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Ronnie Lott witnessed one of the greatest coaching jobs in NFL history during the Bill Walsh years in San Francisco three decades ago.

The Hall of Famer thinks the 49ers' current coach, Jim Harbaugh, might be doing something more spectacular in leading the team to an 8-1 record against all expectations.

"This might be the greatest coaching that I've ever seen in the history of the game of professional football," Lott told Sirius NFL Radio recently. "It's his first [season as an NFL head coach] and not only is he hitting it out of the park but, man, he's hitting all the notes. Everything that you can think of, he's done."

Lott pointed to the 49ers' ability to play well and win under a first-time NFL head coach following a lockout-shortened offseason. The turnaround from eight consecutive non-winning seasons has been striking. Kenton Wong of ESPN Stats & Information put together a Harbaugh-related packet with the following key points:

• Stanford went from 1-11 the year before Harbaugh arrived as head coach to 4-8, 5-7, 8-5 and 12-1 over his four seasons at the university.
• The 49ers brought back most key players, notably Alex Smith, from a team that went 6-10 last season. Their eight victories this season match the rest of the NFC West combined. The 49ers have a .889 winning percentage, compared to .296 for the rest of the division. They are plus-95 in points. The rest of the NFC West is minus-198. The 49ers have one more road win (four) than the rest of the division combined.
• Smith is on pace for career bests in yards per attempt (7.2) and touchdown-to-interception ratio (3.7).
• Harbaugh's seven-game winning streak is tied for second longest by a rookie head coach since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Ted Marchibroda's Colts won nine in a row in 1975. Bobby Ross' Chargers won seven straight in 1992. Chuck Knox's Rams (1973) and Nick Saban's Dolphins (2005) each enjoyed six-game streaks. Corrected info from Elias: Steve Mariucci won 11 in a row during the 1997 season, his first with the 49ers. And Jim Caldwell went 14-0 with the Colts in his first season. Those are the two longest streaks.

This is the best start for a rookie NFC West coach since Mariucci's 49ers opened the 1997 season with an 11-1 record. They finished 13-3.

Mike Martz's St. Louis Rams went 8-2 to open the 2000 season. Mike Holmgren's Seahawks opened the 1999 season with an 8-2 record.

I've put together a chart showing NFC West head coaches' first-year records since 1997, excluding interim coaches.
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Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals fullback Jason Wright is retiring. Somers: "Wright was productive as a situational player on offense and was an excellent special-teams player. He missed one game last season due to a concussion. Wright was admitted to the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago, and he and wife Tiffany have already moved to the Chicago area. Wright played collegiately at Northwestern." The backfield became even more crowded in Arizona this offseason when the team used a second-round draft choice for Ryan Williams. LaRod Stephens-Howling has also factored more heavily into the offense recently.

Also from Somers: a big-picture look at the Cardinals. Somers: "Both impending doom and great opportunity await the Cardinals when the lockout ends. The team needs a starting quarterback. Its three interior offensive linemen are un-signed as is starting receiver Steve Breaston. Most of the 'star' defensive players are coming off disappointing seasons, a factor in Ken Whisenhunt’s decision to hire Ray Horton as his third defensive coordinator in five seasons. Horton, a disciple of Steelers’ coordinator Dick LeBeau, will bring that high-pressure philosophy to the Cardinals. But that effort has been hampered by the lockout."

More from Somers: New rules for training camps wouldn't affect the Cardinals much because Whisenhunt doesn't ask players to hit much in consecutive practices.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says there is "no doubt" the team will address the quarterback situation quickly in free agency, according to team president Michael Bidwill.

Also from Urban: He calls Wright one of the "anchors of the locker room" for Arizona. Urban: "Wright was the perfect fit as a fourth running back with Tim Hightower, Beanie Wells and LaRod Stephens-Howling. He was a mentor, a sounding board, a voice of reason for the backs and the entire team. (He was also a go-to quote in the locker room, able to speak eloquently on any subject). Wright did miss some time with a concussion last season, and for any player that can give pause, not to mention someone as brilliant as Wright. But he insisted his choice had nothing to do with concussions or bodily harm."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says Kenny Easley was an easy choice as the strong safety on Seattle's 35th anniversary team. Jim Zorn: "I remember Kenny describing how he inflicted pain on people catching the ball in front of him. To get the guy thinking about him the next time, he would hold his thumbs in his fists and jam his knuckles into the guy’s rib cage. I thought, 'All right, nice technique.'" Easley's kidneys were failing during the latter portion of his career, affecting his play. Before that, he was one of the very best defensive players in the league, someone opponents considered to be as good or even better than Ronnie Lott. Easley, Lott and Lawrence Taylor came along at a time when some of the best athletes were showing up on defense, forcing offenses to make significant adjustments.

Also from Farnsworth: Career length is the primary reason Easley doesn't get more recognition as a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune takes a closer rook at Seahawks rookie safety Mark LeGree. Coach Pete Carroll: "He’s able to play strong safety and free safety. Right now, it’s just a matter of just learning the system and getting him going. Eventually, I think he’ll be able to play nickel free safety, and it helps him to learn the free safety spot first."

Dan Pompei of National Football Post sheds light on the Seahawks' plans for linebacker Aaron Curry. Pompei: "Seahawks coaches want to tweak the way they use linebacker Curry. They want to have him drop less, especially in space. When Curry does drop in the future, it likely will mostly be on hooks to the flat. The fourth pick in the 2009 draft is a more effective defender on the line with his hands on the tight end. That way, he can use his strength and length to his advantage, and he doesn’t have to think as much. Curry is a strong point-of-attack player who also could be an effective pass rusher. It’s possible he will get more chances to chase the QB as well." Curry could have more chances to rush the passer if the team does not re-sign Raheem Brock.

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle says the Giants' Osi Umenyiora could be a consideration for the Seahawks, according to ESPN.com's John Clayton. Clayton: "Seattle is one of the teams he's interested in. That could be the type of player at defensive end, as long as it doesn't cost a first-round pick, that maybe there'd be some interest." Chris Clemons provides a cheaper alternative. Clemons had 11 sacks last season despite playing through injury. Umenyiora had 11.5 sacks and also played hurt.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee offers thoughts on the HBO special focusing on 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, Ravens coach John Harbaugh and the Harbaugh family. Jack Harbaugh, father of Jim and John, breaks down game tape and offers feedback to his sons. Jack Harbaugh: "I'll tell you exactly what time the tape comes. The tape comes at 10 o'clock. I'm standing with the door open in the dead of winter waiting for that UPS truck to make the turn and stop at the door. Then it's down to the basement we go to put them in -- just for that feeling again to be involved with football." Jack Harbaugh coached for 45 years.

Also from Barrows: a 49ers preview for the Sporting News. Barrows: "The 49ers appear poised to head into yet another season with Smith as the starting quarterback. The difference this year is that he has an offensive-minded coach at the helm. The hope in San Francisco is that Harbaugh can play to Smith’s strengths and help mask his weaknesses. San Francisco has a strong offensive roster and a potentially good defensive one, too -- especially if Aldon Smith develops. How quickly the team can adjust to Harbaugh’s and Fangio’s new schemes will determine whether it can capture a division title in the weak NFC West."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, writing for the Sporting News, says a tough schedule could hold back the Rams this season. Thomas: "It’s possible St. Louis could play better in 2011, yet have the same record as it did in 2010. That’s because the schedule, particularly the first seven weeks of the season, could be crushing (Eagles, at Giants, Ravens, Redskins, at Packers, at Cowboys, Saints). In order to succeed, the Rams’ run blocking must improve and the receivers have to step up their play. To truly be a playoff contender, the Rams need to be about a touchdown per game better on offense. And that’s asking a lot."

Some race fans are running circles, perhaps even doughnuts, around Golden Tate after the Seattle Seahawks receiver offended them with a wayward tweet Wednesday night.

Tate questioned five-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson as a legitimate candidate for the ESPY as Best Male Athlete.

"Driving a car does not show athleticism," Tate tweeted.

Tate quickly found himself on the defensive. Johnson himself re-tweeted comments from racing reporter Jeff Gluck calling Tate ignorant. Tate apologized, but the backlash against him continued. Gluck picked apart Tate's comments early Thursday.

Tate took the wrong tack in a debate that could use better focus. There's no sense in questioning whether Johnson or other drivers should qualify as athletes. Racing is a sport. Drivers must keep their edge while operating under extremely demanding conditions, risking their lives to a degree unimaginable in most other sports.

Instead of questioning athleticism, I'll propose the following distinctions between athletes for the purposes of this conversation:

• The physical barriers to participation in the NFL and NBA are higher than physical barriers in racing. That doesn't mean NFL or NBA athletes could compete successfully at racing's highest levels. They would likely find the sport extremely demanding in ways unimaginable to them. But if the 100 best football players spent five years training as drivers while the 100 best drivers spent five years training as football players, I suspect the football players would be closer to competing admirably in their new sport.
• It's possible for top racing drivers to remain competitive well past their physical primes. Mark Martin and Ronnie Lott are both 52 years old. Martin is ranked 19th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings. Lott last played in 1995. Different sports place different physical demands upon athletes.
• Tate scored points, I thought, for noting that it's easier to train a competitive driver than to train someone to run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds. That does nothing to disqualify racing drivers from consideration for "best athlete" awards, however. Dirk Nowitzki beat out Johnson for the ESPY, but athleticism wasn't the only measure. Quite a few NBA players are more athletic than Nowitzki. That did not make them better candidates for the award.

By the way, @popdirt gets the credit/blame for drawing me into this conversation. The subject interested me more than the latest labor news, however promising.

Your take?

KC Joyner is extremely bullish on what the presence of rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson could mean to the Arizona defense. Joyner emphasizes his point by discussing the impact Ronnie Lott had on the great San Francisco teams of the 1980s.

Writes Joyner: It may sound hard to believe given how bad Arizona's pass defense statistics were last year, but the metrics show that the addition of Peterson and an achievable turnaround by former Pro Bowl cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie could give the Cardinals a truly elite secondary.

Examining the most crucial event in the history of every team in the division.

A longtime Cincinnati Bengals assistant named Bill Walsh was having a hard time convincing NFL teams to hire him as a head coach.

The Bengals had promoted another assistant, Bill "Tiger" Johnson, when Paul Brown retired after the 1975 season. Walsh spent 1976 as offensive coordinator with the San Diego Chargers before leaving the NFL entirely for the best head-coaching job he could get. Years later, Walsh accused Brown of conspiring to keep him from advancing.

While Walsh was building a winner at Stanford, the sputtering San Francisco 49ers were running through four head coaches in less than two calendar years. Young owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. made Walsh the fifth in 1979.

"Caution should be exercised in proclaiming Bill Walsh the savior of the 49er franchise," Bay Area columnist Ed Jacoubowsky wrote at the time. "But the selection of Walsh as director of the club's football operations probably is the best step the young owner could have taken."

Probably? Let's make that a "definitely" in hindsight.

The organization would never be the same. Offensive football would never be the same. The balance of power in the league itself would shift for a decade, and then some. This was the most crucial event in 49ers history and more significant than any the team's current division rivals have experienced.

That message came through clearly at the SportsNation ballot box, where Walsh's hiring received significantly more votes than any other NFC West Flash Point among the more than 129,000 ballots cast across the division. The 49ers' Flash Points drew more than 44,000 votes, most in the NFC West, and Walsh's hiring commanded better than half of them.

"If the 49ers never hired Bill Walsh, they would not have changed the organizational structure of the team, how players are graded and drafted, how to prepare those players for the season and utilize them on the field of play," razzberry80 wrote. "Bill changed EVERYTHING. Joe Montana was the best, but without Bill Walsh, Joe is probably not drafted by the 49ers."

Another 49ers fan, servegmo, credited Walsh for drawing him in as a fan living in Costa Rica.

"He is the reason people from all over the world started watching football," servegmo wrote. "He put the 49ers in a position where they changed football as a whole -- the offseason preparation, the inclusion of black coaches, the practices, the West Coast offense, how he managed the draft (drafting the best players EVER at quarterback, wide receiver and safety). How many coaches can say that?"

The 49ers won three Super Bowls in 10 seasons under Walsh, who qualified as a football visionary in strategy, philosophy and personnel evaluation. Walsh became famous for scripting plays to separate in-game emotions from the decision-making process. His personnel moves and broader philosophy scripted more lasting success: five Super Bowls, including two won after Walsh retired from the sideline.

With full support from DeBartolo, who had learned from past mistakes, Walsh showed an exceptional eye for talent. Has any coach possessed a superior vision?

"When he drafted Ronnie Lott, he thought, 'He's a corner now, but he'll be a longtime All-Pro safety,'" former Walsh assistant and two-time NFL head coach Dennis Green said for this project. "When he drafted Roger Craig, he saw him as a fullback now, but a little small for the fullback we really needed, so we would draft a fullback and Craig would make the transition to running back.

"Bill did that sort of thing constantly when he thought players could fit in a certain way and be very unique players."

Walsh's hiring commanded 53 percent of votes cast for the 49ers' Flash Points, with "The Catch" ranking second at 37 percent. Of course, there never would have been such a signature play if Walsh hadn't put together a 1979 draft class featuring Montana in the third round and Dwight Clark in the 10th.

RAMS: Trent Green's injury pivotal

The Kurt Warner story might never have been told if the San Diego Chargers' Rodney Harrison hadn't knocked out Green with a severe knee injury during the 1999 preseason.

Fans voted that moment supreme with 49 percent of more than 28,000 votes. Only Mike Jones' Super Bowl-saving tackle against Kevin Dyson (36 percent) came close to challenging.

The comments section of the Rams-related item drew barely more than a dozen contributions, however. So much for exit polling.

"The ownership change [in 1972] precipitated everything that has happened to the Rams in 'modern' times," patdpenguin wrote. "The true answer to the question would be the ownership change, but as a lifelong fan, speaking with my heart, I would choose the Trent Green injury. Prior to that, the team had not proven anything, and was spinning its wheels."

SEAHAWKS: Paul Allen trumps all

The Seahawks were planning a move to Los Angeles during their darkest days of the 1990s, at one point even conducting free agency from an elementary school parking lot in Southern California.

Allen wasn't much of an NFL fan at the time, but he rallied to the cause of keeping the team in Seattle. Allen led a push to secure a new stadium, contributing $130 million of his own money in exchange for $300 million in public funding, as part of a deal to purchase the team.

Within a couple years, the team had landed Mike Holmgren as coach and general manager. Multiple division titles and the first Super Bowl in franchise history followed.

"I went with Allen buying the team," DiLune2 wrote. "It is hard to point to any one of those [other] moments as the one point where it all changed. They were part of a long, ugly slide. Allen buying the team, though, was the one point in time where you can look and say, 'It all changed right there.'"

CARDINALS: Beating Eagles to reach Super Bowl

Sixty-eight percent of more than 26,000 Cardinals voters pointed to the team's victory over Philadelphia in the NFC Championship Game. No option for any team drew a higher percentage.

The runner-up for the Cardinals -- securing a new stadium in 2006 -- lagged with only 16 percent. But some felt strongly it should have prevailed.

"Wow, this is a slam dunk," longtime blog contributor Leesters wrote. "The stadium changed this team overnight. It went from the least competitive financial situation in the league to one of the best, in one year. Free agents could be afforded, better coaches, better home-field advantage. If it wasn't for this stadium, there would be no NFC Championship win."

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

Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com NFL blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: Dream Scenario/Plan B.

Arizona Cardinals

Dream scenario: Having Texas A&M pass-rusher Von Miller available at No. 5 would qualify as a dream scenario based on what we know about Arizona this offseason. New defensive coordinator Ray Horton has vowed to turn the Cardinals into a more pressure-oriented team. The Cardinals have an obvious need to get more dynamic at outside linebacker to a degree that probably would not happen even if O'Brien Schofield and Will Davis emerged as factors.

Granted, the Cardinals need a quarterback more than they need anything else, but there's no sense to this point that Arizona would select one fifth in this draft. Coach Ken Whisenhunt has said he doesn't see a Sam Bradford or Matt Ryan type among the current college prospects. Personnel director Steve Keim has said that a team cannot have any reservations about a quarterback selected that early. Perhaps they are blowing smoke.

Plan B: Or, Whisenhunt might be right about not seeing a Bradford or Ryan in this draft. The Cardinals' need for a quarterback is great enough, however, for them to select one as Plan B should the pass-rusher scenario fall through. Let's assume Miller is off the board when Arizona chooses. Drafting receiver A.J. Green or cornerback Patrick Peterson would upgrade the roster, to be sure, but if a top pass-rusher were unavailable and Gabbert slipped unexpectedly, could Arizona really turn its back on a promising if imperfect passer?

San Francisco 49ers

Dream scenario: Having Miller or one of the top quarterbacks fall to the 49ers at No. 7 would surely tempt them, but that seems unrealistic even as a dream scenario.

A more realistic dream scenario would have the 49ers on the clock with a choice between top cornerbacks Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara. The team could then draft the one it likes best, filling an obvious need, or consider trading out of the selection if another team showed strong interest in moving up the board for, say, one of the top wideouts.

The 49ers' problems in pass coverage last season were team-related and not just corner-specific. The safety play wasn't exactly stellar. As ESPN Stats & Information notes, the 49ers allowed 66.7 percent completions, 18.2 yards per attempt and a 130.1 rating on passes thrown at least 15 yards downfield between the yard-line numbers -- right where top-coverage safeties are expected to make their mark. The league averages were 48.8 percent completions and 12.3 yards per attempt with a 79.9 rating.

But with cornerback Nate Clements' contract becoming untenable, there's no denying the team's need for a top corner. Adding one with the seventh overall choice would provide a needed talent upgrade in the secondary. And if Peterson eventually transitioned into becoming a top safety, as former 49ers cornerback Eric Davis suggested the case might be, the 49ers could use him there as well. Ronnie Lott made that transition famously as the eighth pick of the 1981 draft.

Plan B: It would probably entail seeking out one of the top pass-rushers after Miller. I've penciled in Robert Quinn as a possibility, but the 49ers would have to weigh risks. Quinn underwent surgery in 2007 to alleviate pressure caused by a benign tumor that remains in Quinn's brain and could affect his status.

St. Louis Rams

Dream scenario: Landing a playmaking wideout with the 14th overall selection stands as the dream scenario for the only NFC West organization that has found its long-term answer at quarterback. Conventional wisdom says there's no chance Green will be available this late, and most mock drafts seem to have Alabama receiver Julio Jones coming off the board before the 14th selection as well. The Rams can dream for the purposes of this exercise. Jones certainly would add promise to a receiving corps with quite a few injury-related question marks.

Quarterback Sam Bradford completed 59.1 percent of his passes to wide receivers last season, right at the league average. But he managed only 6.2 yards per attempt on those passes, well off the 7.8-yard NFL average. Arming Bradford with ample weapons, particularly on the outside, makes too much sense for the Rams to head in another direction unnecessarily.

Plan B: If one of the top two wideouts isn't available at No. 14, the Rams can feel good about building their depth along the defensive line. Coach Steve Spagnuolo wants to build a deep rotation of linemen along the lines of what he had when running the New York Giants' defense. While the Rams got more than expected from their defensive line last season -- Fred Robbins and James Hall were outstanding -- they could use an infusion of young talent. Auburn's Nick Fairley has the talent to go much higher than No. 14, but if he or even Illinois defensive tackle Corey Liuget were available, the Rams could do worse.

Seattle Seahawks

Dream scenario: General manager John Schneider came right out and said he hopes to move out of the 25th overall choice. Trading down generally would not qualify as a very exciting dream scenario, but the Seahawks need more selections. They lack a third-round choice and remain in what Schneider called the "infancy" of the building process. More picks, please.

Although Seattle obviously needs a quarterback, this draft does not appear to offer slam-dunk prospects at the position, and Seattle is selecting too late for a realistic shot at one of the top ones, anyway. Trading out of the spot would allow Seattle to gain the additional picks necessary to address multiple deficiencies. Remember, Schneider came to Seattle from Green Bay, where the Packers used more draft selections than any team in the league -- 51 -- over a five-year period beginning in 2005.

Plan B: Of course, lots of teams talk about trading down and acquiring additional selections. It's easier said than done, in some cases. Plan B could entail standing pat at No. 25 and selecting the best lineman available on either side of the ball. The Seahawks need building blocks. They selected high enough in 2010 to target elite prospects at left tackle (Russell Okung) and free safety (Earl Thomas). They're in position to take a less exciting approach this year, but they can strengthen their foundation.

Aaron Wilson of National Football Post says the Seahawks are holding a private workout with University of Washington quarterback Jake Locker. The team already has an outstanding feel for Locker. Most of Seattle's coaches and top personnel people attended Locker's recent pro day. Coach Pete Carroll and his former USC assistant, Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian, spoke at length during the pro day. Their relationship should help inform Carroll on Locker, a player Carroll already knows well from facing him in the Pac-10.

Doug Farrar of Sports Press Northwest has a hard time envisioning Ryan Mallett fitting in the Seahawks' offense. Farrar: "The 5.47 40-yard dash Mallett ran at his pro day is a concern to a degree, but it’s more about his extremely slow 10-yard splits – quarterbacks don’t generally run 40 yards in a straight line, but they are often asked to get outside the pocket and make shorter runs to stay alive and continue to make plays. Because of his height, Mallett takes too long to reset his body after moving in and out of the pocket, and quarterbacks have to have quicker reactions than ever before."

Adam Caplan of Foxsports.com says the Seahawks' contract with receiver Mike Williams is filled with incentives designed to protect the team. Earlier: Williams contract details. The Seahawks set up the deal so they could get out of it at any time without much complication. I was a little surprised Williams accepted it, but his willingness to do so showed he was serious about holding up his end.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com is sticking with LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson as his choice for the Cardinals at No. 5. Urban: "The idea Von Miller will be selected before the Cards pick is gaining steam (at this point, I also tend to believe it). The way things break down, QB Blaine Gabbert has been popular as a remaining candidate -- along with Patrick Peterson -- and guys like Mel Kiper and Todd McShay are saying the Cards will/should take Gabbert. I’ll stick with the idea of Peterson in such a scenario."

Also from Urban: Cardinals quarterbacks coach Chris Miller reflects on how pro days have changed since he entered the NFL in 1987. Urban: "After Miller finished at Oregon, he played in three postseason all-star games – the Blue-Grey, the Senior Bowl and the Hula Bowl. He attended that year’s version of the combine. Then he waited. There were no pre-draft visits to take, even though he was one of the elite quarterbacks (Miller was taken 12th, Vinny Testaverde went No. 1 while the Cards, picking sixth, took the infamous Kelly Stouffer). He didn’t go to the draft either. Instead, he had about 60 family and friends at a local spot in Oregon, getting up at 4:30 a.m. – the draft was on Saturday at 8 a.m. EST, or 5 a.m. on the West Coast. No prime-time event then."

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider has this to say about the 49ers' new radio commentator, Eric Davis: "Davis was greatly influenced by Ronnie Lott and kept Lott's spirit alive in the locker room with his work ethic and the seriousness with the way he went about his task. Davis will likely provide more insights on what it means and what it is like to be a player, something he relayed often in his work at Comcast Sportsnet."

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News recalls a couple classic calls from Davis' predecessor, Gary Plummer. Brown: "Plummer irritated the 49ers by admonishing receiver Michael Crabtree for his lackadaisical play. He said on the air that Crabtree ought to be benched for a Week 1 effort that included misplaying two balls into interceptions and drawing two penalty flags. Later in the season, Plummer openly questioned offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye's play-calling against the Raiders. Plummer wondered why the 49ers kept running the ball up the middle against a makeshift defensive line that was vulnerable on the edges. After Bill LaFleur shanked his final punt of a miserable 2003 season, Plummer blared: 'So long, Bill LaFleur. Get back to the sidelines, keep going and don't stop until you're on a plane.' "

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com checks in with Rams general manager Billy Devaney for thoughts as the team dives into staff meetings to discuss draft prospects. Devaney, coach Steve Spagnuolo, assistants and personnel people are meeting to discuss a different position each day. Devaney: "It’s kind of fun because everybody has their say. Nobody is dogmatic. I usually don’t say anything and Spags may voice an opinion a little bit here and there but we want coaches and scouts to have the freedom to express themselves without thinking, 'Oh God, the general manager or head coach doesn’t like this guy.' We want them to be absolutely comfortable giving their opinions on a player."

Gary Horowitz of the Statesman Journal catches up with Rams running back Steven Jackson, who attended an Oregon State practice recently while on business for Nike. Jackson addressed the team after practice. Jackson: "I'm not sure how long it's been since I've been on campus, but I did not know there was a weight room right there. These things that you guys have the privilege to have, understand that guys have laid the groundwork for that. And you guys will lay the groundwork for the next generation."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis is putting together a Hall of Fame career. Maiocco: "Writers from around the country vote for the All-Pro team. There are many of the same writers who also vote for the Hall of Fame, so it only stands to reason that Willis is taking some significant strides early in his career toward eventually being honored in Canton, Ohio. After all, the great Ronnie Lott made first-team All-Pro six times in his career -- and just once in his first five seasons in the league." Willis is definitely heading down a Hall of Fame path. It's reasonable to think he could perform at a similar level for another five or six seasons.

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Willis is the first player in 49ers history to earn All-Pro honors in each of his first four seasons. Branch: "Since 2004, Willis is one of just three Niners to earn All-Pro honors and one of two named to the first team. Running back Frank Gore was a second-team selection in 2006 and punter Andy Lee earned first-team honors in 2007 and was a second-team selection last year. The last Niners position player besides Willis to earn first-team All-Pro honors was linebacker Julian Peterson in 2003. Tight end Vernon Davis and defensive tackle Justin Smith were the only other players to earn All-Pro votes Monday after the Niners' 6-10 season."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee checks in with former Stanford defensive linemen for insights into Vic Fangio's coaching. Barrows: "(Sione) Fua said that when Fangio first arrived, he showed them films of NFL defenses he had coached, especially the Ravens defense. Fangio was a special assistant to Ravens coach John Harbaugh before joining Jim Harbaugh at Stanford in 2010."

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle says 49ers general manager Trent Baalke is in his element at the Senior Bowl. White: "Deep inside, Baalke will forever be a field-level scout, and has been since the day he made the career change from high school athletic director in North Dakota to regional scout with the Jets 14 years ago. Some scouts socialized and schmoozed at the South team's practice Monday. Not Baalke. He stood on the sideline, often alone, eyes fixed on a receiver getting around a jam at the line of scrimmage, a left tackle getting leverage on a pass rusher, a cornerback breaking up a seam pass."

Doug Farrar of Sportspress Northwest says the Seahawks can help themselves with the right evaluation at the Senior Bowl. Farrar: "Like Earl Thomas, left tackle Russell Okung proved the value of Seattle’s 2010 draft by providing key option that could be in place for years. But between Sean Locklear and Stacy Andrews, the right tackle spot is anything but defined, and Okung’s repeated ankle issues show an increased need for depth. There are several tackles in this senior draft class. So far, Wisconsin’s Game Carimi has been the most impressive. Carimi occasionally played too upright to be an effective pass blocker during his collegiate career, but work in that area has been evident. Colorado’s Nate Solder must transcend many technique issues, but there’s potential there. Derek Sherrod of Mississippi State and Anthony Constanzo of Boston College are also worth watching this week."

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks can learn from the Packers' and Steelers' Super Bowl runs. Brewer: "It's rare that a champion makes a trade for a Drew Brees. It's rare that a defense is so dominant that it can win with a Trent Dilfer merely managing the game. But it's not rare to draft a franchise quarterback, even when you don't have a top-10 pick. The Seahawks need to re-sign Matt Hasselbeck and use this draft to figure out a quarterback succession plan. It has worked amazingly for Green Bay, with Rodgers stepping in for future Hall of Famer Brett Favre."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune has this to say during a chat: "I don't think Donovan McNabb is an upgrade over Matt Hasselbeck. But I think a key will be money and years. How much money Hasselbek wants and how much security. I don't know if Seattle would be willing to sign Hasselbeck to a three-year, $30 million deal." That would be approaching the average Kurt Warner commanded after leading Arizona to the Super Bowl following the 2008 season.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune explains why he thinks Seattle needs to re-sign Hasselbeck. Boling: "If you end up letting him go, you’d better find a better alternative. Even if you like somebody in what appears to be an unimposing pool of free-agent talent, it might be months before you settle this critical issue. Meanwhile, there definitely will be a market for Hasselbeck, perhaps even among division brethren, who could quickly alter the competitive balance with a veteran quarterback. If you can sign him for a reasonable cost for a couple of years, you can draft a prospective replacement and let him be groomed by Hasselbeck."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Steelers' advancement to the Super Bowl further delays the Cardinals' search for a defensive coordinator. Somers: "Ken Whisenhunt is expecting to interview other candidates this week in Mobile, Ala., site of the Senior Bowl. He has declined to reveal their names. It is possible Whisenhunt could hire a coordinator before the Super Bowl, but that seems doubtful at this point. He admires Dick LeBeau and has wanted to use a similar defensive system in Arizona. It's been nearly three weeks since Whisenhunt fired coordinator Bill Davis, so replacing Davis quickly was not a priority. After firing his two previous coordinators, Whisenhunt knows he has to find the right person for the job this time. Four other teams -- the Titans, Raiders, Broncos and Eagles -- are searching for defensive coordinators."

Aaron Wilson of National Football Post says former Cardinals secondary coach Teryl Austin is the favorite to land the same job with the Ravens. Austin spent last season as defensive coordinator at the University of Florida.

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com looks ahead to the Rams' 2011 schedule. Wagoner: "Because of the NFL’s scheduling rotation, the Rams will play all members of the NFC East and AFC North Divisions in addition to the usual home and home series within the NFC West. Additionally, the Rams will meet their division doppelganger within the NFC for the North and South divisions. On paper, at least, it appears the Rams will face one of the league’s most daunting schedules in 2011. Of course, a lot changes from year to year so teams expected to be major challenges might struggle and teams expected to be ripe for the picking could be greatly improved."

Brian Stull of 101ESPN St. Louis says the Rams should consider adding Braylon Edwards during the offseason.

Boxing great Marvin Hagler once criticized Thomas Hearns for postponing their fight over a finger injury, suggesting a tougher man would have cut off the appendage before missing a $3 million payday.

Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott once had part of a finger removed so he could play in a game for the San Francisco 49ers.

I recall seeing Steve McNair shrug off a dislocated finger during a game. Anyone familiar with NFL Network programming has probably noticed Brian Baldinger's pinky, which looks more like a diagram for a post pattern (not a skinny post, either). And Rams fans have probably seen former receiver Torry Holt's mangled finger (a "trophy" he credited with helping him catch passes).

Where does Rams running back Steven Jackson stand on the finger pain spectrum? Jackson has told reporters he plans to play in Week 8 despite undergoing finger surgery Monday, according to Brian Stull of 101ESPN St. Louis.

RENTON, Wash. -- Notes and thoughts after attending Pete Carroll's news conference and dropping by the Seattle Seahawks' locker room Wednesday:

• A large group of reporters surrounded veteran safety Lawyer Milloy in the locker room to gauge his response to the NFL's punitive measures aimed at reducing helmet-on-helmet hits. Milloy spoke deliberately. He thinks the league is going too far and overlooking safety issues affecting defensive players. He said it's a shame the NFL is taking away big hits in the Ronnie Lott tradition. I passed along more expansive comments to ESPN.com colleague Jeffri Chadiha for a related piece.
• Carroll wasn't going to play up the angle that his defense would be facing an undrafted rookie quarterback when Arizona's Max Hall visits Qwest Field on Sunday. Carroll did express surprise when told that Kurt Warner had compared Hall to himself. Carroll also framed his praise for Hall in terms of the what the Cardinals have said about the quarterback. There isn't much to go on. Carroll: "He is a very savvy kid. They really believe in him and have talked so highly about his leadership qualities. He is mobile and quick and resourceful. They have made a lot of good decisions in recent years to win championships. They know what they are doing. They put their stock in him. They want to run the football, too, and he can certainly complement that with his movement and getting out of the pocket and all that kind of stuff."
• The Seahawks' passing game succeeded against the Chicago Bears' relatively straightforward defense. The Cardinals are much more aggressive and diverse on defense, creating different challenges and opportunities. Carroll on the Cardinals: "They are much more multiple. Chicago is much more of a fundamental, beat-you-up defense and they are great at it. This is a defense that will take more chances and scheme more and more looks and things like that."
• Aaron Curry was on the sideline more than usual during the Chicago game. Carroll said that was because the Bears threw so much and Curry wasn't always part of the various coverage packages. Carroll said he expects Curry to play more against Arizona.
• Carroll was vague on injuries. Brandon Mebane (calf) and Kelly Jennings (hamstring) will not practice Wednesday.
• Carroll said the Seahawks' current defensive approach mirrors what the San Francisco 49ers ran when Carroll was with them in the 1990s. "That was the last time we played this formula of defense," Carroll said. Carroll credited former 49ers assistant Bill McPherson for teaching finer points of the defense to him. McPherson was part of Bill Walsh's staff beginning in 1979. He retired from the 49ers in 1999.
• Carroll recalled Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt as a "good, solid player" for the New York Jets when Carroll was defensive coordinator for the team in the early 1990s. Carroll: "I told our players today in our meeting, 'Years ago I was sitting in a room with a bunch of guys and never in my wildest dreams would have thought one day I'd be coaching head-to-head against you in the NFL. I said, 'Which one of you guys is going to be the one?' I looked at the fellas and said I can't see it."

Some have asked why an earlier item promoting video included no video. Turns out there was an incorrect code entered into the inner workings of the item. I've been at Seahawks headquarters and away from the blog, but it's fixed now. Sorry for the confusion.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com passes along Ronnie Lott's thoughts regarding the speech Lott delivered to the Saints one day before New Orleans faced the 49ers. The Saints asked Lott to address their team about what it takes to win back-to-back championships. Lott: "So it is my responsibility to at least share some thoughts. A lot of that is, if you go back and look at that 1982 Super Bowl, 15 guys got in trouble because we didn't know how to handle a Super Bowl experience. Fifteen guys got in trouble because they didn't understand what it was like. ... I'm very confident and comfortable that whatever I did was for the right intentions of making sure I never fracture the game and I never fracture my relationship with the 49ers." The fact that Lott would see no conflict in addressing the Saints before their game against the 49ers shows players think differently than some fans think. I just don't see this as a big deal and Lott obviously did not, either. Lott will always be a 49er, and I've always thought he valued his legacy in San Francisco. Side note: I spent part of pregame warm-ups on the field speaking with another former NFC West great whose relationship with the current Saints regime is even stronger. Cortez Kennedy has worked for the Saints and he sometimes travels with the team. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis was with the Seahawks when Kennedy played for the team. They remain close.

Also from Maiocco: Frank Gore has played all but two offensive snaps this season.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Lott was "rooting [his] butt off" for the 49ers on Monday night, according to Lott.

Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers used their editorial input to remove KPIX's Dennis O'Donnell from their weekly interview show featuring coach Mike Singletary. That's no surprise after O'Donnell agitated Singletary with repeated questions about communication problems at Seattle in Week 1. Brown: "KPIX originally posted the interview on its web site but removed it when it became a minor sensation. Singletary on Tuesday acknowledged that he lost his cool during the interview. He vowed to be more measured in his responses."

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle says rookie NaVorro Bowman is the 49ers' only real option for replacing the injured Takeo Spikes.

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers' communication will face challenges at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 3. Alex Smith: "Yeah it will be another really good test for us," he said. "In the first three weeks, we'll be playing in the two, I think, of the two loudest outdoor stadiums. So yeah, it will be another good test for us as far as communication goes. I think it's something we've improved on but, you know, I think it's one of those things that you can never stop working on."

Also from Branch: Smith runs well for a quarterback.

More from Branch: Gore says rookie guard Mike Iupati improved markedly in his second regular-season game, allowing the 49ers to run inside effectively against the Saints.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says three of the Cardinals' five receivers in Week 2 were rookies. Somers: "All have had shaky moments early in their careers. Last week, (Stephen) Williams lined up wrong on the first play and dropped a pass. In Week 1, (Max) Komar lost a fumble at the Rams' 5. Roberts struggled to catch the ball in camp and hasn't seized the opportunity to become the team's main punt returner." Veteran receiver Steve Breaston and more recently Stephen Spach have also had problems lining up properly over the last couple seasons. They have incurred penalties. The Cardinals mixed up their personnel groupings in Week 2, sometimes using running back LaRod Stephens-Howling as a receiver. They used two tight ends and three wide receivers at times. They used three running backs and two tight ends. The changes were not very productive, though.

Also from Somers: Beanie Wells is eager to make his 2010 regular-season debut.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com checks in with Larry Fitzgerald regarding NFL teams' willingness to make changes. Fitzgerald: "This game is about winning. Whatever a coach feels is going to give his team the best chance to win, he’s going to do. The New York Giants, they are 0-2. We’re talking about a team that won the Super Bowl three seasons ago. And they are talking about that coach being on the hot seat – a perennial playoff football team. That shows you how fickle this league is. It don’t matter what you did two years ago. People just don’t care. What are you doing right now today? Are you having success with your quarterback play, that’s all that matters. In Tennessee, Vince Young, wins what, 10 of 11 down the stretch last year and he gets benched Week Two. That’s just how it is these days."

Also from Urban: The Cardinals are working to improve on third down.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams did make an offer to the Chargers for receiver Vincent Jackson. Thomas: "One of the sources also said that the hangup in Jackson going to the Rams was the trade terms with the Chargers. In any event, it became apparent Tuesday that the Rams had decided to pass on Jackson."

Also from Thomas: The Rams are 0-2 despite holding their first two opponents to 17 points or fewer.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Bradley Fletcher is getting lots of action at cornerback in what almost amounts to another rookie season for him. Coats: "It's no surprise that opposing offensive coordinators have been targeting Fletcher and trying to stay away from veteran cornerback Ron Bartell. Fletcher expects more of the same Sunday, when Washington and veteran quarterback Donovan McNabb visit the Edward Jones Dome."

Also from Coats: The Rams could seek an extension for selling tickets to avoid a local television blackout in Week 3.

Kathleen Nelson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams have added Laurent Robinson and Oshiomogho Atogwe to their injured list.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' coaches must be more creative in helping an undermanned roster. Miklasz: "In 18 games under (Steve) Spagnuolo and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, the Rams have scored 28 points -- with only one touchdown from scrimmage -- in the third quarter. That's an average 1.5 points per third quarter. It hasn't been so bad in the second quarter of the 18 games; the Rams have been outscored 127 to 91. But in the third quarter the Rams have been outscored 103-28. This perhaps explains why I'm of the opinion that the staff seems to be slow to adjust, adapt and counter the other team's strategy when reorganizing at halftime." Spagnuolo took over the team in 2009. The 2008 Rams averaged 9.6 points per game -- make that 2.2 now that I'm looking at the right stats -- in third quarters on their way to a 2-14 record.

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat says Rams rookie Mardy Gilyard wants more playing time on offense and the Rams might give it to him.

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com offers a few Rams-related notes. Wagoner: "The Rams added QB Thaddeus Lewis to the practice squad and he was back on the field Wednesday. Lewis was released to make room for CB Marquis Johnson last week. Because of the injuries up and down the roster, the Rams need every spot possible so carrying a third signal caller didn’t make sense."

Also from Wagoner: a look at James Laurinaitis' leadership skills.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says rookie safety Earl Thomas expects more action against the Chargers, a team that features its tight end in the passing game.

Also from Farnsworth: Colin Cole has anchored the Seahawks' strong run defense. Coach Pete Carroll: "He’s been very effective in the first couple of games and really given us good play. The style really suits his makeup. He’s very physical at the point, doesn’t get knocked around and also has good instincts to find the football." That last part has stood out. Cole has come off blocks and gotten near the football.

More from Farnsworth: Carroll and Lofa Tatupu are together again. Carroll: "When you’ve been with guys for some time, the depth and the reservoir of things that you have in your pocket really makes you versatile and can make you really strong and very adaptable. And that’s something you have to have in this league."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks think Deon Butler can stretch defenses. Carroll: "This is a guy honestly, I tell you, when we looked at him on film last year we thought, 'Boy, it's going to be a long ways to get him to be a factor for us.' ... We just didn't really know what we had because we hadn't been on the field with him. We saw the speed and the explosion and natural catching ability. He's just improved tremendously."

Also from O'Neil: Leroy Hill is out, again.

More from O'Neil: The Seahawks plan to introduce St. Louis Blues executive Peter McLoughlin as their new CEO at a news conference Thursday. McLoughlin is a Harvard graduate with vast experience brokering deals in the NHL and the corporate world (while with Anheuser-Busch and NBC Sports). The Seahawks have previously said they like their setup. That suggests McLoughlin will fit into the current structure without shaking things up too significantly. Outgoing CEO Tod Leiweke is a St. Louis native with strong hockey roots, and he played a leading role in identifying his successor. The Seahawks job has to be attractive for McLoughlin relative to his job with the Blues, an unprofitable team facing ownership uncertainty.

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com says Charlie Whitehurst has little trouble playing the role of Philip Rivers in Seattle practices.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says rookie Golden Tate feels in control of his own destiny. Tate: "The way I see it, being active or inactive is up to me,” he said. “It’s not up to somebody being injured or not playing well, it’s up to me to practice hard and do everything right, to show the coaches I deserve to be out there. How I practice these next days is what will determine whether I deserve it or not."

The latest in our periodic spin around the NFC West radio dials:

Rams

XTRA910 Phoenix: fullback Mike Karney
101ESPN St. Louis: receiver Mark Clayton
101ESPN St. Louis: Chris Miller on Sam Bradford
101ESPN St. Louis: Jim Kelly on Bradford
101ESPN St. Louis: Marshall Faulk on Bradford
101ESPN St. Louis: linebacker James Laurinaitis
101ESPN St. Louis: Rams executive Kevin Demoff
101ESPN St. Louis: Ron Wolfley on Bradford
101ESPN St. Louis: reporter Jim Thomas
XTRA910 Phoenix: Thomas
710ESPN Seattle: John Clayton Show with Thomas as guest

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49ers
KNBR680 San Francisco: left tackle Joe Staley
KNBR680 San Francisco: reporter Matt Maiocco
KNBR680 San Francisco: reporter Matt Barrows
KNBR680 San Francisco: Ronnie Lott
KNBR680 San Francisco: linebacker Manny Lawson
KNBR680 San Francisco: snapper Brian Jennings
KNBR680 San Francisco: coach Mike Singletary
950KJR Seattle: Gary Plummer

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Cardinals
XTRA910 Phoenix: coach Ken Whisenhunt
XTRA910 Phoenix: running back Tim Hightower
XTRA910 Phoenix: safety Adrian Wilson
KTAR620 Phoenix: receiver Stephen Williams
KTAR620 Phoenix: ex-quarterback Matt Leinart
KTAR620 Phoenix: line coach Russ Grimm
101ESPN St. Louis: reporter Kent Somers
101ESPN St. Louis: defensive end Calais Campbell
101ESPN St. Louis: president Michael Bidwill
azcardinals.com: Cardinals Underground
azcardinals.com: Whisenhunt (video)

---

Seahawks
KJR950 Seattle: nose tackle Colin Cole
KJR950 Seattle: safety Jordan Babineaux
KJR950 Seattle: former coach Jim Mora
KJR950 Seattle: Seahawks Round Table
KJR950 Seattle: Mike Holmgren
710ESPN Seattle: Matt Hasselbeck (partway through hour)
710ESPN Seattle: Huddle Show with Deion Branch, Lofa Tatupu, John Carlson

That should get us caught up, and help pass the time before kickoff. I'll be heading to the Edward Jones Dome shortly. Always nice to get there early.

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch likes the championship banners coach Steve Spagnuolo has displayed in honor of the Rams' past, but he also thinks it's time for the team to show significant improvement in the present. Burwell: "I believe that while this isn't necessarily the breakthrough year for the Rams, it has to be the year when we see strong evidence that this is finally an ascending team. They have a new franchise quarterback (Sam Bradford) to groom, two potential young offensive tackles (Jason Smith and Rodger Saffold) to transform into reliable anchors, a superstar running back on the mend (Steven Jackson) and a stable of unproven young wide receivers who will be given every opportunity to confirm the unsubstantiated support they've been given by the coaches and front office."

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams still have interest in Brian Westbrook and the team is "hopeful" it can sign him. Adding Westbrook would help lots on paper. The Rams would have addressed an area that needed addressing. Westbrook could be a good fit in a backup role because he would be less prone to injury. It's just tough to expect much from 30-year-old running backs. Westbrook turns 31 in September.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams expect Jackson to practice Saturday for the first time since back surgery. Also, the Rams are holding evening practices during this training camp in an effort to beat the heat and allow more fans to attend.

Also from Thomas: a chat transcript in which he says the Rams never made an offer to Terrell Owens.

Phil Barber of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat offers highlights from the 49ers' annual "State of the Franchise" gathering. Coach Mike Singletary called new offensive line coach Mike Solari "one of the finest coaches anywhere in America." Singletary also said the 49ers were as talented as any team.

Also from Barber: Fred Dean, John Henry Johnson, Ronnie Lott, Hugh McElhenny, Joe Montana, Joe Perry, Bob St. Clair, Dave Wilcox and Steve Young are expected to attend Jerry Rice's Hall of Fame induction.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers expect to have their draft choices signed in time for camp.

Also from Maiocco: The 49ers plan to sell seat licenses that never expire and can be transferred once the team's new stadium is finished.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee offers 49ers-related notes, noting that first-round choice Anthony Davis has been working out at the facility since organized team activities ended in June. Also, the 49ers think their new stadium will empty 50 percent faster than Candlestick Park following games.

Also from Barrows: a look at the 49ers' situation at safety and a reminder that Reggie Smith could be in the mix eventually. Barrows: "Because it takes a while to develop young safeties and because of the uncertainty among the 49ers' starting safeties -- starter Michael Lewis is 30 and his salary is creeping upward -- the 49ers very well may keep all of their young safeties on the 53-man roster this year, although (Curtis) Taylor still has practice-squad eligibility. Look for undrafted rookie Chris Maragos, who teamed with Mays to compose the third-team safety duo this spring, to be another practice-squad candidate."

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says improving the offensive line was the 49ers' top priority this offseason.

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle says there was less bluster from the 49ers at their annual gathering this year.

Scott Allen of Raising Zona checks in with Cardinals receiver Andre Roberts, who has this to say: "I do believe I have a great chance at being the number 3 or 4. I just need to learn my plays and gain the confidence of the quarterback and I believe I’ll be right there in the hunt."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic expects the Cardinals' Gerald Hayes and O'Brien Schofield to open training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

Also from Somers: The Cardinals released tackle Devin Tyler to make room on the roster for the newly signed Schofield.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com raises 10 questions heading into the Cardinals' training camp. The fourth question -- where will the pass rush come from? -- is one the Seahawks and Rams also might be asking. Urban: "The Cardinals piled up 42 sacks last season, their highest total in years and they did it by committee. Defensive linemen Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell tied for the team lead with seven. The idea in signing linebacker Joey Porter, who had 9.0 sacks for Miami, is that he can provide more of a dynamic pass rush than what the Cards were getting last season from Bertrand Berry or Chike Okeafor. Campbell, at end in a 3-4 look, should increase his total, and Dockett comes across like a man on a mission (and in search of a new contract). Even if Porter doesn’t revert to his stellar 2008 (17 sacks), he needs to be a difference-maker. The Cards also need help from some unknown factor, whether it is Cody Brown, Will Davis, Mark Washington or Stevie Baggs." It's reasonable to expect more from Porter than the Cardinals got from Berry and Okeafor last season.

Revenge of the Birds' Andrew602 checks in with Cardinals receiver Onrea Jones. Jones on what it takes to earn a roster spot: "Well I know one thing -- it's special teams -- to find the right spot on special teams. Mike Adams was big as a gunner last year on special teams. I kind of look up to him for that. Because he's been in the Super Bowl and he knows what he's doing. And that's one thing I've learned from Sean Morey also. I'm really concentrated on special teams, gunner, trying to get a spot on the kick off team, kick off return, any special teams I can get on, that's my ticket. Obviously you have to make plays as a wide receiver. I'm battling for a number 4 and 5 between me and Andre. Whoever gets that spot, he has to have a big role on special teams. As long as I can produce on special teams, I know I'll be alright."

Pro Football Weekly's NFC West preview singles out Laurent Robinson, Alex Smith, Justin Forsett and Ben Patrick as potential fantasy sleepers in 2010. On Forsett: "Although he is expected to battle Jones for touches in every game, Forsett has the kind of big-play ability (5.4 yards per carry in '09) as a runner, receiver and returner to develop into a surprisingly effective fantasy force. Forsett twice ran for 100 yards when Jones was out with injuries last season and could be increasingly effective both running and catching passes out of the backfield behind what figures to be a more stable offensive line." It's just tough to know how much playing time each Seattle running back will get this season. Leon Washington's status is one key variable.

The blog feels a bit like a radio station lately with several recent entries dedicated to audio.

Here's another one: San Francisco 49ers great Ronnie Lott on KNBR in San Francisco, paying tribute to former Oakland Raiders safety Jack Tatum, who died Tuesday.

A clearly emotional Lott credited Tatum for establishing a style and level of play for younger safeties to emulate. NFL.com has made available this video ranking Tatum as one of the most feared tacklers (Lott was fourth and that video is here, complete with the collision that cost him his pinkie finger).

The Arizona Cardinals' Adrian Wilson is the one current NFC West safety with some of the same characteristics in terms of physical play and hitting ability (hits on Vernon Davis and Trent Edwards come to mind).

My all-time list of big-hitting NFC West safeties -- those who played for teams currently aligned with the division -- would feature Lott, Wilson, Cardinals Hall of Famer Larry Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks' Kenny Easley. Chuck Cecil played only one season for the Cardinals, but he also deserves mention.

There have certainly been others. Who's missing?

There's more to playing the position than hitting, of course. Lott has pointed to his understanding of the game as his most important attribute. He touched on that aspect during the KNBR interview when recalling what made Tatum an excellent player. Delivering crushing hits frequently requires getting in position to make those hits, which requires understanding situations.

Lott and Tatum did that better than most.

Notable players: QB Joe Montana, QB Steve Young, WR Jerry Rice, WR John Taylor, RB Roger Craig, FB Tom Rathman, TE Brent Jones, G Guy McIntyre, FS Ronnie Lott, OLB Charles Haley, DE Pierce Holt, DE Kevin Fagan, OLB Keena Turner, LB Matt Millen.

Analysis: The San Francisco 49ers had multiple teams worthy of consideration as the best in franchise history. I'll take the one that outscored its opponents 126-26 during the postseason, including 55-10 over the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl. Denver led the NFL in scoring defense that season.

The 1989 team featured the 49ers' offense at the peak of its powers.

Joe Montana averaged 9.1 yards per attempt with 13 starts that season. The figure for three-game starter Steve Young -- 10.9 yards per attempt -- was even more ridiculous. Drew Brees set a career high at 8.5 yards per attempt last season. Tom Brady's average was 8.3 during his historic 2007 season. Dan Marino was at 9.0 in his 1984 career season. None could match the 49ers' top two quarterbacks during this special season.

This was the first 49ers team of the 1980s without Bill Walsh, but offensive coordinator Mike Holmgren was still there, as were nearly all of the team's iconic offensive players from the decade. Tight end Brent Jones emerged as a starter. Roger Craig topped 1,000 yards rushing. Fullback Tom Rathman caught 73 passes. Montana set a career high for passer rating at 112.1, completing 70.2 percent with 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Rice caught 17 touchdown passes while averaging 18.1 yards per reception.

The defense was typically overlooked except by those forced to play against it. John Elway completed only 10 of 26 passes for 108 yards and two interceptions against the 49ers in the Super Bowl.

"Their defense doesn't get enough credit," Broncos coach Dan Reeves said afterward. ''I can't say enough about them.''

Walsh later regretted retiring. This team made it easy to see why.

Most impressive win: Having already touched on the Super Bowl victory, let's focus on the victory that delivered the NFC West title to San Francisco that season. Montana passed for 458 yards, including 286 to receiver John Taylor, and the 49ers twice overcame 17-point deficits to edge the division-rival Rams, 30-27, on the road.

Transcending Walsh: This 49ers team became the only one in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls with different head coaches. The change from Walsh to George Seifert might have actually helped this team, at least for a season. The offensive-minded Walsh left the defensive-minded Seifert with a veteran offense trained to function at a high level without much big-picture help. Holmgren took the best of what Walsh taught him and made it even better with his own tweaking. In that sense, the 1989 team might have gotten the best of what Walsh and Holmgren had to offer. Montana was also at his best. He never enjoyed a finer season.

Honorable mention

1984: This was the team that knocked off Marino in the Super Bowl after the quarterback shredded defenses for a then-record 48 touchdown passes. This was a great 49ers team with a franchise-best 15-1 record, but the best group in 49ers history needed to include Rice, I thought. He arrived the next year.

1994: Proponents of this team will point to a defense featuring Deion Sanders, Rickey Jackson, Ken Norton, Merton Hanks, Eric Davis, Tim McDonald, Bryant Young and others. They'll point to Young's record six touchdown passes against the San Diego Chargers in the Super Bowl.

1948: Let's save some recognition for one of the early 49ers teams. This one outscored opponents by more than 17 points per game on its way to a 12-2 record. Frankie Albert put up modern-day numbers with 29 touchdown passes, 10 interceptions and a 102.9 rating.