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Five things I'll be watching for when the Seattle Seahawks face the Philadelphia Eagles at CenturyLink Field on Thursday night:

Marshawn Lynch's ongoing revival. Lynch has 443 yards rushing since Week 9, most in the league. He has topped 100 yards in three of the Seahawks' past four games. Lynch appears to be running with more confidence now that his offensive line is opening holes more consistently. The Eagles' past five opponents have averaged only 85.3 yards per game, down from 140.2 previously this season. Seattle needs a running threat to minimize the Eagles' pass rush. The hard-running Lynch showcased nationally against New Orleans in the playoffs has marked his game recently as well. Lynch has 212 yards rushing after contact since Week 9, most in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. That's up from 127 yards after contact through Week 8.

Clemons against his former team. The Eagles generally haven't regretted the higher-profile trades they've made in recent years. Sending quarterback Donovan McNabb to a division rival comes to mind. Seattle came out ahead when acquiring Chris Clemons from Philadelphia for Darryl Tapp and a fourth-round draft choice. This will be Clemons' first game against the Eagles since the trade. He leads the Seahawks in sacks with eight, but Philadelphia has allowed only three in its last four road games. Clemons faces a tough matchup against Eagles left tackle Jason Peters.

Size against speed on the outside. The Seahawks' big cornerbacks, Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman, each picked off a pass last week. They have the size to throw off bigger receivers. Raw speed can be tougher to handle, as Browner found out against the Pittsburgh Steelers' Mike Wallace. The Eagles are without starting wideout Jeremy Maclin, but they still have DeSean Jackson. Jackson hasn't topped 100 yards receiving since an Oct. 2 game against San Francisco. He's averaging 17.0 yards per catch, though. Browner leads the NFL in penalties with 16, including 10 for defensive holding, defensive pass interference or illegal contact. A calf injury limited Sherman in practice this week. The Seahawks listed him as questionable. Eagles quarterback Vince Young has three touchdowns with no interceptions on his 40 shorter passes (those traveling 10 or fewer yards past the line of scrimmage). He has no TDs and five picks on his 45 longer throws, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Breno Giacomini at right tackle. He faces a difficult matchup against Jason Babin, who leads the Eagles in sacks with 10. Giacomini seemed to fare well against Ryan Kerrigan and the Washington Redskins last week. He's fiery, competitive and likes to hit people. The Seahawks can help him by running the ball at Babin. They might need to help Giacomini in obvious pass-rushing situations, however. Babin spent part of the 2008 season with Seattle. He has 22.5 sacks in his past 27 games after collecting 4.5 over the previous three.

Concerns at linebacker. Knee problems are again bothering Seahawks middle linebacker David Hawthorne. His movement appeared restricted against the Redskins. Hawthorne was limited in practice this week. Seattle's run defense should improve with Alan Branch returning from an ankle injury, but Hawthorne's status will be important if the Eagles lean on LeSean McCoy. Philadelphia had only 17 rushing plays against New England last week, its lowest total in a game since Week 17 of the 2009 season.

Playing connect-the-dots with prominent Seattle draft choices predating the Seahawks' current leadership, which arrived in 2010:

• 2003 draft: First-round pick Marcus Trufant accepts a pay reduction. Fourth-rounder Seneca Wallace, the only other player remaining with Seattle from this class when Pete Carroll took over as head coach, is traded.
• 2004 draft: Third-round pick Sean Locklear, the only remaining player from this draft class, has his contract truncated. The team does not re-sign him.
• 2005 draft: First-round pick Chris Spencer is not re-signed. Second-rounder Lofa Tatupu is released after refusing a pay reduction. Third-rounder Leroy Hill takes a pay reduction, then re-signs somewhat improbably.
• 2006 draft: First-rounder Kelly Jennings is traded. Second-rounder Darryl Tapp is traded. Fourth-rounder Rob Sims, the third player Seattle selected in the 2006 draft, is traded.
• 2007 draft: The team had no first-round pick. Second-rounder Josh Wilson is traded. Deion Branch, the player Seattle received in return for that 2007 first-round pick, is traded.
• 2008 draft: First-rounder Lawrence Jackson is traded. Second-rounder John Carlson is imperiled when the team signs tight end Zach Miller in free agency. Carlson is entering the final year of his contract.
• 2009 draft: First-rounder Aaron Curry accepts a new contract making him easier to trade or release in the future.

Curry and Carlson are the two remaining early draft choices to watch. Both remain younger players with potential, but their futures in Seattle appear tenuous.

Some of these draft choices would have fared better in Seattle if the team had performed well enough to avoid sweeping changes in the organization. Likewise, those sweeping changes might not have been necessary if some of these draft choices had come closer to meeting expectations.

What stands out most to me: Mike Teel, David Greene, Wallace, Jeff Kelly and Josh Booty are the only quarterbacks the Seahawks have drafted since 2001.

Five quick notes/thoughts on the Seattle Seahawks' trading cornerback Kelly Jennings to Cincinnati for defensive tackle Clinton McDonald:

• 

  Kelly Jennings

  #21 CB
  Seattle Seahawks

  2010 STATS

  • Tot40
  • Solo35
  • Ast5
  • FF0
  • Sack0.0
  • Int1
  Size matters: The Seahawks have gone big and tall at cornerback. Jennings is listed at 5-foot-11, but he's slight of frame and struggled in matchups against bigger receivers.
• Experience does not matter: Jennings was one of two cornerbacks on the Seahawks' roster with significant starting experience. The team has decided to go young -- very young -- and Jennings was practically ancient by Seattle cornerback standards at 28. The team felt good enough about its young corners to move on without Jennings.
• Roster churn: Jennings' departure leaves the Seahawks with five of their own first-round choices and three from other teams. One of their own, cornerback Marcus Trufant, took a pay reduction from $5.9 million to $3 million recently. One of the others, linebacker Aaron Curry, restructured his contract in a manner that makes him easier to trade or release next year. The other three first-rounders project as long-term starters. James Carpenter, Russell Okung and Earl Thomas were chosen by the team's current leadership. The Seahawks are taking a sledgehammer to the foundation they inherited. Chris Spencer, Lofa Tatupu, Josh Wilson, Lawrence Jackson, Rob Sims and Darryl Tapp were all relatively high draft choices under previous regimes.
• Money inconsequential: The Seahawks paid a $200,000 signing bonus to Jennings as part of the one-year deal he signed this offseason. That bought little security in the end.
• NFC West reunion: Jennings heads to a Bengals secondary already featuring NFC West castoffs Taylor Mays and Nate Clements, both late of the San Francisco 49ers. Jennings was never going to live up to his first-round status in Seattle. He has more value to the Bengals without those expectations.
• Clinton who?: McDonald was a seventh-round choice of the Bengals in 2009. The team had released him previously. He played in eight games last season. McDonald stands just under 6-2 and converted from linebacker in college. Nolan Nawrocki of Pro Football Weekly, writing for his 2009 draft guide, lauded McDonald for possessing toughness and a mean streak. He thought McDonald would project as a three-technique defensive tackle in a one-gap scheme. McDonald was not expected to earn a roster spot in Cincinnati.

Lots more moves to come. Teams must reduce to 80 players by Tuesday.

The try-hard guy, long revered by NFL fans for overcoming physical limitations with all-out effort, has not been universally loved.

Established veterans with a feel for how to practice during long, demanding regular seasons can become resentful when the try-hard guy's misplaced fury produces unwanted collisions.

So, for the sake of clarity, the try-hard guy is excused from this conversation about pass-rushers so relentless, they wear down opponents over the course of a game.

We're talking about players with enough talent to command significant playing time, many as high draft choices or big-ticket free agents. We're talking about the San Francisco 49ers' Justin Smith, one of two NFC West players to receive votes in ESPN.com's Power Rankings for defensive players. Patrick Willis was the other.

"Justin Smith is a relentless player who wears down opponents by coming after them each and every play," BigBrad184 wrote in response to this item Wednesday morning. "I don't have any stats to back this up, but it seems like he often gets many of his sacks in the fourth quarter because of the fatigue he causes to offensive lineman."

Interesting thought.

"Maybe breaking out Smith's sacks by quarter over the past few years is a project for Sando," BigBrad184 concluded.

Done deal. John Fisher of ESPN Stats & Information responded to my request for the statistical evidence BigBrad184 was seeking. Smith does rank among the NFL leaders for fourth-quarter sacks in recent seasons, but two other NFC West players, including one of Smith's teammates, rank higher on the list.

More on the results in a bit. First, a look at the methodology.

Fisher provided a file with quarter-by-quarter sack totals for every player since 2001. I filtered the information to consider:

• The last three seasons. There was no sense comparing totals for eight-year veterans against players entering the league more recently. At the same time, three seasons was long enough to pile up adequate numbers.
• Players with at least 10 sacks. This reduced qualifying players from 668 to 99, a more manageable number featuring more "name" players.
• Late-game production. I then divided the remaining 99 players' fourth-quarter and overtime sack totals by their total sacks, producing percentages that might tell us which players tend to wear down opponents.

The 49ers' Smith collected 8.5 of his 21.5 sacks in fourth quarters or overtimes since 2008. That worked out to 39.5 percent, which ranked 22nd among the 99 qualifying players.

Philadelphia's Darren Howard, who did not play in 2010, led the way with 75.8 percent of his sacks (11.5 of 16.5) after the third quarter. He was on the Eagles' roster for two of the three seasons in question and never played even half the defensive snaps in either year. But he was highly effective as a situational player, at least when measured by sack totals. Only Jared Allen (15) and Joey Porter (14) had more total sacks after the first three quarters.

There was no way to tell whether players with higher late-game sack percentages had more or better late-game opportunities for reasons unrelated to being relentless. Players operating within superior schemes or alongside better teammates certainly benefited. Overall, players collected more sacks in second and fourth quarters, no surprise given that teams attempted 6,130 additional passes during those quarters over the past three seasons, a likely reflection of two-minute situations.

The San Francisco 49ers' Parys Haralson (52.9 percent) and the St. Louis Rams' Chris Long (48.6 percent) ranked highest in fourth-quarter sack percentage among current NFC West players with at least 10 sacks over the past three seasons. Haralson was seventh in the league. Long was ninth. Former 49er Tully Banta-Cain was 10th (48.4 percent), while Arizona's Joey Porter (44.4 percent), St. Louis' Fred Robbins (44.4 percent), ex-Seahawk Lawrence Jackson (44.0 percent) and current Seahawk Chris Clemons (41.0 percent) ranked among the top 20.

Were these guys merely slow starters? Were they strong finishers? Did they wear down opponents over the course of games? The numbers do not answer those questions definitively, but they provide a starting point for discussion.

I was also interested in seeing which players collected a disproportionate number of sacks earlier in games. They were, at best, tone setters. At worst, they failed to finish or failed to adequately wear down opponents. The previous disclaimers applied to them as well.

As the chart below shows, three of the 10 qualifying players with the lowest percentages of late-game sacks have NFC West roots.

Arizona's Calais Campbell has 5.5 of his 13 sacks in first quarters, but only one in fourth quarters or overtimes. The 49ers' Manny Lawson collected 11 of his 12 sacks in the first three quarters. Darryl Tapp, traded from Seattle to Philadelphia in the deal for Clemons, has 4.5 sacks in each of the first two quarters, but only two in second halves (one after the third quarter).

A few other observations with an eye toward the NFC West:

• Porter (six) and Campbell (5.5) rank among the top seven in most first-quarter sacks. The 49ers' Smith is right behind with five.
• Arizona's Darnell Dockett has nine of his 16 sacks in second quarters. Eight players have more second-quarter sacks over the past three seasons, but all are edge-rusher types. Dockett plays end in a 3-4 scheme.
• Pittsburgh's James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley are a third-quarter nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. Harrison leads the NFL with 15.5 sacks in third quarters. Woodley is second with 12. Former Cardinal Calvin Pace ranks in the top 10 with 7.5.
• Porter and Allen are tied for the most fourth-quarter sacks in the NFL over the past three seasons. Each has 14 (Allen also had one in overtime). DeMarcus Ware and Robert Mathis are next with 13.5, followed by Dwight Freeney and Julius Peppers with 12.5.

Back to the original question: Is the 49ers' Smith a relentless player who wears down opponents, producing fourth-quarter payoffs?

He might be, but he produces well enough across all quarters to transcend the try-hard label and probably even the relentless label as well. He's a beast.

NFC West teams have drafted 22 defensive ends since 2002, a number smaller than I would have anticipated.

An even smaller number -- two! -- start for the teams that drafted them.

One, Antonio Smith, starts for another team.

A few notes relating to this latest item in a series examining various positions:

• Kentwan Balmer appears as a defensive end because the San Francisco 49ers drafted him to play that position. Balmer played defensive tackle in college.
• Darnell Dockett does not appear as a defensive end because the Arizona Cardinals drafted him to play defensive tackle. Yes, Dockett plays defensive end in the Cardinals' current scheme, but the NFL lists him as a tackle for Pro Bowl voting and he is not a typical defensive end even by 3-4 standards.
• Of the 22, only Chris Long and Calais Campbell are starting for their original teams. Smith is starting for the Houston Texans.
• Six of the eight most highly drafted ends since 2002 came from teams most recently affiliated with the ACC.
• Long was the only player on the list drafted before the 28th overall choice.
• Will Davis and Parys Haralson were listed as defensive ends coming out of college, but both projected as outside linebackers. That is why they do not appear below. Cody Brown also projects at linebacker.
• I've used the term "not active" loosely in the charts to describe players who weren't on active rosters during the regular season recently.

Now, on to the charts. I've broken them up with italicized comments representing what NFL teams might have been thinking at corresponding stages of these drafts.

Playing it safe and hoping those NFL bloodlines pay off ...


Defensive linemen are at a premium, and we might find out why ...


The pure pass-rushers are gone by now ...


If these guys don't pan out, it'll be a while before we take another third-round end ...


It's an upset if we find a starter at this point ...


Time to fill out the practice squad, but you never know ...

With the offseason in full swing, let’s take a look at one major question facing each NFC West team as it begins preparations for the 2011 season:

ARIZONA CARDINALS

What happens to the offensive line?

We've been asking, answering and asking some more questions about the Cardinals' quarterback situation for months. Let's tap a few brain cells to discuss the guys up front.

Center Lyle Sendlein and right guard Deuce Lutui are without contracts for 2011. Left guard Alan Faneca might retire. Right tackle Brandon Keith is coming off hamstring and knee injuries that shortened his first season as a starter. The Cardinals do not have fresh talent in reserve. They have drafted only one offensive lineman in the first four rounds since Ken Whisenhunt became head coach in 2007. Twenty-seven teams have drafted more. As much as the team trusts assistant head coach Russ Grimm to get the most from its offensive line, Arizona could use fresh young talent for him to groom.

The Cardinals went through the 2010 season with the NFL's oldest offensive linemen, counting backups. That wouldn't matter so much if left tackle Levi Brown were meeting the Pro Bowl expectations that came with his status as a top-five overall selection in the 2007 draft. Brown was underwhelming at right tackle to begin his career and a liability at left tackle last season. His salary balloons in 2012, so this could be his last season in Arizona.

ST. LOUIS RAMS

Can the defense take the next step?

The Rams allowed 328 points last season, tied for the third-lowest total since the team moved from Los Angeles for the 1995 season. They allowed seven rushing touchdowns, their lowest total since 1999 and down from 50 combined over the previous two seasons. But with starting defensive linemen James Hall and Fred Robbins turning 34 this offseason, and with questions at linebacker, the Rams' defense will not automatically go from competitive toward dominant.

Hall will be looking to become the 14th player since 1982 (when the NFL began tracking sacks as an official stat) to collect 10 sacks in a season at age 34 or older. The others: Trace Armstrong, Chris Doleman, William Fuller, Kevin Greene, Rickey Jackson, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Tony McGee, Steve McMichael, John Randle, Warren Sapp, Bruce Smith, Michael Strahan and Reggie White.

Robbins is coming off one of his finest seasons. He joined Keith Traylor, Jeff Zgonina and Ray Agnew among defensive tackles to set career highs for sacks at age 32 or older in the free-agency era (since 1993).

Getting similar production and continued good health from two older players is no given. The Rams also need to find help at outside linebacker after losing 32-year-old Na'il Diggs to a torn pectoral muscle 12 games into the 2010 season. The Rams are set at middle linebacker with James Laurinaitis, but they could stand to upgrade around him.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

How well can Jim Harbaugh coach up a quarterback?

When the 49ers' new coach needed a quarterback at Stanford, he recruited one. Andrew Luck set records and led the Cardinal to national prominence. Recruiting isn't a significant part of the equation in the NFL, so Harbaugh will have to settle for the best quarterback he can draft or otherwise acquire. He might even have to give Alex Smith a shot.

The 49ers will need Harbaugh to do what his recent predecessors could not: get good production from limited or flawed talent at the most important position.

Rich Gannon was well-established as an NFL quarterback when Harbaugh arrived as his position coach in Oakland for the 2002 season. The pairing reflected well on all parties. Gannon set career highs for completed passes, attempts, completion percentage, passing yards and passer rating. Gannon was already a good quarterback and the Raiders were already a good team, so it's tough to measure Harbaugh's impact.

Gannon is long since retired. Harbaugh is back in the NFL for the first time since the two were together on the Raiders in 2003. The 49ers don't have a legitimate starting quarterback under contract. Harbaugh has been meeting with Smith and keeping open his options. The stakes are high in the short term because the 49ers have enough talent elsewhere on their roster to compete for a playoff spot.

Outside expectations for Smith are so low that Harbaugh could appear heroic if he could get even a 9-7 record out of the 49ers with Smith in the lineup.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

How much more roster turnover lies ahead?

The Seahawks were fearless in overhauling their roster during their first year under general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll.

The team added Marshawn Lynch, Leon Washington, Chris Clemons, Stacy Andrews, Tyler Polumbus, Kentwan Balmer, Kevin Vickerson, Robert Henderson and LenDale White, though Seattle parted with Vickerson, Henderson, White and 2009 regulars Deion Branch, Julius Jones, Owen Schmitt, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Josh Wilson, Lawrence Jackson, Rob Sims, Darryl Tapp, Deon Grant and Seneca Wallace. The Seahawks watched a couple other starters, Nate Burleson and Cory Redding, leave in free agency.

If those were the moves the Seahawks felt comfortable making right away, I figured there would be quite a few to come after the team's new leadership watched players for a full season. And there still could be, but similar wheeling and dealing could be impractical or even impossible if the current labor standoff continues deep into the offseason.

Teams cannot make trades without a new labor agreement. They cannot know for sure whether or not a salary cap will come into play as part of any new deal. It's just tough to act as decisively as Seattle acted last offseason without knowing the rules. That's a disadvantage for Seattle and other teams with much work to do this offseason.

DALLAS -- Every Aaron Rodgers touchdown pass and playoff victory makes the San Francisco 49ers look worse for drafting Alex Smith over Rodgers back in 2005.

A victory for Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl 45 would only sanction additional mutilation of this rotting equine carcass.

Some criticism is justified, obviously, but with Rodgers and key Packers scheduled to make their Super Bowl media debuts Monday afternoon, another line of thinking occurred to me. The 49ers weren't the only ones to bypass Rodgers and other key players in this Super Bowl. Why should they absorb such a disproportionate amount of the blame?

The Green Bay players making Super Bowl media appearances Monday -- Rodgers, Donald Driver, A.J. Hawk, Greg Jennings, Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson -- all qualify for analysis and reflection.

Let's take a look at them through NFC West lenses, beginning in chronological order:

1998 Draft: Charles Woodson, CB, Michigan

Round: First (fourth overall, by Oakland)

NFC West spin: The Cardinals passed over Woodson to select defensive end Andre Wadsworth third overall. The decision seemed defensible at the time. Wadsworth was a freakish talent at a premium position, but chronic knee injuries prevented him from approaching his potential. Wadsworth underwent microfracture knee surgery after only his third NFL season. He never played again, despite a 2007 comeback attempt.

First-round selections in the division:

• Cardinals (third overall): Wadsworth, DE, Florida State
• Rams (sixth overall): Grant Wistrom, DE, Nebraska
• Seahawks (15th overall): Anthony Simmons, LB, Clemson
• 49ers (28th overall): R.W. McQuarters, CB, Oklahoma State

1999 Draft: Donald Driver, WR, Alcorn State

Round: Seventh (213th overall, by Green Bay)

NFC West spin: Good for the Packers. They found a steal in the seventh round. Driver developed into a full-time starter in 2002, his fourth season. He has 698 career receptions. Driver reflects well on the Packers, but not negatively on anyone in the NFC West.

Seventh-round selections in the division (Seahawks did not have a pick):

• 49ers (234th overall): Kory Minor, OLB, Notre Dame
• Cardinals (239th overall): Chris Greisen, QB, Northwest Missouri
• Rams (252nd overall): Rodney Williams, P, Georgia Tech

2005 Draft: Aaron Rodgers, QB, California

Round: First (24th overall, by Green Bay)

NFC West spin: Only the Seahawks, who held the 26th choice that year, escape second-guessing for this one. To be fair, however, the Rams' Marc Bulger was coming off a breakout 2004 season in which he had thrown 21 touchdown passes while leading St. Louis to the playoffs. There was no reason for the Rams to target a quarterback in the 2005 first round. Rodgers might have wilted in St. Louis while the organization crumbled around him (a fate that might have awaited him in San Francisco as well). The Cardinals could have used a young quarterback to build around, but they signed Kurt Warner to a free-agent contract that offseason. Warner went 2-8 as a starter in 2005, but the Cardinals eventually went to the Super Bowl with him under center. Warner even edged Rodgers in the playoffs following the 2009 season.

First-round selections in the division:

• 49ers (first overall): Alex Smith, QB, Utah
• Cardinals (eighth overall): Antrel Rolle, DB, Miami
• Rams (19th overall): Alex Barron, T, Florida State
• Seahawks (26th overall): Chris Spencer, C, Mississippi

2006 Draft: A.J. Hawk, LB, Ohio State

Round: First (fifth overall, by Green Bay)

NFC West spin: The 49ers in particular were monitoring this choice closely. They were picking sixth overall that year and trying to find weapons for their second-year quarterback. Tight end Vernon Davis, chosen sixth overall, is becoming a perennial Pro Bowl choice. Hawk was an all-rookie selection, but he has not played well enough overall to cause much second-guessing in NFC West circles. The Cardinals ultimately whiffed on a quarterback that year, but no one is telling them they should have drafted Hawk instead.

First-round selections in the division:

• 49ers (sixth overall): Davis, TE, Maryland
• Cardinals (10th overall): Matt Leinart, QB, USC
• Rams (15th overall): Tye Hill, CB, Clemson
• 49ers (22nd overall): Manny Lawson, OLB, North Carolina State
• Seahawks (31st overall): Kelly Jennings, CB, Miami

2006 Draft: Greg Jennings, WR, Western Michigan

Round: Second (52nd overall, by Green Bay)

NFC West spin: The Cardinals and Rams passed on Jennings in the second round, but that was understandable. Both teams were already strong at receiver. Looking back, however, the Rams certainly would have gone in another direction. They whiffed on tight end Joe Klopfenstein six spots before the Packers took Jennings.

Second-round selections in the division (49ers traded their pick):

• Cardinals (41st overall): Deuce Lutui, G, USC
• Rams (46th overall): Klopfenstein, TE, Colorado
• Seahawks (63rd overall): Darryl Tapp, DE, Virginia Tech

2009 Draft: Clay Matthews, OLB, USC

Round: First (26th overall, to Green Bay)

NFC West spin: This draft hurts. Surely the Seahawks and Rams could have put Matthews' pass-rush ability to use even if he didn't fit their schemes precisely at the time. Both teams passed on him. Worse, the Packers used an additional 2009 first-round choice, this one ninth overall, for another key contributor, B.J. Raji.

First-round selections in the division:

• Rams (second overall): Jason Smith, T, Baylor
• Seahawks (fourth overall): Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
• 49ers (10th overall): Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
• Cardinals (31st overall): Beanie Wells, RB, Ohio State

Hope you enjoyed the exercise. I'll be heading to the Pittsburgh Steelers' media session in the not-too-distant future, with plans to check back at the next opportunity.

» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Arrow indicates direction team is trending.

Final Power Ranking: 19
Preseason Power Ranking: 26

Biggest surprise: The Seahawks jumped out to a 4-2 record with Leon Washington returning kickoffs for touchdowns and Mike Williams emerging as a sometimes-dominant receiving threat. Beating San Diego and winning at Chicago set Seattle apart early. I thought the Seahawks would struggle to win five games all season after entering Week 1 with fewer returning players than any team in the league. The coaching staff built a promising run defense around Red Bryant while manufacturing pressure with blitz packages featuring extra defensive backs. Blowing out NFC West favorite San Francisco in the opener set the tone.

Biggest disappointment: Alex Gibbs' sudden retirement as offensive line coach right before the regular season left the Seahawks without Pete Carroll's highest-profile assistant. It also left Seattle with another identity crisis of sorts along its offensive line. With Gibbs, the team appeared ready to commit fully to the zone-blocking principles that had worked in Denver and Houston. Without Gibbs, the Seahawks wavered in their approach. Their decision to trade incumbent starting guard Rob Sims appeared unfortunate in retrospect. He was a starting-caliber guard, but a bad fit for Gibbs' system. The team wound up running through multiple guards and playing most of the season with Stacy Andrews, who appeared even less suited than Sims for Gibbs' style of blocking. Losing first-round left tackle Russell Okung to repeated ankle injuries set back the line further.

Biggest need: Quarterback ranks No. 1 unless Matt Hasselbeck or Charlie Whitehurst improbably leads the team deep into the playoffs. The offensive line ranks a close second. Whitehurst has only recently received a chance to play. He hasn't had enough chances to show whether he can factor as the starter next season. He hasn't played well enough in limited reps to inspire confidence. Hasselbeck has suffered far too many interceptions, again. This is his fourth down season in the past five years. He'll be 36 in 2011 and has struggled making it through a full season healthy.

Team MVP: Chris Clemons. Bryant might have been the most important player based on how the run defense played when he was in the lineup, but Bryant didn't stay healthy long enough. Clemons quickly emerged as the Seahawks' top pass-rusher, collecting 11 sacks. He played with attitude while providing significant return in the Darryl Tapp trade.

About that trending arrow: I've got it pointing down for now because the Seahawks struggled so badly late in the season. Their victory over St. Louis for the NFC West title could help that arrow turn around. Let's see what kind of feeling surrounds the team after Saturday.

Jackie MacMullan's piece on Deion Branch for ESPNBoston.com includes some items of potential interest for Seattle Seahawks fans.

Branch caught nine passes for 98 yards and a touchdown in his first game back with New England. He added three catches for 133 yards and two scores in his most recent game for the Patriots.

These were the sorts of performances Seattle expected from Branch upon acquiring him from the Patriots in 2006. The Seahawks sent him back to New England after four games this season, thrilled to recoup even a fourth-round choice in return.

Branch told MacMullan the Seahawks were never quite sure how to use him, and that the game plans were hit-and-miss in terms of quality.

Trading Branch back to New England was a deal that worked well for both teams. Branch was more valuable to New England than he was to Seattle. The Seahawks' Mike Williams and Ben Obomanu are enjoying strong seasons.

A quick look at how some other Seattle castoffs are faring:

• Rob Sims, Lions guard. Sims has played well enough with Detroit for the Lions to sign him to a four-year extension.
• Nate Burleson, Lions WR. Detroit paid a relatively high price in free agency. Burleson has 40 receptions, four for touchdowns.
• Lawrence Jackson, Lions DE. Has 2.5 sacks in his last two games. A concussion sidelined him last week.
• Josh Wilson, Ravens CB. Has started the last three games. Was on the wrong end of a no-call when the Falcons' Roddy White ran over him.
• Owen Schmitt, Eagles FB. The latest ex-Seahawk to start at fullback for Philadelphia.
• T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Ravens WR. Has made a couple of key catches, including one game-winner, but hasn't factored much into the offense overall.
• Mansfield Wrotto, Bills RT. Wrotto has started the Bills' last three games. The team won two of them and came within a dropped pass of winning the other.
• Deon Grant, Giants S. Has three interceptions, one sack and four starts for the NFL's second-ranked defense.
• Darryl Tapp, Eagles DE. Has two sacks in nine games, with no starts. Seattle has gotten 7.5 sacks and 11 starts from Chris Clemons, acquired from the Eagles in the Tapp trade.
• Seneca Wallace, Browns QB. Has four touchdowns, two interceptions, an 88.5 rating and 1-3 starting record with Cleveland.
• Julius Jones, Saints RB. A 54-yard run against Carolina has helped Jones average 4.6 yards per attempt on 37 rushes with New Orleans.
• Cory Redding, Ravens DE. Has six starts for the NFL's eighth-ranked defense.

Some on the list weren't going to play prominent roles in Seattle. The team's new leadership wanted to turn over the roster, which is typical. A few castoffs invariably find success elsewhere. Of the group, Sims is the one Seattle could use the most.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. ranks his 10 best pass-rushers -- and 10 more worth of honorable mention -- without listing anyone from the NFC West.

It's tough to claim Williamson erred. I probably wouldn't list any NFC West players among the 10 or 20 best, either.

But four games into the season, Seattle's Chris Clemons and St. Louis' James Hall have 4.0 sacks apiece, ranking tied for fifth in the NFL with Williamson's No. 1 pass-rusher, DeMarcus Ware, among others.

The Seahawks' move to acquire Clemons from Philadelphia for Darryl Tapp looks like a big win for Seattle. The Seahawks also acquired the Eagles' fourth-round choice, which Seattle used for E.J. Wilson. Tapp has 1.0 sack in two games for the Eagles this season.

Perceptions at the time of the trade suggested the Eagles were acquiring Tapp and Seattle was getting a lesser player, plus a pick. The reality is that Seattle needed Clemons more than the Eagles needed Tapp, and Clemons has outplayed Tapp to this point in the season. The Seahawks would be in trouble without Clemons, in my view. He is clearly their best pass-rusher.

Roster turnover is a leading topic for discussion in Seattle following the release of T.J. Houshmandzadeh in particular.

I've addressed the subject in depth across the division -- first May 26 and again July 30 -- and it's worth another look now that teams have reduced to 53 players for the regular season.

This time, I'm going to break down the changes by position, listing players no longer on the active roster at each main position group (with new players in parenthesis). Departures outnumber replacements because some players finished last season on injured reserve, meaning they were not part of the 53-man roster.

Some players no longer on the active roster remain with the team (they could be suspended, deemed physically unable to perform or part of the practice squad).

St. Louis Rams (34 off roster)

Defensive back: Eric Bassey, Quincy Butler, Danny Gorrer, Clinton Hart, Cordelius Parks, David Roach, Jonathan Wade (added Kevin Dockery, Jerome Murphy, Darian Stewart)

Defensive line: Victor Adeyanju, Adam Carriker, Leger Douzable, Leonard Little, LaJuan Ramsey, James Wyche (added Jermelle Cudjo, Fred Robbins, George Selvie, Eugene Sims)

Linebacker: K.C. Asiodu, Paris Lenon (added Na'il Diggs, Josh Hull)

Offensive line: Roger Allen, Alex Barron, Ryan McKee, Mark Setterstrom, Phillip Trautwein, Eric Young (added Renardo Foster, Hank Fraley, Rodger Saffold)

Quarterback: Kyle Boller, Marc Bulger, Keith Null, Mike Reilly (added Sam Bradford, A.J. Feeley, Thaddeus Lewis)

Running back: Samkon Gado, Chris Ogbonnaya (added Keith Toston)

Special teams: Ryan Neill

Tight end: Randy McMichael (added Mike Hoomanawanui, Fendi Onobun)

Wide receiver: Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, Brooks Foster, Jordan Kent, Ruvell Martin (added Mark Clayton, Dominique Curry, Mardy Gilyard)

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Seattle Seahawks (33 off roster)

Defensive back: Jamar Adams, Deon Grant, Ken Lucas, Josh Wilson (added Kam Chancellor, Kennard Cox, Nate Ness, Earl Thomas, Walter Thurmond)

Defensive line: Lawrence Jackson, Patrick Kerney, Cory Redding, Nick Reed, Darryl Tapp, Craig Terrill (added Kentwan Balmer, Raheem Brock, Chris Clemons, Dexter Davis, Junior Siavii, E.J. Wilson)

Linebacker: Leroy Hill, Lance Laury, D.D. Lewis (added Matt McCoy; note that Hill is suspended for the first regular-season game)

Offensive line: Trevor Canfield, Brandon Frye, Walter Jones, Damion McIntosh, Rob Sims, Steve Vallos, Ray Willis, Mansfield Wrotto (added Stacy Andrews, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Ben Hamilton, Russell Okung, Chester Pitts, Tyler Polumbus)

Quarterback: Mike Teel, Seneca Wallace (added Charlie Whitehurst)

Running back: Justin Griffith, Louis Rankin, Tyler Roehl, Owen Schmitt (added Quinton Ganther, Michael Robinson, Leon Washington)

Special teams: Kevin Houser, Jeff Robinson (added Clint Gresham)

Tight end: John Owens (added Chris Baker, Anthony McCoy)

Wide receiver: Nate Burleson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh (added Golden Tate, Mike Williams)

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Arizona Cardinals (24 off roster)

Defensive backs: Ralph Brown, Bryant McFadden, Antrel Rolle (added A.J. Jefferson, Trumaine McBride, Brandon McDonald, Kerry Rhodes)

Defensive line: Jason Banks (added Dan Williams)

Linebacker: Monty Beisel, Bertrand Berry, Cody Brown, Karlos Dansby, Gerald Hayes, Chike Okeafor, Pago Togafau (added Paris Lenon, Cyril Obiozor, Joey Porter, Daryl Washington; Hayes can return from the physically unable to perform list after six games)

Offensive line: Mike Gandy, Herman Johnson, Reggie Wells (added Alan Faneca, Rex Hadnot)

Quarterback: Matt Leinart, Brian St. Pierre, Kurt Warner (added Derek Anderson, Max Hall, John Skelton)

Running back: Justin Green, Dan Kreider (added Jerome Johnson)

Special teams: Neil Rackers (added Jay Feely)

Tight end: Anthony Becht (added Jim Dray)

Wide receiver: Anquan Boldin, Sean Morey, Jerheme Urban (added Andre Roberts, Stephen Williams)

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San Francisco 49ers (24 off roster)

Defensive backs: Dre' Bly, Walt Harris, Marcus Hudson, Mark Roman (added Phillip Adams, Tramaine Brock, William James, Taylor Mays)

Defensive line: Kentwan Balmer, Derek Walker

Linebacker: Scott McKillop, Jeff Ulbrich, Matt Wilhelm (added NaVorro Bowman, Travis LaBoy)

Offensive line: Tony Pashos, Chris Patrick, Cody Wallace (added Alex Boone, Anthony Davis, Mike Iupati)

Quarterback: Nate Davis, Shaun Hill (added David Carr, Troy Smith)

Running back: Thomas Clayton, Glen Coffee, Brit Miller, Michael Robinson (added Anthony Dixon, Brian Westbrook)

Special teams: Shane Andrus, Ricky Schmitt

Wide receiver: Arnaz Battle, Isaac Bruce, Jason Hill, Brandon Jones (added Ted Ginn Jr., Kyle Williams, Dominique Zeigler)

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The first chart shows how many players are back -- at least for now -- from Week 17 rosters and injured reserve lists. Seattle has the fewest number back with 26.

The second chart shows how many players each team has shed since Week 17 last season. This counts players who were on injured reserve. Teams with lots of players on injured reserve had more players to lose.

KTAR radio's Doug Franz and Ron Wolfley just finished grilling me medium rare over the far-flung (to them) notion that the San Francisco 49ers should be favored in the NFC West this season.

They think the 49ers face at least as many questions as the Arizona Cardinals, from Alex Smith's abilities as a starting quarterback to the effects of playing two rookies on the offensive line.

Our conversation pointed to something I wrestle with all the time: perception vs. reality.

Sometimes those perceptions get out of hand. It could be happening in the NFC West right now. A few things to consider along those lines heading into the regular season:

• The Seattle Seahawks are taking flak for dumping T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Josh Wilson and others (Rob Sims and Nate Burleson come to mind) during an ongoing roster overhaul. It's fair to ask whether all the changes were necessary. It's fair to question whether Seattle might fall off some in the immediate term while less experienced players take over. But why pretend as though the Seahawks needed only some fine-tuning? They needed an overhaul and they're getting one. Sometimes a team gets a little worse before it gets better. But if you honestly assess each roster change, you might find more upgrades than downgrades. How much will this really team miss Ken Lucas, Cory Redding, Justin Griffith, D.D. Lewis, Damion McIntosh, Owen Schmitt, Mansfield Wrotto, Lawrence Jackson, John Owens, Darryl Tapp, Deon Grant, Lance Laury and the others? It's tough to argue that those players were part of the solution.
• The Cardinals are worse off without Kurt Warner. That much is a given. But should recent instability at quarterback significantly lower those already reduced expectations for the upcoming season? It's probably better to rule out Matt Leinart now than to do so four or five games into the regular season. Quarterback was already a concern. It's still a concern. But let's not pretend the 49ers are dramatically better off with Smith under center. I'm favoring the 49ers in the division because they're the safest bet following an offseason without much roster turnover. They appear slightly better than the team that went 8-8 in 2009. But it's no shock if the Cardinals win this division. I'd call it only a mild surprise.
• The Rams are easy to write off with a rookie quarterback under center and only six wins over the last three seasons. It's not the upset of the century, however, if they find a way to prevail in Week 1. They trailed the Cardinals 21-3 at halftime in the Edward Jones Dome last season. A concussion prevented Warner from returning. Final score: 21-13. If you're the Rams and you know Warner won't be there Sunday, and you know Marc Bulger posted a 57.8 rating as your quarterback in that 21-13 defeat, you're thinking you've got a chance this time around, right? Right.
• About those 49ers. Let's not get carried away with the 12-4 predictions, OK? One step at a time. The 49ers were 5-1 in the division last season. Are they really going to match that record or improve upon it and then add three more victories outside the NFC West? It's possible with AFC West teams on the schedule, but the 49ers have only seven true home games this season. Two of those are against New Orleans and Philadelphia. They play road games against Atlanta, Green Bay and San Diego. Find a dozen sure victories on that schedule and I'm guessing you're a 49ers fan.

To be continued in the comments section, and beyond.

Ask any general manager what he'd like to improve, and pass-rush ability will rank high on the list, even for teams proficient in pressuring quarterbacks.

With that in mind, here's a quick look at four NFC West players key to their teams' improvement in that critical area:

• Chris Clemons, Seattle Seahawks. Clemons has exceeded expectations. Coach Pete Carroll loves what Clemons has shown so far. It's still early, though. Darryl Tapp, shipped to Philadelphia as part of the deal for Clemons, also enjoyed strong training camps -- only to fall off during the regular season. Carroll: "Chris has really been sharp every day, day in and day out. It's such a needed position, to beef up the pass rush. He's been a big factor for us."
• Diyral Briggs, San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers went into training camp hoping outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks could build on a promising finish to the 2009 season. Brooks had 5.0 sacks in the 49ers' final five games, with three of those against Arizona. A lacerated kidney has sidelined Brooks this summer, and Briggs has seized upon the opportunity for more playing time. This could work out well for the 49ers if Brooks returns and Briggs continues developing.
• Chris Long, St. Louis Rams. Long had 5.0 sacks over the final nine games last season, even though the Rams were rarely in prime position to rush the passer. He appeared more assertive during camp practices I watched. Long played at a high level during the exhibition opener against Minnesota. The Rams need him to take another step this season. They lack established pass-rushers.
• Cody Brown, Arizona Cardinals. The 2009 second-round choice missed his rookie season after suffering a serious wrist injury. He is basically a rookie all over again, and it has shown. The only time I noticed Brown during camp practices was when tight end Steven Spach roughed him up and linebacker Joey Porter implored him to fight back. Brown will need some time to get comfortable in game situations. It's a bonus for Arizona if he emerges over the next few exhibitions.

Those are four players I'll want to watch during Week 2 of the exhibition season.

Jesper from Denmark took over the NFC West blog Tuesday with his dispassionate dissection of the St. Louis Rams.

Are the Rams really any better?

The question generated discussion on the blog and on my Facebook wall, with some Rams fans taking offense.

Four hours after the item posted, Doug from Yelm, Wash., hit my inbox with a corresponding 700-word dissection of the Seattle Seahawks. I've known Doug for years. Our kids used to play together. Our families get together around the Fourth of July. He's a huge Seahawks fan, but also a realist.

"Jesper from Denmark graced the NFC West mailbag with a position-by-position evaluation of the Rams," Doug wrote. "It would be nice to have the same type of fan-expert breakdown of all the NFC West teams."

And so our Seahawks discussion began.

Quarterback

Doug: Matt Hasselbeck suffered another injury last season on the goal line in San Francisco. He was decent without being spectacular. We can expect more of the same. Charlie Whitehurst won’t be asked to carry this team unless things go south quickly. Verdict: worse.

Sando: There were times in our Rams evaluation when we acknowledged improved depth without saying a position would improve from a talent standpoint. I think we can apply that thinking here. Seattle has strengthened its depth behind Hasselbeck by acquiring Whitehurst and third-stringer J.P. Losman. I wouldn't say Seattle is worse at the position. As long as Hasselbeck is healthy -- and at this point Doug is probably looking at his watch -- the Seahawks will be better at quarterback.

Running back

Doug: This position provides the biggest question mark for the Seahawks. The starter right now is mostly likely Justin Forsett. Julius Jones' role is undefined. Leon Washington has a chance to improve this area if he’s healthy. Verdict: worse.

Mike Sando: This position looks like a wash to me. The team had Edgerrin James and T.J. Duckett early last season. Both are long gone. Forsett appears to be ascending. Jones is decent at running, receiving and blocking. Washington is the wild card. Teams avoided running backs through most of the draft and I can't blame Seattle for addressing other areas. I'll be looking to see if Quinton Ganther becomes a factor on some level. Seattle has to be hoping its Mike Shanahan-style offense can produce Shanahan-style results in the running game without an elite back on the roster.

Wide receiver

Doug: T.J. Houshmandzadeh is really a No. 2-type receiver and Deion Branch has papier-mache joints. Deon Butler, Mike Williams and Ben Obomanu have potential but somebody needs to break out. Golden Tate could make this a much improved area. Verdict: Better, barely.

Sando: Tate looked great this offseason, but I'm usually skeptical about rookie receivers making strong contributions. It's probably not a good sign when Williams is a key X factor, but if he reports to training camp in shape, the Seahawks could be onto something. Nate Burleson was the only key departure from this group. I'd say Seattle is slightly worse here unless Branch or Williams comes through.

Tight end

Doug: John Carlson is in his prime and should produce at an even higher level. Cameron Morrah proved to be a solid backup and a good blocking tight end. Verdict: Same.

Sando: Don't forget about Chris Baker and Anthony McCoy, Doug. This is one position where I think the Seahawks have done a nice job upgrading. John Owens is gone and that should help the quarterbacks' completion percentage. The Seahawks will use two tight ends quite a bit. Baker and McCoy should upgrade the depth behind Carlson.

Offensive line

Doug: This was the biggest problem for Seattle last year. Russell Okung solidifies the left tackle spot and even as a rookie he will be better than the patchwork situation last year. Ben Hamilton is a proven starter with a firm grasp of the zone blocking scheme. Verdict: better.

Sando: We're on the same page with Okung. Even if Okung is average, he'll be better than what the Seahawks had at the position after about Week 6 last season. I'm expecting better here, no question.

Offense overall

Doug: This will be the second year in a row the Seahawks try to adopt a new system. Last year, the offense (and Hasselbeck in particular) didn’t buy into the coach’s vision. The whole offense feels like a question mark this year -- Hasselbeck’s successor on the sideline, a mix of veterans and young guys, and a bad running game that was not addressed in the offseason. Verdict: worse.

Sando: It'll come down to health at quarterback, same as last season. We'll also find out whether Hasselbeck can fit into this offensive scheme comfortably. The new staff values mobility at quarterback and Hasselbeck, though not slow, isn't all that fast, either. Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates looks like more of an up-and-comer than his predecessor, and with an improved line, Seattle should be better on offense.

Defensive end

Doug: Patrick Kerney’s retirement was way overblown. The need for a pass rush has been there since Kerney was last effective, way back in 2007. Chris Clemons and Lawrence Jackson are not going to set the world on fire. Verdict: worse.

Sando: Carroll sounds sold on Red Bryant at one end spot, though obviously not in a pass-rushing capacity. I'm a little skeptical, but we'll see. Adding Clemons for Darryl Tapp will not make a huge difference. This group looks about the same, minus the false hope that Kerney would revive his career. The Seahawks still do not know where they're going to get their pass rush.

Defensive tackle

Doug: Colin Cole, Brandon Mebane and Craig Terrill are good, but I’m not expecting to see them in the Pro Bowl. Verdict: same.

Sando: I wonder whether Terrill will earn a roster spot this season. You didn't mention Kevin Vickerson, acquired from Tennessee. I'm not seeing a huge change here, either.

Linebacker

Doug: A strength for the Seahawks and their deepest position. Lofa Tatupu, Leroy Hill and Aaron Curry are All-Pro level linebackers. David Hawthorne might be the best non-starting linebacker in the NFL. Verdict: better.

Sando: When was the last time those three linebackers played anywhere near an elite level? It's been a couple years for Tatupu. Hill has been on the cusp, but he has not really delivered. And Curry hasn't proved himself in the NFL. Hawthorne is a good backup. I'll agree that this group should improve. Tatupu is back from injury. Hill and Curry have lots to prove. Hawthorne has much to gain. Injuries are still a concern. Tatupu, Hill and Curry played together less than one full game last season. It gets old hearing about how great Seattle is at the position. Time to produce.

Cornerback

Doug: After returning from injury, Marcus Trufant was flat-out embarrassed at times last season. Kelly Jennings is not a shutdown corner. Walter Thurmond will be called on early in the season and he may still be suffering from a knee injury. Verdict: worse.

Sando: Trufant should be healthier and more comfortable this season and that will upgrade the position. You did not mention Josh Wilson, a good player and better corner than Jennings, who isn't bad. Ken Lucas is gone, but I do not see a huge drop-off from last season. Remember, too, that rookie safety Earl Thomas is a coverage player.

Safety

Doug: By all accounts, Earl Thomas is a stud and he immediately upgrades the Seahawks at safety. Kam Chancellor is a big, physical safety who should contribute right away. Jordan Babineaux and Lawyer Milloy add versatility and depth, but not much play making. Verdict: better, only because of Thomas.

Sando: Thomas does upgrade this group. The team should get more from Milloy this season. I could even see him starting and providing a veteran presence -- someone Carroll can trust to do the right thing. Milloy was the only member of the secondary to provide true toughness last season, I thought. He is old, but also old-school.

Defense overall

Doug: The Seahawks' defense was the only thing that kept them in the games they were competitive in last season. If they can get a pass rush from the outside, either at linebacker or defensive end, they will be much better. Verdict: better.

Sando: Seattle's defense needs more points on the board, so the progress the Seahawks make on offense will be a key variable here, too. I question where this team will get its pass rush, but the team will have a hard time being worse in that department. I'll agree that the defense should be improved with Trufant healthier, Tatupu back, Thomas at safety and Curry taking a step forward.

Coaching

Doug: This team gave up on Jim Mora last year. He called guys out (remember the Olindo Mare incident?) and constantly pleaded with the team to give a better effort. They never bought it. Carroll brings in a lot of recent success from the college ranks, plus enough NFL experience to know what he’s getting into. Verdict: better.

Sando: Carroll will benefit from a better climate in the front office and improved organizational stability. I also think his temperament is better suited for weathering tough times. He'll be more consistent that way and the team will respond more favorably. Bates' addition intrigues me. As noted, I sense he could be an up-and-coming assistant.

Schedule

Doug: Last season featured three road games in a row, Thanksgiving in Dallas and a road game against Green Bay in December. The schedule is better this season with four of the final six games at home and only three games kicking off at 10 a.m. PT. Verdict: better.

Sando: The schedule is tougher early in the season and an 0-3 start against the San Francisco 49ers (home), Denver Broncos (road) and San Diego Chargers (home) is certainly possible. Seattle has to like the schedule later in the season, though. Finishing at home against the Rams was a plus.

Final thoughts

Doug: Carroll brings an energetic, hopeful attitude, but it comes at a price because the Seahawks will be under their third head coach in as many seasons. This team needed a shakeup and new scheming, but results won’t happen overnight. They will be more competitive. I just don’t see how they can make the playoffs. Verdict: better (7-9).

Sando: Six or seven victories seem reasonable and it's a huge step forward if the team can get to 8-8. I expect the Seahawks to handle adversity better than they did last season. That should prevent them from falling off a cliff the way they did in 2009. It's also fair to wonder whether Hasselbeck can stay healthy and whether the team can rush the passer. Problems in those two areas could doom Seattle to another disappointing season.

The Arizona Cardinals' Deuce Lutui and the St. Louis Rams' Oshiomogho Atogwe remain the only 2010 NFC West restricted free agents without deals for the upcoming season.

Lutui has said he expects to sign the Cardinals' one-year offer. Atogwe, free to sign elsewhere after the Rams declined to upgrade his original RFA tender by June 1, has no known options beyond returning to St. Louis.

The chart provides an overview of RFA activity for NFC West teams this offseason.

The San Francisco 49ers' Ahmad Brooks signed a two-year deal featuring a $1.85 million signing bonus with base salaries of $900,000 and $1.2 million, with another $275,000 in bonuses available in 2011.