SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
2003: 10-6, second place; lost to Green Bay in wild-card playoff.
Coach: Mike Holmgren (6th year).
Key additions: CB Bobby Taylor;
DE Grant Wistrom; QB Brock Huard.
Key losses: CB Shawn Springs; DT Chad Eaton; DT John Randle (retired); SS Reggie Tongue; DT Norman Hand.
First-round pick: DT Marcus Tubbs.
Key issue: Will the linebackers be a strength or weakness? Seattle’s linebackers leave a lot to be desired.
Chad Brown is out for eight weeks with an injury. The other outside linebacker, Anthony Simmons, still has not proven that he’s first-round caliber.
Playoff outlook: Good. The weak west is finally theirs for the taking.
The additions of Wistrom (if he’s healthy) and Taylor, and the drafting of Tubbs and safety Michael Boulware may be enough to put Seattle in the Super Bowl.
–KRT, TRIBUNE
– – –
ST. LOUIS RAMS
2003: 12-4, first place; lost to Carolina in divisional round playoff.
Coach: Mike Martz (5th year).
Key additions: QB Chris Chandler; S Tom Knight; DE Sean Moran; DL Bernard Holsey.
More Top Picks Best Anti Glare Laptop Screen Protectors
Key losses: QB Kurt Warner; DE Grant Wistrom; FS Kim Herring; LB Jamie Duncan; CB Jason Seahorn (retired).
First-round pick: RB Steven Jackson.
Key issue: How will the offensive line respond? Left tackle Orlando Pace just joined the team after a contract holdout. Right tackle Kyle Turley sustained a back injury that could force his retirement.
Playoff outlook: Good. The receivers and Mike Martz’s penchant to go deep will benefit from renewed emphasis against illegal jams by DBs.
–KRT, TRIBUNE
– – –
ARIZONA CARDINALS
2003: 4-12, fourth.
Coach: Dennis Green (1st year).
Key additions: CB David Macklin; WR Karl Williams;
QB Shaun King; DE Bertrand Berry, RB Troy Hambrick.
Key losses: QB Jeff Blake; CB David Barrett; DT Marcus Bell; C Pete Kendall; DT Barron Tanner.
First-round pick: WR Larry Fitzgerald.
Key issue: Is Josh McCown the QB of the future? Green certainly better hope so. In selecting Larry Fitzgerald, the Cardinals passed on Philip Rivers and Ben Roethlisberger, both of whom went in the next eight picks. McCown made some plays, but is he consistent?
Playoff outlook: Poor. That they traded for Oakland reject RB Troy Hambrick last week says it all.
–KRT, TRIBUNE
– – –
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
2003: 7-9, third.
Coach: Dennis Erickson (2nd year).
Key additions: OL Scott Rehberg; DL Brandon Whiting.
Key losses: WR Terrell Owens; RB Garrison Hearst; OT Derrick Deese; QB Jeff Garcia; CB Jason Webster; WR Tai Streets; OG Ron Stone; TE Jed Weaver.
First-round pick: WR Rashaun Woods.
Key issue: Where will the offense come from? Tim Rattay, who was injured for much of the off-season, takes over at quarterback. Rattay has shown flashes of potential in previous opportunities, but it remains to be seen if he can handle the job on a full-time basis. Kevan Barlow is a capable replacement for Hearst. Rashaun Woods and Brandon Lloyd likely will start at receiver.
Playoff outlook: Poor.
–KRT
DIVISION MVP: MATT HASSELBECK, SEATTLE
Any doubts? See how well Shaun Alexander and the offense perform with Trent Dilfer at QB.
More Top Picks Do Colored Overlays Help With Dyslexia The Honest Answer