We had a good mix of questions in the latest NFC West chat. Transcript here. Highlights below:

Seth A. (Iowa City, Iowa): With Ted Ginn Jr. adding a downfield threat, thus hopefully opening up the field for Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis, and Frank Gore being a top-tier running back, is it possible the Niners will have the best offense in the division this year? Arizona is still solid, but it's mostly on speculation. No one knows how Matt Leinart, Beanie Wells and Steve Breaston will do in full-time starting roles.

Mike Sando: Yeah, that is possible. I think it comes down to one player: Matt Leinart. He doesn't have much momentum right now in terms of how he's perceived, but if he grows into the starting role, the Cardinals could still field the best offense in the division. The 49ers cannot exactly count on Ted Ginn Jr., either. He is a key variable for the 49ers. I do think Ginn's speed has the potential to help the 49ers get better matchups for Davis and Crabtree. If that happens, the 49ers will be tougher to stop.

Joe (Minn.): Is Steven Jackson's back going to be a problem this coming season?

Mike Sando: It's not going to help him. There's probably a higher risk factor for him this season. I suspect it'll bother him at some point, but in speaking with ESPN's injury expert, Stephania Bell, he should be able to overcome this injury through improving his core strength. He should not aggravate the injury through contact, but the injury could sneak up on him while he's sitting on an airplane or going about his off-field life. That was the feeling from Stephania. She pointed to Matt Hasselbeck's back situation. Once he addressed it through improved core strength, it wasn't a problem for him in games.

408 (SC): How do you think Beanie Wells will hold up in a 16-game season as the primary back? You mentioned he didn't get many carries in the first four games, and no more than 17 after, but more touches also mean more risk to injury.

Mike Sando: That is a legitimate concern given his history. He did seem to become a more aggressive runner last season. He dished out more punishment than he took, and he seemed to hold up OK. He doesn't have to get 20 carries a game. Wells averaged 11 carries per game last season. He gained a little more than 4.5 yards per carry. Take him up to 15 carries per game, give him the same per-carry average and he finishes with 240 carries for 1,081 yards. I think he can do better than that.

tompage (Bellevue, Wash.): Others have criticized Pete Carroll's book tour, what do you think about it? Does the fact the revenue from the book goes to charity (A Better LA) influence how you feel about it?

Mike Sando: The book was in the works before the USC sanctions came down, so that is one thing to consider. I can tell you I've had more than enough Pete Carroll at this point. He's been everywhere. The attitude he has taken toward the sanctions does show some arrogance. It's as if he's just incredulous the NCAA would have the gall to question his efforts to "do things better than they've ever been done before." The NFL season will rescue Carroll from the excess of this book tour pretty soon. I think that's a good thing for Carroll and I know it's a good thing for the rest of us. Enough already.

On that last point, I think it's the timing of Carroll's book tour that makes its aggressive, pervasive nature seem a little out of place. We're also seeing what happens when all of us have access to each stop Carroll makes on the tour. He's saying the same things in different cities and we're hearing it over and over via TV and the Web. Nothing is making us watch, but those of us following the NFL closely can't help but see it over and over again.