NFC West outlook
ST. LOUIS

LAST SEASON: Lost Super Bowl to New England Patriots after 14-2 regular season, MVP year from QB Kurt Warner, offensive player of year Marshall Faulk and improved defense.

ADDITIONS: MLB Jamie Duncan, WR Terrence Wilkins, P Mitch Berger, FB Chris Hetherington, OG Heath Irwin.

SUBTRACTIONS: MLB London Fletcher, WR-PR Az-Zahir Hakim, OT Ryan Tucker, OG Rod Jones, RB Robert Holcombe.

WATCH FOR: RB Lamar Gordon, a third-round pick in the draft, to push Trung Canidate for the backup job behind Faulk; OT John St Clair, a third-round pick in 2000 who has yet to play a down, to step in for Tucker, released in a salary cap move.

EXPECTATIONS: Rams should contend for third Super Bowl in four years.

ST. LOUIS RAMS

  • Sep. 8 at Denver, 10:15 a.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 NY Giants, 10:05 a.m.
  • Sep. 23 at Tampa Bay, 3 p.m.
  • Sep. 29 Dallas, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 6 at San Francisco, 10:15 a.m.
  • Oct. 13 Oakland, 10:15 a.m.
  • Oct. 20 Seattle, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 27 Open date
  • Nov. 3 at Arizona, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 San Diego, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 18 Chicago, 4 p.m.
  • Nov. 24 at Washington, 11:15 a.m.
  • Dec. 1 at Philadelphia, 11:15 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 at Kansas City, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 Arizona, 3:30 p.m.
  • Dec. 22 at Seattle, 11:05 a.m.
  • Dec. 30 San Francisco, 4 p.m.

SAN FRANCISCO

LAST SEASON: Returned to playoffs with surprising rebound from consecutive losing seasons. Young defense matured quickly, and offense flourished under Pro Bowl QB Jeff Garcia.

ADDITIONS: OL Ron Stone, S Tony Parrish, DE Jim Flanigan, DE Sean Moran, QB Cade McNown.

SUBTRACTIONS: OL Ray Brown, S Lance Schulters; QB Rick Mirer.

WATCH FOR: The combustible relationship between coach Steve Mariucci and WR Terrell Owens appeared to improve over the summer, but Mariucci's relationship with 49ers brass might be strained after his flirtation with Tampa Bay.

EXPECTATIONS: Still chasing St. Louis in NFC West but with an already solid roster that got better, San Francisco expects another playoff berth.

SAN FRANCISO 49ERS

  • Sep. 5 at NY Giants, 2:30 p.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 Denver, 10:15 a.m.
  • Sep. 22 Washington, 10:15 a.m.
  • Sep. 29 Open date
  • Oct. 6 St. Louis, 10:15 a.m.
  • Oct. 14 at Seattle, 3 p.m.
  • Oct. 20 at New Orleans, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 27 Arizona, 11:05 a.m.
  • Nov. 3 at Oakland, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 Kansas City, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 17 at San Diego, 11:05 a.m.
  • Nov. 25 Philadelphia, 4 p.m.
  • Dec. 1 Seattle, 11:15 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 at Dallas, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 Green Bay, 11:15 a.m.
  • Dec. 21 at Arizona, noon
  • Dec. 30 at St. Louis, 4 p.m.

SEATTLE

LAST SEASON: Missed making the playoffs for the second straight season in coach Mike Holmgren's third year in Seattle.

ADDITIONS: DE Brandon Mitchell, CB Doug Evans, TE Jerramy Stevens (first round draft choice, Washington), P Craig Jarrett (sixth round, Michigan State).

SUBTRACTIONS: RB Ricky Watters, TE Christian Fauria, DE Michael Sinclair, OT Todd Weiner, MLB Levon Kirkland.

WATCH FOR: WR Koren Robinson, who had 39 receptions for 536 yards after being team's first-rounder last season. Also QB Trent Dilfer, who has won his last 15 starts, and Stevens, the 28th pick in the draft.

EXPECTATIONS: The playoffs. The Seahawks move into the NFC West this season. But it's hard to see them passing the Rams or 49ers.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

  • Sep. 8 at Oakland, 10:15 a.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 Arizona, 10:05 a.m.
  • Sep. 22 at NY Giants, 10:15 a.m.
  • Sep. 29 Minnesota, 2:30 p.m.
  • Oct. 6 Open date
  • Oct. 14 San Francisco, 3 p.m.
  • Oct. 20 at St. Louis, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 27 at Dallas, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 3 Washington, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 at Arizona, 11:05 a.m.
  • Nov. 17 Denver, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 24 Kansas City, 11:05 a.m.
  • Dec. 1 at San Francisco, 11:15 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 Philadelphia, 11:05 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 at Atlanta, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 22 St. Louis, 11:05 a.m.
  • Dec. 29 at San Diego, 11:15 a.m.

ARIZONA

LAST SEASON: Overacheived in coach Dave McGinnis' first full season. QB Jake Plummer had probably his best season, and David Boston emerged as one of the top big-play receivers in the game. Running game still sputtered, and the no-name defense took the bend-but-don't-break philosophy to the extreme.

ADDITIONS: CB Duane Starks, TE Freddie Jones, DE Wendell Bryant.

SUBTRACTIONS: RB Michael Pittman, CB Corey Chavous, S Pat Tillman.

WATCH FOR: With Pittman gone, RB Thomas Jones is the only experienced back, and he has yet to live up to expectations. DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, coming off knee surgery, will be counted on to improve the NFL's worst pass rush. Bryant, Arizona's top draft pick skipped all minicamps, and will have much to make up once he finally signs.

EXPECTATIONS: McGinnis has the team headed in the right direction, and has full authority over personnel matters, but the shift from the weak NFC East to the tough NFC West will be rocky.

ARIZONA CARDINALS

  • Sep. 8 at Washington, 7 a.m. HST
  • Sep. 15 at Seattle, 10:05 a.m.
  • Sep. 22 San Diego, 10:05 a.m.
  • Sep. 29 NY Giants, 10:05 a.m.
  • Oct. 6 at Carolina, 7 a.m.
  • Oct. 13 Open date
  • Oct. 20 Dallas, 10:15 a.m.
  • Oct. 27 at San Fran., 11:05 a.m.
  • Nov. 3 St. Louis, 11:15 a.m.
  • Nov. 10 Seattle, 11:05 a.m.
  • Nov. 17 at Philadelphia, 8 a.m.
  • Nov. 24 Oakland, 11:05 a.m.
  • Dec. 1 at Kansas City, 8 a.m.
  • Dec. 8 Detroit, 11:05 a.m.
  • Dec. 15 at St. Louis, 3:30 p.m.
  • Dec. 21 San Francisco, noon
  • Dec. 29 at Denver, 11:15 a.m.

© COPYRIGHT 2002 The Honolulu Advertiser, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.