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Thoughts on Seattle Seahawks first-round pick Bruce Irvin after reading John Clayton's piece questioning the selection:

• Specific role: The Seahawks envision Irvin as a situational pass-rusher for now and the evenutal successor to Chris Clemons in the "Leo" role. Clemons was a 236-pound linebacker coming out of college. He had a 4.7-second time in the 40-yard dash, went undrafted as a junior and floundered in Philadelphia. The Seahawks acquired him with a specific role in mind. Clemons ranks eighth in the NFL with 22 sacks over the last two seasons, more than Julius Peppers, James Harrison, Clay Matthews, Dwight Freeney, Trent Cole, Jason Pierre-Paul and others. Clemons now weighs 255 pounds and has become much stronger against the run. Irvin is Clemons' height (6-foot-3) and weighs 245 pounds, but he is much faster, having run the 40 in 4.4 seconds. The plan would be for Irvin to grow into a bigger role, not to remain a situational player forever.
• Value at No. 15: Draft analysts did not anticipate Irvin's selection at No. 15. It's impossible to know whether the Seahawks could have drafted Irvin later than that. Three teams running variations of the 4-3 defense selected defensive ends in the first round. Irvin went first, followed by Shea McClellin to Chicago at No. 19 and Chandler Jones to New England at No. 21. Jacksonville, picking 38th, was the next 4-3 team to select a defensive end (Andre Branch). There was a six-pick window for 4-3 teams to select a pass-rusher in the first round. Seattle opened the window. Chicago and New England closed it, with the Patriots trading up to make sure the window did not slam on them. The Seahawks liked Jones, but concerns over a toe injury raised questions about how early they would select him. They were comfortable with the off-field issues Irvin carried into the draft.
• Whether Irvin starts: Aldon Smith collected 14 sacks in a situational role with San Francisco last season. Robert Mathis had three seasons with double-digit sacks as a reserve at various points in his career with Indianapolis. Years ago, a young Anthony Smith put together three consecutive seasons with double-digit sacks despite rarely starting for the Los Angeles Raiders. The plan is for Aldon Smith to become a starter this year. Mathis continued to produce as a starter. Anthony Smith's sack numbers fell. Clemons is the best comparison for Irvin. They have physical similarities. They are playing in the same scheme. The same coaches and personnel people decided they fit the same role.

Irvin will be a fun player to watch during training camp. Dexter Davis is another Seattle pass-rusher to keep in mind. He missed all but one game last season after suffering a hip injury and could be overlooked heading toward the season.

RENTON, Wash. -- There were no bold strikes up the draft board for NFC West teams Thursday night.

There was resignation among those hoping the St. Louis Rams would emerge with a No. 1 wide receiver for quarterback Sam Bradford. The Rams traded down instead, taking LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers after wideouts Justin Blackmon and Michael Floyd vanished from the talent pool right before St. Louis picked.

There was the expected in Arizona, where the Cardinals went with Floyd over tackle Riley Reiff, no slam dunk but a widely projected scenario in recent weeks.

There was waiting in San Francisco, where the 49ers did not pick until No. 30, where they selected Illinois receiver A.J. Jenkins shortly after two top guards landed elsewhere.

And then there was utter shock in Seattle, where the Seahawks used the 15th overall choice for a player with more time logged in jail than in the mainstream media mock drafts circulating recently.

The Seahawks could have had pass-rushers Quinton Coples, Melvin Ingram or Chandler Jones, but instead they went with West Virginia's Bruce Irvin, a former junior-college transfer with a rough past, a sensational first step and a history with Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, who once recruited him to USC.

Irvin is not Charles Haley, Chris Doleman, Derrick Thomas or Dwight Freeney. He is not even Von Miller or Jevon Kearse. The Seahawks think he'll become that type of player quickly, however, and they are not shy about leaving that impression. It's an upset if Irvin fails to reach double digits in sacks this season, to hear the Seahawks speak of him.

"This guy comes off the ball like Dwight Freeney and Von Miller and Jevon Kearse," general manager John Schneider said.

Irvin is not for everyone. At 6-foot-3 and 248 pounds, he's a pure pass-rusher, not a player with the strength to anchor against the run on early downs. Irvin represents what Carroll wants for the "Leo" role manned capably by Chris Clemons in recent years. Irvin will play immediately as a situational pass-rusher. The plan will be to groom him as Clemons' successor eventually.

"He is exactly the makeup that you are looking for," Carroll said. "This goes all the way back to Charles Haley and Chris Doleman and Derrick Thomas. That is the kind of effect this guy has a chance to have. He has a lot to learn. He is going to have to grow up with us and learn our system. But the makeup of this player is so rare. He looks like a carbon copy of Von Miller rushing the passer."

Seattle spent big to retain run-stuffing defensive end Red Bryant in free agency. The money Bryant commanded means he'll be on the field for early downs. And with Clemons coming off an 11-sack season, that meant the Seahawks weren't looking for an every-down defensive end. They were looking for a player with a unique set of skills, and Irvin fits on that front. His 6.7-second time in the three-cone drill was the fastest for any player at the scouting combine.

"This position is so rare to find a guy that runs this fast," Carroll said.

Irvin follows a pattern in Seattle. Bryant is much bigger than the typical defensive end. Brandon Browner (6-4) and Richard Sherman (6-3) are taller than the typical cornerback. Kam Chancellor is the biggest strong safety in the league. Earl Thomas might be the NFL's fastest free safety. Linebacker K.J. Wright stands 6-4 and is rangier than most.

Now comes Irvin, who played wide receiver in high school before flunking out as a junior. Irvin was living on the streets for two years, at one point keeping his possessions in a bag. He spent a couple weeks in jail after allegedly robbing a drug dealer. Irvin pulled himself together, earned his GED and landed, eventually, on the football team at Mount San Antonio College.

"I went through a lot of stuff in my life," Irvin said. "I've seen a lot. The average person would not be on this call."

Nothing came of a more recent arrest for destruction of property.

"The Lord knew it was B.S.," Irvin said, drawing laughter from reporters huddled around a conference-call speaker at Seahawks headquarters.

A year ago, the Seahawks shocked draft analysts by selecting tackle James Carpenter with the 25th overall choice. Carpenter hadn't appeared in many first-round mock drafts, but the Seahawks weren't the only team with a first-round grade on him. Pittsburgh and Green Bay also liked him. An injury derailed Carpenter last season, making it tough to evaluate that choice. The Irvin selection was similar in that virtually no one projected the move.

So far, though, Carroll has usually been right when targeting specific defensive players for specific roles. And there is precedent within the division for surprise first-round selections making an immediate impact.

The 49ers selected Aldon Smith seventh overall last year when few projected the Missouri pass-rusher to San Francisco. Smith, unlike Irvin, was widely considered a top-15 prospect by analysts. Smith finished his rookie season with 14 sacks, finishing behind only Miller in defensive-rookie-of-the-year balloting, even though conventional wisdom suggested Smith would need time to develop.

Smith succeeded right away largely because the 49ers used him properly, asking him to do the one thing he could do best: rush the passer.

The bar has been set high for Irvin.

"I'm just a great athlete," Irvin said. "I'm going to do great things for this organization. The sky is the limit for me."

Seth from Newport News, Va., says the ESPN.com/ESPN The Magazine's NFL Any Era team "is a joke" if the St. Louis Rams' Steven Jackson does not appear on the list.

Mike Sando: Jackson did not appear on the list. Tim Tebow did. That seems wrong. We do not even know for sure whether Tebow will be good in this era, do we?

The overall list is strong. Ray Lewis, Troy Polamalu, Charles Woodson, Brian Urlacher, Patrick Willis, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Ed Reed, Darrelle Revis, Jared Allen and Dwight Freeney are among those listed.

I thought the San Francisco 49ers' Justin Smith was an obvious omission among those watching him play regularly. But how many people, Hall of Famers or otherwise, have watched the 49ers' defensive line in recent seasons?

People should know plenty about Steven Jackson, because he carries the ball and, quite frequently, defenders trying to tackle him. Seth is surely right about the Rams' poor record hurting Jackson in these types of polls.

In retrospect, I should have broken out an item about Jackson's omission without any prompting. He has demonstrated all the necessary qualities -- toughness, grit, consistency, leadership, versatility, production -- to make him a timeless player. Very few running backs have run with more ferocity than Jackson.

The way Jackson has played through injuries becomes more impressive when we consider the stakes for his team were relatively low. I'll never forget watching him slam himself into the 49ers' defense while trailing 35-0 a few years ago. He made a statement to his teammates and anyone watching. Circumstances would not diminish what he represented. I'll also never forget how he fought through a 2009 back injury that would require surgery. He started 15 games even though his team was 1-15 that season.

A lesser man -- even a normal one -- would have shut it down late in that season. What was the point? Jackson refused to do that. He kept coming back for more and finished with 324 carries, the second-highest total of his career.

Jackson was clearly qualified for the Any Era team. So were Larry Fitzgerald and others. But as with voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, there are usually more worthy candidates than spots available for enshrinement. That means very good candidates do not always get their due, at least right away. That should not diminish them in any way.

Seven quarterback hits were arguably more impressive than the 2.5 sacks Aldon Smith recorded during the San Francisco 49ers' 20-3 victory Monday night.

I cannot recall in recent seasons one player knocking the opposing quarterback off his feet that many times in a game.

Smith, the seventh player chosen in the 2011 NFL draft, put the hurt on Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger. He now has more sacks than all but one rookie since 1982, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Jevon Kearse had 14.5 for the Tennessee Titans during their 1999 Super Bowl season.

Smith has a good shot at breaking that record over the final two regular-season games. The 49ers face Seattle and St. Louis, teams that rank among the six worst in most sacks taken per pass play.

Smith leads NFL rookies in sacks. Denver's Von Miller has 11.5. For Smith, getting 2.5 sacks in a nationally televised game could improve his chances for being honored as the defensive rookie of the year.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. breaks down the San Francisco 49ers' game against the Cleveland Browns from just about every angle in his Insider scouting report.

I followed up with him on the phone Friday for thoughts on matchups involving the two best players on the field Sunday: Browns left tackle Joe Thomas and 49ers defensive end Justin Smith. Williamson ranks Smith among the 10 best players in the NFL regardless of position. He ranks Thomas among the top 50.

Matt Williamson: Thomas is playing really well -- not as well as he has in the past, but he's in the conversation for best left tackle. He is a great left tackle without any weaknesses. There is no certain type of player Thomas does well against. He does well against everybody, but so does Justin Smith.

Mike Sando: What should we expect Sunday?

Matt Williamson: Smith is a better player than Thomas, a top 10 guy. But the 49ers' front looks like a 5-2 on early downs and Thomas will be blocking the outside linebacker, which is exactly what San Francisco wants. If the 49ers can get Ray McDonald and Smith on either one of the Browns' guards, they are going to torment them. This will not be like Dwight Freeney against Joe Thomas all game because Smith moves around.

Mike Sando: Sounds like this could be a quieter game for 49ers rookie outside linebacker Aldon Smith, assuming Smith winds up matched against Thomas a fair amount.

Matt Williamson: Thomas against any of their outside linebackers has a distinct advantage, and I like the 49ers' outside linebackers. Great left tackles rarely get beat. I could see this not being a big Aldon Smith game. The 49ers' speed should give Tony Pashos some problems at right tackle, though. Pashos is a heavier footed mauler type. He will do better against McDonald than any of the edge players there.

Mike Sando: What's your take on the game overall?

Matt Williamson: Cleveland's offense is so inept. I don't know that San Francisco is going to beat them 30-0, though. It's probably going to be closer even though San Francisco will control the whole game, most likely. Colt McCoy's yards per attempt are about the worst in the league (only Kerry Collins is worse in this category). The Browns have no vertical dimension to their offense.

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.

Glen Coffee's sudden retirement from the San Francisco 49ers following only one season came as a shock.

Former NFL prospect Rich Williams had the right idea when he opted out of the 2002 draft and moved on with his life -- without leaving any employer hanging.

It's tough to fault Coffee for giving the NFL a try despite the ambivalence he later said he was feeling all along. The financial stakes were high and making a hasty decision to step away would have damaged any attempts to come back. The way things went, Coffee departed the NFL knowing for sure football was not for him. It was a bad break for the 49ers.

Back to Williams. Allison Glock's piece about him for ESPN The Magazine was one of the better offseason reads I've come across this year.

Williams says he has no regrets about walking away from a football career analysts thought he would begin as a mid-round draft choice. While Julius Peppers, John Henderson, Dwight Freeney, Albert Haynesworth and Charles Grant headlined the 2002 class of defensive linemen, Williams went about becoming a teacher, an evangelist and a competitive strongman.

Williams holds world records for grip strength. According to Glock's story, he lifted a 163-pound anvil by the horn and carried it 60-plus feet -- with one hand.

As for Coffee? His agent, Todd Crannell, said Coffee has worked toward his degree at Alabama, channeled his competitive energy into boxing and followed his brother's career as a running back at South Carolina.

"Glen played four years in high school, four in college and one in the NFL -- enough to know if he likes it," Crannell said. "If someone worked at McDonald's for nine years and wanted to quit, no one would wonder why. The money in the NFL is different, obviously, but money has no value to Glen. The NFL is such a brand that it's hard for people to understand when someone just does not like it."

Chris Long's increased sack production and overall strong play last season moved him into the periphery of discussions about the NFL's best pass-rushers.

Long was the lone NFC West player to draw a vote in ESPN.com's recently posted power rankings for pass-rushers. Tim Graham of the AFC East ranked Long 10th on his ballot, a reflection of the progress Long continues to make.

"He was always around the ball and led the NFL in quarterback hurries, according to Football Outsiders," Graham said. "He was tied for sixth in quarterback hits. He didn't have the best sack total, but sacks aren't everything."

I agree. Long came close to cracking my top 10, but the players I ranked had generally produced at a higher level over the course of multiple seasons. Projecting their future production seemed more reliable, although Long's current trajectory suggests he'll gain traction in the discussion.

A quick look at my top 10:

1. DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys. He was first on seven of our eight ballots.
2. Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis Colts. The Colts' offense and indoor stadium sometimes give Freeney a huge edge.
3. Tamba Hali, Kansas City Chiefs. Hali was the most physically dominant pass-rusher I saw last season. He had 14.5 sacks to prove it.
4. Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers. Made a case for league MVP last season, particularly early.
5. James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers. Bad intentions add to the fear factor.
6. Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings. My perception is he has become less consistently dominant, but the bar was set high.
7. LaMarr Woodley, Pittsburgh Steelers. Thirty-five sacks and six forced fumbles over the last three seasons.
8. Julius Peppers, Chicago Bears. Peppers would rank higher on a list of best defensive ends. He was probably undervalued here.
9. John Abraham, Atlanta Falcons. Collected 13 sacks at age 32.
10. Trent Cole, Philadelphia Eagles. Produces consistently and almost never misses games.

Back to the NFC West: Chris Clemons, Raheem Brock, Justin Smith and James Hall joined Long in causing problems for opposing offenses last season.

Smith had 8.5 sacks, a high number for a 3-4 defensive end.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says Stephen Ross' jet arrived in the Bay Area at 11:21 p.m. PT. The Dolphins' owner planned to meet Thursday morning with Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers' top choice to replace Mike Singletary. Maiocco: "Niners team president Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke met for more than five hours with Harbaugh, a source confirmed. The San Jose Mercury News reported there appeared to be a deal in place. But Harbaugh said he wanted to at least listen to what the Dolphins' owner had to say. The Dolphins are reportedly ready to offer in the $7-to-$8 million annual range for Harbaugh. Although the 49ers are not likely to go that high, a team source said the 49ers have not given up hope Harbaugh will choose to remain in the Bay Area with the 49ers." York's previous comments about money being no object will come off as so much bluster if money plays a role in losing Harbaugh to another team. York likes to talk a big game. He usually has not delivered, however. Can he this time?

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee offers thoughts on why Harbaugh is a hot coaching candidate. Rich Gannon: "I have vivid memories of him entrenching himself in an office and doing everything he could to learn. He was willing to do the grunt work. He was the quality control guy but he was staying until three in the morning pulling the game plan together, the QB quick tips ... He would be exhausted the next day."

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says the Dolphins' push for Harbaugh could ruin the 49ers' chances at landing the Stanford coach. Kawakami: "According to a source, everything went smoothly during the face-to-face discussions between Harbaugh and the 49ers today. He and Baalke meshed well and the money terms were being negotiated with agent David Dunn. Then Harbaugh said he would talk to Ross, and the 49ers heard that the Dolphin offer could blow theirs away." Dunn's involvement was something I had not anticipated. Harbaugh previously listed Jack Bechta as his agent. Recent reports have noted that Harbaugh and 49ers general manager Trent Baalke share an agent. I had thought Baalke's agent was Peter Schaffer. That aspect of the negotiations begs for some elaboration.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says Jed York's comment about money being no object might not be exactly true.

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle updates the 49ers' coaching search in a story featuring a photo of York and Baalke riding in a car together.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Darnell Dockett's comments on Twitter about an Arizona mall shooting stirred controversy. No shock there. Dockett has cranked out politically incorrect comments on Twitter for as long as I can remember him being on Twitter. Dockett's latest dispatch, according to Somers: "Was the guys who shot some1 & the mall today was they Black? Cuz its hard 2 believe they would run in the mall!! Probaly white or mexicans!" Dockett followed up those comments with additional comments seeking to explain his stance, such as: "Cuz blacks wouldn't run in a mall after shooting chances on getting caught is 100% that's why!!" Dockett then tried a little damage control, defending himself against charges of racism. The sheer number of potentially objectionable tweets from Dockett over an extended time period diminish the impact of subsequent objectionable tweets. It's rhetorical inflation.

Also from Somers: Staff changes could be on the way for Arizona as coach Ken Whisenhunt winds down meetings with assistants. Somers: "His decision is complicated by the labor disagreement between the NFL and the players' union, as well as the number of coaches' jobs that have opened. If no collective-bargaining agreement is reached by March 4, the owners are expected to lock out the players. A prolonged lockout means a new coordinator might have little time with which to install a new system. It also means owners could be paying former and current staff members while no games are being played. If Whisenhunt does want to make new hires, he likely would face competition. Eight teams are making changes at head coach, and one other, Houston, is hiring a new defensive staff."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says punter Jon Ryan has become adept at avoiding touchbacks and pinning opponents deep in their own territory.

Also from Farnsworth: Pete Carroll isn't saying which quarterback will start against New Orleans.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times takes a closer look at the relationship between Seattle safeties Lawyer Milloy and Earl Thomas.

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times says Carroll finds himself in an unfamiliar position: as the underdog. Brewer: "He hasn't been called such a thing before a game this big in ages. For most of his nine-year run at USC, the first-year Seahawks coach was known more for instructing a giant to stomp on the little guys. And he did that job well, managing to meet the demanding expectations of a college football powerhouse so flamboyantly the Trojans became a cultural phenomenon."

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says Raheem Brock's productivity as a pass-rushing defensive end caught the Seahawks by surprise. Boling: "He and fellow defensive end Chris Clemons now have a total of 20 sacks, giving them the league’s third-highest sacks total for ends behind the Giants’ Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora (23), and the Colts’ Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis (21)."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks' quarterback gamesmanship affected Seattle and New Orleans. Williams: "Initially, the Seahawks planned to make both quarterbacks available but then chose to deny access to both because no decision on the starter had been made. Carroll’s indecision also affected New Orleans-area reporters, who were expecting to talk to Hasselbeck on conference call but got Mike Williams instead. That decision led to Seattle-area reporters getting receiver Lance Moore on conference call instead of quarterback Drew Brees."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says drafting later in the first round is a new feeling for the Rams. Thomas: "Strategically, when you're picking first, you don't have to worry about anybody else. And picking second, you only have to worry about the one team ahead of you, or the possibility of someone trading up to that spot. But at No. 14, there are tons of variables and 13 other teams to worry about. You have to be ready to go in a lot of different directions, depending on what happens ahead of you."

Also from the Post-Dispatch: a look at hits and misses in the 14th overall spot.

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com says rookie quarterback Sam Bradford learned plenty during his first season in the NFL. Bradford joined Peyton Manning, David Carr and Matt Ryan as the only rookies to play every offensive snap for their teams. Wagoner: "Bradford set a rookie record for consecutive attempts without an interception, going 174 straight without a pick. He set a rookie record for attempts (590) and completions (354), passing future Hall of Famer Manning in both categories. He finished second among rookie quarterbacks in passing yards with 3,512, behind only Manning and fifth in touchdown passes with 18. He was the Rookie of the Month two times, becoming the first rookie quarterback to achieve that feat."

Brian Stull of 101ESPN St. Louis says Rams receiver Mark Clayton would like to return in 2011.

The 1983 NFL draft might have been the best of the modern era even without Hall of Fame quarterbacks John Elway, Jim Kelly or Dan Marino.

It was that good.

"I think if you asked each guy to a man, in particular the Hall of Fame guys, there has always been a pride about our class," said cornerback Darrell Green, the 28th overall choice in 1983 and a Hall of Famer. "Without ever discussing it, we knew we were a pretty special class of athletes."

The class produced six Hall of Famers –- Elway, Kelly, Marino, Green, Eric Dickerson and Bruce Matthews -– in addition to recent Hall finalists Richard Dent and Roger Craig. Of the 335 players drafted, 41 combined for 142 Pro Bowl appearances.

No other draft class has produced more than 34 Pro Bowl players since the NFL and AFL combined for a common draft in 1967, according to ESPN Stats & Information. That year served as the starting point for this project ranking the five best draft classes. The 1996, 1981, 1969 and 1985 drafts also made the cut.

Not that making the cut was good enough for some.

"If you took the defensive players in our draft and put them on the field against any class, we would shut them out," said Ronnie Lott, one of the more decorated members of a 1981 class featuring Lawrence Taylor, Mike Singletary, Rickey Jackson, Howie Long and Kenny Easley.

The project was biased against recent classes because their players haven’t had time to achieve in ways that set apart the older classes. The 2001 class has already produced 33 Pro Bowlers, same as the 1996 class and more than every other class but 1983, 1987 and 1988. But the best players from that class aren't finished achieving.

The biggest challenge, at least to me, was settling on the right criteria. ESPN Stats & Information provided an updated version of the spreadsheet used to identify elite draft classes for a previous project . The spreadsheet awarded points to players based on:

• Hall of Fame enshrinement (15 points)
• MVP awards (8)
• Player of the year awards (6)
• All-Pro first-team awards (4)
• All-Pro second-team awards (3)
• Super Bowl victories (3)
• Pro Bowls (2)
• Rookie of the year awards (2)
• Super Bowl defeats (1)

I used the spreadsheet as a starting point.

From there, I assigned 15 points to current or recently retired players likely destined for Canton. The players I singled out were: Troy Polamalu, Dwight Freeney, Ed Reed, LaDainian Tomlinson, Steve Hutchinson, Brian Urlacher, Tom Brady, Champ Bailey, Peyton Manning, Randy Moss, Alan Faneca, Orlando Pace, Walter Jones, Tony Gonzalez, Jason Taylor, Jonathan Ogden, Marvin Harrison, Ray Lewis, Brian Dawkins, Terrell Owens, Derrick Brooks, Marshall Faulk, Larry Allen, Michael Strahan, Brett Favre, Junior Seau and Deion Sanders.

I added five points for Hall of Fame finalists not yet enshrined -- Cortez Kennedy, Shannon Sharpe, etc. These changes allowed the rich to get richer, of course, because all those players already had lots of Pro Bowls on their resumés. But if it was important to recognize current Hall of Famers -- and it was, I thought -- then it was important to acknowledge the strongest candidates not yet enshrined.

Another thing I noticed: These changes didn't significantly alter results, which were predicated mostly on Pro Bowl appearances, a statistical correlation revealed.

The next challenge was making sure the formula didn't acknowledge great players at the expense of good ones. ESPN's John Clayton and Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. felt the formula should take special care in this area. I wasn't as adamant.

"You love the Hall of Famers," Horton said, "but I like the class where the guy plays at a high level for a long time. I love those third-round picks that just play and play. We shouldn’t make a mistake at the first pick. That guy should be a great player."

Clayton used approximate-value ratings from Pro Football Reference to produce averages for each draft class. The 1993 class produced the highest average, followed by the 1996, 1983, 1975 and 1971 classes. Clayton also plugged in total games played. The 1983 class edged the 1993 class for the most, followed by the 1990, 1976 and 1988 classes.

A few key variables changed along the way.

Teams drafted at least 442 players annually from 1967 to 1976. They drafted more than 330 players each year from 1977 through 1992. The 1993 class featured only 224 players, fewer than any class under consideration. The first 224 players drafted in 1969 had much higher average approximate-value ratings than the 1993 class, for example. More recent draft classes also benefited from league expansion, which opened roster spots and opportunities for additional players.

NFL regular seasons also grew in length from 14 to 16 games beginning in 1978.

My focus was more on what the draft classes produced and less on extenuating circumstances.

The 1993 class is among those deserving honorable mention. Do the most decorated members of that class -- Strahan, Willie Roaf, Will Shields, John Lynch, Jerome Bettis and Drew Bledsoe among them -- hold up to the best from other years?

Take a look at my top five classes and decide for yourself.

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1983

Why it's the best: No other class came close using the point system from ESPN Stats & Information. The 1983 class finished in a virtual tie with the 1996 and 1981 classes even when I removed from consideration the three Hall of Fame quarterbacks -- Elway, Marino and Jim Kelly. No class had more combined Pro Bowls from its top-10 picks (42) or more combined Pro Bowls from players drafted later than the 200th overall choice (26). Five of the six Hall of Famers played their entire NFL careers with one team for 83 combined seasons, or 16.6 on average.

Hall of Famers: Elway (Broncos), Kelly (Bills), Marino (Dolphins), Green (Redskins), Dickerson (Rams), Matthews (Oilers)

Hall of Fame finalists: Richard Dent (Bears), Roger Craig (49ers)

Other big names: Karl Mecklenburg (Broncos), Joey Browner (Vikings), Chris Hinton (Broncos), Charles Mann (Redskins), Dave Duerson (Bears), Leonard Marshall (Giants), Albert Lewis (Chiefs), Curt Warner (Seahawks), Jimbo Covert (Bears), Henry Ellard (Rams), Mark Clayton (Dolphins), Tim Krumrie (Bengals), Greg Townsend (Raiders), Gill Byrd (Chargers), Don Mosebar (Raiders), Darryl Talley (Bills).

Late-round steals: Mecklenburg was the 310th overall choice. Dent went 203rd overall. Clayton went 223rd. They combined for 15 Pro Bowls.

Ah, the memories: Green grew up in Houston rooting for the Oilers, but his hometown team wasn't very accommodating on draft day. His family didn't have cable TV, so they couldn't watch the draft on ESPN. They had heard the Oilers would be showing it at their facility, or at least providing real-time updates, but Green was turned away.

"They sent my little behind on out of there," Green said. "That is the way that went. What is funny, I’m a Houstonian, I played 20 years in the NFL, started 18 years and I never played in Houston but one time, so I couldn’t stick it to them. ... But you always love your hometown. I was a Luv Ya Blue, Bum Phillips, Kenny Burrough, Earl Campbell, Dan Pastorini fan."

Green was used to the cold shoulder. Tim Lewis, drafted 11th overall by Green Bay, was supposed to be the superstar cornerback that year. Looking back, Green liked going one spot after Marino. Green also values being a bookend to a first round featuring Elway on the other side.

"[Redskins general manager] Bobby Beathard told me if I was there, he would take me," Green said. "I'd always been told by pro players, 'Hey, don’t believe anything they say.' As an adult, I know why. Things change. But the man told me. We got down to Dan Marino at 27 and I knew I wouldn't be 27. Then when we got to 28, the last pick of the first round, now I’ve got nothing else to do but believe it. I was extremely excited he maintained his word."

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1996

Why it's No. 2: Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis arguably rank among the three best players at their positions in NFL history. Marvin Harrison and Terrell Owens arguably rank among the 10 greatest receivers. Between four and seven members from this class have strong credentials for Canton. Only the 1983 class produced more total Pro Bowl appearances. Unlike some other classes -- 1988 comes to mind -- this one provided star power deep into the draft.

Hall of Famers: none yet.

Hall of Fame finalists: none yet.

Strongest Hall credentials: Jonathan Ogden (Ravens), Marvin Harrison (Colts), Ray Lewis (Ravens), Brian Dawkins (Eagles), Terrell Owens (49ers), Zach Thomas (Dolphins), La'Roi Glover (Raiders).

Other big names: Mike Alstott (Bucs), Willie Anderson (Bengals), Simeon Rice (Bucs), Lawyer Milloy (Patriots), Tedy Bruschi (Patriots), Eddie George (Titans), Jeff Hartings (Lions), Keyshawn Johnson (Jets), Donnie Edwards (Chiefs), Jon Runyan (Oilers), Amani Toomer (Giants), Muhsin Muhammad (Panthers), Stephen Davis (Redskins), Joe Horn (Chiefs), Marco Rivera (Packers).

Late-round steals: Fifth-rounders Thomas, Glover and Horn combined for 17 Pro Bowls. Another fifth-rounder, Jermaine Lewis, added two more. No other fifth round produced more total Pro Bowls during the period in question. Although expansion added additional picks to more recent fifth rounds, those picks were also later in the draft. Thomas and Glover should get strong Hall of Fame consideration.

Ah, the memories: Glover was the 16th defensive tackle drafted in 1996. He wasn't even invited to the combine initially, and when he did get the call, there wasn't enough time to prepare for the specialized events. Glover, who weighed about 265 pounds at San Diego State, was in trouble and he knew it.

"It's funny to me now, but it wasn't funny then," Glover said. "I got a call maybe a week before the combine, so I wasn’t prepared. I was out there doing my long-distance conditioning training and I wasn’t doing speed-type training. I may have ran like a 5.1 or 5.2, a very bad time."

Glover performed much better at his personal workout, dropping those times into the low 4.9s. Oakland made him the 166th player chosen that year.

"I just remember feeling goosebumps and I started sweating -- the dream is coming true," Glover said. "And then I was put on the phone with Mr. Al Davis. He asked me a very specific question: 'How would you like to be an Oakland Raider?' And I damn near lost it. I didn’t cry or anything. I kept my composure over the phone. As soon as I hung up and saw my name come on the ticker -- I lived in a tiny 2-3 bedroom home -- the place just erupted. All the women were crying and all the men were asking for tickets."

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1981

Why it's No. 3: This was arguably the greatest defensive draft under consideration, particularly near the top. The NFL's best athletes typically played offense, but 1981 draftees Taylor, Lott and Easley helped change the dynamics. This draft wasn't as strong as some throughout, but its star power on defense set it apart. Key players from this draft helped the 49ers, Redskins, Giants, Bears and Raiders dominate at times during the decade. Only the 1986 draft produced more Super Bowl winners.

Hall of Famers: Taylor (Giants), Lott (49ers), Mike Singletary (Bears), Howie Long (Raiders), Rickey Jackson (Saints), Russ Grimm (Redskins).

Hall of Fame finalists: none.

Other big names: Easley, Eric Wright (49ers), Dennis Smith (Broncos), Cris Collinsworth (Bengals), Hanford Dixon (Browns), Freeman McNeil (Jets), James Brooks (Chargers), Brian Holloway (Patriots), Hugh Green (Bucs), Carlton Williamson (49ers), Neil Lomax (Cardinals), Dexter Manley (Redskins), Mark May (Redskins), E.J. Junior (Cardinals).

Late-round steals: Charlie Brown, chosen 201st overall by the Redskins, caught 16 touchdown passes in his first two seasons, earning Pro Bowl honors both years. Wade Wilson, chosen 210th, played 19 seasons and earned one Pro Bowl berth, in 1988.

Ah, the memories: Once the 49ers drafted Lott eighth overall, the USC safety headed to the airport to use a ticket the team had held for him. Easley, chosen sixth by the Seahawks, was the other great safety in that draft class and the two were so closely linked that the person behind the airline counter mixed up Lott's destination.

"You are going to Seattle?"

"No, San Francisco," Lott replied.

Lott often looks back on how things might have been different if the Saints had drafted Taylor instead of George Rogers first overall. That wasn't going to happen because the Saints wanted a running back to help them control the clock, and they were especially particular about character in that draft -- their first with Bum Phillips as head coach.

"Lawrence Taylor, I didn't realize he was going to be that type of player, but Rickey Jackson did turn out to be the player we needed [in the second round]," Phillips said. "We needed a great player and a great individual. We needed some leadership and we needed the right kind of character to be leaders."

The 49ers needed a new secondary. They used that 1981 draft to select Lott, Wright and Williamson.

"I talked to Bill Walsh and his statement was, 'If I see it on film once, then my coaches should be able to get it out of a guy,'" said Horton, the Scouts Inc. founder and veteran NFL talent evaluator. "That always stuck with me. He was amazing at seeing things on tape. That '81 draft was a smart draft. You could look at that draft and you could see what teams were thinking."

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1969

Why it's No. 4: Roger Wehrli's 2007 Hall of Fame enshrinement gave this class five inductees. Only three other classes managed more combined Pro Bowl appearances. Some of the names in this class won't resonate with recent generations, and that is understandable. But this was still a strong class and one worthy of our consideration.

Hall of Famers: Joe Greene (Steelers), Ted Hendricks (Raiders), O.J. Simpson (Bills), Wehrli (Cardinals), Charlie Joiner (Oilers).

Hall of Fame finalists: L.C. Greenwood (Steelers), Bob Kuechenberg (Eagles).

Other big names: George Kunz (Falcons), Bill Bergey (Bengals), Bill Stanfill (Dolphins), Calvin Hill (Cowboys), Ed White (Vikings), Gene Washington (49ers), Jack Rudnay (Chiefs), Bill Bradley (Eagles), Ted Kwalick (49ers), Jim Marsalis (Chiefs), Ron Johnson (Browns), Fred Dryer (Giants).

Late-round steals: Greenwood was a six-time Pro Bowl choice and was the 238th overall pick. The Falcons found five-time Pro Bowler Jeff Van Note with the 262nd choice. Larry Brown, chosen 191st overall, was a four-time Pro Bowl selection.

Ah, the memories: There was no scouting combine back then. Wehrli couldn't remember seeing a pro scout, even at Missouri practices. He had never even run a 40-yard dash until a Cardinals scout asked him to run one at the Hula Bowl all-star game in Hawaii.

Wehrli agreed to run on the spot even though he was wearing pads, the playing surface was natural grass and the stakes were higher than he realized.

"At the time, I didn’t know it was a Cardinals scout," Wehrli said. "I ran the 40, came back and he said, 'Man, we didn’t realize you were that fast.' Later, he told me that timing moved me up to a first-round draft choice [from the third round]."

Wehrli had clocked in the 4.5-second range. He would run 4.4s on Astroturf later in the pros.

"You never really trained for it back then," he said.

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1985

Why it's No. 5: Just as the 1983 class featured more than quarterbacks, the 1985 version offered much more than the most prolific receiver in NFL history. Yes, Jerry Rice was the 16th overall choice, helping set apart this class from some others. But the supporting cast featured elite talent, from Bruce Smith to Chris Doleman and beyond.

Hall of Famers: Rice (49ers), Smith (Bills).

Hall of Fame finalists: Andre Reed (Bills).

Other big names: Lomas Brown (Lions), Steve Tasker (Oilers), Ray Childress (Oilers), Kevin Greene (Rams), Jay Novacek (Cardinals), Bill Fralic (Falcons), Jerry Gray (Rams), Randall Cunningham (Eagles), Ron Wolfley (Cardinals), Al Toon (Jets), Jim Lachey (Chargers), Kevin Glover (Lions), Mark Bavaro (Giants), Herschel Walker (Cowboys), Duane Bickett (Colts), Doug Flutie (Rams), Jack Del Rio (Saints).

Late-round steals: Tasker became a seven-time Pro Bowl choice on special teams as the 226th overall choice (albeit with Buffalo, after the Oilers waived him). Greene was a fifth-rounder, Novacek was a sixth-rounder and Bavaro, one of the toughest tight ends, provided excellent value in the fourth round.

Ah, the memories: Bill Polian was a little-known pro personnel director with USFL roots when Bills general manager Terry Bledsoe suffered a heart attack two months before the draft. The Bills had already landed their franchise quarterback in Kelly two years earlier, but his two-year detour through the USFL had set back the organization. Buffalo held the No. 1 overall pick, and the stakes were high.

Polian took over GM duties. Norm Pollom, a holdover from the Chuck Knox years, headed up the college scouting side.

The Bills were in great hands. Although some fans hoped the team would draft Flutie, Polian and Pollom found building blocks.

Aggressive wheeling and dealing allowed Buffalo to land cornerback Derrick Burroughs with the 14th choice, acquired from Green Bay, even after drafting Smith first overall. Reed was a steal in the fourth round. The decision to draft Smith over Ray Childress was the right one even though Childress became a five-time Pro Bowl choice for the Oilers.

The recently announced 2009 NFL All-Pro team has as many former Seahawks (two) as current NFC West players.

The Cardinals' Adrian Wilson and the 49ers' Patrick Willis made the team, as did former Seahawks Steve Hutchinson and Leonard Weaver.

Niners tight end Vernon Davis appears capable of making a serious run at the tight end spot next season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat checks in with quarterback Alex Smith regarding the 49ers' offensive tactics against the Colts, followed by a look at every player on the roster. The 49ers abruptly went away from their personnel group featuring Delanie Walker and I am not sure why. More on that from me as the day progresses. Maiocco on Barry Sims: "He entered the game on the 49ers' second offensive play after Joe Staley's injury. He was matched up mostly against Colts DE Dwight Freeney. Sims played very, very well. In fact, I'd go so far as to say he pitched a shutout against Freeney. Sure, Freeney had a sack in the game, but it came on a stunt in which Gore picked him up. Even then, that was more of a coverage sack." The hard part comes now that opponents have time to prepare for an offense without Staley.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee looks at potential options for the 49ers as they deal with significant injuries to Staley and cornerback Nate Clements. Barrows: "Look for Sims and Adam Snyder to be the starting tackles while Staley is out. Newly-signed Chris Patrick also is an option, and the 49ers also could elevate rookie Alex Boone from the practice squad. Boone is strictly a right tackle. Bringing him to the active roster would require the 49ers to release someone on the 53-man squad, likely a receiver." The 49ers did release receiver Micheal Spurlock before adding cornerback Keith Smith. I'd be surprised if Boone made it into a regular-season game. Practice squad tackles generally aren't ready for prime time.

Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Chronicle takes a look at Mike Singletary's first year as the 49ers' head coach. Ratto: "In the meantime, the real fun here is not in wondering if Alex Smith has suddenly been cured, or if Joe Staley can miraculously heal himself, or if the secondary can grow in the absence of Nate Clements and his cracked scapula, but what comes next in Singletary's development as a coach. Does he become a headset guy? Probably not, because he is who he is and that's all who he is, to quote the one-eyed maritime philosopher. Does he more forcefully encourage Raye to open up the offense to accommodate Smith's skill-set while finding a way to protect Smith from being obliterated? As yet unproven. Does he keep promising the playoffs? Oh, bank on it. But what he's already done in what is essentially one year's time already is remarkable, at least when you compare with his original, rigid plan."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals need to bench Anquan Boldin for the receiver's own good. Somers: "By playing at considerably less than optimal health, Boldin is hurting the team. It's hard to make him a big part of the game plan, because no one is sure how long Boldin's ankle will hold up. It doesn't appear he can accelerate as fast on his pass routes, or move quickly enough to evade tacklers when he does make the catch." I thought Boldin moved better against the Panthers than against the Giants, but his subsequent re-injury will probably diminish his effectiveness.

Also from Somers: The Bengals signed fullback Tufui Vakapuna from the Cardinals' practice squad.

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals are testing their fans' patience with repeated home defeats. Bickley: "If you haven't noticed, these Cardinals are a strange bunch. In trouble, they're often at their best. At their best, they're often on the brink of trouble. They frequently bemoan a lack of respect. Once they attain it, they do everything possible to give it away. They are in first place, and unbeaten on the road. Yet only a goal-line stand against the Texans prevents them from being winless at home."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says coach Ken Whisenhunt is taking an even-keeled approach despite the team's inconsistencies. Whisenhunt: "I think our team has seen me get upset a few times when I’m with the team [in the locker room]. Maybe they need to see that a little bit more from the standpoint of being able to establish that consistency. [But] I don’t really buy into that. We have enough good football players that … no matter what the temperature of the game, we can play the style of football that can allow us to win."

Revenge of the Birds' Andrew602 breaks down the Cardinals' defensive effort against the Panthers. There's plenty of blame to go around.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com details nine roster moves made by the Seahawks. Was this what coach Jim Mora meant when he said jobs were on the line? A team generally cannot release valuable players for the sake of making statements. Edgerrin James was the biggest name to go, but he wasn't a factor.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times expects Louis Rankin to get more playing time following James' release. The Seahawks are valuing players with knowledge of their offense. Rankin played for Seahawks offensive coordinator Greg Knapp in Oakland.

John Morgan of Field Gulls points out how Seattle receivers Nate Burleson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh jogged out their routes on a running play, possibly by costly consequences. Morgan: "Seattle runs an inside draw. It gets good push from Chris Spencer and Rob Sims. (Justin) Forsett slips through a seam and streams out the other side behind the pulling Spencer. He has the first. Before he's blindsided and the ball pops from his grasp, let's rewind and look around. It's a shotgun snap and the handoff to Forsett is quick and definitive, so the wide receivers have to hustle to influence the play. They're not going to run off their guys, but they could put a body on them. Burleson inches up towards (Terence) Newman and when it's clear he's beat, stops, stands and spectates. Houshmandzadeh starts quicker but slows and instead of engaging nickelback Orlando Scandrick, he jogs up and behind the referee. Newman forces the fumble and Scandrick recovers for 15 yards."

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com quotes Seahawks receiver Deion Branch's explanation for what Branch said following his touchdown reception Sunday. Branch: "When you're 2-5 a lot of stuff is going down. I want to win. I want to play. I'm not sitting on the sideline complaining. I've accepted my role on the football team, I just want to go out and help my team win and I feel I can help my team win by playing."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch provides an appreciation for Rams running back Steven Jackson. Thomas: "These days, few in the NFL pound the rock as well as Jackson. At the midpoint of the 2009 season, he's tied for the NFC rushing lead with Minnesota's Adrian Peterson with 784 yards. And he's tied for second overall in the NFL, trailing only Tennessee's Chris Johnson, who has 824 yards. Add his 186 receiving yards, and Jackson trails Peterson by a scant 3 yards -- 973 to 970 -- for the NFL lead in yards from scrimmage. There can be no doubting that he's at or near the top of the NFL pecking order at running back."

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says rookie K.C. Asiodu made a key contribution to the Rams' first victory of the season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The facts: The 49ers fell to 3-4 with an 18-14 road defeat to the Colts in Week 8.

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

• Rookie receiver Michael Crabtree led the team with six receptions for 81 yards. Two games into his career, Crabtree is easily the best wide receiver on the team, in my view. He doesn't just catch the ball. He snatches it.
• Tight end Vernon Davis caught another touchdown pass, giving him an NFL-leading seven through seven games.
• Quarterback Alex Smith showed good command in his first regular-season start since 2007.
• Barry Sims played much better than anyone could have expected after replacing Joe Staley at left tackle on the 49ers' second offensive play. Sims battled Colts pass-rusher Dwight Freeney without significantly compromising the offense.
• Embattled left guard Chilo Rachal threw a key block to help spring Frank Gore's latest long touchdown run, a 64-yarder that gave the 49ers a 7-0 lead.
• The 49ers' defensive front manhandled the Colts much of the game, sacking Peyton Manning three times and making him work for everything. The Colts failed to score a touchdown on any of their four red zone possessions.
• The 49ers again showed they could hang with an elite NFL team on the road. They led the Vikings in Minneapolis with only a few seconds remaining. They led the Colts in Indianapolis after three quarters.
• Marcus Hudson made four tackles on special teams. Those tackles came after a 16-yard kickoff return and punt returns covering only 7, 4 and 7 yards.

Looking ahead: The 49ers face the Titans at home in Week 9.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams are 2-21 and the Lions are 1-21 since the start of the 2008 season. Thomas: "On this Halloween weekend, the scariest thought of all is what happens if the Rams run the table -- in reverse -- and finish 0-16. They would thus end the season with 26 consecutive losses, tying the all-time NFL futility record set by the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1976-77. With a loss to the Lions, 0-16 doesn't seem all that far-fetched. Not when you consider the Rams' remaining schedule."

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wonders whether the Rams and Lions might cancel out one another's problems. Burwell: "I have a hunch that this is going to be one of those rare Sunday afternoons where weird karma collides and produces an honestly competitive and entertaining football game (Of course I say this now, but by halftime I might want to poke my eyes out with acupuncture needles to relieve the excruciating pain). The Lions have one of the worst secondaries in football (teams complete a stunning 74.2 percent of their passes against Detroit) and the Rams have one of the most unimposing group of receivers in the NFL (Can someone please get open? Please? Anyone?)."

Dan O'Neill of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch puts the Rams' struggles in perspective by looking at other bad teams in St. Louis sports history.

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat says the Rams are getting desperate to finally win a game. Quarterback Marc Bulger: "We need that first one. Even at the start of the season coach (Steve Spagnuolo) was talking about just the first win. Until we get that, we feel like we're in this rut we can't get out of. Once we get that first one, I think the guys will start believing more. It will make work a lot less stressful and more fun."

Delanie Walker of the 49ers reveals the team's strategy in the return game. Walker: "With our return game, we’re going to hit them in the mouth. We’re going to play power football, because they like to run around blocks. We’re going to try and send it straight up the gut."

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle checks in with 49ers quarterback Alex Smith and Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney regarding Smith's first regular-season NFL start. Coach Mike Singletary: "Alex is a totally different guy than he was even six months ago. I think his mind-set is clear. The thing that speaks volumes to me was in the offseason he had a chance to move on and go to another team and make more money. But he decided to stay. He wanted to finish what he started."

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Tarell Brown is taking over for Nate Clements because Brown matches up better against the Colts' receivers. I think there has to be more to this story. The strategy part of it simply doesn't make sense heading into a game against Peyton Manning.

Matt Barrows of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Shawntae Spencer spent more time than Clements matched up against Texans receiver Andre Johnson in Week 7. Spencer has been the 49ers' best cornerback this season, in my view.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News sizes up the 49ers' chances against the Colts, outlining keys to previous Indianapolis defeats. Brown: "More than any other indicator, forcing Manning into turnovers is instrumental in beating him. The Colts are 0-11 in Manning's career when he throws three or more interceptions and a mere 13-21 when he throws at least two."

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan has his players in place for Week 8. Kawakami: "So, yes, Mike Singletary leads, inspires and cajoles the 49ers' 53 players. The Yorks pay them. But, five seasons into his GM tenure, this is McCloughan's roster — and it's almost exactly how he always envisioned, starting with the quarterback. Finally."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Panthers and Cardinals are playing for the ninth time since 2001. Somers: "In some ways, the Cardinals' improvement over the past few years can be measured by their games against the Panthers. Until the playoff game in January, they had lost five in a row to the Panthers, including a regular-season game in 2008."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the Cardinals experienced an enjoyable week coming off a big victory and without another road trip looming in Week 8. On another subject: "A couple fans have asked me about dropped passes and the Cards. The bottom line, there haven’t been many, not officially. The Cardinals have been charged with only 10 dropped passes out of 175 catchable balls, and their 5.7 percentage is sixth-best in the NFL (The Bears, at 3.5 percent, are first; the Browns, at 17.3 percent drops, are last). Fullback Dan Kreider has two of the drops; running back Tim Hightower three. Fitz has been charged with one drop in 63 passes targeted his way. Anquan Boldin has two in 51 targets, Steve Breaston none in 32 and Jerheme Urban none in 23."

Also from Urban: The Cardinals say they never came close to releasing Alan Branch, but they were certainly disappointed by his development -- until this season.

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com sees a 34-17 Cowboys victory against the Seahawks. Johns: "Seattle's offensive line will have trouble keeping the Cowboys off Matt Hasselbeck. They can't create enough of a run game to provide any balance. The Seahawks' defensive backs will have trouble against the Cowboys' big receiving crew. Not to mention it's a 10 a.m. start on the road, a recipe for disaster as any half-awake Seahawks' fan knows. Maybe the extra hour of sleep from turning the clocks back will be the antidote, but don't count on it."

Also from Johns: Seahawks rookie Max Unger has become a mainstay on an ever-changing offensive line. Position coach Mike Solari: "He's coming along. Max is getting better each week. The key thing with him is experience, but he's really doing a nice job. It's very tough, but each week he's learning and building a nice foundation as a rookie. We're really happy to have Max."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks have bad memories from their most recent trip to Dallas. There have been others. Dan McGwire, Trent Dilfer and Darrell Jackson all suffered serious injuries there.

William P. Tomisser of Seahawk Addicts outlines keys for the Seahawks against Dallas. Tomisser: "I'm looking for a hard fought game with the Seahawks giving as much as they get proving that injuries were the main cause of the team's inability to compete early in the season previous to the bye. I look for a team more closely oriented to the one we saw on opening day than the one we saw last game against the Cardinals to take the field against the Cowboys."

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Rams' best offensive tackle might be Adam Goldberg, at least for now.

That was my thinking after watching every snap of the Rams' 42-6 home defeat to the Colts in Week 7.

	Scott Rovak/US Presswire
	Dwight Freeney was a regular presence in the Rams’ backfield on Sunday.

It's a credit to Goldberg and also a poor reflection on the state of the position in St. Louis. Rookie first-round draft choice Jason Smith will of course improve once he makes what appears to be a challenging adjustment to the NFL from a spread offense in college. The other tackle, 2005 first-round choice Alex Barron, does not appear to be enhancing his value significantly while playing left tackle in a contract year.

Smith and Barron were generally not competitive in their matchups with Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney, in my view. Freeney is a great player, and most tackles have a hard time against him. Players such as Freeney lead teams to use first-round draft choices on offensive tackles. The Rams have done that, but they are not enjoying the payoff at this time.

Smith played both tackle positions against the Colts. I counted six snaps at left tackle and 22 snaps at right tackle. Freeney beat Smith for a sack on Smith's fifth snap at left tackle. Smith missed Colts defensive tackle Eric Foster on Smith's second snap at right tackle. The Rams threw an interception on the play. Defensive end Robert Mathis decked Smith on one play and beat him on another.

If you are the Rams, you're sifting through these defeats for clues pointing to a brighter future. Those clues have sometimes been tougher to find than one might have expected given how many high draft choices the Rams have used in recent seasons.

With veteran defensive end James Hall out, 2008 No. 2 overall choice Chris Long started at right defensive end. Long played all but one snap by my count, all on the right side. He made a few good plays and hit Peyton Manning a couple of times. Other times, the Colts blocked him effectively with only a tight end, usually Dallas Clark.

Hall and Leonard Little (when reasonably healthy) probably remain the best defensive ends on the team.

The Rams have other young players who have performed well. One of them, cornerback Bradley Fletcher, is facing two serious knee surgeries. Another, James Laurinaitis, looks like a long-term starter at middle linebacker. Safety Craig Dahl has made a positive impact at times. Receiver Donnie Avery flashes ability occasionally, though injuries are consistently a concern.

Overall, though, the Rams need to see more. I hope to take a closer look at them during their bye week.