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ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams own the NFL's youngest roster by average age. They could be interested in adding some veteran seasoning at linebacker, it appears.



Takeo Spikes, 36, was seen at Rams headquarters Tuesday night and was reportedly there for a free-agent visit.

Spikes started all 32 games for the San Diego Chargers over the past two seasons. Before that, he started 44 of 48 games during a three-year run with the San Francisco 49ers. He would presumably play middle linebacker in the Rams' 4-3 scheme, backing up James Laurinaitis, if St. Louis were to sign him.

Spikes has been a starter every season since entering the NFL with Cincinnati in 1998. He has started 215 games overall, averaging 14.3 starts per season during a 15-year career. He missed 13 games in 2005 while with Buffalo, but otherwise he has been remarkably durable and consistent at a physically demanding position.

Spikes played 66.9 percent of the defensive snaps for San Diego last season. He was the starter in San Francisco previously until the team decided NaVorro Bowman was ready to take the job. Bowman became an Associated Press All-Pro selection. Spikes signed with the Chargers after San Diego hired the 49ers' former defensive coordinator, Greg Manusky.

Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Laurinaitis and rookie first-round choice Alec Ogletree are expected to start for the Rams at linebacker. The team is remarkably young and inexperienced at the position beyond Dunbar and Laurinaitis, however. Spikes' 215 starts are about double the combined total for the Rams' current linebackers (108).

Our post-draft amendments to pre-draft positional rankings continue with Matt Williamson, NFL scout for ESPN.com.

Up next: linebackers.

NFC West teams drafted six of them if we count the San Francisco 49ers' Corey Lemonier and the Arizona Cardinals' Alex Okafor as 3-4 outside linebackers, which we will do for the purposes of this exercise. We probably should have counted Seattle Seahawks seventh-rounder Ty Powell with the defensive linemen given that he projects to the "Leo" position, but there is some crossover with the linebackers as well.

The six draftees: Alec Ogletree (30th overall pick) to the St. Louis Rams; Kevin Minter (45th) and Okafor (103rd) to the Cardinals; Lemonier (88th) and Nick Moody (180th) to the 49ers; and Powell (231st) to the Seahawks.

Matt and I pick up the conversation from there.

Sando: I see you're keeping the rankings at linebacker in the same order even though the Rams added a potentially dynamic player at the position in Ogletree.

Williamson: The 49ers have to stay No. 1, of course. They have the best linebackers in the league and they added Lemonier. He is a fast, long, skinny edge guy who doesn’t hold up real well against big guys. He gets off the ball well, not real fluid, doesn't change direction great, but beats you with speed and eats up space with long strides. A good looking prospect.

Sando: The race for No. 2 has to be closer after this draft.

Williamson: Those three are pretty close now. You look at the Rams vs. Seattle. I look at two of the Rams' three starters as being strong, even Pro Bowl types now. James Laurinaitis and Ogletree vs. Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright. I would give the edge to Seattle because I think Wagner is the best of the bunch and we do not yet know whether Ogletree will be a Pro Bowl-type player.

Sando: The Cardinals are fourth?

Williamson: It’s not easy. Minter compliments Daryl Washington extremely well. He is a real heady, tough guy and a leader. He stuffs the run better than average and looks like a two-down player who could possibly play more than that. I could see him on the field as an every-down guy while Washington is suspended. Ideally, though, he comes off. Washington is a total stud if he can stay out of trouble. Those two could form one of the better inside linebacker pairings in the league, but I still put them four.

Sando: It gets back to what you think of their outside linebackers.

Williamson: We have to operate under the assumption Arizona is a 3-4 team and they are still light as 3-4 outside linebackers. Nobody there scares me. They have a bunch of No. 2s. I liked Okafor as a late-second or third-round prospect, but not as a real difference maker. If you are going to be a 3-4 team, your outside linebackers are still a negative.

Sando: There is some uncertainty as to how the Cardinals are going to tweak this defense. It really could be more of a 4-3.

Williamson: If they trend to a 4-3, two of their three starters are very strong, like with the Seahawks and Ramss. If we pretend Seattle, St. Louis and Arizona all line up in a base 4-3, each would have two really good starters. I would rank those players in order as Washington, Wagner, Laurinaitis and Wright, then Ogletree and Minter. All six could go to the Pro Bowl, although it is a stretch to say that with Minter right now.

Sando: Earning league-wide honors as a linebacker from the NFC is tough duty. The 49ers had four linebackers earn spots on the Associated Press All-Pro teams last season. Aldon Smith, Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman were first-team selections. Ahmad Brooks was a second-team choice. The Cardinals' Washington was a second-team choice. I noticed you left off the Rams' Jo-Lonn Dunbar when listing the six non-49ers linebackers you liked.

Williamson: I like Dunbar -- not a ton, but he is serviceable. That position is not a hole for them.

Sando: We alluded to some uncertainty with how the Cardinals will play defense. I think Seattle is in transition at linebacker to some degree as well. The Seahawks appear likely to give Cliff Avril and possibly Bruce Irvin work at strong-side linebacker, in which case Wright would shift to the weak side. We'll have a better idea what Seattle and Arizona have in mind once training camps get going.

PHOENIX -- The Seattle Seahawks and especially the San Francisco 49ers added to their 2013 NFL draft hauls Monday when the NFL awarded compensatory selections to offset net losses in free agency last year.

The 49ers received the 131st overall pick, a fourth-rounder, plus the 246th and 252nd choices, both in the seventh round. The Seahawks received the 241st and 242nd overall choices, also in the seventh round.

Teams cannot trade compensatory picks.

"Under the rules for compensatory draft selections, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks," the NFL announced. "Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors. The formula was developed by the NFL Management Council. Not every free agent lost or signed by a club is covered by this formula."

The 49ers received compensatory choices because free-agent losses Blake Costanzo, Josh Morgan and Madieu Williams outweighed free-agent addition Mario Manningham according to the formula. The Seahawks received picks because free-agent losses Atari Bigby, John Carlson, David Hawthorne and Charlie Whitehurst outweighed free-agent additions Matt Flynn and Jason Jones. Update: The NFL clarified that Adam Snyder, who signed with Arizona from San Francisco, factored into the equation awarding the 49ers three comp picks.

I've put together lists below showing all unrestricted free agents added, lost and re-signed by NFC West teams last offseason.

Update: I've also made available for download an Excel file with tentative 2013 draft order, reflecting comp picks and known trades. This is unofficial. The league has not yet released the official order; additional trades could affect it.

The 49ers have a league-high 14 picks, including two picks in each of the second through fifth rounds. They're in prime position to stock their roster for the future.

By my accounting, the Cardinals hold the 7th, 38th, 69th, 103rd, 140th, 174th and 176th picks. The 49ers hold the 31st, 34th, 61st, 74th, 93rd, 128th, 131st, 157th, 164th, 180th, 227th, 237th, 246th and 252nd choices. The Seahawks hold the 56th, 87th, 123rd, 138th, 158th, 194th, 220th, 231st, 241st and 242nd choices. The Rams hold the 16th, 22nd, 46th, 78th, 113th, 149th, 184th and 222nd picks.

Update: The Seahawks sent the 214th choice, acquired from Buffalo in the Tarvaris Jackson trade, to Minnesota as part of the Percy Harvin trade.

Arizona Cardinals

Re-signed: D'Anthony Batiste, Mike Leach, Early Doucet, Jay Feely, Dave Zastudil
Added: Adam Snyder, William Gay, James Sanders, Quentin Groves
Lost: Richard Marshall, Sean Considine, Deuce Lutui

San Francisco 49ers

Re-signed: Tavares Gooden, Carlos Rogers, Alex Smith, Ted Ginn Jr.
Added: Mario Manningham, Rock Cartwright, Josh Johnson
Lost: Josh Morgan, Adam Snyder, Blake Costanzo, Reggie Smith, Madieu Williams, Chilo Rachal

Seattle Seahawks

Re-signed: Heath Farwell, Red Bryant, Paul McQuistan, Michael Robinson, Leroy Hill, Matt McCoy
Added: Matt Flynn, Jason Jones, Deuce Lutui, Barrett Ruud
Lost: John Carlson, Atari Bigby, Charlie Whitehurst, Tony Hargrove, David Hawthorne

St. Louis Rams

Re-signed: Kellen Clemens
Added: Cortland Finnegan, Kendall Langford, Scott Wells, Quinn Ojinnaka, Steve Smith, Robert Turner, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, William Hayes, Trevor Laws, Mario Haggan, Barry Richardson
Lost: Brandon Lloyd, Chris Chamberlain, Donnie Jones, Jacob Bell, Bryan Kehl, Gary Gibson

Those eagerly awaiting the start of NFL free agency March 12 with visions of your favorite team loading up on accomplished veterans should revisit the list of unrestricted free agents NFC West teams signed last season.

St. Louis, badly in need of a talent infusion following the worst five-year run in NFL history, opened its checkbook to sign a long list of veteran players, some of them at high cost.

That was the exception in the NFC West and I'd be surprised if St. Louis took a similarly aggressive approach this offseason. The Rams have stabilized their roster and positioned themselves to build around young talent.

With that in mind, I'll take a team-by-team look at the unrestricted free agents each NFC West team signed last offseason. UFAs are defined as veterans who reached the market when their contracts expired. Teams also acquired players by other means.

Arizona Cardinals

2012 UFA signings from other teams: cornerback William Gay, linebacker Quentin Groves, safety James Sanders and guard Adam Snyder

Comment: Gay started and played 93 percent of the defensive snaps as a replacement for Richard Marshall, who left in free agency. He wasn't a star, but the defense was solid. Gay gave Arizona the snaps it sought. Groves played 43 percent of snaps as a situational pass-rusher. The Cardinals needed him when an injury sidelined O'Brien Schofield. Sanders played 11 percent. Snyder started 14 games and played much of the season with an injury for a line that was among the NFL's least effective for much of the season. Arizona's young tackles made progress. I thought the team overspent for Snyder, a player San Francisco eagerly replaced with the undrafted Alex Boone, who provided a clear upgrade. Note that three of the four UFA additions last offseason played defense. Arizona needs to target offense this offseason. New coach Bruce Arians and new general manager Steve Keim have praised the existing talent. Arizona might not load up on free agents the way some teams do when new leadership takes over.

St. Louis Rams

2012 UFA signings from other teams: linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar, cornerback Cortland Finnegan, linebacker Mario Haggan, defensive end William Hayes, defensive tackle Kendall Langford, defensive lineman Trevor Laws, guard Quinn Ojinnaka, tackle Barry Richardson, receiver Steve Smith, center Robert Turner and center Scott Wells

Comment: The Rams were major players in the UFA market. Results were mostly positive. Finnegan gave the Rams the production and veteran presence they sought. He was instantly a playmaker for St. Louis. Dunbar was much better than I had anticipated and well worth his contract, which included a $1 million signing bonus and $1.5 million annual average. Hayes provided good depth on the defensive line, and at a reasonable cost ($900,000 for one year). Langford needed time to transition from the 3-4 scheme he ran previously in Miami. The Rams signed him after Jason Jones signed with Seattle instead. Injuries prevented Wells from stabilizing the offensive line, a major disappointment and a reminder of the risks associated with signing older players from other teams.

San Francisco 49ers

2012 UFA signings from other teams: fullback Rock Cartwright, quarterback Josh Johnson, receiver Mario Manningham

Comment: Does this look like a team poised to strike for Darrelle Revis in the trade market? Does this look like a team ready to throw around cash in free agency? Not based on the list of signings last offseason. The interest San Francisco showed in Peyton Manning doesn't apply here. Indianapolis released Manning. Manning was not a UFA. I'd put him in a separate category, anyway. Teams make exceptions for Hall of Fame quarterbacks. Back to the 2012 UFA list. Cartwright and Johnson never played for the team. Neither earned a spot on the 53-man roster. Both served a purpose by initially increasing competition at their positions. For example, Anthony Dixon moved fro halfback to fullback and became a more valuable player, including on special teams. Johnson provided early insurance, but in retrospect, Colin Kaepernick was obviously ready to serve in the No. 2 role before becoming the starter. Manningham provided sufficient value before a knee injury ended his season. The 49ers missed him late in the season, including during the Super Bowl.

Seattle Seahawks

2012 UFA signings from other teams: quarterback Matt Flynn, defensive lineman Jason Jones, guard Deuce Lutui and linebacker Barrett Ruud

Comment: Flynn would have started if Russell Wilson hadn't emerged unexpectedly as the clear choice. Seattle invested $6.5 million per year in Flynn, a sum the team could live with even if Flynn became the backup. It's tough to fault the Seahawks for signing Flynn. They had no idea Wilson would be available in the draft, or that Wilson would perform at such a high level so early in his career. Jones finished the season on injured reserve. That made it impossible for him to provide the interior pass-rushing push Seattle sought when signing him to a one-year deal worth $4.5 million. Lutui and Ruud never earned roster spots. Neither was a liability financially. Both were low-cost insurance policies. Seattle parlayed Ruud into a 2013 draft choice by trading him to New Orleans after the Saints lost Jonathan Vilma.

The item Friday on the St. Louis Rams' blitz tendencies showed how many sacks the team has collected by the number of pass-rushers deployed.

This followup shows which players collected those sacks.

Rookie first-round pick Michael Brockers is one player to watch Sunday when the Rams face the Seattle Seahawks. He was just returning from a high-ankle sprain when the teams played in Week 4. Brockers has dominated at times in recent weeks. He has two of his four sacks when the Rams sent seven or more pass-rushers.

Safety Quintin Mikell is another player to watch for the Rams. He has three sacks on all-out blitzes.

Thoughts on the St. Louis Rams' 15-12 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Week 14:

What it means: The Rams have won three consecutive games for the first time since 2006. Quarterback Sam Bradford enhanced his already strong fourth-quarter credentials with a game-winning drive featuring outstanding plays from his receiving targets as well. St. Louis improved to 6-6-1 and kept itself alive in the NFC playoff picture. This was a huge road victory for the Rams, who had gone 1-6 outside the NFC West before Sunday. The defense deserves credit for hanging tough and keeping the Bills' scoring down without enough help for most of the game.

What I liked: Bradford entered this game ranked third behind Jay Cutler and Peyton Manning in fourth-quarter Total QBR. Austin Pettis helped him out on that front with a sensational fourth-and-1 grab on a pass well behind him as the Rams drove in the final two minutes. Bradford threaded a 22-yarder to Lance Kendricks over the middle on the same drive. Brandon Gibson also emerged in key spots, including on his 8-yard scoring reception to take the lead in the final minute. With that, Bradford led the winning 84-yard touchdown drive to salvage what had been a dispiriting performance from the offense.

The Rams' defense bent, but it rarely broke despite getting little help from the offense most of the way. Stopping the Bills after Buffalo took over at its own 49-yard line in the fourth quarter was critical. The Rams got 2.5 sacks from their starting defensive tackles, including 1.5 from rookie Michael Brockers. Linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar preserved the victory with an interception in the final 30 seconds.

Bradford and Gibson got going in the third quarter as St. Louis took the lead. Bradford also showed his running ability, picking up 12 yards on a third-and-9.

What I didn't like: The offense couldn't get anything going by ground or air through the first half and too much of the second. The Rams joined the Kansas City Chiefs as the only teams to go scoreless against the Bills through a first half. The Bills' defensive front, improved in recent weeks as its health has improved, appeared to have its way with the Rams up front. Bradford took too many hits. For too long, the Rams' receivers appeared to have a hard time getting open. The weather was wet and the field at Ralph Wilson Stadium looked like a slow track.

Rookie punter Johnny Hekker mishandled a punt snap and took a hard hit while trying to punt the ball, giving the Bills possession at the St. Louis 37.

What's next: The Rams are home against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15.

Thoughts on the St. Louis Rams' 24-24 tie with the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park:

What it means: The Rams proved they'll be a tough out for every team in the NFC West, not just for Arizona and Seattle. They'll be tough on quarterbacks now that Jeff Fisher is their head coach. And with Sam Bradford at quarterback, they can challenge a quality defense on the road with strong fourth-quarter play. But they were a mess when it mattered, committing penalties and making questionable use of timeouts.

Meanwhile, the 49ers suddenly appear vulnerable heading into a highly anticipated "Monday Night Football" matchup against the Chicago Bears. They have injury questions after quarterback Alex Smith suffered a first-half concussion and did not return.

What I liked: This was another rough-and-tumble game in the NFC West. It was looking for a few weeks as though the Rams might not have enough to sustain the early fight they showed this season. Those concerns went away quickly Sunday. The Rams took the game to San Francisco by winning at the line of scrimmage in shocking fashion. They also took the initiative with aggressive plays, symbolized by the fake punt they converted from their own end zone while holding a 14-7 lead late in the first half.

Niners linebacker Patrick Willis and Rams running back Steven Jackson staged a memorable battle over the first-down marker on a third-and-long play. Both were the best players on bad teams in the past. They've become symbols for excellence no matter the circumstances. Jackson fought forward for the first down and got help from teammates, it appeared. His helmet popped off, allowing for a clear shot at just how much he was straining for extra yardage. For Jackson, losing the helmet carried practical value, too. It ended the play, pre-empting what might otherwise have been ruled as a fumble.

The 49ers' special teams haven't been as good overall this season, but they came through at least once when needed Sunday. Tramaine Brock's forced fumble during a Rams kick return set up Frank Gore's 20-yard touchdown run as the 49ers took a 21-17 lead midway through the fourth quarter. Gore ran with great effort.

The Rams succeeded on two fake punts, including one to prevent a three-and-out while trailing 21-17. Bradford, one of the better fourth-quarter quarterbacks this season, found Danny Amendola over the middle on third down to keep the same drive moving. Jackson did a great job picking up the blitz to allow Bradford's 2-yard scoring pass to Austin Pettis as the Rams took a 24-21 lead with 1:09 remaining.

What I didn't like: Roughing up the opposing quarterback is always the goal, but it's never good when anyone suffers a concussion. Smith suffered his second in as many seasons. He had completed 7 of 8 passes with a touchdown before departing in the first half. A hard hit from Rams linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar might have been the culprit.

Smith joined Arizona's Kevin Kolb (sacked nine times by Rams) and Seattle's Russell Wilson (picked off three times by them) as quarterbacks suffering through rough games against St. Louis. His replacement, Colin Kaepernick, struggled with accuracy, missing Vernon Davis and Kyle Williams when they were open. But his scrambling ability was critical for the 49ers as they clawed their way back into the game.

The Rams, meanwhile, played without receiver Chris Givens and cornerback Janoris Jenkins. Both were inactive for violating team rules. Givens and Jenkins let down their teammates heading into a critical game as the Rams were looking to bounce back from a couple of tough defeats.

Question for the coach: Fisher deserves scrutiny for calling timeout before the Rams scored their go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. That left the 49ers with additional time to move down the field for the tying field goal. San Francisco did just that. The Rams' defense couldn't hold a fourth-quarter lead at Detroit in Week 1, and the same was true in this game.

Penalty problems: The Rams had completed what they thought was an 80-yard pass to Amendola early in overtime. They would have had possession in position to score the winning touchdown with a first-and-goal.

But officials flagged that left tackle Rodger Saffold did not report as an eligible receiver. These types of penalties often result from the wide receiver failing to line up properly. Receiver Brandon Gibson apparently wasn't on the line of scrimmage at the snap. That was a horrible error in a critical situation.

The Rams later had two players in motion while trying to move into position for an attempt at the winning field goal in overtime. They were also flagged for delay of game while Greg Zuerlein's attempt at the winning kick in overtime sailed through from 52 yards. That was the 12th penalty assessed against the Rams. The team still had a timeout to use, so there was no reason to take the delay.

What's next: The 49ers face the Bears at home on Monday night. The Rams are home against the New York Jets.

The St. Louis Rams' defense could not stop the Green Bay Packers or New England Patriots from flourishing on third down.

Those teams converted 16 of 27 chances in recent victories over St. Louis.

Early downs could present the biggest challenge for the Rams against San Francisco in Week 10. The 49ers like to line up with multiple backs and/or tight ends to stress opponents' base defenses. That will be a key matchup Sunday at Candlestick Park.

As the chart shows, the 49ers are averaging 6.3 yards per carry and 9.2 yards per pass attempt against 4-3 defensive personnel on early downs. Those figures both rank third in the NFL.

The Rams allow 4.0 yards per rush and 7.9 per pass attempt from their 4-3 defense in those situations. League averages are 4.4 and 7.8, respectively, for the 20 teams regularly running 4-3 alignments as their base defenses. Those are respectable figures overall, but a look inside the numbers reveals some inconsistencies.

The Chicago Bears, playing without Matt Forte, managed only 2.8 yards per carry on 20 first- and second-down rushes against the Rams' base defense. Advantage, Rams.

The Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins fared better. Seattle carried 23 times for 141 yards while also averaging 8.2 yards per pass attempt in these situations. Washington used play-action from regular personnel to strike for a 68-yard touchdown when the Rams' base defense stacked eight in the box on first-and-10.

Former NFL assistant Rick Venturi, in grading the Rams' defense for 101ESPN St. Louis, gave high marks for linebackers Jo-Lonn Dunbar and James Laurinaitis. But that was only part of the story.

"The SAM backers, whether it was [Rocky] McIntosh or [Mario] Haggan, have just been a wash," Venturi said. "They've been totally mediocre, but they don't play very much. Very few people play 21 or base personnel [frequently] any more. That is going to change this week in San Francisco. Those guys are going to have to earn their money."

The 49ers have executed 65.6 percent of their first- and second-down rushes from two-back sets. They have averaged 5.5 yards per carry when doing so.

The facts: The St. Louis Rams fell to 3-3 with a 17-14 road defeat to the Miami Dolphins in Week 6.

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

• The Rams allowed only 17 points. They have allowed 33 points over their last three games after allowing 78 points over their first three games.
• Sam Bradford passed for 315 yards and ran for a touchdown while posting a 91.3 NFL passer rating and a season-high 77.3 Total QBR.
• Brandon Gibson made a memorable one-handed grab along the sideline in a clutch situation as the Rams tried to rally.
• Rookie Chris Givens had a 65-yard reception. This was his third consecutive game with a reception of at least 50 yards.
• The Rams held the Dolphins to 1.1 yards per rushing attempt.
• Rookie running back Daryl Richardson rushed for 76 yards with a 6.9-yard average as the Rams gashed the Dolphins' league-leading rush defense for a 6.0-yard average.
• The Rams finished with the following statistical advantages: 22-12 in first downs, 462-192 net yards, 162-19 rushing yards and 6.7-3.9 yards per play.
• Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Chris Long each had a sack.

Looking ahead: The Rams are home against the Green Bay Packers in Week 7.

A periodic look at which players are playing and when, starting with the St. Louis Rams' defense:

The St. Louis Rams won a game Sunday despite allowing 179 yards rushing and failing to score a touchdown on offense.

Their 19-13 victory over Seattle made them 1-0 in NFC West games under Jeff Fisher after the team went 4-26 against the division over the previous five seasons.

One victory is not a trend, of course, but the Rams' performance in reaching 2-2 following a 15-65 run begs for some explanation.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch breaks down some of the differences between Fisher's Rams and previous St. Louis teams. Miklasz: "This group limits the damage. It cuts its losses. It makes plays. It puts up resistance. The Rams are 7th in the NFL in stopping opponents on 3rd down, allowing a conversion rate of 31.1 percent. The Rams lead the NFL with eight interceptions. They’ve been dinged by only two TD passes, which is tied for first. The Rams TD/INT ratio of 0.25 is the best in the league. They’re limiting quarterbacks to a passer rating of 64.2; that’s No. 2 in the league. And that Rams defense that isn’t so rigid against the run? Yesterday Seattle ran the ball four times on third down and short (0-2 yards). The Rams held them to six yards on the four rushes, and twice prevented a first down."

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News offers a report card for the 49ers' performance during a 34-0 victory over the New York Jets. On the pass defense: "Poor Mark Sanchez, he didn’t stand a chance against a revived pass rush that sacked him three times, forced him to commit two turnovers and limited him to 103 yards on 13-of-29 passing. Stars of the game: Aldon Smith (two sacks, forced fumble), Patrick Willis (interception off Ray McDonald tip), Ahmad Brooks (sack), Carlos Rogers (two fumble recoveries after receptions, plus TD return)."

Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle says 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh wasn't interested in promoting any frenzy over Colin Kaepernick's performance against the Jets. Ostler: "The coolest play of Kaepernick’s day was very subtle. Late in the second quarter, he handed the ball to Frank Gore. Then Kaepernick trotted toward the sideline, but stayed on the field and lined up as a wide receiver. The Jets saw him and called a timeout. What this showed: The 49ers’ secret weapon is cooler than the Jets’ secret weapon. The Jets have Tim Tebow, who makes foes nervous. Twice this year, Tebow’s presence caused the opposing team to burn a timeout. On Sunday, it was the Jets burning the timeout. Maybe Kaepernick’s appearance on the field early, just after Tebow made a cameo for the Jets, was Harbaugh’s way of giving the middle finger to the opposing coach. I’ll see your Tebow and raise you a Kaepernick."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says second-year guard James Carpenter exceeded expectations in his first game back from a knee injury. Coach Pete Carroll: "James played really well. He did a very, very good job. He had a couple errors in the game, which you just about have to anticipate. But we ran a lot to the left. He did a really good job of covering his guy up."

Also from Farnsworth: Seattle's defense, though generally stout, hasn't been as good on third down.

Art Thiel of Sports Press Northwest seeks meaning in Carroll's lengthy comments about Matt Flynn's health. Thiel: "Carroll has created a controversy when many Seahawks fans were willing to give the benefit of the doubt on Russell Wilson. His inexperience combined with protection failures and the absence of game-changing receivers has made a hash of the offense, failing to get more than one touchdown off an ordinary Rams’ defense in a half-empty road house. Unless Carroll activates Portis until Flynn heals, the Seahawks run a fairly high risk of disaster. Unless, of course, he wants to make another deal for the return of Charlie Whitehurst."

Cole Schultz of Pro Football Focus gives high marks to Russell Okung, Brandon Mebane, Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin for their work against the Rams. Schultz: "Okung was adequate in pass protection (he gave up just a pair of hurries), but in the run game he made life miserable for Robert Quinn and Jo-Lonn Dunbar. Okung forced the duo out of the running lanes multiple times, as evidenced by Lynch’s eight yards per carry on runs to either side of Okung. Much of Okung’s good work was undone by his teammate on the other side. Breno Giacomini had a rough go of it in every facet of play."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the schedule can work in the Cardinals' favor once the team gets through its Thursday night game at St. Louis. Somers: "They will have played 10 games, including the preseason. They have four more before the off week (Nov. 11), then a seven-game run to finish the season. The Cardinals might have drawn up that schedule differently had they been in charge, but not that much differently."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com sizes up the Cardinals' situation at corner, where Greg Toler's return to health is a factor. Urban: "Toler ended up playing across from Patrick Peterson at cornerback instead of William Gay, and in nickel, instead of Jamell Fleming (with Gay staying at nickel). Gay played 50 defensive snaps Sunday, Toler 44 and Fleming 12."

The NFL handed down only one fine from 16 personal fouls stemming from NFC West teams' final games using replacement officials.

The low number was telling.

Commissioner Roger Goodell usually metes out fines for such penalties when the league feels as though the flags were thrown for good reason.

In this case, Seattle's Brandon Browner was the only player receiving a fine for Week 4 flags from NFC West teams' games. He'll pay $7,875 for unnecessary roughness committed against Green Bay Packers receiver Greg Jennings. Officials flagged Jennings, too, but they did not fine him.

The chart shows all Week 4 personal fouls against individual NFC West players or their opponents, sorted by team and shaded for your viewing pleasure.

The NFL did levy a $15,750 fine against Philadelphia's Jason Babin for a horse-collar tackle against Arizona's LaRod Stephens-Howling. Officials did not flag Babin on the play, although the penalty appeared to be blatant.

The NFL did not see the St. Louis Rams the way Washington's Robert Griffin III saw them in Week 2.

Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Quintin Mikell, Robert Quinn, William Hayes, Cortland Finnegan, Kendall Langford and Craig Dahl were among the Rams players taking shots at Griffin during a 31-28 Rams victory. All seven escaped NFL fines for the hits I outlined during a play-by-play accounting of the game. That means the NFL saw their tactics as within the rules.

The league did hand down fines for players on both teams. But none of the fines appeared to concern plays involving hits the Rams put on Griffin.

The NFL fined Rams defensive end Quinn in the amount of $7,875 for striking a Redskins offensive lineman in the head. Teammate Janoris Jenkins received a $15,750 fine for hitting the Redskins' Fred Davis. Rams guard Quinn Ojinnaka received two fines, each for $7,875 and each for hitting an opponent late.

The Redskins' Josh Morgan received a $7,875 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct. His teammate, Lorenzo Alexander, received a $15,750 fine for a horse-collar tackle.

The apparent absence of Griffin-related fines seems to validate the Rams' approach to defense in this game. There's still room for a team to play with an edge. Looks like Griffin, not the Rams, is the one needing to adapt.

Steven Jackson had an appropriate response to Robert Griffin III's accusations of dirty play from Jackson's St. Louis Rams: "It's not the Big 12."

Griffin, the Washington Redskins' rookie sensation, isn't the first quarterback to challenge defenses with his running while seeking the protections afforded pocket passers. Michael Vick lodged complaints last season.

Griffin went further, specifically accusing the Rams of taking cheap shots at him during St. Louis' 31-28 victory Sunday. I've gone through the all-22 video with a careful eye. The Rams did take a couple unnecessary hits, but I wouldn't call their tactics egregious by NFL standards -- or even Big 12 standards.

We'll hopefully find out what the NFL thinks when the league levies fines later in the week.

Among the things I noticed in relation to Griffin:

• First quarter, 3:03 mark: Linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar takes down Griffin and jabs him around the shoulder area with an elbow. The blow didn't appear to do any damage.
• First quarter, 2:00: Griffin runs a bootleg toward the left sideline. Safety Quintin Mikell tries to deliver a hard hit while Griffin is leaving the field. Griffin was a runner on this play. Mikell didn't seem out of line.
• Third quarter, 9:00: Griffin pitches the ball on an option play. Defensive end Robert Quinn shoves Griffin unnecessarily, but no harm is done.
• Fourth quarter, 8:29: Griffin throws to the right, then takes a hit from defensive end William Hayes. There was nothing vicious about this hit. Hayes did not appear to have bad intentions. He did run over Griffin after the ball was gone.
• Fourth quarter, 8:00: Griffin scrambles and slides. Cornerback Cortland Finnegan throws himself into Griffin, striking the quarterback in the helmet with his hip.
• Fourth quarter, 4:40: Griffin gets rid of the ball while defensive tackle Kendall Langford rushes him. Griffin appears to be falling when Langford shoves him down. Necessary? No. Dirty? Don't think so.
• Fourth quarter, 2:00: Griffin rolls right and scrambles, taking a hit from Craig Dahl just just before running out of bounds. Legal play.

Fine information usually becomes available on Fridays.

By the way, the Rams and Redskins each have four penalties for unnecessary roughness, roughing the passer, unsportsmanlike conduct and those labeled more broadly as personal fouls. Only Baltimore (six) and Philadelphia (five) have more through two games, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

FALLING

1. Seahawks OL. Seattle's line finished the 2011 season strong, clearing the way for Marshawn Lynch to top 1,200 yards rushing. The Tom Cable-coached unit was supposed to pick up where it left off. Instead, the line went backward during a season-opening defeat at Arizona. Issues in pass protection stood out the most. With rookie J.R. Sweezy starting at right guard, the line had trouble picking up blitzes from the Cardinals' inside linebackers. Left tackle Russell Okung struggled with penalties and did not play up to his fist-round pedigree. Okung also left the game with a bruised knee.

2. John Skelton, Cardinals QB. Skelton started relatively well against Seattle, but he completed only 1 of 7 passes in the third quarter. And when an ankle injury knocked Skelton from the game, his replacement led the winning touchdown drive. Skelton's grip on the starting job appears tenuous after one week. That's a tough way to open the season on a personal level even though the Cardinals won the game to go 1-0. Coach Ken Whisenhunt has reemphasized turnover avoidance, but Skelton still threw a careless interception in Cardinals territory.

3. Russell Wilson, Seahawks QB. Wilson appears in this spot only because his stock had soared so high during preseason, pumped up by coaches' excitement and Wilson's impressive performances. Wilson could have used better protection and a game plan trusting him to make quick decisions against pressure. I think he also could have used the recently released Kellen Winslow during Seattle's failed final drive. As for Wilson, he wasn't as accurate as he had been. He held the ball and sometimes appeared tentative. Arizona held him to 6 of 17 passes on throws to the perimeter.

4. Preseason storylines. Not long ago, the 49ers were going to naturally regress. Line and QB issues were going to doom Arizona. Wilson was going to prove himself instantly ready to lead a charge for the division title. All those things could still happen in 2012, but the evidence wasn't very convincing on opening weekend.

RISING

1. 49ers' credibility. The 49ers almost could not have scripted a performance more compelling than their 30-22 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. They finished last season as an NFC power and validated their standing Sunday. Their defensive front played the run well enough for the 49ers to use additional defensive backs on their terms, giving them an advantage in coverage. Alex Smith outplayed Aaron Rodgers. Frank Gore topped 100 yards rushing. Randy Moss and Vernon Davis caught touchdown passes. Michael Crabtree earned more praise from Jim Harbaugh for his sure hands. David Akers tied an NFL record with a 63-yard field goal. The 49ers made a strong case for the top spot in ESPN's Power Rankings, coming soon.

2. Kevin Kolb, Cardinals QB. Kolb revived his career in Arizona by leading the game-winning drive against Seattle after Skelton suffered an ankle injury. The scoring pass he delivered to Andre Roberts on the perimeter got there in a hurry, almost before cornerback Brandon Browner could react. Kolb flourished in the no-huddle offense, playing freely and with confidence. He'll be the logical choice to start for Arizona against New England in Week 2.

3. Leon Washington, Seahawks returner. Seattle might have scored only six points instead of 16 if Washington hadn't done such a good job in the return game. His 83-yard kickoff return and 52-yard punt return set up the Seahawks for 10 points. Blocking helps, of course, but it takes a special returner to find and exploit openings in a coverage team. Washington hadn't fared as well in the return game recently. This performance was encouraging for the Seahawks.

4. Rams secondary. Starting cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Cortland Finnegan joined linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar in picking off passes for St. Louis against the Lions in Week 1. The Rams delivered on their promise to err on the side of playing aggressively. The results were mostly positive even though Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford threw the winning touchdown pass in the end.