ESPN NFL

Five things I noticed while watching the St. Louis Rams' most recent game, a 13-12 road victory over the Cleveland Browns:

• The Rams' one playmaker at wideout. Brandon Lloyd's addition gives the Rams a receiver good enough to beat man coverage, even in compressed areas. Lloyd beat the Browns' Joe Haden for a 7-yard touchdown on a third-and-3. This was a passing situation, but the Rams tightened their formation and made Lloyd the only viable receiver. He was the only one they needed and the only one on the team able to make such a play regularly.
• Sacks aren't everything. Chris Long has five sacks in the Rams' last three games, leaving him one sack away from setting a career single-season high with nine. His run defense caught my attention in the second quarter. Long beat right tackle Tony Pashos to the inside and had a clear path to stop running back Chris Ogbonnaya. Pashos grabbed Long around the neck and held him. Long carried the 326-pound Pashos a few steps and made the tackle anyway.
• Inexcusable coverage lapse. The Rams led 10-6 with 23 second left in the half when they allowed a 52-yard reception to Greg Little down the middle of the field. The Rams rushed four. The Browns kept six players in for protection. A seventh, Ogbonnays, released parallel to the line of scrimmage. The Rams should have had six defenders against three vertical receivers. How can this happen? We might expect more errors such as this one given all the injuries at cornerback for St. Louis.
• Phil Taylor gave Rams' guards trouble. The Browns' rookie first-round draft choice showed up at key moments in the fourth quarter. He beat Rams right guard Harvey Dahl before delivering a frightening hit on Sam Bradford to force an incomplete pass. Then, with the Rams facing third-and-3 at the Cleveland 9 with 8:17 left, Taylor beat left guard Jacob Bell for a sack. Taylor looked like the type of player the Rams should target in the 2012 draft.
• Minimizing the fluky nature of defeat. Yes, the Rams needed the Browns to botch a 22-yard field goal in the final minutes. Cleveland was fortunate it came to that, in retrospect. The Browns fumbled two plays before the missed field goal. They muffed a handoff between McCoy and tight end Alex Smith, who had subbed into the game at fullback when an injury sidelined Owen Marecic. Rams fans critical of former coordinator Pat Shurmur would have had fresh material had the Rams messed up a handoff to the tight end under Shurmur's watch. The missed field-goal wound up overshadowing everything, but why handoff to a tight end?

I'm heading to the airport shortly for a late flight to San Francisco for the Cardinals-49ers game Sunday.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. breaks down the San Francisco 49ers' game against the Cleveland Browns from just about every angle in his Insider scouting report.

I followed up with him on the phone Friday for thoughts on matchups involving the two best players on the field Sunday: Browns left tackle Joe Thomas and 49ers defensive end Justin Smith. Williamson ranks Smith among the 10 best players in the NFL regardless of position. He ranks Thomas among the top 50.

Matt Williamson: Thomas is playing really well -- not as well as he has in the past, but he's in the conversation for best left tackle. He is a great left tackle without any weaknesses. There is no certain type of player Thomas does well against. He does well against everybody, but so does Justin Smith.

Mike Sando: What should we expect Sunday?

Matt Williamson: Smith is a better player than Thomas, a top 10 guy. But the 49ers' front looks like a 5-2 on early downs and Thomas will be blocking the outside linebacker, which is exactly what San Francisco wants. If the 49ers can get Ray McDonald and Smith on either one of the Browns' guards, they are going to torment them. This will not be like Dwight Freeney against Joe Thomas all game because Smith moves around.

Mike Sando: Sounds like this could be a quieter game for 49ers rookie outside linebacker Aldon Smith, assuming Smith winds up matched against Thomas a fair amount.

Matt Williamson: Thomas against any of their outside linebackers has a distinct advantage, and I like the 49ers' outside linebackers. Great left tackles rarely get beat. I could see this not being a big Aldon Smith game. The 49ers' speed should give Tony Pashos some problems at right tackle, though. Pashos is a heavier footed mauler type. He will do better against McDonald than any of the edge players there.

Mike Sando: What's your take on the game overall?

Matt Williamson: Cleveland's offense is so inept. I don't know that San Francisco is going to beat them 30-0, though. It's probably going to be closer even though San Francisco will control the whole game, most likely. Colt McCoy's yards per attempt are about the worst in the league (only Kerry Collins is worse in this category). The Browns have no vertical dimension to their offense.

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.

» NFC On the Radar: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A player, coach or issue that should be on your radar as training camp approaches.

A sore hip bothered Kurt Warner at Arizona Cardinals camp last summer. It wasn't a big deal.

Two summers ago, the Seattle Seahawks downplayed Matt Hasselbeck's bad back because they didn't know the full extent of the problem. That one turned out to be more serious than expected.

Having the right feel for each injury situation can be tough. I'm sure a surprise injury or two will become a story after NFC West teams report for training camps in late July.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis (knee), St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson (back), Arizona Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (knee) and Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu (pectoral) are among the high-profile NFC West players coming off surgery rehabs. Their situations will bear monitoring.

The following players ended last season on injured reserve (some are no longer with NFC West teams):

Arizona Cardinals

Matt Ware, Mike Gandy, Justin Green, Cody Brown

San Francisco 49ers

Tony Pashos, Ricky Schmitt, Thomas Clayton, Jeff Ulbrich, Walt Harris, Kentwan Balmer, Curtis Taylor

Seattle Seahawks

Tyler Roehl, Walter Jones, Kevin Houser, Brandon Frye, Tatupu, Mike Hass

St. Louis Rams

Marc Bulger, Adam Carriker, Oshiomogho Atogwe, Eric Bassey, C.J. Ah You, Brooks Foster, Gary Gibson, Jacob Bell, Daniel Fells, Chris Massey, Bradley Fletcher, Laurent Robinson, Keenan Burton

Bad teams tend to change coaches and overhaul their rosters.

It should come as little surprise, then, to see the Seattle Seahawks retain a league-low 66.1 percent of their players from last season. It should likewise make sense to see the NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings retain a league-high 94.4 percent over the same period.

But when the two-time defending NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals rank right behind Seattle and the Detroit Lions with a 70.2 percent retention rate, third-lowest in the league, we gain context for the magnitude of change in the desert. Anquan Boldin, Kurt Warner, Antrel Rolle, Karlos Dansby, Bryant McFadden, Mike Gandy, Chike Okeafor and Bertrand Berry combined to start 107 games for the Cardinals last season. All are gone.

Not that change is always bad, even for good teams.

The Indianapolis Colts (73.0 percent retained) and Philadelphia Eagles (74.6 percent) made quite a few changes this offseason. The Colts annually field one of the NFL's youngest teams while funneling massive amounts of cash toward their star players. The Eagles sought to get younger.

Rosters throughout the league will change significantly again as teams comply with 53-man limits in September.

The chart shows how many Week 17 starters, backups and players from injured reserve remain with their 2009 teams. The retention rate divides those totals by the sum of 53 plus all players who were on IR lists in Week 17. The starter totals can be somewhat misleading for teams that rested key players before the playoffs, but the retention rates apply equally. Every team had 53 players on its roster in Week 17.

In double-checking totals, I noticed that teams have parted with 107 of the 294 players listed on IR in Week 17. That works out to 63.6 percent retention for players who were on IR, compared to 82.1 percent retention for players who were on 53-man rosters. The total retention rate -- 79.4 percent -- reflects both sets of players.

The chart breaks down totals based on rosters I have updated through moves made Thursday. I also accounted for the Denver Broncos' reported release of quarterback Tom Brandstater, who was with the team in Week 17. I'm counting unsigned franchise players (Aubrayo Franklin) and unsigned restricted free agents as still being with their 2009 teams, based on the fact that their teams hold rights to them.

Update: I adjusted the San Diego Chargers' total and the Tampa Bay Bucs' total after accounting for trades involving Tim Dobbins and Byron Leftwich, respectively. San Diego dropped two spots. Tampa Bay dropped one spot. The overall retention rate fell slightly.

NFC West thoughts

San Francisco (.833): The 49ers like their team and they have been proactive in re-signing younger players. Continuity has been a top priority and that shows in the totals. The 49ers' retention rate fell because the team has not brought back five of the seven players it listed on IR in Week 17 (Thomas Clayton, Walt Harris, Tony Pashos, Ricky Schmitt and Jeff Ulbrich).

St. Louis (.773): It's a little surprising, on the surface, to see the rebuilding Rams rank second only to the 49ers in retention rate within the division. The Rams made massive overhauls last offseason, however, so there were fewer moves to make in recent months. Only the Lions and Baltimore Ravens brought back more players from IR, a total that could grow if Oshiomogho Atogwe re-signs. How well some of those players recover and hold up will be important for the Rams.

Arizona (.702): The turnover in Arizona has been documented thoroughly. Only Seattle has fewer players back from Week 17.

Seattle (.661): New coach plus new general manager plus a mandate for change leaves the Seahawks with only 39 players on their roster from Week 17 (counting those listed on IR). Every other team in the league has more. The league average is 49.4 players back.

Bad teams aren't the only ones churning their rosters during the offseason.

The defending NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals have parted with 15 of the 53 players on their Week 17 roster from last season. Only the rebuilding Seahawks have parted with more -- 16 -- among division teams this offseason. The Rams have parted with 11. The 49ers, seeking continuity as they try to build on an 8-8 season, have parted with only three.

The first chart shows how many Week 17 starters and backups have returned to each NFC West team.

The second chart shows how many Week 17 starters and backups have left each NFC West team.

I'll first list the players by team.

Seattle (16): receiver Nate Burleson, quarterback Seneca Wallace, linebacker Lance Laury, defensive end Cory Redding, guard Trevor Canfield, quarterback Mike Teel, tackle Damion McIntosh, linebacker D.D. Lewis, snapper Jeff Robinson, fullback Justin Griffith, cornerback Ken Lucas, safety Deon Grant, defensive end Darryl Tapp, guard Rob Sims, tight end John Owens and defensive end Patrick Kerney.

Arizona (15): linebacker Pago Togafau, safety Antrel Rolle, receiver Jerheme Urban, receiver Sean Morey, kicker Neil Rackers, linebacker Bertrand Berry, fullback Dan Kreider, cornerback Ralph Brown, quarterback Brian St. Pierre, defensive end Jason Banks, receiver Anquan Boldin, linebacker Karlos Dansby, quarterback Kurt Warner, cornerback Bryant McFadden and linebacker Chike Okeafor. Note that Rolle did not start in Week 17.

St. Louis (11): defensive tackle LaJuan Ramsey, cornerback Jonathan Wade, receiver Ruvell Martin, quarterback Mike Reilly, defensive end Leonard Little, safety Clinton Hart, snapper Ryan Neill, running back Samkon Gado, linebacker Paris Lenon, tackle Alex Barron and tight end Randy McMichael.

San Francisco (5): receiver Arnaz Battle, cornerback Marcus Hudson, quarterback Shaun Hill, safety Mark Roman and cornerback Dre Bly.

The third chart shows what happened to players who were on injured reserve in Week 17.

I'll first list by team the players who were on IR but are no longer with their teams.

San Francisco (5): tackle Tony Pashos, punter Ricky Schmitt, linebacker Jeff Ulbrich, cornerback Walt Harris and running back Thomas Clayton.

Seattle (4): running back Tyler Roehl, tackle Walter Jones, snapper Kevin Houser and tackle Brandon Frye.

St. Louis (3): quarterback Marc Bulger, defensive tackle Adam Carriker and safety Eric Bassey.

Arizona (2): tackle Mike Gandy and fullback Justin Green.

The St. Louis Rams were of course happy to select Alex Barron with the 19th overall choice of the 2005 NFL draft.

"He is a terrific left tackle; he has the athleticism to do that," then-coach Mike Martz said at the time. "He is as close to Orlando Pace without being Orlando Pace in terms of that type of natural athleticism."

Times change. Coaches change. Front offices change.

A change might do Barron good. The Rams' starting left tackle last season signed his one-year tender as a restricted free agent Friday, clearing the way for the Rams to trade him to Dallas for linebacker Bobby Carpenter (a player Cowboys owner Jerry Jones once expected to become a team leader).

The question for the Rams is whether having Barron for one more year would be better than taking a chance on Carpenter, the assumption being that the Rams would not retain Barron for the long term after using early draft choices for Jason Smith and Rodger Saffold. The Rams' offensive line would have better depth this season with the durable, if inconsistent, Barron still in the mix.

The chart lists Barron as one of several tackles leaving the NFC West after the 2009 season. Walter Jones, Mike Gandy and Barron stand out as the three starting-caliber players on the list (at least when Jones and Gandy were healthy). I included Tony Pashos and Brandon Frye even though they were veteran backups.

NFC West teams added tackles Russell Okung (Seattle), Anthony Davis (49ers) and Saffold (Rams) among the top 33 choices in the 2010 draft. Saffold could also play guard.

Barry Sims' one-year agreement with the 49ers, reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, gives them needed veteran depth at tackle heading into the draft.

The team already lost veteran tackle Tony Pashos, but Sims' status was more important in the short term, I thought, because he can swing between left and right tackle if needed.

There was no sense in the 49ers trying to sign another free-agent tackle from a weak list. Sims is 35 years old, but he played well enough last season to justify a roster spot, for sure.

The 49ers will presumably select a tackle early in the draft. Sims provides insurance.

» NFC Needs Revisited: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

» Draft Watch: Biggest needs (2/17) | Busts/gems (2/24) | Schemes, themes (3/3) | Recent history (3/10) | Needs revisited (3/17) | Under-the-radar needs (3/26) | History in that spot (3/31) | Draft approach (4/7) | Decision-makers (4/14) | Dream scenario/Plan B (4/21)

Each Wednesday leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: Biggest needs revisited.

Arizona Cardinals

Losing Karlos Dansby in free agency and not signing Larry Foote left the Cardinals with a need at inside linebacker even though Paris Lenon's addition helped some.

Safety could have been another concern, but the Cardinals acted quickly to replace Antrel Rolle with Kerry Rhodes. The Cardinals also protected themselves on the offensive line by adding guard Rex Hadnot and re-signing tackle Jeremy Bridges. Those moves bought some flexibility in the draft.

The Cardinals aren't picking early enough to seriously consider landing a franchise quarterback, although that could be a position of need even after the team signs a veteran to push Matt Leinart. Leinart's contract balloons in value in 2011.

Arizona still could stand to bolster its defensive line in the draft, particularly at nose tackle.

San Francisco 49ers

The opening weeks of free agency have only confirmed the 49ers' needs on the offensive line. It's important for the team to find a starting right tackle. A starter or at least quality depth at guard would also help.

Offensive tackle was a draft need even before Tony Pashos signed with Cleveland and Barry Sims scheduled a visit with the Redskins. Sims has had value as a swing tackle. Pashos provided more depth even though he was one-dimensional as a right tackle only

Cornerback remains an obvious position for the 49ers to target in the draft. They've relied on older veterans at the position in recent seasons. Nate Clements' long-term future with the team is in some question. The 49ers haven't addressed the position in free agency. The draft awaits.

Finally, the 49ers have been visiting with free-agent linebacker Akin Ayodele. Signing Ayodele would give the team welcome veteran depth at inside linebacker behind Patrick Willis and Takeo Spikes. That type of signing would address a potential draft need.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks' needs have become more obvious since the free-agent signing period opened. Deon Grant's release left Jordan Babineaux and Jamar Adams as the only safeties under contract. That's a position the Seahawks need to address, probably in the draft.

Existing needs included offensive tackle, guard, quarterback, defensive end and cornerback.

Seattle could sensibly address the need at guard by signing a veteran free agent such as Ben Hamilton, who has experience in line coach Alex Gibbs' system. The Seahawks' interest in Chargers backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst could lead to a trade that would address another need.

The team is different but not necessarily better at defensive end after sending Darryl Tapp to the Eagles for Chris Clemons and a 2010 fourth-round choice. Defensive end remains a need as Seattle tries to improve its pass rush.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams' draft scenarios came into clearer focus when the team signed A.J. Feeley as its No. 2 quarterback before adding defensive tackle Fred Robbins.

The moves set up the Rams to select a quarterback first overall if Sam Bradford appeals to them. Feeley could mentor Bradford while Robbins provided needed muscle on defense (the Rams would be bypassing defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy under this scenario).

The Rams haven't upgraded their front-line talent in free agency. Their core draft needs remain. Losing pass-rushers Leonard Little and/or James Hall in free agency would accentuate the immediate need for help in that area. The Saints might have interest in one or both.

Placing the lowest tender on restricted free agent Oshiomogho Atogwe showed the Rams could be willing to part with him. Losing him would create another need along with linebacker. The Rams have shown interest in veteran linebacker Na'il Diggs, but they need more young talent at the position and the draft could help.

Mike from Costa Mesa, Calif., writes: Sando, I don't think anyone who is not a long-time Cardinals fan realizes just how different the postseason is with Ken Whisenhunt at the helm. Even with all the losses of personnel, I am mostly sanguine about the fallout, confident that Whisenhunt knows what he is doing and that the team next year -- with the probable exception of the QB position -- will be an improvement on last year. I for one have NEVER felt this way about the Cardinals in the offseason, and it is literally mind-boggling to even contemplate. For the first time, when I think to myself 'typical Cardinals', that is an expressions of optimism rather than one of despair and resignation.

Mike Sando: I hear you on Whisenhunt. He's really sharp and capable. He does project the feeling he's in control and things will be OK. And I do think the organization has a shot to do good things over the long term. Whisenhunt does know what he is doing. That is why I won't read too much into it if the Cardinals struggle some in 2010, a transitional season at quarterback.

Whisenhunt has generally fielded a well-coached team despite working at a disadvantage from a resources standpoint (the other teams in the division have 20-plus coaches apiece, compared to 16 for Arizona). Your confidence in him is justified. It still takes players, though, and quarterbacks in particular. If the Cardinals drop off this season, Whisenhunt won't be the reason (on a side note, it's also easy to forget that Matt Leinart played pretty well and nearly won the one game he started last season, losing to the Titans only when Tennessee put together a 99-yard drive to end the game).

---

Jess from Idaho Falls, Idaho, writes: I am just wondering why you are such a critic toward the Niners. It is pretty easy to see that they are the frontrunner in the West and as far as signing Carr, it is a great move. He has never been protected and I think he has a shot at starting. All we need is to draft a good tackle and this team is set to win the division, hands down.

Mike Sando: The easy thing to do would be to anoint the 49ers based on Kurt Warner's retirement. I don't think it's that simple. The 49ers appear to have a good chance to win the division. But if the Cardinals are nervous about going into a season with Leinart at quarterback, how should the 49ers feel going into a season with Alex Smith and David Carr as their top options? A little skepticism is a good thing.

---

Stu from Los Angeles writes: Hey Mike, with so many pressing needs (secondary, WR, offensive line etc.), am I the only one thinking that the Seahawks are beginning to fall behind quickly in the free-agent market? Also, with all the focus on Brandon Marshall, have we lost sight of other important needs?

Mike Sando: I thought Seattle might be a little more aggressive in the market, for sure. But I also realize this is a horrible market because more than 200 players failed to become unrestricted free agents once rules governing an uncapped year changed the requirements. Pete Carroll wants to go young. The vast majority of available UFAs are in their 30s, with a large number 35 or older. Those guys are available for a reason in most cases.

---

Stan from Burlington, Vt., writes: Yo Sando, lifelong Niners fan from the Northeast. David Carr. How similar will Jimmy Raye's offensive system be to other systems he has run in the past? I personally love this move by the Niners as I am not sold on Alex Smith. I also have the pleasure of watching the Giants on a consistent basis. And I'll tell you what, the few snaps I've seen Carr take, I was impressed. He throws with a lot more zip and confidence than Smith. Love your work.

Mike Sando: Thanks, Stan. They 49ers' decision to sign David Carr at Shaun Hill's expense shows the team felt Hill had maxed out. I think the 49ers were right about that, too. The question is whether Carr makes them better. We know Carr makes them more talented. The tradeoff appealed to the 49ers.

Chris Palmer was the Texans' offensive coordinator when Carr broke into the league. Palmer had run-and-shoot roots with the Oilers teams of the early 1990s. He also has roots in the Bill Parcells coaching tree. I don't know how much overlap there would be between the offenses Carr has run and the one the 49ers are running under Jimmy Raye. That is something I'll find out. Off the top of my head, I do think there would be more similarities than if the 49ers were running, say, a West Coast-based offense (the offenses Palmer has installed were numbers-based, whereas West Coast systems are color-coded).

---

Brandon from Phoenix writes: Hey, Mike, really enjoy your work. You do a great job on the NFC West. Question for you. Where does Mel Kiper have the Cards going in the first round? I'm torn on either a defensive tackle or linebacker, depending on if we get Joey Porter and/or Larry Foote maybe. They do need a young defensive tackle, run stuffer, hole clogger for the 3-4. Is the LB depth strong enough to pass on taking one in the first round?

Mike Sando: Adding Porter and/or Foote would provide some flexibility heading into the draft. We covered ground on this subject recently when noting that Kiper had the Cardinals selecting linebacker Jerry Hughes. Kiper previously had Arizona selecting Tennessee nose tackle Dan Williams, but Williams wasn't available at No. 26 in Kiper's updated mock.

---

Jay from Mount Vernon, Wash., writes: Hey Mike, all the talk about changing the overtime rules seems to ignore an obvious point in my mind. Why not just play a 7-minute timed overtime period? I've never liked how overtime is so different from the end of the fourth quarter in a close game where the 2-minute drill is a huge factor. As it is, overtime is anti-climactic most of the time with teams taking the air out of the ball and playing for a field goal.

The frantic pace of the end game is one of the reasons the NFL is so great. Why doesn't anybody else think just an extra half-quarter for overtime is a good idea? P.S., just say NO to McNabb in Seattle. (And Clausen and Bradford for that matter). Build up the OL and DL!

Mike Sando: Interesting thought. Seven minutes would still be plenty of time for a team to take the air out of the ball and play for a field goal, though. I'm guessing most overtime games don't last that long.

---

Nils from Lincoln, Neb., writes: As I understand it, part of the complaint is that kicking off from the 30 means an average starting point of the 35, which means a short field to a field goal. Why not just move the kickoff spot back to the 35 or 40 in OT? You maintain the drama of sudden death, but you force the team to drive 65 yards to get a field goal.

Mike Sando: Indeed, overtime did become more predictable after the NFL moved kickoffs back to facilitate returns. Former San Francisco Chronicle reporter Ira Miller advocated this years ago and drove home the point in a recent note to Lowell Cohn. His case sounds compelling.

---

Trevor from Edmonds, Wash., writes: Hey Sando, thanks for reading. Wanted to know your thoughts on the Rams offering Oshiomogho Atogwe the lowest possible tender and what his options are going to be as a restricted free agent. I know his play tailed off a little last year, but this is still a young/playmaking safety. As a Seahawk fan whose team needs a young/playmaking safety and who has seen Atogwe play really well against Seattle in the past, it seems to make too much sense to use a low-round pick to go get him. Is there something I'm missing?

Mike Sando: You're correct about Atogwe playing well against Seattle. I thought he played very well at Qwest Field in the opener last season. The only thing you're missing right now is the fact that the Rams could match any offer Seattle made. The Rams will have to up their offer to nearly $7 million if they want to retain Atogwe's rights past June 1. Perhaps the Rams work out a trade before then. Perhaps teams with interest in Atogwe will wait to see if the Rams let him go.

---

Michael from Los Angeles writes: Hey Sando, if the Cardinals were going to draft an outside linebacker as many analysts think, what are the chances, if any, we pick up Taylor Mays if he falls to us? He has ridiculous speed and is big enough to be a linebacker, and as a USC student, I have come to realize he isn't a great safety, just a great athlete. Give me some hope.

Mike Sando: I can't endorse that sort of move. It's just far too risky using an early choice for a safety and then trying to convert him to linebacker. Seattle tried something similar with Michael Boulware, a very talented athlete, and it just never worked. Boulware was a college linebacker. The Seahawks moved him to safety. Boulware showed promise as a nickel linebacker early in his career. He just never became a consistent, confident safety.

---

Rich from San Francisco writes: Hey Mike, love the blog (it's gotten me back to regularly checking espn.com). Anyway, there's been a lot of talk about the Niners having to improve their line, and I agree that we need to upgrade, especially at right tackle. But Barry Sims filled in admirably for Joe Staley last season and Tony Pashos was a solid run blocker. Pashos is gone, and Sims remains unsigned. If the line is such a priority, why aren't the niners focusing on getting some of their more reliable blockers back? Personally, I would feel a lot better about our chances next season with Sims on the roster. He's a great backup and could provide our new rookie a safety net. What do you think?

Mike Sando: Barry Sims had to be a very pleasant surprise for the 49ers last season. He stayed healthier and that made a big difference. I would agree that the 49ers would be better bringing him back as insurance. Tony Pashos was pretty one-dimensional because he couldn't easily swing from right to left tackle. Joe Staley said he really valued what Pashos brought to the team. I respect that, but never did I get the sense that Pashos would have been a solid option if left on the field for long stretches. That was just my feel. The 49ers should be able to upgrade their talent on the line through the draft. They are also thrilled to have Mike Solari coaching the line -- not only for what he brings to the position, but also for his background with Raye in Kansas City.

---

Tim from Springfield, Mo., writes: So, with Brady Quinn possibly on the trading block, what are the possibilities of trading Marc Bulger for him? He's still a young QB that could learn from A.J. Feeley, but with NFL experience that could potentially get started right away.

Mike Sando: Bulger's salary makes him virtually impossible to trade because the acquiring team would assume his $8.5 million salary. Bulger would have to be willing to reduce that number. He would probably be better off declining such a request, at which point the Rams would likely release him, allowing Bulger to pursue work on his terms, should he decide to keep playing.

---

Scott from Bremerton, Wash., writes: Sando, doesn't trading Seneca Wallace when we are in the midst of trying to shore up our receiving corps seem like a gross misappropriation of resources? If you are so willing to pull the plug on Seneca and ship him off, why wouldn't you first try to put him on the field as a playmaker? Seneca has had some success catching passes, and has always been talked about as a special-teams candidate to return kicks. Why not keep him and utilize him in that role? His salary is tiny, and a conditional seventh-rounder seems like almost 0 compensation.

Mike Sando: I will agree that the compensation is almost the same as releasing him. Wallace was a good receiver and returner -- for a quarterback. Would he have become good at those things relative to players who have filled those roles on a full-time basis for years? Hard to say. Wallace is definitely athletic enough.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams should draft Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford. Miklasz: "Bradford has accuracy, he's a winner, he scored high on the intelligence test and by all accounts is a high-character individual. If his shoulder is good to go -- and every indication is that it will be -- then he's worthy of the top pick. Especially for a team that does not have a quarterback. And before anyone has another anxiety attack, let me add this: Yes, the Rams need receivers and a better offensive line. I know that. I also know it would be silly to hurl an overexposed Bradford into a shark tank. The wiser approach would be to gradually ease him in. But the Rams wouldn't be drafting Bradford with 2010 in mind; we're talking about a long-term franchise piece here. This is about the big picture. And it's another reason you keep Steven Jackson; a strong running game will help protect a kid quarterback."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams re-signed tight end Daniel Fells after declining to tender him as a restricted free agent.

Also from Thomas: "If Bradford checks out medically, and throws the heck out of the ball during his pro day in Norman, Okla. on March 25, it makes all the sense in the world to draft him at No. 1 overall. And I write this as a guy who absolutely loves what Ndamukong Suh can do on the football field."

Howard Balzer of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat offers Rams-related thoughts, including this one: "The debate over whether the Rams should select quarterback Sam Bradford or defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh will rage over the next six weeks, but let’s spare the hyperbole that claims Suh is a once-in-a-generation player and that he is a sure thing. There are no sure things in projecting college players to the NFL, and the reality is that high-picked defensive tackles have just as bad or even worse a track record in the NFL than quarterbacks."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times sizes up the Seahawks' quarterback situation after Seneca Wallace's trade to the Browns. O'Neil: "Seattle is in the midst of its first significant shake-up in the pocket since 2005, when backup Trent Dilfer was traded to Cleveland. For the past five years, Matt Hasselbeck and Wallace have been the top two rungs in Seattle's quarterback hierarchy."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says Pete Carroll, John Schneider and a full cast of Seahawks personnel people attended the University of Washington pro day. Farnsworth: "The Seahawks are the local NFL team and there is that connection between Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian, who left USC for the UW last year, and Carroll, who left USC for the Seahawks this year.

Adam Schefter of ESPN says former Seahawks and Cardinals receiver Jerheme Urban has signed with the Chiefs, reuniting Urban with former Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals' haven't committed to Matt Leinart as their starter. He lists Derek Anderson, Marc Bulger, Charlie Whitehurst, Jake Delhomme and Brian St. Pierre as possible competitors for the job. Somers on Bulger: "He's still on the Rams' roster but they are expected to release him, probably after the draft. The timing is tricky for the Cardinals, who would miss out on some other candidates by waiting. Bulger has a lot of experience and is a good guy who wouldn't cause problems in the locker room. But he has taken a pounding over the past few years." There were rumblings during the season that Bulger might retire, but we haven't heard much on that front recently. If Bulger did decide to stop playing, he would be best off to wait until the Rams release him. Otherwise, he might have to pay back bonus money.

Also from Somers: Anthony Becht re-signs, while Larry Foote and Joey Porter are visiting this week.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Arizona should be pretty much set at tight end after re-signing Anthony Becht and Stephen Spach.

Also from Urban: Adrian Wilson doesn't think the Giants have the best safety tandem in the league, apparently.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers might have only casual interest in running backs Leon Washington and Justin Fargas.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says 49ers coach Mike Singletary is taking an active role in scouting. Meanwhile, the Redskins are showing some interest in swing tackle Barry Sims. Maiocco: "The Redskins, who brought in offensive tackle Tony Pashos for a free-agent visit last week, are showing interest in unrestricted free agent Barry Sims. Pashos signed with the Browns, while Sims remains a free agent. The Redskins' offensive line coach is Chris Foerster, who held the same job with the 49ers last year. Sims does not appear to be in a hurry to sign. He's just waiting to see where his best opportunity emerges. The 49ers have expressed an interest in bringing him back -- at the right price.

The moves teams make in free agency can be predictable based on personal connections.

• The Cardinals hired Donnie Henderson to coach their secondary. When Antrel Rolle signed with the Giants, the Cardinals quickly acquired Kerry Rhodes from the Jets. Who was the Jets' defensive coordinator when the team drafted Rhodes in 2005? Henderson.
• The Rams hired Pat Shurmur as their offensive coordinator before last season. When the Rams sought a veteran quarterback this offseason, the team signed A.J. Feeley. Who was the Eagles' quarterbacks coach when Feeley was a backup in Philadelphia? Shurmur.
• The 49ers watched free agent Arnaz Battle leave in recent days. Battle joined recently fired 49ers special-teams coach Al Everest with the Steelers.
• The Seahawks spent Saturday visiting with Broncos restricted free agent Brandon Marshall. Their new offensive coordinator, Jeremy Bates, coached Marshall previously in Denver.

So many of these moves are somewhat predictable if we pay close enough attention to the connections. St. Louis made another reconnection Monday when they signed defensive tackle Fred Robbins, who played for Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo when both were with the Giants. The Cardinals reportedly have interest in linebackers Joey Porter and Larry Foote, who played for the Steelers when Arizona's Ken Whisenhunt was a coach for Pittsburgh. On and on it goes.

It makes sense for teams to seek players they know will fit their systems. I also think teams can value familiarity too much. Sometimes it's easier for a coach to plug in a known part than to put in the work needed to develop a younger or more talented player.

Niners backup right tackle Tony Pashos left the Redskins without a contract and was headed for Cleveland, ESPN's John Clayton is reporting.

I think the 49ers, like most teams, would prefer a swing tackle over a player limited to the right side only.

Also Saturday, the 49ers met with free-agent quarterback David Carr, but they did not make him available to reporters, as had been planned. Carr and the 49ers did not immediately strike a contract agreement, Matt Barrows notes, and the Browns also have interest, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The Cardinals also have had interest in Carr.

The Browns also have interest in Seahawks backup Seneca Wallace. More on that in a bit.

Arizona Cardinals

Unrestricted free agents: TE Anthony Becht, LB Monty Beisel, LB Bertrand Berry (retired), LT Jeremy Bridges, CB Ralph Brown, LB Karlos Dansby, LT Mike Gandy, FB Dan Kreider, WR Sean Morey, LB Chike Okeafor, K Neil Rackers, NT Bryan Robinson, QB Brian St. Pierre, S Matt Ware.

Restricted free agents: SS Hamza Abdullah, WR Steve Breaston, G Ben Claxton, FB Justin Green, LG Deuce Lutui, TE Ben Patrick, C Lyle Sendlein, TE Stephen Spach, WR Jerheme Urban, NT Gabe Watson.

Franchise player: none

What to expect: The Cardinals generally do not pursue marquee free agents from other teams. That trend figures to continue. The Cardinals have too many of their own free agents to re-sign for them to worry about chasing other teams' castoffs. We might see Arizona plug the roster with a few lower-tier free agents. They had success doing that last offseason, particularly with Becht at tight end. Dansby leads the list of 2009 starters expected to depart. Arizona is reportedly interested in quarterback David Carr.

St. Louis Rams

Unrestricted free agents: QB Kyle Boller, DE James Hall, SS Clinton Hart, LB Paris Lenon, DE Leonard Little, LS Chris Massey, TE Randy McMichael.

Restricted free agents: S Eric Bassey, S Craig Dahl, TE Daniel Fells, LS Ryan Neill, DT Clifton Ryan, CB Jonathan Wade, DE Victory Adeyanju, FS Oshiomogho Atogwe, T Alex Barron, RB Sam Gado, DT Gary Gibson, WR Ruvell Martin, G Mark Setterstrom.

Franchise player: none

What to expect: The Rams could be in the market for a veteran quarterback such as Chad Pennington. Beyond quarterback, coach Steve Spagnuolo said the Rams could use a little more seasoning in the form of veteran role players. The Rams will remain a young team, but they could add some experience. The team parted with players fitting that profile last offseason, but most had inflated salaries. The ones St. Louis adds this year figure to carry lower price tags in most cases. The Rams have said they want Little and Hall back. McMichael figures to be gone.

Seattle Seahawks

Unrestricted free agents: WR Nate Burleson, FB Justin Griffith, LS Kevin Houser, LB D.D. Lewis, CB Ken Lucas, T Damion McIntosh, S Lawyer Milloy, DE Cory Redding, LS Jeff Robinson.

Restricted free agents: T Brandon Frye, WR Ben Obomanu, LB Lance Laury, G Rob Sims, G Chris Spencer, DE Darryl Tapp.

Franchise player: K Olindo Mare

What to expect: The Seahawks are a little difficult to figure. Their owner has the money to bankroll aggressive spending if Seattle chooses to go that route. Coach Pete Carroll surely realizes the team could use talent upgrades. The new general manager, John Schneider, comes from the Ted Thompson school of personnel. Thompson's aversion for free agency is well established, although Schneider has characterized himself as slightly more aggressive. The problem, of course, is finding good players on the market. Burleson will hit the market. He could return if the price is right. Carroll has said nice things about Redding, who should be affordable.

San Francisco 49ers

Unrestricted free agents: WR Arnaz Battle, CB Dre Bly, CB Walt Harris, T Tony Pashos, FS Mark Roman, T Barry Sims, LB Jeff Ulbrich (retired), LB Matt Wilhelm.

Restricted free agents: LG David Baas, LB Ahmad Brooks, CB Marcus Hudson.

Franchise player: NT Aubrayo Franklin

What to expect: The 49ers have largely turned their back on free agency now that they feel better about their roster. I would expect the team to lay low again when the signing period begins late Thursday night on the West Coast.

» AFC Free Agency: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

An early look at the free-agent situation in the NFC West.

Note: These projected lists reflect notable unrestricted free agents for each team. The NFL will not issue an official list of free agents until the signing period begins March 5.

Arizona Cardinals

Unrestricted free agents: LB Karlos Dansby, LT Mike Gandy, OLB Chike Okeafor, K Neil Rackers, NT Bryan Robinson, WR Sean Morey, TE Anthony Becht, DE Bertrand Berry, LT Jeremy Bridges, CB Ralph Brown, FB Dan Kreider, QB Brian St. Pierre, S Matt Ware, LB Monty Beisel.

Key figures: The more than $17.7 million Arizona has paid to Dansby over the past two seasons should suffice as a parting gift if, as expected, the linebacker leaves in free agency. Dansby could be leading an exodus. Okeafor turns 34 in March and could be on his way out. Berry announced his retirement. Morey has had concussion problems. Gandy's return probably depends on whether he's willing to stay for less than the $5 million he earned last season. Safety Antrel Rolle does not appear on the list, but he would hit the market when free agency begins if the Cardinals decline to pay a $4 million roster bonus.

San Francisco 49ers

Unrestricted free agents: WR Arnaz Battle, CB Dre' Bly, NT Aubrayo Franklin, CB Walt Harris, RT Tony Pashos, FS Mark Roman, LT Barry Sims, LB Jeff Ulbrich, LB Matt Wilhelm, CB Keith Smith.

Key figures: The 49ers have been proactive in re-signing their own players. That explains why relatively few big names appear on this list. The franchise tag appears well suited for Franklin, the only marquee UFA on the 49ers' list this offseason. Tagging Franklin at the $7 million franchise rate makes sense heading into labor uncertainty. Why spend lavishly on a long-term deal? Franklin has played at a high level consistently for only one season, and a lockout could keep him off the field in 2011. Re-signing Sims for depth would make sense. Ulbrich, meanwhile, has retired and joined the Seahawks' coaching staff.

Seattle Seahawks

Unrestricted free agents: WR Nate Burleson, DE Cory Redding, CB Ken Lucas, K Olindo Mare, LB D.D. Lewis, FB Justin Griffith, LT Damion McIntosh, SS Lawyer Milloy, LS Kevin Houser, LS Jeff Robinson.

Key figures: New coach Pete Carroll is on the record saying he likes what he's seen from Redding. Mare is coming off an outstanding season. Lucas has the size Seattle's new leadership wants in its cornerbacks. Milloy played for Carroll in New England. There isn't much more to say about this relatively nondescript group, and it's unclear how much the new regime will value these UFAs. Unrestricted free agency isn't the only road out of Seattle this offseason. The team will probably part with a few established players who haven't lived up to their salaries because of injuries and other factors. Patrick Kerney and Deion Branch come to mind. Update: I've added Nate Burleson to the list of free agents. He has a contract for 2010, but it voids. Thanks to CowboyP893 for the assist.

St. Louis Rams

Unrestricted free agents: DE Leonard Little, DE James Hall, LB Paris Lenon, QB Kyle Boller, S Clinton Hart, LS Chris Massey, TE Randy McMichael.

Key figures: Boller, 28, is the only player on the Rams' list younger than 30. Franchise player Oshiomogho Atogwe and starting tackle Alex Barron become only restricted free agents under rules governing the uncapped year, explaining their absence from the Rams' UFA list. It's unclear how seriously Little and Hall figure into the team's plans for 2010. Chris Long's emergence late last season should make it easier for the team to move on without them, but the aging defensive ends did combine for 27 starts and 11 sacks last season.