Keys to Training Camp: NFC West

Posted 7/27 by Jason Wood - Exclusive to Footballguys.com

Arizona Cardinals

Link: http://www.azcardinals.com

Location: Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ)

Dates: July 29 - August 20

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

Preseason Game Schedule

8/13 - @Pittsburgh (8:00 PM Eastern)
8/22 - San Diego (10:00 PM Eastern)
8/28 - Green Bay (9:00 PM Eastern)
9/03 - @Denver (10:00 PM Eastern)

What We're Watching

How will Russ Grimm differ from Todd Haley? - Todd Haley parlayed the Cardinals success into the Chiefs head coaching job, leaving longtime Whisenhunt assistant Russ Grimm in charge of the offense. Does Grimm plan to noticeably change the play-calling? Will his Pittsburgh roots lead to a more balanced run/pass ratio?

Will the coaches really go slowly with RB Beanie Wells? - Several prominent Cardinals beat writers have told us they expect Tim Hightower to enter camp as the No. 1 back. Is that a simple marketing ploy or will Wells get off to a slower start than many think?

Is WR Anquan Boldin happy and ready to contribute? - The trade rumors were persistent but nothing materialized. GM Rod Graves has acknowledged that contract extension talks are in order but wants Boldin to show up to camp and practice hard first.

Will the Cardinals settle on a go-to tight end? - Ben Patrick led Cardinals TEs last year with 11 receptions but is suspended for the first four games this season. Stephen Spach showed promise last year before tearing his ACL. Leonard Pope remains in the mix along with free agent veteran Anthony Becht, but can any of them be a consistent weapon across the middle of the field?

(IDP) Will rookies Cody Brown and Will Davis push the veterans at OLB? - With the Cardinals moving to a conventional 3-4 under new DC Bill Davis, a pair of rookie converted ends will be asked to push Clark Haggans and Chike Okeafor for playing time. How quickly can the rookies transition to a new position and will they see enough snaps to matter in IDP leagues?

St. Louis Rams

Link: http://www.stlouisrams.com
Location: Lindenwood University (St. Charles, MO)
Dates: July 30 - August 23
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

Preseason Game Schedule

8/14 - @New York Jets (7:00 PM Eastern)
8/21 - Atlanta (8:00 PM Eastern)
8/27 - @Cincinnati (7:30 PM Eastern)
9/03 -Kansas City (8:00 PM Eastern)

What We're Watching

Will the West Coast offense cure what ails? - After finishing 28th and 30th in points scored over the last two seasons, the Rams have nowhere to go but up. Will the hiring of Eagles assistant Pat Shurmur and a transition to the West Coast offense reverse the Rams course?

Who lines up opposite WR Donnie Avery? - The Rams know Donnie Avery is their No. 1 WR, but it's anyone's guess who takes hold of the No. 2 and No. 3 roles. Two offseason trades brought in Laurent Robinson and Ron Curry, while second-year Keenan Burton is considered the favorite entering camp. Will any of them be fantasy relevant?

Is Marc Bulger still an above average QB? - Bulger has had back-to-back seasons that he would love to forget. A lot of people believe an improved offensive line and transition to the WCO will reignite his career, but that's not a sure bet. He's taken a beating even in his productive years, and it's unclear whether he's well suited at this stage of his career to a traditional WCO.

How does RB Steven Jackson look? - There's no question Jackson is the centerpiece of the offense, but fantasy owners are going to want to see Jackson practicing well and performing in what limited preseason game action he's given. As a possible Top 5 fantasy pick, it would be great to see him catching passes in the WCO and having better holes to run through with the additions on the offensive line as well as FB Mike Karney.

How quickly will the Jasons (Brown and Smith) improve the O-line play? - First-round pick Jason Smith should be an anchor on the line for years to come, but will he play RT as a rookie or do the Rams decide to shift him to LT at the expense of Alex Barron? And how will the addition of C Jason Brown help with cohesion on a line that has talent but hasn't shown it in recent seasons.

(IDP) Can Steve Spagnuolo scheme productivity out of an empty cupboard? - HC Steve Spagnuolo took an inconsistent Giants defense and made them a Super Bowl winner, but he also had incredible talent on the defensive line to work with. The Rams defense is woeful, and the talent and depth is lacking this season. Can discipline and scheme make the Rams defense, at least, respectable?

San Francisco 49ers

Link: http://www.sf49ers.com
Location: Marie DeBartolo Center (Santa Clara, CA)
Dates: July 28 - August 9
Open to the public? - Limited (four open practices, but all tickets already sold out)

Preseason Game Schedule

8/14 - Denver (10:00 PM Eastern)
8/22 - Oakland (8:15 PM Eastern)
8/29 - @Dallas (8:00 PM Eastern)
9/04 - @San Diego (10:00 PM Eastern)

What We're Watching

Who lines up under center? - The old adage of "if you have two QBs, you don't have any" has some truth to it, and the 49ers really want either Alex Smith or Shaun Hill to distance himself early in camp. Hill isn't physically gifted but played well late in the 2007 season. While Smith is coming back from a shoulder injury, he has done little to earn his contract as the first overall pick. Smith has looked good in Jimmy Raye's new offense, and HC Mike Singletary maintains it's a dead heat entering camp.

How will the WR depth chart shake out? - Michael Crabtree was considered too good to pass up in the April draft, yet the 49ers WR corps was already one of the team's projected strong suits. It's hard to imagine Crabtree won't be in the starting lineup by midseason. Will second-year Josh Morgan hold down the job opposite him, or will Isaac Bruce (61 catches for 835 yards and seven TDs) reprise his role as the 49ers top receiver? And where does all this leave free agent signee Brandon Jones?

Was RT Marvel Smith worth the money? - Steelers fans will tell you that the offensive line wasn't a strong suit in spite of their Super Bowl heroics. Yet Marvel Smith parlayed his success into big dollars in the Bay. Can Smith change the tenor of the 49ers line and give them a consistent push in the running game?

(IDP) Is OLB Manny Lawson going to provide a consistent pass rush? - The 49ers need a more consistent pass rush and are counting on Manny Lawson this year. But Lawson has had trouble staying on the field, particularly when he can't pin his ears back and rush the outside.

(IDP) Will FS Dashon Goldson have competition for his job? - Third-year safety Dashon Goldson should be the starter as long as he stays healthy. If he gets pushed by veteran Mark Roman in camp, that's a bad sign for the productivity of the secondary.

Seattle Seahawks

Link: http://www.seahawks.com
Location: Virginia Mason Athletic Center (Renton, WA)
Dates: July 30 - August 19
Open to the public? - YES (but registration on the website is required)

Preseason Game Schedule

8/15 - @San Diego (10:00 PM Eastern)
8/22 - Denver (10:30 PM Eastern)
8/29 - @Kansas City (8:00 PM Eastern)
9/03 - Oakland (10:00 PM Eastern)

What We're Watching

Is everyone healthy? - Injuries are a part of the sport, but the Seahawks have been unusually star crossed. Camp will be all about seeing last year's wounded back on the field. QB Matt Hasselbeck looks on track, but OT Walter Jones hasn't practiced and Mike Wahle has been limited. And the WR corps needs at least one of Deion Branch and Nate Burleson to be on the mark.

Is T.J. Houshmandzadeh really a No. 1 receiver? - Houshmandzadeh has been living in the shadow of Chad Ochocinco for his entire collegiate and pro career, but now gets a chance to be the clear-cut No. 1 in Seattle. Is he up to the task, particularly without anyone credible lined up on the opposite side of the field?

Will the zone-blocking scheme bolster the run game? - Many were surprised when Seattle did nothing to address the RB position this offseason. But they are implementing a zone-blocking scheme that enjoyed great success in Atlanta under the same coaching staff. Will Julius Jones, T.J. Duckett and Justin Forsett flourish in the new system?

Coutu vs. Mare, Redux - In this column last season, we highlighted the battle between veteran free agent Olindo Mare and rookie PK Brandon Coutu. Mare won the battle and played well last year (24 of 27 FGs), but the Seahawks want him to beat out Coutu again this year. Nothing is guaranteed.

(IDP) Can you go wrong with any of the Seahawks LBs? - Linebackers are the lifeblood of a successful IDP team and all three starters in Seattle should be sought after. The question is whether the three will eat into each other's value. Rookie Aaron Curry replaces Julian Peterson on the strong side, while Leroy Hill returns on the weakside with a new six-year contract. Stalwart Lofa Tatupu continues to man the middle.