ESPN NFL

Kevin Kolb's arrival from Philadelphia gives the Arizona Cardinals renewed hope at quarterback and clear direction following Kurt Warner's retirement.

It provides a fresh start after a forgettable 2010 transition season for Arizona.

So much has changed for the Cardinals since their Super Bowl appearance following the 2008 season. Other rosters around the league have turned over since then, of course, but not every team was coming off a Super Bowl appearance.

Quite a few teams have sought change. For the Cardinals, it just happened.

Warner's departure, while easily the biggest change, was far from the only one. Between five and eight starters from that Super Bowl game project as starters in 2011, depending upon how many of the team's unrestricted free agents re-sign.

When Steve Breaston left the Cardinals for Kansas City this week, drawing attention to the cumulative effect of Arizona's roster upheaval, a Seahawks fan drew parallels between Seattle's post-Super Bowl decline and the Cardinals' plight last season.

"Don't misunderstand," Ricky Frey wrote on my Facebook wall, "I'm a Hawks fan, but it seems eerily familiar to watch this happen and know what happened to Holmgren/Mora. Writing on the wall?"

Not if Kolb has anything to say about it. Acquiring a relatively young, potentially ascending quarterback puts Arizona in position to avoid the decline Seattle experienced as a Matt Hasselbeck struggled with injuries while the roster around him withered away. The NFC West remains in transition overall, and the Cardinals know it.

"It’s obviously winnable, but it’s funny to think that everybody thinks you can just step in and win it," Kolb told reporters Friday. "You’re talking about NFL football teams here. I know last year 7-9 is what won it, but it doesn’t matter. ... The door is open, we know, and we’ll be ready to kick it in when it’s time, but it’s not going to be an easy task."

Larry Fitzgerald, Levi Brown, Darnell Dockett, Adrian Wilson and the recently re-signed Lyle Sendlein started for Arizona in the Super Bowl and remain starters in 2011. Another starter from that Super Bowl game, Gerald Hayes, was released this week. Three more are becoming unrestricted free agents: Deuce Lutui, Bryan Robinson and Gabe Watson.

Six Arizona starters from that game are retired or did not play last season: Mike Gandy, Warner, Edgerrin James, Terrelle Smith, Chike Okeafor and Monty Beisel. Seven more play for other teams: Reggie Wells, Leonard Pope, Anquan Boldin, Antonio Smith, Karlos Dansby, Antrel Rolle and the recently traded Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

Some were role players. Others were tougher to replace.

Breaston was a backup on that team, but he played extensively as the third receiver and finished the season with more than 1,000 yards.

Kolb's addition headlined a flurry of transactions the Cardinals announced Thursday and Friday.

Sendlein, safety Hamza Abdullah, cornerback Michael Adams, tackle D'Anthony Batiste, center Ben Claxton, punter Ben Graham, fullback Reagan Maui'a and tight end Stephen Spach re-signed.

Five draft choices have signed. Guard Daryn Colledge, defensive end Nick Eason, tight end Jeff King, receiver Chansi Stuckey and linebacker Stewart Bradley have signed as free agents from other teams.

Re-signing Sendlein while adding Kolb, Colledge and Bradley suggests the 2011 team is still coming together, not necessarily falling apart.

Howard Balzer of 101ESPN St. Louis is not so quick to dismiss the idea that the Rams could move to Los Angeles, even though owner Stan Kroenke appears unlikely to sell the team. Balzer: "After all, Kroenke does have that home in Malibu and he has been a member of the NFL's Los Angeles stadium committee. Plus, we all know about that funky stadium lease that was orchestrated by former club president John Shaw just as the papers were being signed to bring the Rams to St. Louis in 1995. While it has often been said the Rams are guaranteed to be here for at least four seasons, the reality is that if the team and CVC can't agree on a plan for the stadium issue by the end of 2012 and Kroenke wanted to leave, buying out the final two years of the lease would be a slam dunk." Having Los Angeles as an option should help Kroenke secure a more favorable stadium situation in St. Louis. Balzer is right in saying Rams fans should take nothing for granted.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams training camp could return to the team's facility near St. Louis. Coats: "Rams Park always was an option, but the club had considered Missouri Science & Technology in Rolla and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Time is growing short for the club to make a commitment to one of those schools, and without a labor agreement in place, the league schedule is up in the air. Training camp normally gets under way in late July. The Rams would be permitted this year to open camp a week early because they are scheduled to play the Chicago Bears in the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 7 in Canton, Ohio."

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com profiles Rams rookie receiver Greg Salas. Wagoner: "Spent the majority of his time at Hawaii working out of the slot where he rarely faced press coverage. Has the hands and physical skills to be an impact pass catcher but will need to become a sharp route runner capable of beating press coverage to become a high level wideout in the NFL."

Tony Softli of 101ESPN St. Louis foresees no sophomore slump for the Rams' Sam Bradford.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com offers a few Cardinals-related notes, linking to a story about former tight end Leonard Pope saving a child from drowning. The boy's mother was watching her child, who suddenly went under. Said the mother: "I started screaming. Leonard was inside, and he came out of nowhere and dove into the water without any hesitation, cell phone in his pocket and all. He saved my son’s life, and I am so thankful that he was there for me and my child."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic thinks the Cardinals' team-oriented defense will still require strong play from its stars.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com offers thoughts on the 49ers' recent practices. Maiocco: "Remember the talk a week after the draft that rookie quarterback Colin Kaepernick was going to learn the 49ers' playbook from Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck? 'Yeah, that was blown way out of proportion,' Kaepernick said. The 49ers' playbook is different from the Stanford playbook. Kaepernick said there was never any talk of getting Luck to teach him the playbook. Luck doesn't even know the 49ers' playbook. If Kaepernick has any questions, he's asking Alex Smith."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says conditioning should not be a problem for 49ers first-round choice Aldon Smith. Barrows: "On Thursday, Justin Smith had the group running two-by-two races up the east arch of Spartan Stadium, a grueling routine that lasted 40 minutes. Today, they were back on the east side of the stadium, this time sprinting up the bleachers from the bottom row to the top. Outside linebacker Parys Haralson was leading those drills. For Aldon Smith, it was no sweat. (Actually, his t-shirt was drenched like everyone else's). Smith was consistently among the first few players to the top on each run. The Smith boys -- Aldon, Alex and Justin -- seemed to excel at this drill."

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says former 49ers quarterback Joe Montana had to cancel a scheduled appearance before the Santa Clara City Council after requiring stitches following an ATV accident. Brown: "Montana was scheduled to discuss his plans for building a hotel, restaurants and sports bars near the proposed new 49ers stadium."

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat says 49ers kicker Fabrizio Scaccia has hit another long field goal try, this one from 57 yards, while playing in the Arena League.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com revisits Steve Largent's contributions to the team. Farnsworth: "While doing some research for something that is only partially Largent related, this new are-you-kidding-me nugget was uncovered: In 1979, when Largent scored nine touchdowns, he averaged 36.3 yards on those scoring plays; and in 1978, when he had eight TDs, the average per scoring play was 36.1. Largent also soared around the 30-yard average in 1980 (30.2 on six scoring catches); 1977 (28.3 on 10 scoring catches); and 1981 (27.1 on nine scoring catches)."

NFC West teams pounced on tight ends in the 2011 NFL draft.

The St. Louis Rams made Wisconsin's Lance Kendricks the 47th player and second tight end selected. The Arizona Cardinals were the next team to draft a tight end, making Florida Atlantic's Rob Housler the 69th overall selection.

Since 2006, NFL teams have drafted only 10 tight ends higher than the Rams selected Kendricks. Two of those 10 start for the Rams' NFC West rivals: Vernon Davis, chosen sixth overall by San Francisco in 2006, and John Carlson, chosen 38th overall by Seattle in 2008.

Davis has become a Pro Bowl-caliber threat in the passing game even though the 49ers have suffered multiple scheme changes on offense. Carlson's production has fallen off amid similar changes, although he emerged as a threat off play-action during the playoffs last season.

Adding Kendricks and Housler to the NFC West should upgrade the position within the division. For that to happen, they'll have to outperform some of their disappointing predecessors. Since 2006, NFC West teams have missed on multiple tight ends, including three -- Joe Klopfenstein (Rams), Leonard Pope (Cardinals) and Dominique Byrd (Rams) -- in the second or third round.

Draft analyst Rob Rang pointed to Kendricks in particular as a good fit for his new team. Rang called Kendricks "a matchup nightmare with the reliable hands to take advantage of Sam Bradford's accuracy down the seam."

The Rams could certainly use one of those.

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

FALLING

1. Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks RB. Two lost fumbles and two dropped passes (one of them on a pass that was tough to handle) prevented Seattle's offense from exploiting the New Orleans Saints' defense any further. The Seahawks passed the ball almost at will, particularly when Mike Williams was in the game, and Lynch averaged 5.1 yards per carry. The turnovers and dropped passes hurt. Lynch was fighting for extra yardage at the expense of ball security. The team replaced him after the second fumble.

2. Troy Smith, 49ers QB. Smith took too many sacks and struggled when Tampa Bay forced him to remain in the pocket. The game plan was arguably too conservative, but Smith did not maximize opportunities. He could have used better protection and more from the running game, too. Smith threw an interception for the first time since replacing Alex Smith as a starter.

3. Ben Patrick, Cardinals TE. The Cardinals have always wanted Patrick to emerge. Instead, Patrick has faded. Arizona replaced Patrick in the starting lineup Sunday even though the Cardinals opened the game with two tight ends (former Cardinal Leonard Pope even started for Kansas City). When Arizona took over possession near midfield late in the third quarter, a holding penalty against Patrick contributed to the drive stalling. Arizona trailed 21-6 at the time. A touchdown drive would have gotten the Cardinals back into the game. Patrick previously committed a holding penalty on the Cardinals' first drive at Minnesota.

RISING

1. Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks QB. The quarterback's second consecutive prolific passing performance suggests he could be positioned to finish strong this season. Hasselbeck has 699 yards passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions over his last two games, helping to establish Seattle as the division favorite. No player's stock has risen so sharply in recent weeks.

2. Brandon Gibson, Rams WR. The second-year pro has 19 receptions and one touchdown over the Rams' last three games. The team needed someone to emerge after losing Mark Clayton to a season-ending knee injury. Gibson has helped fill some of the void. His leaping 13-yard touchdown grab against the Atlanta Falcons gave the Rams a 17-16 lead in the third quarter.

3. Ben Obomanu, Seahawks WR. Something has clicked between Obomanu and Hasselbeck. It's easy to forget that the two have been on the same team since 2006. Obomanu has nine catches for 147 yards and a touchdown over the last two games. He ranks tied for the team lead with three touchdowns this season. He averages 15.4 yards per reception and made a nice adjustment to grab a 42-yarder against the Saints.

Things to consider when weighing whether the Cardinals should accept less than a second-round choice in return for receiver Anquan Boldin:

• Cody Brown, Calais Campbell, Alan Branch, Deuce Lutui, J.J. Arrington, Karlos Dansby, Boldin, Levar Fisher, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Michael Stone and Raynoch Thompson were all second-round choices for the Cardinals since 2000.
• Rashad Johnson, Early Doucet, Buster Davis, Leonard Pope, Eric Green, Darryl Blackstock, Darnell Dockett, Gerald Hayes, Josh McCown, Dennis Johnson, Adrian Wilson and Darwin Walker were all third-round draft choices for the Cardinals since 2000.

Let's remove three of those players from the discussion -- Brown, Johnson and Doucet -- because they haven't been around long enough to evaluate.

That leaves us with 10 second-round choices and 10 third-round choices. Arizona's third-rounders produced more stars (Dockett, Wilson) but also far more complete busts (Davis, Blackstock, Johnson, Walker).

The second-rounders produced one star (Boldin) and more good players (Dansby, Campbell, Lutui, Vanden Bosch) without as many complete busts (Stone). Even the underwhelming second-round choices (Arrington, Thompson, Branch, Fisher) made contributions.

I don't think Arizona can get a second-round choice for Boldin under the circumstances. A third-rounder might be worth taking given that Boldin would likely be leaving after the 2010 season unless the team decided to name him its franchise player.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Cardinals Player Released on Cutdown Pos. Current Team Capacity Aaron Francisco DB Colts Active Roster Onrea Jones WR Redskins Practice Squad Trevor Canfield OL Cardinals Practice Squad Keilen Dykes DL Cardinals Practice Squad Alex Field DL Cardinals Practice Squad Ed Gant WR Cardinals Practice Squad Wilrey Fontenot DB Cardinals Injured reserve Chase Bullock LB -- -- Tim Castille RB -- -- Jameel Dowling DB -- -- David Holloway LB -- -- Reagan Maui'a RB -- -- Carlton Medder OL -- -- Tyler Palko QB -- -- Leonard Pope TE -- -- Steve Sanders WR -- -- Pago Togafau LB -- -- Chris Vincent RB -- -- Melvin Fowler OL -- -- Victor Hobson LB -- -- Rodney Leisle DL x x Oliver Ross OL x x

The tough decisions teams face in reducing their rosters to 53 players sometimes aren't so tough.

I've gone through the initial NFC West cut lists -- those players released at the 53-man deadline -- to see which ones have returned to their teams or caught on elsewhere.

The chart shows results for Arizona.

Veteran safety Aaron Francisco signed with the Colts. Receiver Onrea Jones signed with the Redskins' practice squad. Arizona re-signed four players to its practice squad.

Four others -- Wilrey Fontenot, Chris Vincent, Carlton Medder and Pago Togafau -- were injured when the Cardinals released them. All but Fontenot have reached injury settlements, leaving the roster. Fontenot remains on injured reserve. Update: Fontenot has also reached an injury settlement.

Some veterans on the list might have an easier time finding work after Week 1. Rules require teams to guarantee salaries to some veterans who are active for Week 1 and then released.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando



Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers denied Deion Sanders' claim that two teams reached out to the 49ers about possibly acquiring Michael Crabtree. "Those conversations never took place," a team spokesman said. Sanders said the 49ers "desperately" need Crabtree, and apparently he was serious. The 49ers are installing a power running game. They weren't counting on big things from Crabtree as a rookie anyway, realizing he would need time to get acclimated after rehabbing a foot injury for several months this offseason. Maiocco: "The deadline to trade an unsigned draft pick has passed for the league year. Even if Crabtree were to sign with the 49ers, the club would be unable to trade him until March 1. The 49ers would retain his rights up to the 2010 NFL draft."

Also from Maiocco: 49ers receiver Jason Hill wanted more chances during the exhibition season. Hill said he thinks there's a "strong possibility" the 49ers will release him. Hill: "Maybe the coaches don't like me or something. I don't know. I just haven't been getting enough reps. When I get reps, I make plays. I showed it last year when I get reps. When I get in a game, I make plays. I'm proving it on the field every time." One thing about wide receivers: It always seems to be about them.

More from Maiocco: Have the 49ers improved?

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle says 49ers coach Mike Singletary is "very thankful" the exhibition season has ended.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers' starters finished the exhibition season with one sack, a "dubious" one collected when JaMarcus Russell fell down.

Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says 49ers coach Mike Singletary wasn't interested in addressing Sanders' claims.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch looks at what the Rams learned about themselves during the exhibition season. The defense did a good job forcing turnovers, but stopping the run appeared to remain a problem.

Also from Thomas: Adam Carriker's injured shoulder is not the same one he hurt previously. Thomas: "According to unofficial press box stats, Carriker had no tackles against the Chiefs in his preseason debut. Interestingly, Carriker wasn't re-inserted with the starting unit when he returned to practice in late August. (Gary) Gibson has continued starting in Carriker's spot at defensive tackle, and Carriker played with the second unit Thursday against KC."

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Samkon Gado's uncertain injury status clouds the Rams' decisions at running back.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals could tweak their roster in the coming days. Somers: "(Leonard) Pope, due to make $1 million this season, fell out of favor with the coaching staff because he was not a strong blocker, and he had trouble grasping the nuances of the offense."

Also from Somers: Alan Branch fared well enough in spot duty at defensive end to stick on the roster.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com runs through the team's roster moves as the 53-man limit approached.

Also from Urban: The Cardinals were willing to keep only six defensive linemen because Branch gave them versatility.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune previews the Seahawks' cutdown decisions. Williams: "The team may decide to keep a fourth cornerback if Marcus Trufant (back) starts the season on the physically unable to perform list, which means he can’t return until the seventh game. If that’s the case, the Seahawks likely will make a decision between Kevin Hobbs and Travis Fisher."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com checks in with rookie running back Devin Moore. Farnsworth: "When given his most extensive stint of the preseason, the undersized Moore (5 feet 9, 191 pounds) came up big. He carried 22 times for 75 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown run, in the Seahawks’ 31-21 romp over the Oakland Raiders."

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Biggest surprise: There weren'y any big ones. Undrafted rookie linebacker Reggie Walker did beat out veteran Victor Hobson. The team kept seven receivers for now, including Lance Long, after injuries affected Early Doucet, Anquan Boldin and (previously) Steve Breaston. I would not expect the Cardinals to keep seven receivers all season, a reminder that this is the team's initial 53-man roster, not the final one.

Arizona sought to upgrade its secondary through the draft and free agency. That spelled the end for veteran safety Aaron Francisco. I thought the team might keep veteran center Melvin Fowler as insurance. Rookie returner LaRod Stephens-Howling stuck around, costing fullback Tim Castille a chance to continue with the team. Tight end Leonard Pope's demise had been on the horizon for a while and it was a bad sign when he was playing deep into the second half of the fourth exhibition game.

No-brainers: The team also released quarterback Tyler Palko, receiver Steve Sanders, receiver Ed Gant, cornerback Wilrey Fontenot, running back Chris Vincent, cornerback Jameel Dowling, fullback Reagan Maui'a, guard Trevor Canfield guard Carlton Medder, defensive end Alex Field, defensive tackle Keilen Dykes, tackle Oliver Ross, receiver Onrea Jones, defensive tackle Rodney Leisle, linebacker Chase Bullock and linebacker David Holloway. Canfield, chosen in the seventh-round, was the only 2009 draft choice released.

What's next: The heirarchy at tight end will continue to shake out, with Dominique Byrd essentially getting an extended tryout while Ben Patrick serves a four-game suspension. The team still could use a backup center with some experience.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Thoughts and observations from the Cardinals' exhibition game Thursday night against the Broncos:

• Fitzgerald cares. The Cardinals' first-team offense made little apparent progress following an "embarrassing" effort a week earlier, but receiver Larry Fitzgerald showed the unwavering focus and professionalism that help maximize his talents. He ran after the catch the way he would have in a Super Bowl. Receiver Steve Breaston, meanwhile, couldn't even get lined up properly, drawing two penalties for illegal formations. This is a recurring issue for Breaston and one that gets annoying if you watch enough Cardinals games. He committed three such penalties during the 2008 regular season. Details matter.
• Action for Toler. I was a little surprised to read coach Ken Whisenhunt's comments about how the Cardinals' rookie defensive backs, including cornerback Greg Toler, have a long ways to go. Toler competes. He battled hard against Broncos receiver Brandon Lloyd, closing hard on the ball to break up a sideline pass. Lloyd did beat Toler for a long completion to the Arizona 1-yard line, but Lloyd used his left arm to push Toler past the play. It was a veteran move and one that worked, but Toler was there all the way. Officials flagged him for illegal contact on a deep pass in the third quarter. The contact was came early in the route as an act of aggressiveness, not panic. Toler was there all the way and nearly picked off the pass.
• Updating Long. Receiver Lance Long didn't seem to make an emphatic statement in his quest to earn one of the final spots at receiver. Only Jerheme Urban played more than Long among Arizona receivers in the first half. Long finished the game with one reception for 9 yards. Officials flagged him for holding deep in Cardinals territory and it was a good call.
• Playing time. First-half snap counts for the Cardinals' skill players broke down this way: Urban 20, Long 14, Warner 12, Stephen Spach 10, Breaston 10, Fitzgerald 10, Jason Wright 9, Beanie Wells 9, Sean Morey 8, Anthony Becht 7, Dan Kreider 6, Tim Hightower 6, Matt Leinart 6, Tyler Palko 6, Ben Patrick 4, Onrea Jones 4, Reagan Maui'a 2 and Tim Castille 1.
• Wells catches naturally. The Cardinals' first-round choice made a reception out of the backfield for 12 yards, gathering the ball naturally and gaining several yards after the catch. It wasn't much to go on, but nothing about Wells seems to stand out as negative or limiting. We haven't seen enough to know for sure how he'll hold up in pass protection, a key variable for playing time.
• Losing Pope. Tight end Leonard Pope's long-term future with the team appears shaky. The team could keep an extra player at the position while Ben Patrick serves a four-game suspension to open the season. Even that might not be enough for Pope, who did not play in the first half. When Pope finally got a chance, he showed zero tenacity while missing a block against Broncos defensive end Jarvis Moss. The early third-quarter play allowed Moss to tackle running back Chris Vincent for a loss.
• Hobson shows. Cardinals linebacker Victor Hobson made a positive impression on a few plays. He was aggressive and put a big hit on the quarterback in the third quarter.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando



Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch liked what he saw from Rams rookie tackle Jason Smith. Burwell: "What I liked the most about what Smith did against the Chiefs was how quickly he learned from his mistakes. When he was over on the right side in the first quarter, the Chiefs stacked the linebacker and defensive end together and ran a looping stunt, with the end swooping around the blitzing linebacker to the inside. A few games ago, Smith had issues with these types of games that the defensive rushers played against the inexperienced rookie. Thursday night, it wasn't Smith who got fooled on the stunt. He stuffed his man at the line of scrimmage, but his tag-team partner, Adam Goldberg, reacted a hair late to the delayed inside rush."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says both teams were "offensively challenged" when the Rams and Chiefs played Thursday night. Thomas: "Bubble defensive ends Eric Moore and C.J. Ah You both had their moments rushing the passer. At running back, none of the backups made a definitive statement. In the battle for the No. 3 quarterback job, Brock Berlin got the better of it over Keith Null, although Berlin did throw a costly second-quarter interception and their final numbers Thursday ended up being very similar."

Also from Thomas: Donnie Avery got some work for the Rams, suggesting he'll be ready for the regular-season opener after recovering from a broken foot.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the race between quarterbacks Berlin and Null for the No. 3 job in St. Louis is too close to call.

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat points to turnovers as a key for the Rams during the exhibition season. They forced 12 of them.

Brian Stull of 101ESPN St. Louis says the Rams' cornerbacks stood out against the Rams. Stull: "Jonathan Wade had sack, Justin King had an interception and Bradley Fletcher was in on several plays."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says some Cardinals players are concerned after the team failed to impress -- again -- in finishing the exhibition season with an 0-4 record. Also: "The Cardinals could well make most of their cuts on Friday, a day ahead of the deadline for teams to get to the 53-man maximum. After Thursday's game, I'd say cornerback Michael Adams is going to stick. He's competitive and plays well on special teams. I don't like the chances of tight end Leonard Pope or receiver Lance Long. Pope was the last tight end used on Thursday, I believe. I think the Cardinals will take their chances at releasing Long and re-signing him to the practice squad."

Also from Somers: The Cardinals' first-team offense scored one touchdown during the exhibition season.

More from Somers: Coach Ken Whisenhunt says the Cardinals' rookie defensive backs have a ways to go before they're ready. I thought Greg Toler showed promise.

Tim Klutsarits of examiner.com liked what he saw from the Rams' Victor Adeyanju. Klutsarits: "Adeyanju was all over the field against the Chiefs and while his production is going to be mostly against the run it looks like he might be a contributor rushing the quarterback this year as well."



Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says 49ers rookie Michael Crabtree wouldn't be able to contribute much in Week 1 even if he signed in the near future. Maiocco: "The 49ers have just three more significant practices before the start of the regular season. That's not a lot of time for a rookie wide receiver to get up to speed on what he missed while absent from training camp."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee makes the tough calls in projecting the 49ers' initial 53-man roster. He keeps Micheal Spurlock over Jason Hill and Bear Pascoe over J.J. Finley.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says cornerback Eric Green and others are fighting for roster spots with the 49ers.

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com recaps the Seahawks' performance against Oakland.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times quotes Seahawks coach Jim Mora as saying Ben Obomanu "showed up" on special teams against the Raiders. Obomanu also caught two passes for 58 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown grab.

Also from O'Neil: Olindo Mare might have won the kicking battle against Brandon Coutu. Also, Max Unger will open the regular season at right guard.

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times says Seahawks rookie Aaron Curry was on his game Thursday night.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune lists Seahawks injuries this way: "Receivers Jordan Kent (ankle) and Courtney Taylor (eye), safety Courtney Greene (knee), tackle Andre Ramsey (leg) and defensive end Derek Walker (hamstring) suffered injuries during the game."

John Morgan of Field Gulls credits Seahawks defensive line coach Dan Quinn for developing and using young talent.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Among the things I'll be watching to see when the Cardinals conclude their 2009 exhibition schedule Thursday night against the Broncos in Denver:

• A pulse. Coach Ken Whisenhunt rallied around the Cardinals' recent poor showing against Green Bay to motivate his team heading into the season. Was his anger for nothing, or will Arizona's starters play with more of an edge when they are in the game? Games against the Steelers, Chargers and Packers tested and in some cases exposed the Cardinals' starters. Unlike those teams, the Broncos have serious problems at quarterback. They also lack depth. The matchup should give Arizona a good chance to impress.
• Tight ends. Dominique Byrd, Anthony Becht and Leonard Pope could be competing for roster spots. Can one of them make a strong closing argument?
• Alan Branch. Pope, a third-round choice in 2006, isn't the only recent early Cardinals draft choice facing an uncertain immediate future. Branch, chosen in the second-round of the 2007 draft, could be fighting for a spot at nose tackle behind Bryan Robinson and Gabe Watson. Is it too late?
• Oliver Ross. The Cardinals have changed some of their depth at offensive tackle. They placed Elliot Vallejo on injured reserve before reaching an injury settlement with him. Rookie Herman Johnson appears ready to back up Levi Brown on the right side. Ross played quite a bit against the Packers after groin soreness sent starting left tackle Mike Gandy to the sideline as a precaution. Quality depth at tackle is a luxury.
• Lance Long. Early Doucet's latest injury clears the way for Long to make a final push for a roster spot at receiver. The team could still keep Doucet, a third-round choice in 2008, but Long probably has a chance. The Cardinals' strength atop the depth chart at receiver makes this a relatively low-stakes decision -- for them, if not for Long.

NFL Network is replaying the Cardinals-Broncos game after the Raiders-Seahawks game, which begins at 10 p.m. ET.

2008 Cardinals Receiver, Weeks 1-21 Down Dist. Rec. Yards Anquan Boldin 2 1-2 5 115 Steve Breaston 2 1-2 1 19 Larry Fitzgerald 2 1-2 3 18 Leonard Pope 2 1-2 1 0 J.J. Arrington 2 1-2 1 0 Totals 11 153

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Ken Whisenhunt's latest conversation with Cardinals flagship station KTAR 620 featured thoughts on what an improved ground game could mean for Arizona.

Whisenhunt pointed specifically to the benefits associated with second-and-short situations. Edgerrin James converted all seven second-and-1 rushes with Arizona last season, but Whisenhunt focused on the big-play opportunities Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and the other receivers enjoy following a productive first-down run (or pass).

Whisenhunt: "The running game puts you in situations where you can get second-and-shorts and still take shots down the field with the idea, if you don't make it, then you have a convertible third down to keep drives going. It just really helps you move the chains and it give syou opportunities for big plays."

Boldin was the big-play threat for the Cardinals when the team passed on second-and-2 or shorter. The chart shows the extent of the damage, with Boldin accounting for 115 of the team's 153 yards passing in those situations from Week 1 through the Super Bowl.

Boldin caught passes for 45, 27, 18 and 16 yards on second-and-2 or shorter. Steve Breaston (19 yards) and Fitzgerald (15 yards) also caught passes gaining significantly more than Arizona needed to convert in those situations. Boldin's second-and-short success transcended personnel groups; the team lined up with 2-4 wide receivers and o-2 tight ends in those situations.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Cardinals have gotten dramatically younger at running back this offseason. Edgerrin James and Terrelle Smith are gone, leaving Tim Hightower and Dan Kreider as the only current Cardinals running backs with starting experience.

The team kept three halfbacks and two fullbacks on its Week 1 roster last season. Nine other teams also kept more than one fullback for the opener.

Hightower, Chris Wells, Jason Wright, Kreider and Tim Castille entered camp as the likely choices for those spots, should the team keep five. LaRod Stephens-Howling would have to significantly liven up the return game to earn a spot, most likely.

Arizona Cardinals Week 1 Roster Counts since 2003 QB RB WR TE OL DL LB DB ST Fewest 2 4 5 2 8 5 6 7 2 Most 4 7 7 4 10 9 8 10 3 Average 3.0 5.3 6.0 3.2 8.8 7.7 7.0 8.8 2.8 Currently on roster 4 8 10 5 15 10 11 14 3

The chart provides a framework for how many players the Cardinals might keep at each position heading into the regular-season opener against the 49ers.

Here's a quick look at which Cardinals players I might keep on the cutdown to 53 players:

(Read full post)

	Mark J. Rebilas/US Presswire
	The Cardinals hope Beanie Wells can help give the team a consistent running game.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Fans watching Arizona Cardinals training camp chanted Larry Fitzgerald's name as the decorated receiver approached to sign autographs.

They chanted with enough fervor to drown out Bill Davis' voice as the Cardinals' new defensive coordinator submitted to an interview nearby.

The symbolism was appropriate.

Camp Confidential: NFC West • Cardinals: Mon., Aug. 3 • 49ers: Wed., Aug. 5 • Seahawks: Mon., Aug. 10 • Rams: Thurs., Aug.13

Already a star, Fitzgerald became superstar material by setting NFL postseason records for receptions (30), receiving yards (546) and touchdowns (seven) last season.

As for that Cardinals defense? Coordinator Clancy Pendergast lost his job after coaching in the Super Bowl.

Arizona played well enough on defense at key moments for the Cardinals to make their Super Bowl run, but not well enough to hold a last-minute lead with a championship on the line. Arizona's regular-season opponents amassed 426 points, one fewer than the Cardinals' prolific offense scored, and an astounding 36 touchdown passes, nine more than any other NFL team allowed.

Davis, promoted from linebackers coach, points to scoring defense as the "only thing we talk about." He expects better play against the deep ball, a stronger pass rush and renewed commitment to technique, alignment and assignments.

"You can focus on a lot of things, but when you have our offense, which we have so much respect for and it's fun to watch, we've got to take care of our end," Davis said. "We are really emphasizing technique, alignment, eyes, assignments. It sounds like it goes back to high school, but at the end of the day, that is what makes teams great because they all have great talent."

Key questions

	Jeff Gross/Getty Images
	Running back Tim Hightower rushed for 399 yards and 10 touchdowns last season.

1. Is Beanie Wells the answer at running back?

The Cardinals aren't much closer to knowing than when they drafted him with the 31st overall selection.

Ohio State's late graduation kept Wells from practicing with the Cardinals beyond the post-draft camp in early May. Wells' ankle injury Saturday during his first training camp practice will sideline him further. The more time Wells misses, the more likely Tim Hightower will emerge as the Week 1 starter.

"The only personal goal I've set for myself is to come in and be that guy, be the guy that -- I know we're a passing team -- that defenses will have to actually focus on the running game for the Arizona Cardinals," Wells said.

The Cardinals released Edgerrin James this offseason in part because they knew what they would get from him, and it wasn't enough to justify a $5 million salary. Though durable and reliable, James wasn't going to break long runs or scare defenses with the big play.

Wells is far more suited to provide those things if he can stay on the field.

"We want to be a little bit more balanced," Fitzgerald said. "If we can get a good running game going, the play-action is going to be big. That is going to leave single coverage for us outside and that is going to make it easy -- not easy, but easier -- for us to make plays when we are in one-on-one coverage."

2. Where will the Cardinals get their pass rush?

Dockett

Campbell

Twenty-three NFL teams had at least one pass-rusher with more than five sacks last season. The Cardinals were not among them. They lack an obvious candidate to break through this season.

Everyone from general manager Rod Graves to coach Ken Whisenhunt to Davis points to rookie second-round choice Cody Brown and 2008 second-rounder Calais Campbell as potential surprise contributors.

The team's most disruptive pass-rusher, Darnell Dockett, wondered earlier this
offseason how he would fit as Davis leaned more heavily on 3-4 alignments. Dockett, who projects as the prototypical 4-3 interior pass-rusher, apparently has nothing to worry about. Davis said he re-watched every snap Dockett played over the past two seasons while designing his defense to suit the 290-pound Pro Bowler's talents. Expect Dockett to line up in new places.

"Without giving too much away," Davis said, "the bottom line is, we're excited about having Darnell in this package and we're very aware of his talents in this package."

3. How will the Cardinals handle turnover on the coaching staff?

Former offensive coordinator Todd Haley thrived on challenging even the Cardinals' best players. His sideline shouting match with Anquan Boldin in the playoffs proved as much. The intensity Haley brought to the position isn't the sort of thing a staff naturally replicates.

Players responded to Haley, and now he is gone.

Whisenhunt is excited to take back play-calling duties on offense. The team shouldn't lose much, if anything, on that front. Whisenhunt might be just as good or better.

Fitzgerald's continued emergence as a more proactive leader could help fill some of the void now that Haley is the head coach in Kansas City. Fitzgerald's mentoring of Wells alone qualifies as extraordinary. Wells lived with Fitzgerald for stretches this offseason and accompanied him to Minnesota for workouts with Cris Carter.

"I think that is special with Larry," Whisenhunt said. "I've been on some good football teams and the common thread with those teams is there was a chemistry, there was a closeness with the players. A lot of times when you have veteran players that have had success, they have a responsibility to help the younger players, and when you start to see some of your players do that, I think it's a very good indication of the closeness of your team and that chemistry that is so important."

Market watch

Boldin appears to be working on restoring his image. Always a hard worker and terrific teammate, Boldin's reputation took a hit when unhappiness with his contract affected his outlook during the playoff run last season.

Boldin

Fitzgerald

Boldin said nothing inflammatory upon reporting to camp, a departure from his tack last offseason. He has also been staying after practice longer than usual to sign autographs and reconnect with fans. Perhaps he realized the Cardinals weren't going to suddenly cave to his demands. Teammate Adrian Wilson's ability to command a new deal after taking a low-keyed approach might also have resonated. ...

The thought of spending another season on the bench behind Kurt Warner hasn't dragged down Matt Leinart. To the contrary, Leinart seems to be in a better place this offseason. He rededicated himself to conditioning and reported at 227 pounds, as light as he can remember weighing since high school.

"Last year was so up and down, it was like a roller-coaster," Leinart said, recalling the battle he ultimately lost to Warner. "No one knew what was going to happen. It was a lot of pressure on me to perform. This year, I just feel more at ease. I'm more comfortable with the offense. I feel great. I feel like I can go in there and play. Now it's just a matter of time, when my opportunity comes, to make the most of it."...

As much as any superstar, Fitzgerald appears obsessed with improving and driven by fear of failure. The time he spent working with Jerry Rice armed Fitzgerald with new ideas, including drills to help Fitzgerald address what he considers to be his biggest weakness, coming out of his breaks.

"I picked his brain all week," Fitzgerald said. "Every night, we sat around and talked. The thing I was so impressed with about him, even at 46 years old, his mentality, he did every single drill we did. He didn't miss a rep or anything. ... I couldn't imagine when he was 25 or 26, what he was thinking. If I can have his same mentality at 25 that he has at 46, I'll do well."

Newcomer to watch

	Rick Scuteri/US Presswire
	Bryant McFadden gives the Cardinals a more physical presence in the secondary.

Former Steelers cornerback Bryant McFadden has already given the Cardinals an obvious physical presence in the secondary. Fitzgerald and Boldin have beaten him to the ball a few times, but McFadden's aggressive nature has stood out in camp to this point.

More broadly, McFadden hopes the Cardinals can establish the mentality that has helped make Pittsburgh so tough on defense over the years. He points to players holding one another accountable as the key. Arizona made progress in that area during its playoff run.

"In Pittsburgh, we went into a ballgame telling our offense, 'You give us 17 points, we will win,' and that wasn't out of a sense of cockiness," McFadden said. "That was from a sense of assurance and knowing we were going to get the job done, and being consistent at it, playing at a consistent level."

Observation deck

Warner might be a little stiff in his movements at times while he works through a painful rehabilitation from hip surgery. The procedure was relatively routine by NFL standards, however, and Warner should be fine for the regular season. He has started 31 consecutive games, counting playoffs, making him the most durable quarterback in the NFC West over the past two seasons. ... Davis, the defensive coordinator, retained much of the terminology from last season in an effort to smooth the transition. "And then I cleaned some of the extra verbiage out and I added some calls -- really some blitzes -- that I've had in my past so we can pressure some more and in more different ways," Davis said. ... The rapport Warner has developed with fourth receiver Jerheme Urban will make it tough for 2008 third-round choice Early Doucet to crack the rotation. Fitzgerald, Boldin and Steve Breaston are set as the top three. ... Second-year cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie continues to show the ability to contest balls that Fitzgerald would catch against most other defensive backs. ... Left tackle Mike Gandy struggled in the Super Bowl, but the Cardinals need him. An injury at that position might throw off the whole line. ... Whisenhunt appears unconcerned by the instability at tight end. He'll feel a lot better during the regular season if Stephen Spach continues his impressive rehab from knee surgery. Spach is a willing blocker and reliable player. The same cannot be said for 2006 third-round choice Leonard Pope, who jogged out a route and made a halfhearted effort to catch the ball during a drill on the first day of camp. ... Breaston was by far the most impressive player returning punts early in camp. ... The Cardinals are withholding judgment on 2007 second-round choice Alan Branch even though the nose tackle reported to camp in better shape and fared well against backups in pass-rush drills. Branch clearly has not earned the benefit of the doubt. ... Center Lyle Sendlein should be much better following shoulder surgery. ... While the Cardinals' recommitment to the ground game helped set up play-action fakes in the playoffs, the team's offensive stars aren't ready to change their offensive identity. "That was a good preview of things to come," Fitzgerald said, "but we don't want to run it too much."

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Arizona Cardinals

Division Camp Previews • Tuesday: NFC North | AFC North • Wednesday: NFC East | AFC East • Thursday: NFC South | AFC South • Friday: NFC West | AFC West MORE • Camp battles: AFC | NFC • Schedule: Training camp dates

Training camp site: Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, Ariz.)

Campfires: Coach Ken Whisenhunt isn't afraid to make first-round draft choices earn their starting jobs. He benched Matt Leinart coming out of camp last season, then made talented rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie wait until near midseason before becoming a full-time starter. The trend could continue this summer as rookie first-round choice Beanie Wells practices with the Cardinals for the first time.

Wells projects as the long-term replacement for Edgerrin James at running back, but Ohio State's late graduation prevented him from participating in minicamps and organized team activities. That means the adjustment period for Wells could take a little longer. Expect Tim Hightower to enter camp as the tentative starter.

Meanwhile, the situation at tight end remains a mystery. Arizona is carrying six tight ends on its roster, one behind the league high. Ben Patrick, the player coaches have tried to develop as a player versatile enough to help as a receiver and blocker, faces a four-game suspension to start the season. That could open the door for Anthony Becht, Leonard Pope or Stephen Spach to seize the starting job. I don't see a clear favorite, particularly with Patrick serving a suspension and Spach coming off knee surgery.

	Jeff Mills/Icon SMI
	Will Beanie Wells be able to avoid the injuries that plagued him in college?

Camp will be a downer if ... Wells doesn't immediately prove he can avoid the long list of injuries that affected him in college. Arizona needs a more dynamic runner to run its offense the way Whisenhunt and offensive line coach/running game coordinator Russ Grimm want to run it. Wells has the physical ability to provide that missing element. Can he stay on the field and will he fight through some of the ailments that await every running back in the NFL?

The preferred scenario would include Wells breaking a few long runs during the preseason, setting up the play-action passing game that worked so well for Arizona when the team showed more balance in the playoffs last season.

Camp will be a success if ... the reconfigured coaching staff takes control of the team and helps Arizona build on the momentum from its Super Bowl season.

Whisenhunt has stressed continuity during the first two years of his tenure. He kept the same five starters on the offensive line even though right guard Deuce Lutui had penalty problems and center Lyle Sendlein sometimes struggled while playing through a shoulder injury. While the approach worked, continuity wasn't an option for the coaching staff once the Chiefs hired offensive coordinator Todd Haley head coach.

Whisenhunt's decision to fire quarterbacks coach Jeff Rutledge and defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast shook up the staff considerably more.

Warner will miss the rapport he enjoyed with Haley. The two appeared inseparable at times and the relationship seemed to benefit Warner on the field. Can the newly configured staff fill the void or otherwise find ways to keep Warner and the offense rolling?

Money men: Key players Karlos Dansby, Anquan Boldin and Darnell Dockett want lucrative long-term deals.

Franchise player rules will force Dansby to wait, and he should be content "settling" for a one-year franchise deal worth nearly $9.7 million. The volatile Dockett has also committed to letting his play do the talking, a good sign for the team.

While Boldin put aside his concerns to produce last season, his situation bears monitoring. Another year without a new contract probably equates to a higher frustration level. Boldin, generally the consummate pro, might have a harder time dealing with the situation -- particularly if the team fails to meet expectations.

---

San Francisco 49ers
Training camp site: 49ers headquarters (Santa Clara, Calif.)

	Kyle Terada/US Presswire
	Can Shaun Hill distinguish himself to claim the starting QB job?

Campfires: The 49ers have quite a few position battles for a team that finished strong and feels good about its chances for contending within the division.

The quarterback race will rightfully command the most attention. Coach Mike Singletary said the players will know whether Shaun Hill or Alex Smith should be the starter, at which point Singletary will merely affirm what they know. That means Smith's status as the No. 1 overall draft choice in 2005 will not afford him any advantage in the competition. Hill's 7-3 record as the 49ers' starter over the last two seasons gives him the edge.

On defense, Dashon Goldson would have to flop or suffer another injury for the older and less athletic Mark Roman to take back his job at free safety. Dre Bly has the edge over Tarell Brown at right corner. Kentwan Balmer, the 49ers' first-round choice in 2008, could push for a starting job at left defensive end.

Camp will be a downer if ... both quarterbacks flounder and veteran Damon Huard appears to be the best option. Unlikely? Perhaps. But the scenario isn't as laughable as it should be. Neither Hill nor Smith distinguished himself during the competition a year ago. Even if Mike Martz was playing favorites when he installed J.T. O'Sullivan as the starter, the fact remains that O'Sullivan enjoyed the strongest preseason of the three.

The new offensive system should better suit Hill in particular, and the 49ers have declared this quarterback race a two-man affair, ruling out Huard as a contender. Still, after years of backing up Trent Green, Tom Brady and Dan Marino, Huard wound up starting three of the first five games in Kansas City last season when the unaccomplished Brodie Croyle and Tyler Thigpen were his primary competitors.

Camp will be a success if ... Hill validates his 7-3 record as the 49ers' starter, right tackle Marvel Smith makes it through training camp healthy and the push toward a full-time 3-4 defense validates Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson as promising pass-rushers.

Hitting on all three of those might be asking a bit much, but getting two of them right might be enough, particularly if the 49ers feel good about the quarterback situation.

On the receiving end: It's a little surprising to see the 49ers emerge with their deepest group of receivers in years after committing to Singletary's smashmouth approach. The change to Singletary and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye was all about making smarter use of the players general manager Scot McCloughan and former coach Mike Nolan had acquired in recent years.

That meant -- and still means -- forging an identity in the ground game. Yet, while receivers Michael Crabtree, Isaac Bruce, Brandon Jones and Josh Morgan will not be battling Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin for Pro Bowl berths this season, they do give the 49ers better potential than they've enjoyed recently.

Singletary's smashmouth roots should not and likely will not dissuade the 49ers from making frequent use of those receivers.

---

Seattle Seahawks

	Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US Presswire
	The Seahawks must get Matt Hasselbeck through training camp unscathed.

Training camp site: Seahawks headquarters (Renton, Wash.)

Campfires: The Seahawks weren't going to pretend that first-round choice Aaron Curry would have to prove himself in camp to earn a starting job. They put the fourth overall choice in the lineup from the beginning. No suspense there.

Most positions in Seattle appear settled. The situation at receiver should produce intrigue with Nate Burleson, Deion Branch and rookie burner Deon Butler fighting to get on the field with T.J. Houshmandzadeh and tight end John Carlson. Injuries will probably help sort out the situation. Burleson is returning from ACL surgery. Branch is entering his first full season since undergoing his own ACL procedure.

Don't be surprised if rookie second-round choice Max Unger pushes for playing time somewhere in the interior of the offensive line. He projects as the long-term starter at center if Chris Spencer plays out his contract and leaves following this season. If S
pencer holds the job, Unger figures to find his way onto the field in one of the guard spots, perhaps this year.

Camp will be a downer if  ... quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's back injury flares up at any point along the way. Hasselbeck and the Seahawks say the quarterback has long since overcome the problems that helped limit him to seven starts last season. They didn't know the extent of the problem a year ago when they assured fans that Hasselbeck would be fine for the regular season. The issue is under control now, they say, but the very nature of back injuries should raise at least some concern heading into a pivotal season for the organization. 

Camp will be a success if ... Hasselbeck, left tackle Walter Jones and defensive end Patrick Kerney put to rest concerns about their long-term health. Beyond the obvious injury storylines, this camp becomes a success for Seattle if Curry validates coach Jim Mora's opinion that the linebacker's pass-rushing abilities are indeed far stronger than anticipated on draft day.

Seattle badly needs to restore its pass rush to better compete against the Cardinals' passing game in a broader effort to overtake Arizona in the division. Kerney is the key, but the Seahawks are also counting on pressure from other sources: Brandon Mebane, Cory Redding, Lawrence Jackson, Darryl Tapp and possibly Leroy Hill. Significant pass-rush help from Curry would offset Julian Peterson's departure while making it easier for the Seahawks to justify having drafted a linebacker fourth overall.

Learning curve: By all accounts, the two years Mora spent in the background watching Mike Holmgren operate should leave him better prepared to handle his second head-coaching job. The way Holmgren handled everything from players to the media differed quite a bit from the more freewheeling approach Mora displayed with the Falcons.

Lessons learned? Yes, but it will be interesting to see how the Seahawks' leadership -- operating without Holmgren for the first time since 1998 -- will respond under pressure if things go wrong early.

---

St. Louis Rams
Training camp site: Rams Park (Earth City, Mo.)

	G. Newman Lowrance/Getty Images)
	Will Marc Bulger be able to regain his old form behind a revamped offensive line?

Campfires: The Rams need to figure out what they have at receiver, linebacker and left cornerback after overhauling their roster.

Torry Holt, Orlando Pace, Drew Bennett, Trent Green, Anthony Becht, Corey Chavous, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Brian Leonard, Gary Stills, Jason Craft, Ricky Manning, Fakhir Brown, La'Roi Glover, Dane Looker, Travis Minor, Dante Hall, Nick Leckey and Brett Romberg were among the former starters and role players cast aside in the makeover.

None was irreplaceable. Getting rid of them was the easy part. Identifying and developing adequate replacements will take time.

Camp will be a downer if ... top draft choices Jason Smith and James Laurinaitis aren't ready to contribute right away. Coach Steve Spagnuolo has taken it slowly with both rookies, but he likely will not have that luxury once the regular season gets going. Smith and Laurinaitis probably must play and play well for the Rams to avoid trouble.

Laurinaitis' development is critical because the Rams appear so thin at linebacker after releasing Tinoisamoa. Even if Laurinaitis plays well, the Rams' depth at linebacker could betray them. 

Camp will be a success if ... quarterback Marc Bulger finds comfort behind an upgraded offensive line. Bulger can be a highly accurate passer when opposing defensive linemen aren't pounding the confidence out of him. The player who topped 4,300 yards passing with 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions three years ago hasn't resembled even remotely the scared soul seen under center for the Rams too often over the last two seasons.

The Rams' should start to regain some swagger on the line with 320-pounder Jason Brown taking over at center and the personably intense Smith at tackle. Right guard Richie Incognito won't be the only starter with some snarl, in other words. That should help provide improved protection for Bulger and leadership for the offense.

Fantasy spin: Running back Steven Jackson should not hurt for opportunities now that the Rams have landed a 320-pound center (Brown, free agent from the Ravens) and a 258-pound fullback (Mike Karney, late of the Saints). The Rams will try to develop their young receivers, but rarely should any of them represent a more formidable option than Jackson. And if he gets some luck with injuries, look out.