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NFC West

Sporting News, The, Oct 11, 2004

ARIZONA CARDINALS

QB Josh McCown is a good scrambler, but coach Dennis Green would like him to make better decisions about when to run. There are times when McCown has scrambled and ended up making bad plays. Green thinks he needs to throw the ball away more.... Backup RB Troy Hambrick, who rushed for 79 yards and a TD Sunday, will continue to get more playing time in the next month as he works himself into shape. Hambrick weighed 260 pounds when he was acquired shortly before the season. He's in better shape now, and the coaches want to use him to reduce the load on Emmitt Smith: FIRST QUARTER GRADES: Offense: D. Injuries, inexperience and a shuffling of roles have led to struggles. Defense: B. It gives up a lot of yards but not a lot of points. Special teams: C. P Scott Player is consistent and K Neil Rackers is solid, but the club has had two punts blocked because of protection mistakes. Coaching: C. The team is playing hard, but some of Green's decisions haven't worked.--Kent Somers

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ST. LOUIS RAMS

A nagging back problem has limited SS Adam Archuleta's effectiveness. Archuleta always is around the ball in run support but is missing more tackles than usual and doesn't seem to have his usual pop.... The team is eager for DT Jimmy Kennedy (foot) to return because rookie DT Brian Howard has been overmatched as a reserve in the rotation. Kennedy should be back by the end of the month.... After a year at left guard, C Andy McCollum is back where he belongs, solidifying the line's interior. He is adept at making presnap calls--a must in the team's complex offense. McCollum is a steady, consistent blocker who rarely is out of position. FIRST QUARTER GRADES: Offense: 8, There has been plenty of production in the passing game but not enough points. Defense: C-. Hasn't stopped the run or created enough turnovers. Special teams: C-. The return game is nonexistent. Coaching: C-. Game management and play-calling were lacking in the first three games.--Jim Thomas

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Rookie CB Shawntae Spencer again will have to replace Mike Rumph, who broke his right forearm against the Rams. Spencer has shown promise filling in for Rumph, who injured his groin in the season opener. Spencer's weakness is covering slant routes. The team miss Rumph's ability to blitz from the slot.... SS Tony Parrish and FS R0nnie Hoard need to step up. Parrish has been beaten for touchdowns after not finishing off tackles and taking bad angles in pass coverage. If Heard doesn't start making plays, he could lose his job to Dwaine Carpenter.... WR Curtis Conway has been able to find holes in zones. He doesn't have explosive speed but can beat average cornerbacks. FIRST QUARTER GRADES: Offense: D. Failing to score for the first time in 421 games says it all. Defense: C. OLB Julian Peterson is a rare standout. Special C-. Better than last season, but the return game is mediocre. Coaching: C+. Not many staffs could do better with this talent-shy dub.--Cam Inman

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Defensive coaches have done a good job of covering for LB Isaiah Kacyvenski, who has been starting on the strong side in place of LB Chad Brown (leg). Brown should return by the end of the month, making it more difficult for opponents to run away from LB Anthony Simmons on the weak side.... DT Rocky Bernard plays sparingly in the base defense, which keeps him fresher for his primary role as a pass rusher in the nickel line. He has three sacks after three games.... WR Darrell Jackson again is the best option for QB Matt Hasselbeck. He runs precise routes, but he also has become adept at breaking off those routes and finding an open spot. FIRST QUARTER GRADES: Offense: B-. Unit has been more opportunistic than efficient. Defense: A-. Turnovers have set up 31 of the team's 65 points. Special teams: B-. Kickoff coverage needs work. Coaching: B+. Aggressive play-calling has helped the players dictate the tempo.--Clare Farnsworth

NFC West

Sporting News, The, Oct 11, 2004

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