Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals signed former San Francisco 49ers RG Adam Snyder to a five-year contract. Snyder's strength is his versatility as he can play every position on the offensive line. The 30-year old was one of the reasons the 49ers transformed from a pretender into a contender last season when he replaced a struggling Chilo Rachal as the starting right guard after three games.

DB Richard Marshall left the Cardinals and agreed to a three-year deal with the Miami Dolphins worth $16m, with $6m guaranteed. The 26-year old is capable of playing any position in the defensive backfield. Defensive coordinator Ray Horton considered him the team's defensive MVP last season. Marshall is said to have called the Cardinals to match Miami's offer but they declined. He spent one season with the Arizona Cardinals after coming over from the Carolina Panthers. He had 69 solo tackles, three interceptions, 11 passes defensed and two sacks last year.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks re-signed G Paul McQuistan. Due to injuries on the offensive line McQuistan started at both guard positions as well as left tackle. Details of the deal were not disclosed.

The Seahawks released G Robert Gallery after one season with the team. The guard had two more years running on his current contract but this move saves the Seahawks $4.6m against the salary cap. Gallery started in all 12 games he played for the Seahawks last season but a number of injuries prevented him from reaching his full potential.

Seattle also lost TE John Carlson to the Minnesota Vikings, where he signed a five-year contract for $25m, with $11m guaranteed. The 27-year old missed all of last season with a shoulder injury.

The San Francisco 49ers released their final injury report for the NFC Championship game against the New York Giants. As it has become customary for the past six weeks, all players on the report are listed as questionable.

WR Ted Ginn Jr. did not practice all week because of a knee injury and appears unlikely to play. WR Kyle Williams will start alongside WR Michael Crabtree. He will also be responsible for the punt returns. RB Kendall Hunter will return the kick-offs.

C Jonathan Goodwin (calf) did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday, and was a limited participant in practice on Friday, but his start is not in jeopardy. In the unlikely event of him missing the game or a few snaps RG Anthony Snyder would move to center and G Chilo Rachal would play at right guard.

CB Tarell Brown (thigh) and RILB Patrick Willis (knee) did not practice on Thursday but returned on a limited basis on Friday. Both are expected to play and to start. CB Chris Culliver and LB Larry Grant would be the next men up if Brown or Willis were to miss some action.

FS Dashon Goldson did not practice on Wednesday due to an ankle injury but was a limited participant in practice on Thursday and Friday. He is expected to start but S Madieu Williams could see more playing time if the injury becomes more serious.

TE Delanie Walker returned to practice after missing two games with a jaw injury. He was a limited participant in practice but was cleared for contact. Walker will resume his role as the number-two tight end if the doctors give the green light. Blocking tight end Justin Peele will continue to replace him if Walker can’t play.

The New York Giants listed TE Jake Ballard as questionable. Ballard is suffering from a knee injury and did not practice on Friday. TE Travis Beckum and TE Bear Pascoe would see an increased playing time if Ballard couldn’t play. C David Baas (illness), RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot), LE Justin Tuck (shoulder), RE Osi Umenyiora (ankle, knee), CB Corey Webster (hamstring), WR Hakeem Nicks (ankle) and QB Eli Manning (illness) are all listed as probable and expected to play.

S Reggie Smith (25)

Reggie Smith’s playing time is increasing as the team’s additional defensive back in the dime formation. He recorded 1 interception against the Cincinnati Bengals in the third game of the season. Smith was a third round pick in 2008 and could well receive another contract offer.

QB Alex Smith (27)

Despite having his best season so far opinions are still split on the former number one draft pick but you should be aware of the alternatives before you call for his replacement. Drew Brees (NO) is going to be a free agent but there is no way that he won’t re-sign with the New Orleans Saints. The next best available free agents are Kyle Orton (KC), Jason Campbell (OAK) and Donovan McNabb (FA). Head coach Jim Harbaugh was an NFL quarterback for 15 years and seems to have gotten into Alex Smith’s head. Rumor has it the 49ers will offer Smith a two to three-year contract worth $8 – 11 million per season.

RG Adam Snyder (29)

Snyder started the season on the bench but once he replaced Chilo Rachal in week 4 San Francisco’s pass protection and rushing game improved considerably. It would be negligent not to re-sign him.

S C.J. Spillman (25)

Spillman is a special teams standout and sometimes plays as part of the goal line defense. If he stays on he will continue to see limited action apart from special teams. He is a restricted free agent, which means he can entertain offers from other teams, though the 49ers can match any offer or receive compensation in form of draft picks. The Niners should try to keep their successful special teams unit together, unless he receives an offer that isn’t worth matching.

WR Brett Swain (26)

The 49ers signed the wide receiver less than two months ago to fill the void left by Josh Morgan’s season-ending leg injury. His game status changes from active to inactive, depending on player injuries. The Niners have no reason to sign Swain beyond this season.

DE Will Tukuafu (27)

The 49ers were hoping that Tukuafu could make an impact on the defensive line but they had to place him on IR in October instead. He is an ERFA, hence it would be a surprise if the Niners didn’t try it again with him next season.

S Madieu Williams (30)

The veteran was brought in to compete for a starting job but finds himself on special teams and has even been a healthy scratch. The 49ers have a few young and promising defensive backs and don’t necessarily need the services of Williams in 2012.

LB Tavares Gooden (27) and LB Larry Grant (26)

The situation is very similar for both players. They mainly play on special teams and don’t see much playing time apart from this as Patrick Willis’ and NaVorro Bowman’s backups. If they stay they will primarily be used on special teams. Reggie Givens, former 49ers linebacker and special teams captain suggests to re-sign one player, if not both. Larry Grant came up big last week, when he had to stand in for an injured Patrick Willis and recorded a team-leading 6 tackles and 1 sack, and should be in the driver’s seat.    

WR Josh Morgan (26)

The young wideout was just coming into his own, when he sustained a season-ending leg injury in week 5. After week 12 he was still 5^th among San Francisco’s receivers with 15 caught passes, one more than Braylon Edwards, 3^rd in receiving yards with 220, 48 yards more than Braylon Edwards, and 1 touchdown. Head coach Jim Harbaugh said that re-signing Morgan in the offseason is a priority. Considering that he only makes $555,000 in 2011 the 49ers will have to be more generous though.

FB Moran Norris (33)

It is obvious that Norris’ days in San Francisco are numbered. He was a healthy scratch once he returned from a fibula injury and lost the starting job to rookie Bruce Miller. Norris has become expendable and will be gone in the offseason.

TE Justin Peele (32)

Justin Peele is the number-three tight end and plays roughly three to five snaps a game. There is no way to move past Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker on the depth chart. The Niners could look into drafting a blocking tight end, who they could slowly transition into their tight end heavy system.

G Chilo Rachal (25)

Fact is that the offensive line got better after Adam Snyder replaced Rachal as the starting right guard. Fact is that the running game got better after the change. Fact is that QB Alex Smith is safer when Rachal is on the sidelines. Offensive linemen usually need more time to develop than players at other positions and he has yet to show that he belongs in the NFL. It is very possible that the 49ers and Chilo Rachal are going to part ways in the offseason.

CB Carlos Rogers (30)

It is hard to imagine that the 49ers knew what they would actually get when they signed the former Redskin to a one-year contract before the season. He leads the team with a career-high 5 interceptions and can hold his own against the league’s top receivers. The only free agent worth considering is Atlanta’s Brent Grimes but the Falcons will try to re-sign their cornerback. Rogers earned a contract extension and the 49ers should give it to him.

It’s week 7 of the NFL season and the 49ers are on a bye week, or Improvement Week as head coach Jim Harbaugh calls is. Time to reflect on San Francisco’s season to this point and pinpoint how the 49ers turned from one of the worst teams into one of the best.

After three games the 49ers had a 2-1 record, beating the Seattle Seahawks and Cincinnati Bengals and losing against the Dallas Cowboys in overtime, and were merely on par with preseason predictions. The Dallas Cowboys and the Bengals painfully put one of San Francisco’s weaknesses on display, the offensive line. The 49ers were outsacked 11-2 in those two games and rushed for 62 yards per game. Jim Harbaugh had to respond and one little change made all the difference.

I am a firm believer in the battle in the trenches. The offense stands and falls with the offensive line. If you can block rushing lanes you can establish a running game. With an established running game your pass plays aren’t so predictable. If you can protect the quarterback you can establish a passing game as well. If you fail to block or to protect you will fail to move the chain.

From week 4 on Adam Snyder replaced Chilo Rachal as the starting right guard and the results speak for themselves. In their next three games the 49ers rushed for 193.3 yards per game and outsacked their opponents, the Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions, 10-5. RB Frank Gore rushed for at least 125 yards and 1 touchdown in each of his last 3 games. Coincidence? I think not.

But there is a lot more to San Francisco’s transformation. Take QB Alex Smith for example. His passer rating of 95.2 is the eighth best in the league and he has thrown just 2 interceptions. His overall numbers may not look spectacular but he is very solid this season. He doesn’t always look like a top quarterback but he doesn’t get frustrated and discouraged anymore. He sticks to the game plan and focuses on the next play. And how many times did he successfully drive the offense downfield for a score?

San Francisco’s passing offense is unpredictable. Often a team would have one top receiver and target him as often as possible. The 49ers have injury issues at this position but who is San Francisco’s top receiver? Braylon Edwards? Michael Crabtree? Josh Morgan? Vernon Davis? Fact is, in 6 games the 49ers had 4 different team leading receivers. Opposing defenses cannot focus on a particular player because any of San Francisco’s receivers can take over the game.

Then there is the emergence of LILB NaVorro Bowman. San Francisco’s rushing defense ranked 6^th last season but DT Aubrayo Franklin and ILB Takeo Spikes departed. The 49ers currently rank 2^nd in rushing defense and NaVorro Bowman is on pace for 114 tackles, compared to Spikes’ 82 tackles last season. RILB Patrick Willis’ numbers may be slightly down this season but what does it matter with Bowman putting up these numbers? Is there a better ILB-tandem in the league?

It is no secret that the 49ers devote a lot of time to special teams in practice and it translates onto the field. San Francisco ranks 6^th in punt return average (13.7 yards), 1^st in kick return average (30.9 yards) and 3^rd in punting average (50.5 yards). Every week Ted Ginn Jr. and P Andy Lee put the 49ers in a position where they can succeed. Do you remember TE Delanie Walker’s go-ahead touchdown on 4^th and goal in the fourth quarter of last week’s game? It was preceded by a 40-yard punt return by Ginn Jr. to Detroit’s 35-yard line. K David Akers made 13 of 15 field goal attempts and is a perfect 3-of-3 from 50+ yards.

Let’s not forget the mastermind who is in charge of the team, head coach Jim Harbaugh. The players are totally buying into his philosophy and believe in him. Harbaugh is always well prepared and fits the system around the players he has, not the other way round. He knows what he is doing and whatever he touches turns into gold. He coaches with the same intensity the players are playing the game. He turned the franchise around in less than half a season, though it will be interesting to see how he responds when wins are expected from this point onwards. Until now the 49ers were a surprise team, now they are for real.

This leaves the secondary as the only weak link. If I had the answer on how to fix it defensive coordinator Vic Fangio would have come up with it weeks ago. The personnel is better than last year’s but the defense gives up 261 yards per game and ranks 21^st. Nonetheless, the pass defense is more aware. Last season the 49ers had 15 interceptions, this season they already have 8 and are on pace for 21. The pass rush is producing better results, too. Last season the Niners recorded 36 sacks and this season they have 17 sacks in 6 games. In a pass-happy league that favors receivers it’s getting increasingly difficult to defend against the pass. But regardless of the yardage the opponents are racking up, once they get into the red zone things become tricky. San Francisco’s opponent red zone scoring percentage is at league low of 31.58%, compared to 47.27% last season. More often than not opponents have to settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown.

Jim Harbaugh is building something very special in the Bay Area. The city is excited and the 49ers are relevant again after years of anonymity. The playoffs are only a matter of time, but they are fast approaching.

The San Francisco 49ers updated their depth chart and there have been quite a few changes.  

WR Michael Crabtree’s foot injury seems to have healed completely and he reclaims a starting spot next to Josh Morgan. Crabtree is still without a touchdown this season but he caught 5 passes for 68 yards in Sunday’s win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Josh Morgan had 3 receptions for 65 yards and 1 touchdown.

It should become very interesting when Braylon Edwards returns from his knee injury, which will likely be after the bye in week 7. There will be a lot of competition and there is no guarantee that he will move past Michael Crabtree or Josh Morgan on the depth chart. It shows that the Niners have considerable depth at wide receiver.

Adam Snyder replaced Chilo Rachal as the starting right guard on the offensive line. Snyder did an outstanding job against Philadelphia’s DE Jason Babin and wasn’t responsible for any of the 3 sacks.

FB Moran Norris is still ahead of Bruce Miller on the depth chart. Norris suffers from a fibula injury and won’t return to the lineup until after the bye week. Miller’s blocking improved against Philadelphia but it appears that the Niners have more faith in Norris for now.

There were no changes on defense other than Colin Jones is now listed as the third free safety. Jones was promoted to the 53-man roster when the 49ers placed DE Will Tukuafu on IR. Colin Jones is expected to see action on special teams.