Mattie T’s 2009 NFL Season Preview: NFC West
Written by The Go-To-Man Mattie T. on September 6, 2009
Can the Arizona Cardinals succesfully avoid the popular “post Super Bowl” curse?
(Teams are listed based on last season’s division standings)
1. Arizona Cardinals (9-7 last season, lost to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLIII)
Head Coach: Ken Whisenhunt (3rd year with team)
Mattie T’s Analysis: Kurt Warner briefly considered retirement after having a season for the ages. The Cardinals are surely happy with his decision.
Warner threw for 4,583 passing yards & 30 touchdowns in 2008, which are his highest totals since leading the Rams to Super Bowl XXXVI in ’01.
He will welcome the return of Anquan Boldin, who threatened an offseason trade due to complaints over his current deal.
Boldin did catch 89 passes last season for 1,038 receiving yards & hauled in a career-high 11 touchdown receptions, which is impressive after seeing what his teammate Larry Fitzgerald did.
Fitzgerald hauled in a career-high 1,431 receiving yards & 12 touchdowns on 96 receptions, while having an INCREDIBLE postseason in which he hauled in over 100 receiving yards in all 4 games, which included Super Bowl XLIII.
Warner might have a new starting running back to hand off to, as rookie Beanie Wells from Ohio State seems as the emerging candidate to start the season opener on September 13th against San Francisco.
Arizona is looking for more leadership out of 2nd year starter Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who has the trust of the coaching staff despite struggling at times this preseason.
Bryant McFadden comes over after spending the last 4 seasons with Pittsburgh & will start at right cornerback alongside Rodgers-Cromartie.
Mattie T’s 2009 Prediction: 9-7
2. San Francisco 49ers (7-9 last season, missed playoffs)
Head Coach: Mike Singletary (2nd year with team)
Mattie T’s Analysis: Will he or won’t be sign?
The big story in San Francisco evoles around rookie wide receiver Mike Crabtree, who continues his holdout in hopes of getting a better contract offer from the team.
New offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye is vowing for a more run-heavy offensive approach this season, which should bode well for Frank Gore.
Gore has strung together 3 consecutive seasons of 1,000 rushing yards or more & could be spelled at times by rookie Glen Coffee, who has impressed the coaching staff during the pre-season.
Shaun Hill will start at quarterback, but he hasn’t appeared in more than 9 games since joining the NFL in 2005.
The 49ers are led by their outstanding 3rd year linebacker Patrick Willis on defense, who finished 2nd in the NFL last season with 141 total tackles.
Mattie T’s 2009 Prediction: 4-12
3. Seattle Seahawks (4-12 last season, missd playoffs)
Head Coach: Jim Mora (1st year with team)
Mattie T’s Analysis: Seattle’s chances of winning the division will rest on the back of Matt Hasselbeck, who appeared in just 7 games last season.
Hasselback will have a new receiver to throw to, as the Seahawks welcome T.J. Houshmandzadeh as their #1 wideout.
Houshmandzadeh has been on the verge for several years on a huge breakout season, as he has caught at least 70 receptions for 900 yards or more in each of the last 5 years.
John Carlson had an impressive rookie season despite playing with three different quarterbacks, as the tight end from Notre Dame caught a team-high 55 receptions for 627 yards & scored 5 touchdowns.
Newly signed running back Edgerrin James could wind up stealing carries away from Julius Jones, who has had a less than stellar preseason at running back.
There will be a change at free safety, as the Seahawks are expected to sign veteran Lawyer Milloy very soon.
Former Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch could be released very soon, as the wide receiver is still battling knee problems & is scheduled to make $5 million this season.
Mattie T’s 2009 Prediction: 9-7
4. St. Louis Rams (2-14 last season, missed playoffs)
Head Coach: Steve Spagnuolo (1st year with team)
Mattie T’s Analysis: The Rams enter the 2009 season with big question marks both offensively & defensively.
It starts with quarterback Marc Bulger, who has put together two straight subpar seasons since throwing for a career-high 4,301 yards & 24 passing touchdowns in 2006.
St. Louis is looking to find a #1 receiver with the departure of Torry Holt to Jacksonville, as sparingly used Laurent Robinson is currently ranked as the team’s top wideout.
Alex Barron will get the first opportunity to start at left offensive tackle following the free-agency depature of Orlando Pace, who is now with the Chicago Bears.
Leading tackler Pisa Tinoisamoa is gone as well, as he will also join Pace in Chicago.
Mattie T’s 2009 Prediction: 1-15
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