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Arizona: Beanie Wells' emphatic return from a hamstring injury last week signals he's ready to carry the offense if necessary. That affects every aspect of the offense for Arizona. LaRod Stephens-Howling's has not yet returned kickoffs since returning from a hand injury. His replacement, A.J. Jefferson, has averaged 29.0 yards per return. The team re-signed veteran punter Ben Graham as insurance in case Dave Zastudil's sore knee prevents him from playing. Graham's familiarity with the Cardinals and experience as Jay Feely's holder on field goals made him a natural choice in a pinch. Right tackle Brandon Keith's knee injury could press Jeremy Bridges into the lineup. Bridges has played pretty well when needed, including last week, but his shall-we-say exuberance puts him at risk for penalties.

St. Louis: The Rams have no game this week, but they do have new injury concerns. Top cornerback Bradley Fletcher is undergoing an MRI after injuring his knee during a practice collision with Mike Sims-Walker. Top receiver Danny Amendola had hoped to return from a dislocated elbow after the bye, but reports suggest he could be finished for the season. Mark Clayton is eligible to come off the physically unable to perform list following the sixth game, but the Rams would seemingly have to consider tapping the trade market if Amendola does miss the season. The bye should provide needed relief for James Hall (back), Sam Bradford (hip) and Steven Jackson (quadriceps), among others. Even defensive coordinator Ken Flajole needs the rest after pulling a groin muscle while administering practice drills Wednesday. Update: Fletcher is out for the season with a torn ACL, a devastating setback for the Rams. They have little quality and no depth at corner heading into games against Green Bay, Dallas and New Orleans.

San Francisco: Frank Gore, like the Cardinals' Wells, put to rest injury concerns with his performance in Week 4. Gore told reporters his ankle feels much better this week. The 49ers are getting healthier for the most part. They've welcomed back free safety Dashon Goldson and receiver Michael Crabtree in recent weeks, and both are contributing. Safety Donte Whitner's hip injury is not keeping him from practicing. Receiver Braylon Edwards isn't expected back from knee surgery until closer to midseason, but with Crabtree producing against Philadelphia, the 49ers should be OK at the position. Defensive linemen Ian Williams and Demarcus Dobbs are candidates to fill the roster spot created when backup defensive end Will Tukuafu went on injured reserve this week. Dobbs in particular impressed during preseason. The 49ers will be fine up front as long as their starters are healthy. Update: The 49ers subsequently listed nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga (infection) and cornerback Shawntae Spencer (toe) on their injury report. Losing Sopoaga would be significant.

Seattle: The Seahawks' injury list contains little drama this week. Linebacker Matt McCoy's season-ending knee injury affects the nickel defense and special teams. Seattle brought back former Rams linebacker David Vobora for depth. Injury concerns at linebacker make it tough, in my view, for the team to part with Aaron Curry even though it's obvious Curry no longer fits prominently into the team's long-term plans. Strong safety Kam Chancellor remains sidelined by a quadriceps injury. He did not practice Wednesday and his status for Week 5 is unclear. The team's run defense suffers without him, but not terribly so. Receiver Mike Williams left the Atlanta game with a concussion and is not yet practicing. Sidney Rice's return, Doug Baldwin's emergence and Golden Tate's behind-the-scenes improvement puts the team in better position to play without Williams if necessary.

With the St. Louis Rams' bye week arriving mercifully, the team need not worry about adding to its injury list.

Scratch that.

In the latest development suggesting that 2011 could become a lost season for St. Louis, the only remaining starting-caliber cornerback on the roster, Bradley Fletcher, suffered a knee injury during a collision with receiver Mike Sims-Walker in practice Wednesday.

Fletcher will undergo an MRI to assess the severity of the damage. The team has already lost starting cornerback Ron Bartell to a broken neck and No. 3 cornerback Jerome Murphy to a broken ankle. Al Harris, Josh Gordy and the recently signed Rod Hood join Fletcher and fellow starter Justin King as the cornerbacks on the roster.

The Rams' next opponent, Green Bay, knows a thing or two about exploiting defensive secondaries. Subtracting Fletcher, arguably the team's No. 1 corner when everyone was healthy, would spell disaster for the Rams against the Packers, in my view.

Update: Meant to include the passage below as well.

Also from the you-could-not-make-this-up department: Rams defensive coordinator Ken Flajole pulled a groin muscle while administering drills during practice Friday.

"I think he's OK, but I'll be teasing him after," coach Steve Spagnuolo told reporters Wednesday.

The St. Louis Rams' return to "Monday Night Football" for the first time since 2006 comes as no accident.

The organization, boosted by quarterback Sam Bradford's arrival in 2010, has taken a giant step forward since bottoming out at 1-15 two years ago.

It's time to take another step after a few recent stumbles -- or risk succumbing to a 2011 schedule that gets tougher in October.

Facing the New York Giants on the road generally wouldn't qualify as much of an opportunity for an unproven team. But if the Rams are truly ascending, they should have at least a chance to beat a team with a 7-7 record in its last 14 home games. The Giants lost their opener at Washington and have an injury list unrivaled in the NFL, except perhaps by the Rams.

Winning a road game on the Monday night stage would stand as a long-sought signature victory for the Rams under third-year coach Steve Spagnuolo.

The Rams have beaten only one opponent with a winning record since 2008, and that was a 2-1 Seattle team last season. They have played only one truly important game, falling flat against the Seahawks with the NFC West title at stake in Week 17 last season.

Bradford has one touchdown pass with six interceptions in his last six starts after a six-game stretch with 11 TDs and one pick. He enters this game against the Giants relatively alone, having lost Pro Bowl running back Steven Jackson (quadriceps) and top receiver Danny Amendola (elbow) to injuries in the opener. There's only an outside chance Jackson will play against the Giants.

Bradford practiced fully this week after an injured right index finger prevented him from finishing the Rams' 31-13 home defeat to Philadelphia in Week 1. As much as I thought Spagnuolo would avoid getting swept by his previous two employers to open the season, picking the Rams against the Giants would seem to be a stretch after Jackson, Amendola, right tackle Jason Smith (ankle) and cornerback Ron Bartell (neck) landed on the injury report.

But there is some hope.

Three reasons the Rams have a chance, even as six-point betting underdogs:

1. Eli Manning is not Michael Vick.

Putting together a game plan to contain Vick required making tradeoffs that wound up hurting the Rams. Manning is much more conventional as a passer, allowing the Rams to plan with more confidence.

Attempts to contain Vick's scrambling compromised the Rams' ability to stop regular running plays. They had spent all offseason acquiring players known for their strength against the run, only to watch Philadelphia rush for 237 yards, the Eagles' fifth-highest total under coach Andy Reid.

"I'll put that one on me," Rams defensive coordinator Ken Flajole told reporters Friday. "We felt like we needed to zone pressure them a little bit to try to contain the quarterback. We didn’t fit up all our run gaps and our zone dogs as well as we should have. I probably should have played it a little bit closer to the vest. We were trying to see if we could make something happen to see if we could get a turnover."

Only Jay Cutler has thrown more interceptions than Manning since the start of the 2009 season.

2. The Rams' defensive line is formidable.

The Rams sacked Vick three times and held him to 5.8 yards per attempt with a 43.8 completion percentage. The game got away from St. Louis because the team dropped four passes, gave up a fumble return for a touchdown and netted only six points on seven drives averaging 8.8 plays in duration.

Spagnuolo has sought to replicate the defensive line depth he enjoyed as the Giants' defensive coordinator. Chris Long, James Hall and Fred Robbins combined for 25 sacks last season. The team's first-round draft choice, defensive end Robert Quinn, is expected to make his regular-season debut Monday night.

3. The Giants' pass-rushers are hurting.

I'd have an extremely difficult time envisioning a Rams' victory Monday night if the Giants' Pro Bowl defensive ends, Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora, were functioning near full strength. A neck injury limited Tuck in practice during the week. A knee injury kept out Umenyiora altogether. Neither played in Week 1.

If the Redskins' Rex Grossman could pass for 305 yards and two touchdowns against the Giants, who also have injury issues in their secondary, shouldn't Bradford have a chance at a winning performance? I'm not so sure after watching the Rams go through yet another game without pushing the ball downfield, counter to offseason promises.

Bradford's passes traveled an average of 5.8 yards downfield before reaching their targets, the NFL's third-shortest average for Week 1 and far below Grossman's league-high 14.5-yard average against the Giants.

Going into the season, Bradford said he expected the Rams to deploy aggressive, ever-changing game plans. He said 2010 opponents knew they didn't have to respect downfield throws as the season progressed.

"As the year went along and people realized we weren’t doing it for personnel reasons or schematic reasons, safeties started to creep down," Bradford said during my visit to Rams training camp. "And instead of there being four bodies down there, there were six bodies that we were trying to work concepts into and it just seemed like everything got condensed and the windows got smaller as the year went on."

The Rams' window isn't closing anytime soon, win or lose Monday night. But with games against Green Bay (road), Dallas (road) and New Orleans (home) looming next month, now would be a good time to open it a little wider.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com expects Ahmad Brooks to earn a starting job this season. Maiocco: "Brooks, who recorded 11 sacks in the past two seasons combined, has been lining up on the left side with the first-team defense. With his job apparently secure, that leaves competition on the right side between incumbent Parys Haralson and rookie Aldon Smith, the No. 7 overall pick in the draft." Claiming Brooks off waivers from Cincinnati in 2008 stands as one of the better recent waiver claims I can recall in the NFC West. Reports at the time suggested Brooks might back up Patrick Willis at inside linebacker. Brooks has instead become an effective outside pass-rusher. The 49ers were strongly considering taking Brooks in the 2006 supplemental draft, but the Bengals beat them to it.

Also from Maiocco: a look at how the 49ers' quarterback situation has evolved.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee quotes 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh as pointing to the following players as having strong camps: Brooks, Willis, Justin Smith, Donte Whitner, Andy Lee, David Akers, Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker, Joe Staley and Chilo Rachal.

Also from Barrows: Tramaine Brock has been the 49ers' most durable cornerback this summer.

Grant Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat updates the rising and falling stock of various 49ers players.

Also from Cohn: The 49ers' starters will play about as much in the second week of preseason as they did in the first.

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News updates Harbaugh's plans for the 49ers' wide receivers. Inman: "There remains an obvious emphasis on downfield blocks that could help spring mainstay running back Frank Gore. But the receivers are learning a new array of routes, including a bevy of slant patterns, once a trademark during the 49ers' days as a Super Bowl-winning dynasty."

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle says the newly signed Josh McCown could get playing time for the 49ers against Oakland.

Also from Crumpacker: Rookie cornerback Chris Culliver has caught the 49ers' attention. Harbaugh: "He really showed good things right from the beginning. I thought he played well the first week [of training camp]. The third week, he has to push through some things to keep that upward trajectory going. The jumps don't get to be as big as they were the first week."

Paola Boivin of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals first-round draft choice Patrick Peterson faces a tough transition to the NFL as a cornerback, noting that Charles Woodson is the only defensive rookie of the year from the secondary over the past 18 seasons. Boivin: "It's been difficult to evaluate Peterson in this limited time at training camp, but he's certainly caught the team's eye as a returner. He was a standout punt and kick returner in college and showed flashes in the Cardinals' preseason victory against the Oakland Raiders. He returned a kick 29 yards." I expected Peterson to stand out more as a cornerback early in camp.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic contrasts the Cardinals and Packers heading into their preseason game Friday night. Somers: "Unlike the Packers, the Cardinals' two-deep is really a flow chart of the unknown. Their starting two outside linebackers, Joey Porter and Clark Haggans, are 34. Starting nose tackle Dan Williams reported to camp in poor condition. The two starting cornerbacks, A.J. Jefferson and Greg Toler, are young and unproven. There is no premier pass rusher and strong safety Adrian Wilson is out with a torn biceps tendon."

Also from Somers: Five things to watch when the Cardinals and Packers play.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com won't be surprised if Jeff King gets a few starts over Todd Heap in single tight end groupings thanks to King's superior blocking.

Also from Urban: advancing the Cardinals-Packers game.

Jim Trotter of SI.com offers thoughts from Cardinals training camp. He expects Larry Fitzgerald to sign a contract extension by Sept. 4

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the Seahawks' secondary came up big on the final day of training camp. Farnsworth: "Wednesday, the defensive line set the tempo in practice. Today, it was the defensive backs. They got their hands on dozen passes -- including interceptions by strong safety Kam Chancellor, rookie cornerback Byron Maxwell and rookie safety Jeron Johnson. But the defensive play of practice was turned in rookie linebacker Malcolm Smith, who bowled over fullback Dorson Boyce on his way to plowing into running back Justin Forsett behind the line of scrimmage."

Also from Farnsworth: The Seahawks felt rushed during camp thanks to the lockout.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says Tyler Polumbus will start at left tackle for Seattle while Russell Okung continues to recover from an ankle injury.

Also from O'Neil: Zach Miller's prospects at tight end for the Seahawks. Miller has racked up receptions in recent seasons, but blocking duties prevent anyone from saying his hands are soft. Miller: "You have the lineman hands. "The swollen knuckles and the bloody fingers, peeled back nails."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune offers an injury update for Seattle: "Defensive back Walter Thurmond (ankle), defensive tackle Ryan Sims (knee), defensive end Chris Clemons (ankle), cornerback Kelly Jennings (head), defensive end Pierre Allen (unspecified) and tight end John Carlson (shoulder) did not practice Thursday and likely will not play."

John Boyle of the Everett Herald says Red Bryant excelled at practice Thursday.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with former Rams coach Dick Vermeil for thoughts on the team. Also: "After resting his sore hip for a couple of days, running back Steven Jackson returned to practice today, albeit on a somewhat limited basis."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Donnie Avery made the most of his recent return to practice, leading some teammates to joke that he was back from the dead. Thomas: "Hey, teammates will be teammates. But Avery turned the jeers into cheers later in Wednesday's practice at Rams Park. After diving to the turf to corral a low throw, several teammates shouted encouragement."

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com passes along a few Rams-related injury updates. Mike Sims-Walker has a shot at playing Saturday.

Also from Wagoner: a look at increased expectations on defense for the Rams. Wagoner: "From the moment coach Steve Spagnuolo took over in 2009 and promptly named Ken Flajole defensive coordinator, the defense has enjoyed a stability that has included a grand total of zero coaching changes on that side of the staff and minimal turnover in terms of the starters. Now, entering the third year in the aggressive, attacking scheme that Flajole and Spagnuolo have cooked up, the sky would seem to be the limit for a group that made big strides in 2010 and is expecting even more in 2011."

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- A few thoughts between the morning walk-through and full afternoon practice at St. Louis Rams training camp:

• This will be a productive week. Coach Steve Spagnuolo, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, defensive coordinator Ken Flajole, quarterback Sam Bradford and running back Steven Jackson are among those scheduled for availability in the coming days. I had a chance to speak with middle linebacker James Laurinaitis and receiver Mike Sims-Walker. Thoughts from them to come.
• Receivers in focus. The situation at wide receiver stands out as one deserving our attention as camp progresses. Sims-Walker is about as motivated as a player could be after the Jacksonville Jaguars showed no real interest in retaining him. He heads a list featuring Brandon Gibson, Austin Pettis, Greg Salas and Danny Amendola among receivers most likely to stick around on the reduction to 53 players. The team still needs to figure out what it has in Donnie Avery, Mardy Gilyard, Danario Alexander, Dominique Curry and the unsigned Mark Clayton -- all players with injury concerns.
• Changing roster dynamics. The Rams hit free agency hard for role players this offseason. What are the effects, immediate and projected?
• Uniform code in effect. Walk-through practices don't offer viewers much of substance. The highlight from the Rams' walk-through? It was tough to top Sports Illustrated's Peter King and Rams general manager Billy Devaney showing up wearing the exact -- and I do mean exact -- shade of lavender golf shirts, tucked in and accompanied by matching cargo shorts. It was as though they'd been dressed by the same mother, to the point that players were razzing them. I'll be curious to see if one of them changes before the afternoon session.

The afternoon practice begins at 1:30 p.m. CT (2:30 ET). Please hit the comments section with any ideas or requests you might have. And if you're going to be out at practice, let me know. I'll be the guy not wearing lavender.

Those over-the-counter drug commercials filled with hope, sunshine and a long list of potentially disastrous side effects come to mind when NFC West teams hire coordinators these days.

Ray Horton, fresh off a Super Bowl appearance and a successful run as the Pittsburgh Steelers' secondary coach, should be thrilled to have emerged as a favorite to run the Arizona Cardinals' defense.

Becoming a coordinator for the first time stands as a career achievement, particularly for someone such as Horton, who has invested more than 25 years as an NFL player and position coach.

But if the NFC West were living under the same guidelines pharmaceutical companies must follow, the Cardinals would punctuate their interview with Horton by listing the primary side effect associated with the job: quick unemployment.

High rate of turnover

NFC West teams have employed 22 coordinators since 2008. Horton would make it 23.

Only four NFC West coordinators are returning from last season.

Two -- Russ Grimm and Mike Miller in Arizona -- divide responsibilities for the running and passing games, respectively. They work under an offensive-minded head coach, Ken Whisenhunt, who has frequently handled the play calling. The division's two other returning coordinators -- St. Louis' Ken Flajole and Seattle's Gus Bradley -- are defensive coordinators under defensive-minded head coaches.

Since 2008, NFC West teams have fired six coordinators. They have decided against retaining five left over from previous staffs. They have lost two to head coaching jobs and allowed another, Greg Manusky in San Francisco, to make a lateral move while the new head coach, Jim Harbaugh, pursued others for his staff.

Four NFC West coordinators are heading into their first season on the job, with Horton potentially becoming the fifth.

The situation in Arizona

Whisenhunt has sought to transfer the Pittsburgh model to Arizona since leaving the Steelers to become the Cardinals' head coach before the 2007 season. Grimm, who coaches the offensive line and running game while serving as assistant head coach, came along with him from Pittsburgh.

The Cardinals have twice tried and failed to land Steelers linebackers coach Keith Butler as their defensive coordinator. They interviewed Todd Bowles, the assistant head coach and secondary coach for the Miami Dolphins, before the Super Bowl. They reportedly reached out to Green Bay Packers assistant head coach and linebackers coach Winston Moss.

But it's the Pittsburgh model they want to establish in Arizona.

Whisenhunt's background on offense makes him ideally suited to oversee that side of the ball. That offensive background also makes him more reliant on his defensive coordinator to run the defense. Hiring the right defensive coordinator can be critical for an offensive-minded head coach. That is the case here.

Don't forget the players

Horton's immediate boss in Pittsburgh, defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, likes to dispel the notion that he's some sort of defensive guru devising novel schemes to outwit less resourceful opponents.

LeBeau provided one of my favorite quotes from Super Bowl week when a reporter asked how he manages to disguise his defenses.

"That’s easy," LeBeau said. "You just get Troy Polamalu in your backfield and he’ll move around and disguise anything you want to do. Usually it works when he’s doing it."

The Steelers have dynamic players at outside linebacker, a position critical to making a 3-4 defense succeed. The Cardinals have gotten old at the position without developing suitable replacements, one reason Bill Davis lasted only two seasons as coordinator.

"The bottom line is always going to be who is playing for you and how good are they," LeBeau said, "because they are the ones, in the final analysis, who are going to go out there and make your defense successful."

Horton's credentials

Whisenhunt and Grimm can tap into their own playing careers when relating to players. I've always sensed that Whisenhunt valued that part of the coaching equation.

Neither of the Cardinals' previous two coordinators under Whisenhunt played in the NFL. Horton, a second-round draft choice in 1983, played six seasons for Cincinnati and four for Dallas, transitioning from cornerback to free safety. Being a former player isn't enough by itself, obviously, but Horton's playing career could make him more credible initially.

And for the first time, Whisenhunt would have a defensive coordinator versed in the Steelers' scheme and mindset.

Horton's background coaching the secondary, as opposed to linebackers, further distinguishes him from his immediate predecessor. It also distinguishes him from most coordinators running a 3-4 scheme under offensive-minded head coaches, a distinction I find relevant because defensive-minded head coaches tend to oversee that side of the ball.

Arizona was among eight NFL teams that went into the 2010 season with an offensive-minded head coach and a defensive coordinator running a 3-4 scheme. Six of the eight defensive coordinators had backgrounds coaching linebackers. One, Romeo Crennel in Cleveland, traced his coaching roots to the defensive line. The Packers' Dom Capers was the only one with a background in the secondary, although he had been a head coach twice before joining Green Bay.

Three-four schemes rely heavily on blitz combinations featuring linebackers. Horton's background coaching the secondary wouldn't preclude him from knowing the ins and outs of linebacker blitzes. At the least, he might approach the defense a little differently than a former linebackers coach might.

"He’s been around the game a lot and he’s won a Super Bowl as a coach and as a player," Polamalu said of Horton. "He’s had so much to do with the success that we’ve had as a secondary."

Paix from Seattle writes: There was a few articles before the season and recently about Aaron Curry not living up to his potential and just now turning the corner. This is his second season and it seems like some people already were thinking he was a bust. I was watching the Rams' game against San Francisco and Chris Long was getting a lot of praise for stepping up this year. Chris was the second overall pick in 2008 and his first-year stats were less then Curry's first-year stats. Was Chris considered a potential bust like Curry? I just wanted a national perspective. Thank you.

Mike Sando: Your Long-Curry comparison is a good one. It's far too early to consider Curry a bust. It was reasonable earlier this season to wonder if his career was on the right track, however. The Seahawks were taking him off the field for long stretches in a couple of games. He did not appear to have a significant role across all situations. That seemed notable given his draft status. I think Curry has a chance to develop into Chris Clemons' successor at the "Leo" position. He just needs to keep improving as a rusher.

There were definitely concerns among Rams fans that Long wasn't showing enough to justify his draft status. The Rams arguably weren't using Long as well as they could have been using him when they had him lining up on the right side for most of his first two seasons. Long appears more comfortable on the left side.

Long is also getting more favorable matchups, it appears, now that Fred Robbins is making an impact at defensive tackle. Long has also shown improvement. The Rams are more competitive overall, and that puts pass-rushers in more favorable situations than when their teams are trailing by wide margins.

Reporters in St. Louis asked Rams defensive coordinator Ken Flajole about Long this week. Long has five sacks in his last four games. Reporters wanted to know what had changed.

"I think any time you’re in the second year of the same scheme, guys are more comfortable," Flajole said. "I think the fact that some other guys around him have played well has opened things up. I don’t think people are able necessarily to chip or double to Chris because James Hall is doing a nice job and Freddy Robbins is rushing the passer. So, Chris is on a natural progression."

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Max from San Francisco writes: It's been great to see the sudden progress that the 49ers have made over the past couple weeks, leading some to believe that an NFC West title is still within reach. But one area that they still seem to struggle with is the return game. Ted Ginn Jr. looked particularly off with punts against the Rams on Sunday, and it made we wonder about the status of Kyle Williams. He was brought in as a return specialist, but since his return from that toe injury, I haven't seen him anywhere. He does have a quick first step and sharp cutting ability that you look for in a return guy. Is there a chance we see more of him to give special teams a much needed boost/change?

Mike Sando: Williams' injury problems earlier in the season took him out of the mix. Then he muffed that punt against New Orleans in the Monday night game (correction: another rookie, Phillip Adams, was the one who struggled fielding the ball in the wind at Candlestick Park that night). Mike Singletary is all about ball security. He would rather have Ginn field the ball cleanly for no return than risk turnovers with a rookie who may or may not provide additional pop when he does return the ball.

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Eric from Culver City, Calif., writes: Hey, man, just wanted to write a quick note and let you know how much I appreciate your work. I'm a life-long Rams fan and used to contribute a little in the comments section, but found the experience similar to having a conversation with a pack of alcoholic wildebeests who dropped out of middle school. Anyway, there seems to be a sentiment that Rams fans are less passionate because of their relative absence from the blog. Let me assure you, we are out here, we are reading every post, and we are living and dying with our team just like every other stupid -- er, passionate -- fan out there.

I think there's a lot of evidence to support the theory that the Rams will start dominating this division in 2011. Given the state of the other teams, that dominance can last for several seasons. When it happens, Rams fans who have been around but too depressed to speak up will show up more for the chats and comment more in the blog entries. People will accuse us of being front-runners. But, trust me, we're here right now. Just to prove it, I'm reaching out now, after our most devastating loss of the year.

Mike Sando: Thanks, Eric. My attempts to raise the level of conversation within the comments sections of blog entries have produced sporadic results. In some cases, we've taken the conversations to my Facebook page, where I can more easily control who participates. Thanks for standing up and being counted. We do need more Rams fans taking part. My hope is that technology will ultimately contribute to a more pleasant experience for all in the comments sections.

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Nick from Tempe, Ariz., writes: With Michael Vick only signed for one year in Philly, what are the chances he takes off at the end year for another team? The Eagles gave Kevin Kolb the extension, naming him their franchise QB, correct? They will have to choose one, seeing as how neither wants to be a backup. If Vick leaves, how well of a fit would he be with the Cards, and should they pursue him?

Mike Sando: The Eagles will have to re-sign Vick at this rate. He's playing too well. If Vick were to somehow hit the market, yes, the Cardinals would be wise to pursue him. Vick would turn that offense around instantly. But I just do not see the Eagles letting Vick get away. Instead, I see the Eagles finding a way to get value for Kolb via trade after extending Vick's contract. Kolb's deal runs only through the 2011 season. There is no salary cap at present. Perhaps the Eagles could work out a trade.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com provides a chat transcript featuring this thought on Troy Smith: "Yes, Troy Smith has a chance to be the starting 49ers' QB in 2011. I've been impressed with his mentality. I like that he keeps his eyes downfield and he's not afraid to let it fly. When I look at the potential free-agent quarterbacks, he might be the best guy out there -- assuming, as everyone would assume, Michael Vick returns to the Eagles. As for what he needs to 'clean up,' I address that in the link I posted at the top. There was one play last week against the Rams in which he threw a pass up for grabs that was a bad decision. I think that's the play that Mike Singletary did not like." Projecting the 49ers' future at quarterback could require knowing how the coaching situation will shake out. The team's thinking on the position could change dramatically with a new head coach.

Also from Maiocco: The 49ers' offense has improved with Mike Johnson as its coordinator. Singletary: "There was a reason why Mike Johnson was chosen as the coordinator. I think the best thing about Mike Johnson is his ability to get everybody in that room (involved). All those guys have the opportunity to have input. And when you do that, then you're going to get creativity. You're going to get a different thought process when everybody is involved, so it's definitely going to make a difference and it has so far."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers' offensive coordinator leans on assistants.

Also from Barrows: The 49ers need to re-sign center David Baas, among others. On Alex Smith: "Smith bashers can take out their tambourines and snare drums, but don't start banging them quite yet. There's still an X-Wing-fighter-hits-a-small-hole-in-the-Death-Star chance the quarterback will be re-signed. It likely would involve a Troy Smith injury/collapse and a miracle finish by Alex Smith and the 49ers. That or Norv Turner is named the 49ers new head coach in January."

Taylor Price of 49ers.com says Patrick Willis has stepped up when needed.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News has this to say about Johnson, the 49ers' offensive coordinator: "Johnson has figured out how to use (Troy) Smith all on his own. Against the Rams, for example, Johnson often used a max-protect scheme that helped buy Smith extra time to take a deep shot down field. That led to a 65-yard completion to Josh Morgan in the first quarter and reminded St. Louis that the 49ers had other players to worry about besides running back Frank Gore. Get used to it, Johnson said. Over the past two games, the 49ers have nine pass plays of at least 25 yards -- with zero interceptions."

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat offers this quote from 49ers tight end Delanie Walker: "All my life playing football, it’s the first time the offensive coordinator let the other coaches talk (in meetings)."

Also from Branch: Josh Freeman is the latest rising young quarterback to face the 49ers.

More from Branch: Brett Favre gets a mention in relation to the 49ers.

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers want Troy Smith to improvise without losing control.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says tight end John Carlson has had to learn fullback while Michael Robinson recovers from injury. Carlson hasn't fared well enough as a receiver to command a more prominent role in that capacity. Chris Baker was the one catching a deep ball against Arizona.

Also from Farnsworth: Matt Hasselbeck's left wrist is not limiting the quarterback.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times offers details regarding Raheem Brock's DUI arrest. O'Neil: "Brock declined to submit for voluntary field-sobriety tests. He did consent to a preliminary breath test, which measured his blood-alcohol concentration at .133, according to the report. The legal limit in Washington is 0.08. Brock was then arrested. He was taken to University of Washington Police Department for further tests. According to the police report, the two breath samples were measured at .115 and .111."

Also from O'Neil: Russell Okung appears ready to return from an ankle injury. Seattle needs him, particularly in the running game.

John Boyle of the Everett Herald sizes up the Seahawks' next opponent, New Orleans.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt spoke of his special teams when asked about his offensive line. Whisenhunt: "It's hard for me to sit here at 3-6 and say we're doing anything good. The only thing that I would say is playing well is special teams. They've been pretty consistent the whole year. Like every other area of our team, I've seen them (offensive linemen) play very well, I've seen them play not so well. Sometimes the offensive line is judged by the number of sacks they give up and unfortunately this year, we've been in situations where we've trailed in games. And that makes it even more difficult on your offensive line."

Also from Somers: a Cardinals-Chiefs scouting report. The Chiefs have suffered a league-low seven turnovers. Somers: "The Chiefs have been intercepted four times and lost three fumbles. The Cardinals will need to change that trend Sunday. The offense needs all the field position help it can get, and turnovers will be a key. The Chiefs fumbled three times last week in a loss to the Broncos, but lost only one of them."

More from Somers: Beanie Wells is eager to get back on the field for Arizona. Quarterback Derek Anderson: "We haven't really had him, so I can't really say that we miss him. We don't know what he can do. I think he's a special back and someone that can help us."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says he will be "shocked" if Wells does not play against the Chiefs.

Also from Urban: a more detailed look at Wells' situation.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams have sold enough tickets to avoid a local television blackout for their Week 11 game against Atlanta.

Also from Coats: Rodger Saffold has made a quick recovery from the ankle injury that sidelined him for most of the Rams' game at San Francisco.

More from Coats: Punter Donnie Jones is enjoying another excellent season for the Rams.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams have concerns in pass coverage heading into their game against Roddy White and the Falcons. The 49ers repeatedly made big plays in the passing game last week. Rams defensive coordinator Ken Flajole: "If you would've been in our meeting room on Monday watching the tape, I think you would fully appreciate that our guys were bitterly disappointed. Bitterly disappointed on how we performed, bitterly disappointed in the outcome. I appreciate that as a coach, the fact that the guys take a lot of pride. It means something to them. It means something to them that when the game was on the line, and we had a chance on defense to overtake the game, that we didn't get it done."

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com says the Rams added Fred Robbins to their injury report with an upper back injury. Robbins was limited in practice. Strong play from Robbins has helped the Rams' defensive ends get to the quarterback against more favorable matchups.

Brian Stull of 101ESPN St. Louis says the Rams rank first in sacks, sixth in points allowed and among the NFL's best in third-down defense and red zone defense.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' road struggles are confounding to all involved, particularly after this 23-20 overtime defeat to the 49ers. I thought this was the first game of the season when the Rams' problems in the secondary stood out as the No. 1 reason the team lost a game. The Rams had previously masked or at least overcome those issues. They could not stop the 49ers from making big play after big play in the passing game. Defensive end Chris Long broke up a pass in the end zone and that might have been the best pass defense the Rams played. Miklasz: "Look, the Rams are in second place instead of first place because of this losing habit. These road losses are significant. They aren't random events. This has become a trend. And these Rams' yack jobs away from St. Louis are why the Seattle Seahawks lead the NFC West with a 5-4 record. The Seahawks -- a seriously flawed team -- are 2-3 on the road. The Rams are 0-4. Hence, Seattle (5-4) has a one-game lead on the 4-5 Rams."

From Miklasz earlier: Sam Bradford has impressed Kurt Warner.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers a Rams report card with a D-plus grade for coaching. Coats: "OC Pat Shurmur opened the game with four-wideout sets on three of the first four snaps. He stayed creative early, but again turned conservative as the Rams tried to hold a lead. DC Ken Flajole oddly chose to go with four-man rushes on a number of crucial pass situations. HC coach Steve Spagnuolo could be challenged for passing up a 52-yard FG try early in the fourth quarter and the Rams up 17-10. And why did Kevin Dockery start at CB over Bradley Fletcher? That cost the Rams dearly."

Also from Coats: The 49ers' big-play offense took advantage of the Rams. Long: "We had more big plays we gave up today than we did all year. That's the difference. Really, that game falls squarely on our shoulders defensively."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo defended the Rams' decision not to blitz in a critical situation. The 49ers made enough big plays to make any coach nervous about taking chances.

Also from Thomas: Rams cornerback Ron Bartell laments the team's inability to make stops when the 49ers faced highly unfavorable down-and-distance situations late in the game.

More from Thomas: The Rams again came close to winning on the road.

Brian Stull of 101ESPN St. Louis looks at highs and lows from the Rams' performance. On the plus side: "Sam Bradford completed his fourth game without throwing an interception and led the team with a late drive down the field to tie the game. Steven Jackson had 148 yards from scrimmage, including a hard run for a touchdown and a big catch to set up the game-tying field goal."

Tony Softli of 101ESPN St. Louis says the Rams are a young team that needs to be careful about how much swagger it possesses following victories.

The San Francisco 49ers haven't thrown a third-and-1 pass to Vernon Davis since last season.

That isn't long enough for the St. Louis Rams and their defensive coordinator, Ken Flajole.

Davis burned the Rams for a 73-yard touchdown reception on a third-and-1 play in Week 17 last season. The 49ers used their power-oriented 22 personnel grouping on the play, suggesting they might run the ball. Davis put his speed to use, breaking open a 7-6 game in the fourth quarter.

"We thought we had a close game going with them," Flajole told reporters Thursday. "He kind of broke the game open in the fourth quarter against us a little bit. We certainly have to be aware of where he’s at. He’s a fine player, a very athletic tight end."

Davis burned the Seattle Seahawks for a 33-yard touchdown last season on a fourth-and-1 play from the same personnel grouping.

"He's very dangerous," Flajole said. "They create personnel groups for him where he actually becomes just a wide receiver out on the field right now, so we’ve got to be smart about him."

Fellow tight end Delanie Walker emerged as a preferred target for 49ers quarterback Troy Smith in the 49ers' most recent game. An ankle injury sidelined Davis for much of that game. The 49ers expect Davis back against the Rams in Week 10.

Power Rankings: Preseason: 32. This week: 21.

2010 Schedule/Results

Where they stand: The Rams are 4-4 and leading the NFC West. They hold the tiebreaker over 4-4 Seattle after beating the Seahawks in Week 4. The Rams have used improved quarterback play, a better-than-expected defensive front and a favorable schedule to win more games at the midpoint than they won in the full 2008 and 2009 seasons combined. The Rams are building toward a brighter future while competing for a playoff spot in the present. They've been the most consistent team in the division. They have the NFL's 10th-ranked defense and a quarterback to build around in rookie Sam Bradford.

Falling: The Rams have had a hard time keeping receivers and tight ends healthy for Bradford, threatening their offensive productivity. Donnie Avery and Mark Clayton are on injured reserve with knee injuries. Fellow wideout Danario Alexander lasted two games before needing another knee surgery. Rookie tight end Mike Hoomanawanui was looking like a go-to receiver for Bradford until a high-ankle sprain sidelined him for a four-game stretch. The Rams hired a new training staff before the season. They're getting their money's worth at receiver and tight end alone.

Rising: Bradford is the obvious choice here. He became a credible leader right away through his preparation, demeanor and production. Bradford has answered questions about his durability. He has five touchdown passes without an interception in his past three games. Bradford, Dan Marino, Ben Roethlisberger and Peyton Manning are the only rookie quarterbacks since 1970 with 11 touchdown passes in their first eight games. On defense, coach Steve Spagnuolo and coordinator Ken Flajole deserve credit for their scheming amid significant injury issues in the secondary. Defensive linemen Chris Long, Fred Robbins and James Hall are playing at a high level.

Midseason MVP: Bradford gets my vote. Steven Jackson is the heart and soul of this team, but Bradford is the biggest difference for the Rams this season. The Rams have been starved for a leader at quarterback. Bradford gives the team hope and a chance on offense.

Outlook: Let's see how the Rams fare on the road against San Francisco in Week 10. That game could reveal whether the Rams are division favorites or whether they're one of four teams hanging around to see what happens in the end. Injuries at receiver and in the secondary have hurt. The Rams lack the depth to withstand too many more casualties. The bye came at a good time on that front. Four of the Rams' next five games fall on the road, however, and the team hasn't won away from the Edward Jones Dome this season. Home games against Atlanta and Kansas City appear tough. I could see the Rams heading to Seattle in Week 17 with a shot at 8-8.

After placing defensive tackle Clifton Ryan on injured reserve, the St. Louis Rams announced Wednesday the signing of strong safety Michael Lewis, giving the team another solid veteran role player on defense.

My thoughts? Thanks for asking, Brian.

Lewis should be fresh after sitting out the last four games, including three since the San Francisco 49ers granted him his release. Lewis should be motivated. He didn't like the way the 49ers handled their decision to replace him with rookie Taylor Mays in the starting lineup. He skipped the team's subsequent trip to Atlanta, then received his release.

The Rams needed Lewis because injuries have hit them hard at safety and in the secondary overall. It's not clear whether the Rams will keep Lewis around once their injury situation improves. But with the 49ers on the schedule in Week 10, following the Rams' bye week, Lewis could help with preparations for that game.

Safeties sometimes have a broader view of the game than players at most other positions. They sometimes help teammates line up. They tend to help with communication. They often are more familiar with how a defense fits together as opposed to knowing only their assignments.

Lewis, 30, has vast experience. He'll know the ins and outs of the 49ers' defensive scheme. He'll have a very good feel for the 49ers' personnel. Those things aren't going to decide games, necessarily, but there's no downside for the Rams. Adding veterans Fred Robbins and Na'il Diggs has served them well to this point. Robbins played for Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo when both were with the New York Giants. Diggs was with Rams defensive coordinator Ken Flajole in Carolina. Lewis was with Spagnuolo in Philadelphia.

Lewis is best in run support. The Rams allowed 124 yards rushing against Tampa Bay in Week 7. Missed tackles were a factor.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch uses the word "choked" when describing the Rams' performance during an 18-17 defeat at Tampa Bay. Miklasz: "The Rams, who barely hung on during a three-point win over San Diego last week, didn't hold up this time. The Rams have been outscored 26-3 in the second half of the last two games and 69-39 in the second half for the season." The Rams proved last week they could win a close game. They have yet to prove they can win a close game on the road. Their 16-14 defeat at Oakland was similarly discouraging. Four of the Rams' next six games are on the road and some of those games figure to be close.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers an "F" grade for the Rams' coaching in Week 7. Coats: "Hideous clock management at the end of the first half. Rams called two timeouts, hoping they'd get the ball back, but instead handed the Bucs more time to get a crucial FG. OC Pat Shurmur was aggressive and creative in the first half, predictable and uninspiring in the second. Where was WR Danario Alexander? DC Ken Flajole blitzed a fair amount, but they didn't produce much. Ultimately, all share culpability for a timid second half that spawned an ugly collapse against a mediocre opponent."

Also from Coats: Steven Jackson became the Rams' franchise rushing leader, but the defeat prevented him from fully enjoying the achievement.

Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com says the Rams' aggressiveness toward the end of the first half cost them Sunday. Gordon: "Calling the timeouts was an uncharacteristic move by (Steve) Spagnuolo. Normally he would be thrilled to reach halftime with a two-touchdown lead on the road. He was going for the kill there -- despite coaching a team short on mortal weapons. He got caught up in the moment and cost the Rams dearly. Even if the Rams got the ball back late in the first half, where, exactly, were they going with it?"

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch quotes Sam Bradford as saying this was his worst performance of the season, even though the rookie has never had a higher passer rating. Bradford: "I was just off today, and that's really inexcusable. In a game like this, when your team needs you to put points on the board, and I can't go out and execute, it's just ... tough. I gotta get better." Bradford completed 13 of 26 passes for 126 yards, with two touchdowns, no interceptions and an 89.6 rating.

Brian Stull of 101ESPN St. Louis says the Rams might need some time to recover from one of their most difficult defeats. James Laurinaitis: "This one is extremely sour right now. Yeah, I'll just put it at that."

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Preseason predictions. Those would include mine, not that anyone could have known Marshawn Lynch would revitalize Seattle's offense while the Seahawks allowed zero sacks during a road victory against the Chicago Bears. I mean, really, could anyone have seen that coming back in August? Or even two weeks ago? This was the year San Francisco appeared in position to hold off Arizona for the top spot in the NFC West, with Seattle and St. Louis trailing. Six weeks into the season, we could rank the teams in reverse order of expected finish without stretching too far. But it's a week-to-week existence in the NFC West and throughout much of the league. Fortunes change quickly.

2. Seahawks' special teams. Golden Tate muffed a Bears punt at the Seattle 7-yard line and was fortunate to recover. A penalty against the Bears wiped out a kickoff return for a touchdown. An off-target punt allowed the Bears' Devin Hester to return the ball 89 yards for a touchdown in the final minutes, forcing Seattle to sweat out a victory unnecessarily. Punter Jon Ryan was excellent to that point in the game and Seattle's special teams remain strong overall, but a couple high-profile miscues can ruin everything.

3. Arizona Cardinals. It's not their fault the rest of the NFC West went 3-0 during Arizona's bye week. It's not their fault Buffalo traded Lynch to the Seahawks shortly before the Cardinals' visit to Qwest Field. It's not their fault the Rams somehow rebounded from a 44-6 defeat in Detroit to beat a San Diego team that had blown out Arizona two weeks earlier. The reality, though, is that the Cardinals unexpectedly lost sole possession of first place in the division.

RISING

1. Mike Williams, Seahawks WR. Ten catches for 123 yards will raise the stock for just about anyone. Williams' stock has already risen significantly since his surprise signing in Seattle during the offseason. It took a sharp turn upward Sunday. Williams made key catches on third down. He made a difficult catch near the ground in tight quarters along the goal line. Through his efforts, the Seahawks didn't have to hear about Deion Branch catching nine passes for 98 yards in his first game after Seattle traded Branch to New England.

2. Ken Flajole, Rams defensive coordinator. The Rams' defense has outperformed outside expectations. Seven sacks against Philip Rivers helped the Rams hold the Chargers well below their season averages for total yards and passing yards in particular. San Diego managed only 287 yards, 102 lower than its previous worst this season. The Rams ended the Chargers' 13-game streak with at least 300 yards. Flajole doesn't get as much credit as he otherwise might because the Rams have a defense-minded head coach, but more will come his way if St. Louis keeps this up on defense.

3. Frank Gore, 49ers RB. Gore's stock generally doesn't change much, but his 64-yard run and 149-yard rushing performance against Oakland proved critical in the 49ers' first victory of the season. Gore was coming off a two-fumble performance during a 27-24 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles. He also stepped out of bounds before making a reception during that game. Gore appeared primed for a rebound game, and he got one.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Steven Jackson's power running allowed the Rams to close out the Chargers, 20-17, for their third victory in four games. Guard Jacob Bell: "I told 'Jack' after the game that he has unbelievable ability, but even greater willpower and effort. To see the way he strives to compete and to win -- it fuels us. It fuels the line. It fuels the offense. I mean, I was beyond impressed with him today." The Rams have started the same five offensive linemen every game this season even though Bell suffered a concussion last week. The team's young tackles have fared better at home. Can St. Louis win a road game for the first time this season when the Rams visit Tampa Bay in Week 7?

Also from Thomas: The Rams got conservative offensively in the second half. Also: Hamstring injuries sidelined Mardy Gilyard, Justin King and Darian Stewart.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams were true to their word when they said a 44-6 defeat at Detroit in Week 5 wouldn't undermine their confidence following back-to-back victories. Coats: "Rams defensive coordinator Ken Flajole ordered a heavy dose of blitzes, and Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers took a beating. The Rams produced seven sacks -- two apiece by linebacker Larry Grant, end James Hall and end Chris Long, and one by tackle Fred Robbins. The Rams hadn't generated as many sacks in a game since piling up eight against Minnesota in 2003."

Also from Coats: a Rams report card with high marks for James Hall, who blocked a Chargers field goal try.

Bryan Burwell and Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offer postgame thoughts following the Rams' victory. Miklasz wanted to see more aggressiveness from the Rams' offense after the team built a 14-point lead. Miklasz: "It got a little unnerving late in the game but the Rams held on for a 20-17 win. They're 3-3. And could be 5-1. The team made a positive statement Sunday. Outstanding win."

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com says the Rams "continue to surprise with character, grit and will" -- to say nothing of accurate passing from Sam Bradford. The Rams held San Diego to 287 yards, an indication the Detroit game was more aberration than indication.

Also from Wagoner: Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo showed players the classic 1985 Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns fight Saturday night. Other fights I would recommend: George Foreman over Ron Lyle, for starters.

More from Wagoner: Danario Alexander's diving 38-yard touchdown catch was huge for the Rams. Wagoner: "It wasn’t until Sunday that it was certain that Alexander would even be among the 45 active players against the Chargers. But the Rams had worked him into the mix during the week and had some plays in for him, including the two catches he made to jump start the Rams’ day."

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat says Jackson had five carries for 28 yards on the Rams' clinching drive. Jackson: "Our defense was gassed, it was no secret. They'd been fighting for us, and they'd held San Diego. It was going to come down to who had the ball last. We knew we had to get a first down, and we had to get it in a convincing manner to take their will away from them. We did that. Coach challenged me, and I challenged the offensive line, and everyone responded.''

Also from Korte: The Rams have won their last three games at home.

More from Korte: Alexander was "ecstatic" after catching his first touchdown pass.

Brian Stull of 101ESPN St. Louis passes along quotes from Rams players. Bradford: "I think the way we played today and the way we prepared this week says a lot about the guys we have on our team."

Tony Softli of 101ESPN St. Louis says the Rams' performance against San Diego shows the team believes in Spagnuolo.