With the focus on offensive linemen today during the opening media session of the NFL Scouting combine, this year’s top prospects set out to distinguish themselves from the competition.

Iowa’s Bryan Bulaga and Indiana’s Roger Saffold got points for having the most polished interview skills among the offensive tackle elite, as both were well-spoken and communicated effectively during their interview session.

Rutgers offensive tackle Anthony Davis, who at one point had ballooned to 360 pounds during his college career, came in at a svelte-for-him 323 pounds, and has perhaps the most potential of becoming an elite pass blocker

Oklahoma offensive tackle Trent Williams’ arm length of 34 ½ inches solidified his candidacy as a left tackle in the league.

And Oklahoma State Russell Okung’s no-nonsense approach to answering questions during his interview session mirrored the tough and sometimes-nasty way he plays on the field, providing further evidence of the reason some draft experts think he’s the best tackle of the bunch.

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Utah offensive lineman Zane Beadles took the podium just a few minutes ago. Beadles worked out at guard at the Senior Bowl and had a pretty good game. He said he’s most comfortable at tackle, but is versatile and could play guard and center as well.

Beadles said the Seahawks are not one of the teams he’s talked to so far, but he’s comfortable playing in a zone blocking scheme, having played in that scheme at Utah.

Beadles said he gave up one sack last season, to BYU defensive lineman Jan Jorgensen.

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Someone to keep an eye out for as a player possibly on the Seahawks’ radar is LSU return specialist Trindon Holliday. The 2009 NCAA 100 meter outdoor champion, Holliday was one of the fastest players in college football last season, and said he would like to run a 4.24 in the 40-yard dash this week, the same time Tennessee running back Chris Johnson ran two years ago.

Holliday is the only player invited to the combine as a return specialist, and also said he will stay and workout with the wide receiver group later this week after he catches punts and kicks with the specialist group.

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San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Singletary lived up to his reputation for not mincing words when it comes to answering questions from reporters.

Twice Singletary was asked if changes in the NFC West, including the retirement of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner and the Seattle Seahawks head coaching change to Pete Carroll, paved the way for his team to be the favorites to win the NFC West.

And both times, Singletary refused to take the bait, stating that whatever happens outside his team has no bearing on whether he believes the Niners can win a division title

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Hello from freezing cold Indianapolis. There’s not much going on right now, just reporters milling around looking for coffee to get warm after the walk over from the hotel.

I’ll of course have more to report as the day goes on, but for now here’s the schedule for this week. And check this link out to watch the combine live, beginning on Saturday.

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The Seattle Seahawks announced that they have placed the team’s franchise tag on kicker Olindo Mare in anticipation of Thursday deadline to use the tag.

According to this year’s franchise tag for kickers, Mare was tendered a one-year contract worth $2.814 million, and the two sides can continue negotiating on a longer term deal.

The franchise tag dictates that Seattle pay Mare a minimum of the average salary of the top five kickers in the National Football League, or a 20 percent salary increase, whichever is greater.

Mare earned $1.5 million in the final year of a two-year deal last season.

Seattle used the franchise tag on Mare because the price tag would have been too steep to use on other unrestricted free agents like WR Nate Burleson or DL Cory Redding.

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No matter what Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider decide to do in getting the Seahawks franchise back to respectability, draft experts agree the first decision they have to make is what direction to go at quarterback.

Both Carroll and Schneider have said they believe the team can win with 34-year-old quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, as long as they make a diligent effort to surround him with playmakers and protect him up front, something Seattle failed to consistently do over the past two seasons.

However, it remains to be seen if Carroll and Schneider will stay true to their word when April’s draft comes around and Seattle’s has a chance to select a franchise quarterback to groom for the future with two, first-round picks at No. 6 and No. 14.

Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford or Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen would be the likely candidates if Seattle chose to pick a QB in the first round. Neither will throw this week because of injuries (Bradford is still recovering from shoulder surgery, while Clausen is nursing a toe injury), but the combine offers an opportunity to get measurables on both athletes and more importantly, perform an in-depth interview with both.

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I’m heading out to Indy, but I’ve got time to talk before the plane leaves. Let me know what players you want more info on this week.