ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Kyle from St. Louis writes: Can you please tell me what the point was of the Rams drafting Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton only to have them stand there while a clearly-aging Dante Hall and solid but very average Dane Looker continue to get snaps? Also, humor us Rams fans and tell us who some good head coaching candidates are after the inevitable Linehan firing.

Mike Sando: The Rams thought they were going to be a better team, and a team that wouldn't need rookies to contribute right away. They knew rookie receivers take time to grow into the role. Any decision to play rookies before their time generally comes once a team gives up on a season and starts looking to the future. Scott Linehan cannot afford to do that.

As for head-coaching candidates, teams generally look for someone dissimilar to the coaches they fire. Linehan had never been a head coach. I would think the Rams would look for a guy with head-coaching experience.

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Jim from parts unknown writes: Why hasn't Kurt Warner been given credit for being the great quarterback he is?

Mike Sando: He hasn't been great again until recently and I think that is part of the issue. Playing in Arizona is probably another factor. But if he keeps playing near his current level, he'll finish this season in the Pro Bowl and re-establish himself as one of the NFL's very best.

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Will from Bonney Lake, Wash., writes: Hey Mike, As a Seahawks fan, I've been trained not to think about Jim Mora taking over the team next year - however it's hard not to. What's going to happen to Holmgren's offensive coaches, most notably offensive coordinator Gil Haskell?

Mike Sando: I would expect widespread changes to the staff. New head coaches hire new assistants. Reports have already linked current Raiders assistants Greg Knapp and Tom Rathman to Seattle as likely Mora assistants, the assumption being that Knapp would be offensive coordinator.

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Mitch from Seattle writes: Everyone is talking about the bad call from the ref ED about Cutlers fumble. If he called it a incomplete pass, Why did he not realize that it was a backward pass and still a live ball!!! No one on ESPN seemed to even think of that fact and no one brought it up after the post game highlights. If you read this, take a look at the replay and tell me what you think.

Mike Sando: I like your thinking, but Ed Hochuli had blown his whistle either way, so the play was dead even if the pass went backward. No?

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Jason from Greeley, Colo., writes: I was at the Cardinals game vs the Dolphins on Sunday and I noticed they mostly ran a 4-3 defense as their basic set. They only went with 3 down linemen in nickel and dime sets. Both Laboy and Berry played (most of the time) down in a 3-point stance. Was this an adjustment for playing the Dolphins or are do they just use 4-3 as their main defense? I thought they were starting to shift to a hybrid 3-4. Thoughts?

Mike Sando: I did not chart the Cardinals' defense in that game, but the 3-4 depends on solid nose-tackle play. The Cardinals have been waiting to get Gabe Watson and Alan Branch back from injuries. Without them, the team cannot line up to play the 3-4 as effectively. That would be my thought.

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Terry from parts unknown writes: Mike, did you see the hit on Logan Payne ? Did you think it was "clean" , and/or do you think the NFL will look into it ?

Mike Sando: I thought it was a clean hit for the most part. Slow-motion replay makes things look a lot more cut-and-dried than a real-time review. I watched the play several times and decided, yes, Goldson could have hit Payne higher, but this did not look like a purposely dirty play. I'll let you know if the league agrees.

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Jhink from parts unknown writes: Mike -- Thanks for the excellent coverage of the NFC West, and specifically the Seahawks. Do you see Seattle still being able to challenge for a NFC West title, and advancing in the playoffs with this start? Being a fan, my vision is blurry, but I still have faith we can go 10-6...

Mike Sando: Thanks much. Life might be tougher for the Seahawks if Arizona had visited in Week 2 and claimed a victory in Seattle. I do think the Seahawks can rally once they get healthier at receiver, but I think the margin for error is gone and the Seahawks are vulnerable one year earlier than I would have expected. Ten victories sounds optimistic now.

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Craig from Portland, Ore., writes: The announcers said that if Matt [Hasselbeck] went out of the game in the first three quarters he couldn't return till the game until the fourth quarter. Did I hear that right? Whet the rule on that? It's anew one to me.

Mike Sando: They were probably explaining the rule regarding third quarterbacks. Once a team plays its third quarterback, the first two quarterbacks cannot return to the field. This became a potential issue for Seattle once the team lost No. 2 quarterback Seneca Wallace in warm-ups. Had Hasselbeck left the game in favor of Frye, Hasselbeck could not have returned to the field.

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Scott from Cumberland, Maine., writes: Mike - I did not get a chance to see the [49ers-Seahawks] game (being from Maine, we don't get many 'hawks games), but listenting to the folks on the radio, they mentioned that the officiating appeared to be, for lack of a better word, onesided. Now I understand that you may not be in a position to call out the officials, but....What are your thoughts?

Mike Sando: I think every team complains about officiating. Every coach thinks he gets a raw deal. It's just part of the game. Mistakes are going to happen.

I've seen a few shaky calls in NFC West games already this year. Officials flagged the 49ers' Ray McDonald for a quarterback hit that wasn't against the rules. This was a huge play in the game, one that helped the Cardinals win the game. The interference call against Seattle's Kelly Jennings also seemed questionable. The play negated a Seattle interception, and the 49ers scored a touchdown when given a second chance.

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Huron from parts unknown writes: How do you think the Niners will do this year? You think they're playoff material?

Mike Sando: I do not expect the 49ers to be a playoff team this season. They strike me as the type of team that will have some great moments offensively and some really long days, too. And I wonder if J.T. O'Sullivan can stay healthy taking so many sacks. I know Jon Kitna made it through two seasons with Martz, but opponents have sacked O'Sullivan
on 23 percent of pass plays. That's a concern.

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Matt from Scottsdale, Ariz., writes: Any new news on the Anquan Boldin contract situation? Or is this something that won't see any changes until after the season is over?

Mike Sando: Boldin says he won't talk about a new deal. That makes it tough to get one done. The most likely scenario would be for the Cardinals to address this after the season.

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Jonathan from San Francisco writes: Hey Mike, I love the blog, keep up the great work! I was wondering if you thought Seattle might try and trade for Lions WR Roy Williams. Seattle is lacking in quality and quantity at that position and Williams is complaining yet again about not being used enough in Detroit. Do you see this as a good match?

Mike Sando: Thanks, Jonathan. I think that would be a good match for Seattle, but lots of receivers would look good in a Seahawks uniform right about now. The trade for Keary Colbert and re-signing of Koren Robinson -- moves made after you sent this note -- show just how hard it can be to add front-line talent.