FanHouse RockyBernard

Something very odd is going on in Detroit this offseason: the Lions are actually showing signs of knowing what they're doing. The latest move reportedly has the Lions sending defensive tackle Cory Redding and a 2009 fifth-round to Seattle for Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson.

Peterson was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his three seasons in Seattle. The Michigan State alum will slide into Detroit's starting strongside linebacker spot and, paired with Ernie Sims on the weakside as the Lions continue to rapidly rebuild their miserable defense. There are implications here beyond immediate on-field payoffs, though.

Entering free agency, the Green Bay Packers were in a pretty good position. Yes, they had holes to fill, but they had plenty of salary cap room, and they only had a couple of guys who were becoming unrestricted free agents that they really wanted to keep.

One of them was defensive lineman Colin Cole. While Cole had the best year of his career in 2008, he wasn't seen as a big-play guy. That's fine, because with Green Bay moving to the 3-4 defense, the role of linemen becomes more gap-control and less about getting up the field. Cole fits that mold well.

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

Mike Holmgren has long been one of the primary identities of the Seattle Seahawks. He took them to the Super Bowl and made them a perennial winner of the NFC West. Then last year happened. As Holmgren's retirement tour rolled along, more and more injuries piled up, Seneca Wallace had to start at quarterback for a few games, and the Seahawks stumbled to a 4-12 record.

Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Rocky Bernard has been arrested on investigation of domestic violence, multiple news outlets are reporting.

Bernard, who turned 29 on Saturday, was reportedly celebrating his birthday at the Ibiza nightclub in Seattle before he was arrested. No other details have been reported, and although the case is scheduled to go to Seattle Municipal Court, so far no charges have been field.

Bernard is a sixth-year player who has developed into a better run stopper in the last two years as he's moved into the starting lineup. He's heading into a contract year, and this incident could both hurt him in contract negotiations and put him in trouble with the NFL's personal conduct policy.

If the Rams learned anything year it would be: employ many lineman (other pearls of wisdom -- "don't let Marc Bulger develop post-traumatic stress disorder," or, "make sure Steven Jackson doesn't require a body cast" are all branches of this tree).

They tried, and whiffed, on Alan Faneca. But they did manage to snag up-and-coming young guard Jacob Bell from the Titans. Bell's only 27 and a player who is still getting better, and he'll step into the starting left guard position, which was been one of the most maligned on the line.

Scott Linehan claims that Bell was the highest-rated guard on their radar, adding the interest in Faneca was only because of his leadership, but I don't buy that for a second. If they wanted Bell, they wouldn't have waited until the second wave of free agency; he's a consolation prize. Still, this is a big improvement for the Rams, who get a talented young player who can play both guard and tackle spots in case his malleability is needed.

The only knock on Bell is his strength. That might come into play in a division with large defensive tackles like Rocky Bernard, Gabe Watson, Aubrayo Franklin, and Isaac Sopoaga. Still, there's not much line help on the market, and the Rams got some (at a palatable price -- $36 million over six with $13 million guaranteed -- as well). Now they just have to take the right Long at the end of April.

The 49ers' offensive line has been pretty underwhelming this year. That should come as no surprise to anyone who's watched them play. But how bad? According to Football Outsiders, they rank 31st in run blocking and 28th in pass protection, although if you ask Alex Smith he might tell you that second ranking is a bit too kind, if you could get him to answer without him suffering 'Nam-esque flashbacks about Rocky Bernard.

One of those offensive linemen is left tackle Jonas Jennings. According to the gents at FO, the 49ers rank 25th in Adjusted Line Yards aimed at Jennings. So imagine how much worse it's going to get when he misses this Sunday's game.

"He's got a personal matter he's dealing with," Mike Nolan said after practice. "He will come back at some point. It's a private matter. I don't care to comment beyond that. It's a personal issue. He's healthy."

Nolan would not speculate on when Jennings might return to the team. The 49ers have a bye next week and play again Oct. 21 at the New York Giants.

Things just keep getting worse for the 49ers, which always seems to happen to the teams with all the preseason hype. At least Jennings isn't injured, but at this point the 49ers are on a downhill slide and can't afford to lose many more games before the season officially gets away from them. And, of course, the 49ers play the Ravens this weekend. The Ravens. Against the 49ers offensive line. Yeah, that should get ugly.

This much we know for sure: Alex Smith won't be playing this Sunday. After that, it gets a little cloudy. He separated his right shoulder. It's a grade three separation which won't require surgery. No, wait, it could be a grade two, which won't require surgery, but it could also be a grade three, which would. A grade three would end his season. A grade two is four-to-six weeks of recovery. Or maybe he'll be back against the Giants on October 21st. Who knows.

All that matters is that Smith now has to refer to Rocky Bernard as "sir" and dance whenever he's told. Whether you like it or not, this is Trent Dilfer's team for at least the short term. The San Jose Mercury News notes that the 49ers were stupid for committing so much money and time on Smith at the expense of quarterback depth, and are paying for it now.

But what's done is done, and when you're watching Dilfer throw interceptions between picking dirt out of his helmet, at least know who to blame for his presence.

On the play, center Eric Heitmann begins blocking Bernard (and actually grabs his facemask) but then switches off of Bernard to block Lofa Tatupu, who is coming from Heitmann's right. Heitmann assumes that Larry Allen, who isn't blocking anyone, will take over on Bernard, but Allen's too late. Allen gets a hand on Bernard but the big defensive tackle is on Smith in a second, driving his shoulder into the ground. Heitmann and Allen – appropriately, I guess – end up running into each other like a couple of Keystone Cops.

What's more concerning than the miscommunication is that Allen wasn't blocking anyone to begin with. Shouldn't an offensive lineman always be blocking somebody?

Well, this might be the best thing that could have happened to the 49ers offense. On his second pass attempt of the game, Alex Smith was HUGH!!!'d by Seattle's Rocky Bernard, landing hard on his throwing shoulder. He was checked out on the 49ers sideline before getting the lonely cart ride back to the locker room for further examination. Smith didn't appear to be in a lot of pain, and there hasn't been a report on his injury yet. And so it comes to pass: Trent Dilfer.

Though you never wish injury on anyone, let's face it, Smith wasn't exactly playing well so far this season, and having an excuse to bring in the more consistent, experienced, perhaps reliable Dilfer without demoting Smith can't be a bad thing, right? So far, The Dilf is looking decidedly Smith-like: 1-of-2, six yards, and a sack. But that could change.

If Dilfer could get the Seahawks to pay attention to the pass -- having played home to the Dilfer/Darrell Jackson connection, Seattle should be aware of what (if anything) the duo can accomplish -- Frank Gore would certainly be appreciative. The 'Hawks are putting more guys in the box than Jesse Jane and Gore, the trend all season, can't find any room to run. He's got four carries for nine yards late in the first and two fumbles, one of which Seattle recovered. Dilfer's got quite the mess to clean up; this defense can't carry the team forever.

Taking into account that it's the preseason, many of the players sitting on the sidelines tonight would normally be on the field if it was a meaningful game. With that said, I'm sure most fans would like to know who they should expect to see this evening. For that reason, I've done by best to create an accurate injury report -- official reports are not posted until week one of the regular season.

Green Bay Packers:

Out: Running back Vernand Morency (knee), running back P.J. Pope (knee), running back DeShawn Wynn (quad) and fullback Brandon Miree (stinger).

Questionable: Cornerback Al Harris (back), guard Tony Palmer (undisclosed), defensive end Devon Hicks (groin), tackle Orrin Thompson (back) and cornerback Charles Woodson (hamstring)

Probable: Safety Marviel Underwood (knee), defensive end Aaron Kampman (knee), linebacker Abdul Hodge (knee), wide receiver Greg Jennings (hip), tackle Chad Clifton (knees), tight end Bubba Franks (cornea) and linebacker Nick Barnett (back).