2007 NFC West Division Preview
by Marc Lawrence

Following the dominating, glory days of the 49ers and Rams of yesteryear, the NFC West Division has suddenly applied a facelift, and the new look is beginning to look good. Three relatively new head coaches are on the scene and it appears this division has come full circle. Here is my take of teams in the NFC West Division for 2007. Be sure to check out the rest of my 2007 NFL Previews updated throughout the summer. Enjoy...

Arizona:
Dennis Green’s Cardinals proved to be a not-so-wise guys pick among the experts last season. After concluding the 2005 campaign on a promising note, out-gaining every opponent in their final nine games of the season, they quickly reverted to their losing ways in 2006. Green was given the pink slip and was replaced by Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt. In addition, former Steelers assistant coach Russ Grimm, with a chip on his shoulder, joins him in the desert. Their first priority was to revamp the offensive line with first round draft choice Levi Brown (Penn State). Given protection, QB Matt Leinhart has a ton of ability and a lot of talent at his disposal. A strong off-season conditioning camp rapidly got the team refocused. Now it’s up to coach Ken to put all the pieces together and get Arizona back into the hunt. Play against Arizona at San Francisco.

St. Louis:
Under first-year head coach Scott Linehan, the Rams made the kind of progress owners like to see. If not for a five-game slump at mid-season, they may have made it to the post-season. A deeper look inside last year’s 8-8 campaign shows the Rams were 11-5 ITS (In The Stats), with three of the five stat losses by a mere nine yards each. With the right personnel, those are the kind of building blocks that can make strong foundations. Speaking of personnel, former Pro Bowl TE Randy McMichael (Dolphins) signed on as a free agent and reunites with Linehan. He’ll join a huge, talented offensive line that averages 310 lbs per man. Together they hope to form an impregnable wall for QB Marc Bulger and RB Steven Jackson, themselves Pro Bowlers. Playoff tickets look to be in order this year. Play on St. Louis vs. Pittsburgh (key as a pick or underdog).

San Francisco:
The Niners enjoyed one of the league’s best off-seasons this year. Aside from hitting a home run in the draft for the second year in a row, first round pick LB Patrick Willis (Mississippi), the SEC defensive player of the year, they reeled in some impressive talent via the free agent market. CB Nate Clements (Bills) and S Michael Lewis (Eagles) will make immediate impacts in the defensive backfield, while WR’s Darrell Jackson (Seahawks) and Ashley Lelie (Falcons) will certainly aid in the maturation of QB Alex Smith. Head coach Mike Nolan hopes third round selection Ray McDonald (Florida) will replace 13-year veteran DE Bryant Young sooner than later. Frisco made huge strides on both sides of the ball in 2006, offense plus 79 YPG; defense plus 48 YPG, and looks to be rounding the corner. Play against San Francisco vs. Pittsburgh.

Seattle:
Thanks to four fourth quarter game-winning field goals in the final minute of play last year, the Seahawks snapped a skein of five consecutive Super Bowl losers that had failed to make the playoffs the following season. Not satisfied with that feat, and in an effort to improve the team, Seattle stayed busy in the off-season recruiting new personnel. A new safety tandem, Deon Grant (Jaguars) and Brian Russell (Browns), had coaches gushing in spring camp. The new person with the most impact, however, will be Jim Mora Jr. The former Falcons’ boss, and defensive coordinator with San Francisco, becomes Mike Holmgren’s first assistant coach and figures to have a strong impact on the team’s defense. Now that they have overcome the dreaded Super Bowl Losers jinx, look for the Seahawks to stave off the Rams for supremacy in the West. Play on Seattle as an underdog at Carolina.

Remember to get Marc Lawrence’s Guaranteed NFL Football Winners this year right here at Vegas Experts, where you only pay after you win! And don’t forget to check out Marc’s 2007 College Football Previews, with free College Football Picks on nearly every team!