ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Mark from Easley, S.C., writes: Mike, I really like the way you are being unbiased in your NFC West blogs. I have read several articles and comments on how Steve Breaston might give the Cardinals some options in handling the Antwan Boldin situation. But my question (since Anquan is going nowhere this season) is just how lethal can these three guys be together, once Anquan is back? What do think is the best way for the Cardinals to utilize these three receivers? And how will opposing teams try to stop them and if they do try will that not open up the running game? With Hightower and Arrington the Cards now have some speed at running back. Wow, defensive coordinators are going to have their hands full!

Mike Sando: Thanks much, Mark. Appreciated. Having each of those three players should help the running game as well as the passing game. I think it opens up the possibility of more two-back, three-receiver groupings. The Cardinals can use those groupings to dictate mismatches in the slot. If teams try to match coverage, the Cardinals should have an easier time running the ball.

Seattle used that group very effectively during Shaun Alexander's best years. The key is forcing defenses to defend the slot receiver with a defensive back. It makes sense as long as you don't have a great tight end, because the tight end comes off the field in those groupings. The Cardinals have been banged up at tight end.

---

Dain from Sedona, Ariz., writes: I have yet another question on the officiating from the Cowboys/Cards game. This one has to do with Laboy's offside call at the end of the game though. Now everyone knows that if an offensive player is "injured" and they don't have any timeouts the refs run 10 seconds off the clock, or they charge the team a timeout if they have any left. So why couldn't they have just charged the Cardinals a timeout since they had two left? The clock still stops like the Cowboys wanted, the injured player gets off the field, and Nick Folk misses a 57-yard attempt. If the Cardinals are out of timeouts, then they get a 5 yard penalty. Doesn't that make a little more sense and helps keep a game from ending on technicality?

Mike Sando: The league decided this was a penalty because Travis LaBoy was walking off the field. If LaBoy were still down on the ground, the Cardinals could have been charged a timeout. The rules do not allow teams to trade timeouts for penalty yardage in those situations. At least that was what I took from officiating director Mike Pereira's explanation.

---

Josh from Seaford, Del., writes: You mentioned the possibility of nolan being gone in the middle of the year. Who on the staff would become interim coach? I'd hate to see Martz take over when they have a Mike Singletary eager and ready to take a head coaching job.

Mike Sando: Martz would probably have the most credibility based on what is happening on each side of the ball. Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky would also be a candidate in that situation.

---

Pav from San Francisco writes: Hi Mike, appreciate the work as always and you are great with getting to questions, so I am hoping this one fits in. I was reading (and correct me if I am wrong) that the 49ers will now have 2 extra roster spots from putting Spencer and Keasey onto IR. Who do you think is out there right now who is young with good or great upside who they can sign to hopefully reap some reward from later this year and into next season? Thanks.

Mike Sando: Thanks, Pav. There aren't enough good players to go around with 32 teams and 53 players per team. I don't see anyone out there who is going to make a difference. The 49ers haven't either, or else they would have signed one.

---

RJ from parts unknown writes: Sando, first I want to say great job with the blog! I have a couple of questions. First, how do you see the Seahawks finishing up this season? Is it unreasonable to believe we are destined for a top 10 pick? If that is the case, is a player Like Taylor Mays from USC a real possibilty for the Hawks seeing as our safeties aren't playing too well this year to go along with them aging?

Mike Sando: Thanks, R.J. Amazing we're talking about such a high possible pick. Seattle has done well taking a safety early -- Kenny Easley comes to mind -- but in general teams do not value the position that high. I would think the defensive line would be a place to target again.

---

Mikkel from Denmark writes: Hi Mike I'm a Seahawks and I see that without Matt Hasselbeck at QB we're not much of a team, and the desire to put Seneca Wallace out at WR raises the question, 'When should the Seahawks draft a QB?' It seems as if we'll get a high draft pick for the 2009 draft so would a new franchise QB make sense? It would give him a year or two to learn from Matt before he would take over, and it would give the 'Hawks another backup to free up Seneca Wallace to move around the field...

Mike Sando: I think they'll draft a quarterback in 2009, probably in the first few rounds. They considered it heading into this draft. Chad Henne was a possibility.

---

Aaron from Portland, Ore., writes: Hi Mike, I've really enjoyed your reports on the NFC West. It has been a refreshing change considering this division gets very little coverage nationally. I have a question that I would love to see thrown into your blog for discussion -- If the Seahawks lose their next three games (Bucs, Niners, Eagles), which is appearing likely, then the season is obviously lost.

Do you think Holmgren would be willing to step out mid-way through this season so that Mora can start coaching and rebuilding this team? I see no point in Holmgren lingering around for the rest of this year once the Seahawks are out of the playoff race. This would give the Seahawk's players a half season to get acquainted to Mora's coaching style, and hopefully give the Seahawks an advantage heading into next season.

Mike Sando: That doesn't strike me as Holmgren's style at all. I did briefly consider how tough it might be for the organization to play for the future while the head coach plays for the present. That thought evaporated when I thought about the makeup of the team. Young players are already playing.

---

Chris from Arizona writes: The Cardinals were excited to get Gabe Watson back against the Bills, and he made a few plays. But for all the talk about the d-line's work against the Cowboys and Romo, I did not see Watson mentioned. After reviewing the tape and the personnel, can you say why that is? Did the Cardinals play more 4-3? Or was Watson just a non-factor?

Mike Sando: The Cardinals' smaller, quicker players seemed to flourish in this game against the Cowboys' big, slower offensive line. Watson played about a dozen snaps against the Bills. I didn't see how many he got against the C
owboys, but Arizona rotated players up front. That would probably explain it. I'm watching some of the latter stages of that game and not seeing Watson on the field much.

---

Jess from La Quinta, Calif., writes: Great article re -- Seahawks D. When you lay out facts like that (especially the 4 straight 3-n-outs Week 1 @ Buffalo) you get the total picture of a team decimated by injuries and a defense that then is forced to win games for you. That doesn't always work in this league, at least not since the Ravens and Giants played in the Super Bowl.

I'll tip my Stein of Black Butte Porter on Sunday night in hopes that we can surprise Tampa Bay on a National stage, yet I won't be surprised to see yet another double digit defeat. I do expect Holmgren to start getting creative again with Seneca Wallace. Upon Hasselbeck's return, I look to see more of the Branch, Engram, and Wallace 3 WR sets with Hasselbeck throwing a go route to Wallace to kick off a game a la 2005 NFC Title Game vs. Carolina. Thanks for writing such a great Blog and column, I look forward to reading them daily.

Mike Sando: Thanks, Jess. Some thought I was giving the defense a free pass, but the idea was to provide a bigger picture. Glad you saw it!

---

Eli from parts unknown writes: Hey Mike, What would it take to get Tim Ruskell to be more agressive in making some trades? It seems like Paul Allen is not involved in this organization at all. The fans of Seattle would like an agressive GM/Owner like Jerry Jones who will make some moves/trades to pick up quality, not quantity. Building through the draft is good when you make the right choices but cmon, Willaims to Dallas? It should have been us that made that trade, wouldn't you agree? I guess Hasselbeck will never know the feeling of having at least one quality/elite WR as long as we do not take risks in Free Agency/Trades, what do you think?

Mike Sando: To play devil's advocate here, would you like another trade along the lines of the one that brought Deion Branch to Seattle for a first-round choice?

---

Drew from Seattle writes: Can you tell me when Hasselbeck will be ready to play? Or Wallace, I just don't want Frye to start for two more weeks. Is Branch ready? Will the Seahawks miss the Playoffs? Should I look forward to the draft? I have lots of questions as I am in panic mode.

Mike Sando: I'll try my best here. Unknown on Hasselbeck. Don't hold your breath. Wallace has a chance this week but I'm not sure if he can last a game. Same for Branch at this point. Yes, I think Seattle misses the playoffs. You should look forward to the draft at this point, with one eye on the field.

---

Joe from Davis, Calif., writes: Sando, I know you're well aware of the disgruntled 49er fans that comment on this blog. With that said, what are your thoughts on what is going on in San Francisco? What course of action would you take to right the ship?

Mike Sando: Coaching hires go in cycles. Tough guy replaces nice guy, and vice versa. The 49ers need credibility. If things don't change and a coaching change becomes inevitable, I think they might be wise to hire someone with more credibility than the organization currently enjoys.

---

Jared from Los Angeles writes: Hey, Mike, love the blog. My question is about the 49ers offense: J.T. O'Sullivan was brought in because he was familiar with Martz's offense, which I've heard is quite complex. That being said, the juggernaut of the 49ers O is definitely Frank Gore, and I just don't see him getting the carries he deserves. He's averaging 5 yards a carry but only averaging 18 carries a game. I know he gets a lot of touches on passes out of the back-field, and that Martz running-backs don't typically put up for huge rushing numbers, but when you have such a turn-over prone QB I think it only makes sense to feed the ball to your dominant back and control the clock. He should be a work-horse, 25+ carries a game. What do you think?

Mike Sando: Thanks, Jared. I think we're seeing trade-offs here. The 49ers weren't going to get anyone more qualified than Martz to restore the offense. Now they are living with the fact that their personnel doesn't ideally suit the offensive system. It's better than last season, no question, but still not perfect.

---

Chris from Santa Clara, Calif., writes: Mike, as a lifelong niners fan, it pains me to watch them on Sundays. Yes, I can confirm that Nolan is playing his corners 10 yards off, as someone mentioned earlier. This is allowing every opponent to throw underneath the coverage at will. Do you even think that the niners should attack more instead of sitting back in the prevent defense the entire game? That is all on Nolan.

Mike Sando: That type of strategy reflects what Nolan thinks about his safeties. He's not trusting them in coverage. Would you?

---

Markus from Vancouver, Wash., writes: I really like Mike Holmgren, however even going back to 2005 Super bowl season, his offense has been to plain. It is completely predictable. Not a single trick play ran that I've seen in the last few years. He needs to bring in some trick plays even a reverse once in a while to put defenses on there heals and open up the game some.

Mike Sando: Trick plays are fun but they are not going to fix an offense. Seattle's offense has ranked among the league leaders in recent seasons. I wouldn't trust backup quarterbacks and backup receivers with trick plays requiring flawless execution.

---

Ripvw from Seattle writes: I love your blog. I have three questions: 1. Why is Seattle keeping two kickers? 2. Do you think the current punter is an improvement over the previous one? 3. How has the departure of assistant coaches affected the team this year? Thanks, Oneply

Mike Sando: Thanks much. They're keeping two kickers because Mike Holmgren likes the veteran, Olindo Mare, and Tim Ruskell likes the young prospect, Brandon Coutu. The arrangement seems to be working well. Mare is responding to the pressure with a great season so far. On the punter, there's not much to choose from. The offense isn't good enough to put Jon Ryan in position for inside-the-20s. His net average is only 34.4 yards, low. I can't say that situation ranks in the top 10 things affecting Seattle right now.