Niners, Rams resist 'what if' game

<p>SANTA CLARA -- In the weeks and months leading up to the NFL draft, the 49ers appeared to have one major decision to make with the No. 11 overall selection.</p><p>Were the 49ers going to take Mississippi linebacker Patrick Willis or Nebraska defensive lineman Adam Carriker?</p><p>"I kind of figured they needed a defensive lineman, so I thought they were going to take him," Willis said. "I thought he was going to get drafted before me. If they were going to go with a defensive lineman, he's the first one who came to mind."</p><p>Instead, the 49ers surprised Willis. He figured he might get drafted by Buffalo, St. Louis or Carolina in the next three selections after the 49ers.</p><p>"We thought he (Willis) was the best player on the board at the time," 49ers coach Mike Nolan said.</p><p>The 49ers might have had a greater need on the defensive line, but ultimately the organization decided Willis has a better chance to become an NFL star. The consensus within the 49ers was that Carriker would be a solid player for a long time, but perhaps not at a perennial Pro Bowl level.</p><p>"We thought he was a good player, though," Nolan said of Carriker. "We studied him quite a bit because we wanted to make sure we had those top guys lined up."</p><p>Rams coach Scott Linehan said he ultimately got the player he wanted. He was concerned the 49ers might draft Carriker, he said.</p><p>"I thought that was one team that made sense because of the 3-4," Linehan said. "That was one of the things we were worried about, because we were hoping to get Carriker."</p><p>Certainly, neither team is bemoaning how things turned out nearly five months ago on draft day.</p><p>"Whenever you can draft in the first round a rookie who makes it to the field as a starter, you're feeling good about yourself," Linehan said. "I think both franchises should feel good about their No. 1 picks. That's where we are with Adam."</p><p>Willis made 15 tackles in his 49ers' debut Monday night against the Arizona Cardinals. He also broke up a pass and forced a fumble.</p><p>Carriker, a 6-foot-6, 308-pounder, starts for the Rams at nose tackle in their 4-3 defense. He made two tackles in the season opener, the Rams' 27-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers.</p><p>The Rams ranked 31st in the league last season in run defense, yielding 145.4 yards a game. Niners running back Frank Gore rushed for a combined 261 yards in two games against the Rams last season.</p><p>Although the Rams expect to improve in that area with the addition of Carriker, the Panthers gained 186 yards rushing.</p><p>"I think he has the ability to transition to the pass game, as well," Linehan said of Carriker's abilities. "He is a great athlete for a guy that tall. He can run and has pass-rush ability, too."</p><p>The thing that stands out in Willis' mind about Carriker is his arms.</p><p>"I said to him, 'Man, how in the heck are your arms that big?' " Willis said. "He has arms like a bodybuilder. That's crazy. He's that tall and has those arms like he's doing curls all day."</p><p>EXTRA POINTS</p><p>Nolan said the 49ers are not actively trying to trade offensive tackle Kwame Harris, who lost his starting job to rookie Joe Staley. Harris is in the final year of his contract. He expects the 49ers to trade him.</p><p>"We have not put his name out there," Nolan said. "We haven't been pushing anyone. I hope Kwame is here. As it is right now, I think we have a strong line and he's part of that strength."</p><p>New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was fined and the team ordered to give up one of next year's draft choices for using a video camera Sunday to steal the New York Jets' defensive signals.</p><p>Outside linebacker Tully Banta-Cain played his first four NFL seasons with the Patriots before signing with the 49ers in the offseason.</p><p>"When you lose a guy like me, you're going to do whatever it takes to get the edge to win," he quipped.</p><p>Tight end Billy Bajema (ankle), tackle Jonas Jennings (illness) and running back Frank Gore (personal) did not practice. Jennings and Gore are expected to play in Sunday's game.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com.</p>