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Our post-draft amendments to pre-draft positional rankings continue with Matt Williamson, NFL scout for ESPN.com. Up next: defensive linemen. NFC West teams drafted four of them if we count the San Francisco 49ers' Corey Lemonier and the Arizon...

The San Francisco 49ers used the 40th overall choice of the 2013 NFL draft for Florida State defensive lineman Tank Carradine, a player analysts connected to San Francisco in pre-draft projections. That move came one day after the 49ers used the 1...

Pre-draft news conferences featuring NFL general managers provide a good opportunity to ask about issues beyond the draft. I was interested Wednesday in hearing the San Francisco 49ers' Trent Baalke explain what the team envisioned for Glenn Dorse...

The San Francisco 49ers have fielded an effective, sometimes dominant defensive line recently, even without factoring outside linebacker Aldon Smith into the line equation. That's why it was shocking to see ESPN's NFL scout, Matt Williamson, rank ...

Thoughts on Todd McShay's latest mock draft projections for NFC West teams: Arizona Cardinals: Oklahoma tackle Lane Johnson (first round, No. 7 overall) and North Carolina State quarterback Mike Glennon (second round, No. 38) were the projection...

Our NFC West chat won't start til 1 p.m. ET, but one of the questions waiting in the queue caught my attention already. "Let's face it, everyone is worried about the 49ers' defensive line," Andrew from Minnesota wrote. "I think, however, most peop...

Thanks to those who reminded me to produce a "Silver linings" file following the Super Bowl. It's taken most of the week, but here goes. The facts: The San Francisco 49ers suffered a 34-31 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. The...

Around the NFC West: Feb. 8, 2013 Arizona Cardinals McManaman: Parcells, Bowles and 3-4 Somers: Dockett's role in defense Urban: Peterson's returns, Bowles St. Louis Rams Thomas: Bush's birthday surprise ...

Eight hours in a New Orleans Convention Center ballroom Saturday wasn't enough for Bernie Miklasz and me, so we hung out some more over the phone this week for his 101ESPN St. Louis radio show. Feel free to eavesdrop . 2013 HOF Finalists, Mode...

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Justin Smith is expected to need two or three months to recover from triceps surgery scheduled for this week. That gives Smith ample time to ready himself for the 2013 season. 2011-12 DL Snaps Counting Playof...

San Francisco 49ers safety Dashon Goldson deserves a long-term contract after playing the 2012 season under the franchise tag. Coach Jim Harbaugh indicated as much during his news conference Tuesday. Dashon Goldson Stats Yr. Snaps IN...

NEW ORLEANS -- Super Bowl XLVII features arguably the greatest inside linebacker in NFL history (Ray Lewis) and the two best in the game today (Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman). Average Tackle Yardage Downfield Direction In Out All ...

NEW ORLEANS -- A mere 3,565 days have passed since the 2003 NFL draft. That's not nearly long enough for Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs to forget about a certain team passing over him in the first round. Fans of the Arizona Card...

NEW ORLEANS -- Safety Ed Reed and cornerback Cary Williams were the only Baltimore Ravens defenders to start every regular-season game for the AFC champions this season. The NFC champion San Francisco 49ers had nine defenders start every game. ...

Cards' Defensive Rankings by Coordinator DC Horton Davis C.P. Seasons '11-12 '09-10 '04-08 Points 13th 31st 28th Pts./drive 7th 25th 24th Yards 13th 29th 19th Rush yds. 27th 26th ...

Around the NFC West: Jan. 25, 2013 Arizona Cardinals Somers: Horton shows no bitterness Urban: Coaching staff roundup St. Louis Rams Thomas: Rams at safety, Rob Ryan San Francisco 49ers Maiocco: Rom...