NFC WEST

ATLANTA FALCONS

Last season: 4-12 (Fifth in NFC West).

Coach: Dan Reeves (32-35-0 with Atlanta).

Key losses: WR Tim Dwight (San Diego), LB Jesse Tuggle (retired).

Key acquisitions: WR Tony Martin (Miami), RB Rodney Thomas (Tennessee).

Offense: The writing is on the wall for 35-year-old quarterback Chris Chandler. Should the Falcons stumble out of the gate, look for the debut of budding superstar Michael Vick. Chandler has the mobility of a house plant, and it will be only a matter of time before someone slams him to the turf, so look for Vick sooner, not later. Running back Jamal Anderson has returned to the form he had in gaining 1,800 yards in 1998. Atlanta needs a big season from Anderson, since ball control is important in the Falcons’ offense. Wide receivers Terence Mathis, Tony Martin and Shawn Jefferson are well into their 30s, yet remain a dependable trio. Tight end is in good hands with Reggie Kelly and rookie Alge Crumpler. Tackle Bob Whitfield is the only player of note on a workmanlike offensive line that is playing better than it has in a long time.

Defense: This unit scares no one. Defensive ends Patrick Kerney and Brady Smith combined for only seven sacks last season. Veteran Shane Dronett returns from a knee injury to man the middle alongside Travis Hall. The emergence of linebacker Keith Brooking hastened Jesse Tuggle’s retirement. He’ll join veteran Henri Crockett and Antony Jordan. If only the rest of the defense were as deep as the secondary. Corners Ray Buchanan and Ashley Ambrose provide excellent coverage, and Ronnie Bradford and Marty Carter are steady veterans at safety.

Special teams: Darrick Vaughn scored three touchdowns on kickoff returns. Darrien Gordon was signed to return punts. Jay Feely takes over for Morten Andersen as kicker.

The skinny: What exactly are the Falcons waiting for? It’s not as if Vick is under any pressure. No one expects the Falcons to do much anyway.

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CAROLINA PANTHERS

Last season: 7-9 (Third in NFC West).

Coach: George Seifert (15-17-0 with Carolina).

Key losses: DE Reggie White (retired), DT Eric Swann (retired).

Key acquisitions: T Todd Steussie (Minnesota), RB Richard Huntley (Pittsburgh).

Offense: Fifth-round choice Chris Weinke surprisingly got the starting nod at quarterback but the 29-year-old Weinke is not your average rookie. The Heisman Trophy winner has a strong arm, leadership ability and the respect of his teammates. Still, it would be a relief to the offense if running back Tshimanga Biakabutuka, talented but injury prone, could last a whole season. Weinke has nice targets. Receivers Muhsin Muhammad and Donald Hayes combined for 168 receptions and nine touchdowns in 2000. The return of tight end Wesley Walls should make life easier in the red zone. The Panthers also opened the checkbook and brought talent to a unit that was in dire straits. Among the new arrivals, tackle Todd Steussie is a Pro Bowl performer, and Jeff Mitchell and Kevin Donnalley are steady interior linemen.

Defense: Sean Gilbert is the only returning starter up front. Rookie tackle Kris Jenkins looks like the real deal but veterans Brentson Buckner, Jay Williams, Jason Peter and Michael Rucker are average. First rounder Dan Morgan joins linebackers Hannibal Navies and Lester Towns. Doug Evans is secure at one corner while Rashard Anderson and Jimmy Hitchcock fight it out to start on the other side. Strong safety Mike Minter hits like a steam train.

Special teams: Kicker John Kasay is the last original Panther on the roster. Todd Sauerbrun is a booming punter. Rookie Steve Smith raised eyebrows as a return specialist.

The skinny: George Seifert bit the bullet and jettisoned nine players who were 30 or older during the off-season. There is no pressure for Weinke to win right away, and there is no reason to think the Panthers will win more than five games.

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NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Last season: 10-6 (First in NFC West).

Coach: Jim Haslett (11-7-0 with New Orleans).

Key losses: CB Alex Molden (San Diego), WR Jake Reed (Minnesota).

Key acquisitions: WR Albert Connell (Washington), S Jay Bellamy (Seattle).

Offense: Aaron Brooks will start at quarterback after racking up more than 1,500 yards passing in five starts last season. Running back Ricky Williams, after gaining 1,000 yards in 10 games, never expected the Saints to bring in first-rounder Deuce McAllister. Both played well in exhibitions and it remains to be seen if there is enough playing time to go around. Wide receiver Joe Horn is coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance after catching 94 passes last season. Albert Connell was signed to stretch the field and draw double coverage away from Horn. The Saints would welcome a return to form by tight end Cam Cleland, who missed all of last season after catching 54 passes as a rookie. The offensive line is the nastiest bunch in the game. At tackle, Willie Roaf is well on his way to Canton and Kyle Turley relishes his reputation as the dirtiest player in the NFL. Jerry Fontenot, Wally Williams and Chris Naole round out a line that did not miss a start last season.

Defense: La’Roi Glover, Joe Johnson and Darren Howard combined for 40 sacks last season and Norman Hand makes the pass rush effective by absorbing as many blockers as possible. Keith Mitchell leads a ferocious corps of linebackers. Darrin Smith replaces the departed Mark Fields on the weak side and middle linebacker Charlie Clemons is back after missing last season with an Achilles’ heel injury. Safeties Jay Bellamy and Sammy Knight are tailor-made for this aggressive defense.

Special teams: Former beer truck driver Michael Lewis shows promise as a return specialist. Longtime Charger John Carney will kick field goals.

The skinny: The turnaround has been remarkable, and Jim Haslett’s deserves all the credit but the Saints are a year away from the Super Bowl.

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ST. LOUIS RAMS

Last season: 10-6 (Second in NFC West).

Coach: Mike Martz (10-7-0 with St. Louis).

Key losses: QB Trent Green (Kansas City), DE Kevin Carter (Tennessee).

Key acquisitions: LB Mark Fields (New Orleans), CB Aeneas Williams (Arizona).

Offense: The Rams must protect quarterback Kurt Warner as if he were a newborn baby, since unproven backups Jamie Martin and Marc Bulger are not ready. Then there’s Marshall Faulk, the league MVP who set an NFL record with 26 touchdowns and gained 2,000 total yards despite missing two games. Fullback Justin Watson played well in Faulk’s absence last season. The Ram wide receivers are easily the best in the league. Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt and Az-Zahir Hakim combined for a staggering 3,840 yards and 19 touchdowns. Ricky Proehl is solid as a third-down possession receiver. Tight end Ernie Conwell looks to complete his comeback from knee injury. Tackle Orlando Pace anchors a line that has all five starters returning. Guards Tom Nutten and Adam Timmerman are tough players.

Defense: The Rams traded or released defensive starters Kevin Carter, Ray Agnew, D’Marco Farr, Mike Jones, Todd Lyght, Todd Collins, and Keith Lyle. Budding star Grant Wistrom is the lone holdover on the defensive front. Former Buccaneers Chidi Ahanotu and Tyoka Jackson are capable players, and end Leonard Little is primarily a pass rusher. Rookie defensive tackles Damione Lewis and Ryan Pickett are being counted on to lock down the middle. Linebacker London Fletcher lead the team with 193 tackles last season. The addition of Mark Fields and Don Davis should make Fletcher’s job a lot easier. Newcomers Aeneas Williams and Kim Herring join a revamped secondary. Rookie Adam Archuleta is converting to safety after playing linebacker in college.

Special teams: Jeff Wilkins made all 17 of his field goal attempts last season. Az-Zahir Hakim is a threat on punt returns.

The skinny: This team has the talent to go all the way.

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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Last season: 6-10 (Fourth in NFC West).

Coach: Steve Mariucci (37-31-0 with San Francisco).

Key losses: WR Jerry Rice (Oakland), RB Charlie Garner (Oakland).

Key acquisitions: DT Dana Stubblefield (Washington), LB Derek Smith (Washington).

Offense: It may sputter coming out of the gate, what with future Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice and 1,000-yard rusher Charlie Garner having fled to Oakland. Fans never expected quarterback Jeff Garcia to be anything more than a stopgap but he established himself as the starter with a 31-touchdown 4,278-yard performance last season. Garrison Hearst is being counted on to replace Garner after being away from the game for nearly two years. Without a decent running game, Garcia won’t be nearly as effective. Coming off a 97 catch, 1,451 yard season, All-Pro Terrell Owens has stepped out of Rice’s shadow and become a superstar. Classy 16-year veteran guard Ray Brown leads an offensive line that doesn’t get a lot of notice despite its dependability. Tackle Derrick Deese and center Jeff Newberry are the standouts.

Defense: The pairing of defensive tackles Dana Stubblefield and All-Pro Bryant Young should go a long way to returning the defense to respectability. Ends Cedric Killings, Chike Okeafor, and John Engelberger are stable. First-round defensive end Andre Carter may be the steal of this year’s draft. At linebacker, young Julian Peterson shows tenacity and could be the playmaker the 49ers desperately seek. Safeties Lance Schulters and Zac Bronson are intelligent, hard hitting players. Ahmed Plummer and Jason Webster have developed into solid cover cornerbacks.

Special teams: Former XFL kicker Jose Cortez and punter Jason Baker are as green as they come.

The skinny: It all comes down to the running game and an improved defensive front.