Keys to Training Camp: NFC West

  Posted 7/24 by Jason Wood, Exclusive to Footballguys.com

Arizona Cardinals

Link: http://www.azcardinals.com

Location: Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ)

Dates: July 23 - August 21

Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

Preseason Game Schedule

• 8/07 - New Orleans (8 PM EST)
• 8/16 - @Kansas City (8 PM EST)
• 8/23 - @Oakland (9 PM EST)
• 8/29 - Denver (10 PM EST)

Key Questions

• Getting the financial house in order - The Cardinals have a lot of key players unsigned or unhappy with their current deals. Kurt Warner wants incentives in case he starts games again. CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie's agent and the team remain "far apart." WR Anquan Boldin and DT Darnell Dockett will be in camp but both want new deals. Franchise LB Karlos Dansby remains unsigned. The Cardinals can't afford to have that many key contributors distracted by financial issues in camp, not if they want to take another step forward in 2008.


• Time for Matt Leinart to grow up - Say what you will about Leinart's partying but the time is now for Leinart to cement himself as the team's franchise QB. Kurt Warner is more than capable of handling the offense in his stead and Leinart has to thrive on the competition versus back pedaling from it.


• Will Tim Hightower really eat into Edgerrin James' touches? - Hard to believe a 5th rounder out of Richmond is really a threat for playing time but the coaches have raved about the 6'0", 226 pounder. The Cardinals may be looking at a committee approach with Hightower handling short yardage situations while James cleans up between the 20s.


• Will the new secondary Rolle with the punches? - The Cardinals need to get Antrel Rolle comfortable at free safety in camp, and must work Adrian Wilson back into the mix as he comes back from heel surgery. Rolle's ability to adjust to free safety is possibly the difference between an elite secondary and an average one.

St. Louis Rams

Link: http://www.stlouisrams.com
Location: Concordia University Wisconsin (Mequon, WI)
Dates: July 24 - August 14
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

Preseason Game Schedule

• 8/07 - @Tennessee (8 PM EST)
• 8/16 - San Diego (8 PM EST)
• 8/21 - Baltimore (8 PM EST)
• 8/28 - @Kansas City (8 PM EST)

Key Questions

• The Al Saunders' offense - Al Saunders wanted out of Washington after he was passed over for the new head coaching spot and he found a new home in St. Louis. The Rams need Saunders to stabilize a subpar offensive line and work his play-calling magic on a unit that has pieces in place but hasn't always been consistent under HC Scott Linehan. Saunders is a Don Coryell disciple and isn't looking at making wholesale changes, which is good news for veterans like Marc Bulger, Torry Holt and Steven Jackson.


• Is Pace going to play? - Orlando Pace is going to start camp on the PUP list for precautionary reasons. But at his age, coming back from a torn labrum is no small feat and the PUP news has to leave Rams fans wondering if he'll play at all. Look for Pace to get back in camp sooner rather than later, the longer he can't get on the field, the higher likelihood he could retire.


• Keeping Bulger and Jackson healthy - It seems obvious but the Rams need to treat Bulger and Jackson with kid gloves in training camp. Yes, they need to learn a new offense but without them on the field come the start of the regular season; it's another lost season in St. Louis.


• Replacing Isaac Bruce - The Rams have to figure out whether Drew Bennett is capable of holding down an NFL starting job and, if not, they need to hope rookie WR Donnie Avery is a fast learner. Avery is the long-term answer at the position but is he the short-term answer, too?


• Do the Rams have linebackers? - The Rams defense isn't going to win them many games, and the linebacking corps is the biggest culprit. Do the named Quinton Culberson, David Vobora, Tim McGarigle, Will Witherspoon and Pisa Tinoisamoa instill confidence in you? I didn't think so.

San Francisco 49ers

Link: http://www.49ers.com
Location: Marie DeBartolo Center (Santa Clara, CA)
Dates: July 24 - TBD
Open to the public? - Limited (see website for details)

Preseason Game Schedule

• 8/08 - @Oakland (10 PM EST)
• 8/16 - Green Bay (9 PM EST)
• 8/21 - @Chicago (8 PM EST)
• 8/29 - San Diego (7 PM EST)

Key Questions

• The Mad Mike Martz era begins - Mike Martz has been given the unenviable task of righting the 49ers offensive ship. If he's successful, he'll save Mike Nolan's job and put himself on the map for another head coaching spot. If he fails, expect a major overhaul from top to bottom. No pressure. Martz' two biggest challenges will be finding a QB to execute his spread passing attack and keeping said QB healthy behind a substandard offensive line.


• Alex Smith or Shaun Hill - By now you know the situation. Alex Smith is the former 1st overall pick with a high IQ and worlds of athleticism. He's up against the longshot journeyman who shocked everyone by playing lights out football in three emergency starts last year. If it were up to Martz, he would play the best man for the job. But the 49ers have a vested interest in letting Smith win the battle.


• Rebuilding the offensive line - Rookies Chilo Rachal and Cody Wallace will be in the mix with last year's starters as the 49ers try to field an above average line. Future Hall of Famer Larry Allen has hinted at coming back for one final season, which would be a welcome development for the 49ers offensive skill players and coaches alike.


• Establishing a WR pecking order - Arnaz Battle returns but isn't guaranteed a starting job. Isaac Bruce, a longtime Martz associate, seems likely to start on one side and free agent Bryant Johnson took a one-year deal to start in San Francisco with the hopes it will lead to a massive free agent contract next offseason.


• Can Justin Smith play linebacker? - Justin Smith was signed for free agent riches this offseason after a long career as a 4-3 defensive end in Cincinnati. But the team has lined him up at OLB in OTAs and may give him a try as a 3-4 'backer. Can Smith handle that role, particularly when he seems better suited to play 3-4 end than he did 4-3 end?

Seattle Seahawks

Link: http://www.seahawks.com
Location: Seahawks Practice Center (Kirkland, WA)
Dates: July 25 - August 18
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

Preseason Game Schedule

• 8/09 - @Minnesota (8 PM EST)
• 8/16 - Chicago (8 PM EST)
• 8/25 - @San Diego (8 PM EST)
• 8/29 - Oakland (7 PM EST)

Key Questions

• Splitting the RB workload - Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett join incumbent Maurice Morris in what looks to be a classic committee. But looks can be deceiving, particularly if Jones shows the same explosiveness that made a believer out of Bill Parcells in Dallas several years ago.


• Figuring out the WR tree - Bobby Engram wants a new deal, Deion Branch is going to miss significant time and Nate Burleson is just happy to finally have a starting spot locked up. But how will the rest of the WR corps shake out? Can Ben Obomanu or Courtney Taylor work their way into the rotation?


• Would Holmgren really start a rookie tight end? - Mike Holmgren isn't known for playing rookies much, particularly at a position as nuanced as tight end. But in his final season as a head coach, Holmgren has hinted that rookie TE John Carlson could be cut from a different cloth. If Will Heller or Jeb Putzier show anything in camp, Carlson probably sits but it's not a guarantee.


• A scrum for playing time at defensive tackle - Talk about a spirited camp battle; the Seahawks are looking for two starting defensive tackles and nothing is secure entering camp. Rocky Bernard and Marcus Tubbs are the odds on favorites, but Brandon Mebane, Red Bryant, Craig Terrill and Larry Tripplett will have something to say about that.


• Finding new returners - The Seahawks want to phase Nate Burleson out of the return game now that he's a full-time starter on offense. That means a wild and crazy battle in camp as players vie for both the punt and kick return jobs.


• Here's the kicker...Coutu, or Mare? - Josh Brown signed a free agent deal in St. Louis and that means Seattle is in the market for a new place kicker. Veteran Olindo Mare must hold off talented rookie Brandon Coutu in camp. Whoever wins the job is a fantasy sleeper to be sure.