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Good morning and welcome to the final full week before the 2012 NFL draft.

This past weekend was a slow one around the NFL, but two stories resonated in the NFC West. Both involved top executives from teams in the division: Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider and San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York.

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times spoke with Schneider and Schneider's wife, Traci, regarding the fund they're establishing to help other families raising autistic children. Their 10-year-old son, Ben, has benefited from extensive treatment. John Schneider: "We never knew if Ben would ever tell us that he loved us back. It's a strange feeling when you say, 'good night' to your son and he doesn't say 'good night' back. But we were blessed to be in a position where we could get the right help. Other families don't have access to the same resources." Noted: According to the Seahawks, a benefit event scheduled for Thursday includes a long list of celebrity waiters featuring Doug Baldwin, Brandon Browner, Tom Cable, Pete Carroll, Kam Chancellor, Chris Clemons, Jacob Green, Brock Huard, Tarvaris Jackson, Marshawn Lynch, Russell Okung, Sidney Rice, Brian Russell, Craig Terrell, Earl Thomas, Robbie Tobeck and Manu Tuiasosopo.

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle explains why he thinks the Seahawks would consider Ryan Tannehill if the Texas A&M quarterback were available to them in the draft.

Mike Rosenberg of the San Jose Mercury News spoke with York recently for a question-and-answer session on the 49ers' next stadium. Diverse dining options and the latest technology will be stadium hallmarks, according to York. Also, fans will be able to visit the Great America amusement park before games. York on differences from Candlestick Park: "Is everything too broad of an answer? You're almost doubling the amount of space for the same amount of people. You don't want to blast Candlestick for being an older building, because there have been a lot of great moments there, but the new building is going to be a completely different experience. Instead of just making a nice hot dog, you can do 20 to 30 different items. It'll probably be a 50 percent quicker exit than what you see at Candlestick. You can't compete with that, being able to park easily and get to your car and out onto the freeway quicker or take public transit."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers plan to bid on a Super Bowl at their new stadium. Barrows: "Teams are required to play two full seasons in their new venues before hosting a Super Bowl. The 49ers are increasingly confident that the yet-to-be-named stadium in Santa Clara will be ready for the start of the 2014 season."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic notes that the Cardinals are opening their offseason conditioning program Monday amid new limits on what teams and coaches can ask of players. Somers: "Teams must film all three phases and keep a copy until 30 days after the start of the regular season. Acting on a complaint, NFL officials can request to look at that film. Coaches are subject to fines of up to $100,000 for the first violation and $250,000 for the second. Those cannot be reimbursed by the club. Teams are subject to fines of $250,000 for the first violation and $500,000 for the second. Half of the fine amounts goes to the Gene Upshaw Players Assistance Trust and half to the Player Care Foundation. If a team commits a violation, it will lose a week of OTAs. A second violation will cost the club a fourth-round pick in the next draft."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says defensive end Calais Campbell will not attend the voluntary program while remaining unsigned as the team's franchise player.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers this on the Rams' search for a backup quarterback: "The Rams remain interested in free-agent quarterback Dennis Dixon (Pittsburgh), who worked out for the team last week, but probably won't make a decision until after the draft. Baltimore and Denver are also showing interest."

NFLDraftScout.com looks at five players the Rams could consider in the draft. On running back Doug Martin: "Steven Jackson will be 29 this summer, and at some point the Rams have to add in a significant way a player that can be his backup and potentially take over the position. Martin is gaining a lot of traction in the run-up to the draft, with some predicting he could be selected in the first round. If that doesn't happen, the Rams could be tempted to spend one of their second-round picks on a runner."

The Cardinals lost Antrel Rolle, the Rams could lose Oshiomogho Atogwe and the 49ers might need to replace Michael Lewis. The Cardinals could also lose backup safety Matt Ware, who could draw interest from the Rams.

The Seahawks aren't exactly set for life at safety, either.

What to do?

I've gone through the list of available safeties -- NFC West fan favorites Brian Russell and Mark Roman are out there -- and come up with a few fallback options, listed with their 2009 teams:

• Ryan Clark, Steelers. The 30-year-old longtime starter couldn't work out a long-term deal with Pittsburgh. The Cardinals are running their defense in the Pittsburgh mold. Clark could fit.
• Brodney Pool, Browns. Teams generally do not sever ties with productive 25-year-old starters, but the Browns decided against tendering Pool as a restricted free agent after he suffered a series of head injuries last season. Pool picked off four passes in 11 games last season, making 10 starts before his season was ended.
• Darren Sharper, Saints. The 34-year-old Pro Bowl choice would upgrade every secondary in the NFC West, but at what price? Sharper is probably most valuable to the Saints.
• Jermaine Phillips, Bucs. Injuries have severely limited Phillips' contributions recently. It's probably not a great sign that Tampa thought about moving him to linebacker. Still, Phillips is 30 years old, hardly ancient by safety standards, and he has 74 starts.

Other safeties who are unrestricted free agents: Ware, Russell, Roman, Nick Ferguson, Sean Jones, Will Allen, Todd Johnson, Clinton Hart, Roy Williams, Vernon Fox, Marquand Manuel, Mike Brown, Tyrone Carter and Lawyer Milloy.

Other safeties who are free agents (but technically not UFAs): John Busing, Hamza Abdullah, Aaron Francisco, Kennard Cox, Eric Bassey, Jamaal Fudge and Quinton Teal.

Also: ESPN's John Clayton notes that Jets safety Kerry Rhodes could be an option for Arizona via trade.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Seahawks have been plugging holes with mixed results in recent seasons.

In 2007, they threw $10.5 million in bonuses at Deon Grant and also signed another veteran free agent, Brian Russell, to address deficiencies at safety. They threw another $15 million in bonuses at Patrick Kerney to help the pass rush. In 2008, they hired Mike Solari to coach their offensive line and signed veteran left guard Mike Wahle to finally plug the hole Steve Hutchinson left two years earlier. In 2009, the Seahawks responded to chronic injury problems at wide receiver by committing about $15 million in guarantees to T.J. Houshmandzadeh, then trading up in the draft to select receiver Deon Butler.

The offensive line was the biggest problem for Seattle in 2009.

One look at the Seahawks' coaching staff shows the team's renewed commitment to that area. Seattle has three assistant coaches dedicated to its offensive line, more than any team in the division and more than any team I can recall covering. Alex Gibbs leads a group featuring assistant line coach Art Valero and quality control coach Luke Butkus. Seattle has a separate quality control coach for offense (Dave Canales), with Butkus focusing on the line only.

Update: The Texans had three line-oriented assistants under Gibbs last season if we count offensive assistant Bruce Matthews. Gibbs' title in Houston also was not line-specific. He was assistant head coach/offense.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin gave a fiery speech imploring teammates to clean up mistakes. Somers: "The performance prompted Boldin to make an impassioned postgame speech about the need to pay attention to detail. Boldin remained irritable about the subject on Wednesday, refusing to blame injuries, including his sore hamstring, for the Cardinals' lack of offensive production."

Also from Somers: says the Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald faces frequent double coverage and must adjust.

More from Somers: The Cardinals plan to be cautious with Steve Breaston in practice after a knee injury sidelined the receiver in Week 1.

More still from Somers: Lance Long's departure suggests the Cardinals expect more from their injured receivers in Week 2.

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com profiles Aaron Curry following the rookie's spirited Seahawks debut. Full of bravado on game day, Curry said he'll show respect for 49ers coach Mike Singletary. Curry: "It would be cool to see Mike Singletary at the grocery store. It's going to be amazing. It'll be hard to actually make eye contact with him because he has that stare, but I'll take a peek over there now and then."

Also from Johns: The Seahawks aren't sure where Sean Locklear will play on the offensive line once Walter Jones returns from knee surgery. Jones participated in some individual drills Wednesday.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says word is getting out that Seahawks tight end John Carlson can play. Carlson: "I love playing with Matt [Hasselbeck]. He’s such a smart player, and he does little things that the typical fan doesn’t realize that really helps the offense. Things like snap count, cadence, checking plays at the line of scrimmage. He had a couple run checks that got guys big yards. He does that on the fly. He’s a great player, and I learn a lot from him."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the Seahawks plan to use Seneca Wallace, one of the more athletic quarterbacks in NFL history.

Also from Farnsworth: notes from practice Wednesday.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch revisits Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo's history against the Redskins, pointing to his teams' 14-6 record against them over a 10-year period.

Also from Thomas: The Rams have interest in former Eagles receiver Hank Baskett, but it appeared as though they would not sign him.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with Rams newcomers Ruvell Martin and Paris Lenon. Coats: "Along with a scattering of his football gear, also sitting in front of Paris Lenon's locker after practice Wednesday at Rams Park was a large, blue, unpacked suitcase. It even had an airline bag tag attached, with 'STL' stamped as the destination."

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch thinks the Rams should have run the ball more frequently against the Seahawks. By my accounting, the Seahawks put eight defenders in the box four times, allowing 5.3 yards per attempt on these rushes. They allowed 4.0 yards per attempt on 14 rushes with fewer than eight in the box. The Rams had a 10-yard run against and eight-man box.

Taylor Price of 49ers.com says the 49ers plan to stick with the ground game. Also, center Eric Heitmann sizes up Seattle's defensive line this way: "Brandon Mebane is a very good, stout player. And he's actually very active for a big guy. Cory Redding, their new lineman, I've played him a couple times when he was with Detroit. He's a very good player, who is very active off the snap. He’s a good pass rusher and someone who we’re going to have to focus on."

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers plan to keep running the ball even though they're averaging 30.2 inches per carry. Not bad, not bad.

Gwen Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle says 49ers pass-rusher Parys Haralson deserved the more than $200,000 in league-awarded performance bonus he received after last season.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says 49ers tight end Vernon Davis plans to avoid the fate he suffered the last time Seattle visited Candlestick Park. Maiocco: "Last time the 49ers played the Seahawks, TE Vernon Davis got an unnecessary roughness penalty, and Singletary banished him to locker room. It was safety Brian Russell who provoked Davis into the penalty last year. Russell is no longer on the Seahawks, but he expects to hear a lot of chirping on Sunday. Davis says, 'I'm sure they're going to try to do something to ... try to get me to go back to the locker room. But it ain't happening.' "

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee provides an injury update for the 49ers. Justin Smith received a day off, but he's expected back Thursday.

Also from Barrows: With Michael Crabtree still unsigned, Seahawks first-round choice Aaron Curry says he needed little time to catch up after missing the first eight days of training camp.

More from Barrows: Davis elaborates on his mindset, while guard Chilo Rachal admits to accidentally blocking teammate Isaac Bruce in Week 1.

Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says Singletary keeps taking jabs at the 49ers' offensive line following a rough outing in Arizona. Sounds like motivational tactics.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Seahawks Player Released on Cutdown Pos. Current Team Capacity Brian Russell DB Jaguars Active Roster Marquis Floyd DB Browns Active Roster Kevin Hobbs DB Lions Active Roster Devin Moore RB Seahawks Practice Squad Jamar Adams DB Seahawks Practice Squad Mike Hass WR Seahawks Practice Squad Logan Payne WR Seahawks Practice Squad Baraka Atkins DL -- -- Brian De La Puente OL -- -- Brandon Coutu K -- -- Dave Philistin LB -- -- Jeff Rowe QB -- -- David Kirtman RB -- -- Courtney Greene DB -- -- Nate Ness DB -- -- Na'Shan Goddard OL -- -- Andre Ramsey OL -- -- William Robinson OL -- -- Joe Newton TE -- -- Jordan Kent WR -- -- Courtney Taylor WR -- -- Cory Withrow OL -- -- D.D. Lewis LB -- --

The tough decisions teams face in reducing their rosters to 53 players sometimes aren't so tough.

They were arguably tougher for the Seahawks than for other teams in the division.

Three of the players Seattle released on its initial cutdown to 53 players have joined active rosters elsewhere in the league. Aaron Francisco, cut by the Cardinals, and Phil Trautwein, cut by the Rams, are the only other initial NFC West castoffs to join active rosters for other teams.

Seattle's Brian Russell (Jaguars), Marquis Floyd (Browns) and Kevin Hobbs (Lions) currently reside on active rosters. The Seahawks re-signed to their practice squad running back Devin Moore, safety Jamar Adams, receiver Mike Hass and receiver Logan Payne.

The apparent drama at receiver left Jordan Kent and Courtney Taylor on the outside. Kent reached an injury settlement following his release. Taylor remains available. Neither player has eligibility for the practice squad.

Defensive lineman Baraka Atkins and kicker Brandon Coutu appeared close to earning roster spots. The Seahawks once thought Coutu might have trade value. That wasn't the case in the end.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Seahawks have resolved the final two notes from the Seahawks Camp Confidential dated Aug. 10.

Babineaux

• Note 1: Jordan Babineaux has yet to make an obvious push for the starting job at free safety after general manager Tim Ruskell said Babineaux would challenge veteran Brian Russell for the job.

Resolution: The team released Russell, named Babineaux the starter and added veteran Lawyer Milloy for insurance.

Scouts Inc.: Babineaux is a versatile backup who can provide depth at CB as well as SS. He is a good overall athlete who has developed a knack for coming up with big plays in key situations. He has good movement skills and he reacts quickly to what he sees. He is missing ideal speed to play CB but he competes well as a part-time defender in the dime package because he can read the QB quickly and get a good jump on the throw. As a SS prospect, he is athletic and shows good willingness to insert himself in run support. He has enough range to cover half the field in Cover 2 and he can line up over tight ends or running backs to cover in man-to-man. Babineuax also makes plenty of plays in the kicking game, making him extremely valuable on game day due to his overall versatility

Griffith

• Note 2: Owen Schmitt isn't looking like the best option at fullback. Justin Griffith, late of the Raiders, could have more value.

Resolution: The Seahawks have named Griffth their starter for Week 1.

Scouts Inc.: Griffith missed nine games last season. No formal scouting report is available. My notes from the Seahawks' exhibition game against the Chiefs included this observation: "Julius Jones started having success on the ground once Justin Griffith replaced Owen Schmitt as fullback. I thought it wasn't a coincidence. Griffith knows the offense and his presence on the field raises the team's football IQ, a point of emphasis for Seattle this offseason (also enhanced by adding Houshmandzadeh and running back Edgerrin James)."

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Egravning from Santa Monica writes: This might seem like an out-of-division comment, but trust me, if you root for the Rams, you hate the Patriots, and if you root for the Seahawks, you hate the Raiders. So, what do you make of this trade between the Patriots and the Raiders? I mean, an aging vet, Richard Seymour, for a 2011 first-round pick? And the Raiders are such a poorly run organization, we can almost assume that the Patriots will land a Top 5 guy. This is ridiculous!

There's no underestimating what Al Davis has contributed to the world of football, but it's time to take away the keys. The NFL needs to institute a fantasy-league rule whereby other owners can veto a trade. Davis has lost his mind, and competitive balance is at stake here.

Mike Sando: That's a fun idea. Can you imagine the hostility that would create within the league if, say, the 49ers cast the deciding vote to block, say, the Cardinals from acquiring a player considered key to Arizona's success?

Regarding Al Davis, I've met Raiders fans who also feel he has lost the edge. While I do not know Davis, I did speak with him informally at the league meetings. He was physically frail, but mentally sharp. At least that was the impression I got. I was among several reporters kidding with him about paying all that money to Nnamdi Asomugha. Davis joked about how he was catching grief from "the great Willie Brown" -- the Raiders Hall of Famer who never made anywhere close to what Asomugha is making.

After several minutes, Davis asked each reporter to introduce himself. He shook each of our hands. The last reporter worked for the rival Chargers' Web site. Davis, upon learning this, withdrew his hand and said, "We'll see you in the opener." It was vintage Al and perfectly hilarious, evidence to me that his mind remained nimble. Remember, too, that people were saying the game had passed him by 10 years ago, before the Raiders returned to the Super bowl.

That doesn't mean Davis made the right move on Seymour. The move looks like a "win" for the Patriots and less promising for the Raiders. Seymour turns 30 in October and his contract expires after this season. The Raiders' recent draft record at the top hasn't been great, though, so perhaps a high pick in 2011 is less valuable to Oakland than even one good season from an excellent defensive lineman.

---

Josh from Richmond, Calif., writes: Gene Wojciechowski's predictions had the NFC West ending with 1-Seattle, 2-Arizona, 3-St. Louis, 4-San Francisco. I can respect Seattle bouncing back (it would be hard not to), I can see Arizona slipping a bit, I know St. Louis has a lot of room to do better than last year ... but San Francisco fourth? If San Francisco commits to the run and keeps the defense off the field, Shaun Hill won't have to throw more than 150 yards a game to win. It won't win them the division, but it should help them to finish ahead of the Rams (who will need to do a lot more than this to win some games) and possibly finish second. Your take?

Mike Sando: Gene had the Rams third and said he thought five or six victories would not be out of the question for them. He then ranked the 49ers below the Rams, implying San Francisco would win fewer games. I'm with you. The 49ers should learn how not to lose this season. I'm not sure they'll learn how to win, but they shouldn't throw away games the way they did last season. And I think that's enough for them to beat out the Rams.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals want more consistency this season. Coach Ken Whisenhunt: "For us to become a respected team that can make a run at the playoffs every year, we have to have that consistency week in and week out. We can't have those games where we give up so many points and lose by so many points. You know, where we get blown out. That's the big thing."

Also from Somers: the front office is key in the Cardinals becoming successful.

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic relates anecdotes involving Whisenhunt and Kurt Warner while saying both are leading the Cardinals franchise.

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com doesn't expect Walter Jones or Chris Spencer to be available for "at least several more weeks" as both recover from injuries. Jones would seem to have a chance to beat that timetable, although the Seahawks haven't updated his status following arthroscopic knee surgery.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times ranks the Seahawks' roster surprises, putting D.D. Lewis' release ahead of Brian Russell's release. Will Herring's strong play apparently made him more than just a special-teams linebacker in the Seahawks' eyes. O'Neil: "When Seattle re-signed Lewis last year, he was considered Seattle's top reserve linebacker, someone capable of playing all three spots among the linebackers. He started for Lofa Tatupu at middle linebacker for a game and later replaced Leroy Hill at the weakside linebacker after Hill was injured. The decision to let Lewis go reflects on the development of Will Herring and David Hawthorne, but Herring specifically."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune offers comments for each position on the Seahawks' roster. Williams on the situation at running back: "Overall playmaking ability might be a concern here, but I think the team has enough depth to get them through the year, and I expect Julius Jones to rush for 1,000 yards this season if he stays healthy."

John Morgan of Field Gulls thinks Derek Walker could become a Cory Redding type for the Seahawks.

Rod Mar of seahawks.com updates his photo blog with shots from the team's final game of the 2009 exhibition season.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com goes over the team's roster moves while acknowledging the team isn't done yet.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams rookie Jason Smith appears ready to break into the starting lineup in time for the regular season. Thomas: "Smith might not be totally ready for the right tackle position in the NFL, but it's not like he embarrassed himself in the preseason, either. Sure he's had a few rough plays, including one early in the Kansas City game when Tamba Hali beat him around the edge for a pressure on quarterback Kyle Boller. But he hasn't given up a sack this preseason and has steadily improved over the course of exhibition play." I thought Smith improved after a rough outing against the Falcons. The transition from Baylor requires significant technique adjustments.

Also from Thomas: Youth prevailed for the Rams in the No. 3 quarterback spot and at receiver.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says first-year Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo has made a positive impression to this point.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams offensive lineman John Greco will miss time following wrist surgery.

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat sizes up the Rams' situation at running back after the team released Antonio Pittman.



Gwen Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers wanted to run the ball 60 percent of the time when Mike Nolan took over in 2005. I'm guessing the 49ers' new offensive coordinator, Jimmy Raye, will come closer to hitting that mark.

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle looks into the cult of personality -- Mike Singletary's personality -- as it pervades the 49ers. Crumpacker: "Singletary doesn't necessarily like the attention but he understands that at least for now, he is the face and voice of the 49ers franchise."

Matt Maiocco of the San Francisco Chronicle runs a transcript with Singletary's comments following the 49ers' roster cuts. Singletary on Micheal Spurlock winning a spot (for now): "All offseason, I think Spurlock continued to show up. He's a versatile guy. He can help you in special teams areas and continue to better as a receiver and run better routes. And he works at it. It's important for us. Felt it was a good opportunity and a good fit."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers kept linebacker Diyral Briggs on their roster because they like his "raw" talent and want to work with him.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers cut tight end Bear Pascoe because he didn't catch up to the speed of the NFL game.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Seahawks kept only seven defensive backs pending Lawyer Milloy's expected signing.

What does it mean? Well, the team kept only seven on its opening-day roster last season and the Seahawks haven't kept more than eight on their Week 1 rosters since 2003. The 49ers, in contrast, have kept at least 10 defensive backs on their Week 1 roster in each of the last four seasons.

That is the sort of perspective I'm hoping to provide by comparing initial 53-man positional roster counts against Week 1 counts since 2003. Seattle has never kept more than 10 defensive linemen on its Week 1 roster during the period in question. The Seahawks have 11 now, but for how long? If they choose to supplement another position, defensive line might be a logical place to clear a roster spot, based purely on numbers.

Seattle Seahawks Week 1 Roster Counts since 2003 QB RB WR TE OL DL LB DB ST Today 3 5 5 3 9 11 6 8 3 2008 3 6 6 3 9 9 6 7 4 2007 2 5 6 3 9 10 7 8 3 2006 3 5 4 4 9 10 7 8 3 2005 3 5 7 3 9 8 7 8 3 2004 3 5 5 3 8 10 7 8 3 2003 3 6 4 3 9 9 8 8 3 Week 1 Fewest 2 5 4 3 8 8 6 7 3 Week 1 Most 3 6 7 4 9 10 8 8 4 2003-2008 Avg. 2.8 5.3 5.3 3.2 8.8 9.3 7.0 7.8 3.2 Current Over Avg. 0.2 -0.3 -0.3 -0.2 0.2 1.7 -1.0 0.2 -0.2

I'll provide similar charts for the other teams in the division. Seattle's roster moves jumped out because the team released a projected starter in free safety Brian Russell. Note that the numbers from 2003-2008 reflect opening-day counts. Current rosters figure to change as the week progresses.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Todd asks via Facebook: I am really confused at the Russell move!! They had a known quantity. If they were going to upgrade it, why didn't they do it before camp? Lawyer Milloy has been available and if they felt he made them better, why has it taken so long? This is a real head scratcher for me. Can you shed any light on this move and the rationale behind it?

Mike Sando: As noted in the above-linked item, Jordan Babineaux becomes the projected starter in Russell's old spot at safety. I'd be surprised if the team plugged Milloy into the starting lineup at his age. If the Seahawks wanted a veteran back there, they already had one in Russell.

The Seahawks probably weren't sure entering camp whether they felt comfortable releasing Russell. They wanted to watch him in camp. They knew he was a veteran player who viewed himself as a leader, and it would be hard for him to walk back into the locker room after accepting a backup role with a reduced salary. So they bided their time through camp, decided Babineaux was ready and then reached out to the Tacoma-raised Milloy, who badly wanted to play in Seattle and was willing to accept a role Russell conceivably might have resisted.

That is my general take on the situation. We'll learn specifics from the Seahawks at some point.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Seahawks' decision Saturday to release starting free safety Brian Russell shows strong faith in Jordan Babineaux's playmaking ability as more than just a situational player.

I would expect Babineaux to project as the starter even if the team signs a veteran such as Lawyer Milloy, who played for Seahawks coach Jim Mora in Atlanta. That is my take pending official word from the team. If the team replaces Russell with another older player, what's the point? Babineaux's young legs seem to demand playing time with Russell out.

The move to Babineaux would be exciting for Seattle because his athletic ability offers the potential for more interceptions. The big question, in my view, is whether Babineaux can transfer his playmaking ability from a situational role to a full-time one. Some defensive players -- ex-Seahawk Michael Boulware comes to mind -- made plays in a limited role before failing to show consistency as an every-down player.

Babineaux earned the nickname "Big Play Babs" after making several heads-up plays in critical situations, all off the bench. He tackled Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo following Romo's infamous botched field-goal hold in the playoffs a few years ago, preserving a Seattle victory. Babineaux also picked off former Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe in the final seconds of a regular-season game, returning the ball far enough to set up the winning field goal. Those were among the examples of his big-play ability.

Russell provided what the Seahawks asked him to provide when they signed him two years ago: assignment-correct football designed to prevent big plays by the opposition. Switching to Babineaux suggests the Seahawks might be more concerned with making their own big plays than simply preventing their opponents from making them.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Seahawks Defensive Player vs. KC Pos. 1st Qtr. Snaps 2nd Qtr. Snaps Total Deon Grant FS 15 15 30 Brian Russell SS 15 15 30 Josh Wilson CB 15 15 30 Ken Lucas CB 15 15 30 Lofa Tatupu LB 15 15 30 Leroy Hill LB 15 12 27 Patrick Kerney DE 11 9 20 Aaron Curry LB 11 7 18 Cory Redding DE 10 7 17 Brandon Mebane DT 11 5 16 Colin Cole DT 10 5 15 Darryl Tapp DE 5 7 12 Lawrence Jackson DE 5 7 12 Kelly Jennings CB 3 8 11 Craig Terrill DT 4 5 9 Nick Reed DE 2 4 6 Michael Bennett DT 0 5 5 Baraka Atkins DE 0 5 5 Red Bryant DT 2 2 4 Jordan Babineaux CB 1 2 3

The vibrant social life I lead allowed time to count snaps for the Seahawks' offensive and defensive players during their exhibition game Saturday night.

This is not something I'll do for most game, but I was playing around with a new charting system and figured this game would serve as a test run.

The chart shows defensive snap counts for the first half. I'll break out offensive counts in a bit. They were a bit more telling.

The counts are unofficial, of course. I came up with two snaps for Nick Reed in the first quarter even though I'm pretty sure he played just one, the final play of the quarter. It's possible that I counted him instead of someone else. That was the only one I wasn't sure about.

Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu was the only front-seven player to participate fully. That is typical for him. Cornerback Kelly Jennings came onto the field in nickel situations. Defensive back Jordan Babineaux played in the dime.

The Seahawks found second-quarter snaps for defensive linemen Michael Bennett and Baraka Atkins after neither played in the first quarter.

Defensive end Lawrence Jackson, the team's first-round choice in 2008, played 12 snaps in the first half and generally did not stand out. He did get pressure in the second half.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Edgerrin James' signing with the Seahawks, reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, puts Seattle starter Julius Jones in a familiar and unwelcome position. He now must wonder, again, how many carries he'll share.

In my view, James wouldn't sign with a team without feeling as though he had a chance to get the carries Arizona would not give him.

The bigger personnel question, in my view, might concern what happens to veteran backup T.J. Duckett. Justin Forsett has seemingly done enough to stick around, particularly given his relatively low price tag. But the Seahawks presumably would not keep four halfbacks on their initial 53-man roster. The team paid a $2 million signing bonus to Duckett last year and another guaranteed $2 million bonus to him earlier this year. Duckett's 2009 salary is scheduled to be $2.5 million.

The move to add James is also consistent with how Seahawks general manager Tim Ruskell reacts to situations. The Seahawks lacked punch at receiver in the 2006 season opener. A day later, Ruskell traded a first-round choice for Deion Branch. When the team had issues at safety, he paid big money to Deon Grant while adding another veteran safety, Brian Russell.

This month, the Seattle ground game struggled to get going in two exhibition games. Ruskell reacted by seeking a big-name running back, even a 31-year-old one.

I've questioned the Seahawks' depth at running back all offseason, one reason I expected the team to consider drafting a runner in the first three rounds. Seattle did not find the draft-day value it sought in a running back, leaving Jones, Duckett and the inexperienced Forsett as the only viable backs on the roster.

While adding James strengthens Seattle's depth at running back, issues on the offensive line persist. It's unreasonable to expect most backs, and especially an older one, to flourish behind a struggling offensive line. James is dependable and versatile enough to play on any down, however, and his abilities in blitz pickup could help in pass protection.

Breaking long runs is not James' game, but he showed during the Cardinals' postseason run that he could still help a team.

Arizona simply wasn't willing to pay James' salary of $5 million this season, and James was bitter enough about his diminished role to want out. And so the Cardinals released him.

The Seahawks are getting a supremely motivated player from a division rival. James is also smart enough to pass along information the Seahawks might find useful. That angle is often overrated, but he surely has a better feel and understanding of the Cardinals' playbook than anyone on the Seattle staff. That probably helps a little.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Seahawks have a few tough decisions to make before reducing their roster to 53 players in less than three weeks.

The final spot or two at receiver remain unsettled. I see at least 10 defensive linemen worth keeping, but perhaps no more than eight offensive linemen. The final spots at all three general positions on defense -- line, linebackers and secondary -- could spur debate.

• Earlier: Rams, Cardinals, 49ers
  

The Seahawks aren't even certain which kicker will earn a roster spot, opening possible trade scenarios for teams with needs at the position.

Seattle Seahawks Week 1 Roster Counts since 2003 QB RB WR TE OL DL LB DB ST Fewest 2 5 4 3 8 8 6 7 3 Most 3 6 7 4 9 10 8 8 4 Average 2.8 5.3 5.3 3.2 8.8 9.3 7.0 7.8 3.2 Currently on roster 4 8 10 5 14 13 9 13 4

The chart provides a framework for how many players the Seahawks might keep at each position heading into the regular-season opener against the Rams.

Here's a quick look at which Seahawks players I might keep on the cutdown to 53 players:

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

RENTON, Wash. -- A few thought and observations from the Seahawks' afternoon practice Monday:

• The Seahawks are experimenting with combinations on their offensive line. Sean Locklear is getting work at right guard. He could play there during the regular season depending on how the other positions shake out. Having Walter Jones back frees up Locklear.
• One potential line combination, left to right, could consist of Jones, Rob Sims, Spencer, Locklear and Ray Willis.
• Coaches gave starting center Chris Spencer a few plays off during team drills, allowing rookie Max Unger to get more experience.
• Running back Justin Forsett continues to impress. He is showing good ability as a receiver out of the backfield. Seattle targeted him in that role frequently Monday.
  
• Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp used the word "outstanding" -- for a rookie -- to describe how Unger played against the Chargers in the exhibition opener.
• Knapp saw good things from Owen Schmitt, but the fullback needs to work on finishing blocks. He also incorrectly reverted to cut blocking in a short-yardage situation. Overall, though, Knapp sounded encouraged.
• Fullback Justin Griffith stood up safety Brian Russell and lifted him off the ground while picking up the blitz during a blitz period.
• First-round choice Aaron Curry got seven plays at defensive end even though he had never participated in pass-rush drills against offensive linemen in camp, coach Jim Mora said. He will get more practice work in that capacity.
• A reporter suggested to Mora that Jones' back spasms might have bothered him at one point during practice. Mora said he did not know if that were the case.
• Receiver Nate Burleson continues to impress. His leaping grab of an across-the-field throw from Matt Hasselbeck drew applause from fans in attendance.
• Tight end John Carlson continues to show a strong feel for zones. The staff plans to facilitate that by motioning Carlson in an effort to free him from defenders. "When a tight end knows zone windows, places to sit down, it's very helpful to the quarterback, especially on third downs," Knapp said.
• Missed assignments against the Chargers' 3-4 defense hurt Seattle's running game, Knapp said. The angles are different against three-man fronts. The exhibition games are particularly valuable for the Seahawks' offensive linemen as they transition to a zone scheme because they don't follow through with cutback blocks in practice.

Those were a few of the highlights Monday.