The impact players: NFC West

APWells should add to the Cards' balanced offensive attack.

Arizona: RB Beanie Wells

The reason I’m going with Wells, a rookie, is the same reason this offense was able to operate and continuously produce through its run to the Super Bowl last season — balance.

One thing we saw last January was the Cardinals’ ability to abandon their pass-happy offense and control the clock and their possessions with a mix of Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower to go along with QB Kurt Warner and his weapons down the field. Too often last season, defenses used seven-man fronts against Arizona and played safeties over the top of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin (whom I expect to show up for camp). But when the Cards started to mix in the run game in the postseason, it forced teams to bring an eighth defender into the box and allowed Fitzgerald and company to face more favorable coverage match-ups.

Yes, Wells is a rookie, but there isn’t a more favorable position for a rookie than running back. He can run with power and speed, and I expect to see him get his hands on the ball in both the downhill running game and in the short-to-intermediate passing game. This team will once again be the class of the NFC West if it plays balanced football.

APClements needs to make more plays on the football in '09.

San Francisco: CB Nate Clements

Clements is in the third year of the monster deal he signed to come to the Niners from Buffalo, and for San Fran to make a move in the NFC West this season, he will need to have a career season.

It’s no secret that to play with ‘Zona and Seattle, you need corners to match up against talented wide receivers, especially in the vertical passing game, where giving up the deep ball can mean the difference between winning and losing. Considering that the Niners lost CB Walt Harris for the season after he injured his knee in spring practice, this season is even more crucial for Clements to be that all-around corner the team envisioned when they handed over the big check.

I played with Nate in Buffalo, and there aren’t many corners who can match his physical style in the NFL. But he needs to make more plays on the football in ’09. If this defense can force turnovers, the 49ers have a shot to contend in the division this season, and that must start with Clements — because he will always face the toughest match-up every Sunday.

APThe Seahawks' success on offense will depend on the production of Hasselbeck.

Seattle: QB Matt Hasselbeck

This offense will start and end with Hasselbeck, and although I agree with our own Michael Lombardi that Julius Jones needs some help at the running back position, the offense will produce based on Hasselbeck’s ability to stay healthy and put up numbers in the passing game.

The Seahawks made a big addition by signing former Bengal T.J. Houshmandzadeh this offseason, and I like the idea of his ability to run routes that are consistent with the west coast offense. Plus, Seattle also returns WRs Nate Burleson and Deion Branch, who make this club look great on the outside on paper. But Hasselbeck will be counted on to return to the form that has made him the face of this franchise. Can he do it? He’ll need help from Jones, but he’s a master at running this offense and I believe he’ll produce in ’09.

However, there were plenty of rumors of the Seahawks going after USC’s Mark Sanchez in the April draft. Mike Holmgren is gone, and his replacement, Jim Mora, could make a move next offseason if Hasselbeck doesn’t produce.

APLong should be more productive in his second year as a pro in St. Louis.

St. Louis: DE Chris Long

When the Rams hired former Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to be their new head coach this offseason, the team officially put defense first — and because of that, Long will have to improve on his rookie season and find a way to get to the quarterback.

One of the staples of Spagnuolo’s defenses in New York was the ability of the front four to apply pressure to the quarterback and play coverage in the back end. Yes, Spagnuolo does have some exotic blitz packages, but the sign of a great defense lies up front — and its ability to cause havoc in the backfield, which leads to turnovers when the secondary can play coverage with safety help. Long produced four sacks as a rookie, but that number won’t be good enough in ’09. It needs to go higher. I like his talent, and I love his desire to play the game hard on Sundays, but he still has to show us that he can be dependable every week in this new defense.

This franchise is in the middle of a transition, and I agree that they have some glaring question marks outside of RB Steven Jackson on the offensive side of the football. But I still expect to see a vast improvement in overall defense in St. Louis this year — starting with Long and his pass-rushing abilities.

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