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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- For a franchise that was accused of turning stale a few years ago, the Denver Broncos have become pros at taking fresh approaches.

For the second time in three training camps, Denver has a new head coach. John Fox takes over after the disastrous 23-month Josh McDaniels regime. From 1995 to 2008, the Broncos were the picture of coaching constancy. It was the Mike Shanahan show. Everyone knew it.

But the Broncos have been in flux and have gone from one of the better-run organizations in the NFL to a team that is grasping for an identity. Denver hasn’t been to the playoffs since the 2005 season. It hasn’t had a winning record since 2006.

In comes Fox, who is experiencing a rebirth himself after spending the past nine seasons in Carolina. Fox’s biggest task in Denver is to restore normalcy after the rocky McDaniels era and rebuild a winner.

“There has been instability here, good, bad or indifferent, that’s just the way it has been,” said Fox, whose team will be on its sixth defensive coordinator (former New Orleans secondary coach Dennis Allen) in six seasons.

“We have to build our program here. But I think it can be done. There are good pieces here.”

Many Denver players have raved about Fox. They appreciate his professionalism, his structure and his attention to detail. They believe there is a plan in place, and they trust Fox’s experience. The players also seem to appreciate the fact that Fox is simply in Denver to coach. The front office is run by legendary Denver quarterback John Elway and general manager Brian Xanders. Both Shanahan and McDaniels made personnel decisions.

“I get a great feel for Coach Fox,” star cornerback Champ Bailey said. “He’s one of the better coaches I’ve been around ... I like it that he is focused on coaching us on the field. That’s where he wants to be.”

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Fix the defense. While the Tim Tebow-Kyle Orton competition has garnered much attention, the real key issue in Denver’s camp has been the defense. This unit was ranked No. 32 in the NFL last season and was generally awful in every major statistical category. Fox and his defensive staff have taken a hands-on approach to improve this group, which is a mix of veterans and youngsters.

If the reconstructed defensive front plays well and rookie linebacker Von Miller makes an instant impact, this group has a chance to improve quickly. It seems to be working early. Denver’s defense has been capable in camp and it looked solid against Dallas in the preseason opener Thursday. Injuries to defensive tackles Ty Warren (who signed to a two-year, $8 million deal) and Marcus Thomas create more uncertainty at a key spot for Denver. It needs to get help there by Kevin Vickerson, Brodrick Bunkley, Jeremy Jarmon and Derrick Harvey in the rest of the preseason. Warren could be out for a long period and Thomas will miss the rest of the preseason.

2. Clarity at quarterback: The Broncos’ camp has been about getting the first-team ready to go with Orton. There is no question Orton is the starter now. If the team struggles, Tebow could enter the picture, but players love playing with Orton and the team thinks he currently gives them the best chance to win now.

Of course, the lack of clarity was team-induced. It spent the immediate days after the lockout trying to trade Orton to Miami. After that fell through, Orton took control of the offense quickly and has given Denver no choice but to make him the starter, TebowMania be dammed.

3. Establish a ground game: Although Fox is a defensive-minded coach, he has a strict philosophy on offense. He believes in stuffing the ball down an opponent’s throat and killing the clock. Denver struggled to run the ball under McDaniels, and Fox said adding a veteran tailback was paramount.

The Broncos jumped on Willis McGahee when he was cut by the Ravens. Expect McGahee and third-year player Knowshon Moreno to combine for plenty of carries. They have worked well in camp, and they combined for 40 yards on six carries in the preseason opener at Dallas. This camp has been spent getting these two involved in the offense as much as possible.

ELVIS IS BACK IN THE BUILDING

The Broncos are raving about the play of Elvis Dumervil. After leading the NFL with 17 sacks in 2009 and getting a contract worthy of that performance, Dumervil tore a pectoral muscle in early August last year and missed the entire 2010 season.

There was concern that his rust and a move back to the 4-3 under Fox could hamper the smallish Dumervil. He flourished in McDaniels’ 3-4 system after being a solid player in Shanahan’s 4-3 defense. Dumervil beefed up to more than 260 pounds, and he‘s been impressive under Fox.

The Broncos expect Dumervil and Miller to become one of the better pass-rush tandems in the league.

RELYING ON THE ROOKIES

One of the most exciting aspects of this camp for Denver has been the play of its rookies. The Broncos thought they drafted well in April, and after three weeks, they are thrilled with what they see.

“I think we had an excellent draft,” Fox said.

Added Dumervil: “This is the best group of rookies I’ve seen here in awhile.”

Leading the way is Miller, who was the No. 2 overall draft pick. The Texas A&M product has been as advertised. Teammates rave about his speed, explosiveness and his ability to make plays. They expect instant success.

Second-round pick Rahim Moore is vying for a starting spot with Kyle McCarthy at safety and has shown he is ready for NFL play. Right tackle Orlando Franklin, middle linebacker Nate Irving, tight end Julius Thomas and safety Quentin Carter are all expected to be major contributors. This is exactly what this 4-12 team needed -- a solid group of youngsters to build around after a couple of shaky years of drafting by McDaniels.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Safety Brian Dawkins may be turning 38 this year, but the Broncos are still getting a lot out of him. He works well with Fox’s staff, and his leadership has been uncanny during camp.
• Defensive end Robert Ayers has been getting chances to break out in camp, but he has been slow to show progress. He was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2009 draft.
• Receiver Brandon Lloyd has been slowed by swelling in his knee. Still, the team expects him to contribute. Lloyd had a breakout season in 2010 -- 77 catches for 1,448 yards.
• The second-round draft class of 2009 has been a bust. Tight end Richard Quinn is hurt and could be the odd man out. Safety Darcel McBath has yet to develop, and cornerback Alphonso Smith (who Denver traded its 20101 first-round pick for) was shipped out to Detroit last year. This was supposed to be the nucleus of future success, and Denver hasn’t seen results.
• The Broncos’ passing game struggled in red-zone and third-down situations. That has been a point of emphasis during this camp.
• Veterans Joe Mays and Mario Haggan are competing to hold off Irving at middle linebacker.
• Franklin has struggled in pass projection. Still, the team is committed to him.
• Denver is excited about second-year receiver Eric Decker. Expect Decker to get a chance to contribute a lot.
• The Broncos like what they have in new tight end Daniel Fells. He is solid as a receiver and as a blocker. He should help in both phases of the game.
• Right cornerback Andre' Goodman has been steady, and the team is confident he can play well in 2011.
• Second-year center J.D. Walton continues to improve, and he has shown strong leadership for a young player.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver plans to bring back veteran safety Brian Dawkins at this point. He may need to take a pay cut. New Denver coach John Fox loves veterans and Dawkins’ presence should help rookie safeties Rahim Moore and Quinton Carter.

• Denver never took a defensive tackle, despite it being its greatest need. It’s no surprise Denver didn’t take a defensive tackle on Saturday. Once the second round passed, there weren’t many quality prospects available.

• The rumor mill in Denver is already spinning a Kyle Orton-Albert Haynesworth trade. Washington needs a quarterback and Denver needs defensive tackle. Makes senses, would Denver want to pay Haynesworth?

• Expect Denver’s starting linebacker crew to look this way: Von Miller at strongside linebacker, third-round pick Nate Irving in the middle and veteran D.J. Williams on the weakside.

• Denver second-year quarterback Tim Tebow said he was pleased to hear Denver leader John Elway is behind him. Elway said Saturday that Denver will look at the top quarterbacks in every draft. Denver looked at the top eight quarterbacks this year without taking one. Fox, once again, said Orton is the starter as of now. Still, I expect Tebow to get the chance to play in 2011.

• The Raiders took two receivers who played for former Oakland coach Lane Kiffin. They took Tennessee receiver Denarius Moore in the fifth round and USC receiver David Ausberry in the seventh round. Moore is fast, but he has issues with his hands. Ausberry is very big and he is an interesting prospect. Oakland has a lot of young receivers so these two players will have to work to make the team.

• In his first draft, Elway took a player from Cal -- linebacker Mike Mohamed -- without taking a player from his alma mater. Mohamed, a candidate to play right away on special teams, said Elway noted that fact in a phone conversation Saturday.

• Denver entered the draft wanting four immediate starters. It may have gotten five in Miller, Moore, Carter, Irving and right tackle Orlando Franklin.

• Elway said the team thinks defensive linemen Marcus Thomas and Kevin Vickerson will be better off in a 4-3 scheme than the 3-4.

• Fox noted that Denver tight ends coach Clancy Barone was part of Antonio Gates’ development in San Diego. Barone is in charge of making fourth-round pick Julius Thomas an NFL player. He played one year of college football after playing college basketball. Gates played college basketball but not college football.

• The Chiefs made an intriguing pick in the sixth round in defensive tackle Jerrell Powe of Mississippi. He fills a need for the Chiefs. He is the massive run plugger that the team has been seeking. He was considered a first-round possibility a year ago. He has stamina issues, but he could help in a limited role as a rookie.

• Denver took Oklahoma defensive end Jeremy Beal, who was productive in college even though he didn’t test well at the combine. He had 28.5 sacks and 53.5 tackles for losses in college. That’s a steal in the final round.

With the offseason in full swing, let’s take a look at one major question facing each NFC West team as it begins preparations for the 2011 season:

ARIZONA CARDINALS

What happens to the offensive line?

We've been asking, answering and asking some more questions about the Cardinals' quarterback situation for months. Let's tap a few brain cells to discuss the guys up front.

Center Lyle Sendlein and right guard Deuce Lutui are without contracts for 2011. Left guard Alan Faneca might retire. Right tackle Brandon Keith is coming off hamstring and knee injuries that shortened his first season as a starter. The Cardinals do not have fresh talent in reserve. They have drafted only one offensive lineman in the first four rounds since Ken Whisenhunt became head coach in 2007. Twenty-seven teams have drafted more. As much as the team trusts assistant head coach Russ Grimm to get the most from its offensive line, Arizona could use fresh young talent for him to groom.

The Cardinals went through the 2010 season with the NFL's oldest offensive linemen, counting backups. That wouldn't matter so much if left tackle Levi Brown were meeting the Pro Bowl expectations that came with his status as a top-five overall selection in the 2007 draft. Brown was underwhelming at right tackle to begin his career and a liability at left tackle last season. His salary balloons in 2012, so this could be his last season in Arizona.

ST. LOUIS RAMS

Can the defense take the next step?

The Rams allowed 328 points last season, tied for the third-lowest total since the team moved from Los Angeles for the 1995 season. They allowed seven rushing touchdowns, their lowest total since 1999 and down from 50 combined over the previous two seasons. But with starting defensive linemen James Hall and Fred Robbins turning 34 this offseason, and with questions at linebacker, the Rams' defense will not automatically go from competitive toward dominant.

Hall will be looking to become the 14th player since 1982 (when the NFL began tracking sacks as an official stat) to collect 10 sacks in a season at age 34 or older. The others: Trace Armstrong, Chris Doleman, William Fuller, Kevin Greene, Rickey Jackson, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Tony McGee, Steve McMichael, John Randle, Warren Sapp, Bruce Smith, Michael Strahan and Reggie White.

Robbins is coming off one of his finest seasons. He joined Keith Traylor, Jeff Zgonina and Ray Agnew among defensive tackles to set career highs for sacks at age 32 or older in the free-agency era (since 1993).

Getting similar production and continued good health from two older players is no given. The Rams also need to find help at outside linebacker after losing 32-year-old Na'il Diggs to a torn pectoral muscle 12 games into the 2010 season. The Rams are set at middle linebacker with James Laurinaitis, but they could stand to upgrade around him.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

How well can Jim Harbaugh coach up a quarterback?

When the 49ers' new coach needed a quarterback at Stanford, he recruited one. Andrew Luck set records and led the Cardinal to national prominence. Recruiting isn't a significant part of the equation in the NFL, so Harbaugh will have to settle for the best quarterback he can draft or otherwise acquire. He might even have to give Alex Smith a shot.

The 49ers will need Harbaugh to do what his recent predecessors could not: get good production from limited or flawed talent at the most important position.

Rich Gannon was well-established as an NFL quarterback when Harbaugh arrived as his position coach in Oakland for the 2002 season. The pairing reflected well on all parties. Gannon set career highs for completed passes, attempts, completion percentage, passing yards and passer rating. Gannon was already a good quarterback and the Raiders were already a good team, so it's tough to measure Harbaugh's impact.

Gannon is long since retired. Harbaugh is back in the NFL for the first time since the two were together on the Raiders in 2003. The 49ers don't have a legitimate starting quarterback under contract. Harbaugh has been meeting with Smith and keeping open his options. The stakes are high in the short term because the 49ers have enough talent elsewhere on their roster to compete for a playoff spot.

Outside expectations for Smith are so low that Harbaugh could appear heroic if he could get even a 9-7 record out of the 49ers with Smith in the lineup.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

How much more roster turnover lies ahead?

The Seahawks were fearless in overhauling their roster during their first year under general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll.

The team added Marshawn Lynch, Leon Washington, Chris Clemons, Stacy Andrews, Tyler Polumbus, Kentwan Balmer, Kevin Vickerson, Robert Henderson and LenDale White, though Seattle parted with Vickerson, Henderson, White and 2009 regulars Deion Branch, Julius Jones, Owen Schmitt, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Josh Wilson, Lawrence Jackson, Rob Sims, Darryl Tapp, Deon Grant and Seneca Wallace. The Seahawks watched a couple other starters, Nate Burleson and Cory Redding, leave in free agency.

If those were the moves the Seahawks felt comfortable making right away, I figured there would be quite a few to come after the team's new leadership watched players for a full season. And there still could be, but similar wheeling and dealing could be impractical or even impossible if the current labor standoff continues deep into the offseason.

Teams cannot make trades without a new labor agreement. They cannot know for sure whether or not a salary cap will come into play as part of any new deal. It's just tough to act as decisively as Seattle acted last offseason without knowing the rules. That's a disadvantage for Seattle and other teams with much work to do this offseason.

Unlike the San Francisco 49ers, who flew to London earlier this week, the Denver Broncos opted to practice at home for three days before heading out to London on Thursday.

It is going to be a short, crammed trip and the key, according to Denver coach Josh McDaniels, is for the team to sleep as much as possible in the eight-hour flight to London. Once the Broncos’ land in London, they’ll be in work mode despite losing a lot of time while in the air.

“We’re telling them to sleep on the plane as much as possible and we’re going to try to aid that in any way that we can,” McDaniels said. “Once we’re there, we’re trying to treat it like a normal Friday. We’re not going to have them sleeping until noon or 1 p.m. -- that would be probably the worst thing we can do to try to get acclimated for Sunday. Once we’re there, there’s no time (to sleep), there’s no choice. We’re going to go meet and go walk-through and then come back and then we have a curfew (Friday) night.”

McDaniels said five injured players will not accompany the team to London and they will stay in Denver to rehabilitate. The players are cornerback Perrish Cox, defensive lineman Kevin Vickerson, safety Darcel McBath, linebacker Robert Ayers and linebacker Wesley Woodyard. None of these decisions were surprises.

Meanwhile, legendary Broncos quarterback John Elway will serve as an honorary captain and be with the team during the coin flip. Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice will accompany the 49ers.

The Seattle Seahawks looked up long enough Sunday to announce a few roster moves, but not the ones reported previously.

The team said it has released offensive linemen Mansfield Wrotto and Steve Vallos, and safety Kevin Ellison. The team said it has claimed off waivers guard Evan Dietrich-Smith from the Green Bay Packers and defensive back Nate Ness from the Miami Dolphins. The team also announced offensive lineman Stacy Andrews' acquisition from Philadelphia.

The team made no mention of previously reported moves involving Julius Jones, Jordan Babineaux, Kevin Vickerson or Junior Siavii.

The roster appears in flux to such a degree that meaningful analysis should be postponed. My plan is to step outside for the next hour or so, mow the lawn, then come back inside and see if the pieces have come together any more clearly. The grass is getting high, anyway -- unless Pete Carroll and John Schneider cut that, too.

Five thoughts after the Seattle Seahawks opened their exhibition season with a 20-18 victory against the Tennessee Titans:

• Charlie Whitehurst has to feel better about things after completing 14-of-22 passes for 214 yards, with two touchdowns, one interception and a 107.0 rating. Whitehurst hasn't pushed Matt Hasselbeck for the starting job, and this performance changes nothing on that front. But it was still a step forward.
• Rookie receiver Golden Tate has been a star in camp, but Mike Williams and Deon Butler were the more productive receivers. Williams' 51-yard touchdown reception from Whitehurst showcased his improved conditioning. Williams looked lean. The effort he showed in blocking for Justin Forsett earlier in the drive also stood out. It's easy to forget about veteran wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh when watching the youth-oriented Seahawks under Pete Carroll. I wonder where he'll fit heading into the regular season.
• Defensive end Red Bryant made a couple strong plays against Titans tackle Michael Roos. Fellow defensive linemen Kevin Vickerson, Colin Cole and Brandon Mebane also looked good in this game. The Seahawks had to like what they saw from their best pass-rusher, Chris Clemons, as well. Clemons lacks size by NFL standards, but he showed good power in getting to the quarterback. Clemons is eager to prove himself. Is this something he can sustain?
• First-round choice Russell Okung missed the beginning of camp, but it was tough to tell. I noticed him diving at defenders' legs in the Alex Gibbs zone tradition.
• Julius Jones remained the invisible man in the Seahawks' backfield. Forsett, Quinton Ganther and Louis Rankin each had runs covering at least 13 yards. Forsett had a 30-yard reception. Jones had five carries for 13 yards. He does most things pretty well, but rarely does Jones stand out. We'll have to wait at least another game before seeing Leon Washington in action. Washington might have more flair than any runner on the roster.

I'm hitting the road here shortly for the drive from St. Louis to Indianapolis. I'll check in from the San Francisco' 49ers exhibition opener against the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. I've got some Rams notes left over from Saturday night as well. Will post those as time permits.

ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 25

RENTON, Wash. -- Elevated speakers pump out PG-13 lyrics and hip-hop beats all through Seattle Seahawks practice.

"I'm fresh, I'm fly, I'm always high," boasts rapper Lloyd Banks of G-Unit fame, "got ya b----es waving at me when I roll by."

Later, it's a song from Usher creating the visuals: "Honey got a booty like pow, pow, pow."

And this from another rapper, Akon: "I'm the boss, it only takes one call for a driver to hit you up and drop you off and that's all. Guess what? I won't be takin' that fall. Homie, I got cake, that's what I'm payin' them for."

Thirty-six-year-old safety Lawyer Milloy, the second-oldest player on the team behind kicker Olindo Mare, grooves on the sideline during a break for the first-team defense. His head coach and the Seahawks' unofficial hype man, Pete Carroll, runs a spirited practice a few yards away. Afterward, I ask Milloy bluntly whether it's credible for a 58-year-old white guy from Marin County to like G-Unit. Milloy laughs. He played for Carroll in New England more than a decade ago and he jumped at the chance to play for him again.

"The thing about a leader, the leader has to understand and know the people that he is leading," Milloy explains. "[Carroll] is willing to step into our world a little bit and that's the sign of a good leader, man -- somebody that will get up there and rock to the music. He might not listen to the lyrics, but he can find the beat."

In theory, anyway.

"I'm not saying he's always on beat," Milloy says, "but, you know, it's just good to see that our leader is out in front. Everything he wants us to do, he's leading by example."

The big question upon Carroll's hiring was whether his enthusiastic style would translate from USC to the NFL. Carroll isn't running from his reputation as a rah-rah coach. He's embracing it and winning over players, at least so far, with an approach to training camp that represents a 180-degree turn from the tough camp Jim Mora ran last summer. Mora's own conditioning level was such that his resting heart rate was 41 and doctors couldn't make a stress test tough enough to bring his rate to peak levels. If he could achieve such fitness, shouldn't professional athletes half his age? The team worked harder during camp than anyone imagined. In retrospect, it's possible the 2009 Seahawks never quit on Mora so much as they ran out of gas.

Carroll has given players full days without practice. Two-a-days ended after about a week. There have been no three-hour practices.

"Best training camp I've ever been involved with," 10th-year receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh said. "We go harder than any training camp I've ever been in when we're out there. Everything is fast, fast, fast. But he's giving us ample rest and I'm not used to that. It's very, very different, and I think it's good because we took a conditioning test and everybody passed it very easily. That showed everybody was in shape. So now it's just, work on your craft."

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Where will this team get its pass rush? Carroll is not sure and this might be the biggest weakness on the team. Chris Clemons, acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in the Darryl Tapp trade, is probably the best pass-rusher on the roster. He has 20 career sacks and three starts in six NFL seasons with three teams.

"He has shown a lot of great things out there with his speed, and I think he has so much speed off that edge and I think people lose track of his strength," linebacker Lofa Tatupu said. "I've seen him hip-toss some people over almost like Reggie White used to do with that club move. And he has a good bull-rush on him."

Clemons thinks his career will blossom with additional playing time. It might, but that is no given. At one point in practice Wednesday, undrafted rookie center Jeff Byers caught the 254-pound Clemons off balance, lifted him off the ground and planted him on his back.

The best pass-rusher on the team after Clemons? Tatupu mentioned Nick Reed, who had one sack as a rookie last season.

"In practice, we have gotten to the QB a number of times," Tatupu said. "I know Matt [Hasselbeck] won't admit it, but we've given him fits. I think we'll be fine in that department."

2. Which running back gets most of the carries? Probably Justin Forsett, a seventh-round draft choice left over from the Seahawks' previous leadership. Forsett showed an ability to make the first defender miss while rushing for 619 yards on 114 carries last season. He has a chance to become a 1,000-yard rusher because his style suits the Seahawks' full-scale conversion to Alex Gibbs' zone-blocking scheme. Seattle dabbled in the zone scheme last year, but the line lacked an overall identity. Julius Jones remains a factor, but Forsett and the newly healthy Leon Washington are commanding most of the attention at running back. Washington has recovered from the gruesome leg injury that threatened his career. He looks good and Carroll loves what he offers to the offense.

3. Will Carroll's competition mantra hold up? Carroll has put veteran players on notice by letting rookies command practice reps based on merit. That's easier to do during training camp, when wins and losses aren't at stake. Coaches often favor veterans when the games start counting because veterans tend to know their responsibilities and have a better overall feel for the game. I think Carroll will go young this season for several reasons. One, he has more than one year to turn around the Seahawks. The organization isn't going to give Carroll the Mora treatment, in other words. Two, an affinity for youth is one value that made Carroll and new general manager John Schneider a good fit together. When Schneider was with Green Bay, the Packers annually fielded one of the NFL's youngest teams. When Carroll was at USC, he was continually getting younger players ready to take over. Three, some of the Seahawks' best players are young. Rookie Golden Tate comes to mind.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Red Bryant's successful conversion. The 2008 fourth-round draft choice was a top-heavy defensive tackle until the Seahawks' new coaching staff took a look at him. Converting Bryant into a two-gap defensive end seemed somewhat dubious on the surface given Bryant's massive girth. Bryant proved up to the challenge, however. His body appears more proportional and he looks like a good fit for the five-technique spot on the line. "My worry was as far as speed," Tatupu said. "You get a really athletic or fast tackle and he gets around him and that edge isn't set. But with what we are asking Red to do, he is our two-gapper. I haven't seen anybody two-gap better than him. Oh, my God. If he's on one side, he will either throw that guy or he will push that guy into the running back and squeeze the hole. He'll do it with one arm. The running back can't go inside, so he'll go outside and Red will just make the tackle one-on-one. It's just impressive. That's why I'm a player and they are the coaches."

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Injuries at linebacker. The Seahawks have proven again why restraint is appropriate when directing praise toward their talented group of linebackers. Aaron Curry missed 10 days of camp after suffering a concussion. He is only now returning. A knee injury has sidelined Leroy Hill. A hamstring issue has sidelined Tatupu recently. This potentially star-studded group failed to last even one game together last season. Curry was out after only one day of training camp, so the group hasn't gotten time together this summer, either. At least David Hawthorne is looking good. He'll start the opener while Hill serves a suspension. It's possible Hawthorne could remain in the lineup even after Hill becomes eligible.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Rookie left tackle Russell Okung's strength is obvious when he locks onto a smaller man. He threw down Reed so violently that Reed's head almost took out quarterback J.P. Losman's left knee during practice Wednesday. Another time, Okung pulled left and couldn't find cornerback Walter Thurmond, who dropped under him and made the tackle.
• Nose tackle Kevin Vickerson has worked with the first-team defense part of the time. The fact that the Tennessee Titans considered Vickerson expendable speaks to the state of the Seahawks' defensive line, but Vickerson has looked good in camp.
• The Seahawks haven't had enough size at cornerback to match up with bigger receivers, especially Larry Fitzgerald. They took a chance on Oregon cornerback Walter Thurmond, who was coming off a catastrophic knee injury, and the gamble could be paying off. Thurmond has shown a fearless, aggressive style in breaking up passes. He could command playing time on passing downs as a rookie. Continued health appears to be the only issue for Thurmond, a fourth-round choice who might have gone in the second if not for the knee injury.
• Seattle is running a 4-3 defense with 3-4 tendencies. Even players have a hard time labeling it.
• Rookie strong safety Kam Chancellor picked up the defense quickly during organized team activities. He has old-school safety size at about 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds. Milloy will likely start at strong safety this season, but Chancellor is a long-term candidate at the position.
• Earl Thomas has shown freakish range from his free safety spot. There's no question about the rookie first-round choice's physical ability as a coverage safety. Thomas has also shown a grasp of the defense. The Seahawks would like him to become more proactive in communicating his alignment to the linebackers, who need to know where their help is coming from. Thomas' abilities in coverage give the staff flexibility because Thomas can slide outside to cover wide receivers one-on-one.
• Tate has made big plays just about every day in camp. He's at the point where rookies sometimes wear down, but the Seahawks' lighter camp schedule could help him sustain his fast start. "He's small, he's not the best route runner, but he makes plays," Houshmandzadeh said. "Every day, he makes plays. ... He just makes plays, period."
• Curry's play as a rookie dropped off significantly once Tatupu, the quarterback of the defense, suffered a season-ending injury. Seattle has talked about using Curry as a pass-rusher, but it's also important for him to become a good strongside linebacker. "I think they have asked him to do that here," Tatupu said. "We have seen him excel at that."
• Cornerback Marcus Trufant appears healthy after an injury-affected 2009 season. Seattle does not have enough talent, most likely, for Trufant to become a leading interceptor and challenge for the Pro Bowl. But there's reason to expect Trufant to become a good starter again.
• The Seahawks have better quality depth at quarterback with Losman in the No. 3 role, but Charlie Whitehurst has yet to seriously challenge Hasselbeck for the starting job. That isn't a huge surprise. Whitehurst never beat out Billy Volek in San Diego. But it's important for Whitehurst to make progress. I think he'll play one way or another in 2010.

Jesper from Denmark took over the NFC West blog Tuesday with his dispassionate dissection of the St. Louis Rams.

Are the Rams really any better?

The question generated discussion on the blog and on my Facebook wall, with some Rams fans taking offense.

Four hours after the item posted, Doug from Yelm, Wash., hit my inbox with a corresponding 700-word dissection of the Seattle Seahawks. I've known Doug for years. Our kids used to play together. Our families get together around the Fourth of July. He's a huge Seahawks fan, but also a realist.

"Jesper from Denmark graced the NFC West mailbag with a position-by-position evaluation of the Rams," Doug wrote. "It would be nice to have the same type of fan-expert breakdown of all the NFC West teams."

And so our Seahawks discussion began.

Quarterback

Doug: Matt Hasselbeck suffered another injury last season on the goal line in San Francisco. He was decent without being spectacular. We can expect more of the same. Charlie Whitehurst won’t be asked to carry this team unless things go south quickly. Verdict: worse.

Sando: There were times in our Rams evaluation when we acknowledged improved depth without saying a position would improve from a talent standpoint. I think we can apply that thinking here. Seattle has strengthened its depth behind Hasselbeck by acquiring Whitehurst and third-stringer J.P. Losman. I wouldn't say Seattle is worse at the position. As long as Hasselbeck is healthy -- and at this point Doug is probably looking at his watch -- the Seahawks will be better at quarterback.

Running back

Doug: This position provides the biggest question mark for the Seahawks. The starter right now is mostly likely Justin Forsett. Julius Jones' role is undefined. Leon Washington has a chance to improve this area if he’s healthy. Verdict: worse.

Mike Sando: This position looks like a wash to me. The team had Edgerrin James and T.J. Duckett early last season. Both are long gone. Forsett appears to be ascending. Jones is decent at running, receiving and blocking. Washington is the wild card. Teams avoided running backs through most of the draft and I can't blame Seattle for addressing other areas. I'll be looking to see if Quinton Ganther becomes a factor on some level. Seattle has to be hoping its Mike Shanahan-style offense can produce Shanahan-style results in the running game without an elite back on the roster.

Wide receiver

Doug: T.J. Houshmandzadeh is really a No. 2-type receiver and Deion Branch has papier-mache joints. Deon Butler, Mike Williams and Ben Obomanu have potential but somebody needs to break out. Golden Tate could make this a much improved area. Verdict: Better, barely.

Sando: Tate looked great this offseason, but I'm usually skeptical about rookie receivers making strong contributions. It's probably not a good sign when Williams is a key X factor, but if he reports to training camp in shape, the Seahawks could be onto something. Nate Burleson was the only key departure from this group. I'd say Seattle is slightly worse here unless Branch or Williams comes through.

Tight end

Doug: John Carlson is in his prime and should produce at an even higher level. Cameron Morrah proved to be a solid backup and a good blocking tight end. Verdict: Same.

Sando: Don't forget about Chris Baker and Anthony McCoy, Doug. This is one position where I think the Seahawks have done a nice job upgrading. John Owens is gone and that should help the quarterbacks' completion percentage. The Seahawks will use two tight ends quite a bit. Baker and McCoy should upgrade the depth behind Carlson.

Offensive line

Doug: This was the biggest problem for Seattle last year. Russell Okung solidifies the left tackle spot and even as a rookie he will be better than the patchwork situation last year. Ben Hamilton is a proven starter with a firm grasp of the zone blocking scheme. Verdict: better.

Sando: We're on the same page with Okung. Even if Okung is average, he'll be better than what the Seahawks had at the position after about Week 6 last season. I'm expecting better here, no question.

Offense overall

Doug: This will be the second year in a row the Seahawks try to adopt a new system. Last year, the offense (and Hasselbeck in particular) didn’t buy into the coach’s vision. The whole offense feels like a question mark this year -- Hasselbeck’s successor on the sideline, a mix of veterans and young guys, and a bad running game that was not addressed in the offseason. Verdict: worse.

Sando: It'll come down to health at quarterback, same as last season. We'll also find out whether Hasselbeck can fit into this offensive scheme comfortably. The new staff values mobility at quarterback and Hasselbeck, though not slow, isn't all that fast, either. Offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates looks like more of an up-and-comer than his predecessor, and with an improved line, Seattle should be better on offense.

Defensive end

Doug: Patrick Kerney’s retirement was way overblown. The need for a pass rush has been there since Kerney was last effective, way back in 2007. Chris Clemons and Lawrence Jackson are not going to set the world on fire. Verdict: worse.

Sando: Carroll sounds sold on Red Bryant at one end spot, though obviously not in a pass-rushing capacity. I'm a little skeptical, but we'll see. Adding Clemons for Darryl Tapp will not make a huge difference. This group looks about the same, minus the false hope that Kerney would revive his career. The Seahawks still do not know where they're going to get their pass rush.

Defensive tackle

Doug: Colin Cole, Brandon Mebane and Craig Terrill are good, but I’m not expecting to see them in the Pro Bowl. Verdict: same.

Sando: I wonder whether Terrill will earn a roster spot this season. You didn't mention Kevin Vickerson, acquired from Tennessee. I'm not seeing a huge change here, either.

Linebacker

Doug: A strength for the Seahawks and their deepest position. Lofa Tatupu, Leroy Hill and Aaron Curry are All-Pro level linebackers. David Hawthorne might be the best non-starting linebacker in the NFL. Verdict: better.

Sando: When was the last time those three linebackers played anywhere near an elite level? It's been a couple years for Tatupu. Hill has been on the cusp, but he has not really delivered. And Curry hasn't proved himself in the NFL. Hawthorne is a good backup. I'll agree that this group should improve. Tatupu is back from injury. Hill and Curry have lots to prove. Hawthorne has much to gain. Injuries are still a concern. Tatupu, Hill and Curry played together less than one full game last season. It gets old hearing about how great Seattle is at the position. Time to produce.

Cornerback

Doug: After returning from injury, Marcus Trufant was flat-out embarrassed at times last season. Kelly Jennings is not a shutdown corner. Walter Thurmond will be called on early in the season and he may still be suffering from a knee injury. Verdict: worse.

Sando: Trufant should be healthier and more comfortable this season and that will upgrade the position. You did not mention Josh Wilson, a good player and better corner than Jennings, who isn't bad. Ken Lucas is gone, but I do not see a huge drop-off from last season. Remember, too, that rookie safety Earl Thomas is a coverage player.

Safety

Doug: By all accounts, Earl Thomas is a stud and he immediately upgrades the Seahawks at safety. Kam Chancellor is a big, physical safety who should contribute right away. Jordan Babineaux and Lawyer Milloy add versatility and depth, but not much play making. Verdict: better, only because of Thomas.

Sando: Thomas does upgrade this group. The team should get more from Milloy this season. I could even see him starting and providing a veteran presence -- someone Carroll can trust to do the right thing. Milloy was the only member of the secondary to provide true toughness last season, I thought. He is old, but also old-school.

Defense overall

Doug: The Seahawks' defense was the only thing that kept them in the games they were competitive in last season. If they can get a pass rush from the outside, either at linebacker or defensive end, they will be much better. Verdict: better.

Sando: Seattle's defense needs more points on the board, so the progress the Seahawks make on offense will be a key variable here, too. I question where this team will get its pass rush, but the team will have a hard time being worse in that department. I'll agree that the defense should be improved with Trufant healthier, Tatupu back, Thomas at safety and Curry taking a step forward.

Coaching

Doug: This team gave up on Jim Mora last year. He called guys out (remember the Olindo Mare incident?) and constantly pleaded with the team to give a better effort. They never bought it. Carroll brings in a lot of recent success from the college ranks, plus enough NFL experience to know what he’s getting into. Verdict: better.

Sando: Carroll will benefit from a better climate in the front office and improved organizational stability. I also think his temperament is better suited for weathering tough times. He'll be more consistent that way and the team will respond more favorably. Bates' addition intrigues me. As noted, I sense he could be an up-and-coming assistant.

Schedule

Doug: Last season featured three road games in a row, Thanksgiving in Dallas and a road game against Green Bay in December. The schedule is better this season with four of the final six games at home and only three games kicking off at 10 a.m. PT. Verdict: better.

Sando: The schedule is tougher early in the season and an 0-3 start against the San Francisco 49ers (home), Denver Broncos (road) and San Diego Chargers (home) is certainly possible. Seattle has to like the schedule later in the season, though. Finishing at home against the Rams was a plus.

Final thoughts

Doug: Carroll brings an energetic, hopeful attitude, but it comes at a price because the Seahawks will be under their third head coach in as many seasons. This team needed a shakeup and new scheming, but results won’t happen overnight. They will be more competitive. I just don’t see how they can make the playoffs. Verdict: better (7-9).

Sando: Six or seven victories seem reasonable and it's a huge step forward if the team can get to 8-8. I expect the Seahawks to handle adversity better than they did last season. That should prevent them from falling off a cliff the way they did in 2009. It's also fair to wonder whether Hasselbeck can stay healthy and whether the team can rush the passer. Problems in those two areas could doom Seattle to another disappointing season.

» NFC Big Question: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

NFC West teams have acquired 10 veteran players by trade this offseason. Which one will have the greatest impact in 2010?

Let's define impact first.

Cardinals safety Kerry Rhodes, acquired from the Jets, has the best chance to finish the 2010 season with the most snaps played among players acquired by NFC West teams. He'll start and presumably be an every-down player on defense.

Seahawks running back Leon Washington and 49ers receiver Ted Ginn Jr. have the best chance to make an electrifying play or two, perhaps swinging a game in their team's favor. Washington first must overcome a broken leg. Ginn scored two touchdowns on kickoff returns for the Dolphins last season. He had a 53-yard TD reception last season and a 40-yard scoring run in 2008.

Charlie Whitehurst, the quarterback Seattle acquired from San Diego, could make the greatest impact -- positive or negative -- based on the nature of his position. Early returns suggest Matt Hasselbeck will hold off Whitehurst for the starting job, but injuries have slowed Hasselbeck over the past two seasons. If Hasselbeck is banged up again, the Seahawks will presumably turn to Whitehurst.

A quick look at the veteran players NFC West teams have added and subtracted this offseason:

Arizona: added Rhodes; subtracted receiver Anquan Boldin.

St. Louis: added linebacker Bobby Carpenter and safety Kevin Payne; subtracted tackle Alex Barron and defensive lineman Adam Carriker.

49ers: added Ginn; subtracted quarterback Shaun Hill.

Seahawks: added Whitehurst, Washington, running back LenDale White, defensive end Chris Clemons, defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson and defensive end Robert Henderson; subtracted guard Rob Sims, defensive end Darryl Tapp and quarterback Seneca Wallace.

Seattle has been the busiest NFC West team in the trade market this offseason. I think that is because the Seahawks are the only team in the division with a new coaching staff and new general manager. They wanted to shake up the roster.

» NFC draft analysis: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

We had big names (Jerry Hughes, Myron Rolle) and no names (Scotty McGee, Shelley Smith) in 32 draft picks in the AFC South.

We also had an incoming veteran (Kirk Morrison to Jacksonville) and outgoing underachievers (LenDale White and Kevin Vickerson out of Tennessee).

Everyone’s on the phone hoping to land more in the form of undrafted free agents, but they’re feeling good too. Needs they had on Thursday have been washed away over three days, and minicamps where rookies will be fitted for uniforms and yelled at by position coaches for the first time will soon arrive.

Best moves

The Titans and Colts both wanted a productive defensive end, both sat still at their first round pick and both had a talented player who fits them fall in their laps.

Derrick Morgan’s got multiple connections with defensive line coach Jim Washburn, and the love fest is on. After losing the high-motor, classy Kyle Vanden Bosch as a free agent, the Titans look to have landed a young version of KVB.

Bill Polian said the Colts have been looking for an extra end for seven years. First-rounder Hughes from TCU looks almost too good to be true in terms of matching up a skill set with a Colts’ model for a position. He couldn’t have landed in a better spot, playing with and learning from Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis.

Riskiest move

Tyson Alualu at No. 10 caused a big stir and raised questions about the Jaguars’ inability to move down. The defensive tackle would likely have still been available later, and the 11th, 12th and 13th picks all got deals right after their selection.

Gene Smith went very heavy on small schools and low profile programs -- Central Arkansas, Murray State, Southern Illinois and James Madison. But it’s Alualu, more than anyone, that will make or break his regime’s reputation. Will the scouts who shook their heads and dropped their jaws at the pick be surprised and revise their opinion or be proven right?

Most surprising move

They are touting the championship pedigree of first-round cornerback Kareem Jackson from Alabama, but Kyle Wilson and Devin McCourty were still on the board. If Jackson doesn’t pan out well for a team thin on talent at corner, they could regret the decision.

I think the Texans had really settled on Ryan Mathews being the guy and may not have recovered after San Diego jumped all the way up to 12 to get him. They had plenty of time to recover and re-examine, but went with Jackson, who was rising on a lot of boards as they draft drew near. There is a gaping hole he needs to help fill, and there will be a lot of second guessing if he doesn’t -- particularly if Wilson and/or McCourty play big.

File it away

Based on their conference call media conversations and the inclusion of a math whiz from UCLA (Alterraun Verner), a Rhodes Scholar from Florida State (Rolle) and an Ivy League defensive tackle from Brown (David Howard), the Titans drafted a smart class.

It’ll be a wonderful thing in meeting rooms and interview sessions. And there shouldn’t be a lot of kids confused when they first dig into the playbook. But if the brains don’t translate into the games, it won’t matter.

RENTON, Wash. -- The Seahawks' trade for LenDale White cost them virtually nothing.

The team moved back seven spots in the fourth round as part of the deal, then took Oregon cornerback Walter Thurmond with the 111th pick, acquired from Tennessee for White, defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson and the 185th pick.

Seattle gave up the 104th and 176th picks.

The Seahawks needed cornerback depth. They have not re-signed Ken Lucas. Former starter Kelly Jennings doesn't fit the size profile Seattle's new leadership values. Thurmond is listed at 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds -- not huge, but he's known as good against the run.

Thurmond would have been a higher choice had he not suffered a blown knee as a senior. The injury history suggests Seattle will not expect much from Thurmond for the next year or two, but he could be a player the team develops.

Such is the nature of drafting players in the middle to later rounds. Those with the most talent tend to come with baggage of some sort. The knee injury is what held back Thurmond.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Seattle Seahawks just got a running back who has had a 15-touchdown season and a big defensive tackle who can be part of a rotation.

And the Titans gave them LenDale White and Kevin Vickerson for very little.

The Titans moved up from 111th in the fourth round to 104th and also swapped sixth-rounders, moving up to 176th from 185th in the sixth round.

They spent 104 on UCLA cornerback Alterraun Verner.

So they gained seven spots in the fourth, nine spots in the sixth in exchange for two veterans.

That doesn’t amount to enough for me, even as White and Vickerson are only under contract for one more year after signing RFA tenders. Both are represented by Drew Rosenhaus.

But I guess you take what you can get.

I know a lot of people weren’t fans of White, and he could be a difficult guy to get a read on. I always thought of him as Anakin Skywalker -- I could see the good in him.

But after playing the role of a good soldier last year, odds are he was going to head for the dark side in another year with very limited touches playing behind Chris Johnson.

I didn’t think he had much trade value, and the Titans certainly didn’t get much out of dealing him. They are thinking addition by subtraction.

RENTON, Wash. -- NFL teams had traded lots of choices since the 2010 draft began, but no veteran players had changed teams.

That changed Saturday when Seattle acquired running back LenDale White and defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson from the Titans. Seattle sent the 104th and 176th choices to Tennessee for the 111th, 185th choice, White and Vickerson.

Seattle needed a running back and White played for Seahawks coach Pete Carroll at USC. The Seahawks and Titans shared another connection. Both teams' general managers worked together previously in Seattle and Green Bay.

NFL teams selected no running backs in the third round and Seattle didn't have a choice in the round, anyway. White fills an immediate need. We'll speak with Carroll about a specific role later in the day.

Each week 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: Under the radar needs.

Houston Texans

While DeMeco Ryans in the middle and Brian Cushing on the strongside are fixtures, the weakside and linebacker depth rate as a secondary issue for the Texans. They could use a pick on the right guy. Gary Kubiak said early this week that Kris Brown can expect competition as the team’s placekicker starting in OTAs. That allows for the possibility the team could use a late pick on a kicker.

Indianapolis Colts

While the team was pleased with the progress of Antonio Johnson and Daniel Muir and expect a second-year jump from Fili Moala, it could still look to add another bigger defensive tackle. Tyjuan Hagler was the starting strongside linebacker at the start of the season, but when an injury ended his season Philip Wheeler took over. That could be a spot Bill Polian addresses. As the team looks for better run-blocking linemen, is Gijon Robinson judged as a sufficient run-blocking H-back/tight end or might there be a better option available than Robinson or injury-prone Tom Santi?

Jacksonville Jaguars

Linebacker hasn’t gotten as much attention as defensive end and the secondary in pre-draft talk so far, but only Daryl Smith is safe from competition. The Jaguars loaded up with three wide receivers in Gene Smith’s first draft, but they lack playmakers and can use a solid guy opposite Mike Sims-Walker if they smack into one during the draft. Indications are the Jaguars will stick with a David Garrard-Luke McCown starter-backup tandem, but Jacksonville needs to develop another quarterback.

Tennessee Titans

Even presuming Michael Griffin bounces back from a very poor third season, Chris Hope will turn 30 early in the fall and the Titans primary depth at safety is Vincent Fuller, who they need playing nickel. Tony Brown, Jason Jones, Jovan Haye, Sen’Derrick Marks and Kevin Vickerson look like a reasonably talented and deep group, but Haye and Marks underwhelmed in their first seasons. Drafting a tackle wouldn’t be a surprise. If Kevin Mawae doesn’t return as a backup center, the Titans will need an interior offensive lineman to back up the three starters.

Houston Texans

Potential unrestricted free agents: CB Dunta Robinson, WR Kevin Walter, RB Chris Brown, DT Jeff Zgonina, G Chester Pitts, S Brian Russell, S Nick Ferguson, LS Bryan Pittman, LB Chaun Thompson, QB Rex Grossman, LB Khary Campbell, G Tutan Reyes, T Ephraim Salaam, P Matt Turk.

Potential restricted free agents: DL Tim Bulman, S John Busing, OT Rashad Butler, TE Owen Daniels, RB Ryan Moats, S Bernard Pollard, LB DeMeco Ryans, G Chris White.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: I don’t think the Texans will jump out and make any monumental moves. But by deciding not to tag Robinson they created another hole and saved themselves big dollars. With needs at corner, running back, free safety, interior offensive line and defensive tackle they may have more than they can address in one draft. That means they could jump out for one significant free agent – like they did last year with defensive lineman Antonio Smith -- and maybe another less expensive one or two.

Indianapolis Colts

Potential unrestricted free agents: MLB Gary Brackett, K Matt Stover.

Potential restricted free agents: WR Hank Baskett, S Antoine Bethea, S Melvin Bullitt, OL Dan Federkeil, CB Aaron Francisco, LB Tyjuan Hagler, CB Marlin Jackson, CB Tim Jennings, DT Antonio Johnson, OT Charlie Johnson, LB Freddy Keiaho, DT Dan Muir, CBPR T.J. Rushing.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: Brackett is priority one and the team has indicated a plan to pay him as an upper-echelon guy. The restricted list includes a lot of key guys who will remain big factors next year. Indy is not a team that looks to bring in many outsiders for big roles and it won’t start now. Bill Polian’s said the Colts will sit back and see how things unfold in the new capless landscape.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Potential unrestricted free agents: DE Reggie Hayward, G Kynan Forney.

Potential restricted free agents: DT Atiyyah Ellison, LB Clint Ingram, DL Greg Peterson.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: The Jaguars are draft-reliant, but will also shop for bargains in free agency, hoping to plug a couple holes with high-character guys with upside who fit what they are doing. As for a big splash, it’s unlikely based on their recent busts with big-name free agents like Jerry Porter and Drayton Florence and the direction they’ve moved since.

Tennessee Titans

Potential unrestricted free agents: DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, C Kevin Mawae, LB Keith Bulluck, TE Alge Crumpler, CB Nick Harper, CB Rod Hood, DE Jevon Kearse, S Kevin Kaesviharn.

Potential restricted free agents: DE Dave Ball, DT Tony Brown, TE Bo Scaife, LB Stephen Tulloch, DT Kevin Vickerson, RB LenDale White.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: The Titans will undergo a youth movement, especially on defense where Vanden Bosch and Bulluck, who’s recovering from ACL repair, are going to be allowed to walk. Mawae been told his only chance to return is as a backup at a backup price. Brown, Scaife and Tulloch are important guys they’ll want to retain. Beyond that, expect mostly bargain shopping.