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It's July, the slowest month of the year for the NFL, and it's driving you nuts. You need a fix. A hit. Anything NFL to pull you through the dog days. FanHouse is here to help with an in-depth look at each division that should have you plenty prepared for training camp. We're calling it Summer Scramble, and today we look at the NFC West's looming position battles.
--49ers quarterbacks: Bay Area fans have lost patience with Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft whose career has been derailed by too many coaches, offensive philosophies and three shoulder surgeries in two seasons. That made journeyman Shaun Hill an instant favorite last season: he's accurate, gritty and finds ways to win (7-3 record as a 49ers' starter). Coach Mike Singletary has declared an open battle to capture the starting job and Smith is a sentimental favorite for some in the organization. He reworked his contract to a new two-year deal that reduced his guaranteed pay.
PREDICTION: Smith will make it interesting with his ability to throw deep, but Hill's the more dependable quarterback under center and on the run. Singletary has confidence in Hill and so do the receivers. He'll start in Week 1.
--Cardinals running backs: Edgerrin James and J.J. Arrington no longer are in the Cardinals' backfield so the competition is wide open between first-round pick Chris "Beanie" Wells and second-year rusher Tim Hightower. Coaches want to see if Wells can make West Coast-offense catches out of the backfield. Hightower established himself in '08 as a dependable short-yardage back and he led the team with 10 rushing touchdowns. Can he learn to break through tackles and gain more than his 2.8-yard-per-carry average last season?
PREDICTION: Wells was a first-round pick, and when skill players are drafted that high, the franchise intends for them to start. Wells finishes No. 1 with Hightower handling short-yardage duties once again.
--Rams wide receivers: A new coaching staff led by Steve Spagnuolo and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur wants to install a West Coast passing attack and power running game. Veteran receivers Drew Bennett and Torry Holt are gone, and young receivers such as Donnie Avery, the first receiver picked in the '08 draft, are being featured. Who will start opposite Avery: Laurent Robinson or Keenan Burton? Robinson arrived via trade from Atlanta after coaches there lost confidence in him. Burton's coming off knee surgery, but coaches like his ability in the slot.
PREDICTION: Avery nails down a starting job and Burton makes a successful return from his knee injury to win the other starting spot in camp.
--Seahawks right defensive end: There will be plenty of movement on this defensive line, which was ravaged by injuries in '08. Keeping left end Patrick Kerney healthy won't be easy; he's coming off shoulder surgery three years in a row. But the most interesting battle is at right end. Seattle picked up Cory Redding in a trade and the sixth-year veteran is versatile enough to play end in rushing situations and tackle on passing downs. Redding will compete with Darryl Tapp and '08 first-round pick Lawrence Jackson.
PREDICTION: Redding will win the starting job and share time with Tapp and Jackson when he rotates inside in obvious passing situations.
Later Today: NFC West Burning Questions and Prediction
Tomorrow: AFC West Position Battles to Watch
Friday: AFC West Burning Questions and Prediction
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