 games he’s started. Offensive line problems will play heavily into the mix. Former Pro Bowl linemen Marvel Smith could help, as could the improvement of Chilo Rachal.
If any squad on this team should sing Mike Singletary it’s the defense. Singletary settled everyone into regular position for continuity, and has jacked up the intensity noticeably. Takeo Spikes, Parys Haralson, Patrick Willis, and Manny Lawson reap the benefit of Singletary’s experience and motivation. It all adds up to #3 in the NFC West though while the reconstruction takes root.
St. Louis Rams Tickets- The Rams finished 2-14 last season. Jim Haslett is gone. Former Giants coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is nw the head coach, bringing a New York philosophy of team and loyalty to St. Louis. Spag has cleaned house, booting Orlando Pace and Torry Holt from the team. Marc Bulger has been excellent when he’s got a supporting cast and Spag will stick with the former Pro Bowl QB. The running game is on Steve Jackson, a bull with all the talent needed. Some have questioned his endurance but adding former Saint Mike Karny as fullback shoul keep Jackson healthier. Jettisoning Holt and Drew Bennett leaves Donnie Avery, Derek Stanley, Keenan Burton, and Laurent Robinson to battle for spots in the wide receiver group. A leader needs to emerge. No major moves on defense means the Rams occupy the cellar of the NFC West in 2009.