Football Whisperer's NFC West Preview

Seattle

The Talk: Are we looking at the next dynasty?

The Whisper: Seattle has officially crossed that sacred threshold from being a team that rebuilds into one that simply reloads. They lost their starting running back … so they went out and drafted a bigger, faster version of the guy they lost, and as a result something tells me their plan is to pick up precisely where they left off. Like I said, not rebuild … reload.

Last Word: They’re good … and they know it.

Los Angeles Rams

The Talk: How did the rich get this much richer?

The Whisper: The Rams know who to keep, who to go get, who to let go, when to let them go, how to put them all together … and that’s why they win. They’ve been rinsing and repeating that formula for a decade and until someone shows where it no longer works … there’s no need to fix it.

Last Word: They have mastered the art of building winners.

San Francisco

The Talk: Do they still have enough left in the tank?

The Whisper: For nearly a decade, the partnership of HC Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch have been hailed as the brightest guys in the room. They draft and develop well and the on the field product reflects their efforts in every conceivable way with one exception … they’ve yet to win a championship. It’s good to be smart, it’s great to be right. But at some point … there has to be a ring involved.

Last Word: Players have shelf lives. So do executives and coaches.

Arizona

The Talk: Will this franchise ever get out of their own way?

The Whisper: The 1993 film “Groundhog Day” is considered by most to be a cinematic masterpiece. Phil Connors, the protagonist in this story, finds himself locked in a time loop and every day is February 2, Groundhogs Day. His transformation comes when he dedicates himself to self-improvement which ultimately leads him to love and February 3. The Cardinals have been stuck in February 2 for an eternity and until they commit to serious self-improvement … they’ll never experience the joy of February 3 or winning football.

Last Word: In Arizona, even the mirages lose.