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Phil from Phoenix fears the Arizona Cardinals will put need before value in drafting an offensive lineman with their first-round choice, as he feels they did in making Levi Brown the fifth pick back in 2007. Phil thinks Alabama outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw would give the Cardinals an impact player on defense -- and better value.

Mike Sando: The decision to draft Brown fifth overall was understandable. Brown started for five seasons, then received a $7 million signing bonus as part of a second contract. The Cardinals do not consider him to be a bust, in other words.

In retrospect, it's easy to say Arizona should have drafted Adrian Peterson over Brown, but the Cardinals had already invested heavily in free-agent running back Edgerrin James. They were looking to give their new line coach, Russ Grimm, a player to build around. Brown has not met expectations associated with his draft status, but he's going to start for at least a sixth consecutive season.

The Cardinals' need for another offensive tackle is acute. That is one reason the team felt compelled to bring back Brown. Arizona does not hold a second-round pick, so there will be added pressure to help the offensive line early. Free-agent options appear severely limited. This will be a recipe for reaching if the situation remains unchanged heading into the draft.

As much as I think the Cardinals need line help, I did send Upshaw their way in the NFL Blog Network mock draft we put together last week, for several reasons. The chart shows quite a few prominent draft analysts projecting defensive players to the Cardinals with the 13th overall pick. Perhaps you'll get your way, Phil.

Most analysts seem to think Upshaw will go later than 13th overall. The fit in Arizona could be right, however, as the Cardinals head into their second season running the scheme coordinator Ray Horton brought from Pittsburgh. As Pro Football Weekly analyst Nolan Nawrocki put it, Upshaw is "not as athletic as [Steelers outside linebacker] LaMarr Woodley, but could best fit a similar type of role as an intimidating 3-4 rush linebacker."

Raise your hand if you had the San Francisco 49ers selecting Aldon Smith with the seventh overall choice in the 2011 NFL draft.

Not seeing many hands out there. Not seeing any hands, actually.

OK, let's try this again.

Raise your hand if you had the Seattle Seahawks selecting James Carpenter at No. 25.

Hmmm. Not seeing many hands out there. Not seeing any, actually.

Do not feel bad. Even if you knew which 32 players would become first-round picks in a given NFL draft, there would be more than 263 decillion possible combinations.

The number looks like this: 263,130,836,933,693,530,167,218,012,160,000,000.

With that in mind, our 2012 NFL Blog Network mock draft comes guaranteed not for accuracy but for its ability to promote conversation, a process that has already begun here on the NFC West blog.

"Kendall Wright pick makes no sense" CHI-TOWN-BULLS protested upon seeing the Baylor receiver projected for the49ers at No. 30.

More on that in a minute.

We penciled in Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III at the top with a reasonable degree of confidence. Matt Kalil, Trent Richardson, Morris Claiborne and Justin Blackmon fell third through sixth. Most choices seemed logical, but somewhere among the top five or 10 selections, an NFL team breaks from projected form, tapping into those 263 decillion combinations.

Two years ago, the Jacksonville Jaguars obliterated mock drafts by selecting Tyson Alualu with the 10th pick. Last year, four quarterbacks went among the top 12 choices, with Christian Ponder a surprise choice for Minnesota at No. 12.

My thinking for the NFC West was rather straightforward:

• Rams at No. 6: Blackmon was an easy choice. The team has an obvious need for a wide receiver. Blackmon is widely regarded as the highest-rated one in this draft class, to the point that some question whether he will be available to the Rams. Going in another direction for this mock would have represented over-thinking a simple situation. Sure, St. Louis could trade back or select a player at another position. Richardson or Claiborne would carry appeal if available. But when Blackmon was available, I turned in the imaginary card right away.
• Seahawks at No. 12. I wondered going into the mock whether Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly might be available for Seattle in this slot. Would the team take an inside linebacker that early? San Francisco fared well taking Patrick Willis with the 11th pick in 2007. Scot McCloughan, now a top Seahawks personnel executive, was the driving force behind the Willis decision. Would the Seahawks see Kuechly in a similar light? They do need help at linebacker, after all. The thought became a fleeting one when Kuechly went to Carolina at No. 9. That made it easier to focus on the highest-rated pass-rushers. Quinton Coples was the choice because he seemed to be the most talented one available, based on scouting reports.
• Cardinals at No. 13. This choice was tougher than the previous two. I went with Alabama's Courtney Upshaw, figuring he might fit the profile for a pass-rushing outside linebacker in the Cardinals' 3-4 scheme. He's on the shorter side at not quite 6-foot-2, and there is no clear consensus on whether Upshaw projects as an outside linebacker. The height factor seemed less important given that Arizona patterns its defensive scheme after the one Pittsburgh has used under Dick LeBeau. The Steelers' LaMarr Woodley (6-2) and James Harrison (6-0) get the job done. Could Upshaw enjoy situational success the way Smith did as a rookie for San Francisco last season? Receiver Michael Floyd was a consideration for Arizona. I thought the Cardinals needed improved quarterback play more than they needed improved receiver talent.
• 49ers at No. 30. Wright was the choice simply because he appeared to be the highest-rated receiver available, but the 49ers could easily go in another direction. Quite a few mock drafts have linked Georgia Tech's Stephen Hill to the 49ers, but he was not available to them in this mock, having gone 22nd to Cleveland. I was drafting more for position than for the specific player. The 49ers could use another cornerback. Perhaps Janoris Jenkins would have been a better value choice. He went 31st to New England in our mock. The 49ers could use a starting right guard, but they might already have one in Daniel Kilgore, a 2011 draft choice. Besides, how many first-round picks can one team use for offensive linemen? Current starters Joe Staley, Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis were first-rounders. Ultimately, the 49ers are picking this late for a reason. They don't have as many clearly defined needs as less successful teams. They're in good position to keep an open mind.

I used ESPN's 2012 NFL Draft Machine to make selections and keep general track of which players remained available as the mock unfolded. Toggling between the overall list and specific position lists made it easier to balance value with need.

This conversation is to be continued.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Tight end Vernon Davis sold the run block, disengaged from outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley and broke into the clear for a touchdown catch so easy, he could have made it in the dark.

By then, city engineers had restored power to Candlestick Park, allowing all to see a performance complete enough to restore the San Francisco 49ers as worthy contenders in the NFC. Davis' 1-yard scoring reception, the first of two 49ers touchdowns in the red zone Monday night, carried them to a 20-3 victory over the defending AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

"This one was big," Davis said, and he was right.

The 49ers improved to 11-3, remaining on course to claim the NFC's second seed and a first-round playoff bye. They beat an NFL power with a 10-3 record coming into the game, suppressing doubts that lingered following two recent defeats. They solved long-running problems in the red zone, scoring touchdowns twice in three chances. And they allowed zero sacks after taking 18 in their previous three games.

"It showed the world that we're serious and we can play big games on the national stage," Davis said.

Steelers fans are entitled to break out the asterisks. They can point to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's obvious limitations related to an ankle injury. They can point to James Harrison's suspension and Woodley's bum hamstring. They can even question some of the officiating calls that worked against Pittsburgh in this game.

None of that matters to the 49ers. For them, this game showed the path for San Francisco to keep pace with higher-scoring competitors in the NFC. The 49ers in their current state are never going to win games the way the Green Bay Packers and the New Orleans Saints typically win them. But if they can start turning field goals into touchdowns, as they did Monday night, their chances for beating championship-caliber teams in the playoffs will increase exponentially.

That is especially true against any pass-oriented teams venturing into Candlestick Park in mid-January, when the slick playing surface, shifting winds and potential precipitation can turn an already ornery 49ers defense into something even greater.

"Everybody has to take us seriously, man," defensive end Ray McDonald said. "We're not the old Niners any more."

The new Niners won this game against the Steelers their way, and without apologies. They dominated field position, holding a 21-yard advantage over Pittsburgh in average drive start. They forced four more turnovers, giving them a plus-25 differential, best in the NFL. They went a 15th consecutive game without allowing a rushing touchdown. They beat a playoff-caliber opponent by 17 points while gaining only 287 yards.

The 49ers out-Steelered the Steelers, and Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin knew it.

"I think we need to acknowledge that was 49er football tonight," Tomlin said. "We played the game on their terms in a manner of which they play when they play winning football. They created turnovers, they got us with a few concept plays, they controlled the ball offensively."

The power outages threatened to disrupt both teams. But just as coach Jim Harbaugh embraced the lockout and the challenges it presented a first-year head coach, his team handled the disruptions without trouble. Harbaugh did not hesitate when asked what it was like in the locker room before the game.

"It was dark," he said, to thunderous laughter.

Harbaugh and staff had the right answers during the game, too. They found ways to free Davis for key receptions after Pittsburgh initially covered the Pro Bowl tight end effectively. They also came out ahead in five key areas discussed here heading into the game:

• Pass protection. The 49ers had taken more sacks in their three defeats (20) than in their 10 victories (19). They countered the Steelers' pass-rush with quick passes to the perimeter. Their offensive line was on point with its assignments. Quarterback Alex Smith moved effectively, at one point scrambling for 14 yards. Pittsburgh sent five or more pass-rushers on 21 of 32 dropbacks, according to ESPN Stats & Information, and still the Steelers could not sack Smith.
• Roethlisberger's mobility. The ankle injury limited Roethlisberger's scrambling ability, but the Steelers' quarterback had been much more effective throwing from the pocket this season (8.5 yards per attempt, compared to 5.8 outside the pocket). The Steelers predictably had Roethlisberger in the shotgun formation more frequently, hoping he could set up quickly and deliver the ball. But as the game wore on and San Francisco pulled ahead, the Steelers had no answer for Aldon Smith. The 49ers' rookie outside linebacker finished the game with 2.5 sacks and seven quarterback hits.
• Mike Wallace's deep speed. The Steelers came close to connecting on a couple long passes that would have changed the game early. Roethlisberger did wind up with 330 yards, completing passes for 39 and 36 (twice) yards. Wallace averaged only 13.2 yards per reception, however. That was a manageable number for the 49ers.
• Ted Ginn Jr. and special teams. Ginn, the 49ers' return specialist, did not return after suffering an ankle injury on the kickoff return opening the second half. Punter Andy Lee posted a 49.2-yard net average while pinning the Steelers inside their 20-yard line four times in six chances. One punt-and-penalty combination had Pittsburgh beginning at its own 16-yard line after the 49ers punted from their own 12. The Steelers' average drive start, the 15, was the worst for any team in the NFL this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
• Smith in the red zone. This area remains a work in progress for the 49ers. Two red zone touchdowns against the Steelers were positive steps, not a long-term solution. Continued progress in that area will be critical for the 49ers to beat the best teams. "If we can get aggressive in the red zone, we will be unstoppable," Davis said.

The 49ers are not there yet, but this was undeniably a step forward for them. They weren't afraid to say it, either. Afterward, Harbaugh promoted Smith for the Pro Bowl. Davis and teammates declared their legitimacy. They welcomed skeptics.

"We played good football tonight," Harbaugh said. "I'd really like to focus on that -- not the lights, not the locker room before the game, not the contingencies. ... I'm proud to be a part of that team."

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. offered thoughts Thursday heading into the San Francisco 49ers' game Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Candlestick Park.

Mike Sando: This game against the Steelers provides the 49ers with an opportunity to defeat a quality opponent on a national stage, while keeping control of the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoff race. My sense is that the 49ers, though still a good team, have plateaued a little bit lately.

Matt Williamson: I think that is a good word. They might have hit their head on the ceiling. The talent has taken them as far as it will. That does not mean they cannot win playoff games. But this is a bad matchup for them against the Steelers. The 49ers lost to Arizona and the Cardinals are running the Steelers' defense. They've gotten better at it, but that defense has been clicking for the Steelers for years. They know what they are doing and they are going to give San Francisco's offense a hard time.

Mike Sando: The 49ers have taken 18 sacks over their past three games after allowing seven in their previous six. They aren't getting Frank Gore going as well on the ground, and Gore is banged up.

Matt Williamson: Their young offensive line does not pick up blitzes very well. They get beat one-on-one, especially on the right side. Ike Taylor can do a good job against Michael Crabtree. Troy Polamalu and the Steelers do well against tight ends. I just do not know where the 49ers' offense is going to come from. Alex Smith is not a guy who, when everything is going wrong, puts the team on his back.

Mike Sando: Several key players could miss this game for both teams -- Joe Staley and Patrick Willis for the 49ers, James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley for the Steelers. And then Ben Roethlisberger's ankle is an issue.

Matt Williamson: Roethlisberger will have had 10 days to rest. Everyone in the world knows he is going to play. Charlie Batch is not good.

If Harrison doesn't play and Ben doesn't play, I'll take the 49ers. But if Ben is out there at even 50 percent, I am taking Pittsburgh. The matchup is not good for the 49ers.

Mike Sando: The 49ers are strong on defense. What makes you think the Steelers' offense would be OK without Roethlisberger near full strength?

Matt Williamson: If you are the Steelers and Ben is not moving well, put him in the shotgun, go three wide receivers all day with a back in the backfield and get it out quick. Don't even have him dropping back. Get the ball out quick to Antonio Brown especially, and Hines Ward. Do the quick three-step passing game out of the shotgun.

Mike Sando: Back to the 49ers' offense. One thing they've struggled with some is yards after the catch. They led the NFL at 6.8 yards after the catch per reception last season. That has fallen to 5.2 this season. And the Steelers' defense leads the NFL in fewest yards allowed after the catch on average at 4.3, an astounding 1.7 yards better than the next-best team, Houston.

Matt Williamson: I don't see a real good after-the-catch wide receiver in the group for San Francisco. Ted Ginn would catch only bombs. Michael Crabtree is not nifty. He is a slower, power guy. Vernon Davis can be, but his role has been diminished heavily and I'm not sure how well he grasps the offense, and they need him to help the tackles. I'm not sure who would be the guy, unless they dropped more passes off to Gore and Kendall Hunter.

Mike Sando: The 49ers have dramatically cut Gore's role as a receiver. That's one reason their team yards after the reception has fallen. Then there is the red zone. San Francisco ranks last in touchdown percentage there.

Matt Williamson: Every weakness is exaggerated in the red zone for a quarterback. There are a lot more bodies in a smaller space, a lot more molecules bouncing off the walls. You have to be a little more accurate, a little better anticipation. Donovan McNabb was not that great in the red zone. He was not an anticipatory thrower or very accurate. Smith has some of those qualities, too, but less. He is not as talented. But I know he's done well in the red zone before. One thing that comes to mind is a lack of involvement from Vernon Davis.

Mike Sando: Davis finished last season with eight catches for 50 yards and four touchdowns in the red zone. He has four catches for 48 yards and three scores there this season. Delanie Walker had five catches for 22 yards and no scores in the red zone in 2010. He has one catch for a 6-yard touchdown against Detroit in the red zone this season. But Smith's completion percentage has fallen from above 70 to around 40 in the red zone since last season. Sacks are up. Gore's carries in the red zone are up. His receptions are down. I'm not sure what is wrong down there, but improved efficiency in that area would certainly help Monday night.

Williamson and I will be among those participating in an in-game chat Monday night. I'll be at the game. Williamson will monitor remotely. Jamison Hensley from the AFC North blog will join us on the chat from Candlestick Park.

Expanding on an earlier post, this one ranks NFL players by most sacks per pass play through Week 13.

The San Francisco 49ers' Aldon Smith ranks fourth on the list. The St. Louis Rams' Chris Long is 10th. The Arizona Cardinals' Sam Acho ranks 19th. Ex-Seattle Seahawk Lawrence Jackson is 14th. Ex-Ram Adam Carriker ranks 21st.

Smith is keeping impressive company. The next step for him, likely next season, will be to maintain his pass-rush production as an every-down player, when he'll also have to hold up against the run more frequently. So far, so good.

The St. Louis Rams' Robert Quinn did not quite make the chart. He has five sacks and a 2.2 percentage. Seattle's Chris Clemons has eight sacks and a 2.1 percentage.

Sacks are not the only measure of a player's performance, of course. The best pass-rushers tend to collect a lot of them, however.

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The Arizona Cardinals were 3-3 at this point last season despite having Derek Anderson and two rookies as their quarterbacks.

They are 1-5 this season after investing millions in quarterback Kevin Kolb and a list of free agents featuring Stewart Bradley, Daryn Colledge and others.

Something isn't adding up. It's possible the damage done by the Cardinals' slide from 3-3 to 5-11 last season created a mindset that has carried over. It's obvious some of the new players, notably Kolb and Bradley, haven't been ready to contribute at a high level consistently through the first seven weeks.

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic says 2011 is looking like a lost season for the Cardinals, noting that Kolb realizes success might not be right around the corner. Bickley: "When rookies such as Cam Newton and Andy Dalton are experiencing success, when Christian Ponder makes his first start and almost rallies the Vikings past unbeaten Green Bay, you expect more from a guy such as Kolb. It has been nearly three months since he became a member of the Cardinals. He's a bright guy and should not be progressing this slowly. ... It seems as if Kolb and the coaching staff are viewing the 2011 season as a prolonged training camp, a timetable that doesn't jibe with fans who expected a return to the playoffs." Noted: I suspect Kolb anticipated making a playoff run this season as well. It's impossible to think along those lines when a team loses five in a row to reach 1-5.

Kent Somers and Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic say the Cardinals are not sure how much time Beanie Wells might miss after the running back suffered a sprained right knee during the second quarter of the team's loss to Pittsburgh. Somers and McManaman: "Wells was effective in the first half, gaining 42 yards on 12 attempts, including one 15-yard gain. His replacement, Alfonso Smith, carried just five times for 17 yards in the second half."

Also from Somers: He does not expect the Cardinals to make a quarterback change this season. Also: "I'm not sure how Pittsburgh linebacker LaMarr Woodley came free and 'forced' Kolb to intentionally ground the ball for a safety. It appeared that right tackle Brandon Keith blocked the right person. Running back LaRod Stephens-Howling went to the left at the snap. Woodley came untouched from the right side. On some occasions, that's the quarterback's responsibility. He has to identify when there aren't enough blockers and the numbers don't match. After the game, Kolb said he would have to watch video to know. One thing is for sure, a quarterback can't retreat into his end zone and then throw to an area where there is no receiver. Or maybe another play should have been called, as many of you pointed out." Noted: The Steelers rushed five. The Cardinals had five offensive linemen available to block them, with Stephens-Howling lined up on the left side and releasing in that direction. If the team were aligned properly, Kolb would seemingly be responsible for Woodley. But in watching the play, he appears to have his eyes downfield after taking the snap. He appeared surprised to have Woodley in his face so quickly. Strange play.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says there was plenty of frustration for Arizona in this one. Urban: "The missed plays remained painful. Quarterback Kevin Kolb was intercepted on the game’s first possession and what looked like a miscommunication in coverage allowed Pittsburgh’s first touchdown pass. Kolb missed wide-open tight end Rob Housler down the seam for what should have been a TD for a second straight game, and the Cards -- even though they knew the Steelers (5-2) would throw deep to wide receiver Mike Wallace -- still were beat on a 95-yard touchdown pass."

Joey Porter played his final game for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2006 season. Clark Haggans was gone from the team a year later.

The veteran outside linebackers, now 34 years old, are scheduled to start for Arizona against their former team Sunday, a reflection of how the teams have drafted for defense recently.

In 2007, the year coaches Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm left Pittsburgh's staff for the Cardinals, the Steelers drafted mainstay linebackers Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley. Much of the Steelers' defense is aging, but Timmons and Woodley are ascending young players approaching their primes. Woodley represents the type of outside linebacker the Cardinals have coveted, but have yet to land.

Arizona takes criticism for drafting tackle Levi Brown over running back Adrian Peterson in 2007, but decisions made in addressing the defense stand out with Timmons and Woodley coming to town. That was the year Arizona used a second-round choice for defensive lineman Alan Branch, now reborn in Seattle after falling short of expectations in Arizona. The Cardinals used their third-round pick in 2007 on linebacker Buster Davis, who was cut as a rookie.

The Cardinals bounced back in 2008 by drafting defensive end Calais Campbell in the second round. Two other early defensive choices that year -- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for Arizona and Bruce Davis for Pittsburgh -- have changed teams. Rodgers-Cromartie went to a Pro Bowl with the Cardinals before the team traded him to Philadelphia. Davis, a third-round choice, was released after one season.

In 2009, the Steelers landed defensive lineman Ziggy Hood, who has played more than 70 percent of the defensive snaps this season. Arizona drafted Cody Brown, a second-round choice who never contributed, before selecting defensive backs Rashad Johnson (starting for the injured Kerry Rhodes) and Greg Toler (incumbent starter now on injured reserve).

The Cardinals have initially fared better than the Steelers in drafting for defense in 2010. They got nose tackle Dan Williams, ascending inside linebacker Daryl Washington and pass-rushing project O'Brien Schofield. The Steelers drafted linebacker Jason Worilds, who has made a positive contribution on special teams without factoring into the defense yet.

The chart shows defensive players the teams drafted in the first three rounds from 2007-09.

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The NFL has not yet distributed its official list of unrestricted free agents for 2011.

ESPN.com has put together the following unofficial list, to be updated, if necessary, once the league produces its list.

Our list shows only those players with four accrued seasons whose contracts expired following the 2010 season. It does not show street free agents (those released following the season).

As PatriotsBeatDown921 noted, the chart does not show all unsigned franchise players. There are eight: Haloti Ngata of the Baltimore Ravens, Ryan Kalil of the Carolina Panthers, Paul Soliai of the Miami Dolphins, Chad Greenway of the Minnesota Vikings, David Harris of the New York Jets, Kamerion Wimbley of the Oakland Raiders, Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles and LaMarr Woodley of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Teams can begin negotiating with unrestricted free agents from their own and other teams at 10 a.m. ET Tuesday. Teams can begin signing unrestricted free agents at 6 p.m. ET Friday.

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

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

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

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

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

Interesting thought.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ESPN.com’s NFL writers rank the top 10 linebackers in the league today. Next week: Top 10 cornerbacks.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis beat out a strong and diverse field for top billing in ESPN.com's latest positional power rankings.

All eight panelists ranked Willis among their top three, elevating the 26-year-old perennial Pro Bowler above James Harrison and DeMarcus Ware as our No. 1 linebacker in the NFL.

Even 12-time Pro Bowler Ray Lewis, the dominant linebacker of his era, pointed to Willis as a worthy successor to his undisputed reign. Not that Lewis is finished just yet. He placed fifth in the rankings behind Willis, Harrison, Ware and the Green Bay Packers' Clay Matthews. But there was no more complete linebacker than Willis.

"Nobody in the NFL plays their position better than Patrick Willis, and that is saying a lot," said Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc., whose insights helped shape my ballot. "He is as good a linebacker as Peyton Manning is a quarterback, as Andre Johnson is a receiver, as Adrian Peterson is a running back. He has no weaknesses."

Willis, a three-time Associated Press All-Pro first-team selection, is the first 49ers player since Ronnie Lott to earn Pro Bowl honors in each of his first four seasons. Joe Thomas and Peterson are the only other 2007 draft choices with four Pro Bowls.

Apples and oranges: Comparing linebackers from 3-4 schemes to their 4-3 counterparts proved problematic for some panelists. AFC East blogger Tim Graham ranked Ware first among pass-rushers three weeks ago, but only ninth among linebackers.

"Patrick Willis, Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis would be great linebackers in a 3-4 or a 4-3," Graham explained. "DeMarcus Ware and Cameron Wake might not even be linebackers if they played in Indianapolis, Tennessee or Minnesota. At some point, I had to value elite pass-rushing abilities on my list even though those players aren't universal-type linebackers."

There was room for differing views. ESPN.com's John Clayton and AFC North blogger James Walker ranked Ware first among linebackers and first among pass-rushers. AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky ranked Ware first among linebackers and second among pass-rushers.

"Separating Ware, Willis and Harrison is like splitting hairs, because it really depends on what you want in a linebacker," said Walker, who went with Ware, Willis and Harrison atop his ballot. "Ware is a slightly better pass-rusher than Harrison, and Willis is a future Hall of Famer in his prime. Age also has to be a consideration if you’re building a defense, and Harrison will be 33 in May. But they're all great."

First things first: Graham and NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert joined me in ranking Willis first. AFC West blogger Bill Williamson had Willis second only to Harrison.

"When I think of linebacker play in the current day, James Harrison pops out," Bill Williamson said. "I think he’s the gold standard of complete linebacker play. Look at his signature play in the Super Bowl against Arizona. That play will forever be part of NFL lore. Patrick Willis, who is also a great player, doesn’t have that play on his résumé. Plus, Harrison is an ornery cuss on the field. The man was born to be a 'backer."

Willis can't match Harrison in Super Bowl memories -- he could use a quarterback, for starters -- but he's not hurting for signature plays:

• There was the time, as a rookie in 2007, when Willis tracked down and tackled Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Sean Morey 62 yards downfield, in overtime, to save the game.
• There was the time in 2008, when Willis picked off Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and weaved his way 86 yards to the tying third-quarter touchdown -- the longest interception return by a linebacker since Willis entered the league.
• There was Willis' crushing hit against the New York Jets' Brad Smith in 2008, the hit that left Hasselbeck with a broken rib in 2009 and the two-game stretch last season when Willis collected 28 tackles despite wearing a cast following in-season hand surgery.

Lewis pointed to Willis when ESPN's Dana Jacobson recently asked him which young linebacker reminded Lewis of himself.

"I just love the way he plays the game," Lewis said. "He plays the game with a fire. He reminds me of myself -- a lot, a lot, a lot."

Unanimous decisions: The top five finishers received votes from all eight panelists. The gaps between highest and lowest votes fell between four and seven places for all but Willis, who ranked no lower than third.

Seifert ranked Lewis third. I had Lewis 10th and feared I might be measuring him against himself. No list of top linebackers would be complete without him, I thought, but a younger generation is taking over.

Hugs for Suggs: Lewis' teammate, Terrell Suggs, finished just out of our top 10 despite getting a No. 5 ranking from Kuharsky.

"I unabashedly love Suggs, and frankly would have placed him higher if I thought there was any way he needed help to crack the top 10," Kuharsky said. "To me, there is a great deal of subjectivity in ranking this position when mixing guys from 4-3s and 3-4s, so I did a lot of know-them-when-I-see-them ranking. Suggs is absolutely a top-10 guy to me."

Clayton, Seifert, Graham and I did not list Suggs on our ballots while searching for the right mix of 3-4 and 4-3 talent.

Fit to be tied: The players tied for ninth on our list illustrate the varied criteria for the position. Kansas City's Tamba Hali is a pure pass-rusher in the Chiefs' 3-4 defense. Carolina's Jon Beason is a traditional 4-3 linebacker with the versatility to play multiple spots. He changed positions twice in 2010.

Beason peaked at No. 5 on my ballot. NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas had Beason sixth and considered ranking him higher.

"There was a time when I would have ranked Beason in the same echelon as Willis," Yasinskas said. "I think he has a chance to re-emerge if Carolina can put a better team on the field, particularly by getting better at defensive tackle and keeping blockers off Beason. If that happens, I think Beason can be as good as any linebacker in the league."

Youth on his side: New England's Jerod Mayo appeared on six of eight ballots, ranking sixth overall between Lewis and Urlacher. At 25, Mayo was one of two linebackers younger than Willis to earn a spot among the top 10. Matthews, 24, was the other. Graham ranked Mayo third.

"Nose tackle Vince Wilfork might be the anchor of the Patriots' defense, but Mayo is the one who ties their defense together," Graham said. "Mayo is a tackling machine who compensates for shortcomings at outside linebacker and injuries along the defensive line. He would be a star in any system."

On an island: Four linebackers received a single vote. That list featured Brian Orakpo (Clayton), Lance Briggs (Seifert), London Fletcher (Walker) and Wake (Graham).

Best doesn't mean most valuable: Matt Williamson called linebacker the toughest position to evaluate. I'll close by passing along a few of his thoughts:

• "Willis is so exceptional it would be a coin flip with Ware. Willis has no weaknesses, but if I were a general manager, I would take Ware because pass-rushers are so hard to find. You can get away with a C-level middle linebacker and still have a good defense. You can have a two-down run-stopper and pull him out in nickel."
• "Ray Lewis would not be in my top five at this point. For his age, he is still exceptional and a borderline Pro Bowler, but he doesn't run like he did. I remember when I was with the Browns, I looked at every report the team had written since 1999 and Lewis had the highest grade ever given out. He was nearly perfect."
• "Hali is a one-trick pony, a pass-rusher, but he is great at it -- as good as any pass-rusher in the league."
• "Beason is like Patrick Willis, but he is 95 percent of him. He can play outside, inside, he's smart -- but there is so little around him that people don't realize how good he is."
• "Pass rushing is Clay Matthews' greatest gift, but he is the prototypical outside linebacker. He's a great technician and way more explosive and athletic than people realize. He's good in coverage, not great, but they line him up all over."
• "London Fletcher is underrated, but not in this conversation. How Beason is to Willis, Fletcher is to Lewis. He is smaller and slower than Lewis, good among older guys."
• "Brian Urlacher is still a really good player, but the top 10 might be a stretch. I would take him ahead of Lewis, behind Beason and Willis among 'Mike' 'backers. He is good in coverage. People forget that he was a safety at New Mexico. He doesn't run like he used to and is just not as dynamic as he was in the day."
• "The Steelers have the best linebackers in the league. LaMarr Woodley is very strong and in that conversation too. Definitely top 15. Harrison is great against the run, extremely strong and one of the few linebackers in the league that is a difference-maker from an attitude standpoint. He brings attitude to the table like a Jack Lambert or a Dick Butkus or a Ray Lewis type. He is feared. He is one of the best leverage players in the league, great in pursuit, tenacious as hell. The other guy to know about is Lawrence Timmons. He will be spectacular."

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

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

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

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

A quick look at my top 10:

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

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

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

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch catches up with former Rams receiver Torry Holt, who is now working for NFL Network. Miklasz also quotes former Giants defensive end Michael Strahan this way regarding retired Rams great Marshall Faulk: "I played the game a long time, and Marshall Faulk did something I never saw anyone else do. I'm not talking about running or catching the football. But he was a coach out there. I'm serious. The 'Greatest Show' would break the huddle, and I'd look across the line at Faulk, and he'd be standing in the backfield, directing traffic. He's making adjustments in their protection, he's getting the players lined up properly, he's telling Kurt (Warner) what to look out for. I've never seen a running back do that -- take over the offense and get everyone in place before the snap. I used to get on him. I'd holler at Marshall and say, 'Hey, No. 28, if you want to be a coach, take that uniform off and go put on some slacks and a golf shirt and go over there and be a coach. Get off the field!' Marshall was an amazing player in every way."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch assesses Faulk from another angle. Thomas: "Marshall Faulk caught 767 passes over the course of his NFL career. Only three players currently in the Hall of Fame have caught more and all are wide receivers -- Jerry Rice, Art Monk and Steve Largent. And Faulk's 6,875 yards receiving is an NFL record for a running back."

Also from Thomas: Faulk prepared meticulously, using pencils of various colors.

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat passes along Super Bowl predictions from 49ers players. Parys Haralson is taking the Packers. Haralson: "I like the way (QB) Aaron Rodgers is playing right now. Their passing attack is off the charts. With (James) Starks running the ball, he’s been running the ball pretty well. I think they’ll be able to move the ball on the Steelers. It’s going to be a good game, but I’m going to take Green Bay."

Also from Branch: Tight ends will play a leading role in the 49ers' new offense. Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti: "They’ll use two and three tight ends at times. Typically when you put in a lot of big people, you get more of a hard-ball running thing, but he would still spread you out and run the same plays with those big people. He’d spread them out wide and they could be the widest receiver or they could be the two inside receivers on slot. They’ll motion, move guys into the backfield. He does a lot with those guys. And the combination of his offense, and his offensive scheme, and the power running, and the multiple formations and personnel groups … he kept you off balance and did a fantastic job."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers might not be likely to use the franchise tag on nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin for a second consecutive season. Maiocco: "Peter Rucco, NFL senior vice president and general counsel, told the Boston Globe teams can use franchise and/or transition tags on players for a 14-day period, starting Feb. 10. There had been some question whether the franchise tag would be available this offseason because of the league's expiring collective bargaining agreement." There still is some question. The NFLPA put out a statement Thursday reading, "The current CBA provides that 'each club shall be permitted to designate one of its players who would otherwise be an Unrestricted Free Agent [or Restricted Free Agent] as a Franchise Player each season during the term of this Agreement.' The 2011 season is not a 'season during the term of this Agreement' so the NFL has no valid basis for claiming the right to franchise players in 2011."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the franchise price for Franklin would shoot up considerably.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic checks in with Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, who offers advice on beating the Steelers' defense. Warner: "With this kind of defense, you have to dictate the tempo to them. If you sit back and let Dick LeBeau come with everything he wants to come with, sit in a 3-4, you're not going to be able run the ball and they are going to throw everything at you. If you can spread them out, now you can dictate to them: what are you going to do? Are you going to put (James) Harrison out on the edge and make him blitz from the edge? In the Super Bowl, they took one of their defensive lineman out of the game and put (LaMarr) Woodley and Harrison on the end of the line of scrimmage. It really became a 4-3 defense and now we knew every time, Harrison is coming and Woodley is coming. So if they are coming off the edge, now we can chip them. We don't have to worry about all those other guys coming. And so we limited the packages they had."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com checks with with the Cardinals' Steve Breaston for thoughts about the receiver's contract situation. Urban: "I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it. But it’s just for a hot second. It doesn’t linger on. Trouble starts … there is stuff you can’t control. That’s when things affect your play or take focus off other things you could be doing to get better as a player. Right now, no one knows until March, and I’m not the only person stuck in this situation. That’s what I have come to understand, that I’m not the only one in this situation. There are a lot of people that are going through the same thing, and not just players. There are a lot of people waiting to see what happens come March. Now, I belong to this organization, I enjoy being here and if things work out, I will be here."

Also from Urban: Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who can leave in free agency after the 2011 season if he chooses, tells XTRA 910 radio he's not dictating to the team how it must improve. Fitzgerald: "I’m not setting criteria. I think there are a couple of positions we need to upgrade, we need to continue to improve and add more pieces to the puzzle, and that’s all I’m going to say on that. I’m not trying to call out anybody, I’m not trying to ruffle any feathers. I’m not the GM or the coach. I’m just a guy out there catching passes occasionally."

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune offers thoughts on Cortez Kennedy's case for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Kennedy remains gracious about his experience in Seattle even though the team's poor offenses prevented him from experiencing team success: "I’ll tell you … I wouldn’t change a thing about playing in Seattle. I loved playing in Seattle. I have so much respect for the Seahawk fans and feel so much gratitude to them for the way they’ve treated me. If I had to go back and do it over again, I’d want to be drafted by Seattle again."

Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com says the Bears have hired Seahawks assistant Mike Phair to coach their defensive line. Wright: "Phair spent this past season as a defensive assistant, and held posts as assistant defensive line coach (2009) and assistant linebackers coach (2008). In the three seasons prior, Phair worked as an area scout with the Seahawks."

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat checks in with Oregon State assistant Mark Banker for thoughts on 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh. Banker was an assistant with the Chargers when Harbaugh was finishing his playing career with San Diego. Branch: "Banker, who served for one year as the Chargers defensive coordinator, described Stanford under Harbaugh as a smash-mouth running team with a sophisticated NFL passing attack that made effective use of its tight ends. In Banker’s estimation, the core principles of Stanford’s offense will easily transfer to the NFL and he expects the 49ers’ attack to mirror the Cardinal’s in many ways." ESPN's Brock Huard, who called Pac-10 games this past season, also emphasized the power element of Harbaugh's offense when I asked him about it last month.

Also from Branch: There might not be a quarterback worth drafting in the first round for the 49ers.

Joe Staley of the 49ers blogs about life in the offseason, with this note on the coaching staff: "One of the coaches who is still around from last season is my o-line coach, Mike Solari. I like the fact that he’s still around and I think it’s especially good for the rookies Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis. Solari just has a good rapport with all of the players and he knows who we are, what we do and what we respond to. So him still being here is great."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com looks at the 49ers' running backs, noting that Frank Gore became an even bigger part of the offense in 2010. Maiocco on backup Anthony Dixon: "Dixon is a big, powerful back who needs to learn how to run like a big, powerful back. He definitely showed flashes with some very nice runs. But he also frustrated the coaching staff with too much dancing, some missed assignments and difficulty with the simple things, such as making sure he was wearing the right kind of cleats to maintain traction on slippery fields. Dixon played just 16 offensive snaps in the first 10 games before Gore's injury. Dixon finished with 237 yards rushing on 70 rushing attempts. He should continue to prove that he is capable of taking on a larger role in the offense."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers need more pass-rush pop from their outside linebackers.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says cornerback Bryant McFadden was "shocked" and a little "astonished" when the Cardinals traded him back to the Steelers. McFadden did not meet expectations with the Cardinals, but the team was not better at cornerback without him. McFadden on the two defensive systems: "Our defense is difficult but, once you get it, you feel comfortable. We just play football. There (Arizona) it was different. You see things and think, 'It may work, it may not work.' Every coach doesn't coach the same. Every person don't walk the same." Three other differences: James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley and Troy Polamalu.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com explores receiver Steve Breaston's fascination with comic books. Breaston got to hang out with Todd McFarlane, who drew for Marvel comics and created the "Venom" character associated with Spider-Man. Urban: "A huge fan of comics, including the McFarlane-create Spawn, Breaston reached out to the Tempe-based McFarlane to set up a meeting. The two did Wednesday at The McFarlane Companies offices just down the street from the Cardinals’ Tempe facility, talking for two hours. Breaston got a short rundown on how McFarlane builds and sells its SportsPicks line of athlete action figures, and then sat down in McFarlane’s office to talk comics."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune outlines the Seahawks' draft needs and checks in with analyst Rob Rang for thoughts on the available quarterbacks. Rang on Missouri's Blaine Gabbert: "He’s got a big arm. He’s got a quick release for a big guy, and that’s very rare for a big quarterback. He uses his feet well, and so it leads you to believe that he can make that transition. He reads defenses well -- he does all of those things well. He just doesn’t have the eye-popping statistics. … When it’s all said and done with Blaine Gabbert, I believe he’s going to be end up being a top 5 to top 7 pick."

Chris Foster of the Los Angeles Times says Seahawks assistant Rocky Seto interviewed for a job as defensive coordinator at UCLA. This would stand as a significant step forward for Seto, who helps coach Seattle's secondary. And with a lockout potentially looming in the NFL, now isn't a bad time to consider college options, anyway.

Roger Hensley of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch asks colleagues whether the Greatest Show on Turf would have been as great if Jerome Bettis had stayed with the Rams. Bernie Miklasz: "Absolutely not. It’s not even a discussion. Bettis was a power runner. A good one. But a one-dimensional runner. Faulk was the greatest all-purpose back in NFL history. He’s the best receiver/RB in league history. From 1999 through 2001, the Rams scored 500-plus points each year and Faulk had 44 percent of the team’s touches from scrimmage during that time. He had nearly 70 percent of the rushing yards. He caught more passes than Isaac Bruce or Torry Holt. He had more TD catches than Holt, and only five fewer than Bruce. I hope this slams the door shut on the question."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Sam Bradford's freshly cut hair is getting mixed reviews. Bradford: "My friends in Oklahoma, obviously, it doesn't matter what I do. I'm going to hear about it. All the girls back home really like it. They were excited when I told them I was cutting my hair."

Brian Stull of 101ESPN St. Louis says former Rams linebacker Kevin Greene would make a logical choice to address the Packers before the Super Bowl.

FORT WORTH, Texas -- The Pittsburgh Steelers appeared loose and comfortable during their first Super Bowl 45 media session.

They've been in big games before, and frequently, thanks largely to shrewd drafting.

This is the Steelers' third Super Bowl appearance in the last six seasons.

The team made available James Farrior, Flozell Adams, Hines Ward, Brett Keisel, Ben Roethlisberger and LaMarr Woodley during its initial media session Monday -- just the opportunity I needed to produce an item corresponding to the one titled, "Draft hindsight: Aaron Rodgers and beyond".

The idea: to examine a Super Bowl team's featured players -- in this case, the ones made available Monday -- with an emphasis on draft status and the decisions NFC West teams made in the same rounds. Not every team held a choice in every featured round.

The Arizona Cardinals had a shot at Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but they came out OK.

Here goes ...

1997 Draft: James Farrior, LB, Virginia

Round: First (eighth overall, by the New York Jets)

NFC West spin: Farrior is a two-time Pro Bowl choice, but the NFC West offers no apologies for passing over him. Orlando Pace and Walter Jones became perennial Pro Bowl tackles. Jones became the best player in Seahawks history, in my view. Shawn Springs made one Pro Bowl trip and picked off 33 passes during a 13-year career. The Cardinals had no shot at Farrior. They chose Tommy Knight one pick later. He started 54 games in six NFL seasons. Rumor says the 49ers selected a quarterback in the first round of this draft.

First-round selections in the division:

• Rams (first overall): Pace, T, Ohio State
• Seahawks (third overall): Springs, CB, Ohio State
• Seahawks (sixth overall): Jones, T, Florida State
• Cardinals (ninth overall): Knight, CB, Iowa
• 49ers (26th overall): Jim Druckenmiller, QB, Virginia Tech

1998 Draft: Flozell Adams, T, Michigan State

Round: Second (38th overall, by Dallas)

NFC West spin: Adams became a five-time Pro Bowl choice with Dallas. His career appeared finished, or close to it, until injuries led the Steelers to call on him this season. Arizona passed on Adams twice. Safety Corey Chavous, chosen five spots before Adams, went to a Pro Bowl with Minnesota. He was a productive player for roughly a decade. Tackle Anthony Clement, chosen two spots before Adams, started more than 100 games for three teams.

Second-round selections in the division:

• Cardinals (33rd overall): Corey Chavous, SS, Vanderbilt
• Cardinals (36th overall): Anthony Clement, T, Louisiana-Lafayette
• Rams (37th overall): Robert Holcombe, FB, Illinois
• Seahawks (47th overall): Todd Weiner, T, Kansas State
• 49ers (58th overall): Jeremy Newberry, C, California

1998 Draft: Hines Ward, WR, Georgia

Round: Third (92nd overall, by Pittsburgh)

NFC West spin: The Rams and Seahawks found Pro Bowl-caliber players when they passed over Ward in the third round. Seattle gave up on Ahman Green prematurely, however, after coach Mike Holmgren grew weary of early fumble problems. The 49ers missed on tackle Chris Ruhman three choices before Ward went to Pittsburgh. Ruhman played in six games with the 49ers, starting none. He played in 11 NFL games with two starts overall. The 49ers passed on Ward even though Jerry Rice had suffered a devastating knee injury in the 1997 opener.

Third-round selections in the division:

• Rams (65th overall): Leonard Little, DE, Tennessee
• Seahawks (76th overall): Ahman Green, RB, Nebraska
• 49ers (89th overall): Chris Ruhman, T, Texas A&M

2002 Draft: Brett Keisel, DE, BYU

Round: Seventh (242nd overall, by Pittsburgh)

NFC West spin: The 49ers drafted longtime starting guard and center Eric Heitmann three spots before the Steelers found Keisel. Pittsburgh could use Heitmann this week after the Steelers' starting center, Maurkice Pouncey, suffered a severely sprained ankle during the AFC Championship Game. Keisel became a Pro Bowl choice for the first time this season, distinguishing him from 2002 NFC West seventh-rounders. The Rams found their mainstay snapper in this draft. Keisel was gone when the 49ers found guard Kyle Kosier, who started 29 games for them and remains a starter with Dallas.

Seventh-round selections in the division:

• Cardinals (223rd overall): Mike Banks, TE, Iowa State
• Seahawks (232nd overall): Jeff Kelly, QB, Southern Mississippi
• 49ers (239th overall): Heitmann, C, Stanford
• Rams (243rd overall): Chris Massey, LS, Marshall
• 49ers (248th overall): Kyle Kosier, G, Arizona State
• 49ers (256th overall): Teddy Gaines, DB, Tennessee

2004 Draft: Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Miami of Ohio

Round: First (11th overall, by Pittsburgh)

NFC West spin: The Cardinals passed over Roethlisberger and came away with a potential Hall of Fame receiver. No complaints there, even though quarterbacks are more valuable than receivers. None of the other NFC West teams had a shot at Roethlisberger. Seattle and St. Louis were set at quarterback, anyway.

First-round selections in the division:

• Cardinals (third overall): Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh
• Seahawks (23rd overall): Marcus Tubbs, DT, Texas
• Rams (24th overall): Steven Jackson, RB, Oregon State
• 49ers (31st overall): Rashaun Woods, WR, Oklahoma State

2007 Draft: LaMarr Woodley, OLB, Michigan

Round: Second (46th overall, by Pittsburgh)

NFC West spin: The Cardinals could certainly use Woodley now, and badly, but they had already invested millions in the position heading into the 2007 draft. Free-agent additions Chike Okeafor and Bertrand Berry had combined for 14.5 sacks during the 2006 season. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they haven't gotten enough from their second-round investment in Alan Branch.

Second-round selections in the division:

• Cardinals (33rd overall): Branch, DL, Michigan
• Rams (52nd overall): Brian Leonard, FB, Rutgers
• Seahawks (55th overall): Josh Wilson, CB, Maryland

OK, all done, and just in time. ESPN.com teammates Mike Reiss, Kevin Seifert and I are heading out to the Packers' media session next. Seifert is driving and he doesn't wait for anyone. Gotta jam.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Parys Haralson could "easily" finish the season with 10 or more sacks if he could stay healthy. Twelve NFL players reached double-digit sacks last season: Demarcus Ware (20), Joey Porter (17.5), John Abraham (16.5), James Harrison (16), Jared Allen (14.5), Julius Peppers (14.5), Justin Tuck (12), Mario Williams (12), Robert Mathis (11.5), LaMarr Woodley (11.5), Dwight Freeney (10.5) and Darren Howard (10). Note that none of the 12 played in the NFC West.

Also from Maiocco: Rookie Glen Coffee has stepped up in earning the No. 2 job behind Frank Gore.

The 49ers' Web site runs a fan question-and-answer transcript involving Parys Haralson. Haralson: "Basically we simplified our scheme and he let us do what we do best. He let guys go after the quarterback and let us play football."

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle profiles 49ers running backs coach Tom Rathman. Crumpacker: "Although he loves his job, Rathman said he's no NFL lifer in the making. He said he'd like to put in 15 years as an assistant coach, get his pension, and retire to enjoy life sans air horns, blocking sleds and film study."

Also from Crumpacker: Rathman's recollections about lining up incorrectly on the winning play against the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII.

Mark Emmons of the San Jose Mercury News checks in with 49ers fullback Brit Miller, who has caught the 49ers' attention as a converted linebacker.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says it's unclear why Larry Fitzgerald restructured his contract with the Cardinals. The usual reason -- to clear cap space in the short term -- does not appear to be the motivation.

Also from Somers: Anquan Boldin thinks the Cardinals' approach to training camp helped cut down on injuries.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Early Doucet made a spectacular one-handed reception upon returning from a shoulder injury.

Also from Urban: Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt would have liked a longer training camp. Urban: "The NFL calendar began later and NAU begins at the same time, forcing the Cards to leave after just 3.5 weeks."

Art Thiel of seattlepi,com says Seahawks rookie Max Unger impressed during the team's exhibition opener.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawk's offensive linemen are sporting mohawks.

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times considers whether Walter Jones' latest knee surgery marks the beginning of the end for Seattle's best offensive lineman.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune thinks Julius Jones and Aaron Curry will be questionable for the Seahawks' second exhibition game.

Also from Williams: Sean Locklear will get extended work at left tackle for the Seahawks against Denver. The team needs him in that capacity while Jones recovers. This line would be in trouble if something happened to Locklear.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the Seahawks found their first training camp under Jim Mora to be a grind. Farnsworth: "This camp was shorter, even if it didn't seem that way to the players. The Seahawks have traditionally broken camp before the third preseason game. This year, with Mora contorting tradition at seemingly every turn, camp broke before the second preseason game. But the gap was bridged by rapidly paced, high-tempo practices, and that lone day off for the players."

Also from Farnsworth: Matt Hasselbeck and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are getting in sync.

More from Farnsworth: Red Bryant stood out at the Seahawks' morning practice Thursday.

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams can take their cue from the crosstown Cardinals. Burwell: "Watch very carefully as the Rams get closer to the end of the preseason, because there will probably be a lot of changing faces. This is the new reality at Rams Park, and it is another sign of a franchise moving in the right direction. There are only a handful of players on this Rams team who should rest easy. When you've won only five games in two seasons, nearly everyone is replaceable."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo established a fast tempo during training camp, according to safety James Butler. Thomas: "If you include the Aug. 7 scrimmage at Lindenwood, nine of the first 11 full-squad days of camp featured live tackling."

Also from Thomas: Five things to watch when the Rams face the Falcons in their second exhibition game. Rookie Jason Smith could win the starting job at right tackle with a strong performance, Thomas suggests.

More from Thomas: The Rams put veteran running back Ahman Green on their "ready list" after working him out this week.

Turf S
how Times' VanRam says Falcons injuries could help the Rams.