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Peter from Rutland, Vt., points to Anthony Dixon's failed third-and-1 rushing attempt in the NFC Championship Game as one reason the San Francisco 49ers might have signed former New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs.

This play escaped my attention in the Jacobs item Tuesday. I suspect the play-by-play file I consulted did not encompass the NFC Championship Game.

"Dixon got stuffed by the Giants on a key third-and-1 attempt," Peter recalled. "He danced instead of smashing. That's why they took a chance on Jacobs. Dixon is not a reliable power back."

Perhaps, but Jacobs failed to convert a fourth-and-1 rushing attempt in the same game, and he has never been known for his hard-nosed running.

Dixon converted both of his rushing tries during the regular season when needing a single yard on third or fourth down. He missed that one attempt during the postseason, but Jacobs converted only 4 of 8 regular-season tries and 5-of-11 overall when counting the postseason.

I went back and watched Dixon's failed play just to be sure what happened. Dixon did not set a new standard for powerful running on the play, but neither did he have much room to run.

The 49ers shuffled their offensive line and brought onto the field two defenders, Justin Smith and Isaac Sopoaga, for additional blocking. The line, left to right, featured Vernon Davis, Alex Boone, Adam Snyder, Jonathan Goodwin (center), Mike Iupati, Anthony Davis, Joe Staley and Smith. Sopoaga lined up to the right in an offset-I formation.

The blocking was not very good. Mathias Kiwanuka shed Smith immediately and blocked Dixon's path off tackle. Chris Canty got between Anthony Davis and Staley in time to affect Dixon. Dixon did hesitate and step to the side as he sought an opening. Again, though, the blocking was not great.

While an NFL offense should be able to pick up a third-and-1 on the ground, I've thought the 49ers needed to occasionally break from tendency in these situations, not just with a pass but with a deeper strike to Vernon Davis. Previous 49ers coaching staffs succeeded with this tactic.

The 49ers had beaten the Giants for an 18-yard pass to Delanie Walker on a third-and-1 play when the teams met back in Week 10. Perhaps the 49ers' staff knew the Giants would be ready if they tried another pass. And, as noted, the team should be able to pick up a third-and-1 rushing play.

But with such a heavy formation to the right side, the Giants were ready for Dixon. They also took advantage of the fact that Smith, though a great player, plays defense and isn't a polished blocker.

The chart shows 2011 regular-season conversion stats for NFC West running backs on third and fourth downs with 1 yard needed for a first down. There's a reason teams use quarterback sneaks.

We made it through the NFC West chat without any scandals erupting or starting quarterbacks taking free-agent visits.

We learned that former San Francisco 49ers guard Chilo Rachal planned to visit the St. Louis Rams, another indication that the 49ers are content starting fresh at right guard.

The Rams need a left guard and have not re-signed Jacob Bell, who played for new Rams coach Jeff Fisher in Tennessee. Bell, 31, missed the final four games of the 2011 season with the Rams after suffering a knee injury.

Full chat transcript here. Highlights below:

Caleb from Orofino, Idaho asks what are the Seattle Seahawks intentions at running back behind starter Marshawn Lynch, especially now that Michael Bush is off the market.

Mike Sando: The Seahawks will try to sign a power back to spell Marshawn Lynch. Kregg Lumpkin is someone they are reportedly going to visit with. He is 5-11 and 228 pounds. Broke into the NFL with Green Bay when Seahawks general manager John Schneider was with the Packers. We could also see Seattle draft a bigger back. The plan will be to have two bigger backs, plus Leon Washington as a change-of-pace runner. They probably will not want to have two change-of-pace guys at the expense of a second power guy, which explains why Justin Forsett might not be back.

Aaron from Wisconsin expects the San Francisco 49ers to be strong on defense again, but he wonders where on the roster they could most use reinforcements.

Mike Sando: Receiver, center and right guard are three positions that need to be addressed. However, I do not think the 49ers absolutely have to draft for one of these positions early. I'd have no trouble with them adding another front-line talent to their defensive front, perhaps someone with the ability to take over when Justin Smith is finally finished (Smith has so far shown no signs of slowing, but he is up there in years and the 49ers should anticipate a drop-off at some point).

Josh from Mesa, Ariz., asks whether the Arizona Cardinals' pursuit of Peyton Manning prevented them from making major moves in free agency.

Mike Sando: My sense is that Arizona wasn't going to be very aggressive in the market this offseason. They won the offseason last year, only to start with a 1-6 record. They seem to like some of their younger players and want to give them a chance to grow. Offensive tackle was one position I thought they might try to address in free agency, but Jared Gaither re-signed with San Diego early in the signing period. There weren't a lot of great options.

Northwest Guy from Gig Harbor, Wash., asks whether the St. Louis Rams have so far had the best offseason of any team in the NFC West by hiring a new coach, adding first-round picks, etc. He suggests the Cardinals and 49ers have been more stagnant in the personnel acquisition.

Mike Sando: Yeah, I would agree on the Rams having a good offseason so far. The Matt Flynn acquisition in Seattle will determine whether the Seahawks have had a good offseason. If he is the answer, their offseason might be the best of any in the division. That's how pivotal the quarterback position tends to be. The Rams have certainly given themselves an opportunity to build for the long term. Ideally, however, they would have added some weapons for Sam Bradford. So far, they have not, and that was their top priority for the short term.

Battles for Seattle lamented during the chat that his question about the Seahawks' draft plans wasn't getting answered, but I did get to it. Thanks again everyone. Always enjoy the chats.

Running back Michael Bush, tight end Jacob Tamme and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe are among the free agents expected to visit the Seattle Seahawks this week.

That was the word Monday from ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Those names make sense for Seattle.

Bush would qualify as the power-oriented backup Seattle has sought for Marshawn Lynch. Bush played for Seahawks' offensive line coach Tom Cable in Oakland, so he would come to the Seahawks already versed in the team's blocking schemes.

Lynch is the clear starter, with Leon Washington providing a change-of-pace element. Justin Forsett, though valuable in the past, became a bit redundant with Washington on the roster. Adding a second power back would allow the Seahawks to run their normal offense if something happened to Lynch. The team would have to adjust its plans considerably if Washington and Forsett were the only viable alternatives, as the case was during a defeat at Cleveland last season.

Forsett is an unrestricted free agent.

At tight end, the Seahawks need depth after losing John Carlson to Minnesota in free agency. Shiancoe played under Seahawks' offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell in Minnesota. Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson was also with the Vikings at that time.

Tamme spent his first four NFL seasons with Indianapolis, peaking with 67 receptions for 631 yards and four touchdowns in 2010.

Side note: Seahawks linebacker David Hawthorne is expected to visit Detroit.

Update: Schefter cites another source saying a Bush visit has not been scheduled, but the Seahawks are very interested in lining up one.

Michael Robinson's expected re-signing with the Seattle Seahawks would give the team a league-high four re-signings in the unrestricted free-agent market.

Red Bryant, Paul McQuistan and Heath Farwell previously re-signed.

Seattle and the other NFC West teams have added only two UFAs from other teams, however. I've put together UFA scorecards for each team in the division. Ages are in parenthesis. Here goes ...

Seattle Seahawks

UFA unsigned (age): defensive end Raheem Brock (33), defensive lineman Jimmy Wilkerson (31), safety Atari Bigby (30), quarterback Charlie Whitehurst (29), linebacker Leroy Hill (29), linebacker Matt McCoy (29), defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove (28), linebacker David Hawthorne (26), running back Justin Forsett (26), linebacker David Vobora (25)

UFA re-signed: Farwell (30), Robinson (29), McQuistan (28), Bryant (27)

UFA added: none

UFA lost: tight end John Carlson (27)

Franchise player: none

Comment: Forsett has provided value, but the Seahawks will want to add a power back as depth behind Marshawn Lynch, who re-signed before free agency. Mike Tolbert, a free agent from the San Diego Chargers, could be worth a look if the running back market remains soft. Tolbert weighs 243 pounds, has 21 total touchdowns over the past two seasons, and caught 54 passes in 2012. The price would have to be right after Seattle committed to Lynch.

San Francisco 49ers

UFA unsigned: fullback Moran Norris (33), tight end Justin Peelle (33), safety Madieu Williams (30), quarterback Alex Smith (27), receiver Ted Ginn Jr. (26), guard Chilo Rachal (26), safety Reggie Smith (25)

UFA re-signed: cornerback Carlos Rogers (30), linebacker Tavares Gooden (27)

UFA added: none

UFA lost: guard Adam Snyder (30), linebacker Blake Costanzo (27), receiver Josh Morgan (26)

Franchise player: safety Dashon Goldson (27)

Comment: Randy Moss and potential addition Rock Cartwright do not appear in the listings because they were not unrestricted free agents. Re-signing Alex Smith and finding additional receiver help appear to be the top priorities. The 49ers are showing little outward urgency on either front, however.

Arizona Cardinals

UFA unsigned: defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday (36), kicker Jay Feely (35), long-snapper Mike Leach (35), outside linebacker Clark Haggans (35), outside linebacker Joey Porter (34), offensive lineman Floyd Womack (33), punter Dave Zastudil (33), tackle D'Anthony Batiste (29), safety Sean Considine (29), guard Deuce Lutui (28), safety Hamza Abdullah (28), tackle Brandon Keith (27), receiver Early Doucet (26)

UFA re-signed: none.

UFA added: Snyder (30)

UFA lost: cornerback Richard Marshall (27)

Franchise player: defensive end Calais Campbell (25)

Comment: The Cardinals have been in a tough spot. They would have faced criticism had they declined to pursue Peyton Manning. They could now face criticism for sacrificing the first week of free agency while waiting for Manning. The reality is that Arizona probably wasn't going to be all that aggressive in the market this offseason, anyway. It did hurt losing Marshall to the Miami Dolphins after coordinator Ray Horton called him the Cardinals' defensive MVP.

St. Louis Rams

UFA unsigned: cornerback Al Harris (37), quarterback A.J. Feeley (34), offensive lineman Tony Wragge (32), linebacker Brady Poppinga (32), punter Donnie Jones (31), offensive lineman Adam Goldberg (31), guard Jacob Bell (31), receiver Brandon Lloyd (30), cornerback Rod Hood (30), running back Cadillac Williams (29), defensive tackle Gary Gibson (29), receiver Mark Clayton (29), tackle Mark LeVoir (29), tight end Stephen Spach (29), safety James Butler (29), tight end Billy Bajema (29), quarterback Kellen Clemens (28), running back Jerious Norwood (28), linebacker Bryan Kehl (27), linebacker Chris Chamberlain (26), cornerback Justin King (24)

UFA re-signed: none

UFA added: cornerback Cortland Finnegan (28)

UFA lost: none

Franchise player: none

Comment: The Rams are not looking to re-sign many of their own free agents. They want to turn over the roster, and that is happening in a big way. The team's failure to secure playmaking help for quarterback Sam Bradford stands out as the biggest theme to this point. Finnegan was a welcome addition, but he isn't going to score many touchdowns.

The chart below shows a general overview.

» AFC Free-Agency Primer: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Free agency begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET

Arizona Cardinals

Key free agents: DE Calais Campbell (franchise tag), CB Richard Marshall, OLB Clark Haggans, WR Early Doucet, T Brandon Keith, G Deuce Lutui, K Jay Feely.

Where they stand: A strong finish to the 2011 season on defense gives the Cardinals a glass-half-full feel heading into free agency. Going from 1-6 to 8-8 was an impressive achievement. Arizona does have serious concerns on its offensive line. The situation at tackle is particularly questionable even if Levi Brown returns (and maybe especially if he returns, depending on your view). The line concerns might actually dissipate some if the team lands Peyton Manning, a quarterback with the ability to beat pressure with quick throws. But tackle is still an area that needs addressing for the long term. Injuries throughout the offensive backfield raise questions about that area as well. Kevin Kolb (concussion), Beanie Wells (knee), Ryan Williams (knee) and Anthony Sherman (ankle) missed extensive time or played at a diminished level for stretches.

What to expect: The Cardinals are one of the teams chasing Manning. That pursuit could consume them for the short term. Landing Manning would signal the end for Kolb in Arizona. The Cardinals have until March 17 to exercise a $7 million option on Kolb, the quarterback they acquired from Philadelphia for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a fat contract. I'm expecting a resolution to Manning's situation before the Kolb bonus comes due simply because interest in Manning should be high enough to accelerate the process. The Cardinals had about $3 million in salary-cap space entering the week, according to ESPN's John Clayton. That figure could increase substantially once the team releases Brown or reworks his contract. Arizona still has strong coaching ties to Pittsburgh on both sides of the ball, but it's an upset if the Cardinals seriously pursue any of the aging veterans recently released by the Steelers. Developing young talent is the priority now. Re-signing Marshall, who fared well at corner, should be a priority. Does free-agent linebacker Stewart Bradley still factor prominently into the team's plans, particularly at such a high price?

St. Louis Rams

Key free agents: WR Brandon Lloyd, G Jacob Bell, CB Justin King, OL Adam Goldberg, LB Chris Chamberlain, G Tony Wragge, TE Billy Bajema, WR Mark Clayton, DT Gary Gibson, P Donnie Jones.

Where they stand: The Rams have no interest in staying the course from a personnel standpoint after going 15-65 over the past five seasons. They will seek fresh talent almost across the board as Jeff Fisher's new coaching staff seeks players for its schemes. The Rams are seeking playmakers in particular, starting at wide receiver. The offensive line needs addressing, although the Rams might try to minimize the turnover at offensive tackle for the short term, figuring they cannot afford to create new needs. But former starting center Jason Brown, benched last season, appears unlikely to return. The team also needs two starting outside linebackers, starting defensive tackles and perhaps two starting cornerbacks on defense.

What to expect: Mass roster turnover. I could see the team retaining as few as one or two players from its list of 21 projected unrestricted free agents. The Rams have a disproportionate amount of their salary cap tied up in recent high draft choices Sam Bradford, Chris Long and Jason Smith. The rookie wage scale will provide them cap relief even if the team remains among the teams picking very high in the 2012 draft. Bradford and Long are cornerstones. Smith could stick around at a reduced rate. The team still has hope for him under new offensive line coach Paul Boudreau. Cornerback Cortland Finnegan and defensive lineman Jason Jones, both free agents from Tennessee, have ties to Fisher and could make sense for the Rams. Despite the need for playmakers on offense, the Rams did not use the franchise tag on Lloyd, their most talented receiver. Questions persist about how effective Lloyd might be outside Josh McDaniels' offense.

San Francisco 49ers

Key free agents: QB Alex Smith, CB Carlos Rogers, FS Dashon Goldson (franchise tag), G Adam Snyder, WR Ted Ginn Jr., WR Josh Morgan, G Chilo Rachal, FB Moran Norris, LB Blake Costanzo.

Where they stand: Coach Jim Harbaugh has said it's a bit unsettling heading through the offseason with his starting quarterback unsigned. Smith and the 49ers are expected to reach agreement eventually. This relationship will almost certainly continue even if Smith does reach free agency without a deal in place. Smith would not fit nearly as well anywhere else. Harbaugh likes to use the word "equity" when describing players he wants to keep. The 49ers would rather bring back Smith than invite the disruption that Manning would bring, were they able to land him. The team needs help at wide receiver and possibly cornerback, depending upon what happens with Rogers. Getting Goldson at the relatively reasonable franchise rate ($6.2 million) was a plus for the 49ers' continuity in the secondary.

What to expect: Not a whole lot, most likely. The 49ers were a good team last season after taking a low-keyed approach to the free-agent market. They will presumably show interest in Vincent Jackson, Mike Wallace and any high-profile, productive receiver with the talent to upgrade their offense. It's a small upset if the 49ers land one of them, however, because their philosophy is built on a measured approach resistant to overpaying. They will have to address the receiver position in free agency one way or another, however. Re-signing Morgan would help. Pierre Garcon, Marques Colston, Mario Manningham, Plaxico Burress and Robert Meachem are among the other options in free agency. An upgrade at right guard would help the line, but the 49ers might be apt to develop 2011 draft choice Daniel Kilgore after investing first-round choices in their left tackle (Joe Staley), left guard (Mike Iupati) and right tackle (Anthony Davis).

Seattle Seahawks

Key free agents: DE Red Bryant, LB David Hawthorne, LB Leroy Hill, OL Paul McQuistan, DE Raheem Brock, DL Tony Hargrove, FB Michael Robinson, RB Justin Forsett, QB Charlie Whitehurst, LB Matt McCoy, TE John Carlson, LB Heath Farwell.

Where they stand: The Seahawks' long-term quarterback situation hangs over them as they head toward the 2012 draft with only the 12th overall choice. The team has built up the rest of its roster to a point where sticking with Tarvaris Jackson as the primary starter could hold back the team to a degree it did not through much of last season. Upgrading the pass rush is another priority for the Seahawks. With defensive end Raheem Brock publicly stumping for Seattle to land Manning, his former teammate, I couldn't help but wonder which one of them had a better shot at earning a roster spot with the team in 2012. It might be Manning, even if the Seahawks are relative long shots for his services. Brock failed to provide the pass-rush push Seattle needed opposite Chris Clemons. Linebacker is another position the Seahawks need to address, whether or not Hawthorne and Hill return.

What to expect: The Seahawks have roughly $30 million in cap space, according to Clayton, and will make every effort to land Manning. They feel they've got a shot as long as they can persuade him to get on a plane and check out what they have to offer in terms of the roster, coaching, facilities, ownership and more. If Manning goes elsewhere, I would expect the Seahawks to consider Green Bay quarterback Matt Flynn. Securing him at a price lower than what Arizona paid for Kolb would be the goal. As badly as the Seahawks want to upgrade the position, they have said they will not panic. Overpaying for Flynn could represent panic in their eyes. On the pass-rush front, I'm increasingly skeptical the team will shell out for Mario Williams. The price could be too high for a player Houston has decided to let hit the market. Re-signing Bryant is a priority, but using the franchise tag for him was never an option given the $10.6 million price. A deal slightly north of the one teammate Brandon Mebane signed seems likelier if Bryant returns.

The Seattle Seahawks' top priorities in free agency appear clear, at least when it comes to their own players.

Re-sign running back Marshawn Lynch and defensive end Red Bryant.

Lynch's agent of record, Mike Sullivan, recently took a job with the Denver Broncos. That would not affect negotiations as much if Lynch remained with Octagon Worldwide. The agent game can be an unpredictable one, however. That is something to file away.

Bryant has said he strongly wants to re-sign with Seattle.

The charts below expand upon Brian McIntyre's lists. I've added offensive and defensive snap counts from ESPN Stats & Information. The final column shows what players earned per year on their most recent contracts.

The second chart shows restricted free agents. Teams can retain rights to RFAs by making one-year qualifying offers.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Brock Huard, Mike Salk and I offered thoughts on Peyton Manning, the Super Bowl and the Seattle Seahawks' free agents during our discussion Thursday.

I was taking part in a chat and trying to track down Kurt Warner at the same time, but hopefully that wasn't too obvious. The audio has been discounted from free to freer.

Not having the Seahawks' list of free agents handy slowed my response at one point. Upon looking at the list, I would loosely prioritize the top 10 this way: Marshawn Lynch, Red Bryant, Breno Giacomini, Leroy Hill, David Hawthorne, Michael Robinson, John Carlson, Paul McQuistan, Heath Farwell and Raheem Brock.

Those are not necessarily the 10 best Seattle players headed for free agency. Justin Forsett would be on such a list. But with the Seahawks likely adding a bigger back to provide depth behind Lynch, Forsett could be the odd man out.

The Seahawks will presumably seek a younger replacement for Brock. Carlson might search for an opportunity elsewhere after the team signed Zach Miller to a long-term contract. Hawthorne would rank higher if healthy.

Thoughts on where NFC West players ranked for 2011 in yards per pass target:

• The players ranked second through seventh included four first-round picks and a second-rounder. The player ranked first, rookie Doug Baldwin, was not drafted. Think how many teams would draft Baldwin if given second chances. Seattle would have.
• Larry Fitzgerald's 9.2-yard average ranked a close second and was the most impressive mark in the division because he had so many targets (153).
• Sidney Rice did not make the intended impact in Seattle, but he did average 15.1 yards per catch and 8.5 per attempt. Those numbers were healthier than Rice, who battled injuries and currently faces three to four months rehabilitation from shoulder surgery.
• Braylon Edwards' 5.3-yard average says plenty about why the San Francisco 49ers released him. Injuries were a factor. We can speculate over whether Edwards fit well with the team, but a lack of production was the No. 1 issue. He did average 9.3 yards per target on third down, however. That ranked third in the division.
• Filtering to show third-down averages produced results of interest for qualifying players (min. 10 targets on third down). Niners rookie Kyle Williams shot to the head of the list with an 11.9-yard average on 11 targets. Six of those 11 plays gained first downs. He had gains of 56, 15, 12, 11, 10, 10, 9 and 8 yards on third down.
• Baldwin ranked second to Williams on third down, averaging 9.7 yards on a division-high 42 targets. Teammate Golden Tate was fifth at 8.8 yards per third-down target, ahead of Fitzgerald (7.7). Tate had 19 third-down targets, a relatively high number (Fitzgerald had 31).
• Brandon Lloyd's average with St. Louis should have been higher. The Rams threw to him frequently and weren't able to connect enough. I'd blame that on overall offensive incompetence, including at quarterback. Lloyd was no the problem in St. Louis.
• Dropped passes help explain why Frank Gore ranks so low on the list. Gore had seven drops on 30 targets. Only Cleveland's Montario Hardesty averaged fewer receptions per drop among players with at least five catches, and it was close (2.3 to 2.4). Seattle tight ends Anthony McCoy (2.6) and Cameron Morrah (3.0) were third and fourth on that list. The Seahawks went all season without a touchdown reception from their tight ends. Zach Miller added a welcome dimension as a blocker, at least.

Thanks to Hank Gargiulo of ESPN Stats & Information for providing raw data for me to mine.
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The Seattle Seahawks signed rookie receiver Ricardo Lockette off their practice squad and promptly completed a 44-yard pass to him against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16.

Lockette, an undrafted free agent from Fort Valley State, shined light on a path the 49ers themselves might follow after releasing veteran wideout Braylon Edwards.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com points to practice-squad wideout Joe Hastings, undrafted rookie free agent from Washburn, as the player most likely to fill the roster spot created with Edwards' departure. Maiocco: "Hastings has been studying the 49ers playbook and practicing with the squad for 22 weeks. He's healthy. And he can contribute on special teams, if needed. Those factors, along with good hands and a 4.42 time in the 40-yard dash, are apparently the reasons the 49ers believe his addition and Braylon Edwards' subtraction strengthens the team's 53-man roster." Noted: Hastings, like Lockette, would be replacing an injured, struggling reclamation project from the 2005 draft. Edwards was the third player chosen that year. The receiver Lockette replaced, Mike Williams, was chosen seven spots later. He was also struggling to produce this season.

Also from Maiocco: Patrick Willis should be available Sunday, should the 49ers choose to play him.

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa-Press Democrat checks in with 49ers special-teams ace Blake Costanzo, who took out loans to pay his way through college at Lafayette. Landing a job in the NFL has helped Costanzo pay off those loans quickly, though there were no guarantees. Costanzo has been cut four times. Costanzo on what it's like: "It's at the end of camp and you've given your all -- your heart, your mind, your body, your soul. And you get a call, 'So-and-so wants to see you. Can you bring your playbook?' Pretty much, you know you're dead. I remember a lot of us were just waiting in line, waiting until our turn. When you get in there, they give you a little spiel about they appreciate the way you worked blah blah blah but they're going to have to let you go. You get in your car and you go home or wherever you want to go. I drove back to New Jersey. The first time I was so upset I didn't want to tell my parents. And that's it. You go from being an NFL football player for all those weeks to just nothing. It's a tough thing to deal with, especially when I was younger. I always had the feeling I could play in this league. After that, I made it my goal, 'You want to waive me, then go ahead. I'm just going to try the next team.' "

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams quarterback Sam Bradford hasn't been able to fight back from the high-ankle sprain he aggravated. Bradford: "It's been very frustrating. Especially the fact that I was able to come back and play three or four games and it was getting better. It was starting to feel better, it was starting to feel like it getting closer to normal. And then after the second time I re-injured it, I never overcame that. ... It's important for me to play in every game. This is my last opportunity to play with this team this year, so it's very important for me to get out there this Sunday and just finish the season strong with my guys."

Also from Thomas: Al Harris is retiring from the NFL as a player, but not from the league overall. He wants to coach.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com expects to see Kevin Kolb back as the team's starting quarterback next season. Urban: "The Cardinals still believe in the idea of Kolb. They don’t believe Kolb’s concussion means such an injury will be a greater concern going forward, Ken Whisenhunt said, and the chance to have him in an offseason will be cherished after the ups-and-downs of this season. That goes for the coaches and players like wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who noted that Kolb and the offense were hurt when Kolb couldn’t be a part of training camp the first week because of lockout rules and his signing of a new contract. Add in the reality that Kolb couldn’t even get a playbook until his trade July 28 -- rookies like Cam Newton and Andy Dalton got their playbooks after the April draft and were able to start studying -- and Fitzgerald said the chemistry was undercut from the beginning."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals rookie Patrick Peterson has impressed veterans with his maturity and professionalism. Adrian Wilson: "He's a professional at a very young age. He's eager to listen and he's eager to learn. For me, for a veteran, to have a young guy like that, I think that's just a testament to not only what the organization saw in him, drafting him that high, but just how he wants to get better every day and doesn't accept anything other than that."

Also from Somers: Kolb is likely out this week, again.

Joshua Myers of the Seattle Times checks in with Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, who says he feels as though he became a professional this season. Myers: "The California product credits his backfield mates, fullback Michael Robinson and running backs Leon Washington and Justin Forsett, for helping in that development."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks have the makings of a top secondary with one Pro Bowl starter (free safety Earl Thomas) and two first-alternates (strong safety Kam Chancellor and cornerback Brandon Browner). The other starter, Richard Sherman, hasn't been in the lineup as long, but he has arguably been better than Browner. Williams: "Seattle’s statistical turnaround on pass defense in one season was impressive. With one game remaining, Seattle has 21 interceptions. The Seahawks had 12 interceptions last season.Seattle gave up 31 passing touchdowns in 2010, tied for third-worst in the league. The Seahawks have given up 17 passing touchdowns this season, seventh in the NFL.And through 15 games, Seattle has allowed only 45 plays of 20 yards or more, tied with Baltimore for second in the league. Last year, the Seahawks gave up 76 plays of 20 yards or more, second-to-last in the league." Noted: The transformation in the secondary has been striking. None of the four current starters was on the roster before Pete Carroll and John Schneider arrived in 2010. Sherman wasn't even a projected starter this season. Browner arrived from the CFL.

LaRod Stephens-Howling was among the NFL's best in racking up yards after the catch even before weaving through the Dallas Cowboys' defense for the winning 52-yard touchdown in overtime Sunday.

That play widened the gap between the Arizona Cardinals running back and every other player with at least eight receptions this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Stephens-Howling, nicknamed "The Hyphen," previously gained about 15 yards after the catch during a critical fourth-and-2 play at Philadelphia. That play gained 30 yards during the winning drive.

Stephens-Howling and the San Francisco 49ers' Kendall Hunter are not starting running backs. They both rank among the NFL leaders in yards after the catch, however -- something to watch when San Francisco visits Arizona in Week 14. The Cardinals' defense ranks eighth in average yards allowed after the catch (4.8), seven spots higher than the 49ers' defense ranks (5.1). Pittsburgh leads the NFL (4.5).

Hunter, like Stephens-Howling, hurt the Eagles after the catch. He gained all but about 10 of his 44 yards after the catch on a third-quarter reception that sparked the 49ers' comeback from a 23-3 deficit. Alex Smith scrambled to his right. Hunter adjusted well. Hunter caught the ball and outran linebacker Brian Rolle, then weaved through the secondary. San Francisco scored two plays later.

The Eagles are allowing 7.1 yards per reception after the catch, second-worst in the NFL.

The chart shows yards-after-catch leaders from NFC West teams (minimum eight receptions). The 49ers' Frank Gore just missed the top 10. He has averaged 5.6 yards after the catch on his 16 receptions, down from 10.1 yards last season. The 49ers have utilized Gore more in pass protection. He is on pace to finish with less than half his total for receptions last season (46).
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Those watching the Seattle Seahawks this season know quarterback Tarvaris Jackson has been most successful when targeting Sidney Rice and Doug Baldwin.

Rice and Baldwin have been the best wide receivers on the team.

In looking at the chart, it's clear receiving talent isn't the only factor at work. The Seahawks' leading receiver from last season, Mike Williams, and one of its top free-agent additions, Zach Miller, also have good receiving skills. Jackson hasn't been nearly as effective when targeting them. His rapport with Rice from their days together in Minnesota has come into play. Baldwin's excellence from the slot has made him the team's most reliable target on third down.

Backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst was most efficient when targeting Baldwin. He had a 122.9 rating on 10 attempts for the Seattle rookie. Whitehurst's rating when targeting Rice was 41.2 on 13 attempts, compared to 69.5 on throws to other players. That disparity (minus-28.3) was the worst for any receiver on throws from Whitehurst, a stark contrast to the added efficiency for Jackson on throws to Rice.

I pared down the chart to show only those Seattle players Jackson has targeted more than eight times this season. Eddie Williams, Michael Robinson, Leon Washington, Kris Durham and Cameron Morrah have caught 12 of 21 passes from Jackson for 118 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. The column showing Jackson's NFL passer rating when throwing to other players includes all other players, not just those listed in the chart.

The Seahawks expect Rice to play Sunday against Washington despite as sore knee. The team listed him as probable on its injury report.

The St. Louis Rams have gone from NFC West favorites to 1-7 in less than two months.

That makes them one of the more disappointing teams in the NFL along with Philadelphia and a few others. Nothing short of a complete reversal over the remaining eight games will invite obvious questions about the team's overall direction. Even a strong finish might not justify staying the course, depending on one's viewpoint.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch touches on these and other issues during his weekly Rams chat Tuesday. He was "dumbfounded" by the team's decision to cover Larry Fitzgerald with a linebacker on a key play Sunday. He thinks Sam Bradford has regressed. And he finds it tough to defend Steve Spagnuolo's 9-31 record as head coach over the last two-plus seasons. Noted: It'll be extremely difficult to justify staying the course if the Rams' record does not improve significantly, and if the feeling after the season is that Bradford has regressed. I don't think Bradford had sufficient support early in the season. The Week 1 injury to Steven Jackson negatively affected the offense and Bradford in particular. The situation at receiver became a mess, and when the team finally did something about it, Bradford wasn't healthy enough to benefit. One so-so game back from injury isn't enough to evaluate Bradford. How the quarterback performs over the second half of the season will largely influence whether the team's current leadership gets another chance, I would think.

Also from Thomas: a look at the Rams' situation at receiver and how Mark Clayton's activation from the physically unable to perform list could change the dynamics. Thomas: "Clayton played flanker, also known as the 'Z' position, most of the time last year before his Game 5 knee injury in Detroit. But he played the slot his first two seasons in the league for Baltimore, so he could pick up some of the slack there following Greg Salas' injury."

More from Thomas: The Rams need help at linebacker and are checking out the possibilities.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com has this to say about Alex Smith during a player-by-player review of the 49ers' offense from Week 9: "He started at quarterback and played very well. He completed 17 of 24 passes for 200 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. His passer rating was 109.7. He also was sacked twice, including a devastating blind-side hit from Redskins outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan but still managed to hold onto the ball. Took big hit on first-drive sack because he tried to extend the play. Kerrigan's sack occurred 5.5 second after the snap. Smith did well just to keep from fumbling. ... There were a couple dropped passes that could've added another 40-plus yards to his numbers."

Also from Maiocco: a defensive player-by-player review. On free safety Dashon Goldson: "Started at free safety and had an interception in his second game in a row. He also had five tackles and a quarterback hurry. Came up fast from his spot to drop Helu for 2-yard gain on short pass. ... Had tremendous break on pass intended for tight end Fred Davis to make diving interception late in the first quarter near midifield."

More from Maiocco: a midseason report on the 49ers' defense. Maiocco on the defensive MVP: "Middle linebacker Patrick Willis. Again, Willis is the team's best defensive player. And as the 49ers open the second half of the season with a 7-1 record, Willis must be considered on the short list of players in serious contention for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Willis and NaVorro Bowman have formed a sideline-to-sideline tackling duo unmatched in the NFL. Willis was outstanding in pass coverage, too. He also forced three fumbles and recovered two in the first eight games."

More yet from Maiocco: a midseason report on the 49ers' offense. Looking ahead: "The focus of the offense will always be Gore and the run game. But the 49ers must also find a way to get big-chunk plays in the passing game from Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree and Braylon Edwards. The 49ers do not have to open up the offense and change their philosophy in the second half of the season. But they need to take advantage of their big-play chances while also being more consistent on third downs. The 49ers rank 26th in the league, converting just 31.1 percent their third-down chances."

One more from Maiocco: a midseason report on the 49ers' special teams.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee has this to say about 49ers rookie Aldon Smith during a defensive player-by-player report: "Smith should be listed as a defensive end as that has been his primary position this year. He enters the game in third-down packages and has rarely been inserted at outside linebacker. In today's NFL, a players who goes in solely on passing downs sometimes ends up playing more than the starter, especially when the 49ers get out to leads in games. Smith has made the most of his snaps. He leads the team with 6.5 sacks and is candidate for defensive rookie of the year. Sunday's game was the first since Week 4 that Smith did not have a sack. 13 tackles, 6.5 sacks.

Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News explains why Gore is so close to passing Joe Perry on the 49ers' career rushing list.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com hands out midseason awards and honors Chris Clemons as Seattle's best player. The best addition in free agency? Farnsworth: "Alan Branch. The big signings after the lockout-eliminated offseason were Sidney Rice, Zach Miller, left guard Robert Gallery and QB Tarvaris Jackson. But the best of this class has been Branch, the former Arizona Cardinal who has settled in and exceled at the three-technique tackle spot in the Seahawks’ 13th-ranked run defense. How good has Branch been? Pro Football Focus has him ranked as the best D-tackle in the league."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times offers thoughts on Deon Butler's activation from the PUP list. O'Neil: "Butler's lower right leg was broken in two places last December in San Francisco. The injury, similar to the one suffered by running back Leon Washington, was serious enough that doctors questioned if Butler could resume his NFL career. Butler's recovery has proceeded in a way that's fitting for someone with his speed: He's returned faster than many expected."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune gives the Seahawks a weak 'C' grade through the first half of the season. Williams on the running game: "Year 3 of Seattle establishing a dominant run game has been much like the first two years -- a disappointment. The Seahawks have 406 rushing yards on first down -- 24th overall in the league. And they’ve run the ball a league-low 175 total rushes. So even with the renewed emphasis with renowned zone blocking guru offensive line coach Tom Cable on the staff, the Seahawks have not run the ball enough. But Seattle did show a marked improvement running the ball last week at Dallas, with Marshawn Lynch rushing for 135 yards on 22 carries – the first time he’s carried the ball more than 20 times this season. Lynch’s and Justin Forsett’s contracts are up the end of the season, while Leon Washington is in the first of a four-year deal, so Seattle could see some personnel changes with this group in 2012." Noted: Former offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates would have to laugh at the league-low number of rushing attempts, given that his allegedly pass-happy approach wasn't what the team wanted on offense. Falling behind in games has its consequences, however.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic looks at where the Cardinals need to improve, notably at quarterback and on the offensive line. Somers on Kevin Kolb: "At least the Cardinals hope whatever is wrong with Kolb can be fixed. Kolb has made plays that provide hope; the 73-yard touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald against the Redskins comes to mind. But Kolb has played poorly over the past month, and now he's dealing with a right-foot injury that includes turf toe. The Cardinals need to find a way to bring out Kolb's best, and maybe that will take a whole season and full off-season."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Kolb is "touch-and-go" on a potential return to practice this week. Urban: "Reports on both ESPN and NFL Network both said he was unlikely to play against the Eagles. Kolb, at least publicly, is expressing slightly more optimism."

Also from Urban: Thoughts on Kolb's background in Philadelphia, and on his upcoming return. Urban: "As if he was cleaning up for his high school reunion, Kolb got his hair cut late last week, removing his curly locks and looking much more like a businessman. Perhaps that’s fitting, since -- given the struggles both himself and his current team have had -- this meeting with his former team is less reunion and 'more of a business trip.'"

Arizona: Beanie Wells missed practice Wednesday and will have to fight through a knee injury if he does play against Baltimore in Week 8. The fact that the Cardinals initially thought Wells suffered a season-ending injury makes returning only one week later seem like a long shot. The Cardinals have not set a timetable for Wells' return. Whether Wells practices Thursday and Friday should tell us plenty about whether the third-year running back plays Sunday. The Cardinals are a much more physical team in the running game when Wells is available. The Ravens rank among the NFL's top three in rushing yards allowed overall and per carry. Tight end Todd Heap's availability is also in question. A hamstring injury continues to slow him. The Cardinals have better depth at the position this season, though. Wells is the key variable.

St. Louis: Sam Bradford continues to miss practice with a high-ankle sprain, preventing the Rams from making fuller use of new receiver Brandon Lloyd, in my view. I see no reason for the Rams to rush Bradford back onto the field against a New Orleans team known for taking shots at opposing quarterbacks, including their ankles. The assumption here is that Bradford must practice by week's end to have a shot at playing. The Rams have yet to activate receiver Mark Clayton and cornerback Marquis Johnson from the physically unable to perform list. The need is greater at corner than receiver. The Rams, already without their top three corners for the remainder of the season, lost corner Justin King to a groin injury last week. His status remains unclear. Right tackle Jason Smith could be out indefinitely after suffering neck and head injuries at Dallas. Left tackle Rodger Saffold missed practice with an illness Wednesday.

San Francisco: The 49ers are expected to welcome back receiver Braylon Edwards from knee surgery. The timing is perfect for Edwards because the 49ers are facing the Cleveland Browns, who drafted him third overall. Coach Jim Harbaugh suggested his injury-related optimism earlier in the week might have been premature. You can bet Edwards has been pointing toward this game for his return, however. Fullback Moran Norris isn't expected to return. His replacement, Bruce Miller, has shown improvement. The 49ers have used only one back half the time on first and second down to this point in the season, according to ESPN Stats & Information. They're obviously comfortable using two tight ends with two wide receivers, diminishing the need for a fullback. They're fine without Norris, in other words. Parys Haralson's expected return from a hamstring injury comes as rookie Aldon Smith is stepping up his game, anyway. How many snaps those players get will be a storyline for the remainder of the season. Smith, it seems, needs to play. Right guard Adam Snyder is expected back from a stinger. The 49ers' ground game has been better since Snyder took over as the starter.

Seattle: The Seahawks should get center Max Unger, running back Marshawn Lynch and/or tight end Zach Miller back from injuries this week. All were limited Wednesday, and coach Pete Carroll said decisions would not be made until later in the week. Seattle needs Lynch because the team doesn't have another big back for its offense. Backups Leon Washington and Justin Forsett are too similar to provide the differentiation Carroll values. Miller's absence played a leading role in the team's defeat at Cleveland, I thought. Backup Anthony McCoy suffered through a rough game. The Seahawks need him back. Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson is the other big question mark for Seattle this week. His pectoral injury hasn't prevented him from throwing, but he remains limited. It's too early to say whether he's likely to play this week. I would expect a better effort from backup Charlie Whitehurst this week, should he play.

The Seattle Seahawks have the youngest starters in the NFL heading into Week 7. The Cleveland Browns have the second-youngest starters.

The NFL's oldest starters belong to the Arizona Cardinals' opponent Sunday: Pittsburgh.

Those were among the revelations as I updated NFL teams' rosters this weekend to make available for download the latest ones for the NFC West. These feature 26 columns of information for every current player in the division, plus former players from the past few seasons.

With the post-Mike Holmgren Seahawks visiting the Holmgren-built Browns this week, much has been made about how few players remain in Seattle from his 1999-2008 run with the team. I count five Holmgren-era draft choices on the 53-man roster: Justin Forsett, Brandon Mebane, Ben Obomanu, Red Bryant and Leroy Hill. All were drafted when Tim Ruskell was running the Seahawks' personnel department beginning in 2005.

The chart below shows how many of its own draft choices each NFC West team has on its 53-man roster, broken down by coach.

The Philadelphia Eagles' defensive scheme and personnel puts extra pressure on opposing offensive tackles.

Defensive ends line up wider than in most schemes, putting them in position to rush the passer. This would not necessarily excuse the two tripping penalties called against San Francisco 49ers tackle Anthony Davis during a 24-23 victory over the Eagles in Week 4.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the NFL has levied a $25,000 fine against Davis for the violations. Noted: These were not stick-out-the-leg-after-getting-beat violations. In both instances, Davis was diving at Babin's legs in a manner that was obviously coached, but he also spun his body in a manner that whipped Davis' legs around. His actions looked more like cut blocks than tripping when I watched them, but the spinning action was there. The NFL rule book defines tripping as "use of the leg or foot in obstructing any opponent (including a runner)." I didn't think Davis used his leg or foot to obstruct Babin. He dove at Babin's legs, but in doing so, his own legs did spin around in a manner that caught the officials' attention.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says Alex Smith has improved against the blitz and now ranks behind only Tom Brady in NFL passer rating on these plays. Noted: ESPN's game charters have Smith ranking fourth in NFL passer rating when opponents send five or more pass-rushers and first in that category when opponents send a defensive back as a pass-rusher. Smith has completed all nine attempts for 136 yards and two touchdowns against DB pressure this season. Surprisingly, rookie Cam Newton is second in NFL rating on these plays, just ahead of Matt Hasselbeck and Aaron Rodgers. The 49ers' offense clearly has options for quarterbacks against pressure, and Smith knows how to use them.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times examines Seahawks coach Pete Carroll's end-of-half decision-making, which has been questionable. O'Neil: "While you can wonder about the wisdom of Carroll's risk tolerance, the one thing you have to give him is that he's consistently brazen. Or did you forget Game 3 of last season, and that fire drill that occurred at the end of the first half against the San Diego Chargers?" Noted: Carroll sometimes makes decisions without as much regard for consequences as a typical NFL coach might have. I suspect that stems from his years coaching at USC, where he could get away with taking chances or managing situations more loosely because he had the superior talent most of the time. That is one area where Carroll could improve, in my view.

Christian Caple of seattlepi.com says the Seahawks' Marcus Trufant missed practice with a back injury. Noted: Trufant's good health has been key to his play this season. Injuries have slowed him in the past. This is a situation to monitor, for sure.

John McGrath of the Tacoma News Tribune introduces Justin Forsett's invention: a shower pill. Read on.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals want to limit Joey Porter's playing time to improve his effectiveness. That would translate to more playing time for O'Brien Schofield. Somers: "The Cardinals thought Porter had to play too much in 2010, too, so this wasn't the plan entering this season. When camp opened, Porter had just taken a pay cut, from $5.75 million to $1.5 million. Schofield was one-and-one-half years removed from the knee surgery that caused him to fall in the draft. Now at full health, Schofield was expected to contend for a starting spot. But Schofield couldn't take Porter's job. Porter, a former Pittsburgh Steelers standout, is intimately familiar with the new defense installed by coordinator Ray Horton, who came from Pittsburgh, and Schofield has struggled to learn the new concepts. In training camp, Schofield admitted he needed to study harder." Noted: The Cardinals simply haven't been able to develop young pass-rushers to this point. Missing on Cody Brown in the draft still hurts them.

Also from Somers: Beanie Wells needs to improve as a receiver. Noted: While Kevin Kolb was primarily at fault for taking a sack on a critical screen play against the New York Giants, I wondered when watching replays whether Wells could have helped out his quarterback a bit by turning back for the ball just a moment earlier. The pressure was coming quickly and Kolb obviously didn't feel comfortable throwing the ball.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com updates Andre Roberts' situation as the Cardinals' No. 2 receiver.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch uses the term "bye week blues" to describe the Rams' injury news during their off week, most recently regarding Danny Amendola. Thomas: "Amendola led the NFL in all-purpose yards in 2010 with 2,364 yards. Operating out of the slot as a receiver, he had 85 catches for 689 yards, finishing third in the league in third-down catches (29). He also finished ninth in the league in punt returns, averaging 11.3 yards per return. With Amendola done for the year, rookie third-round draft pick Austin Pettis takes over the slot receiver role, with rookie fourth-round pick Greg Salas in reserve." Noted: With no practices scheduled through the weekend, the Rams should be safe from additional bad injury news in the short term.