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The fourth and sixth cornerbacks drafted in 2012 are heading to the St. Louis Rams.

Montana's Trumaine Johnson, chosen 65th overall and in the third round, joins second-round choice Janoris Jenkins (39th) in a rapidly evolving secondary.

Johnson has good size for a corner, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 204 pounds. Scouts Inc. gave him high marks in all categories except intangibles and durability.

"Would benefit highly from a structured environment and demanding coach who will challenge him and hold him accountable," Pro Football Weekly's Nolan Nawrocki wrote. "Has the tools to become a No. 1 corner if he can be managed properly and stay focused."

The Rams are clearly leaning on coach Jeff Fisher and staff to provide the structure and coaching needed for Jenkins and Johnson to realize their potential. Fisher has worked with mercurial players in the past, from Albert Haynesworth to Pacman Jones to Vince Young and others. He'll need to be right on Jenkins and Johnson for the Rams to maximize their first draft class with Fisher as head coach.

The San Francisco 49ers went into the 2011 season hoping to close the deal on a new stadium in Santa Clara.

Let's just say it was a good time to go 13-3 and advance to the NFC Championship Game.

Mike Rosenberg of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers' playoff push should help them sell season-ticket packages that stand as a big part of the funding equation. Finding a naming-rights sponsor for the new stadium should also become much easier. Rosenberg: "The final piece to the funding puzzle is securing $150 million to $200 million in league financing. With the NFL owners slated to vote on the funds Feb. 2, it didn't hurt to shine the national playoff spotlight on dilapidated Candlestick Park for consecutive weeks, particularly after two embarrassing blackouts during a Monday Night Football game this season. But success on the field is not a guaranteed cash cow, even in rich markets. When the New York Giants, Jets and Yankees sold seat packages for their new stadiums, it wasn't so easy. The Giants were fresh off a Super Bowl title, the Jets had just made it to the AFC Championship and the Yankees were a perennial power. Yet all three teams failed to sell out the priciest tickets when their home fields opened in 2009 and 2010."

Alex Espinoza of 49ers.com says Patrick Willis relishes playing on a winning team for the first time since his freshman year of college.

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the next challenge for Alex Smith is to come up big again -- and again after that. Cohn: "Smith is good, promising, and people believe in him. We see all that. One great performance doesn't make anybody great, and a failure on Sunday will plunge Smith once again into a netherworld of uncertainty. I am not saying he will plunge. I don't think he will. I am saying he must make more great throws against the Giants. I'm saying the game almost surely will come down to him. He has to do it again -- and then again."

Jerry McDonald of Bay Area News Group takes a closer look at the 49ers' secondary.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle gets Troy Aikman's thoughts on Smith.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers aren't going to talk trash before their game against the Giants on Sunday.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch examines where Sam Bradford fits in a Jeff Fisher-prioritized Rams offense. Miklasz: "Some of what Fisher likes to do is, indeed, old-fashioned when compared to the recent high-scoring trend that's turning NFL games into sessions of 'Madden 12' on the Xbox. Fisher does like to run the football and control the game. He does believe in having competitive, somewhat unruly men doing the blocking up front. He would like to see his guys punish opponents. He does not object to seeing opponents limping away in pain. It's the kind of "outdated" football that has the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants in the four-team field for Sunday's conference championship games." Noted: Quarterback troubles with the unpredictable Vince Young marked Fisher's final seasons in Tennessee. Bradford will be much easier to coach.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch passes along these comments from Fisher regarding who will have ultimate authority on personnel decisions: "There's too much that needs to be done in this building for one person to do it all. It's like anything else, you've got to surround yourself with good people and trust the people to get their jobs done. It's no different than when you're putting together a coaching staff. The head coach is not calling offense, defense, and making special teams decisions in the game. You let your coordinators do those things. It's all about surrounding yourself with the best people you can."

Also from Thomas: Hue Jackson interviewed for the offensive coordinator's job under Fisher.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic does not expect the Cardinals to re-hire Todd Haley to their offensive staff. Somers: "Talks between the two sides have been amicable, as far as I know, but coming to agreement on a position that meets the Cardinals' needs and matches Haley's career goals has been elusive. It's become clear that coach Ken Whisenhunt doesn't want to make a major shake-up on his offensive staff. He believes in coordiantor Mike Miller, who is not going to be demoted. The only open position, then, is the quarterbacks job, and Haley would fit perfectly into that role. But Haley is a former coordinator and head coach. It's understandable he would want more responsibility than that. Haley also likes Miller, and both sides are sensitive to the possibility of hiring someone who would be perceived as looking over Miller's shoulder."

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle summarizes a recent conversation between Brock Huard and Mike Salk asking whether the Seattle Seahawks' Tarvaris Jackson could follow the path Alex Smith has taken this season. Henderson: "Smith learned a new offense (Greg Roman is his seventh coordinator in as many seasons) in the same lockout-shortened offseason. Jackson, meanwhile, has run the same offense since he entered the league in 2006. As former NFL quarterback Rich Gannon said last week, 'If anyone should have known the offense it's Tarvaris Jackson.' If Smith can thrive in a new offense after a lockout-shortened offseason, why didn't Jackson do so in a familiar offense under the same circumstances?"

John Boyle of the Everett Herald says the Seahawks' approach to winning follows the ones San Francisco and Baltimore have taken to the championship round. Noted: Every team would be much better off with a quarterback capable of the things Tom Brady or Drew Brees could do. That doesn't mean a team absolutely has to have one in order to win playoff games. It's just that teams should not aspire to advance in the absence of a top quarterback. That should not be the blueprint.

Mel Kiper's first mock draft for 2012 provides the foundation for discussing how NFC West teams might proceed this offseason.

I'll conclude with a look at Kiper's plans for the St. Louis Rams, who hold the second choice.

2. St. Louis Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St.


Kiper's give: There's a clear value question here, because I think St. Louis could leverage this position to trade down for more picks for 2012 and into the future, and then still target Blackmon perhaps a few spots later. But if the Rams can't find a dance partner for a trade, Blackmon still represents precisely what this offense needs. It should be noted there are a number of teams drafting behind St. Louis that need an elite wide receiver.

Sando's take: Jeff Fisher will put his stamp on this draft class. Trading down makes the most sense given the Rams' many needs. Fisher wants to emphasize running the ball, protecting the quarterback and forcing turnovers. All coaches value those things, of course, but Fisher focuses more on them. Some offensive-minded coaches might be more inclined to talk about quarterback play, for example. Fisher's Titans twice used first-round picks for receivers, taking Kevin Dyson 16th overall (1998) and Kenny Britt 30th (2009). Adding a receiver early in the draft carries obvious appeal for the Rams. They appear less likely to re-sign Brandon Lloyd now that offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has left for New England. Fisher's Titans and Houston Oilers picked among the top 10 overall three times. They chose Vince Young third (2006), Adam Jones sixth (2005) and Steve McNair (1995) third. Fisher was not the ultimate voice in personnel, however.

Hearing Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh gush about their starting quarterbacks can create confusion over their teams' intentions.

How serious are Carroll's Seattle Seahawks and Harbaugh's San Francisco 49ers about moving into the future with Tarvaris Jackson and Alex Smith as their respective quarterbacks?

Both coaches have had their quarterbacks' backs, and then some. Even before Seattle rebounded from a 2-6 start to reach 7-7, Carroll said he could envision Jackson as the Seahawks' long-term starter. Harbaugh recently called Smith a Pro Bowl-caliber player and long-term answer at quarterback for the 49ers.

What coaches say does not always line up with what NFL owners pay.

Smith has earned a raise, but would the 49ers pay him what Pro Bowl quarterbacks typically earn?

Fourteen QBs earned Pro Bowl honors over the 2009-10 seasons: Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Matt Cassel, Brett Favre, David Garrard, Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb, Philip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo, Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub, Michael Vick and Vince Young.

Most were playing under and/or subsequently earned massive contracts.

Jackson is entering the final year of a contract that scheduled to pay him $4 million in base salary. Smith is earning $4 million in base salary this season.

Those salaries represent good money for backup quarterbacks.

The 49ers should be able to keep Smith without paying him what those Pro Bowl passers earned. They've already paid millions to him as the No. 1 overall choice in the 2005 NFL draft. Smith has expressed in the past an interest in rewarding the 49ers for an investment that did not work out as intended before this season.

Smith has proven to be a good fit for the 49ers under Harbaugh. Jackson is fitting with Seattle under Carroll. I suspect both have come on strong with their public support to combat lingering negative perceptions about both quarterbacks.

If Jackson or Smith were obviously franchise quarterbacks and long-term solutions behind center, their coaches wouldn't have to convince anyone. It would be obvious. The praise from Carroll and Harbaugh has likely helped both quarterbacks exceed outside expectations no matter what their teams have in mind for them beyond this season.

Seattle Seahawks fans might want to check out the ESPN Stats & Information piece showing Marshawn Lynch's dominance against the Philadelphia Eagles' eight-man fronts.

Turns out Lynch gained 123 of his 148 yards rushing Thursday night against defenses with eight or more defenders in the box. The Eagles used these fronts on 17 of Lynch's 22 carries.

Another interesting note: The Seahawks picked off Vince Young three times on passes traveling at least 15 yards past the line of scrimmage. Young now has no touchdowns and eight interceptions on these longer throws.

SEATTLE -- Thoughts on the Seattle Seahawks' 31-14 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday night at CenturyLink Field:

What it means: The Seahawks improved to 5-7 for the season, including 2-2 against teams from the NFC East. They continued to build on recent successes in the ground game, a top priority heading toward next season. Marshawn Lynch strengthened his case for a long-term contract with his fourth 100-yard rushing performance in his past five games. This game was progress for Seattle.

What I liked: Seattle established its ground game -- again. The team fed off Lynch's power running. Pass protection was generally good enough, breaking down mostly when Tarvaris Jackson held onto the ball. Jackson had third-down completions for 21, 26 and 25 yards in the first half. Two of those plays sustained separate touchdown drives. Kam Chancellor picked off Vince Young to end the Eagles' opening possession, the first of four interceptions by the Seattle defense. Brandon Browner, plagued by penalties in coverage this season, broke up a deep pass at the last moment after initially getting beat. Browner also picked off two passes, giving him three intercerceptions over the past two games. Second-year receiver Golden Tate caught a touchdown pass for the second week in a row. The athleticism that appealed to Seattle when Tate was at Notre Dame showed up on two plays, including his leaping TD grab in the back of the end zone.

What I didn't like: The Seahawks allowed a rushing touchdown for the second week in a row after allowing none previously since Week 4. They failed to get pressure quickly enough, enabling a 47-yard completion to set up LeSean McCoy's scoring run. Seattle's defense had trouble getting off the field during a 17-play, 80-yard Eagles drive spanning more that 10 minutes of the second half. Penalties, a big problem for Seattle this season, dogged the team early in the game. The Seahawks committed their first less than 10 seconds into the game. They improved in that area as the game progressed, however.

Lynch's big night: Lynch carried 22 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns. This was his most rushing yardage in a game since Seattle acquired him. Lynch previously ran for 135 yards against Dallas earlier this season. He set his career high (153 yards) while with Buffalo in 2007.

Hawthorne active, and then some: The Seahawks weren't sure whether David Hawthorne's knee would let the middle linebacker play against the Eagles. Hawthorne, listed as questionable on the injury report, sealed the outcome for Seattle with a 77-yard interception return for a touchdown. Having the weekend off should help Hawthorne get ready for Week 14.

Miller OK: Tight end Zach Miller was slow to get up after absorbing a blindside hit while trying to get open for a scrambling Jackson in the third quarter. Miller walked off the field. The big hits he takes are of added concern after Miller suffered a concussion on a brutal hit from the New York Giants. But Miller returned and caught a pass late in the game.

Okung leaves game late: Left tackle Russell Okung came out of the game late after suffering what appeared to be an injury to his right arm or shoulder.

Timing off early: The Seahawks' pregame flag-raising ceremony has become a tradition at home games. Fans' excitement grows as a celebrity with local ties -- former SuperSonics coach Bill Russell was the choice Thursday night -- raises the "12th Man" flag right before kickoff. The timing was fouled up this time. The game began before stadium video operators could cue their Russell tribute. Cameras showed a confused look on coach Pete Carroll's face as the game kicked off while the ceremony was only beginning. Awkward.

What's next: The Seahawks are home for a Monday night game against the St. Louis Rams in Week 14.

Five things I'll be watching for when the Seattle Seahawks face the Philadelphia Eagles at CenturyLink Field on Thursday night:

Marshawn Lynch's ongoing revival. Lynch has 443 yards rushing since Week 9, most in the league. He has topped 100 yards in three of the Seahawks' past four games. Lynch appears to be running with more confidence now that his offensive line is opening holes more consistently. The Eagles' past five opponents have averaged only 85.3 yards per game, down from 140.2 previously this season. Seattle needs a running threat to minimize the Eagles' pass rush. The hard-running Lynch showcased nationally against New Orleans in the playoffs has marked his game recently as well. Lynch has 212 yards rushing after contact since Week 9, most in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. That's up from 127 yards after contact through Week 8.

Clemons against his former team. The Eagles generally haven't regretted the higher-profile trades they've made in recent years. Sending quarterback Donovan McNabb to a division rival comes to mind. Seattle came out ahead when acquiring Chris Clemons from Philadelphia for Darryl Tapp and a fourth-round draft choice. This will be Clemons' first game against the Eagles since the trade. He leads the Seahawks in sacks with eight, but Philadelphia has allowed only three in its last four road games. Clemons faces a tough matchup against Eagles left tackle Jason Peters.

Size against speed on the outside. The Seahawks' big cornerbacks, Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman, each picked off a pass last week. They have the size to throw off bigger receivers. Raw speed can be tougher to handle, as Browner found out against the Pittsburgh Steelers' Mike Wallace. The Eagles are without starting wideout Jeremy Maclin, but they still have DeSean Jackson. Jackson hasn't topped 100 yards receiving since an Oct. 2 game against San Francisco. He's averaging 17.0 yards per catch, though. Browner leads the NFL in penalties with 16, including 10 for defensive holding, defensive pass interference or illegal contact. A calf injury limited Sherman in practice this week. The Seahawks listed him as questionable. Eagles quarterback Vince Young has three touchdowns with no interceptions on his 40 shorter passes (those traveling 10 or fewer yards past the line of scrimmage). He has no TDs and five picks on his 45 longer throws, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Breno Giacomini at right tackle. He faces a difficult matchup against Jason Babin, who leads the Eagles in sacks with 10. Giacomini seemed to fare well against Ryan Kerrigan and the Washington Redskins last week. He's fiery, competitive and likes to hit people. The Seahawks can help him by running the ball at Babin. They might need to help Giacomini in obvious pass-rushing situations, however. Babin spent part of the 2008 season with Seattle. He has 22.5 sacks in his past 27 games after collecting 4.5 over the previous three.

Concerns at linebacker. Knee problems are again bothering Seahawks middle linebacker David Hawthorne. His movement appeared restricted against the Redskins. Hawthorne was limited in practice this week. Seattle's run defense should improve with Alan Branch returning from an ankle injury, but Hawthorne's status will be important if the Eagles lean on LeSean McCoy. Philadelphia had only 17 rushing plays against New England last week, its lowest total in a game since Week 17 of the 2009 season.

The Seattle Seahawks weren't willing to give Matt Hasselbeck contract security beyond the 2011 season.

Were the Tennessee Titans?

Contract details were not immediately available, but ESPN's Adam Schefter has the news: Hasselbeck has agreed to terms with the Titans, reuniting him with former Seahawks executive Mike Reinfeldt, among other ex-Seattle employees now working in prominent roles in Tennessee.

Hasselbeck wanted to re-sign with Seattle. He had an opportunity to do so before the lockout, but he was looking for a level of security the Seahawks weren't willing to offer. I'll be surprised if Reinfeldt and the Titans offered such security after using a 2011 first-round draft choice for quarterback Jake Locker.

Hasselbeck projects as a solid mentor for Locker. He'll put in the work and handle himself in a way that serves the Titans well following a tumultuous run with Vince Young. At some point this season or next, Locker will presumably get his chance to start.

Hindsight being 20-20, it's clear now that Hasselbeck would have been best served taking the Seahawks' offer in March. He could have kept his family in Seattle and had a better shot at starting for the next two seasons since the Seahawks have not moved aggressively to secure a franchise quarterback.

Earlier: What Seattle is thinking

Someone somewhere (and I apologize for misplacing the note) asked whether the NFL-approved labor agreement would hamstring the Seattle Seahawks in free agency under "Final Eight" rules in effect under the old agreement.

Mike Sando: The previous labor agreement imposed rules limiting free-agency options for playoff winners only in an uncapped year.

So, even if the new deal included "Final Eight" clauses, those clauses would presumably apply only in the absence of a salary cap. The new deal will have, by all accounts, a salary cap for the 2011 season and beyond. Therefore, the Seahawks wouldn't have to operate with "Final Eight" limitations once free agency opened.

That would be my read on the situation. We won't know anything for sure until the players sign off and rules go into effect. Seattle fans should feel optimistic about having plenty of resources in free agency, however.

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Sam from St. Louis strongly disagrees with my push for later kickoff times when West Coast teams visit teams in later time zones. He despises 3 p.m. CT kickoffs for Rams games in St. Louis and thinks visiting teams should have to deal with disadvantages associated with playing on the road.

Mike Sando: I'd be interested in hearing why you don't like the later starts for Rams games in St. Louis. The Rams have embraced those games in general because they think more fans are likely to attend. For one, the noon starts make it tougher for the church-going population to attend on Sundays. Early starts on the East Coast begin at 1 p.m. locally, giving parishioners an additional hour. Just a thought.

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Ray from Corona, Calif., was heartened to see me finally support Nnamdi Asomugha as a free-agent target for the San Francisco 49ers. He also likes Johnathan Joseph as an option in free agency.

Mike Sando: My resistance to Asomugha as an option was more from the perspective of what I thought was likely. And I did not think the evidence suggested the 49ers would go in that direction. The evidence remains strong against such a move, but I do think going after Asomugha would make sense for San Francisco. Seattle also could be in the market for a top-flight cornerback. John Clayton has mentioned Joseph as a possibility.

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Shane from Los Angeles does not think Asomugha would make sense for the 49ers. He thinks the team would be committing too much cap space to an older player at a position other than quarterback. As a Cardinals fan, he thinks Larry Fitzgerald will want more money than an unproven quarterback such as Kevin Kolb, and he'd like my thoughts on committing that much to a non-quarterback.

Mike Sando: I've got no trouble with teams paying the market rate for great players. The Cardinals should keep Fitzgerald because there's a good chance Fitzgerald will remain an elite player throughout his next contract. He's a hugely important part of that team.

I believe the Seahawks named Steve Hutchinson their transition player instead of their franchise player in part because he was "only a guard" and not a player at a position of greater perceived value. There's no sense in rehashing what happened in that situation, but franchising Hutchinson certainly would have helped Seattle.

Players at positions other than quarterback should be elite/special for a team to commit an unusually large amount of its resources toward keeping them. Fitzgerald qualifies as that type of player.

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Brandon from Tacoma thinks Seattle Seahawks receiver Golden Tate was right in questioning the athletic ability of race drivers. Brandon read the latest item citing G-forces and breathing difficulties when saying, "Is it possible for anyone to learn how to breath in those situations? I don't believe anyone can learn to hit a fastball or throw a football 60 yards."

Mike Sando: Some athletes are more talented than others. I feel safe in saying lots of NBA or NFL players could not dominate, succeed or even become mediocre at racing if they dedicated their lives to it.

Different sports require different abilities. Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player ever, did not become even average among professional baseball players. Was he more athletic than the typical Double-A outfielder? Most of us would say so, but his athletic ability did not translate as well to another sport.

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Dan from Los Angeles point to Frank Gore's long runs against Seattle in Week 2 of the 2009 season as the likely reason behind Gore's inflated rushing stats against defenses with eight or more defenders in the box. Dan even provides a link to an earlier post on the subject.

Mike Sando: Thanks so much for that, Dan! You remembered that previous item better than I did, but you're right. The item lays out how Gore's per-carry averages against eight-man fronts was weak without those 80- and 79-yard touchdown runs in the Seattle game. Now, those runs count, of course, so we shouldn't exclude them entirely. But at least we know Gore wasn't enjoying consistent success against those fronts. He popped a couple long ones against one team.

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Don from Scotland thinks the Seahawks should consider re-signing center Chris Spencer. He points to Marshawn Lynch's run as evidence, noting that Spencer threw key blocks.

Mike Sando: That was a sensational run in many regards, but not representative of the Seahawks' performance in the running game last season. It didn't validate anything. I'll agree to the extent that I think Spencer has been pretty solid a lot of the time. I also think the Seahawks need a new identity up front with new personalities and new leadership.

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Patrick asks via Twitter whether new NFL rules allowing for 46-man rosters on game days and no third quarterback might give 49ers rookie Colin Kaepernick a better shot at getting on the field.

Mike Sando: Kaepernick will likely be the No. 2 or even No. 1 quarterback for the 49ers this season, so the third-QB designation would not apply to him.

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Jason from Tennessee thinks the Titans, Eagles and Cardinals should consider a three-way trade sending Vince Young and Cortland Finnegan to Philadelphia, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to Tennessee and Kevin Kolb to Arizona.

Mike Sando: I like your creativity. Young to the Eagles would be an interesting one given Vick's presence, Andy Reid's presence and the overall stability there in Philadelphia. Young's hefty contract would need adjusting. The teams would need Young's cooperation. Young would presumably want to become a free agent.

Arizona would be parting with Rodgers-Cromartie and getting Kolb, a trade some fans have found problematic based on the known (Rodgers-Cromartie's talent) vs. the unknown (Kolb). What the Eagles wind up getting for Kolb stands as one of the more fascinating uncertainties heading toward free agency.

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Dominic from Santa Clara, Calif., asks whether any NFC West teams would go after the San Diego Chargers' Vincent Jackson.

Mike Sando: Dominic submitted this question when it appeared as though Jackson might receive unrestricted free agency this offseason. It now appears as though Jackson will return to San Diego as the Chargers' franchise player.

I'll stand by what I wrote on the matter back in February: "San Diego's decision to name receiver Vincent Jackson its franchise player would not prevent an NFC West team -- think St. Louis -- from at least considering a trade. I just find it implausible to think the Rams or another team would part with significant draft capital for the right to pay huge sums to a receiver with off-field concerns. Jackson is probably staying in San Diego for another year."

Jesse Reynolds, an Arizona Cardinals fan deadlocked in a debate over quarterbacks, turned this way for a resolution.

"I have searched everywhere but haven't been able to find the data that supports (or contradicts) my argument that the Cardinals were one of the most-blitzed teams last year because no one feared our quarterbacks," Jesse wrote to me via Facebook. "Could you help find the numbers? I'm sure other NFC West teams' fans would love to know their numbers, too."

Blitz numbers usually tell us which defenses were more aggressive. But if we flipped our perspective, as Jesse suggested, we could find out which quarterbacks commanded the most respect, at least by this measure. Where to turn? Keith Hawkins of ESPN Stats & Information put me in touch with colleague Jason Starrett, who came through with numbers for all 32 teams and for 40 individual quarterbacks.

Thanks to Jason, Jesse is going to win his argument by a knockout.

Opponents blitzed the Cardnials 37.2 percent of the time overall, the sixth-highest percentage in the league. Oakland (39.8), St. Louis (39.4), Chicago (38.4), Carolina (37.5) and Baltimore (37.5) faced blitzes more frequently.

We defined blitzes as plays when defenses rushed five or more defenders.

As the first chart shows, Max Hall, John Skelton, Jimmy Clausen, Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford -- all rookies playing for losing teams season -- faced blitzes most frequently.

As the second chart shows, five highly experienced quarterbacks -- Peyton Manning, Jake Delhomme, Drew Brees, Matt Hasselbeck and Tom Brady -- faced blitzes least frequently.

Hall and Skelton combined to start seven games for Arizona. Teammate Derek Anderson ranked 17th among the 40 players listed in terms of being blitzed most frequently.

In looking at the charts, a few names showed up in surprising places.

The San Francisco 49ers' Smith ranked higher than expected on the list of quarterbacks facing blitzes less frequently. Was he really "commanding respect" the way Brady commanded respect? Of course not. Does he really qualify as a wily veteran such as Delhomme or Hasselbeck? The answer is "no" on that front as well.

Likewise, quarterbacks such as Hill and Henne wouldn't provide a strong deterrent to blitzing, would they? Why would Green Bay's Rodgers face blitzes more frequently than them?

Other variables come into play. Some teams blitz more frequently than others regardless of opponent. A quarterback facing these teams more frequently would see his numbers shift accordingly.

How well an offensive line picks up blitzes could influence how a defense attacks. How well receivers adjust to blitzes could matter, as could the confidence a defensive coordinator has in his secondary during a given week. A quarterback's running ability and ability to read defenses accurately could factor.

Overall, I'd say it's telling to see the Cardinals' Hall and Skelton blitzed so frequently, particularly relative to the numbers for the more experienced Anderson. It's also telling to see some highly experienced quarterbacks blitzed so infrequently by comparison.

Arizona Cardinals

As speculation surrounding Kevin Kolb eventually landing in Arizona intensifies, Adam Caplan asks if Kolb is really as good as advertised.

Former Cardinals defensive lineman Bertrand Berry says the Cardinals should try to acquire Vince Young instead. Berry: "The next team that lands him is going to get a very motivated guy that has a lot to prove. If he gets somebody who believes and trusts him, he can be a great quarterback."

San Francisco 49ers

Colin Kaepernick speaks highly of Alex Smith, who is helping the rookie transition from college to the NFL.

Key milestones were met Wednesday night in the pursuit of a new 49ers stadium.

Seattle Seahawks

Could Carson Palmer be the answer to Seattle's quarterback issues?

Clare Farnsworth looks back on the Seahawks' 2001 season that finished at 9-7.

St. Louis Rams

Fred Robbins comes in at No. 10 on Pro Football Focus' list of the top 4-3 defensive tackles.

The St. Louis Rams made tremendous statistical gains on defense last season. Kerry Byrne breaks down some of the differences from 2009 to 2010 in his recent piece for SI.com.

Are coach Steve Spagnuolo and the Rams headed for even better things on defense in 2011 after using their first-round pick for defensive end Robert Quinn?

"The Quinn pick told the football world that Spagnuolo intends to win in St. Louis much the way he won in New York -- with a dominating group of Defensive Hogs," Byrne writes. "The unit he'll put on the field in 2011 has the potential to be the very best in the league."

Michael from St. Louis pointed out Byrne's piece to me via Facebook and questioned whether the Rams' defense would actually join the NFL's elite this season. I think Byrne is on the right track. Spagnuolo does have the Rams' defense headed in the right direction.

I do see question marks, however. James Hall and Fred Robbins enjoyed unusually strong seasons for their ages. Can the Rams bank on more of the same? The defense also lost safety Oshiomogho Atogwe to the Washington Redskins in free agency.

Opposing personnel matters, too. Some of the statistical gains St. Louis made from 2009 to 2010 reflected which quarterbacks the team faced.

The chart ranks the Rams' opposing quarterbacks by their passer ratings against St. Louis in the 2009 and 2010 seasons. The team's 2010 performances against Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, Josh Freeman and Matt Cassel stand out as notable, although the Rams were 1-3 against those quarterbacks.

The Rams benefited in 2010 by removing Kurt Warner (twice), Peyton Manning, Matt Schaub, Brett Favre (2009 version) and even Vince Young (2009 version) from their schedule. They face Rodgers, Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Michael Vick, Eli Manning, Tony Romo and Joe Flacco this coming season.

Alex Smith's candidacy as the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback heading into 2011 sent me searching for some context.

The charts show some initial findings.

The first one shows quarterbacks since 1970 who met the following criteria, as provided by Pro Football Reference:

• First-round draft choice;
• Has thrown between 40 and 60 touchdown passes;
• Career passer rating was no higher than 85.0;
• Has played in no more than six seasons.

Smith's new coach, Jim Harbaugh, is one of the players on the list. Some of the players enjoyed moderately successful careers. Vince Young, Greg Landry, Harbaugh, Dan Pastorini and Archie Manning were named to at least one Pro Bowl.


The second chart eliminates Smith's statistically horrible rookie season, when he had one touchdown and 11 interceptions for a very bad team.

It shows statistics for quarterbacks drafted in first rounds since 1970 based on the following criteria, also according to Pro Football Reference:

• Second through sixth seasons only;
• Had thrown between 40 and 55 touchdown passes;
• Had thrown no more than 45 interceptions;
• Had started at least 40 games during this period.

Harbaugh again makes the list, but I was most struck by similarities between the numbers for Smith and Harbaugh's old teammate, Jim McMahon.

Smith and McMahon could not be less similar in terms of personality, overall approach, supporting cast and on-field results. McMahon went 22-1 as a starter from 1985-87.

The Harbaugh comparison is much more relevant. Both players failed to meet expectations early in their careers despite their diligence. Harbaugh's personality was much more aggressive, however, and that raises a very fair but harsh question: Does Smith have the right makeup to salvage his career in a manner the way Harbaugh did after leaving Chicago?

Vince Young's ugly divorce from the Tennessee Titans drew disapproving reviews and will scare off some potential suitors.

Should the Seattle Seahawks consider him?

I asked the question Friday, drawing a wide range of well-considered responses. Let's consider a sampling of them here, augmented with my own thoughts.

"Absolutely not!" Anointed102969 wrote. "Look at our roster on offense? Russell Okung, Max Unger, John Moffitt, James Carpenter and Golden Tate could all be starters next season. Those are five guys on offense with less than one year of NFL experience. Vince Young quit on his team. He walked out on his coaches during a film-review session. Cops had to look for him. You want this kind of head case leading a bunch of young bucks on offense? No thanks!"

The Seahawks, without even considering whether Young would fit their offense, will likely eliminate Young from serious consideration for these reasons alone. General manager John Schneider said the team avoided drafting Colorado cornerback Jimmy Smith, among other players with off-field question marks, because the Seattle locker room was not yet strong enough to assimilate such players. Of course, Smith would have cost the team a first-round draft choice. Young would not require such an investment.

"I am a Seahawks fan that has been stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky., for the last seven years," Jeroli1 wrote. "I have seen Young play, including going to a preseason game when he was a rookie. This kid has raw talant. The problem is his mouth. If Pete Carroll can put a gag on him and keep him from pouting, Young could be just what Seattle needs. With the addition of two young offensive linemen and a quarterback that can flat out run, they could be scary again."

Young's mix of athleticism and arm strength might have fit the Seahawks' passing game better last season, when coordinator Jeremy Bates was running a Mike Shanahan-style offense. The team is expected to place more value on accuracy and timing under new coordinator Darrell Bevell, although Carroll has sometimes downplayed the changes.

The bigger question is really whether Young's baggage would be tolerable at his position, under these circumstances. Taking chances on non-quarterbacks is easier. The stakes are lower. Teams generally carry only three quarterbacks on their rosters. Young would be at least one-third of the equation at the position. Other players look to quarterbacks for leadership. Quarterbacks must lead by example with their work habits, how they interact with others in the organization and how they project themselves publicly. Young has failed on some of those levels.

"Between Carroll and line coach Tom Cable, there should be plenty of 'tough love' to keep his head straight," akmac61 wrote.

Let's say Young played well in 2011. Then what? Could a rebuilding team seriously consider making a more significant commitment? I have serious doubts.

"Hey naysayers, there's no risk!" iamdugan wrote. "No loss of draft picks, no real investments -- no harm, no foul. Either Pete Carroll helps Young reach his potential and we get an absolute stud horse superstar, or he flops and probably gets cut faster then LenDale White. Also, I know we all have high hopes for the two latest rookie additions to our offensive line, but what if they don't pan out? What if we're crippled by injuries again? Wouldn't having a QB with Young's athleticism and mobility be a huge plus?"

The White experiment applies on a couple levels.

One, the Seahawks gave White a look even though they had to know exactly what they were getting into. Carroll had coached White at USC. Schneider, vice president of pro personnel Will Lewis and others in the Seattle organization have strong ties to Tennessee general manager Mike Reinfeldt and numerous others in the Titans organization. Those ties would have enhanced the Seahawks' feel for the situation.

Two, the Seahawks proved with White that they would act preemptively if they felt as though a player weren't holding up his end. They could, at least in theory, take a similar approach with Young, provided they could sign him to a deal without significant guarantees.

"A team should only consider Young if they have a veteran in place who is able and willing to shepherd him into the team's offense and culture," ptech wrote. "Young is talented, but juvenile and fragile and he will require the right mix of both tough-love and unfettered support. By all reports, he's a huge headache and his return to the league would need to happen in a perfect place. I'm not sure Seattle is that place."

A quick reach into the mailbag before boarding a flight home from annual meetings at ESPN headquarters in Bristol ...

Matt from Reno has some issues on the home front. He's a San Francisco 49ers fan, but his sister loves the Seattle Seahawks and his father loves the Oakland Raiders. Turns out Matt isn't the only one with off-field concerns. Vince Young has had some, too. Matt thinks the Seahawks should sign Young once the Titans release him, the thinking being that Seattle coach Pete Carroll could reach Young and get the most from him. After all, Carroll seemed to work wonders with Mike Williams.

Mike Sando: Signing Young would not require parting with 2012 draft selections, so that would be a bonus. I do think teams need to be more careful when it comes to quarterbacks because that position has such a great effect on an entire organization. Teams cannot just take chances on quarterbacks without regard for the ramifications. Releasing a receiver such as Williams would be much easier if than releasing a quarterback, for instance.

Most coaches tend to think they can reach players if given the opportunity. Relating to players does seem to be a strength for Carroll based on what I've seen from him to this point. He might be better positioned than others to get more from Young. The Titans were working from a disadvantage because Young had so much leverage as a first-round draft choice.

Young does have the talent to win. Based on the way Young's career fizzled out in Tennessee, however, I have a hard time envisioning him developing into a reliable franchise quarterback. Seattle would have to place strict conditions on Young -- conditions that would be reflected first by his salary and then by making him earn playing time.

It's at least something to consider. After all, Charlie Whitehurst is the only quarterback on the Seahawks' roster at this point.

Your thoughts? Should the Arizona Cardinals consider Young, for that matter?