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Thoughts on Seattle Seahawks first-round pick Bruce Irvin after reading John Clayton's piece questioning the selection:

• Specific role: The Seahawks envision Irvin as a situational pass-rusher for now and the evenutal successor to Chris Clemons in the "Leo" role. Clemons was a 236-pound linebacker coming out of college. He had a 4.7-second time in the 40-yard dash, went undrafted as a junior and floundered in Philadelphia. The Seahawks acquired him with a specific role in mind. Clemons ranks eighth in the NFL with 22 sacks over the last two seasons, more than Julius Peppers, James Harrison, Clay Matthews, Dwight Freeney, Trent Cole, Jason Pierre-Paul and others. Clemons now weighs 255 pounds and has become much stronger against the run. Irvin is Clemons' height (6-foot-3) and weighs 245 pounds, but he is much faster, having run the 40 in 4.4 seconds. The plan would be for Irvin to grow into a bigger role, not to remain a situational player forever.
• Value at No. 15: Draft analysts did not anticipate Irvin's selection at No. 15. It's impossible to know whether the Seahawks could have drafted Irvin later than that. Three teams running variations of the 4-3 defense selected defensive ends in the first round. Irvin went first, followed by Shea McClellin to Chicago at No. 19 and Chandler Jones to New England at No. 21. Jacksonville, picking 38th, was the next 4-3 team to select a defensive end (Andre Branch). There was a six-pick window for 4-3 teams to select a pass-rusher in the first round. Seattle opened the window. Chicago and New England closed it, with the Patriots trading up to make sure the window did not slam on them. The Seahawks liked Jones, but concerns over a toe injury raised questions about how early they would select him. They were comfortable with the off-field issues Irvin carried into the draft.
• Whether Irvin starts: Aldon Smith collected 14 sacks in a situational role with San Francisco last season. Robert Mathis had three seasons with double-digit sacks as a reserve at various points in his career with Indianapolis. Years ago, a young Anthony Smith put together three consecutive seasons with double-digit sacks despite rarely starting for the Los Angeles Raiders. The plan is for Aldon Smith to become a starter this year. Mathis continued to produce as a starter. Anthony Smith's sack numbers fell. Clemons is the best comparison for Irvin. They have physical similarities. They are playing in the same scheme. The same coaches and personnel people decided they fit the same role.

Irvin will be a fun player to watch during training camp. Dexter Davis is another Seattle pass-rusher to keep in mind. He missed all but one game last season after suffering a hip injury and could be overlooked heading toward the season.

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

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

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

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

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

Interesting thought.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says Stephen Ross' jet arrived in the Bay Area at 11:21 p.m. PT. The Dolphins' owner planned to meet Thursday morning with Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers' top choice to replace Mike Singletary. Maiocco: "Niners team president Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke met for more than five hours with Harbaugh, a source confirmed. The San Jose Mercury News reported there appeared to be a deal in place. But Harbaugh said he wanted to at least listen to what the Dolphins' owner had to say. The Dolphins are reportedly ready to offer in the $7-to-$8 million annual range for Harbaugh. Although the 49ers are not likely to go that high, a team source said the 49ers have not given up hope Harbaugh will choose to remain in the Bay Area with the 49ers." York's previous comments about money being no object will come off as so much bluster if money plays a role in losing Harbaugh to another team. York likes to talk a big game. He usually has not delivered, however. Can he this time?

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee offers thoughts on why Harbaugh is a hot coaching candidate. Rich Gannon: "I have vivid memories of him entrenching himself in an office and doing everything he could to learn. He was willing to do the grunt work. He was the quality control guy but he was staying until three in the morning pulling the game plan together, the QB quick tips ... He would be exhausted the next day."

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says the Dolphins' push for Harbaugh could ruin the 49ers' chances at landing the Stanford coach. Kawakami: "According to a source, everything went smoothly during the face-to-face discussions between Harbaugh and the 49ers today. He and Baalke meshed well and the money terms were being negotiated with agent David Dunn. Then Harbaugh said he would talk to Ross, and the 49ers heard that the Dolphin offer could blow theirs away." Dunn's involvement was something I had not anticipated. Harbaugh previously listed Jack Bechta as his agent. Recent reports have noted that Harbaugh and 49ers general manager Trent Baalke share an agent. I had thought Baalke's agent was Peter Schaffer. That aspect of the negotiations begs for some elaboration.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says Jed York's comment about money being no object might not be exactly true.

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle updates the 49ers' coaching search in a story featuring a photo of York and Baalke riding in a car together.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Darnell Dockett's comments on Twitter about an Arizona mall shooting stirred controversy. No shock there. Dockett has cranked out politically incorrect comments on Twitter for as long as I can remember him being on Twitter. Dockett's latest dispatch, according to Somers: "Was the guys who shot some1 & the mall today was they Black? Cuz its hard 2 believe they would run in the mall!! Probaly white or mexicans!" Dockett followed up those comments with additional comments seeking to explain his stance, such as: "Cuz blacks wouldn't run in a mall after shooting chances on getting caught is 100% that's why!!" Dockett then tried a little damage control, defending himself against charges of racism. The sheer number of potentially objectionable tweets from Dockett over an extended time period diminish the impact of subsequent objectionable tweets. It's rhetorical inflation.

Also from Somers: Staff changes could be on the way for Arizona as coach Ken Whisenhunt winds down meetings with assistants. Somers: "His decision is complicated by the labor disagreement between the NFL and the players' union, as well as the number of coaches' jobs that have opened. If no collective-bargaining agreement is reached by March 4, the owners are expected to lock out the players. A prolonged lockout means a new coordinator might have little time with which to install a new system. It also means owners could be paying former and current staff members while no games are being played. If Whisenhunt does want to make new hires, he likely would face competition. Eight teams are making changes at head coach, and one other, Houston, is hiring a new defensive staff."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says punter Jon Ryan has become adept at avoiding touchbacks and pinning opponents deep in their own territory.

Also from Farnsworth: Pete Carroll isn't saying which quarterback will start against New Orleans.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times takes a closer look at the relationship between Seattle safeties Lawyer Milloy and Earl Thomas.

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times says Carroll finds himself in an unfamiliar position: as the underdog. Brewer: "He hasn't been called such a thing before a game this big in ages. For most of his nine-year run at USC, the first-year Seahawks coach was known more for instructing a giant to stomp on the little guys. And he did that job well, managing to meet the demanding expectations of a college football powerhouse so flamboyantly the Trojans became a cultural phenomenon."

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says Raheem Brock's productivity as a pass-rushing defensive end caught the Seahawks by surprise. Boling: "He and fellow defensive end Chris Clemons now have a total of 20 sacks, giving them the league’s third-highest sacks total for ends behind the Giants’ Justin Tuck and Osi Umenyiora (23), and the Colts’ Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis (21)."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks' quarterback gamesmanship affected Seattle and New Orleans. Williams: "Initially, the Seahawks planned to make both quarterbacks available but then chose to deny access to both because no decision on the starter had been made. Carroll’s indecision also affected New Orleans-area reporters, who were expecting to talk to Hasselbeck on conference call but got Mike Williams instead. That decision led to Seattle-area reporters getting receiver Lance Moore on conference call instead of quarterback Drew Brees."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says drafting later in the first round is a new feeling for the Rams. Thomas: "Strategically, when you're picking first, you don't have to worry about anybody else. And picking second, you only have to worry about the one team ahead of you, or the possibility of someone trading up to that spot. But at No. 14, there are tons of variables and 13 other teams to worry about. You have to be ready to go in a lot of different directions, depending on what happens ahead of you."

Also from the Post-Dispatch: a look at hits and misses in the 14th overall spot.

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com says rookie quarterback Sam Bradford learned plenty during his first season in the NFL. Bradford joined Peyton Manning, David Carr and Matt Ryan as the only rookies to play every offensive snap for their teams. Wagoner: "Bradford set a rookie record for consecutive attempts without an interception, going 174 straight without a pick. He set a rookie record for attempts (590) and completions (354), passing future Hall of Famer Manning in both categories. He finished second among rookie quarterbacks in passing yards with 3,512, behind only Manning and fifth in touchdown passes with 18. He was the Rookie of the Month two times, becoming the first rookie quarterback to achieve that feat."

Brian Stull of 101ESPN St. Louis says Rams receiver Mark Clayton would like to return in 2011.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Arizona: The Cardinals' secondary is hurting and that's the No. 1 concern for Arizona heading into the next couple weeks. Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie practiced on his sprained ankle Wednesday, a good sign, and he told reporters the ankle was at about 85 percent strength. Safety Antrel Rolle rested a foot injury Wednesday. Strong safety Adrian Wilson has recovered from the cramps that prevented him from finishing the Cardinals' game against the Giants. Receiver Anquan Boldin practiced some Wednesday despite his ankle injury. He was clearly hobbling during the Giants game, but he still managed to get open for a couple of key receptions. Getting Boldin healthier for the long term should be a priority.

San Francisco: The 49ers are dangerously thin at right tackle after Marvel Smith retired and Tony Pashos landed on injured reserve. Adam Snyder and Barry Sims are the options Sunday. Either one will have a very difficult time against Colts defensive end Robert Mathis. Whichever player starts at right tackle will have additional problems given how poorly the situation at right guard has evolved. On defense, strong safety Michael Lewis is expected to return after suffering three concussions since August. Lewis is best as an in-the-box run defender. In-the-box run defenders aren't going to faze the Colts' Peyton Manning. Any team foolish enough to load the box against Manning deserves to suffer the consequences. Takeo Spikes' shoulder injury could affect his availability. Spikes' experience could be useful against Manning. Without Spikes, rookie Scott McKillop would find himself in Manning's sights.

St. Louis: The season-ending injury receiver Laurent Robinson suffered early in the season continues to haunt the Rams. Perhaps Brandon Gibson's availability against the Lions on Sunday will protect the Rams from what Tim Carter offered in Week 7. With or without Gibson, the Rams miss Robinson in a big way. Right guard Richie Incognito's foot injury has led the team to move Adam Goldberg from right tackle into Incognito's spot. The fallout -- more playing time for first-round rookie Jason Smith at right tackle -- seems like a net positive for the Rams. On defense, the Rams miss starting right end James Hall. Hall was limited Wednesday. The team's already shaky pass rush is weaker for his absence. The Rams' pass defense will likely suffer without promising young cornerback Bradley Fletcher, who was lost for the season. The special teams also face challenges as the Rams break in a new snapper, a potential concern in the kicking game as Josh Brown adjusts.

Seattle: Placing left tackle Walter Jones on injured reserve actually helps the Seahawks by clearing a roster spot. Lately, the team had been carrying Jones on its roster seemingly more out of respect for him than any real hope that his knee would suddenly improve. The fact that starting right tackle Sean Locklear probably will not play against the Cowboys carries more immediate ramifications. Locklear was the No. 2 left tackle. Without him and without No. 3 left tackle Brandon Frye, who is already on injured reserve, the Seahawks will ask aging free-agent addition Damion McIntosh to help protect quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. The last time the Seahawks visited Dallas, Jones allowed two sacks while essentially playing on one leg. Seattle might conceivably be better off with Jones in that state than without him and without Locklear. On defense, the Seahawks will miss Lofa Tatupu's leadership. Patrick Kerney's groin injury is another potential concern. Getting cornerback Marcus Trufant and linebacker Leroy Hill back should help.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Rams' best offensive tackle might be Adam Goldberg, at least for now.

That was my thinking after watching every snap of the Rams' 42-6 home defeat to the Colts in Week 7.

	Scott Rovak/US Presswire
	Dwight Freeney was a regular presence in the Rams’ backfield on Sunday.

It's a credit to Goldberg and also a poor reflection on the state of the position in St. Louis. Rookie first-round draft choice Jason Smith will of course improve once he makes what appears to be a challenging adjustment to the NFL from a spread offense in college. The other tackle, 2005 first-round choice Alex Barron, does not appear to be enhancing his value significantly while playing left tackle in a contract year.

Smith and Barron were generally not competitive in their matchups with Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney, in my view. Freeney is a great player, and most tackles have a hard time against him. Players such as Freeney lead teams to use first-round draft choices on offensive tackles. The Rams have done that, but they are not enjoying the payoff at this time.

Smith played both tackle positions against the Colts. I counted six snaps at left tackle and 22 snaps at right tackle. Freeney beat Smith for a sack on Smith's fifth snap at left tackle. Smith missed Colts defensive tackle Eric Foster on Smith's second snap at right tackle. The Rams threw an interception on the play. Defensive end Robert Mathis decked Smith on one play and beat him on another.

If you are the Rams, you're sifting through these defeats for clues pointing to a brighter future. Those clues have sometimes been tougher to find than one might have expected given how many high draft choices the Rams have used in recent seasons.

With veteran defensive end James Hall out, 2008 No. 2 overall choice Chris Long started at right defensive end. Long played all but one snap by my count, all on the right side. He made a few good plays and hit Peyton Manning a couple of times. Other times, the Colts blocked him effectively with only a tight end, usually Dallas Clark.

Hall and Leonard Little (when reasonably healthy) probably remain the best defensive ends on the team.

The Rams have other young players who have performed well. One of them, cornerback Bradley Fletcher, is facing two serious knee surgeries. Another, James Laurinaitis, looks like a long-term starter at middle linebacker. Safety Craig Dahl has made a positive impact at times. Receiver Donnie Avery flashes ability occasionally, though injuries are consistently a concern.

Overall, though, the Rams need to see more. I hope to take a closer look at them during their bye week.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat explains why Michael Crabtree is having an easy time learning the 49ers' plays. The system requires Crabtree to know only his own responsibilities for this one game, not the full playbook or broader concepts.

Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News answers 49ers-related questions in a chat. Brown: "This whole team is built around the offense's ability to run the ball, move the chains and eke out just enough points. But the 49ers rank 29th in total offense and 16th in the running game. The 49ers made a subtle shift in the O-line this week, moving Snyder to guard. They also help that the presence of Crabtree will stretch the defenses at least a little bit. Otherwise, it's another week of 8-men in the box."

Deon Butler of the Seahawks reflects on his rookie season during his latest diary entry with Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times. Butler says the deep pass thrown to him against the Cardinals was overthrown. Sometimes a receiver gets thrown off his route and I thought Matt Hasselbeck suggested that was the case in this instance. I cannot recall for certain. Butler: "On a deep pass, once the ball starts to come down, you definitely know whether you're going to get to it or whether it's going to be real close or whether it's just overthrown. And that one was, 'Man, this one is overthrown. I've really got to get to this.' As soon as I started to see it come down, I was like, 'Man, if I get to this, I probably won't stay on my feet. I'll probably dive.' And I ended up diving. It was just a frustrating feeling when I landed, and I didn't have the ball. It was a third-down opportunity. It was a chance for a big gain early in the game, and Arizona had gotten out to a fast start. So it was a chance for us to change momentum. With so few opportunities that I'm presented right now, when I have a chance to make a play, I definitely want to be able to make it."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the team isn't leaving for the East Coast until Saturday because the Sunday kickoff is at night. Urban also says he thinks Early Doucet will be active as insurance for Anquan Boldin. Urban: "I still think Anquan Boldin will play, but, already knowing Boldin has a sore ankle, the Cards can’t risk not having an extra receiver available not only if Boldin gets further dinged but also if Boldin will be limited in the packages he might play. That’s what happened in the season opener against the 49ers (when Doucet was still hurt and Lance Long was forced to be active). Many fans have asked me why Doucet hasn’t played more. The big problem? He’s never proven himself on special teams, something the receivers in front of him — Urban, Morey, Breaston — all do and do well."

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams receiver Donnie Avery felt good in practice Friday. Coats: "Avery reported 'no problem at all' after fully participating in practice Friday. Avery, injured last Sunday at Jacksonville after grabbing a 17-yard touchdown pass earlier, sat out Wednesday and took only limited reps Thursday."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Colts' offense isn't the only concern for the Rams. Indy's defense also presents problems, particularly with Bob Sanders back in the lineup. Steven Jackson: "He's the life of that defense. Not taking anything away from (Robert) Mathis and (Dwight) Freeney, but he's a guy that fills the run pretty hard. He's a tough tackler. He applies the big hits. He gets the crowd into it. ... I really respect what he brings to that defense."

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 7:

	Jason Bridge/US Presswire
	Kurt Warner needs to get rid of the football quickly against the Giants' pass rush.

Warner hasn't lost his edge. Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner took notice when New York-area reporters asked him about getting rid of the football quickly. The subject was a sore one for Warner during his days as the Giants' quarterback. He took too many sacks and the critics thought he held the ball too long. "If I'm successful, people say I am getting the ball out quick," Warner said. "If I am not successful, then people say I am holding the ball too long. I don't think I have ever held the ball long. To me, it is all based on my reads." Whatever the basis, Warner needs to get rid of the football quickly against the Giants' pass rush. The Giants sacked him only once when the teams played last season, but they hit him 12 times.

Two tights still make sense. The Cardinals' dramatically increased use of two tight ends upon Ben Patrick's return might not be a one-game phenomenon. Receiver Anquan Boldin's ankle injury could limit how much the Cardinals use him. Putting a second tight end on the field makes sense if Boldin is indeed limited. Arizona also faces likely issues in pass protection against the Giants. A second tight end could help in that area as well, unless Arizona decides to spread the field and stick with its quick passing game. Rookie running back Beanie Wells has vastly outperformed Tim Hightower as the lone running back from the Cardinals' primary two-tight end grouping. Wells has a 4.3-yard average on 16 carries from this grouping. Hightower has a 2.3-yard average on 11 such carries. Is the Cardinals' offensive identity evolving?

Clements one key for the 49ers. The Texans' Andre Johnson takes his turn against 49ers cornerback Nate Clements. Clements has helped the 49ers match up well inside the NFC West. The Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald has averaged about 35 fewer yards per game against the 49ers since San Francisco signed the veteran corner in 2007. That success hasn't always transferred against other receivers. Terrell Owens surpassed 200 yards receiving against Clements and the 49ers in 2008. Roddy White had a 200-yard game against Clements and the 49ers in Week 5. The 49ers need Clements' best in this matchup. I'm not sure if they will get it. Johnson's size-speed combination could be problematic.

The Rams are protecting the pass protector. The Rams are leaning toward starting Adam Goldberg at right tackle even though rookie first-round choice Jason Smith is healthy enough to play. It's probably a smart move. The Colts' Robert Mathis tends to dominate whichever tackle he lines up against. The Rams have brought along Smith slowly. Throwing him onto the field against Mathis in his first start since suffering a knee injury would not produce positive results for Smith or the Rams. Goldberg is going to have problems, too, but the expectations are different for him. The Rams will probably fall behind the Colts, putting St. Louis in obvious passing situations. Mathis and fellow defensive end Dwight Freeney have to like their chances.

Michael Crabtree's time has come. The 49ers' rookie receiver makes his NFL debut Sunday against the Texans. Are the 49ers getting ahead of themselves? My thoughts on the video.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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