NFC west

ARIZONA CARDINALS

TE Freddie Jones has nice hands and decent speed, but he hasn't been involved much in the passing game. The club has had trouble with pass protection, so Jones stays in to block a lot. But blocking isn't his strength, and he has been involved in allowing several sacks. The team needs a tight end who can block. Rookie Eric Edwards could develop into such a player, but he has a ways to go.... S Michael Stone has emerged as the team's best special teams player. He has been excellent as a gunner in punt coverage, showing the ability and determination to beat the press and make big tackles.... LT Leonard Davis' practice time likely will be limited the rest of the year by a sore left knee that might need surgery after the season. Davis has had an excellent year. PROBLEM SPOT: The team hasn't figured out how to best use its talented wideout duo, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Boldin moved from the slot to split end this year. But he was more dangerous working out of the slot because he faced more man coverage and was adept at beating safeties with his ability to run after the catch. Fitzgerald is an amazing talent but needs to develop as a route runner.--Kent Somers

ST. LOUIS RAMS

The team overachieved a year ago, finishing 12-4 because backups were able to fill in when starters were hurt. It is underachieving at 6-7 this season in large part because backups haven't been able to step up as effectively. An example was QB Chris Chandlers career-high six interceptions in Sunday's loss at Carolina. But younger players such as CB Kevin Garrett haven't responded. Backup S Rich Coady has been called on to play more than in any of his previous five seasons and has struggled.... Unheralded T Blaine Saipaia has a chance to become the right tackle of the future if he plays well down the stretch. Saipaia (6-3, 310) has some strength and quickness despite being built more like a guard. PROBLEM SPOT: Throwing into the red zone. Nine of the team's 19 interceptions have come on passes thrown into the red zone; eight were picked off at the 7 or deeper. Too often, the quarterbacks have thrown the ball up for grabs in the end zone, hoping WRs Torry Holt or Isaac Bruce can come down with a 50-50 ball. That's too cavalier of an approach. The Rams haven't gotten much on the ground close to the goal line, either.--Jim Thomas

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

An injury to QB Tim Rattay (foot) has given QB Ken Dorsey a chance to start, and Dorsey looked smart, crisp and steady in throwing three touchdown passes against the Cardinals. Dorsey got better protection than Rattay has received most of this season, and he did overthrow some receivers. But Dorsey's improved play should help his stock, which fell after he looked progressively worse in three earlier starts, when he was battling groin and thumb injuries. A strong finish could be key if Dorsey is to return in 2005.... RB Maurice Hicks (5-11, 200) is smaller than Kevan Barlow, but Hicks is more explosive and elusive. He has good vision, cuts back well and can slip tackles in space. Teammates gushed about the heart Hicks showed in the overtime win at Arizona, when he stayed in the game despite a rib injury. Hicks' pass-catching ability remains in question, as does his ability to pick up the blitz. PROBLEM SPOT: The 49ers have been outscored, 120-74, in the fourth quarter this season. Turnovers have plagued them the most, whether it be quarterbacks losing the ball or running backs coughing it up in clutch moments.--Cam Inman

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

RT Chris Terry had been playing for the past few months with an injured right shoulder that was getting progressively worse. The pain finally caught up to him. He was placed on injured reserve last week and will have surgery. Without Terry, the starting job falls to Floyd Womack, who has subbed for Terry in four games this season. The Womack-for-Terry swap was not a good one last season; Womack struggled against quicker pass rushers. Womack has been stouter this season. Still, Terry's consistency and tenacity will be missed.... Isaiah Kacyvenski was not supposed to be a starting linebacker this season. But injuries forced him into the lineup. No one can fault his effort, and he rarely makes mental mistakes. But Kacyvenski has a tendency to overrun plays and has problems at the point of attack. PROBLEM SPOT: It's the run defense--or, in this case, the run-down run defense. A unit that once ranked fifth in the league has slipped to 15th because the team has allowed three 100-yard rushing efforts in the past five games--the Rams' Marshall Faulk (139 yards), the Bills' Willis McGahee (116 yards, four TDs) and the Cowboys' Julius Jones (198 yards, three TDs). Injuries have eroded the front seven.--Clare Farnsworth

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