Keys to Success: NFC West
Posted: Saturday July 25, 1998 02:16 PM
The War Room offers up five keys
to success in the 1998 season for all 30 teams. Here's a look at the NFC
West: Atlanta Falcons  - 1. The OL must protect QB Chandler --
if he goes down, offense is in big trouble without quality backup.
- 2.
Coaches must find receiving threats to open up the passing game and replace
departed WR Emanuel.
- 3. Overachieving DL group of 1997 must produce
again...with DT Owens gone depth becomes a problem.
- 4. Lots of age in
LB group -- young players, especially No. 1 pick Brooking, must mature
quickly.
- 5. Instability in OL (left guard and right tackle) must be
fixed to key run game and provide pass protection.
Carolina
Panthers  - 1. Panthers must retool defensive
front seven and get young players ready to play in a hurry.
- 2. QB
Collins must re-establish confidence of teammates and coaches in his
ability to lead.
- 3. Free agent Sean Gilbert must prove he is worth the
money that Carolina gave him to upgrade the run Defense.
- 4. Panthers
must return to the smart style of play they displayed in 1996 with few
mistakes and penalties.
- 5. The defensive unit must jell quickly after
nine starting lineup changes going into 1998.
New Orleans
Saints  - 1. QB Billy Joe
Hobert must take care of offense and put the Saints in position not to
lose games.
- 2. Mike Ditka and his staff must develop more offensive
weapons with big-play capabilities.
- 3. Free-agent RB Lamar Smith will be
key to desired "ball control" run game, which Ditka loves.
- 4. Kicking
game must be solid ... marginal offense means a lot of close games decided
by a FG.
- 5. Saints must play great man-to-man coverage by cornerbacks
to make zone blitz defensive package successful.
St. Louis
Rams  - 1. QB Banks must take game to next
level under the tutelage of new QB coach Mike White.
- 2. Rams must
develop ball-control run game (rookie RB Holcombe?) to take the pressure
off Banks.
- 3. Must improve pass rush from DL that produced only 38
sacks in 1997...not enough big plays.
- 4. With three new starters in the
defensive front seven, this unit must come together quickly in camp.
- 5.
Great veteran coaching staff must become a "teaching" staff in 1998 to
develop a lot of young players.
San Francisco 49ers  - 1. Key veterans (QB Young & WR Rice)
must be healthy to lead and carry this team in '98.
- 2. Ownership
distractions must not affect players and coaches in this traditionally
stable organization.
- 3. The two OTs (Deese & Brown) must have big
years, providing "edge" protection for QB Young.
- 4. No experienced
kicker heading into camp -- 49ers must pick up a quality vet or develop
youngster quickly.
- 5. Lots of new players as 49ers subtly make
transitions to "youth movement" -- this team must jell in training camp.
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