NFC West

Sporting News, The, Sept 1, 1997 by Joe Menzer, Brian Murphy, Jim Thomas, Mike Strom, Tony Fabrizio

1CAROLINA

'96 record: 12-4, 7-1 in division. Good news: The strength of this team continues to be its superb linebacking corps. The team will rely on the big-play ability of outside linebacker Lamar Lathon, who finished tied for second in the league in sacks in '96. Micheal Barrow, who was signed away from the Oilers, will add youth and speed to the group. Renaldo Turnbull, cut by the Saints, was signed Sunday and should be a solid replacement for Kevin Greene at left outside linebacker. Turnbull has been a premier pass rusher but was out of place in the Saints' new defense. Turnbull's presence will allow the team to shift Barrow back inside, where he will start alongside ageless wonder and leader Sam Mills. The biggest surprise of the preseason was running back Fred Lane, an undrafted rookie. Bad news: The release of Greene, who teamed with Lathon for 28 sacks last season, after a contract dispute costs the defense its emotional leader. Quarterback Kerry Collins begins the season on the sideline, recovering from a broken jaw suffered in an exhibition game. He likely will miss at least the first three games and will be replaced by immobile Steve Beuerlein. Then there is the backfield situation, where Tshimanga Biakabutuka was expected to be the feature back. He did little to stake his claim to the role, averaging 2.8 yards per preseason carry while Lane played well and Anthony Johnson, a 1,120-yard rusher in Biakabutuka's place last season, rested for the regular season. No wide receiver has emerged as a go-to guy, and the position is a huge question mark. 16 games from now: The division is weak and 10-6 might be enough for first. Even with the loss of Greene and the injury to Collins, this team should accomplish that. It is well-coached, experienced and knows how to beat the 49ers.

2SAN FRANCISCO

'96 record: 12-4, 6-2 in division. Good news: The names at the skill positions are familiar, and that's the way the team wants it Steve Young, Jerry Rice and Brent Jones enter the season healthy and ready, and the team needs them to stay on the field to operate a slimmed-down, return-to-the-basics offense. The 49ers think they'll run better with the tandem of Terry Kirby and Garrison Hearst and they feel better about the line with left tackle Tim Hanshaw stepping in for injured Harris Barton. The defense looks great on paper, with eight of the 11 starters having Pro Bowl experience, and the team believes a healthy Rod Woodson is an upgrade at left corner. The front four of ends Chris Doleman and Roy Barker and tackles Bryant Young and Dana Stubblefield is the team's strongest area. Bed news: The team didn't show any life on offense or defense in preseason, despite the great names on the roster. The front seven showed vulnerability against the run in the finale against Denver, and the Jaguars' Rob Johnson riddled the secondary. Woodson's back must be good enough for him to keep up with receivers. On offense, the 49ers a familiar problem: a line that needs to adapt to new faces. And there remains the matter of Steve Mariucci and his lack of head-coaching experience. He will be watched closely to see if he can inspire an aging team. 16 games now: A schedule loaded with NFC West patsies gives the team a good chance at another 10-win season and a playoff berth. To get any further might be asking too much. A year ago, the team lost every game against Dallas, Carolina and Green Bay -- a total of five. Until the 49ers show they can beat high-caliber teams, they are not in the elite. To get there, the running game will have to step up and the defense will have to avoid a late-season breakdown.

3ST. LOUIS

'96 record: 6-10, 4-4 in division. Good news: A free-agency approach stressing quantity over bigbucks purchases has added several starters and resulted in better depth. But the heart of this team remains its potentially explosive young talent at the skill positions. Isaac Bruce and Eddie Kennison, both 24, form one of the best young receiver tandems in the league. What the team desperately needs is a breakthrough year from running back Lawrence Phillips and continued development by second-year quarterback Tony Banks. No NFL team spent as much time on the practice field in training camp, so the team doesn't figure to wilt as much in the second half as it did a year ago, when it was outscored, 229-146, after halftime. Bed news: The team ended the preseason averaging a paltry 2.9 yards per carry, with no single run longer than 20 yards. Cohesion on the offensive line was a problem. The team switched around four of the five line positions to make room for No. 1 overall pick Orlando Pace at left tackle, then Pace missed all of training camp before finally signing his contract. Phillips' left knee continues to be a concern; the team has no players with breakaway speed behind him. The two trouble spots on defense are the line and right cornerback. At right corner, free-agent pickup Ryan McNeil has had a difficult time adjusting to Bud Carson's bump-and-run scheme. 16 games from now: The most likely scenario is a competitive 7-9. On defense, the team doesn't have the bulk to stand up to power running teams. It's questionable whether the team can mount a consistent pass rush without resorting to gimmicks. The team should score a lot of points if it can run. A tough early schedule -- the 49ers twice and road games against the Broncos and Raiders in the first six games -- will reveal a lot.