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Crystal Ball - CRYSTAL BALL: RUMBLIN' THROUGH THE WEST

Will McNair be punished?
Posted On: 5/12/07
Written By:  
Dev Panchwagh
CRYSTAL BALL: RUMBLIN' THROUGH THE WEST CRYSTAL BALL: RUMBLIN' THROUGH THE WEST
My initial prediction of how the league will come down on Steve McNair’s indiscretion is that it will be somewhat merciful. While NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has been handing out suspensions like new fathers hand out cigars, he may see too much gray area in McNair’s case to act accordingly.
 
McNair should receive a hefty fine, but I highly doubt that he will miss any playing time…
 
All of a sudden, the NFC West looks like the most competitive and deep conference in the NFC. Seattle has reigned supreme as the division bullies for the past three seasons, but their perch at the top will be heavily contested. In fact, one can make an argument that the Seahawks are the least talented team in the division.
 
St. Louis bolstered an already explosive offense by adding pass-catchers Randy McMichael and Drew Bennett, and drafting hybrid tailback Brian Leonard. Arizona added bulk and toughness to its offensive and defensive lines when it plucked Levi Jones and Alan Branch out of the 2007 draft class. Meanwhile, the 49ers seemingly added a brand new roster, bringing in a glut of players through free agency and the draft.
 
And then there is Seattle, a team that dealt with major injuries to its roster but still managed to make the postseason last season and pushed Chicago to the brink in the divisional round. If stars Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselbeck are able to stay healthy this season, the Hawks could once again be counted among the top Super Bowl contenders in the conference.

Which team will end up making the biggest jump?
 
Like many so-called “experts,” I too liked Arizona a year ago. So I picked the wrong season for them to make an appearance in the postseason. This year should be the year that the morbid franchise finally shows some life.
 
First and foremost, the new coaching staff headed by Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm is a tough-minded, blue-collar group. They will make sure that if nothing else, the Arizona Cardinals will put up a physical fight every Sunday.
 
The offense should reach its full potential. Led by second-year quarterback Matt Leinart, this is a group that can strike big through the air. The trio of Boldin, Fitzgerald and Johnson is as good as any set of receivers across the league.
 
On defense, Arizona has an emerging secondary and a quick front four. The addition of Branch to the middle of the line could pay great dividends, as he is the mammoth, space-eating nose guard the unit needed to anchor inside. 
 
All in all, there could be two, maybe even three teams to earn playoff bids out of the West. But expect the Cardinals to lead the way…
 
An interesting subplot could develop in Oakland. While the Raiders seem set to redshirt rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell for the 2007 season, don’t count on that plan staying true.
 
The incumbent starter, Josh McCown, is an exciting player who can make plays on the run, but he is also inconsistent and tends to take too many gambles with the football.
 
At some point (I will say Week 7) he will play his way out of the starting job, paving the way for JaMarcus Russell to start his run as Oakland’s franchise signal caller.

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Posted On: 5/12/07
Written By:  
Dev Panchwagh

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