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Wrapping up (for now, anyway) the first Monday in April:

• The NFC West could be playing musical guards. Arizona already signed former San Francisco 49ers guard/tackle Adam Snyder. Former Cardinals guard Deuce Lutui visited the 49ers last week and met with the Seattle Seahawks on Monday, according to Howard Balzer. The Rams previously met with former 49ers starter Chilo Rachal. The 49ers met with long-ago Cardinals starter Leonard Davis.
• Lutui played for Seahawks coach Pete Carroll at USC. Weight problems have raised questions about his commitment, leading the Cardinals to seek alternatives at right guard. They went with Rex Hadnot last offseason, then added Snyder this offseason. Seattle could use depth at guard after releasing Robert Gallery.
• How would Lutui look in a Seahawks uniform? That might depend on which uniform. The new ones from Nike are expected to feature a tighter fit. That might be welcome news for Kam Chancellor and other statuesque players, but did anyone consult the big guys?
• Quite a few Seahawks observers have sent photos purporting to offer clues regarding the new uniforms set for unveiling Tuesday. Some of them might be right, wrong or close to the real thing. Experience has taught me patience regarding "leaked" uniform photos. I recall seeing similar photos in the past, not all of them accurate. Nike's site was showing preview items for every team but Seattle earlier Monday, further affirming expectations of a full redesign for the Seahawks.
• The Rams have made available a highlight video for the retiring Torry Holt. Holt's diving catch against Green Bay in the playoffs is worth another look.
• The Cardinals have put together a video showing quarterbacks coach John McNulty checking out University of Arizona quarterback Nick Foles' workout. The Cardinals gave McNulty a raise and moved him to quarterbacks coach after blocking Tampa Bay from pursuing him as its offensive coordinator.
• The Rams have the NFL's third-youngest roster after signing Jo-Lonn Dunbar and re-signing Tom Brandstater. Both are relatively young at age 27, but they actually made the revamped Rams slightly older on average. Tampa Bay and Seattle are tied for the youngest roster on average, with the Rams right behind. The 49ers (24th youngest) and Cardinals (25th) are older. Filtering out specialists produces slightly different rankings: Seattle second-youngest, St. Louis third, San Francisco tied for 11th and Arizona 21st.

Until next time, enjoy your Monday evening.

St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke will not have one foot in the Los Angeles market while negotiating for an improved stadium situation.

That was the net effect when Kroenke's bid to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers fell short Tuesday night. The group led by Lakers legend Magic Johnson prevailed with a bid for $2.15 billion. Kroenke had been one of three finalists.

Tony Jackson and Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com have the details. Noted: Owning the Rams and the Dodgers would have put Kroenke at odds with the NFL's policy on cross-ownership. While moving the Rams to Los Angeles would have averted any conflict, it's not likely Kroenke could have made such a move anytime soon. But perceptions matter, and having Kroenke own the Dodgers would only strengthen long-held fears the Rams might move back to California.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Kroenke "bristled" when asked how involved he was in the Edward Jones Dome lease situation. Kroenke: "I’m the owner of the team. Unless you haven’t noticed, I've been involved 20 years. I've put a lot of my life, not just my personal (finances) at risk for this enterprise. And that might be something good to mention sometimes."

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle says incumbent quarterback Tarvaris Jackson is looking forward to competing with newcomer Matt Flynn for the Seahawks' starting job. Fullback Michael Robinson: "He was excited. He said, 'Mike, you know, this always happens to me and I'm ready for it to bring the best out of me.' "

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com checks in with former right tackle Steve August, who has this to say about his favorite moment as a player: "It would have to be beating the Dolphins in Miami in 1983 (in a divisional playoff game). And then winning the week before in the Kingdome (against the Broncos) in the first-ever playoff game. That was pretty awesome. But coming back from Miami, the fan support at the airport was just unbelievable. So I’d say experiencing that first playoff run for the Seahawks."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times explains the Seahawks' thinking at linebacker: "I'm going to say given the results we've seen with the players this team has grabbed, whether it's K.J. Wright or Malcolm Smith (if he stays healthy), that LB might be a position where they can 'find' guys rather than pay a premium."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic takes a round-by-round look at the best draft choices in Cardinals history since the team came to Arizona for the 1988 season. Somers on the third round: "Cornerback Aeneas Williams (1991) -- Another easy one, even though the Cardinals have had some decent luck in this round. But Williams likely will be the first Hall of Famer in the team's Arizona history. Runner up -- Safety Adrian Wilson (2001). A fixture in the starting lineup since 2002, Wilson is coming off one of his best seasons. This was not an easy choice because end Darnell Dockett (2004) is pretty good, too. Linebacker Gerald Hayes (2003) and receiver Ricky Proehl (1990) had productive careers."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says restricted free agent Greg Toler is eager to bounce back from a knee injury. Toler recently signed his one-year qualifying offer.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers' workout with former Cardinals guard Deuce Lutui was the latest indication San Francisco is looking for a low-cost fallback for second-year guard Daniel Kilgore. Maiocco: "Lutui, a second-round pick of the Cardinals in 2006, has appeared in 93 games with 72 career starts. In July, Lutui (listed at 6-foot-4, 338 pounds) signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent but did not pass the physical, reportedly showing up overweight. The Cardinals re-signed Lutui, who spent last season backing up right guard Rex Hadnot." Noted: Lutui is plenty talented. He can be a good starting guard. Lutui has not been consistent enough in his approach to stay in the lineup, however, and his relative lack of versatility makes him less valuable as a backup. That is why the Cardinals preferred to sign Adam Snyder from the 49ers.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says durability is a key for the 49ers' defense. Branch, upon discovering that the team's defensive starters missed a combined eight games last season: "It was the continuation of a trend. In 2010, the 49ers’ defensive starters missed two games due to injury. In 2009, they missed 11. In 2008, they missed three games. Yes, Justin Smith isn’t the defense’s only iron man. Nose guard Isaac Sopoaga, for example, has missed two games since 2005. Linebacker Parys Harlson has started 56 of the Niners’ past 57 games. Safety Dashon Goldson has started 46 of 48 games since 2009 and linebacker Patrick Willis started 75 of his first 76 career games prior to last year’s hamstring injury."

Five things I noticed while watching the St. Louis Rams' most recent game, a 23-20 home defeat to the Arizona Cardinals:

• Defensive scheming still evident. It's been a tough season for the Rams' defense. I'm inclined to think personnel, not scheming, is primarily at fault. The coaching staff continues to draw up blitzes producing free shots on opposing quarterbacks. That was the case about five minutes into the game when the Rams brought safety Darian Stewart to the line of scrimmage at the last moment, suggesting seven defenders could be coming on a blitz. Two defenders on the left side dropped into coverage, leaving Cardinals right guard Rex Hadnot with nobody to block. The left guard and left tackle went in opposite directions to pick up their rushers, leaving a free path for Stewart to shoot into the backfield unblocked. Stewart sacked quarterback John Skelton quickly, killing the drive.
• Defense vulnerable on early downs. The Rams allowed 5.1 yards per play on first down, 8.1 yards per play on second down and 3.9 yards per play on third down. They allowed only 3.2 yards per play and no plays longer than 14 yards when using sub packages on defense, according to ESPN Stats & Information. But with Beanie Wells gashing the Rams' base defense, it's clear St. Louis needs the most improvement from its front seven, even while injuries at cornerback get most of the attention.
• Stewart could be missed in run game. The 228 yards Wells gained could have been much more without a couple open-field tackles by Stewart, the Rams' big-hitting, somewhat inconsistent safety. A concussion will prevent Stewart from playing against San Francisco.
• Rough one for Laurinaitis. The Cardinals, specifically left guard Daryn Colledge, effectively blocked Rams middle linebacker James Laurinaitis. I'll be interested in seeing how Laurinaitis fares when the 49ers' left guard, Mike Iupati, comes his way. Inside linebackers benefit or suffer from the defensive tackles playing in front of them. The Rams were without Justin Bannan in the Arizona game. Fred Robbins, coming off a career-best performance in 2010, hasn't stood out this season.
• Sharing the blame for punt return. Patrick Peterson's 80-yard touchdown on a punt return stretched a 13-10 Cardinals lead to 20-10 late in the third quarter. So many factors beyond punt coverage enabled the return. Two plays before the return, guard Jason Brown and tackle Harvey Dahl whiffed on their blocks, allowing the Cardinals to tackle Steven Jackson for a loss, setting up third-and-long. Peterson made a physical tackle to stop the Rams short on third down. And with the Rams facing fourth-and-1, a false-start penalty against C.J. Ah You prompted the Cardinals to change their personnel. Arizona had its defense on the field to prevent against a fake on fourth-and-1. The punt-return team came onto the field once Ah You's penalty changed the situation to fourth-and-6.

I'll be heading over to Candlestick Park shortly. No NFC West teams play early games this week. Sounds like a chance to check out the tailgating scene. The forecast calls for clear skies, moderate temperatures and the 49ers' first NFC West title since 2002.

NFC West teams went 0-3 last season against the teams they face in Week 5.

They lost those games by a combined 99-31 score.

Much has changed since then. Let's take a look:

Cardinals at Vikings

Score last season: Vikings 27, Cardinals 24 (OT)

Key play: Brett Favre's 25-yard touchdown pass to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe in the final minute of regulation tied the game, forcing overtime after the Cardinals had built a 24-10 fourth-quarter lead. Favre threw for a career-high 446 yards in the game.

Biggest change: Both teams have new quarterbacks, Kevin Kolb for Derek Anderson in Arizona, and Donovan McNabb for Favre in Minnesota. Also, the Vikings have a new head coach (Leslie Frazier) while the Cardinals have a new defensive coordinator (Ray Horton).

Storyline: McNabb keeps a home in Arizona and was available to the Cardinals when their quarterback situation was in flux, but the team showed no interest in him. He is now trying to hold off a change to rookie Christian Ponder.

Lineup changes for Arizona (12): Beanie Wells for Tim Hightower at running back, Kolb for Anderson at quarterback, Daryn Colledge for Alan Faneca at left guard, Rex Hadnot for Deuce Lutui at right guard, Todd Heap for Ben Patrick at tight end, Andre Roberts for Steve Breaston at receiver, Anthony Sherman for Reagan Maui'a at fullback (although the team opened its 2010 game at Minnesota without a fullback), Dan Williams for Bryan Robinson at nose tackle, Daryl Washington for Gerald Hayes at linebacker, Clark Haggans for Will Davis at linebacker, A.J. Jefferson for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie at cornerback, Patrick Peterson for Greg Toler at cornerback.

49ers vs. Buccaneers

Score last season: Buccaneers 21, 49ers 0

Key play: Josh Freeman's 1-yard scoring pass to tackle Donald Penn midway through the fourth quarter put an exclamation point on the 49ers' first home shutout since 1977.

Biggest change: Jim Harbaugh has replaced Mike Singletary as the 49ers' head coach.

Storyline: Alex Smith gets a shot at Tampa Bay after watching Troy Smith struggle against the Bucs as the 49ers' starting quarterback last season. Troy Smith's approach centered around striking for big plays. The Bucs took away the big plays. Alex Smith gives the 49ers a chance to be more efficient.

Lineup changes for San Francisco (12): Alex Smith for Troy Smith at quarterback, Joe Staley for Barry Sims at left tackle, Adam Snyder for Chilo Rachal at right guard, Bruce Miller for Moran Norris at fullback, Isaac Sopoaga for Aubrayo Franklin at nose tackle, Ray McDonald for Sopoaga at defensive end, Ahmad Brooks for Manny Lawson at outside linebacker, NaVorro Bowman for Takeo Spikes at inside linebacker, Carlos Rogers for Nate Clements at cornerback, Tarell Brown for Shawntae Spencer at cornerback, Donte Whitner for Reggie Smith at strong safety.

Seahawks at Giants

Score last season: Giants 41, Seahawks 7

Key play: With Seattle already down 14-0 in the first quarter, the Giants returned Leon Washington's fumbled kickoff return to the Seattle 4, setting up Ahmad Bradshaw's touchdown run on the next play.

Biggest change: Tarvaris Jackson is the starting quarterback for Seattle. Charlie Whitehurst was a fill-in starter for Matt Hasselbeck when the teams played last season.

Storyline: The Seahawks' so-far-unproductive ground game faces a Giants run defense that has struggled. Seattle's young line improved in pass protection last week. Can it take a step forward in run blocking this week?

Lineup changes for Seattle (16): Sidney Rice for Deon Butler at receiver, Jackson for Whitehurst at quarterback, Russell Okung for Chester Pitts at left tackle, Paul McQuistan for Mike Gibson at left guard, Max Unger for Chris Spencer at center, John Moffitt for Stacy Andrews at right guard, James Carpenter for Sean Locklear at right tackle, Zach Miller for John Carlson at tight end, Brandon Mebane for Junior Siavii at defensive tackle, Alan Branch for Craig Terrill at defensive tackle, Red Bryant for Kentwan Balmer at defensive end, K.J. Wright for Aaron Curry at linebacker, David Hawthorne for Lofa Tatupu at linebacker, Leroy Hill for Hawthorne at linebacker, Brandon Browner for Kelly Jennings at right cornerback, Kam Chancellor or Atari Bigby for Lawyer Milloy, depending on Chancellor's availability.

Five things I noticed while watching the Arizona Cardinals during their 13-10 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3:

• Adrian Wilsons' arm: The Cardinals' four-time Pro Bowl safety wears a wrap around his injured right biceps tendon, but the injury does not appear to bother him. Wilson never seems to be protecting the arm. He extends his right arm and pulls himself up when teammates offer a hand. He swings his right arm hard when celebrating with a roundhouse low five. Wilson does not appear to be providing many of the violent tackles that have become a hallmark for him. That could reflect settling into a new defense. He has made plays against the pass and probably should have picked off one in this game after jumping a route early.
• Kolb can take a hit: Durability for new quarterback Kevin Kolb was a concern entering the season. He had suffered a concussion in Week 1 with Philadelphia last season, after all. Kolb continues to bounce back quickly from hard hits. Leroy Hill, one of the Seahawks' most violent tacklers, rocked him at the end of a scramble. Kolb handled the hit well. Durability concerns are subsiding after watching this game and the hit Kolb took after throwing that deep ball to Larry Fitzgerald for a touchdown against Washington. He does need to be wiser about getting rid of the football sometimes, as Kolb has acknowledged.
• Veteran linemen working out OK: I've questioned the Cardinals' aversion to drafting offensive linemen in recent seasons. Those criticisms are losing their edge after watching the Cardinals' line fare reasonably well in difficult road environments, all while division rivals with highly drafted young linemen struggle. Arizona's veteran interior featuring Rex Hadnot, Lyle Sendlein and Daryn Colledge looks pretty good. Colledge did enough against Red Bryant and Brandon Mebane on some of the plays I watched, including one when Kolb found Fitzgerald for a 28-yard reception. Most of the protection breakdowns on the inside appeared to stem from assignment errors, not getting beat physically. Hadnot's veteran savvy showed when he got away with what amounted to a horse-collar tackle against Alan Branch to avoid allowing a sack in the final seconds.
• Campbell's dominance: We've discussed Calais Campbell's dominance in finishing with 10 tackles, four quarterback hits and 2.5 sacks. The Cardinals' defensive end exploited his matchup with Paul McQuistan, the Seahawks' injury replacement at left guard. He also beat left tackle Russell Okung when making a tackle on a running play to set up a third-and-1 situation.
• A.J. Jefferson brings energy: The Cardinals have suffered through obvious issues in their secondary, especially at cornerback. Jefferson is a converted receiver finding his way in a new defensive system. I can see why coaches wanted him on the field, however. Jefferson supported the run aggressively in this game and wasn't afraid to cut down the Seahawks' power back, Marshawn Lynch, near the line of scrimmage. Jefferson also stood out a couple times on special teams.

There we go. Five observations for every team in the division from Week 3. Thanks for coming along.

Greg Toler, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Nate Clements and Kelly Jennings were among the starting cornerbacks for NFC West teams in Week 17 last season.

Only Toler remains with his team from that group, and he's on injured reserve. Another Week 17 starter at corner, Shawntae Spencer, has missed extensive time to injury.

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times checks in with one of the NFC West cornerback replacements, and an improbable one at that: 6-foot-4 CFL alum Brandon Browner, the favorite to start opposite Marcus Trufant when the Seattle Seahawks visit the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Kelley: "Watch him in practice or preseason this summer and you had to wonder how so many teams could have been so wrong about him. In a league where wide receivers are getting taller, Browner, at 6 feet 4, 225 pounds, seems like a natural. But in the past five years he had auditioned for Miami, Philadelphia, Minnesota and the Seahawks and never gotten a call back."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune provides an interview transcript from his meeting with Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. Carroll on why he named Tarvaris Jackson the starting quarterback outright: "Our commitment to Tarvaris is really a commitment to the execution of a really good plan, and to put a team together in very short order. And because of the coaching shifts there are things that made that come to the surface. … I think it’s the best competitive thing we can do for our club to make him the quarterback right now, and not worry about an open competition and dividing reps and stuff. There’s just no time. … It wouldn’t be fair to the rest of the team or our fans -- everybody that’s following us. … And I love what Tarvaris can do. I think he’s a fantastic player. I’m just hoping that we can support him properly and play good around him so he can get rolling for us, and that hasn’t quite happened yet."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic profiles new Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb. Guard Rex Hadnot played with Kolb in college and had this to say: "I couldn't tell you what it is about him. His parents have instilled something in him for him to be able to come into a situation, adapt and achieve great success. When I heard about the acquisition, I was excited."

Also from Somers: The Cardinals are expected to announce Chester Taylor's addition Monday.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says veteran guard Hank Fraley is out after the Rams reached a contract agreement with Tony Wragge. Thomas: "Fraley, 33, was due to make $1 million in base salary this season. He appeared in seven games last season, mainly on special teams."

Also from Thomas: NFL teams made waiver claims on Rams castoffs, an indication the talent level is improving in St. Louis. The team hoped to sign quarterback Thaddeus Lewis to its practice squad, but former Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur knew about Lewis and claimed him for the Browns. Rams general manager Billy Devaney: "We were hoping he wasn't claimed, but we fully understood that he played good enough in the preseason where I know he opened some people's eyes. And Pat's certainly familiar with him in Cleveland."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the NFL has not decided whether to suspend 49ers receiver Braylon Edwards, who pleaded guilty to DUI.

Also from Maiocco: It's looking like the 49ers will sign inside linebacker Tavares Gooden, released by the Ravens. Gooden was a third-round choice in 2008. Would his coach with the Ravens, John Harbaugh, provide a scouting report to his brother, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh?

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee highlights stark differences between current 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and former coach Mike Singletary. Singletary was all about the big picture. Harbaugh is all about the little things. The team hasn't even used the giant hill Singletary had built for conditioning drills. Noted: Head coaches set the tone, obviously, but details surely mattered to Singletary as well. He just didn't want to be the one in charge of them. There's a different feel and standard when the head coach is involved at the most detailed level.

Also from Barrows: updates the 49ers' practice squad signings.

Teams relying on players coming off injuries and others who are unproven head into the 2011 NFL season with fewer returning starters.

The Seattle Seahawks are one of those teams.

Four projected Seattle starters -- Kam Chancellor, Leroy Hill, John Moffitt and James Carpenter -- started zero games last season. Three more -- Tarvaris Jackson, Max Unger, and Walter Thurmond -- made a single start.

Those are high numbers, a reflection of the Seahawks' youth movement and reliance upon talented players coming off injuries.

The figure for the San Francisco 49ers is one projected starter with zero 2010 starts (Ray McDonald). It is likewise one for the St. Louis Rams (Lance Kendricks) and up to three for the Arizona Cardinals (Dan Williams, possibly Anthony Sherman and A.J. Jefferson or Patrick Peterson).

Arizona has a high number of 2010 starts for players projected as backups for 2011, even after I moved Deuce Lutui into the lineup over Rex Hadnot at right guard. Richard Marshall, Floyd Womack, Stephen Spach, Jeff King and Paris Lenon or Stewart Bradley are backups with at least 11 starts last season.

Now, a look at Seattle's projected starters and why so many weren't in NFL lineups much last season:

• Leroy Hill, LB (0): Opened last season as a backup, then suffered Achilles' tendon injury that landed him on injured reserve Oct. 1.
• James Carpenter, RT (0): Was finishing his college career at Alabama last season.
• John Moffitt, RG (0): Was finishing his college career at Wisconsin last season.
• Kam Chancellor, SS (0): Spent rookie season backing up veteran Lawyer Milloy.
• Tarvaris Jackson, QB (1): Backed up Brett Favre in Minnesota.
• Max Unger, C (1): Suffered toe injury in opener, landed on injured reserve.
• Walter Thurmond, CB (1): A rookie last season, Thurmond was still recovering from a serious knee injury suffered in college.
• Alan Branch, DT (3): Rotation player for the Cardinals.
• Michael Robinson, FB (4): Fullbacks aren't always on the field.
• Sidney Rice, WR (5): Missed most of the season following hip surgery.
• Red Bryant, DE (7): Suffered season-ending injury to ACL against Oakland.
• Russell Okung, LT (10): Multiple ankle injuries set him back as a rookie.
• Robert Gallery, LG (12): Had a hamstring injury and missed four games with Oakland.
• Brandon Mebane, DT (12): Missed four games after suffering a calf injury.
• Mike Williams, WR (13): Foot injuries sidelined him for stretches.
• Marshawn Lynch, RB (14): Played 16 games, but did not start first and last games of regular season.
• Zach Miller, TE (15): While with Raiders, missed game against Kansas City with foot injury.
• Marcus Trufant, CB (16): Played through the ankle injury he suffered against San Diego.
• Earl Thomas, FS (16): Thomas isn't big for a safety, but he throws his body around and held up well as a rookie.
• David Hawthorne, LB (16): Has played in all but two games during three-year career.
• Aaron Curry, LB (16): Started every game in 2010 after missing final two of rookie season.
• Chris Clemons, DE (16): Played hurt and still produced, leading the division in sacks.

Four projected Seattle starters missed at least half the 2010 season to injuries (Hill, Unger, Rice, Bryant). Three others missed at least one-fourth the season to injuries (Okung, Gallery, Mebane). Four others were backups (Jackson, Thurmond, Branch, Chancellor). Two more were in college (Moffitt, Carpenter).

The team is counting on increased production from most of these players.

The chart totals 2010 starts for current NFC West players, regardless of where they played last season. An initial league-wide analysis showed the Rams with the highest figure and the Seahawks with the lowest, but I haven't had time to verify the numbers for every team in the league. I did verify them for NFC West teams, breaking out the numbers for projected backups and starters.

The Rams have added quite a few veteran players to their roster this season.

My favorite part of the NFC West chat this week: Those in the comments section counting how many questions/comments I chose pertaining to each team.

Fabulous, fabulous attention to detail.

My favorite part of blogging in general: being held accountable relentlessly. No misdeed goes unpunished. It's great incentive to stay sharp and aim to please because everyone cares what others think of them, especially those who say they do not care.

Some chatting advice: As comments pile up and I sense one team is being overlooked, I'll enter search terms to single out questions pertaining to specific teams. Those terms are most commonly "hawk" for anything Seahawks related, "card" for anything Cardinals related, "9er" for anything regarding the 49ers and "ram" for anything Rams-related. This means you can optimize for search your questions. My thinking is that the term "hawk" will draw from all entries mentioning Seahawks or Hawks, while "9er" will touch upon anything with "49ers" or "9ers" in the body, etc.

All right, then. Let's advance some NFC West conversations. Instead of singling out one chat highlight per team and publishing them here, I've decided to choose one new question per team.

Brennan from California wants to know how I see the Seahawks' young depth in the secondary shaking out. He wonders whether Atari Bigby has a better chance given his ability to provide some seasoning.

Mike Sando: Undrafted free agent Jeron Johnson has caught the team's attention in a big way, potentially imperiling fifth-round draft choice Mark LeGree's chances at earning a roster spot. LeGree came into camp amid some fanfare as coach Pete Carroll envisioned him becoming a ball-hawking presence. So far, though, LeGree hasn't really stood out. Johnson has been better. Teams do not like cutting draft choices, but Seattle isn't one of those teams that holds onto them no matter what. It's a little early to know what to expect from Bigby in terms of his ability to hold up physically. As much as the team could use some seasoning at safety, seasoning for the sake of seasoning isn't enough.

Mau Mau from Los Angeles wants to know what's going on with the 49ers' center competition. The team singed a Super Bowl starter in Jonathan Goodwin, but Goodwin has yet to start a preseason game for the team. What is going on?

Mike Sando: I overrated Goodwin when the team signed him based on that very Super Bowl pedigree you referenced. My feeling was that Goodwin would represent an upgrade over David Baas, who signed with the New York Giants. So far, though, Adam Snyder has been the starter at center despite not being part of the conversation at center over the years. Center is an important position on the line and it had to be a little disappointing for the 49ers when the Giants offered so much money to Baas. Goodwin and Snyder are both have $2.1 million cap number this season, so there isn't tremendous separation between the two from a salary standpoint.

Matt from Wilmington, N.C., wonders what I think about the Rams' chances against Philadelphia in the regular-season opener at the Edward Jones Dome?

Mike Sando: Well, the Rams would be better off opening the season the way the Cardinals are opening the season, at home against Carolina. But if they have to play the Eagles, they might as well face them in Week 1, and at home. I give the Rams a good shot at winning the game. They'll have a good feel for the Eagles given Steve Spagnuolo's familiarity with Andy Reid's offense. Safety Quintin Mikell's feel for his former team means more because of the position he plays. Safeties tend to be thinkers. Mikell, having signed with the Rams from Philadelphia, will be well-prepared for this matchup. Jeremy Maclin's health issues also work in the Rams' favor given their depth issues in the secondary.

Phil from Connecticut wants to know whether I think Deuce Lutui will open the regular season as the starting right guard for the Cardinals.

Mike Sando: That has been my expectation. He's more talented than Rex Hadnot. I just haven't seen anything from Hadnot that makes me think he would be the obvious preference for Arizona. Lutui comes with baggage and flaws, of course. But he's been in the system for years and has played at a pretty good level most of the time. That is just me talking. I don't know what Russ Grimm and Ken Whisenhunt are thinking specifically about the right guard spot at this moment.

Thanks for listening.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Thoughts and observations after watching Kevin Kolb's first practice with the Arizona Cardinals:

• Kolb appeared comfortable. He looked like an NFL quarterback. His passes tended to be accurate. Nothing jumped out as negative. He's listed at 6-foot-3 and 218 pounds and has a lean look. He threw the screen pass on time and accurately at one point, producing a big gain for Beanie Wells. The Cardinals will find out during games whether Kolb can play. Off the field, Kolb appears to have a relaxed demeanor, according to teammates and based upon limited interviews. He handled himself comfortably when addressing a large media contingent after practice. That is part of the job, too. Kolb: "It feels great. I also know we have a lot of work to do. But it's a starting point."
• Larry Fitzgerald made Kolb look good. His one-handed grab near the sideline stood out. Fitzgerald on Kolb: "He looked good for his first day and threw the ball with some good zip, got the ball to his playmakers. I was excited with the progress."
• Kolb was one of 24 newly signed Cardinals players practicing for the first time this season. Ratification of the new labor agreement allowed them to get on the field. The focus was on Kolb, but there's only so much to see from a quarterback in one practice. This session was notable for extremely physical play as Arizona held live drills in pads, punctuated by a spirited goal-line session.
• It's tough to believe the exhibition season begins in one week. Kolb and the offensive line are still sorting through basic cadence issues. Kolb noticed the difference between a coach calling out plays and Kolb reading them off a sheet. This is remedial stuff and Kolb knows it, but there was nothing anyone could do. It's August and teams are basically where they might normally be coming out of the draft. Teams with new quarterbacks and lots of new pieces -- the Cardinals among them -- have it rougher.
• Newly signed guard Daryn Colledge stood out on his first day. He was blocking far down the field on that screen to Wells, ultimately tangling with strong safety Adrian Wilson. There was no fight, just some jersey tugging. Colledge also blasted linebacker Paris Lenon while the offense scored a touchdown during those live goal-line drills. Colledge's outgoing personality should provide something positive to the locker room and to the line. I also thought Colledge fared well in one-on-one pass-rush drills, which favor defensive linemen as a rule.
• Wells fumbled on the first play in goal-line drills, producing the sort of "ugh" moment he needs to avoid. Wells later scored when Rex Hadnot took out safety Kerry Rhodes at the goal line. Rookie Ryan Williams scored twice on goal-line runs. Williams is an obvious threat to Wells. His quickness and ability to change directions without slowing much stand out.
• Tight end Jeff King, signed from Carolina, has brought his signature leaping through-the-legs touchdown spike to Cardinals training camp. He showed it off after catching a touchdown pass in goal-line drills.
• Rookie fullback Anthony Sherman, a fifth-round pick, produces loud sounds when he hits people. A collision with safety Rashad Johnson reverberated. Keep an eye on him in exhibition games.
• Defensive coordinator Ray Horton should know by now he's not in Pittsburgh any longer. The offense dominated those goal-line sessions.
• Daryl Washington and Lenon were the first-team inside linebackers, with Joey Porter and Clark Haggans outside. A.J. Jefferson was with the first unit at left cornerback, where rookie Patrick Peterson will play eventually. Coach Ken Whisenhunt generally doesn't throw rookies into the starting lineup right away.
• O'Brien Schofield and rookie Sam Acho were the second-team outside linebackers. Reggie Walker and Stewart Bradley were the inside linebackers with the second team. Bradley is expected to move into the starting group at some point.
• Colledge and Hadnot were the first-team guards. Floyd Womack and Deuce Lutui were the second-team guards. I'd expect Lutui to take over for Hadnot at right guard once he's in better shape.
• That's enough depth-chart gazing. It's early in camp and the lineups will evolve.

OK, there we go. Some first impressions.

I'm heading over to Seattle Seahawks headquarters Tuesday afternoon before catching a flight to Arizona for Cardinals camp. In the meantime, a few NFC West-related notes and thoughts:

• Rams running backs: The St. Louis Rams are visiting with Atlanta Falcons free-agent running back Jerious Norwood. A deal could be in the works, Tony Softli notes. Cadillac Williams is another option. Finding a backup for Steven Jackson stands as a priority for the Rams this offseason. Norwood is 28 years old and played in only two games last season, but Rams general manager Billy Devaney knows him well. Devaney and Norwood were together on the Falcons. Devaney also knows what the Rams need behind Jackson. This could be a good fit. But not everyone is sold. Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. has been bold in saying Jackson has a lost a step and is declining. Given his thinking, Williamson thinks the Rams need more of a workhorse back in the No. 2 role. Williamson: "Norwood is not good enough. I don't think he is physical enough or reliable enough or durable enough to be Jackson's backup. Other than that, the Rams have done great in free agency. Maybe they could still get a Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams. A big, physical back to lighten Jackson's load would be great, and you can get backs cheap now. I don't know why they would settle for Norwood. He's fast in a straight line and good in a dome, but he hasn't done anything in a long time."
• Seahawks defensive linemen. Free-agent defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson agreed to terms with Seattle, the team confirmed. Seattle fared well last offseason by signing Raheem Brock to one-year deal for a reasonable rate. Brock had 9.0 sacks, but at age 33, he wasn't going to get a long-term deal from a Seattle team looking to go young. Wilkerson, 30, will sign a one-year deal. Will Brock return? It's possible, but I'd be a little surprised. Also for Seattle: Former Rams fullback Mike Karney is visiting, Jim Thomas reports. Oakland tight end Zach Miller already visited. No word yet on his plans.
• Kevin Kolb signed his contract. The Cardinals made the announcement Wednesday. Kolb's deal runs through the 2016 season. The moves Arizona has made on its offensive line stand out as critical to giving Kolb a chance. Re-signing Lyle Sendlein and adding Daryn Colledge helped. Getting Deuce Lutui almost accidentally was a bonus. Lutui has more motivation to succeed after failing his physical in Cincinnati. The Cardinals would be nervous about Lutui's conditioning had they given him a big contract in free agency. Adding Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack as insurance rounded out the depth. Rex Hadnot is still there, too. Those things said, drafting a few linemen would help, too.
• The 49ers' plan in free agency. The 49ers are taking heat for doing little in free agency. Coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke are new to their roles. They've been guarded about revealing their plans. I get that part of it, but they should and probably will become more adept at explaining their approach. There's no shame in laying low during free agency. Green Bay and Pittsburgh can attest to that. But if the 49ers are going to take that approach, they could help their fans by explaining why.

OK, time's running short. I'll check in as soon as the travel schedule allows.

Note: This item initially referred to Wednesday instead of Tuesday because I'm horrible at remembering days of the week. They run together.

Deuce Lutui's departure from the Arizona Cardinals to the Cincinnati Bengals deprives the NFC West of a colorful character -- and a pretty good guard, too.

The Cardinals won't miss Lutui's annual battles making weight (he once reported at 396 pounds), his demands for a new contract and his seeming resistance to motivational ploys. The evidence suggests Lutui had run his course in Arizona, with the Cardinals making little push to bring him back.

With center Lyle Sendlein re-signing, guard Daryn Colledge coming over from Green Bay and veterans Rex Hadnot and Jeremy Bridges already on the roster, Arizona can still field an experienced group on the interior.

But who will continually drive opponents batty with maddening on-field antics? Back in 2009, Lutui needed only a short while to push Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris over the edge. Lutui decked Harris twice in legal but not entirely necessary fashion. Harris responded with a punch to the head that drew an ejection. Lutui shrugged it off after the game.

If Lutui could be an aggravating player to face, his antics could be entertaining to watch. Lutui was also the player seen on ESPN speaking with quarterback Derek Anderson on the sideline during a tough defeat against San Francisco last season, creating the impression, perhaps unfairly, that Anderson wasn't taking the game seriously enough.

Lutui was always good for a joke, once even comparing himself to Lindsey Lohan for all the negative publicity his weight battles were generating. In the end, a little more seriousness from Lutui might have coaxed a better offer from the Cardinals.

At least two and possibly three NFC West teams will have new starting centers in 2011.

Max Unger is replacing free agent Chris Spencer in Seattle. San Francisco has an opening after Eric Heitmann had surgery and his 2010 replacement, David Baas, agreed to terms with the New York Giants. Arizona's Lyle Sendlein remains without an agreement for 2011, joining Spencer among the higher-ranked centers available this offseason.

Casey Rabach's expected release from the Washington Redskins adds another candidate to a list featuring free agents Olin Kreutz (Chicago Bears), Jonathan Goodwin (New Orleans Saints), Seindlein, Spencer and Samson Satele (Oakland Raiders). Rabach, 33, has started all but one game over the past seven seasons, dating to his days with Baltimore.

Sendlein's situation in Arizona is of particular interest in the NFC West. Arizona likes Sendlein very much and wants him to return. At what price? Sendlein wasn't sure what to expect heading toward free agency. Would another team -- San Francisco, even -- pay more than the Cardinals would pay? Spencer has ties to 49ers line coach Mike Solari. The two were together in Seattle.

Losing Sendlein would destabilize a Cardinals line already in flux following Alan Faneca's retirement and Deuce Lutui's potential departure. Green Bay's Daryn Colledge could wind up replacing Faneca. Veteran Rex Hadnot is under contract and could start if needed. Centers don't get much acclaim, but how well they communicate with quarterbacks can matter a great deal. Centers are also well positioned to be leaders of a line.

The NFC West chat starts up front, on the line. That's where chats are won or lost. This one was no different. We started on the line and moved the chains. Transcript here, highlights below, additional thoughts to follow.

Shane from Los Angeles had a hard time disagreeing with Matt Williamson's chat comments suggesting the Arizona Cardinals could have the NFL's worst offensive line. He thinks a shaky line could make life tough for any quarterback, whether it's Kevin Kolb or Peyton Manning. And he wants to know what the Cardinals have planned to address the line.

Mike Sando: Peyton Manning has flourished without a highly talented (by NFL standards) offensive line. A top quarterback makes a so-so line look good. Kurt Warner did this in Arizona a couple years ago. I question the Cardinals' approach to building their line and think they should be investing more draft choices in that part of their team. However, if they do re-sign Deuce Lutui and Lyle Sendlein, they should not be horrible. They would be counting on Rex Hadnot to step in at guard, most likely. Brandon Keith would have to come back from that injury. This could be a shaky line, but improvement at quarterback would help the line look better.

Steve from San Jose thinks Jim Harbaugh sounds too much like recent 49ers coaches when he talks about establishing a power running game, with the offense running through Frank Gore. He asks whether I can put to rest his fears.

Mike Sando: Yes, Jim Harbaugh does want to lean heavily on a power running game. Brock Huard told me Harbaugh's running game was extraordinarily diversified. So, all run games are not the same. And then we should assume that Harbaugh, as a former quarterback, will have a better feel for the passing game and how to use it in conjunction with the run game. You are right about the overall philosophy, though. It's the execution of that philosophy that will change.

Robert from Dublin, Calif., says he's a long-time Rams fan wondering where the Rams should focus in free agency. He lists free safety, running back and outside linebacker as their top needs.

Mike Sando: Let's throw defensive tackle into the mix as well. That was a position some analysts thought the Rams would address in the first round of the draft. I think it's a position of need. We discussed on the blog Wednesday whether Albert Haynesworth might make sense for them. Brandon Cofield is a more realistic name to keep in mind. He played for Steve Spagnuolo on the Giants and does not have a contract for 2010. The Rams fared well in adding Fred Robbins from the Giants last offseason.

Brandon from Everett, Wash., asks what I make of Darrell Bevell's call to Matt Hasselbeck when the lockout was briefly lifted.

Mike Sando: That affirmed the Seahawks' interest in bringing back Matt Hasselbeck without revealing what the team would pay for him. It was a nice gesture, but not a surprising one. Bevell and Hasselbeck go back years to Green Bay. They would be a good match. Bevell is the perfect person to reach out to Hasselbeck given their background.

Following up on the Cardinals' offensive line, coach Ken Whisenhunt has said that group was not high on his list of problem areas last season. He indicated the issues were more directly related to the quarterback situation. Arizona also had issues on defense, leading to a coordinator change.

There's a danger in focusing too much blame on Arizona's quarterback troubles, which were obvious. In this case, however, I think getting competent at quarterback will do more for the Cardinals than improving any other area, including the line.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers' interest in bringing back Alex Smith leaves the team with many of the same questions it faced a year ago. Some of the answers are different this time. A year ago, the team was hoping stability at offensive coordinator would help Smith blossom into a solid starter. The backup heading into the season, David Carr, wasn't part of the long-term equation. It was Smith or bust for the 49ers. This year, the team still hopes Smith plays well, of course, but adding rookie Colin Kaepernick gives the 49ers a young prospect to develop. The team has a plan beyond Smith, changing how Smith's return should be analyzed.

Also from Maiocco: Kaepernick and Carr joined Smith for recent workouts.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee updates workout plans for the 49ers' 2011 draft choices.

More from Barrows: The 49ers' later-round picks live modestly while waiting out the lockout. Teams would normally provide basic needs for players during portions of the offseason, but not during the lockout.

Tom FitzGerald of the San Francisco Chronicle profiles 49ers first-round pick Aldon Smith, who played hurt at Missouri. FitzGerald: "Smith would like to work for the Drug Enforcement Agency when his pro football days are done, giving the law a pair of extremely long arms. Friends and family members say he has a fine singing voice and plays the drums for the church choir. It's also known that his pain threshold is very high, he's very loyal to his teammates and enjoys football so much that a broken leg is just an annoyance."

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says injury concerns allowed two 49ers draft choices, Kendall Hunter and Ronald Johnson, to remain available longer.

Also from Branch: The 49ers appear confident in their coaches' abilities based on how the team selected in the first three rounds, draft analyst Rob Rang said.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams tight end Mike Hoomanawanui has high hopes for the team's offense under new coordinator Josh McDaniels. Hoomanawanui was one of the Ram's more impressive young players when healthy last season, but injuries sidelined him for stretches. Hoomanawanui: "Hopefully, I got my injuries out of the way my first year and I won't have to deal with that again. It's great to get back out here (during player-organized workouts) and see all the guys and get some team camaraderie going again. Obviously, everybody knows the situation (with the NFL lockout). Hopefully, we can get it settled soon and get back on the field with everybody."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams fullback Brit Miller is nearly five months into rehab on his way back from a torn ACL. He can sprint and is starting to work on changing direction. Miller: "That's kind of the final phase of the rehab on ACLs. I hope to get a full season this year, really prove what I can do at fullback. I know (fullback) is not a huge part of what every team does, but I want to be the best at whatever we do. So I look at it as one position: fullback/special teams." McDaniels has sometimes wanted his fullback types to project as runners when needed. Miller did not project as a runner before the injury he suffered against San Francisco late last season.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says Leon Washington made a big enough dent in the team's records for return specialists to rank among the best in franchise history after only one season. Farnsworth: "Washington’s time obviously will come. In one season, he broke the game, season and career records for scoring returns -- which had been one, across the board. His 253 return yards against the Chargers broke the single-game record that had been held by Maurice Morris (231), and his 63.3-yard average in that game obliterated the previous record of 42.8 yards by Charlie Rogers. Washington also produced 1,461 yards for the season -- roughly half the career total of 2,843 by Morris, who ranks third behind Broussard (3,900) and Rogers (3,214); and third on the single-season list behind Josh Wilson (1,753) and Rogers (1,629)." To what degree will new kickoff rules prevent Washington from making an impact in the future?

Liz Mathews of 710ESPN Seattle passes along comments from Seahawks rookie safety Mark LeGree, who appeared on John Clayton's radio show Saturday. LeGree: "Even if I don't get a starting spot, I'm going to make the guy ahead of me work for his spot. On special teams? I love special teams. I know how big a part of the game it is, it can change a game in just one play. I am looking forward to the opportunity to be able to start. I'm a playmaker and I can go get that ball."

Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic checks in with Cardinals guard Rex Hadnot, who has been working out with teammates and could replace the retiring Alan Faneca in the starting lineup. Hadnot on participating in player-organized workouts: "It's helping out a tremendous amount. Me being a guy who came in last year, I'm continuing to bond with my new teammates. It's given us all a chance to work together as a team and when you see guys putting the work in, it should give you a better appreciation of what each and every man goes through on a consistent basis to try and prepare themselves for an NFL season. I'm excited about what we're doing under the circumstances."

David from San Jose, Calif., says the San Francisco 49ers should not open the 2011 season with Alex Smith and rookie Colin Kaepernick as their top two quarterbacks. He thinks the team needs to add another starting-caliber player -- Carson Palmer, Kevin Kolb or Donovan McNabb -- to avoid a repeat of the 2010 season.

Mike Sando: That sounds more realistic in theory than in reality. Among the considerations:

Alex Smith
#11 QB
San Francisco 49ers
2010 STATS
• Att342
• Comp204
• Yds2370
• TD14
• Int10
• Rat82.1
• Smith arguably outperformed McNabb last season. Same number of touchdown passes. Five fewer interceptions. Both had losing records as starters (3-7 for Smith, 5-8 for McNabb). I would have added McNabb last offseason if I were the 49ers, but the urgency is gone. McNabb's stock has fallen. It's a tougher case to make right now. Smith has a head start on the playbook and will take direction from coach Jim Harbaugh. McNabb struggled adjusting to Mike Shanahan's offense, would be getting a late jump on the playbook and would arrive more set in his ways, and with the clock ticking.
• Acquiring Kolb would likely require parting with one or more 2012 draft choices. That would make little sense given Kaepernick's status as the projected future starter.
• Palmer lacks the mobility Harbaugh says he craves in a quarterback, and it's not yet clear whether Cincinnati will trade him. Palmer will expect to start for as long as he's with a team. The 49ers would not make him a long-term starter. The fit would not be right.
• The 49ers' quarterback situation in 2010 suffered from the curious case of David Carr. The front office signed him, but coach Mike Singletary would not play him. That left the 49ers with the two Smiths, Alex and Troy. Troy Smith wasn't even with the team in training camp. The team fired its coordinator early in the season. Alex Smith got hurt. It's reasonable to expect the 49ers' current leadership to handle the quarterback situation better in 2011. Now, if injuries strike, all bets are off. But that is true for most teams.

Remember, too, that Harbaugh is entering his first season as head coach. The lockout is threatening to turn a transitional season into a lost one for teams with new coaches, new systems and new, unproven quarterbacks.

Harbaugh has identified his quarterback of the future -- Kaepernick. He has available to him a veteran, Smith, who is comfortable with the situation. I don't sense great urgency from the 49ers to invest significant resources in another veteran for just one season. We should instead expect the team to sign an undrafted free agent or two.

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Ray from Corona, Calif., thinks the 49ers' draft-day decisions affected the Arizona Cardinals in ways that will play out in the NFC West for years to come. Ray thinks Arizona selected LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson fifth overall in part because the team didn't want the 49ers, picking seventh, to get him. He thinks Peterson would have fallen to San Francisco if Von Miller had been available to the Cardinals. He also thinks Arizona would have selected Kaepernick in the second round if the 49ers hadn't traded up to select Kaepernick instead.

Mike Sando: It's fun to consider the possibilities. Miller's selection at No. 2 made the Cardinals' decision on Peterson appear more straightforward. Had Miller been available to Arizona at No. 5, perhaps the Cardinals would have selected him. That would have left Peterson to the 49ers at No. 7, provided Julio Jones remained the choice at No. 6. But the Cardinals' excitement over what Peterson offers on defense and in the return game could have made him the choice, anyway.

The rest is more speculative, but still fun to consider.

Another what-if scenario came to mind recently when I was looking at players NFC West teams selected. The St. Louis Rams selected wide receiver Greg Salas with the 112th pick, three spots before San Francisco selected running back Kendall Hunter.

The Rams could have used a complimentary back for Steven Jackson, but ultimately they valued Salas more than they valued any of the running backs in that range.

Eastern Washington's Taiwan Jones was also available, as were Delone Carter, Bilal Powell, Jamie Harper, Johnny White and nine more running backs (excluding fullbacks) selected later in the draft.

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Michael from Phoenix wonders what the Cardinals have planned for their offensive line following Alan Faneca's retirement. He sees the team's next quarterback struggling if Arizona doesn't address the line.

Mike Sando: Re-signing right guard Deuce Lutui and center Lyle Sendlein becomes more important. Veteran Rex Hadnot could play left guard. It's no secret Arizona has largely ignored its line in the draft. Free agency could provide options, but coach Ken Whisenhunt thought the line was generally good enough last season. The team had bigger problems.

Quarterbacks benefit from their lines, but lines also benefit from their quarterbacks. Kurt Warner could bail out an offensive line by anticipating routes and releasing the ball early. The Cardinals likely aren't going to find a quarterback as skilled in that regard. But with improvements on defense and at least decent play at quarterback, they can probably rely more heavily on a running game that now features Ryan Williams.