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Jump ahead to 2015 and put yourself in John Schneider's seat as the Seattle Seahawks' general manager.

By then, you will have re-signed or lost elite players such as safety Earl Thomas and cornerback Richard Sherman.

Your quarterback, Russell Wilson, will be entering the final year of his rookie contract. Wilson will be eligible to sign a new one for the first time under the NFL's labor rules.

The same goes for Bobby Wagner, your starting middle linebacker, and Bruce Irvin, your highly drafted pass-rusher. All will cost much more than they're costing right now.

Your Pro Bowl left tackle, Russell Okung, will also be entering a contract year.

One receiver, Percy Harvin, will have a contract counting $12.9 million against the salary cap. Another, Sidney Rice, will have a deal counting $10.2 million.

Oh, and one other thing about this 2015 adventure: You'll have to decide whether to pay a $2 million roster bonus and $5.5 million salary for a running back entering his ninth season.

Marshawn Lynch is that running back, and right now, in 2013, he's about as good as they come, this side of Adrian Peterson. But you'll need younger, more economical alternatives for some of your best players down the line. These aren't the sort of immediate needs that show up in draft previews, but they're always lurking.

Now, thanks to one of the more surprising moves in the 2013 draft, the Seahawks have bought insurance for their future at the position most vulnerable to age.

Christine Michael, the Texas A&M running back Seattle unexpectedly selected 62nd overall Friday, must by rule sign a four-year contract through 2016. His deal will run past the contracts that Lynch and backup running back Robert Turbin signed last offseason. It will count far less against the cap than the $9 million Lynch's deal is scheduled to count in 2015.

Seattle probably did not draft Michael with the distant future in the front of its mind. One explanation trumps all others when determining why the Seahawks used a second-round draft choice for a running back with two perfectly good ones on the roster already. The team thinks Michael can be special.

"He was the highest-rated player on our board and we lost Leon Washington, so we were looking for a little bit of depth there, and he is just our kind of runner," Schneider said. "He's a tough, intense, up-field, one-cut guy, and he's just a very good football player, competitor."

Adding Michael does not imperil Lynch for the 2013 season, of course. It does provoke natural tendencies to wonder whether there's more to this story.

"I could be far-fetched here," Kevin from McKinney, Texas, wrote to the NFC West mailbag, illustrating how far the mind can wander, "but is it possible John Schneider and [coach] Pete Carroll are concerned with Lynch's future effectiveness due to the new lowering of the crown rule? It seems to me that is a big part of his game and significantly contributes to his yards after contact."

There is no way the rulebook pressured Seattle into drafting a running back.

Carroll and other coaches fear officials will struggle enforcing the new rule preventing runners from lowering their heads and delivering an aggressive blow to the opponent with the top of the helmet. The rule could affect Lynch, but league officials said they discovered only a few would-be violations per week when studying tape from last season.

The Seahawks selected Michael because they thought he was the best back in the draft and well-suited to their offense. They wanted additional depth for their running game, which will remain the focus of their offense. They have to realize that Lynch's back spasms, while manageable to this point, could become more problematic with additional wear and tear. And they surely realize that Lynch's occasional off-field troubles dating to his time with the Buffalo Bills could recur, inviting sanctions.

Adding Michael doesn't mean the team thinks less of Lynch or Turbin, a 2012 fourth-round choice. There are no indications the team is anticipating a Lynch suspension in relation to his DUI arrest last offseason.

Still, I would bet against Lynch playing out the final year of his deal when Michael and Turbin figure to be available at a significant discount.

Seattle was fortunate in 2010 to have a running back of Lynch's caliber and young age (then 24) become available by trade at reasonable cost. The team was wise to re-sign Lynch one year ago to a four-year deal featuring $17 million in guaranteed money.

This marriage should be good for both parties for the next couple of seasons.

Lynch's deal pays him $7 million in salary with an $8.5 million salary-cap charge in 2013. It carries a $5 million salary and $7 million cap number in 2014. The team will have a decision to make at that point because Lynch's deal includes a $5.5 million salary and a $2 million roster bonus with a $9 million cap figure for 2015, the contract's final year.

Michael, a luxury buy at present, should be much more than that by then.

Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson passed through the Seattle Seahawks' draft media room Friday.

That seemed appropriate as the NFL planned to hold the second and third rounds of the 2013 draft later in the day.

Wagner factored in defensive rookie of the year balloting as a 2012 second-round choice. Wilson went to the Pro Bowl as the Seahawks' third-round choice last year.

The first round commands much of our attention leading up to the draft, but there's talent to be had in subsequent rounds.

The New England Patriots have a league-high four picks in the second and third rounds. The San Francisco 49ers are among seven teams with three. The St. Louis Rams have two third-rounders, but no pick in the second. The Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals each have one pick per round Friday.

San Francisco general manager Trent Baalke told reporters his team had a specific player in mind with the third pick of the second round, No. 34 overall. If the 49ers trade back, we'll know they either received an offer they could not refuse or their targeted player came off the board atop the round.

Defensive line and tight end are two positions of need for the 49ers.

The Rams could conceivably trade back into the second round, but general manager Les Snead indicated Thursday the team felt as though it could find the players it wants in the third through sixth rounds. The team could use help at safety, guard and running back. Three safeties, four interior offensive linemen and zero running backs were selected in the first round. The Rams will be watching the supply at those positions Friday.

Predicting which teams will draft specific players can be tough work.

Last year, for instance, the seven-round mock draft from Scouts Inc. went 0-for-28 in projecting players to NFC West teams. Some of the projections lined up from the standpoint of position. For example, the Seattle Seahawks did select a linebacker in the second round, but it was Bobby Wagner, not Lavonte David. The St. Louis Rams did take a receiver in the second round, but it was Brian Quick, not Rueben Randle.

One unexpected turn in a draft can throw off subsequent projections. The 2013 draft appears particularly tough to handicap. John Schneider, the Seattle Seahawks' general manager, recently said he could not recall a draft quite like this one from that standpoint.

So, good luck, mock drafters.

The Scouts Inc. seven-round mock for 2013 provides a conversation starter as we navigate the final day before the real draft begins.

A run through the picks for NFC West teams (with a head nod to similar pieces from Kevin Seifert and Jamison Hensley for the divisions they cover):

Arizona Cardinals

Jordan's availability at No. 7 might come as a surprise. The Cardinals would, in theory, improve their outside pass rush with that selection.

The Barkley projection might catch you off-guard after Carson Palmer's arrival changed the subject away from quarterbacks. Drew Stanton has some salary guarantees, too. I'm skeptical.

The Scouts Inc. projection would extend to six the streak of drafts without Arizona selecting an offensive lineman in the first three rounds. Jordan Mills, the projected choice in the fifth round, wouldn't help the situation at guard, where the team has a need, in my view.

The Cardinals would also come away without immediate help at safety and without a speed receiver. The offense wouldn't improve enough right away through this draft.

St. Louis Rams

Safety, running back, receiver, guard and outside linebacker might be the five top needs for the Rams, not necessarily in that order.

The Scouts Inc. mock addresses each of those needs with the Rams' first five picks.

The Rams will have to balance clear needs at safety and elsewhere against a big-picture desire to continue building the roster for the long term with additional choices secured from the Washington Redskins.

At 231 pounds, Lacy would fill the Rams' need for a bigger back after the team allowed Steven Jackson out of his contract. Lacy, Isaiah Pead and Daryl Richardson would give the Rams a talented young committee at the position.

San Francisco 49ers

There's very little chance the 49ers will hold onto all 13 of their selections, of course. They'll have the flexibility to move forward, move back or even trade into the 2014 draft.

The projection for Brandon Williams in the third round caught my attention.

Williams is a 335-pounder from Missouri Southern State. He cranked out 38 reps in the bench press at the scouting combine, most among defensive tackles. Scouts think he projects to multiple positions across multiple schemes in the NFL. That would appeal to a team such as the 49ers.

Williams played at the NCAA Division II level. Would the 49ers use a third-round choice for a Division II prospect? They used a sixth-rounder for Western Oregon's Jason Slowey last year, the only time San Francisco has selected a Division II player over the past two drafts.

It's an interesting thought. The 49ers do have a need for a big, talented, versatile defensive lineman. They could bring along a prospect such as Williams with an eye toward 2014.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks are one of two teams without a first-round selection after sending theirs to Minnesota in the Percy Harvin deal.

The second-round projection, Sio Moore of Connecticut, would give the Seahawks a weakside linebacker to play with Wagner (middle) and K.J. Wright (strong side).

The team also has plans for Cliff Avril at linebacker, at least in some capacity. There's room for a standard weakside linebacker after the Seahawks allowed Leroy Hill to reach free agency.

Tavarres King, the Georgia receiver projected in the fifth round, is known as a vertical threat. He averaged 22.6 yards per reception last season.

The San Francisco 49ers placed three linebackers on the Associated Press' All-Pro first team for 2012. A fourth 49ers linebacker earned second-team All-Pro honors.

There was really no debate, then, when Matt Williamson ranked NFC West teams at the position heading into the 2013 NFL draft. Williamson, who scouts the NFL for ESPN.com, covered this position more quickly than some of the others we've discussed previously.

Williamson: San Francisco has the best linebackers in the league, times 10. Some people on Twitter are saying Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks are more D-ends than linebackers, but they are linebackers.

Sando: You've already said the 49ers were best in the NFL on the offensive line. This gives them two positions of supremacy in your eyes. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman were first-team All-Pro choices last season. Smith was first-team All-Pro at outside linebacker for his 19.5-sack season. Brooks was the second-teamer. I've gone through the record books and failed to find a similar display of dominance at linebacker from one team in one season.

Williamson: Seattle is very easily No. 2. The Seahawks could use another outside guy, but so what? They are easy to find.

Sando: The Seahawks found one starter in the second round (Bobby Wagner) and another in the fourth (K.J. Wright). They plan to use Cliff Avril at strong-side linebacker in some situations. But with Leroy Hill apparently having run his course in Seattle, the team figures to draft a weak-side linebacker to compete with Malcolm Smith.

Williamson: They should be fine. I think St. Louis and Arizona are hurting in that department. Outside of James Laurinaitis, St. Louis is light at linebacker. Arizona has Daryl Washington and he was tremendous last year. I didn't factor in his four-game suspension to start the season. Their outside linebackers are adequate on a good day.

Sando: I'd say Jo-Lonn Dunbar was a pleasant surprise at outside linebacker for the Rams last season. The Cardinals released Stewart Bradley and appear to be moving on from Paris Lenon. They're counting on better health from O'Brien Schofield. Either Schofield or Sam Acho could break out, I would say, but that's not assured.

Williamson: Their outside linebackers are adequate on a good day. That might be as big a need as offensive line if they continue to play a 3-4.

Sando: There's some uncertainty over what form the Cardinals' defense will take, but none regarding which NFC West team's linebackers stand tallest.

The 2012 battle for NFC West supremacy between the San Francisco 49ers' and Seattle Seahawks' has turned into a perceived battle this offseason.

"It just feels like the Seahawks make a move, then the Niners make a move," former NFL quarterback Damon Huard said Wednesday during our conversation on 710 ESPN Seattle. "The Seahawks sign Percy Harvin, then the Niners go get Anquan Boldin. The Niners just signed Nnamdi Asomugha, they signed Colt McCoy, and now it's the Seahawks' turn to sign a quarterback. It really feels like this competition that was so fun to watch last fall has carried over into the offseason between the Niners and the Seahawks."

That's what it feels like from this angle, too. So, when ESPN's Bill Polian listed 49ers general manager Trent Baalke among his top six executives without a mention of Seattle counterpart John Schneider, I knew some Seahawks fans would take offense.

"Schneider should be on there," SamW9801 wrote in commenting on the Polian piece.

I'm going to ratchet up the discussion with an assist from Tony Villiotti of draftmetrics.com. Tony identified ranges of picks by how frequently teams have found five-year starters within those ranges.

Using those general ranges, displayed at right, I've put together a chart at the bottom of this item comparing the 49ers' and Seahawks' draft choices since 2010.

Baalke took over the 49ers' draft room roughly a month before the 2010 draft. Schneider became the Seahawks' GM that offseason. The 49ers then underwent a coaching change after the 2010 season, at which point Baalke assumed the GM title officially. We might cut Baalke some slack for selecting Taylor Mays, a player then-coach Mike Singletary valued. There were surely other times when both GMs followed their coaches' input, for better or worse.

Seattle has drafted 28 players during this period, three more than San Francisco has drafted. The Seahawks had more to work with from a qualitative point as well. Their median choice was No. 130 overall, compared to No. 165 for the 49ers.

It's pretty clear both teams know what they are doing in the draft.

Aldon Smith, Anthony Davis, Mike Iupati and NaVorro Bowman have earned Pro Bowl and/or All-Pro honors for the 49ers. Russell Okung, Earl Thomas, Russell Wilson, Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman have done so for the Seahawks.

Both teams have found franchise quarterbacks after the first round. Colin Kaepernick was chosen 36th overall in 2011. Wilson went to Seattle at No. 75 last year.

Neither team has missed in that first category, which includes players taken among the top 13 overall picks. Smith and Okung are elite players at premium positions.

Both teams have unanswered questions in that 14-40 range. The 49ers are waiting on receiver A.J. Jenkins to produce. The Seahawks haven't gotten much from guard James Carpenter. But in Iupati and Thomas, the 49ers and Seahawks, respectively, found players among the very best at their positions. Kaepernick's selection puts this group over the top for San Francisco. Seattle got eight sacks from Bruce Irvin as a rookie in 2012, so the Seahawks aren't far behind. It's just impossible to overlook the value a franchise quarterback provides.

Seattle has the edge in the 41-66 range. Mays is long gone from the 49ers. That leaves LaMichael James for the 49ers against Bobby Wagner and Golden Tate for Seattle. Wagner was an instant starter at middle linebacker and a three-down player who commanded consideration for defensive rookie of the year. Tate blossomed with Wilson at quarterback.

The Seahawks also have an edge in that 67-86 range, having selected Wilson.

Seattle holds a 7-3 lead in number of picks used between the 87th and 149th choices, a range producing five-year starters 16 percent of the time, according to Villiotti.

Both teams used picks in that range for players whose injury situations dragged down their draft status: Joe Looney in San Francisco, Walter Thurmond in Seattle. Both teams found starting linebackers in this range: Bowman to the 49ers, K.J. Wright to the Seahawks. Both teams found developmental running backs in that range: Kendall Hunter to the 49ers, Robert Turbin to the Seahawks. Both teams found Pro Bowl players: Bowman in San Francisco, Chancellor in Seattle.

Sherman, arguably the NFL's best cornerback, gives Seattle an edge in the 150 through 189 range of picks. Both teams found backup tight ends there. Anthony Dixon (49ers) and Jeremy Lane (Seahawks) have the potential to expand their roles.

The 49ers found starting fullback Bruce Miller in the final pick range, which runs from 190 to the end of the draft. Seattle found a projected starting guard there in J.R. Sweezy. Malcolm Smith is a candidate to start at linebacker for Seattle. Miller and Sweezy both played defense in college. Miller already has successfully transitioned to offense. Seattle believes Sweezy will do the same.

Summing it up: Both teams can feel good about their draft performance in the past three seasons. I doubt either team would trade its picks for the other team's. That makes sense. Teams draft the players they like best. The 49ers have six projected 2013 starters to show for their choices. The number is eight for the Seahawks, not counting Irvin or Tate. Seattle has had more choices and higher choices, and more openings in the lineup to accommodate those players. I think that shows in the results.

Stu from Stirling, Scotland thinks Iowa State linebackers A.J. Klein and Jake Knott project as potential replacements for Leroy Hill at weak-side linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks.

"I know John Schneider and Pete Carroll like their defenders big and quick, but I'm not sure there is a safer and more immediately useful option in the fourth through sixth rounds," Stu writes. "Would they draft a players likes these with high floors and low ceilings? I'm struggling to think of examples in recent years?"

Sando: I don't know enough about those specific linebackers to project where they'll land. Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay did offer thoughts on them recently. They see both getting drafted in the final four rounds.

Before last season, I used the depth charts on Ourlads.com to single out 2012 draft choices listed as weakside linebackers for teams running 4-3 defenses. The goal was to see how many were drafted and where in the process teams selected them. Teams used two in the second round, one in the fourth, one in the sixth and two in the seventh.

The chart shows those six players and what percentage of snaps they played on defense last season.

Surely there were other 2012 draft choices who could have projected as 4-3 weakside linebackers. Perhaps they were needed elsewhere. But four months after the draft, there were only six 2012 choices listed a weakside linebackers for 4-3 teams.

The Seahawks will presumably target one of them, similar as to when they did in selecting K.J. Wright to play on the strong side two years ago. Wright was the fourth of four 4-3 strongside linebackers selected in that draft class.

Seattle does have other options. Malcolm Smith is a candidate to replace Hill in the lineup. I'd expect Seattle to draft insurance at the position. The team has 11 draft choices, so there will be opportunities.

Arizona Cardinals

Pete Prisco, of CBSSports.com, says Cardinals CB Greg Toler highlights his list of lesser-known free agents who will make some NFL teams happy if they can get them signed. Also, Arizona's ABC 15 has video of Toler speaking to students on the topic of bullying at Horizon High School on Thursday.

Who will be the next quarterback for the Cardinals? ProFootballTalk.com's Mike Florio shares a few strong suggestions on the matter.

Nicole Bidwell, daughter of Cardinals owner Bill Bidwell, is helping out former Cards receiver Roy Green by participating in a dance event to raise funds for the National Kidney Foundation. Green, 55, talks about the rough adjustment from being an athlete playing in the NFL to a man suffering from kidney disease.

San Francisco 49ers

"There’s got to be something to be learned from a franchise that acquired so much talent in recent years. As if they’re smarter than everybody else, the Niners also will have 13-14 picks going into this year’s draft," writes the San Diego Union-Tribune's Tom Krasovic.

What do the 49ers do with QB Alex Smith? The San Francisco Chronicle's Kevin Lynch offers one idea.

The Sacramento Bee's Matt Barrows does his homework, and lists six front-four players that may be within striking distance of the 49ers, who pick 31st in April's draft.

Former 49ers great Dwight Clark talks with middle school students about eating a healthy breakfast.

Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner talks on an NFL.com podcast about the top rookies of the 2012 season, coach Pete Carroll, teammate Richard Sherman’s trash-talking and the team’s last-second playoff loss in Atlanta.

St. Louis Rams

The planned meeting between the Rams and running back Steven Jackson’s agent has yet to take place, reports Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Kenny Washington became the first African-American to sign with a professional sports team in what is considered the modern era when he inked a deal with the Los Angeles Rams on March 9, 1946. Nick Wagoner, of stlouisrams.com, profiles Washington's legacy.

Former Rams quarterback Kurt Warner's six-bedroom home will go on the auction block on Feb. 27 after the Super Bowl champion got tired of waiting for it to sell, according to the Los Angeles Times.

NEW ORLEANS -- Seattle's Bobby Wagner was second and St. Louis' Janoris Jenkins fifth in defensive rookie of the year balloting by the Associated Press.

Throw in a third-place finish in offensive balloting for Seattle's Russell Wilson and the future appears bright in the NFC West.

Wagner, the Seahawks' starting middle linebacker as a second-round draft choice, finished a distant second to Carolina's Luke Kuechly in balloting.

Kuechly also enjoyed a strong rookie season. He entered the 2012 season amid greater fanfare than Wagner. That gave Kuechly a head start with voters. I suspect the same factor helped Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck finish ahead of Wilson in balloting on the offensive side.

NEW ORLEANS -- Leroy Hill's eight-year career with the Seattle Seahawks was probably finished before his arrest on domestic-violence charges Tuesday.

Hill turns 31 in December and has no contract for 2013. His roster spot appeared in some jeopardy during the 2012 season when an injury sidelined Hill briefly and Malcolm Smith showed promise as his replacement in the lineup. The Seahawks needed Smith on special teams, however, and they knew they could count on Hill to start.

Hill's arrest makes him even less attractive to the Seahawks as a potential fallback option if a need arises at linebacker. The team could use the draft to acquire another young linebacker to grow alongside Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright. Smith could factor as well.

Hill has been with the Seahawks since 2005, when then-general manager Tim Ruskell upgraded the linebacker corps by using a second-round choice for Lofa Tatupu and a third-rounder for Hill. Both became long-term starters. Tatupu went to three Pro Bowls.

The facts: The Seattle Seahawks finished their season with a 12-6 record, including 1-1 in postseason, thanks to a 30-28 defeat at Atlanta in the divisional round.

The upside: Even the worst defeats tend to feature a bright spot or two.

• Tight end Zach Miller caught eight passes for 142 yards and a touchdown. Receiver Golden Tate also topped 100 yards receiving. He had six catches for 103 yards and a score.
• Rookie middle linebacker Bobby Wagner and Pro Bowl free safety Earl Thomas picked off Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
• Quarterback Russell Wilson completed 24 of 36 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns. He also had seven rushing attempts for 60 yards and a touchdown. Wilson set an NFL rookie record for passing yardage in a playoff game. He became the first player in NFL history with at least 385 yards passing and 60 yards rushing in a postseason game. Wilson's performance established him even more firmly as a franchise quarterback and one of the best young players in the NFL.
• Seattle finished the game with 491 yards.
• The Seahawks overcame 20-0 and 27-7 deficits to take a 28-27 lead with 31 seconds remaining.
• Seattle limited the Falcons to two punts, one interception and a field goal in the fourth quarter.

Looking ahead: The Seahawks move toward the 2013 NFL draft holding the 25th overall choice and nine other selections, plus whatever compensatory choices they might gain.

Both teams' head coaches came from the old Pac-10 Conference. Their general managers worked together for the Washington Redskins in 2001. Their athletic young quarterbacks turned down opportunities to play baseball instead of football. Both teams have powerful running backs, highly ranked defenses and playoff aspirations.

What the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks have in common will not stop them from settling their differences at CenturyLink Field in Week 16.

The 49ers already have clinched a playoff berth. They can claim a second consecutive NFC West title by defeating Seattle for a fourth consecutive time under coach Jim Harbaugh. The Seahawks can clinch a playoff berth with a victory. They also can send a message to their more accomplished division rival from down the Pacific Coast.

The Sunday night lights await the most highly anticipated and consequential NFC West game of the 2012 season.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. is here to help break it down.

Sando: Matt, let's start off with the quarterbacks. Both already rank among the league leaders in the meaningful categories. Russell Wilson leads the NFL and Colin Kaepernick ranks third in Total QBR since Week 11, when Kaepernick became a starter. Both are top eight for the season. Who has the better QB?

Williamson: Seattle. I’m really high on both. I think both are going to be legitimate starters and stars. San Francisco is a year ahead of Seattle in just about every aspect, but I feel like the opposite is true at quarterback. Wilson looks like he has started more games and is mentally further along. Fewer bad throws. So consistent. Never turns the ball over. He is way ahead of the curve. I think he is the better player, but I like both very much.

Sando: Kaepernick has only five starts. The 49ers are 4-1 in those games. They've won at New England. Their only defeat with Kaepernick starting came in overtime on the road against a St. Louis team that has somehow gone 4-0-1 against the NFC West. Kaepernick has a higher Total QBR score through his first five starts than anyone since 2008. Wilson started the season slowly, but he's leading the league in QBR over the past 10 weeks. His rookie season is lining up closely from a statistical standpoint with Drew Brees' breakout season in 2004. So, which one of these quarterbacks has the brighter future?

Williamson: I think Kaepernick's ceiling is higher. Wilson's floor is higher. I would roll the dice on Kaepernick because we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg with that guy. I really feel like we're going to see this matchup for the next 10 years.

Sando: Both teams can really run the ball. The 49ers are second and the Seahawks third in rushing yards. The 49ers have consistently stopped the run, too. Seattle was allowing only 3.3 yards per carry through Week 6, but the figure has been a league-worst 5.3 yards since then. It all started with the 49ers rushing for 175 yards against the Seahawks in Week 7. Teams haven't run on Seattle in a way that would demoralize a defense, but that could be because the offense has improved enough to cover up defensive shortcomings. That jump from 3.3 to 5.3 stands out.

Williamson: I do think that is probably the No. 1 advantage in San Francisco's favor considering it was the case the first time these teams played. The Niners confused them a lot. Not only are they bigger and stronger, able to run downhill with a big, physical offensive line, but their run game is extremely well-schemed. They use so many personnel groups and throw so much at you. People don’t talk about that enough when it comes to running games. You don't know who is whamming you, who is going to be in the backfield. They will use super-heavy sets, go empty, stuff like that.

Sando: Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has alluded to that in the past. The last time these teams played, the game was on a Thursday night in San Francisco. The short week made it tougher for Seattle to prep for those unusual wrinkles in the running game. The Seahawks also have a couple of young linebackers in rookie Bobby Wagner and second-year man K.J. Wright. Those guys have additional seasoning now, plus some familiarity with the 49ers.

Williamson: The 49ers aren't the same team, either. Now you throw in the Kaepernick factor and they are extremely hard to prepare for. Seattle's personnel is still real strong. You're not going to be like, 'Hey, we're going to run at Chris Clemons.' They have solid personnel. They're not a bunch of schleps in the front seven whom the 49ers are going to push around.

Sando: It did seem like those young linebackers were vulnerable last time. The 49ers' guards, Mike Iupati and Alex Boone, can be trouble when they get their hands on a linebacker. Some of those trap plays let the guards get onto the linebackers without interference from the defensive tackles.

Williamson: Wagner is not little, Wright is not little, but neither one is a real great shedder yet. Wright is so tall that he will not win the leverage game if you get your hands on him. Wagner was simply faster than everyone at Utah State. Those guys are works in progress on that front.

Sando: Seattle has some depth concerns at cornerback. Brandon Browner is serving a suspension. Walter Thurmond and Marcus Trufant have been hurt. Richard Sherman could face a suspension at any time. Meanwhile, injuries have struck the 49ers at wide receiver. Kyle Williams is out for the season. A shoulder injury has forced Mario Manningham to miss games lately. Last time, Jim Harbaugh complained about aggressive tactics from Browner and Sherman. How do you see these matchups going?

Williamson: Michael Crabtree has really emerged as the 49ers' No. 1 receiver, but Sherman is the better player there. If they go one-on-one a high percentage of the time, that favors Seattle. As for the rest of the Niners' wideouts -- it's not like playing the Patriots. They don’t have enough weapons to really abuse you there. If they win Sherman on Crabtree, everything else is a draw.

Sando: Justin Smith's status for the 49ers is another key variable. He's the anchor of that defensive line. An arm injury forced him from the New England game. Smith did not practice Wednesday. If that injury is serious, the 49ers' line could be in some trouble. On the other side, Seattle line coach Tom Cable recently suggested his left tackle, Russell Okung, was playing as well as any left tackle around. Marshawn Lynch would seem to have the rushing yards to back that up. Your thoughts?

Williamson: I don't love Seattle's O-line. I don't think it's bad, but it is well-coached and maxed out and if I were the general manager in Seattle, I would really be tempted to take a guard or right tackle in the first round to add to the mix. It's going to be a really tough challenge against this 49ers defense. Assuming Justin Smith is playing, I don't think Lynch goes for 120. I think the trenches certainly favor San Francisco, although Max Unger, the Seahawks' center, is one of the most underrated guys out there.

Sando: Let's get right to it, Matt. Who is most likely to win this game?

Williamson: It's in Seattle, the fans will be insane, this is their Super Bowl. You could see a semi-letdown for the 49ers because if they lose, they are still fine. I hate betting against the Seahawks at home against anybody. This one is going to be even more emotional, louder, Kaepernick is young and I really like Seattle. They can make some noise in the playoffs. I feel like San Francisco is better than them, like the 49ers are one year ahead. I don't know who to pick, but I probably will pick the Seahawks.

Sando: The 49ers won in Seattle by a 19-17 score last season. Alex Smith and Tarvaris Jackson were the quarterbacks. Patrick Willis did not play for the 49ers. Seattle had a backup guard starting at left tackle. I also think the 49ers have the better team, but the venue and circumstances could give Seattle an edge.

The NFC West has produced playmaking defensive rookies in 2012.

St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins has three interceptions, two of them returned for touchdowns. He scored another touchdown after picking up a loose ball during an overtime victory over San Francisco. Jenkins' teammate, defensive tackle Michael Brockers, has hit his stride recently after overcoming an ankle injury.

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Bruce Irvin, chosen one spot after Brockers in the first round, has eight sacks through 13 games. His teammate, second-round middle linebacker Bobby Wagner, has three picks and two sacks. He remains on the field for passing downs.

Which ones might be deserving for defensive rookie of the year?

Former NFL linebacker Dave Wyman made his case for Wagner before our conversation Thursday on 710ESPN Seattle. My colleague, NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas, recently advocated for Carolina's Luke Kuechly.

NFL scouts I've spoken with think Tampa Bay's Lavonte David deserves strong consideration for the award. David has played nearly every defensive snap. He leads the NFL in tackles for loss with 17. Kuechly has 10 and Wagner has 7.5.

The Seattle Seahawks' 58-0 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday was big around here.

Not just for the historic margin, either.

It was big because it killed a running joke on the NFC West blog, one Seahawks fans couldn't escape since the 2011 season finished. No matter how much progress Seattle appeared to be making, fans from other teams could point to consecutive 7-9 records as evidence the team was mired in mediocrity under coach Pete Carroll.

The victory over Arizona left Seattle with an 8-5 record. Even a disappointing finish would leave the Seahawks with a record better than 7-9. This will surely come as a relief to some.

Comments sections have overflowed at times with gratuitous references to the numbers seven and nine. Those in the know would either laugh, roll their eyes or bristle.

We even put together an entire post on the subject back in May.

"49ers have won 5 super bowls since '79," 49ers5bowls wrote.

"Pete Carroll's drag racing team nailed a 7.9 quarter mile," unislaya added. "Nobody believed it, so they asked him to do it again."

"Pete Carroll finished P90X in 79 days," EDTGO piled on.

"We were 7-9 in year 1, we improved to 7-9 in year 2 and I think we can be an even better 7-9 team in year 3," was how Lock.Down put it, claiming to be paraphrasing Carroll.

References to the number 58 might be more appropriate from this point forward. First, though, let's look at 7-9 quick reasons why Seattle is better this season:

• The GM: General manager John Schneider led the way as Seattle defied convention by using a third-round choice for quarterback Russell Wilson.
• The coach: Carroll had the guts to start Wilson over Matt Flynn when the decision appeared risky.
• The QB: Wilson himself has made the biggest difference on the field. He has 15 touchdowns with three interceptions over his past eight games.
• Health: Seattle has been healthier this season than in the recent past. Having left tackle Russell Okung and receiver Sidney Rice in the lineup consistently has helped.
• Young talent: Middle linebacker Bobby Wagner had two more interceptions Sunday, giving him four on the season. Fellow rookie Bruce Irvin collected his eighth sack. So many other recent draft choices are contributing, including middle- and later-round picks. Cornerback Richard Sherman was a fifth-rounder in 2011, for example.
• Big returns: Thanks to Leon Washington, the Seahawks rank third in kickoff return average. That is up from 10th last season. The improvement has been 3.55 yards per return.
• Real McCoy: Seattle appeared to miss Kellen Winslow Jr. early in the season. The lesser-known Anthony McCoy has increasingly become a factor as a receiving tight end. He showed up when needed during a victory at Chicago, and again with a 67-yard reception Sunday.
• Ryan's impact: Punter Jon Ryan was already good, but he has quite possibly been even better this season. His net average is 41.7 yards, a career high. Seattle has downed 47.4 percent of his punts inside the 20-yard line. That is up from 35.8 percent last season. Other factors can influence the percentage, but the more, the better.

Thoughts on the Seattle Seahawks' 58-0 victory over the Arizona Cardinals at CenturyLink Field in Week 14:

What it means: Seattle improved its playoff chances by improving to 8-5 in impressive fashion. The Cardinals played their worst game of the season and one of their worst ever in falling to 4-9 following a 4-0 start. Eight Arizona turnovers turned this game into a joke. Cardinals ownership surely wasn't laughing. It's tougher to envision coach Ken Whisenhunt holding on to his job after a debacle of this magnitude. This was the most lopsided defeat in Cardinals history and within one point of the largest shutout since 1940 (which happened twice).

What I liked: Both defenses showed up early, consistent with how NFC West games have been played over the past year or so. Seattle's Bobby Wagner picked off John Skelton's fourth attempt. Linebacker K.J. Wright broke up a pass for Larry Fitzgerald, and cornerback Walter Thurmond dove under the ball to tip it up in the air. Wagner caught it and headed the other way, the first of two picks for him. Arizona's defense then held Seattle to a field goal, sacking Russell Wilson on third down.

Wilson, pressured into ineffective play during a 20-16 defeat at Arizona in Week 1, had answers this time. That became apparent late in the first quarter when Wilson quickly dumped off to Anthony McCoy to beat a five-man pressure for a 21-yard gain. McCoy had three catches for 105 yards. Fellow tight end Zach Miller had a 24-yard touchdown grab.

Wilson played very well again. His lone pick came on a tipped pass while Seattle held a 31-0 lead in the second quarter.

What I didn't like: Skelton had four first-half turnovers in his first start since getting benched against Atlanta. That included a pick-six in the second quarter as the Cardinals fell behind 24-0. Even Patrick Peterson, one of Arizona's better players, contributed to the Cardinals' first-half futility by muffing one punt and losing a fumble while returning another. Seattle recovered both, one for a touchdown.

This was the worst loss in a Cardinals history filled with blowout defeats. The team lost 49-0 against Kansas City in 2002. The team previously lost by 46 points in 1941, 43 points in 1969, 42 points in 1944 and again in 1981.

Seahawks scoring record: Leon Washington's 3-yard touchdown run in the final three minutes gave Seattle a 58-0 lead while breaking the franchise single-game record for points scored. The team scored 56 points during a 56-17 victory over Buffalo in 1977. There was also a 51-48 victory over Kansas City in 1983. Seattle scored 49 points against San Diego in 1985, 48 points against Seattle in 2002 and 47 points twice.

Biggest shutout: The 58-0 margin was the largest for Seattle in a shutout. The team previously scored a 45-0 victory over Kansas City in 1984. The Seahawks' 2005 Super Bowl team beat Philadelphia 42-0 in a Monday night game. There was also a 41-0 victory over Jacksonville in 2009.

Beast mode: Marshawn Lynch carried 11 times for 128 yards and three touchdowns. He might have topped 250 yards rushing if Seattle had left him in the game. Nagging back issues sent him to the sideline for a bit, but Lynch returned and carried for a 15-yard gain. Backups Robert Turbin and Lon Washington fared well in relief.

Flynn's chance: Wilson's day was finished after only 13 passes. He completed seven of them for 148 yards (11.4 per attempt) and the touchdown to Miller. McCoy nearly scored on his 67-yard reception. Backup Matt Flynn, the player widely expected to start over Wilson heading into the season, got into the game and tried to push the ball downfield despite the fat lead. He completed 5 of 9 passes for 68 yards and did not take a sack.

What's next: The Seahawks face the Buffalo Bills in Toronto. The Cardinals are home against Detroit.

Thoughts on the Seattle Seahawks' 24-21 road loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 12:

What it means: The Seattle defense failed to hold a late-game lead on the road once again, same as the case was at Detroit. As a result, the Seahawks are 6-5 heading into a road game against Chicago in Week 13. Quarterback Russell Wilson was outstanding in this game, same as he was at Detroit and same as he has generally been since about Week 5. This isn't the time to consider the bigger picture, however. Seattle has blown prime opportunities to improve its playoff chances in a competitive NFC. Conservative play calling on the Seahawks' final possession backfired.

What I liked: Leon Washington's 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown broke a 14-14 tie in the fourth quarter. This was Washington's first return touchdown since 2010 and it came at the right time for Seattle.

Wilson made one of the more impressive plays a quarterback can make. He faced immediate pressure up the middle on a third-and-12 play in the second quarter. He spun away from pressure, rolled hard to his left and rifled a pass across his body to Sidney Rice for a 26-yard gain along the left sideline. Wilson's feel for the pocket and scrambling ability kept alive drives. He completed 21 of 27 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns with a 125.9 passer rating.

Rice and fellow receiver Golden Tate continued a recent trend of making plays. Tate's acrobatic diving catch for a 32-yard gain before halftime set up the tying 3-yard touchdown pass to Anthony McCoy.

Wilson, who had struggled in third quarters this season, completed all seven attempts for 66 yards and a touchdown during an 80-yard drive to the go-ahead touchdown on Seattle's first possession of the second half. Wilson also scrambled for 23 yards on the drive. He completed 16 consecutive passes at one point, nearly tying Warren Moon's franchise record of 17, set during the 1998 season.

The Seahawks' defense shut down the Dolphins' offense early. Rookie middle linebacker Bobby Wagner picked off a pass. Defensive end Chris Clemons beat Dolphins left tackle Jake Long for a sack.

What I didn't like: The running game wasn't good enough for Seattle, including when the team opted for repeated handoffs while trying to get into range for a field goal with the game tied 21-21 late in the fourth quarter. Hindsight says the Seahawks should have tried a couple of quick passes to move the ball forward. Wilson had been hot. The running game been struggling. The play calling in that situation was questionable, at best.

Seattle's offense failed to gain a first down until the second quarter. The running game went nowhere early. Marshawn Lynch had a tough time finding running room most of the day. The Dolphins' Paul Soliai was a tough matchup for center Max Unger and the Seahawks' line.

A penalty against free safety Earl Thomas for an illegal hit on Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill wiped out a second interception for Wagner, this one in the end zone. The penalty gave the Dolphins a first-and-goal situation, setting up the tying touchdown with 8:08 remaining in the fourth quarter. Thomas leaped to defend the pass. His momentum carried him into Tannehill. This was a killer penalty for Seattle. Penalties were a problem overall for Seattle, a change from recent form.

Seattle's defense busted coverage at key moments, including when Dolphins receiver Charles Clay got wide open for a 29-yard touchdown to tie the score at 21-21. Clemons' first-half sack was the only one Seattle recorded all game. Tannehill completed 18 of 26 passes for 253 yards with one touchdown, one pick and a 97.1 passer rating.

What's next: The Seahawks visit the Bears in Week 13.