New-look Arizona Cardinals seeking NFC West relevance
By Jim Koch
The NFC West is undergoing a transition, and the new version of the Arizona Cardinals is looking to get back on top of it
It’s no secret that the Arizona Cardinals have undergone some major changes this offseason. A new coaching staff, a new quarterback room and a new defensive scheme are three of the biggest differences with the club. In life, very little remains the same forever, and it’s no different for a professional football team.
Also undergoing a transition is the division that the Cardinals make their home in. For awhile there, it seemed like Arizona and the Seattle Seahawks were the only pertinent parts of the NFC West. It now appears, however, that the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers are going to have something to say about that going forward.
The Rams made their voices known in 2017, as a matter of fact. Their hiring of 30-year old Sean McVay, the youngest head coach in modern NFL history, resulted in a division championship. It was the franchise’s first title since 2003, when the Rams resided in St. Louis.
Despite a 6-10 finish, the 49ers also made some noise in ’17. The squad finished last year’s campaign in outstanding fashion, winning all of their final five games. An October trade that brought quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to San Francisco was the catalyst for the impressive set of victories.
The Seahawks have lost a bevy of key components over the last couple of seasons. This offseason alone, productive performers such as Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett, Jimmy Graham, Sheldon Richardson and Paul Richardson have all found new homes. The sensational Russell Wilson is still Seattle’s leader, but the talent around the signal-caller just isn’t what it used to be.
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Exactly how and where the Redbirds place among their division peers is a mystery at the current time. There are questions surrounding the group from the desert that need to be answered before a determination can be made. The Cards’ standing in the National Football Conference West will become much clearer once the regular-season begins.