Were the Niners are one-year fluke? Are the Seahawks really that improved? Do the Cardinals have their quarterback or not? Can Fischer turn the Rams around? Here's my NFC West preview for 2012.

The Rams quickly went from one of the NFL's oldest teams to one of the youngest. Former Titans coach Jeff Fischer takes over, and there's no denying he's got a great track record. What's he inheriting? Will Sam Bradford be the quarterback of 2010, a great rookie campaign, or will he be the guy we saw last year? He's got to learn another offense this season, and the learning curve may be steep. Steven Jackson has some miles on him now, and if he can't stay healthy, the running game will suffer greatly. That means a pretty pedestrian receiving corp is going to have to find a playmaker. They drafted Brandon Quick, they've got a decent slot option in Danny Amendola, and if Steve Smith can become the guy he was with the Giants in 2009, there's hope. The O-Line got some good upgrades too. The front seven only returns Jake Long and James Laurinitis, so a cast of new guys will be expected to step up quickly. Fischer will turn this thing around in St. Louis, but don't expect a whole lot in Season 1.

What's not to like about this team after a surprising run to the NFC Championship game last season? Coach Jim Harbaugh made a huge splash his rookie season, so where to go now? No denying the Niners defense is among the very best in the league. Patrick Willis is as good as there is at linebacker, and Justin Smith on the line and NaVorro Bowman are solid too. Carlos Rogers played well in the secondary, This defense is built to win a Super Bowl. Additions on offense were made to the receiving corp, which already boasts a killer tight end in Vernon Davis. Super Bowl hero Mario Manningham is on board, and we'll see if Randy Moss has anything left after a year off. They also drafted AJ Jenkins in the first round. Matching a 13-3 season like last year isn't likely, because their schedule is as tough as a team gets this year. They also came from behind in the fourth quarter to win five games last year. There was some luck involved in last year's run, but if Alex Smith can keep the mistakes down, another division title looks good. How far they go in the play-offs will depend on if anyone emerges as a real receiving threat.

There has been a lot of talk this pre-season about how the Seahawks could surprise. Think about this: if the team still wasn't searching for some answers, would it have taken a chance on Terrell Owens? Seattle grabbed Green Bay back-up Matt Flynn in the offseason, but drafted Russell Davis after that. It looks like Davis has earned the starting spot going into the regular season. There will be some growing pains, so Seattle fans hope it can rain Skittles for Marshawn Lynch again. The offensive line hasn't been able to stay healthy for the last couple of seasons, and that spells big problems for Davis and Lynch if they don't. The Seahawks secondary is solid, but there are no big play linebackers, and the front line has only one adequate pass rusher, and that's Chris Claiborne. Pete Carroll has made some interesting moves for this team, but there are still enough holes to be filled that I don't see them as the legit threat that many do this pre-season.

Cardinals fans know what's coming.....the fate of this team rests squarely on the shoulders of Kevin Kolb......or John Skelton. Whichever guy ends up earning the job can rest easy knowing that this team is either going to be as good, or as bad, as they are. What good does Larry Fitzgerald do you when you can't get him the ball? There's not a lot of help for Fitzgerald in the receiving corp, but if Kolb can get it going with Fitz, another could emerge. Beanie Wells is a decent runner if he's healthy. Defensively, I like what they have. They were actually one of the NFL's top ranked defenses in the second half of last season. Darnell Dockett, Calais Campbell and Daryl Washington are all names to watch out for, as all three are Pro Bowl caliber players. The defense can be that solid this year, and the team could still be in danger of a third straight losing season if the offense can't improve. If they can get some quarterback play, they're good enough to make a wildcard. If they don't get that play, the Kolb era will end quickly, and it may spell the end for Ken Whisenhunt too.

FINAL PREDICTION:

1. SAN FRANCISCO

2. ARIZONA

3. SEATTLE

4. ST. LOUIS

NEXT UP: (Tuesday the 4th) AFC EAST