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Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the 49ers in 2012:

Dream scenario (14-2): The 49ers pick up where they left off last season. They continue to force turnovers and protect the football while dictating field position with their dominant special teams. This time, however, the offense has more firepower.

Receiver Michael Crabtree backs up coach Jim Harbaugh's comments suggesting Crabtree has all-time-great hands. A rejuvenated Randy Moss strikes fear into secondaries. Quarterback Alex Smith, armed with sufficient weapons, strikes for explosive plays more frequently. The offensive line, stabilized by Alex Boone's emergence as a top young guard, sustains drives on third downs and finishes them in the red zone.

Rookie receiver A.J. Jenkins hits stride in December as the 49ers clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs heading into Week 17. Colin Kaepernick throws for 350 yards and four touchdowns in the regular-season finale as San Francisco eliminates division-rival Arizona from playoff contention. Sufficiently rested, the 49ers score a dominating victory over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, delivering San Francisco its first Super Bowl title since the 1994 season.

Nightmare scenario (6-10): The odds catch up to Smith when the Detroit Lions' Ndamukong Suh delivers a controversial hit at the knees in Week 2. Kaepernick isn't ready, Moss loses interest and the offense can't score enough points. Meanwhile, Peyton Manning has the Denver Broncos looking like contenders.

The 49ers realize they were fortunate to have Smith start 18 games the previous season despite taking 51 sacks. They realize how risky it was going into the season without a proven right guard. How hard would it have been to pay one of the veteran options the team considered in free agency? That's a question reporters keep asking, even though none of them said much before the season. The question stings now that Smith is done for the season and Kaepernick is running for his life.

Tough defense and special teams keep the 49ers reasonably competitive. The coaching staff does its best to stabilize the situation. The 49ers compete and steal victories from other teams with quarterback issues. In the end, however, they become the latest team to suffer a hard fall after posting a glittering record the previous season. Rock bottom arrives when Sando notes, again, that the 13 teams finishing 13-3 from 2004 to 2010 averaged 8.3 victories the following season.

» AFC Scenarios: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Rams in 2012:

Dream scenario (8-8): Sam Bradford takes every snap on offense for the second time in three seasons as the Rams protect their franchise quarterback with sensible play-calling. It's the sixth time a Jeff Fisher-coached team finishes 8-8, but no one is complaining after the Rams' 15-65 run over the previous five seasons. Trusting offensive line coach Paul Boudreau to salvage right tackle Jason Smith becomes one of the surprise success stories of the 2012 season, and a critical one for the Rams' efforts to re-establish Bradford.

Turns out the Rams were not fibbing when they suggested Brian Quick, the receiver they took in the second round, ranked up there with first-rounder Justin Blackmon on their board. The constant threat of Steven Jackson and Isaiah Pead out of the backfield creates favorable matchups for Quick and the Rams' underrated receivers. Bradford publicly downplays a Week 2 victory over Robert Griffin III and Washington, but it feels good to win at home against the player St. Louis could have selected second overall this year.

Watching Janoris Jenkins score on a fourth-quarter punt return in Patrick Peterson's house improbably stakes the Rams to a 6-5 record, stirring visions of the postseason. It's certainly sweet to finally win within the division again. The Rams lose to San Francisco the following week and ultimately finish the regular season with a respectable defeat at Seattle, but the season is a success by any measure.

Nightmare scenario (3-13): Road games against Detroit and Chicago in the first three weeks expose Bradford to significant punishment as Smith and the line struggle to find their bearings. Bradford doesn't want to talk about the ankle injury he aggravated at some point in the season's first month, but it's clearly a factor. Facing Cliff Avril, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Ndamukong Suh, Brian Orakpo, Ryan Kerrigan, Julius Peppers, Chris Clemons, Bruce Irvin, Calais Campbell, Darnell Dockett, Cameron Wake and Clay Matthews in the first seven games leaves Bradford limping toward the bye week, his confidence shaken.

Jackson continues to plug away, but we've seen this movie before, and it doesn't end well for the Rams. The depth at receiver is indeed improved, but Bradford doesn't have any truly dynamic weapons. Quick understandably needs seasoning, but with Blackmon and Arizona's Michael Floyd challenging rookie receiving records, the Rams look bad for trading down. It's tough finding open receivers with Smith struggling at tackle, anyway.

First-round pick Michael Brockers and free-agent addition Kendall Langford upgrade the run defense, but life as an every-down defensive end is tough for Robert Quinn. The veteran outside linebackers signed as stopgaps represent only a minor upgrade from last season. Off-field issues dog Jenkins, and the defense fails to meet expectations. Critics conveniently blame Gregg Williams' suspension, but the problems are more complex than that.

The Rams head into the offseason with another high draft choice, one they'll almost certainly have to invest in a playmaker of some sort.

Arizona Cardinals receiver Michael Floyd was fifth and Seattle Seahawks pass-rusher Bruce Irvin sixth on John Clayton's list of 10 new draft choices likely to make the greatest immediate impact.

"Floyd's presence may force defenses into more zone coverages, because it will be hard to double Larry Fitzgerald and match up man-to-man against Floyd," Clayton theorized. "Irvin is probably the draft's best pass-rusher and should put up double-digit sack numbers early in his career."

Let's consider that a launching point for a discussion EDTGO jump-started from his luxury box in the comments section of an earlier item on Arizona's draft thinking.

"Floyd will be starting and will have the best position of the rookies to get stats," he wrote.

Rookie receivers making at least 10 starts from 2009 through last season averaged 46 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns, according to Pro Football Reference. Cincinnati's A.J. Green and Tampa Bay's Mike Williams had the most receptions of the group (65 apiece). Green, Williams and Julio Jones each topped 900 yards. Those three joined Torrey Smith as the only ones with more than six touchdown receptions.

We shouldn't forget about St. Louis Rams second-round receiver Brian Quick. He has a good chance at starting. The Rams thought Quick reminded them of Terrell Owens from a physical standpoint. Owens had 35 catches for 520 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, making 10 starts.

The status for San Francisco 49ers first-round receiver A.J. Jenkins could be tougher to define initially. He could wind up starting if the Randy Moss experiment does not work out. He could also ease into the role, getting fewer opportunities as the 49ers run their offense through other players primarily.

Double-digit sacks from Irvin might be enough to eclipse for impact the projected receiving numbers from Floyd, Quick or Jenkins.

Five rookies since 2009 have collected at least 10 sacks. San Francisco's Aldon Smith, with 14 sacks last season, was the only one to do so as a backup. Von Miller, Brian Orakpo, Clay Matthews and Ndamukong Suh -- all first-round choices, as were Smith and Irvin -- reached double digits in sacks while starting at least 13 games.

Carlos Dunlap had 9.5 sacks in 12 games, none of them starts, for Cincinnati in 2010.

Irvin should benefit from the Seahawks' very specific plans for him. The team got nine sacks in zero starts from Raheem Brock in 2010. Irvin will play a similar role and a similar percentage of the snaps, giving him a very good chance to eclipse Brock's total -- if he's talented enough to produce those numbers. Brock played about 50 percent of the snaps for Seattle in each of the last two seasons.

Who else deserves our consideration?

"Janoris Jenkins has a shot ... assuming he can keep his head on straight," ramm428a wrote.

"Yep," randdles wrote, "Jenkins will get to face five of the top QBs this year, he could make a big impact."

Matthew Stafford, Robert Griffin III, Jay Cutler, Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are among the high-profile quarterbacks Jenkins, a second-round cornerback with first-round talent, will face in his initial season with the Rams. Jenkins will face those quarterbacks by Week 8, giving him a chance to shape perceptions early.

Devin McCourty and Joe Haden are the only drafted cornerbacks to exceed five interceptions as rookies over the past three seasons.

"Michael Brockers could have a huge impact," JohnnyP3180 wrote of the Rams' first-round choice. "Not flashy, but he could make the biggest difference for his team."

That might be true, but as a run stuffer, Brockers probably won't accumulate the stats players often need to draw acclaim. We'll be sure to monitor Brockers' contributions closely regardless.

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One man's opinion on the top five Monday night games for 2012:

1. Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions, Week 16. Call this one the Karma Bowl. The Falcons took offense when Ndamukong Suh allegedly celebrated Matt Ryan's ankle injury during an October game between the teams last season. Suh called the injury "karma" for the Falcons' allegedly dirty tactics. Good teams and bad blood should make for good theater.

2. Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons, Week 2. Peyton Manning's first post-Indy appearance on "Monday Night Football" takes him to Atlanta for only the third time in his career. The Falcons are a footnote in this matchup. Manning plays only one indoor game during the 2012 regular season. This is it.

3. Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles, Week 12. Neither team had a winning record last season, but who cares? This game presents a chance to see Cam Newton and Michael Vick on the same night in the same stadium for the first time -- assuming they're both healthy enough to play after running around, into and through defenses for two-plus months.

4. Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers, Week 11. Patrick Willis versus Matt Forte. Brian Urlacher versus Frank Gore. Expect a physical game and a big test for Jay Cutler on the road. The 49ers have arguably the NFL's best defense, and they'll be eager to show it in prime time.

5. Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks, Week 3. Two NFC West teams on the list? What is this, the NFC West blog? Yes, but this one's legit. Few venues can approach Seattle for atmosphere, especially in prime time. And this game marks Green Bay's lone appearance on Monday night. The Matt Flynn storyline adds interest.

Notable NFC West appearances on the Advanced NFL Stats player pages tracking measurable contributions through Week 13:

• Seattle's Chris Clemons and Arizona's Calais Campbell appear with Minnesota's Jared Allen and the New York Giants' Jason Pierre-Paul among the top four defensive ends. Clemons and Campbell are strong against run and pass. The interception Campbell made against Philadelphia stands out as a highlight. Michael Vick's pass hit Campbell in the upper body from close range. Campbell seemed to absorb the ball.
• Seattle's Doug Baldwin ranks ninth among receivers. Wes Welker, Victor Cruz, Anquan Boldin, Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings comprise the top five. Baldwin ranks just ahead of Calvin Johnson and Mike Wallace. The rankings consider only how players' contributions affected their teams' probability for winning. Baldwin is tied for the NFL lead in third-down receptions for first downs. He has 18, one more than Welker.
• Arizona's Darnell Dockett and San Francisco's Justin Smith top the list of NFL defensive tackles. Both play defensive end in 3-4 base defenses. They also play tackle. The NFL has listed them as defensive tackles for years. That is the position they would play in a 4-3 defense. Smith has stood out all season; he leads the defensive tackles listed with 14 quarterback hits. Dockett made impact plays against Dallas in Week 13. This is a strong list. Haloti Ngata and Ndamukong Suh are in the top six.
• San Francisco's Delanie Walker outranks Vernon Davis among tight ends. Davis has outproduced Walker, but Walker's contributions have been more pivotal to winning. For example, Walker caught the winning touchdown pass against Detroit. Walker's 29-yard scoring catch against Dallas broke a 14-14 tie late in the third quarter. Davis and Walker both rank among the top 13.
• Seattle's Kam Chancellor tops the list of safeties.
• The New York Jets' Darrelle Revis leads cornerbacks, but the 49ers' Carlos Rogers and the Seahawks' Brandon Browner are next, just ahead of ex-49ers corner Nate Clements. Rogers and Browner have combined for nine interceptions.

More: offensive and defensive players by position. It's easy to sort columns by various statistical criteria. These aren't definitive player rankings. They're one way to differentiate player contributions beyond the raw yardage stats available everywhere.

First, the Seattle Seahawks lost starting right guard John Moffitt to a season-ending injury featuring multiple torn ligaments, but not to the anterior-cruciate ligament.

Now, the team has lost starting right tackle James Carpenter to a torn ACL.

ESPN's Adam Schefter had the report Thursday morning. Note: Moffitt's injury affected the posterior-cruciate (PCL) and medial-collateral (MCL) ligaments. Carpenter, who incurred the ACL tear during pass-rush drills, suffered a more conventional knee injury. The net effect is the same for Seattle. Its two rookie starters on the line will not get valuable work together over the final seven games. Instead, both will be rehabbing injuries in an effort to return for training camp, presumably. Seattle has good enough depth on the line to weather these injuries. Carpenter and Moffitt were experiencing the usual rookie growing pains. They were probably the fourth- and fifth-best starting linemen on the team at this point. These injuries set back the line's development.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the team is going with Paul McQuistan, not Lemuel Jeanpierre, as the replacement for Moffitt at right guard. Coach Pete Carroll: "He’s played before. He has a little more experience. Also, we have a situation where Lem is the backup snapper in this game. We've got to make sure that with only two snappers available to us we have got to make sure he’s available to us if we need him."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says quarterback Tarvaris Jackson paid a physical price for the across-the-body throw he made to Doug Baldwin against Baltimore. As a result, Jackson is not practicing much. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell: "He's fighting through it. To watch him play on Sundays, sometimes you wouldn't even know there's anything wrong with him. You can always tell when he comes back to practice and the adrenaline's worn off and all those things, but he's being a trooper for us. He's showing toughness, he's leading the team and I think he's doing very well." Noted: Jackson would not be dealing with this injury if the team had called something other than a quarterback option against the Giants.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says Heath Farwell has added punch to the Seahawks' special teams.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic does not expect Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb to play against the 49ers in Week 11. Coach Ken Whisenhunt: "You saw that he (Kolb) still has a little pain, he can move, do some things, other things bother him. We've got to make sure he can get through all the movements, plant and throw as well as move out of the pocket if he needs to."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com revisits the team's winning touchdown drive against the Eagles. Urban: "Whisenhunt sees the recent successes (John Skelton also led a fourth-quarter touchdown drive against the Rams, although it wasn’t up against the clock like Philadelphia) as a function of a couple of factors: A better understanding of what was needed after failing in similar circumstances earlier this season, and a re-emphasis on late-game urgency after the team reached the bye week. The late-game scenarios were one of the parts of the game practiced less than normal in training camp as the team tried to catch up after the lockout, Whisenhunt said."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch takes a closer look at Sam Bradford's rough second season in the NFL. Bradford: "I think my performance so far has been a little disappointing, especially from my perspective. I expect a lot out of myself. I expected to come in and have a great year, and obviously I've struggled at times. But we're continuing to get better, I'm continuing to get better. And I feel more comfortable in this offense each week."

Kathleen Nelson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams are plugging holes in their roster with practice-squad players, including one from the Kansas City Chiefs.

Roger Hensley of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch asks colleagues whether the Rams would have been better off drafting Ndamukong Suh over Bradford in 2010. Noted: The Rams rank last against the run this season and wouldn't be any better in that area with Suh, but their pass-rush would be phenomenal. Chris Long might have double-digit sacks already simply through better matchups. Bradford hasn't done much to win games lately, but his long-term value still gives him an edge over any defensive tackle.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers and Alex Smith are in no rush to get a new contract done. Noted: Smith isn't going anywhere anytime soon. The trust between Smith and coach Jim Harbaugh is high. I see no reason the team shouldn't be able to reach agreement on a reasonable deal.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says national media are descending on 49ers headquarters for stories on the team's turnaround.

Jon Saraceno of USA Today rounds up thoughts on the 49ers' success this season. Mike Mayock: "Everybody loves Green Bay, but I think this thing is wide open. The (49ers) are playing the way you win in the playoffs. They rarely beat themselves."

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News says an 8-1 record makes it tough for the 49ers' wide receivers to complain about catching so few touchdown passes.

Five things I noticed while watching the San Francisco 49ers defeat the Detroit Lions, 25-19, in their most recent game:

• Which one is Suh again? Corey Williams, not Ndamukong Suh, was the Detroit defensive tackle posing the most problems. That was the word from a scout I spoke with earlier in the season. It sounded like a contrary opinion, but after charting the 49ers' handling of Suh through the first half of this game, nothing much about him stood out. Of the 28 first-half plays I charted, Suh was not on the field for eight of them. He made one play on the remaining 20 snaps, shedding 49ers guard Adam Snyder to tackle Frank Gore for a short gain. That was it. The 49ers assigned a true double-team to Suh one time in the half. On one play, tight end Delanie Walker surprised Suh with a wham block to free Gore for a 47-yard gain. Walker sealed Suh with a similar block to spring Gore's 55-yard run in the third quarter. The Lions have allowed three 100-yard rushers since Oct. 10.
• Talent, scheme enable key safety. Aldon Smith's talent came into play on the safety he collected midway through the second quarter. The scheme was another factor. The Lions lined up with three wide receivers. A tight end and running back flanked quarterback Matthew Stafford in the shotgun. The 49ers' Ahmad Brooks and Ray McDonald were down linemen on the left side of the defensive line. Defensive end Justin Smith stood upright about 2-3 yards off center Dominic Raiola, with linebacker NaVorro Bowman behind him. Linebacker Patrick Willis lurked behind Brooks and McDonald, across from the tight end in the backfield, Brandon Pettigrew. Aldon Smith leaned forward from a two-point stance over the left tackle, Jeff Backus. At the snap, Aldon Smith rushed into Backus, then disengaged from him with great suddenness, sidestepping the veteran tackle and rushing toward Stafford while Backus stood there without recourse. Raiola appeared acutely aware of Justin Smith before the snap. Not long before, the 49ers' Pro Bowl end had thrown Raiola to the ground.
• Whitner times up his blitz perfectly. Veteran safety Donte Whitner gives the 49ers a strong presence against the run. He was 10-plus yards off the ball before rushing into the backfield on a second-and-3 play. Whitner crept toward the line of scrimmage before the snap, but he was still seven yards off the ball when the play began. He knifed through a gap in the line and the Lions did not account for him. The run was to the opposite side, but Whitner was in the backfield quickly enough to bring down Maurice Morris for a 1-yard gain. Whitner latched onto Morris and brought him down decisively with an alligator roll. The 49ers' defense is playing with attitude.
• 49ers' linebackers due for interceptions. The 49ers have eight interceptions this season, but none by linebackers. That figures to change given how close Bowman, Willis, Brooks and Aldon Smith have been to picking off passes. They all had chances against the Lions. They'll have more chances if they keep playing at a high level.
• Crabtree's blocking shows up again. Receiver Michael Crabtree was sprinting some 50 yards downfield on Gore's 55-yard run when he dipped his shoulder and drilled unsuspecting Lions safety Louis Delmas. The block wasn't really necessary at that point because cornerback Chris Houston was about to make the tackle, but it showed Crabtree's mentality. He's been blocking well all season.

Making it through a 49ers observations item without mentioning Alex Smith stood out to me. I think it reflected the degree to which the 49ers played this game without relying on him heavily, at least until the final two minutes.

Losing an established veteran player unexpectedly can hurt. It can also help.

Marcus Trufant's season-ending back injury could fall into both categories. It hurts because the Seattle Seahawks, like most teams, could always use another starting-caliber cornerback. It helps because it clears the way for the team to develop younger players, including Walter Thurmond.

The situation with Takeo Spikes in San Francisco comes to mind. Spikes was a valued veteran leader in 2010. His departure to San Diego in free agency seemed like a setback at the time, but without him, young replacement NaVorro Bowman has grown into one of the better young linebackers in the league. He's been much better than Spikes, actually.

Dynamics tend to be different in the secondary, where there's enough playing time to go around given the need to play more than two cornerbacks a high percentage of the time. Thurmond was going to develop with or without Trufant, but the process accelerates now that Thurmond is starting.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune checks in with Thurmond, who started one game as a rookie from Oregon last season. Williams: "The University of Oregon product is part of a young starting secondary that, although inexperienced, has the potential to make big plays. The Seahawks have five interceptions and have given up just six passing touchdowns this season, tied for fourth overall. Seattle gave up 31 passing touchdowns last year, third-worst in the league."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks' low-key approach to the quarterback position continued Tuesday when the team remained on the sideline while Oakland paid a huge price for Carson Palmer.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says this about guard Adam Snyder during his player-by-player review for the 49ers in Week 6: "Started at right guard, and played the first three quarters before exiting with a right shoulder stinger. . . Had block on defensive tackle Nick Fairley on 8-yard run for [Kendall] Hunter in first quarter. . . . Had a holding penalty called on him in the third quarter that was declined. . . . During his time in the game, he held his own against Ndamukong Suh, who lined up over him most of the time."

Also from Maiocco: the defensive player review. On Bowman: "Started at inside linebacker and played every snap in the game. After a film review, the coaches adjusted Bowman's tackle total from 13 to 17 tackles. . . Had good position on third-and-goal incomplete pass intended for Jahvid Best to hold Lions to field goal in the first quarter. . . Overran Best on 13-yard gain late in first quarter. . . . Avoided attempted block of tight end Will Heller and stopped Best for 1-yard gain in third quarter. . . . Broke up third-and-5 pass to [Brandon] Pettigrew with 1:19 remaining."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic counts the Cardinals among NFL teams no longer able to claim lockout-related relief given the success Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers are enjoying. Defensive end Vonnie Holliday: "The 49ers are separating themselves and we have to have a sense of urgency. It's not like maybe in years past in this division where everybody is right there together. We're chasing them, and we have to start now. We can't wait."

Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic checks in with Cardinals running back Beanie Wells, who played Little League with LeBron James and spent his bye week overseeing construction of an add-on room at his mother's home.

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals are paying for letting Steve Breaston get away, making life tougher for Larry Fitzgerald. Noted: I think the Cardinals have plenty of talent at receiver. The 49ers don't have anyone approaching Fitzgerald's ability level. They recently lost starting receiver Josh Morgan to a season-ending injury. Braylon Edwards has been out for weeks. The team is 5-1 anyway. The Cardinals need better play at quarterback and better play on defense more than they need another receiver, in my view. Early Doucet is performing pretty well on third down as it is. Something for Bickley and I to discuss during our weekly radio conversation Friday.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says new labor rules might prevent teams from getting as much out of a bye week.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers thoughts during a chat on what's wrong with the Rams' pass-rush this season. Thomas: "The Rams have trailed by at least 14 points at halftime in four of their five games. They have led for a grand total of 6 minutes 28 seconds all season. It's a lot easier to rush the passer with a lead, and when the opposing team is in obvious passing situations. I think this has as much to do with it as anything."

Tony Softli of 101ESPN St. Louis says the Rams' acquisition of Brandon Lloyd was a risk worth taking. Softli: "The hope is Lloyd can accomplish more than just leadership, because the Rams don't need leadership. They are getting that from Steven Jackson, Sam Bradford, James Hall, James Laurinaitis and Quintin Mikell. They need more Blue players (playmakers and difference-makers). Ones that show up every day, play consistently at a high level and bring a ton of production in every game. As we know, history will repeat itself, but the question is which Brandon Lloyd did the Rams trade for, last season's Pro Bowler or the journeyman that several teams didn't want on their roster?"

DETROIT -- A few thoughts and observations as the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions warm up on the field below for their game Sunday:

• The Lions' Ndamukong Suh gets most of the attention after his 10-sack rookie season. A few scouting types I've spoken with said they thought Detroit's other defensive tackle, Corey Williams, has played at least as well and even better. Williams will line up over 49ers left guard Mike Iupati for what should be a fierce battle. Williams did suffer an foot injury in practice this week, but he's starting.
• The 49ers know they need to minimize crowd noise by starting the game well. Otherwise, noise threatens to be a big problem for tackles Joe Staley and Anthony Davis, who face tough enough matchups anyway.
• There's little question the 49ers will try to emphasize the run. They'll want to make the Lions pay for lining up their defensive ends wider than most teams line them up. They should like their matchups in that regard, but Alex Smith and the passing game will need to function well enough over the course of the game to keep the Lions' defense honest. Smith has appeared decisive and comfortable lately, getting rid of the ball quickly. That must continue.
• Chris Culliver and Shawntae Spencer are both active at cornerback for the 49ers. I would expect Culliver, the rookie third-round pick, to serve as the first corner off the bench in nickel situations. Veteran Carlos Rogers moves inside in those situations, potentially leaving Culliver outside against Calvin Johnson. The 49ers will obviously need to help out with a safety in those situations.
• The Lions have been effective at times throwing underneath passes to Jahvid Best in particular. The 49ers' Aldon Smith isn't on the field for all situations, but the rookie outside linebacker does possess arms long enough to contest some of those throws. He had a key tipped pass against Seattle in the fourth quarter of the opener. Something to keep in mind.
• The Lions rank 20th in punt-return defense and 28th in kick-return defense, defined by average return lengths. That makes the 49ers' Ted Ginn Jr. a player to watch. Few things sap the life from a crowd more than a touchdown return from the visiting team.

Kevin Seifert and I are getting settled in here before kickoff. I'm seeing quite a few fans wearing 49ers jerseys ringing the visitor's sideline and sprinkled throughout the still mostly empty blue seats. The first two fans I saw outside the stadium Sunday morning were wearing Patrick Willis jerseys.

The Detroit Lions have scored 58 points despite controlling the ball less than 45 of 120 minutes over their past two games.

Jim Harbaugh and the San Francisco 49ers would have to like their chances against the Lions on Sunday if they can hold possession as long as Detroit's past two opponents held it.

We should expect to see running backs Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter getting lots of carries against a Lions defense allowing 4.8 yards per rushing attempt this season.

Gore has rushed for 252 yards over his past two games.

Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh recently said he thinks Detroit can control the 49ers' ground game because San Francisco plays a conservative style of offense designed to minimize mistakes.

"They don't take very many risks and that's something that I think is good for us when we shut down what they want to do, which is their run game, and force them into long-yardage situations, get them behind the eight ball and having them have to come back because our offense is putting points on the board and putting points on their defense," Suh wrote on the Lions' website. "That puts them in situations that they don't want to be in."

The 49ers have worn down opposing defensive fronts in victories against Philadelphia and Tampa Bay the past two weeks. The Lions' depth along the line should allow them to stay fresher. But the way the Lions have played defense -- lining up with their defensive ends unusually wide, in order to maximize pass-rush opportunities -- should give the 49ers' power running game a chance. They need to be the more physical team.

Sure, the San Francisco 49ers won their first few games, but their offense wasn't doing much.

There would come a time, the thinking went, when coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman would have to "open up" the offense. And at that point, the suspicions went, quarterback Alex Smith would suddenly reveal himself as a scatter-shooting turnover machine.

It's debatable to what degree the 49ers have opened up their offense. They've performed more efficiently, for sure, and Smith appears to be getting better, not worse. That makes San Francisco's offensive matchup against the 5-0 Detroit Lions' defense in Week 6 additionally intriguing.

The statistical rankings shown in the chart draw from very disparate per-game figures. The 49ers averaged 214 yards per game through Week 3. The average is 430 yards over their past two games.

It's reasonable to expect a viable San Francisco offense to show up in Detroit on Sunday. It's also fair to wonder whether the 49ers' offensive line, though improved recently, can function adequately against a deep, talented defensive front and amid deafening crowd noise. Leaving right tackle Anthony Davis alone against Lions defensive end Cliff Avril would invite trouble, I think, but the 49ers also have to funnel resources toward Ndamukong Suh.

It's obvious the 49ers will help their offensive line with two or more tight ends a high percentage of the time. They're shorthanded at wide receiver without Braylon Edwards and Josh Morgan. Tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker combined for three touchdown receptions in Week 5. Both rank among the three best available receiving targets on the team. They need to be on the field together just about all the time.

I expect the Lions to play coverage and rely upon their front four, led by Suh, to get pressure. Smith has completed all 10 pass attempts for 151 yards and two touchdowns when opponents have sent a defensive back as a pass-rusher. He has completed 71.4 percent for 330 yards with four touchdowns and a 9.4-yard average per attempt when teams have sent more than four rushers overall. Those figures, provided by ESPN Stats & Information, are better than his numbers against standard pressure (63.7 percent passing, three touchdowns, one interception).

Smith has performed ably in throwing quickly with three-step drops. Those tactics helped the 49ers finish their 48-3 victory over Tampa Bay without any sacks. This game against Detroit stands as a tremendous opportunity for Smith and the offense. Pass this test and it'll be tough for anyone, anywhere, to question the 49ers' credentials on offense, no matter how much coaches open it up.

NFC West teams drafted four players in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft.

The St. Louis Rams' Chris Long is the only one employed by an NFC West team.

Kentwan Balmer, chosen 29th overall by the San Francisco 49ers that year, had been holding on with Seattle. The Seahawks released him Wednesday after re-signing running back Vai Taua.

This may or may not be the end for Balmer in the NFC West, but with him gone for now, here's a quick look at what became of that 2008 first-round class in the division:

• Long: The Rams are increasingly getting sufficient return on a sizable investment after making Long the second player chosen overall. Long has become a consistently productive player since moving to the left side of the line. He had 8.5 sacks last season.
• Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: The Cardinals chose him 16th overall and liked what Rodgers-Cromartie offered. "DRC" went to one Pro Bowl before suffering through a down 2010 season. The Cardinals sent him to Philadelphia in the Kevin Kolb trade.
• Lawrence Jackson: The Seahawks drafted the defensive end 28th overall. Jackson started slowly and didn't fit when the team changed its scheme. Seattle traded Jackson to Detroit, where defensive ends face favorable matchup situations thanks to Ndamukong Suh's presence on the interior. Jackson had six sacks in 2010.
• Balmer: Nolan Nawrocki's pre-draft assessment for Pro Football Weekly ended this way: "Can disappear and fail to make an impact, and his overall career production is discouraging. ... Has some intriguing natural tools, but must first demonstrate that he is not motivated strictly by a contract. Could be satisfied as a career underachiever."

Among the good value picks for NFC West teams in that 2008 draft: Calais Campbell, Red Bryant, Tim Hightower, Josh Morgan, Brandon Keith and Justin Forsett.

Michael from Seattle asked whether I noticed that the Seahawks had ranked last among NFL teams in Rick Reilly's recent re-drafting of the 2006, 2007 and 2008 first rounds, with cornerback Kelly Jennings going 210 spots later.

Mike Sando: Not only were the Seahawks last, but the St. Louis Rams were second-worst and the San Francisco 49ers third-worst. The Arizona Cardinals finished 22nd. Poor draft choices drag down teams, no doubt, but bad teams also drag down questionable draft choices. Some of these players walked into rough situations.

One of the Seahawks' recent first-round picks, Lawrence Jackson, appears better suited for Detroit's scheme. He had a career-high six sacks for the Lions last season and could get close to double digits playing with Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley. But he was never going to enjoy that sort of success in Seattle, particularly as the team sought different qualities in its linemen. Jennings, Kentwan Balmer (49ers), Tye Hill (Rams) and Matt Leinart (Cardinals) dragged down their teams' drafts as well.

A quick look at the NFC West picks Reilly mentioned, and how many spots earlier or later they would have gone on a re-draft:

• Cardinals (minus-192): Leinart fell from 10th to undrafted (2006); Levi Brown fell from fifth to 32nd (2007); Steve Breaston rose from 142nd to 28th (2007); Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie fell from 16th to 50th (2008). Breaston was the only NFC West player to jump into a first round from lower in his draft class. Rodgers-Cromartie has played at a Pro Bowl level for stretches. He wasn't as good last season, but was he bad enough to fall 34 places? Reilly made him the seventh cornerback selected.
• 49ers (minus-323): Vernon Davis fell from sixth to 19th (2006); Manny Lawson fell from 22nd to 99th (2006); Patrick Willis jumped from 11th to third (2007), trailing only Adrian Peterson and Darrelle Revis in his class; Joe Staley dropped from 28th to 46th (2007); Kentwan Balmer dropped from 29th to undrafted (2008). Willis was the only NFC West first-rounder to gain ground in the re-draft. Reilly had Davis going one spot after Marcedes Lewis. Both are good tight ends. Both have been to the Pro Bowl.
• Rams (minus-351): Hill fell from 15th to undrafted (2006); Adam Carriker fell from 13th to 100th (2007); Chris Long fell from second to 26th (2008). Reilly had Long going after Pierre Garcon in the re-draft. I'd much rather have Long. Garcon would be far easier to replace. The Rams had less to gain in these rankings because they've drafted so early. The best Long could do was gain by one spot.
• Seahawks (minus-377): Jennings fell from 31st in 2006 to 241st; Jackson fell from 28th in 2008 to 195th. Seattle had no first-round choice in 2007. The team was picking late in the other first rounds, giving Seattle plenty of room for improvement. That makes the 377-point cumulative drop even more problematic. Adding 2009 wouldn't improve matters, either, as Aaron Curry would fall from No. 4 overall.

I've been meaning to address this re-draft. Thanks for bringing it up.

David from Whitehall, Pa., writes: Being the big St. Louis Rams fan I am, I browse around daily looking at possible draft choices for the Rams this year. Everything I read seems to put defensive back at low priority and defensive line at a higher priority. This confuses me because last season the Rams ranked 19th in pass defense and 17th in run defense. They also ranked 21st in interceptions and an amazing seventh in sacks.

To me, it seems like the defensive line had a better year than the defensive backs and while the defensive line is still the same players, they lost Oshiomogho Atogwe at free safety, which hurts them some more.

I understand that two of their front four are in their 30s, but wouldn't it be better to get some to help with pass coverage, rather than a backup defensive lineman with their first pick? Or maybe even an outside linebacker that can help with the run and pass. This situation reminds me of the saying, "Don't fix what isn't broken" -- and with their superb play last season, I don't think their defensive line needs much fixing at this point.

Mike Sando: This issue ties into the previous item looking at how teams have never drafted a cornerback first overall.

Teams feel as though their scheming can mask issues in the secondary more than it can mask deficiencies on the line. Dominant defensive tackles such as Ndamukong Suh or Cortez Kennedy will cause more immediate problems for offenses than talented safeties or cornerbacks will ever cause. Offenses can always throw away from defensive backs. They cannot avoid huge men lining up within a few feet of their quarterback.

Those early picks are valuable, so teams like to use them for the most important positions. Teams see the secondary as less important than the front seven.

Your point about considering a linebacker is one to keep in mind. Again, though, teams can more readily find linebackers outside the first round. James Laurinaitis are Lofa Tatupu are two examples in the NFC West. I would rather take Chris Long second overall than Aaron Curry fourth overall, even if Curry played as well as Long has been playing. That changes if the linebacker is also a pass-rusher, but then we're usually talking about an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.

The age issues you cited regarding the Rams' defensive line must come into play. James Hall and Fred Robbins might have another year or two left, realistically.

Even with Robbins, the Rams needed another disruptive force inside. They've missed on too many defensive tackles in the draft over the years, from Jimmy Kennedy to Adam Carriker. I think the team's current leadership has shown a better eye for talent in the draft. The Rams can't go wrong strengthening the front seven early, then finding other ways -- including free agency -- to help the back end of the defense.

DALLAS -- A few comments from St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford after The Associated Press named him its offensive rookie of the year for the 2010 season:

• On the award in general: "It means a lot to me when you look at this award and see who has won it in the past. It reflects what we were able to do as a team this year."
• On Ndamukong Suh winning for defense: "I guess there is a little of a connection between us being taken one and two (in the draft). Last year, going through the draft process, I got to know him a little bit. It is cool that the one and two picks won the offensive and defensive players of the year."
• On his personal highlight from the season: "I think it would probably be the Washington game just for the fact that it was our first win, my first win as a quarterback in the NFL, a memory I am going to have for a long time. I remember being extremely excited about that game."
• On any disappointment after Suh won Pepsi's top rookie award: "No, not at all. If you look at what he did this year, he totally deserves it. I never start out a year wanting to win individual awards. My focus is on the team. When I don't win an award, it doesn't affect me much."

That's it from the Super Bowl media center. I'm debating whether to make the drive back to Fort Worth despite anecdotal reports of horrible traffic. I've got to be back in Dallas for Hall of Fame voting early Saturday.