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2015 NFL Preview: NFC West
By: Staff Writer - StatFox
Published: 8/25/2015  at  1:55:00 PM
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2015 NFL Preview: NFC West

The next division that we’ll be looking at is the NFC West, which features a Seattle Seahawks team that is itching to get back to the Super Bowl for a third consecutive year:

ARIZONA CARDINALS

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 11-6
ATS Record: 11-6
Over/Under: 6-10-1
Points Scored: 19.2 PPG (24th in NFL)
Points Allowed: 19.2 PPG (5th in NFL)
Odds to Win Super Bowl 50: 40/1

2015 Preview:
Head coach Bruce Arians and offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin have installed a zone-blocking scheme and more of a finesse running game in the desert—with their stable of running backs, it makes more sense than ever. They’ll have Andre Ellington as the lead back despite his diminutive frame and injury history. Nearly everything the Cards do in the passing game is a top-to-bottom read, with Arians encouraging his QBs to take the deep ball every time. Carson Palmer’s likely return gives them some stability under center. Defensive coordinator Todd Bowles left to coach the Jets and was replaced by 37-year-old James Bettcher, who had served as the team’s outside linebackers coach under Bowles for each of the past two seasons.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 8-8
ATS Record: 6-10
Over/Under: 5-11
Points Scored: 19.1 PPG (25th in NFL)
Points Allowed: 21.2 PPG (10th in NFL)
Odds to Win Super Bowl 50: 85/1

2015 Preview:
New offensive coordinator Geep Chryst came to the 49ers as quarterbacks coach when the Jim Harbaugh era began, so there shouldn’t be many changes to what has been an offense built around the running game. Carlos Hyde will be the primary back with Reggie Bush sprinkled in on passing downs and as a change-of-pace back. They might also bring back the zone-read with Colin Kaepernick, something they moved away from last season. Chryst had been Colin Kaepernick’s position coach since the QB entered the league, and the Niners figure to get more aggressive with their downfield passing game again. That’s especially true with the arrival of Torrey Smith, as the Niners didn’t have a true field-stretcher last year. Anquan Boldin will continue to work underneath as a catch-and-run target. The Niners ranked fifth in total defense in 2014, but this year’s team has some major holes to fill. San Francisco lost starting CBs Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox to free agency, and LBs Chris Borland and Patrick Willis and DE Justin Smith all retired.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 14-5
ATS Record: 11-8
Over/Under: 11-8
Points Scored: 25.1 PPG (9th in NFL)
Points Allowed: 16.9 PPG (1st in NFL)
Odds to Win Super Bowl 50: 13/2

2015 Preview:
It will be more of the same from the Seattle running game, which has been one of the NFL’s best during the Pete Carroll era. It’s a zone-blocking scheme, coached expertly first by Alex Gibbs and now by Tom Cable. Rumors of Marshawn Lynch’s demise were apparently exaggerated, as he was as tough as ever in 2014, slashing for yards between the tackles. He gets some help from the threat of Russell Wilson running when they use read-option plays. Bevell has been a maestro with a passing game that severely lacked talent. He’s been creative with his ability to get Russell Wilson moving out of the pocket, and he uses a series of crossing patterns, wheel routes and natural picks to free up receivers who aren’t very good. Now he has a major weapon in Jimmy Graham, who figures to become the focal point of the passing game. He should be used similarly to how he was in New Orleans, as a downfield matchup nightmare. The Seahawks allowed the fewest yards and points in the league for a second straight season, and there is little reason to believe that they won’t do it again. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn is gone, but CB Byron Maxwell is this unit’s only significant loss.

ST. LOUIS RAMS

2014 Statistics:
SU Record: 6-10
ATS Record: 7-9
Over/Under: 8-8
Points Scored: 20.2 PPG (21st in NFL)
Points Allowed: 22.1 PPG (t-14th in NFL)
Odds to Win Super Bowl 50: 60/1

2015 Preview:
Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti was promoted from his post as quarterbacks coach, but the Rams are gearing up for a run-heavy attack. After spending a No. 2 overall pick on mauling left tackle Greg Robinson last year, they spent the No. 10 pick this spring on Todd Gurley and a second-rounder on Rob Havenstein, a massive right tackle from Wisconsin’s grind-it-out offense. Tre Mason carried the load for the most part last year; he’ll retain that role until Gurley is deemed good to go. Cignetti doesn’t figure to make major changes to the playbook that Brian Schottenheimer used. Nick Foles will be asked to make a lot of quick drops and get the ball out quickly. They’ve used Jared Cook as more of a No. 1 target, moving him around the field in an attempt to create mismatches. Kenny Britt and Brian Quick are receivers 1B and 1C, used as field stretchers on the perimeter. The Rams added DT Nick Fairley to what has become the most dominant defensive line in football. DE Chris Long will also be back after an ankle injury limited him to just six games in 2014. St. Louis is second in the NFL with 13 defensive touchdowns over the past three seasons.


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