NFC west.(NFL)(national football league)

ARIZONA CARDINALS

The team has problems at running back with Troy Hambrick out for the season (foot) and Emmitt Smith out at least a week (toe). The likely replacement, Josh Scobey, has great speed but doesn't avoid many tacklers and has had trouble picking up the blitz. Larry Croom showed some nifty moves last week against the Jets and might be a better alternative. ... Anquan Boldin still doesn't appear comfortable at split end. He played mostly in the slot last year, when he caught 101 passes in a Pro Bowl season and excelled on crossing routes. Those patterns have not been used effectively this year. It would help if the quarterback had more protection to allow a route to develop. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: RE Bertrand Berry has 10 sacks this season, but he has made a bigger impact as a team leader. At Berry's urging, defensive players meet every Thursday for dinner. It has helped build togetherness in a unit that has overachieved. He also has been a mentor to the younger players, especially DT Darnell Dockett. It's an element the team has been missing for years.--Kent Somers

ST. LOUIS RAMS

The Rams appear to be running out of patience with DT Damione Lewis. Last week, he was replaced in the lineup by undrafted rookie Brian Howard. Lewis has good strength and quickness but simply hasn't made many plays. Howard is undersized and lacks strength, but he has some quickness and a good motor. ... With FS Rich Coady struggling and FS Aeneas Williams slowed by a shoulder injury, newcomer Antuan Edwards could be starting before the season ends. Edwards isn't the most physical player, but he has good size (6-1, 210) and good range. ... The team addressed its poor punt coverage by cutting P Sean Landeta and replacing him with Kevin Stemke. Stemke is left-footed, so his punts should be more difficult to field. SEE A DIFFERENT GAME: Coach Mike Martz is so desperate to have his defense be more physical and tackle better that he is using live tackling drills on Wednesdays. The risk of injury is higher with full contact, but the underachieving unit has ranked near the bottom in rush defense most of the season, and Martz thinks it needs to have a more physical attitude.--Jim Thomas

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