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The San Francisco 49ers have gone for quality over quantity in trying to build a big, powerful offensive line.

The team has drafted seven offensive linemen since 2005, one below the NFL average. But the 49ers selected a league-high three of the seven in the first round and a league-high five of them in the first two rounds.

That jumped out right away when sizing up NFC West offensive linemen from the 2005-2010 draft classes for the latest "adventures in drafting" installment.

The Arizona Cardinals have taken a different approach, using a division-low one first-round selection for the offensive line since 2005. Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Oakland, San Diego, Tennessee, Dallas, Minnesota and the New York Giants have selected no first-round offensive linemen during that span.

The charts break out NFC West selections by general draft position, with a column showing how many starts each has made for his original team. I am using the term "not active" loosely to describe players who haven't been on rosters during the regular season recently.

Italics reveal what teams might have been thinking as they entered various stages of the draft.

We should find 10-year starters with Pro Bowl potential, most often at tackle ...

Every offensive lineman selected among the top 50 or so choices should contribute and hopefully start ...

The most athletic prospects are gone by now, but tough guys still have value ...

These guys have question marks, obvious limitations or both, but we'll still get some starts from them ...

Anyone seen the Seahawks or 49ers lately?

What are our numbers on the line again? Let's get another one here.

JaMarcus Russell's demise as an NFL player is back in the news, shining light upon the perils of investing millions in unproven prospects.

The 2007 NFL draft was about more than Russell, of course.

That draft also produced Calvin Johnson, Joe Thomas, Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis, Darrelle Revis and Lawrence Timmons among the top 15 choices.

For as much criticism as the Arizona Cardinals have taken for selecting tackle Levi Brown fifth overall, Brown has started 59 regular-season games, second only to Willis (63) among NFC West draft choices that year. He has also started six playoff games, including a Super Bowl, and coach Ken Whisenhunt expects good things from him.

I've put together a couple charts showing what NFC West teams have gotten from their draft choices that year. More on those in a bit.

First, I've taken a team-by-team look at the players selected, whether they remain with their original teams and how many games each has started for his drafted team.

The 49ers had the best draft among NFC West teams. They also had the most draft capital to work with, selecting twice in the first round. The Seattle Seahawks had no first-rounder that year thanks to the Deion Branch trade, so expectations were lower.

Arizona Cardinals

Total picks: five

Still with team (4): Brown (59), Steve Breaston (26), Ben Patrick (20), Alan Branch (3)

No longer with team (1): Buster Davis (0)

Comment: The Cardinals had fewer total selections than any team in the division. Hitting on Breaston in the fifth round was outstanding, but the Cardinals haven't gotten enough from their top three selections that year. Branch never panned out as a second-rounder. Davis, the third-rounder, didn't make it out of camp. Whisenhunt takes pride in making roster decisions with less regard for draft status. He wasn't going to give Davis or anyone a free pass. That's admirable, but in the bigger picture, Arizona still came up short in this draft.

San Francisco 49ers

Total picks: nine

Still with team (5): Willis (63), Joe Staley (50), Ray McDonald (9), Dashon Goldson (34), Tarell Brown (5)

No longer with team (4): Jason Hill (2), Jay Moore (0), Joe Cohen (0), Thomas Clayton (0)

Comment: Former general manager Scot McCloughan gets credit for selling former coach Mike Singletary on Willis as an elite prospect. That seems odd given Singletary's background as a Hall of Fame linebacker, but the 49ers got the right guy, so the "how" part matters less. That one selection makes this draft the best in the division for 2007. Staley is the starting left tackle. McDonald has been a solid rotation player. Goldson became a starter. All in all, this was a strong draft.

Seattle Seahawks

Total picks: eight

Still with team (2): Brandon Mebane (53), Will Herring (7)

No longer with team (6): Josh Wilson (24), Steve Vallos (8), Mansfield Wrotto (5), Courtney Taylor (4), Jordan Kent (1), Baraka Atkins (0)

Comment: Not having a first-round selection severely hurt this class' overall potential. Wilson seemed like a solid selection in the second round given the playmaking value he offered, but multiple changes in organizational leadership left him on the outside in terms of fit. Mebane was a solid choice in the third round. Vallos and Wrotto remain in the league elsewhere.

St. Louis Rams

Total picks: eight

Still with team (1): Clifton Ryan (27)

No longer with team (7): Adam Carriker (25), Brian Leonard (7), Jonathan Wade (6), Dustin Fry (0), Ken Shackleford (0), Keith Jackson (0), Derek Stanley (0)

Comment: This draft was a disaster for the Rams and made worse by massive organizational changes. On the bright side, the Rams might not have been in position to select Sam Bradford first overall in 2010 without selecting so many non-contributors in 2007.

Now, on to the charts. The first one takes a round-by-round look at the number of starts each team has gotten from its 2007 selections. I have used dashes instead of zeroes to show when teams did not have a selection in a specific round.

The second chart divides the number of starts by the values of the selections each team held, using the draft-value chart.

For example, the value chart said the Seahawks' picks that year were worth 669.2 points, far less than the picks for other NFC West teams were worth. Using this measure, Seattle got more bang for its buck if we valued all starts equally (and we should not value them all equally, but we can still use this as a general guide).

Some of the choices were compensatory and could not be traded, so the chart would not have valued them for trading purposes. I assigned values to them for this exercise, however, because we were not considering the picks for trading purposes.

Signing Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins away from New England has gone from unlikely to an even longer shot after the Patriots named Mankins their franchise player.

The NFL and NFL Players Association cannot agree upon whether the franchise tag even exists this offseason, but if it does, the tag will effectively take Mankins off the market.

It's unclear whether any NFC West team would make a strong push for Mankins given the expected price tag, but the thought had appeal for Seattle Seahawks fans still stinging over Steve Hutchinson's departure as a transition player following the 2005 season.

Floyd Womack, Chris Spencer, Rob Sims, Mike Wahle, Mansfield Wrotto, Steve Vallos, Mike Gibson, Ben Hamilton, Chester Pitts and Tyler Polumbus have started at left guard for Seattle since Hutchinson got away. Trading away Sims last offseason proved unfortunate once Alex Gibbs retired as line coach and Seattle stopped favoring smaller guards.

Tom Cable's hiring as offensive line coach puts Seattle in prime position to consider Oakland Raiders guard Robert Gallery, a projected free agent.

Receiver Ben Obomanu returned to the Seattle Seahawks' wild-card playoff game Saturday after suffering a dislocated shoulder.

If all goes to plan, Obomanu will return for at least three more seasons with the team.

Seattle has announced a three-year extension for Obomanu, who scored four touchdowns and averaged 16.5 yards per catch this season.

The team recently signed fellow receiver Mike Williams to a three-year extension. Both players have taken advantage of opportunities after Seattle released T.J. Houshmandzadeh and traded another veteran wideout, Deion Branch.

Obomanu is one of several seventh-round success stories among Seattle draft choices. Tight end Cameron Morrah (2009) made a key 39-yard reception against New Orleans. Justin Forsett (2008) has played extensively at running back. Several others over the past decade -- Dennis Norman, Josh Brown, Donnie Jones, Steve Vallos and Courtney Greene -- remain active elsewhere despite their last-round status.

Roster turnover is a leading topic for discussion in Seattle following the release of T.J. Houshmandzadeh in particular.

I've addressed the subject in depth across the division -- first May 26 and again July 30 -- and it's worth another look now that teams have reduced to 53 players for the regular season.

This time, I'm going to break down the changes by position, listing players no longer on the active roster at each main position group (with new players in parenthesis). Departures outnumber replacements because some players finished last season on injured reserve, meaning they were not part of the 53-man roster.

Some players no longer on the active roster remain with the team (they could be suspended, deemed physically unable to perform or part of the practice squad).

St. Louis Rams (34 off roster)

Defensive back: Eric Bassey, Quincy Butler, Danny Gorrer, Clinton Hart, Cordelius Parks, David Roach, Jonathan Wade (added Kevin Dockery, Jerome Murphy, Darian Stewart)

Defensive line: Victor Adeyanju, Adam Carriker, Leger Douzable, Leonard Little, LaJuan Ramsey, James Wyche (added Jermelle Cudjo, Fred Robbins, George Selvie, Eugene Sims)

Linebacker: K.C. Asiodu, Paris Lenon (added Na'il Diggs, Josh Hull)

Offensive line: Roger Allen, Alex Barron, Ryan McKee, Mark Setterstrom, Phillip Trautwein, Eric Young (added Renardo Foster, Hank Fraley, Rodger Saffold)

Quarterback: Kyle Boller, Marc Bulger, Keith Null, Mike Reilly (added Sam Bradford, A.J. Feeley, Thaddeus Lewis)

Running back: Samkon Gado, Chris Ogbonnaya (added Keith Toston)

Special teams: Ryan Neill

Tight end: Randy McMichael (added Mike Hoomanawanui, Fendi Onobun)

Wide receiver: Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, Brooks Foster, Jordan Kent, Ruvell Martin (added Mark Clayton, Dominique Curry, Mardy Gilyard)

---

Seattle Seahawks (33 off roster)

Defensive back: Jamar Adams, Deon Grant, Ken Lucas, Josh Wilson (added Kam Chancellor, Kennard Cox, Nate Ness, Earl Thomas, Walter Thurmond)

Defensive line: Lawrence Jackson, Patrick Kerney, Cory Redding, Nick Reed, Darryl Tapp, Craig Terrill (added Kentwan Balmer, Raheem Brock, Chris Clemons, Dexter Davis, Junior Siavii, E.J. Wilson)

Linebacker: Leroy Hill, Lance Laury, D.D. Lewis (added Matt McCoy; note that Hill is suspended for the first regular-season game)

Offensive line: Trevor Canfield, Brandon Frye, Walter Jones, Damion McIntosh, Rob Sims, Steve Vallos, Ray Willis, Mansfield Wrotto (added Stacy Andrews, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Ben Hamilton, Russell Okung, Chester Pitts, Tyler Polumbus)

Quarterback: Mike Teel, Seneca Wallace (added Charlie Whitehurst)

Running back: Justin Griffith, Louis Rankin, Tyler Roehl, Owen Schmitt (added Quinton Ganther, Michael Robinson, Leon Washington)

Special teams: Kevin Houser, Jeff Robinson (added Clint Gresham)

Tight end: John Owens (added Chris Baker, Anthony McCoy)

Wide receiver: Nate Burleson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh (added Golden Tate, Mike Williams)

---

Arizona Cardinals (24 off roster)

Defensive backs: Ralph Brown, Bryant McFadden, Antrel Rolle (added A.J. Jefferson, Trumaine McBride, Brandon McDonald, Kerry Rhodes)

Defensive line: Jason Banks (added Dan Williams)

Linebacker: Monty Beisel, Bertrand Berry, Cody Brown, Karlos Dansby, Gerald Hayes, Chike Okeafor, Pago Togafau (added Paris Lenon, Cyril Obiozor, Joey Porter, Daryl Washington; Hayes can return from the physically unable to perform list after six games)

Offensive line: Mike Gandy, Herman Johnson, Reggie Wells (added Alan Faneca, Rex Hadnot)

Quarterback: Matt Leinart, Brian St. Pierre, Kurt Warner (added Derek Anderson, Max Hall, John Skelton)

Running back: Justin Green, Dan Kreider (added Jerome Johnson)

Special teams: Neil Rackers (added Jay Feely)

Tight end: Anthony Becht (added Jim Dray)

Wide receiver: Anquan Boldin, Sean Morey, Jerheme Urban (added Andre Roberts, Stephen Williams)

---

San Francisco 49ers (24 off roster)

Defensive backs: Dre' Bly, Walt Harris, Marcus Hudson, Mark Roman (added Phillip Adams, Tramaine Brock, William James, Taylor Mays)

Defensive line: Kentwan Balmer, Derek Walker

Linebacker: Scott McKillop, Jeff Ulbrich, Matt Wilhelm (added NaVorro Bowman, Travis LaBoy)

Offensive line: Tony Pashos, Chris Patrick, Cody Wallace (added Alex Boone, Anthony Davis, Mike Iupati)

Quarterback: Nate Davis, Shaun Hill (added David Carr, Troy Smith)

Running back: Thomas Clayton, Glen Coffee, Brit Miller, Michael Robinson (added Anthony Dixon, Brian Westbrook)

Special teams: Shane Andrus, Ricky Schmitt

Wide receiver: Arnaz Battle, Isaac Bruce, Jason Hill, Brandon Jones (added Ted Ginn Jr., Kyle Williams, Dominique Zeigler)

---

The first chart shows how many players are back -- at least for now -- from Week 17 rosters and injured reserve lists. Seattle has the fewest number back with 26.

The second chart shows how many players each team has shed since Week 17 last season. This counts players who were on injured reserve. Teams with lots of players on injured reserve had more players to lose.

The San Francisco 49ers appeared mostly quiet Sunday, signing players to their practice squad while the rest of the division scrambled to rearrange 53-man rosters.

Among the confirmed moves in the NFC West to this point Sunday:

• The Arizona Cardinals waived cornerback Marshay Green, fullback Reagan Maui'a and linebacker Pago Togafau. Arizona received fullback/linebacker Jerome Johnson (New York Giants), defensive back Brandon McDonald (Cleveland Browns) and linebacker Cyril Obiozor (Green Bay Packers) off waivers. Arizona’s Chris Johnson, Alfonso Smith and Mark Washington reverted to injured reserve after clearing waivers. It's not clear whether they'll stay there. Teams often reach injury settlements with waived/injured players.
• Speaking of injury settlements, the St. Louis Rams reached one with offensive lineman Phil Trautwein, meaning he is no longer on injured reserve.
• The Seattle Seahawks released safety Kevin Ellison, center/guard Steve Vallos and guard/tackle Mansfield Wrotto. The Seahawks added off waivers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith (Packers) and defensive back Nate Ness (Miami Dolphins). Seattle acquired offensive lineman Stacy Andrews from Philadelphia. The Seahawks also tried to claim running back Kregg Lumpkin, released by the Packers, but Tampa Bay’s waiver claim prevailed. Seattle tried to claim tight end/linebacker/special-teamer Spencer Havner, also released by the Packers, but Detroit’s waiver claim prevailed.

By "confirmed" moves, I'm talking about ones either announced by the teams, confirmed by the teams, processed by the NFL office, or all of the above. As noted before lawn-maintenance obligations intervened, rosters remain quite fluid.

Three years is a long, long time in the NFL.

It was 2007 when Ken Whisenhunt joined an NFC West head coaching fraternity featuring Mike Holmgren, Mike Nolan and Scott Linehan. The landscape has changed dramatically since then, shifting further Tuesday when the Seattle Seahawks traded 2007 second-round draft choice Josh Wilson to Baltimore.

Wilson's departure leaves the Arizona Cardinals' Alan Branch as the only 2007 NFC West second-round choice still with his original team. The St. Louis Rams have only one player remaining from that draft class, fifth-round choice Clifton Ryan. That draft also featured Adam Carriker and Brian Leonard.

The San Francisco 49ers came away from that draft with Patrick Willis and Joe Staley. Jason Hill, Ray McDonald, Dashon Goldson and Tarell Brown also remain from that draft, making it easily the strongest 2007 class for an NFC West team.

The Cardinals still have Levi Brown, Branch, Steve Breaston and Ben Patrick. The Seahawks traded their 2007 first-rounder to New England for Deion Branch. They still have Brandon Mebane, Mansfield Wrotto, Will Herring and Steve Vallos from that class.

The chart takes a round-by-round look at how many 2007 NFC West draft choices remain with their original teams.

NFL teams have until Saturday to reduce their rosters to 53-man limits, with the 75-man deadline passing Tuesday.

I've been putting together roster breakdowns similar to this one for roughly 10 years. They're a quick read and worthwhile exercise because they require thinking through each position. The numbers in parentheses shows how many players the team has on its roster. The average number kept since 2003 reflects Week 1 counts by position.

In some cases I've used the "looking safe" category for players that could qualify as "keepers" (the term "locks" is one I used previously). The Seattle Seahawks remain somewhat unsettled at quite a few positions and they could be active in claiming players off waivers. Some players looking safe one day could become expendable quickly. The same could be said for some keepers.

Here's what I'm thinking Monday:

Quarterbacks (3)

Average number kept since 2003: 2.9

Keepers: Matt Hasselbeck, Charlie Whitehurst

Looking safe: J.P. Losman

Comment: Some teams keep only two quarterbacks when other positions demand special considerations. Seattle could have some interest in Matt Leinart if the Arizona Cardinals released him. I wouldn't expect the Seahawks to invest anything trade-wise, however.

Running backs (6)

Average number kept since 2003: 5.3

Keepers: Justin Forsett, Leon Washington, Julius Jones, Quinton Ganther

On the bubble: Owen Schmitt

Also: Louis Rankin

Comment: Schmitt isn't a top special-teams player and he isn't versatile enough to carry the ball. Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates says he has room for traditional fullbacks on his roster. We'll see if that's enough to spare Schmitt. I don't think the team would release Jones even though Forsett and Washington have sometimes looked better.

Wide receivers (9)

Average number kept since 2003: 5.3

Keepers: T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Deion Branch, Mike Williams, Golden Tate

Looking safe: Deon Butler

On the bubble: Ben Obomanu, Brandon Jones

Also: Ruvell Martin, Kole Heckendorf

Comment: Jones probably needs to make an impact over the next week, including during the final exhibition game, to prove he's worth a roster spot. Obomanu can play multiple positions, he's good on special teams and he's caught the ball when given chances. Jones has shown more during past regular seasons and he can also provide special-teams value. Butler's strong offseason should be enough. Houshmandzadeh seems to be gaining momentum following an injury-affected offseason.

Tight ends (5)

Average number kept since 2003: 3.1

Keepers: John Carlson, Chris Baker

On the bubble: Anthony McCoy, Cameron Morrah

Also: Nick Tow-Arnett

Comment: McCoy has dropped too many passes, but he's a draft choice and he also scored a touchdown during the preseason. It's possible the Seahawks could keep four tight ends. They'll use more double-tight personnel groupings this season, most likely. Carlson and Baker are clearly the top two. I'm not sure McCoy or Morrah would rank among the 53 best players overall.

Offensive linemen (15)

Average number kept since 2003: 8.9

Keepers: Russell Okung, Sean Locklear, Chris Spencer, Max Unger, Mansfield Wrotto, Mike Gibson, Ray Willis, Chester Pitts

Not sure what to think: Steve Vallos, Ben Hamilton

Also: Mitch Erickson, Jeff Byers, Joe Toledo, Gregg Peat, Jacob Phillips

Comment: This position is difficult to figure. The Seahawks expect Willis back at some point early in the season. If that holds true, the team wouldn't want to place him on injured reserve. Pitts falls into the keeper category if his knee holds up (reserve/PUP is not an option for him after Pitts passed a physical). Spencer and Unger can both play center, and Gibson could start at guard, making me wonder if there's a spot for Vallos. Hamilton entered camp as a starter. Line coach Alex Gibbs values him as a mentor for Okung. But with Gibson overtaking Hamilton recently and with Pitts getting medical clearance, Hamilton appears less valuable. Seattle might want to keep 10 while the injury situation settles out. Expect the Seahawks to check out the waiver wire, too.

Defensive line (15)

Average number kept since 2003: 9.6

Keepers: Chris Clemons, Brandon Mebane, Red Bryant, Colin Cole, Kevin Vickerson, Nick Reed, Kentwan Balmer, E.J. Wilson, Dexter Davis

Looking safe: Quinn Pitcock

On the bubble: Craig Terrill

Also: Ricky Foley, Rob Rose, Amon Gordon, Jonathan Lewis

Comment: Clemons suddenly rivals Okung as the non-quarterback Seattle could least afford to lose. This reflects Clemons' strong play during preseason and the lack of attractive alternatives. Pitcock's youth and third-round potential could give him an edge over Terrill, at least in my view. Terrill has fought through knee trouble to remain in the mix.

Linebackers (8)

Average number kept since 2003: 6.9

Keepers: Lofa Tatupu, Aaron Curry, David Hawthorne

Looking safe: Matt McCoy, Tyjuan Hagler, Will Herring

Also: Joe Pawelek

Comment: Leroy Hill will open the regular season on the reserve/suspended list. He'll join the keepers once eligible. Hill, Curry and Tatupu have never played a full game together during the 2009 regular season or the 2010 exhibition season.

Defensive backs (15)

Average number kept since 2003: 7.9

Keepers: Marcus Trufant, Earl Thomas, Josh Wilson, Lawyer Milloy, Walter Thurmond, Kam Chancellor

Looking safe: Kelly Jennings, Jordan Babineaux

On the bubble: Kevin Ellison, Jamar Adams, Roy Lewis

Also: Cordelius Parks, Kennard Cox, Josh Pinkard, Marcus Brown

Comment: Trufant's return to form stands out as one of the most welcome developments for Seattle this summer. Thomas upgrades the coverage and playmaking ability of the secondary. The more Milloy plays, the more he looks like an enforcer type. Thurmond's return from knee surgery qualifies as the most pleasant surprise for Seattle in the secondary. Jennings' durability could be a concern. Babineaux's versatility makes him valuable even though it's looking as though the team doesn't have significant long-term plans for him.

Specialists (4)

Average number kept since 2003: 3.1

Keepers: Olindo Mare, Jon Ryan, Clint Gresham

Also: Clint Stitser

Comment: Mare missed from 43 yards against Minnesota on a strange night for kickers in the NFC West. Joe Nedney and Shane Adrus missed for the San Francisco 49ers.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the Cardinals signed Joey Porter for more than his pass-rush abilities. Porter, meanwhile, feels an obligation to his legacy. Porter: "Pride is about my legacy. I don’t want to be a player that, when it is all done, they are like, 'You know, he was good for the first 10 or 12 years and then he just fell off.' When I leave the game, I want it to be on my terms. Where I don’t think I can play at the high level, so I decide to shut it down. Not where they decide I don’t have it no more and they cut me. Every day I come out here, pride plays a big role, because pride won’t allow me to play mediocre."

Also from Urban: sees more good things from free-agent receiver Stephen Williams. Urban: "Stephen Williams had another fine showing. He was open deep on one play although the ball by Matt Leinart was slightly underthrown, allowing CB Tru McBride to knock it away. Williams also caught a nice 42-yard bomb from Leinart in the back of the end zone during the two-minute drill that looked close to good."

More from Urban: Breaking down video forces players to be accountable.

Zach Buchanan of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals are gambling on Brandon Keith at right tackle.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals' Gerald Hayes has a chance to be ready for the regular-season opener. Coach Ken Whisenhunt: "I wouldn't rule it out, but I wouldn't say it's probable, either. I think the next couple weeks are going to be critical. Hopefully we'll have him."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com takes a player-by-player look at the 49ers' offense during the team's exhibition opener at Indianapolis. Maiocco on center David Baas: "Baas played very well at center. If he continues to improve, he will hold off Tony Wragge for the starting job to open the regular season. Moreover, he'll be in position to compete for playing time when Eric Heitmann returns from his broken leg."

Also from Maiocco: a player-by-player look at the 49ers' defense. On Taylor Mays: "Entered game after nine plays and wore the green dot on his helmet, signifying he was responsible for relaying the play calls to the defense. He was much better as a tackler than in coverage. Gave up a 16-yard catch to Jacob Tamme. But showed exceptional ability on one play when he was 10 yards off the line of scrimmage at the snap of the ball, closed quickly and tackled Brown for a 3-yard loss on a short third-down pass. He tried to disguise coverage in the second quarter, but did not get back in time to fulfill responsibility in two-deep coverage. But the deep pass for Taj Smith was not caught."

Phil Barber of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers are taking things slowly with newly signed running back Brian Westbrook.

Also from Barber: Receiver Ted Ginn Jr. continues to impress. Barber: "Alex Smith's best throw of the day may have been a strike to Ginn down the left sideline, right on target vs. CB Shawntae Spencer's coverage. Ginn made an even better catch later when he reached back to get Smith's throw with one hand. The starting QB was off-target on some passes, but finished with a flourish in simulated 2-minute drill. He completed it with a touchdown throw to WR Jason Hill."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee checks in with Westbrook and Frank Gore.

Also from Barrows: Ginn is more likely to contribute on kickoff returns than on punt returns.

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com says the Seahawks like what they've seen from rookie Dexter Davis. Johns: "Now three weeks and one preseason game into training camp, the Seahawks appear to have found a hidden gem. Davis, 23, had a sack and four quarterback hits in Saturday's 20-18 victory over Tennessee while continuing to flash the speed and athleticism that have been opening eyes since camp opened."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com takes a look at newly acquired defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer. Also, depth on the offensive line is diminished without Ray Willis. Farnsworth: "Without Willis, the No. 1 line remains the same with -- from left tackle to right -- Russell Okung, Ben Hamilton, Chris Spencer, Max Unger and Locklear. But Mansfield Wrotto is now at left tackle with the No. 2 line, where Willis was getting most of his work. In practice today, the rest of the No. 2 consisted of Steve Vallos at left guard, where Wrotto and Mike Gibson had been working; Jeff Byers at center, because Vallos was at guard; and a right side of guard Mitch Erickson and tackle Joe Toledo."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says rookie tight end Anthony McCoy continues to drop passes. I saw him drop at least three while attending Seattle practices.

Percy Allen of the Seattle Times says Balmer is getting a second chance to realize his potential.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune checks in with veteran Seahawks defensive tackle Craig Terrill, who was mistaken for musician Tom Petty during a recent practice.

Also from Boling: a look at where Willis' injury leaves the Seahawks' offensive line. Also: "Ben Obomanu has been a little bit of a forgotten man in the receivers corps with addition of Mike Williams, the drafting of Golden Tate and the return of Deion Branch. After Saturday’s two catches for 36 yards, Obomanu had another good practice Monday."

John Morgan of Field Gulls says the Seahawks picked up a talented player at a bargain price in acquiring Balmer, but there's no guarantee the team will come out ahead.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams had more fights in practice Tuesday than they had victories last season. Coach Steve Spagnuolo: "There is a fine line, no question. And I'm always harping on them that you can practice physical and aggressive and still take care of each other. Don't pull jerseys. Don't try to throw guys on the ground. We're getting there. But some guys haven't figured it out yet."

Also from Thomas: The Rams cut safety David Roach and signed Brett Johnson. Both are safeties.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Jordan Kent is trying to make his mark in Rams camp. Coats: "The 6-foot-4, 219-pound Kent appears to be firmly in the mix. He's displayed improved receiving skills, plus he has desirable versatility as a strong special-teams contributor and possibly as an emergency place-kicker."

Mike Holmgren wouldn't claim full responsibility for the 19 current Seattle players drafted by the team when he was Seahawks' coach.

His days in charge of personnel decisions ended after the 2002 season.

Current coach Pete Carroll does have control over personnel and his inaugural draft class infused the roster with nine rookies. Carroll now has more draft choices on the roster than Jim Mora, the coach for 2009 only. He's certainly gaining on Holmgren.

And when Walter Jones retires this week, the Seahawks will sever ties with the final player drafted when Dennis Erickson was head coach from 1994 to 1998.

The 19 players drafted during Holmgren's tenure: Justin Forsett, Kelly Jennings, Marcus Trufant, Josh Wilson, Owen Schmitt, Lofa Tatupu, Will Herring, Leroy Hill, Mansfield Wrotto, Steve Vallos, Ray Willis, Sean Locklear, Red Bryant, Ben Obomanu, John Carlson, Brandon Mebane, Craig Terrill, Lawrence Jackson and restricted free agent Chris Spencer.

Holmgren was coach in Green Bay when the Packers drafted another current Seattle player (Matt Hasselbeck).

Deon Butler, Mike Teel, Aaron Curry, Max Unger, Cameron Morrah and Nick Reed remain from the Seattle draft when Mora was coach. Butler's future with the team appears clouded by recent developments at receiver. I initially thought Carroll had praised Butler when I asked about the 2009 third-round choice during the draft, but Carroll thought I had asked about Deion Branch.

Danny O'Neil's item about the Seahawks not drafting a first-round tackle since 2000 sent me back through past Seattle drafts for a closer look at the offensive linemen.

The centers, guards and tackles Seattle drafted from 1994 through 1998 -- the Randy Mueller and Dennis Erickson years -- have combined to start 818 regular-season games. Three of the five long-time starters from that era left Seattle relatively quickly, opening spots on the line for future Seahawks draft choices. But the 15 offensive linemen Seattle has drafted since 1999 have combined to start only 460 regular-season games, 132 by Steve Hutchinson.

What to make of this disparity? A few things:

• Quite a few of the players drafted more recently aren't finished. They'll rack up lots more starts. Hutchinson, Sean Locklear, Chris Spencer, Rob Sims, Max Unger and possibly Steve Vallos could combine for hundreds of starts over the next five seasons.
• Four of the five primary starters drafted from 1994 to 1998 -- Kevin Mawae, Pete Kendall, Walter Jones and Todd Weiner -- were selected among the top 47 overall choices (27.5 on average). The five most promising active linemen from the more recent group -- Hutchinson, Locklear, Spencer, Sims and Unger -- were drafted 61st overall on average.
• Chris McIntosh, the 22nd player chosen in 2000, suffered a debilitating neck stinger early in his career. His early retirement was a freak occurrence costing the 1999-present group quite a few starts. McIntosh wasn't necessarily impressive early in his career, but it's reasonable to think he would have started for years and improved.
• It's important for Seattle to find another long-term starting tackle in this draft. Seattle holds the sixth overall choice, a slot once used to find Walter Jones. It's unrealistic to think Seattle could find a tackle of Jones' caliber with the sixth pick this year, but it's reasonable to expect any tackle taken that early to start a lot of games.

The charts rank these two groups of Seattle draft choices by most games started.

RENTON, Wash. -- Thoughts and observations following the Seattle Seahawks' first minicamp practice under new coach Pete Carroll:

• Offensive line coach Alex Gibbs is more, uh, aggressively vocal than past line coaches in Seattle. He had a lot of barking to do while players tried to meet his standards in a new scheme.
• This team needs a left tackle badly. We knew that, but seeing Ray Willis with the first team at left tackle drove home the point. Don't read too much into this first-team line, but the group consisted of the following players, left to right: Willis, Mike Gibson, Chris Spencer, Max Unger and Sean Locklear. The backup line I saw most frequently featured Anthony Davis (not the draft prospect from Rutgers, but a free agent participating on a tryout basis), Mitch Erickson (another tryout player), Steve Vallos, Mansfield Wrotto and free agent Terrence Metcalf. I also saw Wrotto at center.
• Carroll has preached competition throughout the roster and he's getting it at this camp. The team had 17 players participating on a tryout basis. That's more than I can remember seeing in any Seahawks camp.
• Receiver Mike Williams said he weighs 235 pounds and I believe him. He was pretty trim. His abs weren't sculpted, but they weren't flabby, either. He was winded while conducting an interview immediately following practice. Williams said the standard is higher for him because he played for Carroll at USC. He also blamed past problems in part on a bad attitude he had toward coaches. Williams looked decent to me, but the Seahawks don't have much to offer for comparison at the position. T.J. Houshmandzadeh was there, but he did not participate. No immediate word why.
• Recently arrested linebacker Leroy Hill did not attend. I'd take that as a sign of him keeping a low profile during a voluntary camp.
• Carroll plays hoops after hours on a regulation basket installed on the concrete outside the weight room.
• Carroll shakes hands with players after plays. I saw him do that with Matt Hasselbeck after a completed pass. I would expect Hasselbeck to practice with added purpose now that Charlie Whitehurst is onboard as competition and signed through 2011.
• Whitehurst appears quite lean and quick. His physique reminds me a little bit of Hasselbeck before he became more serious in the weight room. That could just be a body-type thing. These are first impressions, not lasting judgments.
• Linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. took special interest in second-year linebacker Aaron Curry. They walked off the field together, moving slowing and communicating the whole way. Norton could be a valuable resource for Curry and the other linebackers.
• Defensive linemen nearly trampled assistant secondary coach Kris Richard early in practice. Players were moving quickly between stations and Richard went to the grass. An alert lineman caught him and removed him from danger.
• Vallos and defensive lineman Lawrence Jackson tangled at one point.

Those were some initial thoughts. This camp runs through Thursday.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals have never re-signed a head coach since the franchise relocated to Arizona more than two decades ago. They are now talking with Ken Whisenhunt about an extension. Somers: "Negotiations to re-sign coaches often involve more issues than money, however. For instance, Whisenhunt has long desired an indoor practice facility at the team's headquarters in Tempe. Whisenhunt also might want a more significant voice in staffing decisions, including those employees directly supporting the coaching staff. Other potential parts of a contract include appearances before sponsors, radio and television obligations, and authority over personnel. Whisenhunt already has considerable influence in player-personnel issues, from free agency to the draft."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com doesn't expect NFL teams to throw around lots of bonus money when the new league year begins March 5, although rules governing the final eight teams in the playoffs aren't as restrictive as they might initially seem.

Also from Urban: Five plays that defined the Cardinals' 2009 season, including Anquan Boldin's 39-yard touchdown catch against the Vikings.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch thinks the NFL will approve Shahid Kahn as majority owner of the Rams. Miklasz: "I believe NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is a man of integrity. I would be absolutely shocked if Khan is treated less than fairly by the NFL or the owners. And if Khan's finances check out, he should be fine. (More on that later.) I would think the NFL would be proud to open the doors to its inner sanctum to Khan -- an ambitious, self-made man who represents the American dream."

Kevin McDermott of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch quotes Illinois football coach Ron Zook as calling Khan self-confident. McDermott: "How will that confidence translate at the Edward Jones Dome? People here who know Khan say to expect a hands-on approach, stopping somewhere short of meddlesome. He won't spend lavishly, except in instances where he sees it as necessary to achieve quality, a topic he is obsessive about. Fans who want flashy behavior and controversy will be disappointed. Players and staff will be able to talk to him."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Khan could enlist a limited partner or two. Thomas: "Not because he needs to, but because he wants to. Those who know Khan are confident he will have no problems in this setting and under this scrutiny. He was described to the Post-Dispatch by one league source as the type of person who 'won't run at the first sign of problems.' Barring any unforeseen obstacles, it's conceivable Khan could be approved as early as the May 24-26 owners meetings in Dallas. But if there is a hiccup or two, the approval process could spill over into the summer."

Howard Balzer of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat says the speed of the Rams' sale could hinge on the plans of minority owner Stan Kroenke. Balzer: "Kroenke owns 40 percent of the team and has 60 days from the time the sale agreement is signed and submitted to the league to make his intentions known. Kroenke could retain his 40-percent share, provided he feels good about his potential relationship with Khan. He could sell his 40 percent to Khan, who is prepared for that possibility. He could also elect to exercise his right of first refusal on the other 60 percent, but that appears unlikely because to do that he would have to either sell his NBA and NHL teams in Denver or convince the NFL to change its cross-ownership rules."

Jim Rodenbush of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat says the Rams hired Panthers assistant trainer Reggie Scott to replace Jim Anderson as head trainer in St. Louis.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee looks at Maryland's Bruce Campbell, among others, as potential offensive tackles the 49ers could consider in the draft. Maryland's strength coach compared Campbell to the 49ers' Vernon Davis in terms of raw athleticism. Barrows: "When I visited the Maryland campus last year for a story on Vernon Davis, I, of course, had to check in with Terps strength coach Dwight Galt. As predicted, Galt gushed about Davis' weight-room prowess. But he also mentioned he had another pupil in Davis' mold. That's Campbell, who like Davis is a muscular, freakish athlete who will put up eye-popping numbers in the weight room."

Also from Barrows: He expects the 49ers to use the franchise tag on nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin. That seems like a good way to hedge bets while teams face an uncertain labor future, particularly given the fact Franklin has not yet strung together multiple productive seasons.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat looks at the 49ers' specialists, noting Josh Morgan was highly productive in limited opportunities as a kick returner. Maiocco: "His 28.2-yard average on kickoffs would've ranked him third in the NFL if he'd had enough returns to qualify. (He had 13 returns.) But the 49ers do not want to have a starting receiver handling kickoffs. He'll be only an emergency option in 2010. Signed through 2011."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says Patrick Kerney, John Carlson, Will Herring, Olindo Mare, Deion Branch, Steve Vallos and Mansfield Wrotto will participate in the NFL Business Management Entrepreneurial Program via Harvard and Wharton business schools. More than 500 NFL players have participated over the years.

Also from Farnsworth: Snappers Pat MacDonald and Matt Overton could compete for the job Jeff Robinson filled in recent seasons. Farnsworth: "In 2007, the Seahawks used Derek Rackley and Boone Stutz with less-than-stellar results, before coaxing Robinson out of retirement for the final three games. In 2008, they spent a sixth-round draft choice on Tyler Schmitt, only to discover he had a degenerative back problem. Enter Robinson, again."

Brian McIntyre of scout.com takes a look at the Seahawks' specialists, calling punter Jon Ryan "arguably" the Seahawks' MVP last season. McIntyre: "The overall need for more team speed is evident in Seattle’s kick and punt coverage units, which ranked 19th (kick) and 30th (punt) in the NFL last season. Less than half of Ryan’s 88 punts were returnable, but those that were, went for an average of 11.1 yards per return."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks added punter Tom Malone to compete with Ryan this offseason.

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com says CFL pass-rusher Ricky Foley signed with the Seahawks after drawing interest from the Rams, Jets and Patriots. Johns: "It's reasonable to wonder where Foley might fit in, given the Seahawks already have smaller speed-rush type ends in Reed and Darryl Tapp, while also getting ready to try linebacker Aaron Curry in a similar role." This looks like a case of Seattle filling out its numbers toward an 80-man roster, hoping to find a developmental player.

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks' performance during a 34-7 defeat to the Texans should clear the way for a massive offseason overhaul. Brewer: "The transitioning Seahawks should have no confusion over how much chopping they'll need to do after they hire a new general manager. The whole tree can come down, if need be. Before this game, the Seahawks seemed in prime position to play well enough late in the season to shed some doubt over how much change they require. Not anymore. They're still closer to the team that lost seven of its first 10 games than the one that claimed consecutive victories before this shameful showing."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says Seahawks coach Jim Mora expressed frustration with center Chris Spencer, who participated in three botched snaps. Mora: "We've got a center that's trying to snap with his left hand, and has a cast on his right hand, which he's had on it seems like forever, which I'm not quite sure why he's still got a cast on his hand, but he does. And that is a factor. That is a big factor. You see it affecting on shotgun snaps. You saw it affecting a lot of our running plays today. The timing on offense has to be crisp. And when you can't get the snap to the quarterback, you've got no chance of having a successful play." Mora is either calling out the training staff or questioning Spencer's toughness -- or both. Sounds like a comment made in frustration.

Also from O'Neil: The Seahawks could not touch Andre Johnson or the Texans.

More from O'Neil: Linebacker Aaron Curry suffered a hip pointer. Receiver Nate Burleson injured an ankle.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says cornerback Marcus Trufant must not be full strength, according to Mora. Mora: "The years that I’ve known him, I don’t see him at 100 percent, top-end speed right now,” Mora said. “I don’t see that long speed that has made 'Tru' such a good player. It’s got to be a residual. He hasn’t lost it. I mean it didn’t go away. He’s the same guy. He works the same way. So it’s got to be something that’s triggering that."

Also from Williams: The offensive line has failed quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Mora: "I’m not happy with our offensive line. I’m not happy at all with them. And if we can make moves to make them better up there, we’re going to make them because it’s unacceptable for our quarterback to stand back there and get hit the way he’s getting hit."

More from Williams: The Seahawks "sleepwalked" through another road game.

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com thinks Steve Vallos could replace Chris Spencer at center for the Seahawks.

Seeing the Seahawks listed with the Bucs, Lions, Bills and Chiefs for having zero players among the leaders in Pro Bowl balloting affirmed the decline we have seen on the field.

The time is coming for the organization to acknowledge that the talent deficiencies aren't mostly a product of injuries.

Kevin Calabro of 710ESPN Seattle asked Tuesday where the team needs to begin its upgrade.

I pointed directly to the offensive line (answer begins 21 minutes into this audio file).

The Seahawks also need to think about finding their next quarterback. But fixing the offensive line is the surest way to restore a quarterback, develop a running game and take pressure off a defense.

Left tackle Walter Jones is either finished or nearing the end. It's time to draft the next long-term starter in that spot. It's time to decide whether to re-sign Chris Spencer at center. It's time to consider adding a veteran free agent with more staying power than the now-retired Mike Wahle. It's time to treat the offensive line the way management treated the receiver position last offseason: as priority No. 1.

Earlier: NFC West draft watch focusing on the big guys up front.