Teams will start reporting to camp in less then a week, officially marking the start of the 2014 season. Pads will come back to armor shoulders and helmets will be strapped up for the first time in months.
For the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams it will all be in these precious few weeks that will define how the west will be won.
It will not be easy for teams to unseat the reigning Super Bowl champions. It is even harder when that team is in your division and, in actuality, it may be just as hard for the Seahawks to hold off their division rivals.
The Seahawks enter the season as the kings of the NFL castle but the NFC West is nipping at their heels. They faced the 49ers in the NFC Championship, the Cardinals turned in a 10-win campaign under first-year head coach Bruce Arians, and the Rams are being built to takeover the division under head coach Jeff Fisher.
Each team in the NFC West will first have to face themselves in training camp before they will be able to have a shot at their rivals. Here are a few training camp battles to watch for each team.
Seattle Seahawks
Right Tackle: Michael Bowie vs. Alvin Bailey
Quarterback Russell Wilson tied for the third most sacked quarterback in 2013 (Atlanta’s Matt Ryan was the other). Wilson was whacked 44 times behind the line of scrimmage and that can’t happen again, if Seattle wants to return as NFC West champs. Last year’s right tackle Breno Giacomini signed with the Jets. That leaves youngsters Bowie and Bailey to fight for the position. Bowie saw part-time starts last season and enters camp as the favorite.
Cornerback: Byron Maxwell vs. Jeremy Lane
The depth of the Legion of Boom was tested last season as cornerback Brandon Browner was suspended down the stretch. Maxwell took over the reigns with Browner’s absence and performed admirably. Browner signed with New England, leaving an open spot open for 2014. Maxwell and Lane posted similar tackle numbers, but Maxwell gets the edge with his four interceptions (third most on the team).
San Francisco 49ers
Center: Marcus Martin vs. Daniel Kilgore
The entire 49ers offense is solid outside of the center position. Gone is long-time starter Jonathan Goodwin. The team hoped Kilgore would step in immediately, then gave the team another offseason headache with an arrest for public intoxication in January. The team used a third-round pick on Martin, who was considered one of the top prospects for the position. With recent success around the league for rookie pivot men, Martin could steal the starting spot.
Cornerback: Chris Culliver vs. Jimmie Ward
Cornerback is a mess. The Niners lost veterans Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown to Oakland. Then Eric Wright retired. Culliver was looking to be counted on heavily in 2014 then was arrested and hit with five charges stemming from an alleged hit-and-run incident in March. The team used their first-round selection on Ward, who played safety and corner while at Northern Illinois. Looks like Ward will have a bigger role this season then the team envisioned.
Arizona Cardinals
Tight End: Rob Housler vs. Troy Niklas
The Cardinals hoped they had found a gem when they snagged Housler in the third-round in 2011. That dream hasn’t come 100% true. A solid player, Housler simply hasn’t made the impact the team hoped and in coach Arians’ offense tight end is valuable position. Insert 2014 second-round pick, Niklas – a terrifying 6’7″, 270-pound monster. Niklas was used as a blocking specialist at Notre Dame behind Tyler Eifert (now with Cincinnati) before breaking out in ’13.
Linebacker: Larry Foote vs. Old Age
Veteran Karlos Dansby signed with Cleveland via free agency, leaving budding star Darryl Washington and youngster Kevin Minter to start. Foote was signed for depth. That came in handy when Washington was suspended for the entire 2014 season following another failed drug test. Foote, played in only one game last year before suffering a triceps injury. He will be 34 years old this year. Foote needs to stay healthy or the Cards could be in trouble.
St. Louis Rams
Wide Receiver: Kenny Britt vs. Austin Pettis
Pettis, was third on the team in receptions last season with 38. The receiving corps as a whole was lackluster in 2013. Enter Britt. The former first-round pick has undeniable potential leading coach Fisher to draft him in 2009, while at Tennessee. Britt also has undeniable issues off the field. Signed on a one year contract to play for the man who drafted him five years ago, Britt should be on a mission to prove he is the immense talent all believe him to be.
Safety: Rodney McLeod vs. Lamarcus Joyner
McLeod started all 16 games in his second season and turned in 79 tackles with two interceptions and two forced fumbles. Solid but unspectacular. Joyner, a cornerback at Florida State, was drafted in the second-round this year. While just 5’8″, Joyner’s level of play is much bigger. While he could play the nickel in 2014, he could also challenge McLeod at free safety as his play reminds of former-Colts safety Bob Sanders (also 5’8″).
