ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic: Jerheme Urban is having a very good camp, which leaves Early Doucet on the outside for a second consecutive season. Coach Ken Whisenhunt: "He's really stood up and has had as good a camp as anybody. He's made a number of plays on the ball that were uncharacteristic of what he had done consistently. ... He's always been a player with good speed, but sometimes when he's had a contested catch, there had been some inconsistencies and that has not been the case here at all."

Also from McManaman: The Cardinals' signing of free-agent cornerback Bryant McFadden might have been an underrated move. McFadden certainly brings a more physical presence to the Arizona secondary. That was obvious from the start of camp. Whisenhunt says he loves the Cardinals' improved depth in the secondary.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says running back Tim Hightower isn't content simply beating out Beanie Wells for the starting job in Arizona. Hightower: "I want to redefine the position of running back, period. I want to redefine the game. That's what I want to do. You can look at that from stats and numbers, from a team and setting team records, individual records, whatever it is. When people think running backs from years and years to come, I want them to think Tim Hightower." Dare to dream.

Also from Urban: LeRod Stephens-Howling will have a hard time earning a 53-man roster spot with Arizona even though he has impressed of late.

Revenge of the Birds' Hawkwind looks at Cardinals players whose stock has risen or fallen during camp to this point. Urban is up. Doucet is down.

Taylor Price of 49ers.com says Dre' Bly and Adam Snyder are enjoying strong camps for the 49ers. Price: "While several of Snyder's teammates on the line have been playing together for a couple of years, he remains the only one who has taken snaps at both guard and tackle positions on both sides of the line."

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle checks in with 49ers free-agent defensive lineman Khalif Barnes. Barnes: "I'm having the time of my life. Each practice is important for me because I'm practicing for an NFL team. I'm still in position to get a job. [Defensive coordinator] Greg Manusky said it's not where you start, it's where you finish. My finish is going to be on the 53."

Also from Crumpacker: Alex Smith says he plans to say hello to Mike Nolan on the field before the Broncos-49ers game.

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider checks out the 49ers' depth chart, as issued by the team for its exhibition opener. Tarell Brown is listed ahead of Bly at cornerback even though he hasn't practiced since the start of camp.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Dashon Goldson picked off a pass for the first time since camp started. The 49ers need more of that from their free safety.

Also from Maiocco: a player-by-player breakdown of the 49ers on defense. He says it's clear Parys Haralson is the best pass-rusher on the team, and that Manny Lawson has shown improvement over the past week. If you are a 49ers fan, your fingers are presumably crossed. Meanwhile, Reggie Smith remains hot and cold.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee remains skeptical to claims that Michael Crabtree's contract dispute is preventing No. 11 overall choice Aaron Maybin from getting a deal.

Also from Barrows: 49ers rookie Bear Pascoe is bouncing back from a tough start to camp.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says Smith is taking a low-keyed approach to his matchup against Nolan's defense. Smith: "I'm not going out there trying to win the Super Bowl. I just want to execute the offense. I'm not trying to do too much. I don't want to go out there and show the world anything." 

Also from Brown: 49ers rookie Kory Sheets is finding out how rough life can be for an undrafted free agent.

Monte Poole of the Bay Area Newspaper Group says Crabtree is to blame for not signing with the 49ers.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times looks at Darryl Tapp's potential role -- make that roles, plural -- in the Seahawks' defense this season. O'Neil: "We'd like to use him specifically as a third-down pass-rusher, and then as a spot guy on first and second down. I think someone made a comment [Monday] that Tapp always looks good in training camp, and then sometimes disappears in the season. I wouldn't dispute that, but I think this year, it'll be a different story."

Also from O'Neil: quite a few Seahawks players are sitting out with injuries.

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times says first-round pick Aaron Curry had nightmares about blown assignments during his contract dispute with the Seahawks. Curry: "I tried to relax, but I stressed out about what I was missing and I worried about if I was going to get too far behind. I would have nightmares that I wasn't blitzing when I was supposed to be blitzing. And that I was giving up touchdowns. I had nightmares about letting my teammates down, and those were the kind of dreams that you wanted to make sure stayed dreams and didn't become reality."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says Kelly Jennings continues to look good for Seattle in one-on-one coverage drills. But Patrick Kerney left practice with a sleeve on his calf.

Also from Williams: The Seahawks are stressing communication on defense.

Ryan Divish of the Tacoma News Tribune checks in with Tapp, who is getting more opportunities as a weakside pass-rusher. Cory Redding and Lofa Tatupu are among those in frequent contact.

William P. Tomisser of Seahawk Addicts summarizes recent radio interviews involving Seahawks players. We find out Redding was a top discus thrower in high school.

John Morgan of Field Gulls takes a look at Seahawks rookie receiver Deon Butler. The initial review wasn't very positive.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon has big plans -- on and off the field. Coats: "They range from day-care centers for dogs to small-scale construction to investment planning to his burgeoning farm, situated about 80 miles southwest of St. Louis." Witherspoon: "Thirty-five head of cattle, 14 hogs, three sheep, 20 chickens, four dogs ... and I'm about to buy 20 more head of cattle. It's all coming together piece by piece."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Marc Bulger's arm is holding up well in camp to this point. Bulger is throwing less than in the past, with coaches limiting his throws to 60 or 70 per practice. The approach is in direct contrast to how the Seahawks are handling their starter. Matt Hasselbeck's arm is working overtime and he's missing the days when NFL Europe exemptions allowed teams to carry five quarterbacks in camp.

Also from Thomas: a chat in which he says Laurent Robinson could be a good addition for the Rams this season. Also, none of the younger corners have impressed him much.

More from Thomas: The Rams brushed up on their special teams in preparation for the exhibition opener.

Brian Stull of 101ESPN St. Louis says the Rams have time before deciding whether to add a receiver while Donnie Avery remains sidelined.

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat says Bulger expects extensive playing time in the first exhibition game. Also, Steve Spagnuolo isn't feeling sentimental heading back to Giants Stadium for his first game as Rams coach.

Turf Show Times' ram_rod will be watching Larry Grant, among others, as the Rams face the Jets.