SCOUTING REPORT | NFC West

ARIZONA CARDINALS
2002 record: 5-11.
Coach: Dave McGinnis.
Key additions: WR Bryant Johnson (D-1), DE Calvin Pace (D-1), WR Anquan Boldin (D-2), LB Gerald Hayes (D-3), S Dexter Jackson (UFA-Bucs), QB Jeff Blake (UFA-Ravens), LB James Darling (UFA-Jets), RB Emmitt Smith (released-Cowboys).
Key losses: QB Jake Plummer (UFA-Broncos), WR David Boston (UFA-Chargers), C Mike Gruttadauria (released), WR Frank Sanders (UFA-Ravens), KR MarTay Jenkins (released-Falcons), S Kwamie Lassiter (UFA-Chargers), RB Thomas Jones (T-Buccaneers); DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (Injured-out for season).
Profile: Plummer is out and Blake is in at quarterback, and Boston is no longer around as a target. This could be one of the league's worst offenses. They're banking on defense to keep them in games. A league-low 21 sacks last year made the secondary look worse than it is. Pace will be given a chance to step in as an immediate starter. Jackson looked fine in the Buccaneers defense (he was Super Bowl MVP), but that doesn't mean he's a star with this outfit. It will take Darling and at least three other fresh bodies to upgrade a horrible defense.
Key stat: Top sacker Kyle Vanden Bosch had only 3.5, and now he is out with an injury.
Schedule:
Sept. 7 -- at Detroit1
Sept. 14 -- Seattle4:05
Sept. 21 -- Green Bay4:05
Sept. 28 -- at St. Louis1
Oct. 5 -- at Dallas1
Oct. 12 -- Baltimore4:15
Oct. 19 -- Bye
Oct. 26 -- San Francisco4:05
Nov. 2 -- Cincinnati4:05
Nov. 9 -- at Pittsburgh1
Nov. 16 -- at Cleveland1
Nov. 23 -- St. Louis4:05
Nov. 30 -- at Chicago1
Dec. 7 -- at San Francisco4:05
Dec. 14 -- Carolina4:15
Dec. 21 -- at Seattle4:15
Dec. 28 -- Minnesota4:05
ST. LOUIS RAMS
2002 record: 7-9.
Coach: Mike Martz.
Key additions: DT Jimmy Kennedy (D-1), LB Pisa Tinoisamoa (D-2), WR Kevin Curtis (D-3), P Sean Landeta (UFA-Eagles), T Kyle Turley (T-Saints), C Dave Wohlabaugh (released-Browns), CB Jason Sehorn (released-Giants).
Key losses: CB Dexter McCleon (released-Chiefs), QB Jamie Martin (released), CB Dre' Bly (UFA-Lions), P Mitch Berger (UFA-Saints), G Tom Nutten (UFA-Jets), DT Jeff Zgonina (UFA-Dolphins), G Heath Irwin (UFA-Broncos).
Profile: Their minus-19 was the worst turnover ratio in the NFL, and there is a sense that Martz is losing control. He flip-flopped on quarterbacks, re-installing Kurt Warner as starter, which should help bond the club. Warner has WR Torry Holt in the prime of his career, but WR Isaac Bruce is nearly 31.
Key stat: Opponents returned five interceptions for touchdowns.
Schedule:
Sept. 7 -- at New York Giants1
Sept. 14 -- San Francisco1
Sept. 21 -- at Seattle4:05
Sept. 28 -- Arizona1
Oct. 5 -- Bye
Oct. 13 -- Atlanta9
Oct. 19 -- Green Bay1
Oct. 26 -- at Pittsburgh1
Nov. 2 -- at San Francisco4:15
Nov. 9 -- Baltimore8:30
Nov. 16 -- at Chicago1
Nov. 23 -- at Arizona4:05
Nov. 30 -- Minnesota1
Dec. 8 -- at Cleveland9
Dec. 14 -- Seattle1
Dec. 21 -- Cincinnati1
Dec. 28 -- at Detroit1
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
2002 record: 10-6.
Coach: Dennis Erickson.
Key additions: T Kwame Harris (D-1), DT Anthony Adams (D-2), DE Andrew Williams (D-3), TE Jed Weaver (UFA-Dolphins); DE Chidi Ahanotu (UFA-Bills).
Key losses: DT Dana Stubblefield (released-Raiders), G Dave Fiore (UFA-Redskins), DE Chike Okeafor (UFA-Seahawks), WR J.J. Stokes (released-Jaguars).
Profile: Erickson smartly kept both coordinators, making for a smoother transition. The offense is there, though QB Jeff Garcia wasn't quite as efficient as in 2001 and they have to find a more effective slot receiver. It's the defense that broke down in the playoffs, though they also have shoring to do on the offensive line. Success depends on how they react to the coaching change. WR Terrell Owens will be a happier camper with Erickson going deep. Still a great running attack with Kevan Barlow and Garrison Hearst.
Key stat: They averaged 140.2 rushing yards per game.
Schedule:
Sept. 7 -- Chicago4:15
Sept. 14 -- at St. Louis1
Sept. 21 -- Cleveland4:15
Sept. 28 -- at Minnesota1
Oct. 5 -- Detroit4:15
Oct. 12 -- at Seattle8:30 p.m.
Oct. 19 -- Tampa Bay4:15
Oct. 26 -- at Arizona4:05
Nov. 2 -- St. Louis4:15
Nov. 9 -- Bye
Nov. 17 -- Pittsburgh9
Nov. 23 -- at Green Bay1
Nov. 30 -- at Baltimore1
Dec. 7 -- Arizona4:05
Dec. 14 -- at Cincinnati1
Dec. 21 -- at Philadelphia4:15
Dec. 27 -- Seattle5
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
2002 record: 7-9.
Coach: Mike Holmgren.
Key additions: CB Marcus Trufant (D-1), S Ken Hamlin (D-2), T Wayne Hunter (D-3), FS Damien Robinson (UFA-Jets), DE Chike Okeafor (UFA-49ers), T Michael Thompson (T-Falcons), DT Norman Hand (T-Saints), LB Randall Godfrey (released-Titans).
Key losses: S Marcus Robertson (released), K Rian Lindell (RFA-Bills), P Jeff Feagles (UFA-Giants).
Profile: Expect them to be greatly improved on defense with the addition of coordinator Ray Rhodes. QB Matt Hasselbeck finished strong in 2002, but they under-achieved for another year, despite a good running game. The secondary should be bolstered by the early draft picks and pass rush from Okeafor.
Key stat: P Feagles booted 22 inside the 20 to only four touchbacks last season.
Schedule:
Sept. 7 -- New Orleans4:15
Sept. 14 -- at Arizona4:05
Sept. 21 -- St. Louis4:05
Sept. 28 -- Bye
Oct. 5 -- at Green Bay1
Oct. 12 -- San Francisco8:30
Oct. 19 -- Chicago4:15
Oct. 26 -- at Cincinnati1
Nov. 2 -- Pittsburgh4:05
Nov. 9 -- at Washington1
Nov. 16 -- Detroit4:15
Nov. 23 -- at Baltimore1
Nov. 30 -- Cleveland4:15
Dec. 7 -- at Minnesota1
Dec. 14 -- at St. Louis1
Dec. 21 -- Arizona4:15
Dec. 27 -- at San Francisco5