ESPN NFL

Gregg Williams isn't getting much sympathy these days.

That isn't going to change following the release of an audio tape featuring the former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator imploring his players to injure specific San Francisco 49ers -- with cash from Williams as the reward in at least one instance.

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch provides balance to the criticism by challenging the Saints' suggestion that Williams, now defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams, acted as a "rogue" coach during his days with New Orleans. Burwell: "How can this tape be the thing that forces Roger Goodell to heap a lifetime ban on Williams? Unless I'm missing something, didn't the tape simply confirm every crime that Goodell already said he already knew Williams had perpetrated? The tape adds no new revelations, only additional confirmation. The only thing the tape does is conveniently provide the Saints coaches and general manager with an excuse to throw Williams under the bus as they attempt to receive some leniency from Goodell in their appeals hearing." Noted: The audio tape provides emphatic confirmation. It amplifies and corroborates in a manner that further damages/cements Williams' reputation. Also, the NFL's bounty announcement referred to other games and other opponents, but not this game against the 49ers. It also demonstrated that the Saints continued the bounty program shortly after learning that the NFL had reopened its investigation.

Ray Ratto of CSNBayArea.com says the NFL never would have punished the Saints to this degree had New Orleans defeated San Francisco and won the Super Bowl. Ratto: "Sean Payton would have skated again, because the league would never tolerate a two-time Super Bowl winner and supergenius being publicly rebuked for something they were trying to keep on the down-low. In short, the 49ers did the league a huge favor. Alex Smith is owed a huge solid, and here’s hoping now that he’s been given the back of the business’ hand in his latest contract that someone sees fit to take care of him. Those two late scores took out New Orleans, freeing Roger Goodell to muster enough owner support to drop a bag of hammers on Tom Benson and his perpetually defiant football staff."

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News thinks Williams is finished as an NFL coach, but he offers this: "I understand the public outrage over this tape, but folks, did you think Williams (or any intense defensive coordinator) regularly tells his players to be nice out there? No, this is an incredibly violent sport. And usually the more violent team, if it stays within the rules, is the one that wins. By the way, the 49ers were the more violent team on the field in the playoff game. THEY WON THE GAME."

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News passes along comments from 49ers safety Donte Whitner describing Williams' pregame directives as "really disgusting."

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers' next draft class faces an uphill fight in some cases.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says James Sanders' signing to a one-year contract gives the Cardinals depth at safety behind starters Adrian Wilson and Kerry Rhodes. Somers: "Sean Considine left for the Ravens, and Hamza Abdullah is not under contract. Rashad Johnson, a restricted free agent, has not yet signed his tender offer of $1.26 million."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com has this to say about Sanders: "This is a veteran who should serve well in the locker room. A scouting report from someone who covered Sanders acknowledged his age -- he doesn’t run as well as he used to -- but that the veteran is a good person, good with teammates and is intelligent, the kind of player who makes sure everyone is on the same page defensively. In some ways, it sure sounds a lot like Richard Marshall (and like Marshall, Stewart is from Fresno State. He’s actually a one-time college teammate of Marshall’s.)"

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the team held its annual workout for locally produced college talent. Farnsworth: "At best, the Seahawks can find a player or two from the group -- as was the case last year with Jesse Hoffman, a defensive back from Eastern Washington University and Shorecrest High School; and Dorson Boyce, a fullback from the University of Washington. Each was invited to training camp and Hoffman was signed to a future contract for this year in January. Last year’s group also included two players who were drafted by other teams –- UW quarterback Jake Locker, the eighth pick overall by the Titans; and Shiloh Keo, a defensive back from the University of Idaho and Woodinville High School who went to the Texans in the fifth round."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune passes along Evan Silva's contention that John Carlson, formerly of the Seahawks, was the most overpaid player in free agency this offseason.

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle dismisses the notion of Kam Chancellor moving to outside linebacker for the Seahawks.

A few thoughts on known contract offers for restricted free agents in the NFC West:

• The Hyphen: The Cardinals announced a second-round tender for running back LaRod Stephens-Howling, meaning any team signing Stephens-Howling would have to give Arizona a 2012 second-round choice if the Cardinals declined to match the offer. Stephens-Howling was a seventh-round pick. The fact that Arizona values him at a second-round level reflects well on him, and on the team for drafting him.
• Amendola valued: Jim Thomas' report of a second-round tender for Danny Amendola suggests the Rams' new staff wants to keep the slot receiver. Amendola caught 85 passes in 2010, then suffered a season-ending elbow injury in the 2011 opener. He is 26 years old, has a good rapport with quarterback Sam Bradford and can contribute in the return game.
• Secondary values: Arizona safety Rashad Johnson and cornerback Greg Toler received original-round tenders. That means Johnson would fetch a third-round pick and Toler a fourth-rounder. The knee injury Toler suffered before last season suppressed his value.
• No Max Hall: The Cardinals retained rights to exclusive-rights free agents Rich Bartel, Alfonso Smith, Ronald Talley and Brandon Williams. They made no offer to Max Hall, a forgotten man in the team's quarterback race. Hall was once a player the Cardinals liked for his toughness and leadership, but his days in Arizona appear finished.
• 49ers' LB depth: San Francisco had only two RFA candidates, linebacker Larry Grant and receiver Brett Swain. The team has made no announcement on its tenders, but Grant appears likely to receive an original-round offer, pegging his value to a seventh-round pick, Matt Maiocco notes. Grant played extensively on special teams and filled it pretty well at linebacker when Patrick Willis was out. The 49ers should be able to match any offers, or they could look for depth in the draft. Looks like Swain is head headed for free agency.
• Seahawks have three: NFL Players Association records show Seattle extending a $1.26 million tender to kicker Steven Hauschka, allowing Seattle the right of first refusal. Guard Mike Gibson and cornerback Roy Lewis are the team's other RFAs. Lewis' agent said he has not yet received word from the team, which has until Tuesday to make RFA offers.

Looks like I've finally made it through a blog post without mentioning -- wait, who wrote that headline?

We're still a month away from NFL free agency, but with the Super Bowl behind us, we'll start sizing up players without contracts for 2012.

Expanding upon Brian McIntyre's lists, I've plugged in offensive and defensive snap-count numbers for NFC West free agents, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information.

The charts below cover the Arizona Cardinals' free agents. The final column shows what each player's previous contract averaged annually.

Re-signing defensive end Calais Campbell will be a top priority. I don't see the Cardinals letting him get away. They moved on from Antonio Smith a few years ago, but they did so with Campbell ready to take over. They would have a hard time replacing Campbell.

Cornerback Richard Marshall proved valuable on a one-year deal. Early Doucet was a primary threat on third down.

Overall, though, the Cardinals have a relatively modest group of unrestricted free agents.

Safety Sean Considine played extensively on special teams. I've listed him with the offensive and defensive UFAs, however.

The Cardinals' key specialists are without contracts. The team has turned over those positions in recent seasons.

The Cardinals can keep their restricted free agents, listed below, by making one-year qualifying offers to them, then matching any outside offers.

Aaron Levine's report about the Seattle Seahawks hoping to bring a Super Bowl to the Northwest sent me back through notes to a 2002 interview with team owner Paul Allen.

The Seahawks were about to open their new stadium at the time, so it was natural to ask Allen whether the organization could bring a Super Bowl to Seattle.

"It is certainly do-able," Allen said at the time. "The league, there hasn’t been one in a northern city for some time. There is some talk of New York and Washington. Certainly, our hat is in the ring if they decide to look beyond cities like that."

The recent positive Super Bowl experience in Indianapolis would seem to help.

"I think probably it will be in another Northern city first," Allen said during that 2002 interview, "and if it’s a positive experience, hopefully some momentum will build."

CenturyLink Field is an open-air facility, however, and that could be a problem. The NFL sent the Super Bowl to Indianapolis knowing Lucas Oil Stadium would shield fans and players from inclement weather. Indianapolis is also a major-league destination for conventions. Skywalks connect downtown hotels.

Steve Rudman of Sports Press Northwest looks at Shaun Alexander's Hall of Fame credentials following Cortez Kennedy's induction. He compares Alexander's production to that for Curtis Martin, something I'll break out later on the blog.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com breaks out pertinent NFL dates and makes this notation about the Cardinals regarding free agency: "The Cards have four restricted free agents (guys who could leave, but the Cards, if they tender an offer, have right of first refusal): running back LaRod Stephens-Howling, linebacker Reggie Walker, safety Rashad Johnson and cornerback Greg Toler." Note: Re-signing unrestricted free agent Calais Campbell has to be the top priority as far as addressing players already on the roster.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch updates the Rams' search for a general manager. The 49ers' Tom Gamble is next up, with Minnesota's George Paton up for a second interview. Thomas: "Gamble will be the ninth candidate to interview for the job. The others: Paton; Joey Clinkscales, vice president of college for the New York Jets; Lake Dawson, vice president of player personnel for Tennessee; Brian Gaine, director of player personnel for Miami; Ryan Grigson, director of player personnel for Philadelphia; Ron Hill, vice president of football operations for the NFL; Steve Keim, director of player personnel for Arizona; and Les Snead, director of player personnel for Atlanta. Grigson has since been hired as general manager by Indianapolis."

Howard Balzer of 101ESPN St. Louis says the Rams have signed an offensive lineman from the CFL.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com takes a look at how the 49ers' receivers performed in 2011. On Josh Morgan: "Morgan's rehab is ahead of schedule, and he should be able to participate in the entire offseason program. He is scheduled to be a free agent, and it would seem to make sense for the sides to agree on a contract for next season. In five games, Morgan caught 15 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown."

Eric Branch of the San Francisco 49ers looks at which draft choices the 49ers hold for 2012.

Five things I noticed while watching the San Francisco 49ers during their most recent game, a 21-19 defeat at Arizona in Week 5:

• Great receiver blocking continues. Josh Morgan, now on injured reserve, has stood out for the 49ers in that area for years. Michael Crabtree has made a statement with his blocking this season. Braylon Edwards was the one violently shoving Cardinals safety Rashad Johnson twice during Frank Gore's 20-yard run late in the first quarter. Edwards was the only wide receiver on the field. He was one of the most effective blockers on the field for this play. This has been a tough season for Edwards. Those types of plays indicate effort is not the problem.
• So close with Ted Ginn Jr. The 49ers aren't quite as conservative as it sometimes seems on offense. They've come close to connecting on deep passes to Ginn. A questionable penalty for a chop block negated a 75-yard touchdown strike to Ginn at Baltimore. Ginn beat Cardinals cornerback A.J. Jefferson deep for what should have been a 51-yard touchdown Sunday. Ginn lost track of the ball and could not make the catch. Cardinals defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday ran past guard Mike Iupati to pressure and hit Alex Smith on the play, but the ball was gone when Holliday made contact. The ball almost hit Ginn. I would expect the 49ers to keep trying. They'll connect on one of these eventually.
• Red zone chances galore. The 49ers' No. 32 ranking in red zone touchdown percentage is well earned. It was tough to figure how they failed to find the end zone after getting first-and-goal from the 4 in the second quarter. Smith appeared to miss Edwards with a back-shoulder throw on first down, but upon replaying the sequence in slow motion, I think Jefferson tugged at Edwards' collar, delaying Edwards' pursuit of the ball. It was subtle and tough to see at full speed. Edwards didn't even complain about it. Perhaps it was inconsequential. The play just seemed too straightforward for Smith and Edwards to miss. A run went nowhere on second down. The 49ers went with 22 personnel on third down, with Edwards as the lone wideout. Smith could find no one open. Another wide receiver on the field wouldn't seem to hurt.
• 49ers nearly knocked out two QBs. Cardinals starter Kevin Kolb dropped back to pass twice in this game. The 49ers hit him both times. They knocked him out with a concussion on the second one. Backup John Skelton narrowly avoided a massive hit. Safety Dashon Goldson, one of the 49ers' hardest hitters, missed high by a few inches when Skelton slid with the ball at the last moment. Goldson smashed into teammate Aldon Smith instead, accidentally delivering a helmet-to-helmet hit that briefly shook Smith. Linebacker NaVorro Bowman had flushed Skelton from the pockety by bulling over running back Chester Taylor in pass protection. The 49ers can be so physical on defense. This play showed how.
• Alex Boone passes initial test. Backup tackle is an important position for the 49ers after their starter on the left side, Joe Staley, missed seven games in each of the last two seasons. Boone signed a contract extension last week, then stepped into the lineup Sunday when a concussion forced Staley from the game early. The 49ers' offensive line had lost of problems, but most seemed to stem from the interior. Boone held up well in pass protection, even in obvious passing situations. The 49ers' money appeared well spent.

Looking ahead, I'll be interested in seeing how the 49ers defend Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Mike Wallace. Unlike the Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald, who hurt the 49ers from the slot, Wallace has lined up almost exclusively on the perimeter this season.

Many factors could be contributing to the Arizona Cardinals' dramatic defensive improvement over the past six games:

• Learning a new system. This narrative blames early-season struggles on adopting a new scheme with a first-year coordinator (Ray Horton) following a lockout. There is logic behind the thinking even though the team was already running a base 3-4 defense and felt good about the transition. Coach Ken Whisenhunt in March: "What Ray has done a very good job of is trying to assimilate his system into our terminology.
  

  2011 Cardinals Defense

  Stat	Gm. 1-7	Gm. 8-13
  W-L	1-6	5-1
  PPG	26.1	17.5
  YPG	390.7	324.0
  Rush TD	1.6	0.3
  Pass TD	1.3	0.7
  First downs	24.3	17.8
  3rd down	37.8%	26.1%
  Red zone	51.7%	27.8%

  
  
  
  That is one less hurdle our players will have to deal with. His scheme might be a little bit different, but at least our alignments, what we are calling our defensive schemes, will not be so foreign to them."
• Playing poorer opponents. Cam Newton, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco were on the schedule during the first seven games. The team has faced Sam Bradford twice, Alex Smith twice and an injured Michael Vick (minus DeSean Jackson) since then. There's some merit to this thinking, no question. But the Cardinals' defense was arguably at its best in holding Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys to 13 points. Romo suffered a season-high five sacks and tossed only one touchdown pass, still his lowest single-game total since Week 8.
• Personnel changes. Arizona has given young outside linebackers Sam Acho and O'Brien Schofield additional playing time, with positive results. The chart below shows which Cardinals defensive players have seen the greatest changes in playing time from the first seven games to the most recent six. Hank Gargiulo of ESPN Stats & Information provided the snap counts. I calculated the percentages and point changes. The chart shows only those players with swings of at least 15 percentage points. The playing-time changes have limitations. For example, it's possible the defense would have been even better recently if players with diminished snaps had played more.
• Top players healthier. One of the team's best defensive players, inside linebacker Daryl Washington, missed two early starts with an injury. Another, strong safety Adrian Wilson, has steadily gotten better after playing through a torn biceps tendon early in the season. Both players appear healthier. The team did lose second-year nose tackle Dan Williams to a season-ending elbow injury, however.
• Peterson emerging. Rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson, the fifth player chosen in the 2011 draft, has four punt returns for touchdowns, two during the last six games. Peterson has also made strides in coverage. The secondary in general has played better. Some of the personnel changes could come into play here as well.

These are a few of the reasons for improvement that come to mind readily. Reporters covering the Cardinals' next opponent, Cleveland, asked Whisenhunt for his take on the subject Wednesday.

"I think they are getting more comfortable with the scheme and understanding how it fits together, how they have to play together," Whisenhunt said. "We tried to put a lot in early in the season and we were making a lot of mistakes and we scaled it back, and we have built from there. It is a confidence thing, too."
.

One starting quarterback in the NFC West has made it through 12 games without missing a snap to injury. That one quarterback is Alex Smith, who previously had started more than 10 games in a season just once, back in 2006.

Sam Bradford, who took every snap for St. Louis as a rookie in 2010, has already missed three games to an ankle injury this season. He could miss a fourth when the Rams visit Seattle on Monday night. Bradford's backup, A.J. Feeley, is expected to miss the game after suffering a thumb injury.

Kathleen Nelson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch runs through the Rams' contingency plans for the position. The team has added Kellen Clemens off waivers after signing Tom Brandstater to its 53-man roster, and Matt Gutierrez to its practice squad. Nelson: "Brandstater worked with the starters as the Rams began installing the game plan for Monday night's matchup in Seattle against the Seahawks. Bradford ran in the pool and on the stationary bike. Feeley still had swelling in his fractured thumb and was unable to grip the ball."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Feeley could miss more than one game. Thomas: "With rookie T.J. Yates now the starting quarterback, Texans coach Gary Kubiak cited the extensive NFL experience of Delhomme, 36, and Garcia, 41, in keeping them over Clemens. Between them, Delhomme and Garcia have 215 NFL regular-season starts and have thrown nearly 6,700 regular-season passes. In comparison, Clemens has only nine NFL starts and 284 regular-season passes, all as a member of the New York Jets. That may pale in comparison to Delhomme and Garcia, but from where the Rams sit, Clemens is an NFL graybeard compared to Brandstater."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com expects Alex Smith to return to the 49ers next season after playing under a one-year deal in 2011. Maiocco: "The 49ers will not have make Smith among the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL. Early speculation around the league is that the 49ers could re-sign Smith to a two- or three-year contract for $8 million to $11 million annually. It's possible that Jim Harbaugh and his staff had no idea that Smith would be as efficient this season as he has turned out. But working with him every day, there is a belief that Smith can get better and the passing game can continue to improve."

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers use offensive plays rarely seen in the NFL. Branch: "In last week's 26-0 win over the Rams, 49ers wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. ran the fly sweep for the third time this season. Running in motion at close to full speed from the left side of the formation, Ginn ran behind quarterback Alex Smith, who took the snap, pivoted to his left and, in one seamless motion, handed off to Ginn. Smith then faked a handoff to Frank Gore, lined up on the left, attracting the defense's attention to that side. The result? A 16-yard gain around right end. The play has been just as effective when run in the other direction. Ginn had run the fly sweep at Glenville (Ohio) High School and at Ohio State, but he'd never run the play in his five-year NFL career until he sprinted 24 yards in a 48-3 win against Tampa Bay on Oct. 9. Smith, a seven-year veteran, hadn't called a fly sweep since he played at Utah."

Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle quotes a doctor for insight on when Patrick Willis might return from a Grade 2 hamstring injury. Lynch: "A wide window would be 3-6 weeks in recovery time for Willis. However, he cautioned that hamstring injuries can be 'frustrating' because of the propensity for re-injury."

Grant Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat passes along Steve Young's recent radio comments regarding prospects for the 49ers' offense. Young: "I’d love to see some no-huddle. I’d love to see something that felt like, 'Man, we’re behind by 14, what do we do?' Just kind of react as if it was happening. I think you've got to test the boundaries of what the offense can do because at some point if you're going to win deep into January, you figure you’re going to be tested that way, so why not kind of practice that? Maybe open up the game in no-huddle. Maybe give Alex a little more ability to throw the ball downfield."

Khaled Elsayed of Pro Football Focus ranks the Seahawks' offensive line last overall in a ranking of 32 lines across the league. Elsayed: "The Seahawks opted to get some rookies some experience when it was clear the veterans in their way offered no long-term prospects. It resulted in a combined grade of minus-47.3 on the right side of their line as neither James Carpenter nor John Moffit were ready to start in the NFL. Perhaps more worrying is the play of Russell Okung, who while not terrible, didn’t have quite the year we expected after a good rookie year." Noted: Okung seemed to be improving over the last several weeks. He was trending in the right direction. He'll spend the final four games with Carpenter and Moffitt on injured reserve, a setback for the line's development.

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle thinks Robert Griffin III would make sense for Seattle in the upcoming draft.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the team is getting solid play from linebacker Leroy Hill.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says defensive end Raheem Brock faces DUI charges stemming from his arrest last year.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune looks at the Seahawks' improved young depth along the offensive line.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the Cardinals' second-half rally and overtime victory over Dallas gave the team a needed boost. Urban: "Coach Ken Whisenhunt called Kevin Kolb’s play down the stretch 'progress' and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said he was encouraged by the offensive rally and 'happy' for Kolb. Earlier in the season, Kolb and the Cards had the ball against the Redskins (Chansi Stuckey fumble), Seahawks (interception) and Giants (fourth-down incompletion) late in the fourth quarter with the chance to tie or take the lead. They couldn’t convert."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic checks in with Cardinals safety Kerry Rhodes, who is back at practice after suffering a broken foot earlier in the season. Somers: "The Cardinals replaced Rhodes with two players. Rashad Johnson moved into the starting lineup in the base defense. Cornerback Richard Marshall moved to safety in passing situations, replacing Johnson. There was a trickle-down effect, too. With Marshall at safety, cornerback Michael Adams became the nickel back, with A.J. Jefferson and Patrick Peterson playing the outside spots. It was a gamble the Cardinals were forced to take. Johnson, a third-round draft pick in 2009, had yet to prove himself. And Marshall, signed as a free agent before the season, was playing safety for the first time. The adjustments worked."

Five things I noticed while watching the Arizona Cardinals during their 19-13 overtime victory against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13:

• Field goal confusion benefited Arizona. The Cowboys twice called timeouts before failed field goal attempts. Dallas snapped the ball and was running a fourth-and-2 play midway through the first quarter when officials whistled the play dead. Tony Romo threw incomplete after the whistle, making it tough to know if he might have done anything different had there been no whistle. The Cowboys had called timeout. They then attempted a 53-yard field goal, which missed. The second pre-kick timeout made headlines because Dan Bailey, having connected from 49 yards for the apparent game-winner, had to re-kick following a late Cowboys timeout call, only to miss.
• LaRod Stephens-Howling's return to health. The Cardinals' offense wasn't the same when a hand injury sidelined and then limited the third-year running back and utility player. He helped beat Philadelphia with a 30-yard reception on fourth-and-2 a few weeks ago. He finished this game with a 15-yard run, three kick returns, one special-teams tackle and the winning 52-yard touchdown reception in overtime.
• Defense better against tight ends. The Cardinals' defense has too often struggled against tight ends, especially last season. Arizona fared well against the Cowboys' tight ends. Jason Witten caught five passes for 47 yards. Two plays on one drive in the first half stood out. Safety Adrian Wilson rocked tight end John Phillips at the line of scrimmage, cutting into the backfield to help bring down DeMarco Murray for a 3-yard loss. Two plays later, Paris Lenon and Rashad Johnson blanketed Witten to force an incomplete pass on first down. The drive ended with Darnell Dockett getting a sack on third down. (Arizona turned loose its defensive linemen effectively, including when Calais Campbell rushed inside to stop Murray for a loss, with outside linebacker O'Brien Schofield responsible for outside run containment to Campbell's side.)
• Matching Cowboys' OLB sack counts. The teams combined for nine sacks, five by Dallas. The Cardinals' outside linebackers matched the Cowboys' outside linebackers in sacks, 2-2. Arizona will happily accept that trade-off. Clark Haggans and Schofield had one apiece. DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer each had one for Dallas. This game featured quite a few coverage sacks and/or sacks when quarterbacks held the ball too long. Arizona also unleashed some of the inside linebacker blitzes the team envisioned using this season. Lenon had a sack.
• Kolb protects the ball. Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb played a turnover-free game for the first time since the Cardinals acquired him. He had eight interceptions and three lost fumbles in seven previous starts for the team. If taking an extra sack or two meant suffering no turnovers while scrambling or forcing balls into coverage, the Cardinals were better off. Taking sacks instead of throwing higher-risk passes also helped Kolb complete 64 percent of his passes, ending a streak of four consecutive games with completion rates between 47-59 percent.

This victory was only a mild upset, in my view. The Cardinals have a chance at home against 10-2 San Francisco in Week 14 if their defense continues playing well and Kolb protects the ball.

Five things I noticed while watching the San Francisco 49ers during their 23-7 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11:

• Braylon Edwards playing hurt. The receiver underwent knee surgery earlier in the season, but it was the shoulder injury he suffered in Week 9 that seemed to bother him from the start of this game. Edwards kept his left arm tucked against his body following a reception in the first two minutes of the game. His left shoulder was slumped and his arm hung lower as Edwards returned to the huddle. He looked toward the ground and appeared to glance toward the sideline while gathering himself. Edwards dropped a couple of passes. When Edwards decked Cardinals safety Rashad Johnson, the block sent Johnson flying right into Frank Gore's path, allowing Johnson to make the tackle while on the ground. This just wasn't Edwards' day, though other blocks worked out better.
• Alex Smith showed patience in the pocket. The 49ers' quarterback was nearly eight yards behind the line of scrimmage when he set up in the pocket on an early third-and-10 play. The Cardinals rushed only four. Defensive ends Calais Campbell and Darnell Dockett dropped into coverage six yards off the line of scrimmage. Smith held the ball, allowing Michael Crabtree to get deep. He showed patience in stepping forward three or four yards before throwing the pass. Smith moved effectively within the pocket several times.
• The long and short of it at QB. Smith has been more efficient on long throws and less efficient on short ones over the last two games. It might not mean much, but with Gore working through injuries and Smith coming off a strong game against the Giants, the 49ers might be looking to develop their downfield passing game. That could help them in the playoffs. From Weeks 1-9, Smith completed 7 of 16 passes (43.8 percent) for 227 yards (14.2 per attempt) on throws traveling more than 20 yards past the line of scrimmage. Since then, Smith has completed 3 of 4 such attempts for 86 yards (21.5 per attempt). His completion percentage on throws traveling no longer than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage has fallen from 69.1 percent over Weeks 1-9 to 55.3 percent over the last two weeks. His touchdown-to-interception ratio on these shorter throws has dropped from 5-0 over the first nine weeks to 2-2 over the last two. Ted Ginn Jr.'s dropped ball against the Giants led to one pick. Smith's obstructed-view interception in the end zone against Arizona came on a scramble -- outside the framework of the offense.
• Vernon Davis saved a man's life. OK, that's a little dramatic. But Davis' ability to leap over a kneeling cameraman following his touchdown reception was nearly as impressive as the touchdown itself. Davis got a free release off the line and was running near full speed when he caught Smith's pass over his shoulder near the goal line. Once he turned his head around forward, he had about three steps to do something or risk slamming a knee or some other body part into the cameraman. Davis hurdled the man and landed safely on the other side.
• Aldon Smith stays on his feet. Scouting reports on the 49ers' rookie first-round draft choice took note of Smith's sense of balance. That balance helped Smith collect a sack he had no business collecting against the Cardinals. Smith was too upright as he charged toward Cardinals tackle Levi Brown. Brown shoved Smith at the line. Running back Chester Taylor caught Smith off-guard and rocked him. Smith fell over backward, but his body never hit the ground. He planted his left hand on the ground behind him, pivoted and rose in one motion. Smith then sneaked under Brown to take down quarterback Rich Bartel. Brown tipped his head back after the play, projecting resignation.

I've been heavy on 49ers items lately, in part by design (they're 9-1) and in part because they're playing Thursday night. I'll move up the "you called it" predictions item by a day to beat Thanksgiving. Look for that a bit later Wednesday.

Five things I noticed while watching the Arizona Cardinals during their 19-13 overtime victory against the St. Louis Rams in Week 9:

• Still no Fitzgerald on third down. The Cardinals targeted Larry Fitzgerald for passes 12 times in 35 attempts. That included eight of 17 times on first down, three of 11 times on second down and only once in seven chances on third down. Fitzgerald had no yardage on third down. He has four receptions for 60 yards on third down all season. Early Doucet has accounted for 248 of the team's 467 third-down receiving yardage. Even Andre Roberts has more third-down yardage (65) than Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald has generally finished past seasons with closer to 20 receptions on third down. The team's overall third-down struggles could be to blame. Arizona's third-down conversion rate over the past two seasons has fallen to levels the team has not seen since 2001.
• Too many missed tackles. On one play, Adrian Wilson threw his body at Steven Jackson without wrapping up. On another, Rashad Johnson bounced off Jackson. Linebacker Paris Lenon couldn't bring down receiver Greg Salas. Plays such as those helped the Rams possess the ball for more than 20 minutes of the first half.
• About that running game. The Cardinals' running backs rushed for 32 yards, including only four yards on first down from starter Beanie Wells. That was probably the most disappointing aspect of the game from a Cardinals standpoint. Arizona is a vastly different team from a temperament standpoint when Wells is healthy enough to run hard. Wells, slowed by knee trouble, had been more productive playing hurt the week before.
• General thoughts on Skelton. Coach Ken Whisenhunt qualified praise for John Skelton by saying the Cardinals' backup quarterback missed some basic plays. Whisenhunt would know all the particulars. my general feel watching the game was that Skelton seemed more comfortable than injured starter Kevin Kolb. A second-and-9 play early in the third quarter stood out. The Cardinals lined up in an offset-I formation with base personnel. The Rams rushed six and got immediate pressure with safety Quintin Mikell. Skelton dodged Mikell, moved purposefully to his left and threw a perfect touch pass to Roberts between defenders. Roberts dropped the ball or else this would have been a first down. A delay penalty set up third-and-14, but Skelton kept his poise, firing another perfect pass, this one to Doucet for a first down. Skelton has 48 yards on three attempts when facing third-and-11 or longer. Kolb has 95 yards on 19 such attempts.
• Daryl Washington on the cusp. The second-year inside linebacker often looks like one of the better young defensive players in the league. He's exceptionally active against run and pass alike. He had a chance to make a game-changing play with four minutes left in the third quarter. Arizona trailed, 11-6, when Sam Bradford threw a pass to Salas underneath the coverage. Washington recognized the pass right away, accelerated into position and should have scored a touchdown on the play. Washington did everything but catch the pass. This was a good play that should have been a great one -- emblematic of the team's missed chances this season.

Time ran out on last week before I could finish five observations from the Cardinals' game against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8. I'll pass along the notes I did take:

• Humble beginnings. The first offensive play of a road game can be a tough one. The opposing crowd is at its loudest. I've wondered more than once why coaches don't run the ball a little more frequently on first plays, particularly in hostile conditions. The San Francisco 49ers took a sack on their first play at Detroit, for example. Why invite trouble? In this case, the Cardinals came out passing and gave up pressure right away. Terrell Suggs bull-rushed left tackle Levi Brown into Kolb's face before Kolb had time to react. Kolb had room if he would have stepped forward to his right, but in turning back to his left, he ran right into Suggs and fumbled. After a penalty gave the Cardinals a first down, the Cardinals ran the ball three times in a row, moving the chains. Much safer, smarter football under the circumstances.
• Low man wins. Even the greatest players relearn tough lessons. That seemed to be the case when Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis absorbed a big hit from Cardinals right tackle Brandon Keith, forcing Lewis from the game with a stinger. Lewis was standing a little too upright near the line of scrimmage when Keith blasted him on a Beanie Wells running play to the right side. How much did the Ravens miss Lewis? It's tough to say, but Kolb completed a 66-yard pass over the middle to Fitzgerald on the first play Lewis missed.
• Missed chance for Wilson. Wilson nearly picked off a pass in the end zone before Baltimore kicked a field goal to tie the game, 3-3. This would have been a difficult play to make because the ball was on Wilson quickly. Wilson, who made an athletic play to pick off Rex Grossman at Washington in Week 2, missed chances against Seattle, the New York Giants and now Baltimore. The Cardinals lost to the Seahawks by three, the Giants by four and the Ravens by three. They were a play or two away.

Patrick Peterson's 99-yard punt return for a touchdown Sunday stands as the second-longest in NFL history. It should stand as the longest, but back in 1994, officials erred in allowing Robert Bailey's 103-yard return for the Los Angeles Rams against New Orleans. Everyone but Bailey appeared to think Tommy Barnhardt's punt had gone out of the end zone for a touchback. So, while the Rams' offensive players and Saints' defensive players walked onto the field, Bailey returned the ball uncontested. League officials later admitted their error, noting that offsetting penalties should have returned the ball to where the infractions occurred, right around the Rams' 15-yard line. There was nothing cheap about Peterson's 99-yarder to beat the St. Louis Rams in overtime. A look back at how it came together:

• The ball left punter Donnie Jones' foot at the St. Louis 35-yard line.
• [+] Enlarge
  AP Photo/Ross D. FranklinArizona is hoping that Patrick Peterson is ready to develop into one of the league's top cornerbacks.
  Peterson positioned himself at the Arizona 10, just outside his left hashmark. Peterson tracked the ball initially, then sneaked a peak at the coverage teams. The Fox hangtime clock read 2.7 seconds at this point. In a split second, Peterson tilted his head upward again to track the ball. Coach Ken Whisenhunt: "To do that, with those guys screaming down the field, is very difficult. That's where he is really special."
• Peterson moved backward and to his left, settling at about the 3-yard line. That is where he appeared to field the ball. The hangtime clock read 4.3 seconds.
• Peterson had only his right foot on the ground as he fielded the ball. Rams running back Quinn Porter was at the 9-yard line along the yard-line numbers to Peterson's left. Rams fullback Brit Miller was on the same side of the field between the yard-line numbers and the hash at the 15. Dominique Curry, the Rams' best special-teams coverage player, was between the hashes at the 14. Rams linebacker Chris Chamberlain was between the hashes at about the 22, with Cardinals safety Rashad Johnson running with him step for step nearer the middle of the field, allowing Johnson to shield Chamberlain from Peterson initially.
• Cardinals cornerback Richard Marshall made the key block, tossing Curry to the ground back near where Peterson fielded the ball. When Curry rolled over and looked up, Peterson was already at the 6-yard line outside the hash on the other side of the field, where Porter and Miller had chased him.
• Rams defensive lineman C.J. Ah You had run wide enough to force Peterson back to the middle beginning from about the Arizona 3 just outside the Cardinals' right hash. Ah You overran Peterson.
• Rams safety James Butler was at the 15-yard line to Peterson's right. He came off his block, but missed Peterson at the 17.
• Chamberlain caught up to Peterson at the 30 just as Peterson was weaving outside the yard-line numbers to his right. Chamberlain dove, but Peterson wasn't there. Chamberlain collided with teammate Eugene Sims, who was also making a diving attempt at a tackle.
• Jones, the punter, stood at the 35 obstructing Peterson's path. Peterson was still facing forward at his own 29. With Sims reaching for Peterson's ankles and rolling to propel himself along, Peterson rotated clockwise. His back was to the middle of the field at the 31. He was moving backward when he reached the 34. That is where Jones passed by, flailing like a matador. Peterson was facing the middle of the field as he crossed the 37, giving him a clear view of an onrushing Jake McQuaide, the Rams' snapper. McQuaide was already nearing the 40 outside the hash and had the angle. Peterson continued rotating and was facing forward again by the time he reached the 39. The race was on.
• McQuaide pulled even with Peterson at the St. Louis 46 and for a moment seemed to be within striking distance. If they had been cars on a two-lane highway, McQuaide would have been the guy in the four-door sedan. Peterson, driving the Ferrari, pulled away quickly and was gone. O'Brien Schofield made sure of it, cutting between McQuaide and Peterson at the St. Louis 30.

The game was over. Peterson had scored a touchdown on a punt return for the third time in his first eight NFL games, an NFL record. Only the Denver Broncos' Rick Upchurch has had more touchdowns on punt returns in the first eight games of any NFL season. He had four in 1976.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

.

The Arizona Cardinals' efforts to develop young players and integrate new ones on defense continues to stagnate.

The reasons are simple to understand.
First-year coordinator Ray Horton is installing a complex new system that would be tough for young players to absorb even with a full offseason. And the team's highest-priced defensive addition in free agency, inside linebacker Stewart Bradley, came from a vastly different system, so he was going to face a transition period as well.

Finally, the Cardinals haven't done a great job drafting young personnel to fit their new system.

I found useful comments New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick made recently in explaining why his team has leaned less heavily on a pure 3-4 defense:

"We've played a mixture of odd fronts and even fronts, but I just felt like from a starting point -- given the lack of spring opportunities to practice and meet, and the shortened training camp in terms of actual number of practices -- that from a teaching standpoint, we felt like there would be more carryover teaching our base defense and nickel defense really as one front.

"We wanted a lot of carryover between our run responsibilities and run fits, and some of our pressure defenses and things like that. We'll transition and build into some of our odds fronts, but we felt like in trying to evaluate young players, asking them to learn one system in a 3-4 and then learn another system in nickel [was too much].

"As you know, we were in nickel defense just as much as we were 3-4 defense because of teams using multiple receivers on early downs and two-minute and all those kind of things. So, we felt like it would be a better opportunity to evaluate our players and not try to over-install and put in a ton of defense.

"There are so many intricacies to a 3-4 defense that I just didn't know if we'd be ready to handle them this year."

The Cardinals have scaled back. And, unlike the Patriots, they have not had Belichick teaching and overseeing their defense since 2000. Horton is finding his way as a coordinator and still getting a feel for the personnel he inherited. He also doesn't benefit from a Tom Brady-led offense putting points on the board and pulling out victories even when the defense falters.

What the Cardinals do have in their favor, at least this week, is great familiarity with the upcoming opponent, Pittsburgh. Horton coached the Steelers' secondary, so he should know how to scheme for Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Arizona coaches Ken Whisehunt and Russ Grimm, among others, also have roots with the Steelers. And Arizona is coming off a bye week, which gave coaches needed time to reassess.

The first chart shows snap counts and percentages for the Cardinals' defensive players, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Younger players such as O'Brien Schofield and Sam Acho will presumably get more playing time as the season progresses. Bradley's snap counts are also much lower than I would have anticipated coming into the season.

.

Aaron Curry, apparently headed for Oakland, has plenty of company among 2009 NFL draft choices failing to meet expectations with their original teams.

The player Seattle's previous leadership drafted fourth overall was part of a draft featuring quite a few underwhelming players near the top.

Thirteen NFC West choices from the 2009 draft remain with their teams: Max Unger, Deon Butler and Cameron Morrah in Seattle; Beanie Wells, Rashad Johnson, Greg Toler and LaRod Stephens-Howling in Arizona; Jason Smith, James Laurinaitis, Bradley Fletcher and Darell Scott in St. Louis; and two players in San Francisco, Michael Crabtree and Ricky-Jean Francois.

Let's sift through the rubble ...

.

.

.

.

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has simple choices at quarterback heading into the team's bye week. There's no use overthinking them.

Carroll can stick with the status quo if doctors clear Tarvaris Jackson to play despite a strained pectoral muscle. If Jackson needs extra time to heal, Carroll can plug Charlie Whitehurst into the lineup without benching Jackson. And if Whitehurst were to play exceptionally well, Carroll could then say he's decided to stick with the hot hand.

There's no reason for Seattle to make a decision at the position without knowing more about Jackson's potential availability for the team's Week 7 game against the Cleveland Browns.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the team has no plans to add another quarterback to its roster. That is because the team feels comfortable with Whitehurst and third quarterback Josh Portis, and because the bye week gives Jackson additional time to heal. Carroll on Portis: "I've seen enough of him. I know what he can do. I think that the mode that we're in will really be exciting for him to be out there, and he'll be able to handle it. He's been doing no-huddle and 2-minute drills throughout camp and all, against the defense. He's going to cause problems for people if he plays. We've already seen it." Noted: Not having an elite quarterback allows the Seahawks to change starters without losing a great deal.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says there's no quarterback controversy in Seattle. Jackson is the starter if healthy enough to play.

Liz Mathews of 710ESPN Seattle runs through all the Seahawks' injuries, with comments from Carroll. Marcus Trufant's lower back is a concern.

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle says Leon Washington's heads-up play was critical to officials allowing Whitehurst's winning touchdown pass to Doug Baldwin.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News lists former 49ers and current Seahawks personnel man Scot McCloughan as a potential candidate to help the Raiders through the post-Al Davis era.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com passes along Jim Harbaugh's explanation for calling a pass play on fourth-and-3 while leading by 38 points with 4:46 remaining in the game Sunday. Noted: There was no need to push the ball down the field with a three-receiver personnel grouping, but also no guarantees against injury had the team run the ball up the middle, either.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says tight end Delanie Walker gives the 49ers flexibility as they move on without Morgan.

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News looks ahead to an unlikely matchup for NFC prominence between the 49ers and Lions.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams are getting Rod Hood ready to play a significant role on defense as the team deals with injuries at cornerback. Thomas: "Like college students cramming for a final, these new Rams cornerbacks have been doing all they can to learn the defensive schemes. Their first 'exam' comes Sunday when they'll be trying to keep up with the NFL's deepest receiver corps. Hood's bye weekend consisted of meetings with Rams cornerbacks coach Clayton Lopez, followed by film study of the Packers, followed by more meetings with Lopez, etc."

Also from Thomas: Danny Amendola's absence as a punt returner is affecting the Rams' field position.

More from Thomas: Josh McDaniels' struggles to fix the Rams' offense.

Roger Hensley of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch asks colleagues what the Rams can do to slow the Packers' offense. Bernie Miklasz: "The Rams have no choice but to play a lot of zone defense to try and limit Green Bay’s yards per attempt and yards per completion. A good pass rush is mandatory but the rush has been inconsistent so far this season. The Rams offense can help by establishing an edge in time of possession. The Rams need to put together some long, time-consuming drives. But that will be difficult against a tough, underrated Packers defense. Perhaps the Packers will flatten out after yet another big win, this time Sunday night in Atlanta. Maybe the Packers will overlook the Rams. I doubt it."

Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt will not suddenly abandon his coaching principles following four consecutive defeats. Whisenhunt: "I know what I believe in, what we believe in, works. And I know you stick to it. I remember probably four years ago, a lot of people banging on us, saying we weren't a very good team, and we went to the Super Bowl. I believe in sticking with what we know works. ... We're going to continue to work the way that we know can be successful for us and at some point, it will start working."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the team will be without starting free safety Kerry Rhodes for at least several weeks after Rhodes suffered a broken foot against the Vikings. Urban: "Rhodes, who could have surgery, is expected to return this season, Whisenhunt added, but for now Rashad Johnson will take his place in the lineup."