ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Upon posting this item, I'll be heading to the Cardinals' practice field at Northern Arizona University for the team's first 2009 training camp practice.

I'm not going to blog and tweet every little detail during practice because providing the proper context is tough enough when a person takes the time to find out what things mean. When a star player falls to the ground in pain, it's news -- unless he returns to the drill 10 minutes later. I'll do my best to pass along information quickly and in the proper context.

First, I wanted to revisit the question posed last week about the best and worst moves NFC West teams made this offseason.

Josh7224: As a Rams fan, I have to admit that I like the pick of Jason Smith. You could have John Elway behind center, but if no one is able to block for him, he won't be able to do anything. Solidifying the lines is not the flashiest move, but it is the right move for a rebuilding team. And unless a miracle happens, they should still be picking at the beginning of the draft. So a QB is still a possibility.

Losing Pace and Holt hurt, especially after everything they have done for the team, but hanging on to them does not give this team a strong chance to win. They deserved to have an opportunity to play for teams that may contend. Overall, after years of ineptitude, I am cautiously pleased with the direction the team is headed in.

Mike Sando: I agree with your analysis. The Rams need a positive new identity under the new staff and that is most definitively accomplished through the offensive line. The Rams became a bigger, tougher team right away by adding Smith and center Jason Brown to a group that already included the combustible and surly Richie Incognito, who seemed apt to chew off an opponent's arm at the bottom of a pileup.

mattythefatty59105: Seattle's worst decision was not drafting a RB. Their best decision was signing T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Mike Sando: Agreed. I was speaking with a former Seahawks player today and we agreed that the situation behind Julius Jones at running back should be concerning. Jones throws his body around in protection. He takes punishment. I think Seattle would have considered drafting a running back as early as the first round if the team wasn't picking so early. Aaron Curry wound up being the safer choice compared to some of the backs that went later.

Deric8Lee: Seattle's decision to not draft a QB in this year's draft does not strike me as a bad move. I read all kinds of articles before the draft speaking about how weak this year's class was in the QB department, yet everyone chastised the Seahawks for not taking one.

It seems to me the only reason we would have needed to draft a QB is if Matt Hasselbeck goes down this year. If he does go down, I think it is safe to assume that we will have a top pick in next year's draft allowing us to pick from a better quality draft class of QBs.

Mike Sando: Sorry to cut you off, Deric8Lee, but we have other callers on the line. I think the Seahawks' decision to take their chances with Hasselbeck reflects confidence in Seneca Wallace relative to the other options available to Seattle.

jwills98: I am gonna go out on a limb and say the decision or "indecision" by the 49ers [at quarterback] is going to become a serious issue by the end of September. I understand why they did it (sweet talking Alex Smith), but I think it's going to haunt them. Consider this: 'Sing' yanked J.T. O'Sullivan in two quarters. Why not make Shaun Hill the starting QB and then tell Alex Smith to go 'take it from him.' The equal opportunities for both quarterbacks is going to hurt the wide reciever competition as well as disrupt any chance of the 'O' synching.

Mike Sando: Interesting perspective. I also think a team is best off declaring a starter. The 49ers' stance tells us they are not sold on Hill all the way and they still have high hopes for Smith. Your point on J.T. O'Sullivan begs for context, though. Mike Nolan and Mike Martz picked O'Sullivan to start because they -- Martz, mostly -- wanted to run the offense a certain way. Singletary wanted to change the priorities on offense. The decision he made to bench O'Sullivan seemed like a natural part of that process, not a knee-jerk decision.

KLIPKLIP: The 49ers made all the right moves! Why wait to sign a head coach? If what you have is working, why wait to lock it up? Why look for a replacement? Everyone loves Sing. The players love Sing. The fans love Sing. This was the best move for everyone! The draft was perfect, and for once, free agency was perfect. Signing big names is always a mistake. I'm looking for great things this season from my 49ers!

Mike Sando: Is that you, Jed?

windknot02: Arizona's worst move: not getting Karlos Dansby locked up long term, although admittedly, the public doesn't know what Dansby was asking for. Best move: Getting Beanie Wells at No. 31. Last year, Jonathan Stewart went at No. 16 with many of the same kind of injury questions. Rashard Mendenhall went earlier as well. I think Wells is as good as Stewart and better than Mendenhall.

Mike Sando: The team's ability to re-sign Adrian Wilson seemed to mitigate the Dansby situation somewhat. I just thought the team would have a hard time reaching an agreement given Dansby's established value of nearly $9.7 million per season. Dansby probably saw no reason to settle for significantly less than that on a long-term deal. The Cardinals probably saw no reason to pay that type of money long term.

9ergocrazy: 49ers best moves: Hiring Singletary immediately following the end of the last game in 08. Drafting possibly the best WR in the draft, sticking with a conventional 3-4 defense, and going with the power running game like back in 06. Getting an extra 1st round pick in 2010. 49ers worst moves: Not signing or drafting a pass rusher. I'm sick and tired of 'one more year' for Manny Lawson to 'emerge'!

Mike Sando: It does seem like the team is counting too heavily on Lawson and Parys Haralson for its pass rush. It's also
fair to note that the 49ers did not have prime opportunities to land immediate-impact pass-rushers this offseason.

This is a conversation I want to continue. Need to head out to practice. I'll revisit this as time permits. Thanks for contributing.