SB Nation - Antonio Pittman

Rams vs Chiefs Fight Card

VanRam — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:17:22 -0000

by Jeff Roberson - AP

St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Hollis Thomas will present his case to stay on the Rams final 53-man roster tonight against the Chiefs in the final preseason game.

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The last game of the preseason is upon us. The St. Louis Rams host their cross-state counterparts from the AFC Worst (not to be confused with the NFC Worst) with a giant silver cup owned by the state of Missouri and given to the team whose second and third stringers out perform the other team's second and third stringers to claim the title of best preseason football team in the Show Me State.

3k has a game preview, so be sure to check it out. I'm here with the cliff notes version of what to watch tonight.

On the radar

Now, before you get too excited about preseason football, just remember the Lions, yes, the 0-16 Lions, won all four of their preseason games last season. I seem to recall more than one pundit writing throwaway copy like "the Lions could surprise this season." Yeah, they surprised alright. Getting a third preseason win doesn't mean much on paper for the Rams in terms of what to expect in the regular season, but they really need to win this game. A win here, with the hometown baseball team having wrapped up their game this afternoon, would help generate a little momentum heading into the regular season, put the Rams back on the St. Louis sports radar. That matters because this is a franchise trying to rebuild itself, and the more asses in the seats it has, the more support from the people signing checks to build a winning team year-in and year-out.

Donnie Avery Returns

After a broken foot, Donnie Avery returns and is expected to play tonight against the Chiefs. The starters are not expected to play much this evening, and that probably holds true for Avery as well. After all, there's no point getting him injured in a game to determine roster spots. He's been running well in practice by accounts. Tonight, keep an eye on how the fast one fares with live opponents trying to make their case to stay on an NFL roster.

Who's Number Three?

We've spilled plenty of ink on this one already. Brock Berlin and Keith Null will get the majority of snaps at QB tonight. Who earns the coveted third spot?

Thomas or Gibson?

3k and I spent some time on this question last night on TSR, concluding that Gibson probably gets the fourth and final defensive tackle spot. How can he not? Thomas has size, but have you seen much of anything else from the guy?

Being a better run blocker

Can Jason Smith build on the progress he showed against the Bengals? Watch to see if he does a better job staying low and driving on his blocks. The Chiefs run a 3-4 defense and are allowing opponents an average of 3.3 yards per rushing attempt in the preseason.

Special teams looking special

The Rams special teams have not impressed in the preseason. For a lot of the guys trying to get on the roster, their play on special teams will have lots to do with the final verdict.

Corner pocket

The Rams probably won't carry more than nine defensive backs on their roster, which would mean 4 safeties and 5 corners. Since they traded Tye Hill, there are only six corners on the roster, and Cord Parks is going to have to do something really special (or Quincy Butler is going to have to play really bad) to miss out. I think we might get a better sense tonight as to whether or not the Rams will look outside for depth at cornerback.

Backup, backup running back

Gado has the #2 RB spot nailed down. Tonight, Antonio Pittman, Kenneth Darby and Chris Ogbonnaya will make their case for the third spot. Another roster spot where we might get a sense of whether or not Billy Devaney will look elsewhere to find a solid runner to round out this group.

There are a million stories in the naked city and around 75 of them in tonight's game.

Chapter 1, Game 4 - v. Kansas City Chiefs (Sept. 3rd)

3k — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:01:38 -0000

The History of the Governor's Cup, as told by 3k

In 1764, two French fur traders, Pierre Laclède and René Auguste Chouteau, arrived on a junction of two mighty rivers, the Missouri and the Mississippi.

Pierre said to René, "My gud frien, we shall cull zeez pless 'St. Louis.' And one day zey shall 'ave for zemselves a football teem. Zey shall be zee 'Rams.' And every yee-er, zey shall play a teem from zee oowest. And we shall call zeez gehm zee 'Coupe du Duché.'"

"But Pierre," René said, "Certainement, zees is not zee American way, no? I propose to name zee game, "La Coupe de la Gouverneur."

Twenty-five short years later, France went a little kooky and went from this:

to this:

I'm still not really sure if that counts as a victory.

And that was how we came to tonight. Preview of the battle for the Governor's Cup after the fold.

For game-specific info, check out the SBN event page for this game. For Chiefs news leading up the game, check out Arrowhead Pride.

BTW, I'm going to be concise this time out. Beware....KC

St. Louis Rams, 2-1, 3rd - NFC West

Kansas City Chiefs, 0-3, 4th - AFC West

STL pass v. KC pass D

KC doesn't have a whole lot to be worried about. Brandon Flowers is decent, but the fact that he is IMO the best pass defender (along with Mike Brown) says a lot about KC's pass defense. In short, it's exploitable. Keep an eye on Keenan Burton who should get plenty of reps against a defense that is not top level.

STL run v. KC run D

This is all about depth. Samkon Gado? Kenneth Darby? Or even Antonio Pittman? I don't have the answers. What I do have is questions. In between those questions and answers lies (or is it lay?) Derrick Johnson. Johnson is a beast, but around him, it's pretty ugly. Could ActionJackson take advantage of this matchup? Easily. Can the guys behind him? We'll see.

STL O-line v. KC D-line

I'll be concise: this is the weakest D-line the Rams have faced / will face all preseason. Sure, Glenn Dorsey and Tamba Hali shows some promise. But if our O-line doesn't dominate their D-line as long as the tops are in, it should be viewed as a failure. Keep an eye on Tyson Jackson too see if he's a prospect or a nowspect.

KC pass v. STL pass D

This is an interesting matchup. I'm VERY high on Dwayne Bowe; at the same time, I'm very low on the rest of this passing attack. With Tye Hill gone, can Jonathan Wade step up? If not, who challenges him for PT? There's a ton to pay attention to with these two units for both teams. Keep an eye on the replays.

KC run v. STL run D

Yeah, Larry Johnson is a beast. But he won't get much of a look in this contest. For Rams fans, this should be another examination of the James-es; Laurinatis and Butler. Dealing with a team as poor as this (in all aspects) shouldn't be a barometer -- it should be a baseline for domination. Anything less is a failure.

KC O-line v. STL D-line

This is strange; for the Rams to see a unit that they can completely outplay is rare. Enjoy it before the game. If we don't see domination, we'll have something to yak on Wednesday on Turf Show Radio.

This week's top 3 storylines brought to you by famous people from St. Louis:

1.) Maya Angelou: Angelou famously penned I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. It was soon followed by a sequel written by 3k titled I Don't Know Why the Tye Hill Sucked. In any case, this is a chance for the rest of the CB corps to step up and earn the reps that Hill had been handed.

2.) T.S. Eliot: Eliot brought poetry into the 20th century with The Waste Land, which despite what you might assume is not a poem about the Edward Jones Dome from 2005-2008. The pieces on offense will all be on the field in week 1 (barring anything wacky tonight); we could see an offense this season that deserves to don the blue and gold.

3.) Scott Bakula: Scott Bakula is widely regarded as the finest actor in human history. Bakula played the fundamentally significant part of Dr. Sam Beckett in the popular tv show Quantum Leap. To say this team has made a quantum leap from its dismal recent past would be premature. To rule it out would be shortsighted.

Tonight's game closes out the first chapter of the 2009 season. It's almost time to enjoy what drives Turf Show Times: regular season (and post-season, but let's not get ahead of ourselves) football. GO RAMS!

Interview: School is in Session, VanRam tells us about the St. Louis Rams

Kirkendall — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:03:39 -0000

VanRam runs a great blog that covers the St. Louis Rams. He's also our SB Nation partner and opponent this Thursday. Kind enough to take time out of his busy day, VanRam sits down with us and gives us an impression and rundown of what to expect Thursday. Head over to Turf Show Times to see my and Jake's answers.

The Rams and Bengals have an interesting parallel in their respective drafts, picking an offensive tackle in the first round and a linebacker in the second. Cincinnati had Jason Smith near the top, if not the top, of their draft boards. How’s he looked so far?

VanRam: Smith has had a rough welcome to the NFL. In practice, he’s done well run blocking, but squaring off with Leonard Little has given him fits. Playing with the starting unit in last week’s game against the Falcons, he botched blocks on a run and pass play for back to back gains by Atlanta. He might not start when the season begins on September 13. Still, he has shown enough potential that it’s just a matter of time before he’s up to speed for the NFL.

For the Ohio State University fans out there, how’s linebacker James Laurinaitis looking?

VanRam: He played his way into the starting lineup early, which is no small task considering he’s being asked to call plays for the defense in his rookie season. As you might expect from a rookie, he hasn’t been flawless, but his strong play has far outweighed whatever normal rookie learning curve he faces. This is a big upgrade for the Rams at MLB.

Marc Bulger has a broken finger and it’s unlikely that he’ll play Thursday. Is there a backup quarterback competition between Kyle Boller and Brock Berlin and who do you expect to win the job?

VanRam: Boller has the job, barring unforeseen circumstances between now and the start of the season. Criticisms of his accuracy and decision making rang true in his start against the Falcons last week. We’re hoping for something better this week. Sixth round pick Keith Null and Brock Berlin are jockeying for the third QB role. Both had a nice game last week. Null looks the part, with nice poise and seems unflappable in the pocket. Berlin has some moves. It won’t be an easy decision, but the favorite is Null.

Steven Jackson led the league with 2,334 yards from scrimmage in 2006. Since then, he’s missed time in each of the past two seasons, struggling with injury to regain the form that earned him his lone Pro Bowl. Is there concern about Jackson’s durability?

VanRam: Of course, that concern has been echoed all spring and summer, eliciting numerous howls when the Rams didn’t do more to get a backup running back. Jackson’s injuries the last two seasons have much to do with the offensive line, which was so bad it forced more of the burden directly onto Jackson’s legs. The coaches are being extremely cautious with him. He hasn’t played more than two drives in the preseason.

Carson Palmer is the heart and soul of the Bengals offense. If he goes down to injury, the Bengals chances of winning dramatically increases. We figure that Jackson is critical to the Rams offense. Would it be fair to say that the offense depends heavily on Jackson and will he make or break the season?

VanRam: Absolutely. Without Jackson the Rams offense will suffer greatly. With so many needs to fill this offseason, the Rams didn't pick up a backup runner capable of stepping in should Jackson not be available to play. It seemed like, maybe, there were some options on the roster already with Kenneth Darby, Antonio Pittman and Samkon Gado. Nobody from that group has done anything with enough consistency through camp and preseason play to distinguish themselves. Of course, I could be wrong. If Bulger rebounds well, he could still do some damage with this offense. That's unlikely considering the Rams would lack enough of a serious threat on the ground to create the kind of balance an offense needs to keep defenses honest.

Bengals and Rams fans have one thing in common. Both are seeking to regain their high-scoring offenses. Are the Rams close to regaining that magic, or is the team taking on a totally different philosophy?

VanRam: The days of the Rams putting up 30 points (and spotting opponents 20) ended when the cast and crew from the Greatest Show on Turf got old, especially the linemen. With a better line and a healthy Steven Jackson they’ll move the ball. The passing game has looked much better than people expected, especially considering the inexperience we have at receiver. This is a grind it out offense now.

Since Mike Martz left early in the 2005 season, the Rams have seen several changes as the team’s head coach. Now that Steve Spagnuolo is the team’s fourth head coach since Martz, do you believe he’ll bring stability to the team and improve from a combined five wins in the past two seasons?

VanRam: The change in coaches and a front-office overhaul already seem to be doing wonders for the team. The losing culture is being slowly but surely extracted from the locker room. Players seem to be buying into it, and there’s a new sense of excitement in the building, especially as the team has gotten younger since the last year. Nobody expects a double digit win season, but improvement should be easy.

Now that Torry Holt has left St. Louis for Jacksonville, what’s the general feel with the Rams wide receivers?

VanRam: There was, still is, concern about the relative lack of experience at WR. However, the young guys, particularly third year pro Laurent Robinson, have looked sharp in early returns. Losing Donnie Avery hurts, but he is close to returning. Once he does, the should surprise more than a few prognosticators with a top three combo of Avery, Robinson and Keenan Burton.

I believe that predicting wins and losses for an entire season is a bit pointless. However, how do you see the Rams matching up in your division and do they have a shot at the playoffs?

VanRam: The NFC West is such a wacky division. The Cardinals certainly have the best team, but any single factor could knock them off the top...like, say, an injury to the elderly Kurt Warner. The Rams HAVE to win games against the 49ers and the Seahawks this year, and that's very possible. I think this is a six win team.

Where things stand: A mid-August assessment of the Rams offense

VanRam — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:14:02 -0000

More photos » by Seth Perlman - AP

St. Louis Rams wide receiver Laurent Robinson, has been a pleasant surprise for the Rams so far.

Browse more photos »

The St. Louis Rams have had, so far, an up and down preseason. The practices at Rams Park kicked off the new era. They were intense, physical, and exciting to see. Each session bolstered fan hopes for an improved Rams team after a long time in the wilderness. Summing up the difference between this year's camp and those from previous seasons, the PD has the most apt anecdote:

"Get low and stick 'em!"

It was the players' tribute to one of those fans, Jerry Harrison — aka Coach, aka Superfan. "Get low and stick 'em!" has been Harrison's trademark chant during training camp practices for more than a decade. (Except for the three years he was muzzled by Scott Linehan, that is.)

Scott Linehan and the Rams former top brass did much to silence fans over the years, mostly by turning out a sub-par product, but the fact that they actually ordered one of the most enthusiastic fans - at a time when paper bags were widely distributed prior to home games - to be silenced say all you need to know about the changes at Rams Park.

A win over the New York Jets to open the preseason kept the fires of interest burning, though a few instances of what happened on the field (like Bulger getting sacked three times) evoked an eerie deja vu and reminded us all that dominance was still down the road a bit.

News of injured starters made for some unsettling days between the Rams' first two preseason games. Then, with last Friday's loss to the Falcons, the sound of teeth gnashing and nail biting started drowning out the excitement, and the legacies of seasons past look harder to shake than they should be.

Take a deep breath, count the bumps on that little string of beans, and repeat after me: "It's still preseason. Om. It's still preseason. Om." Before the Rams play their third preseason game this Thursday against the Cincinnati Bengals, it's worth taking a look at where things stand and what questions still need to be answered. Let's start with the offense:

We'll start with the big questions and then go unit by unit with a look at their progress and work remaining.

Will Bulger be able to play like a starter again? So far, the beleaguered Bulger hasn't really had much time to answer the question that's dogged him every since he signed a big new contract before the start of the 2007 season. Throughout camp he has demonstrated the accuracy that made him famous and a solid grasp of the playbook. In limited playing time against the Jets, he was sharp, going 4-for-4. He made a couple of throws with rushers in his face, and the three sacks didn't seem to faze him. On just one sack did it look like he held the ball too long. He connected with his receivers, despite the #1 Donnie Avery being sidelined since the August 7 scrimmage. We need to see more sync with Steven Jackson, who hasn't played much at all in the preseason. Bulger will miss this week's game against the Bengals; he might miss the next one against the Chiefs too. Though he should be back for the season opener against Seattle. Obviously, he'd be better off having more practice time, but it doesn't look like Bulger will be the issue holding the offense back.

Can Steven Jackson stay healthy and become an elite, do-it-all back? Jackson certainly came to camp in the best physical shape of his life, but we haven't seen much from him in preseason play. If he has the holes, we know he can run. We also know he can catch passes, but it still would be nice to see a little bit more of that in the new offense. Though it didn't seem like it would be an issue when camp started, the big question surrounding Jackson now is whether or not he's going to get the running lanes he needs.

Will the offensive line be improved? That seemed like a sure thing just a month ago, with the addition of C Jason Brown, drafting Jason Smith and getting younger and tougher across the line. Against the Falcons, a team that featured a notably porous run defense, the Rams had terrible run blocking and the line has again opened itself up to questioning. Part of the problem was that Jason Smith just wasn't ready. Contradicting camp reports (and maybe offering some hope that it was just a matter of first exposure to NFL starters) Smith blocked decently against the pass rush but poorly for the run. He has some time to establish himself and learn the ropes. On the other side of the line Barron has looked solid. In the middle, I don't know what I was expecting, but I somehow expected the combo of Brown, Incognito and Bell to look a little sharper than they have. Bell's hurt, again, and his replacement, Mark Setterstrom, did just fine. Curiously enough, the Rams never ran up the middle with Steven Jackson against the Falcons. Granted, he was only in for one series, but that seems unusual. Gado ran up the middle to no avail. Some of that is the steep drop-off between Jackson and Gado, but the linemen had trouble getting to the second level against the Falcons stacked box, leaving little running room for Gado to exploit. That's a good lead-in to the next question that faced the Rams when preseason began...

Who will backup Steven Jackson? The jury's still out on that one. Sakmon Gado looked good against the Jets, but played mostly against guys battling for a roster spot, an easy matchup for a guy who has had success at the NFL level. Against the Falcons' first team Gado got nado. I want to officialy go on the record as stating that Gado is a camp/preseason phenomenon, nothing more. Kenneth Darby looked to have a solid grasp on the #2 job heading into the preseason opener, but struggles in pass protection and running the ball pushed him back down the depth chart. Antonio Pittman had nice night in relief of Steven Jackson against New York, faring a little better than his rivals against the Falcons. Of course, all the Rams runners struggled against the Falcons. Right now, Pittman looks like he might be the lead horse for the second spot. I wouldn't discount Chris Ogbonnaya yet either. He has shown good ball control (though limited reps) and can catch passes, which theoretically makes him a good fit in this offense. I'd like to see what he can do against NFL starters.

Will inexperience among the Rams wide receivers hurt the team? Of all the questions we figured to still be trying to answer midway through the preseason, this topped the list. Turns out, the receivers look pretty solid Laurent Robinson looks every bit like a starter, and when Avery gets back the two should be a nice 1-2 pairing. Keenan Burton has looked sharp in limited action. The tight ends have done well in passing game too, even blocking TE Billy Bajema has more than 50 yards on 4 catches. Playing with backup QBs makes this a little tougher to evaluate.

Now the units...

Quarterback - We covered Bulger above. After what he's endured in recent seasons, heightened risk of injury will always be there, hanging over Bulger. The problem with that as things stand now is what we've seen from his backup, Kyle Boller. Boller was inaccurate and made questionable decisions in the pocket, despite having the kind of time Marc Bulger would have killed for. Those are the two main points of criticism that have always followed Boller. In all honest, it might be nice to see what Null and Berlin can do with the first team.

Running back - Spagnuolo and offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur must have supreme confidence in Jackson, because they're being really, really stingy with him in preseason play. Call it the Ladainian Tomlinson approach to preseason play. Finding a backup and consistent blocking is still the main story here.

Wide receiver - Robinson and Avery look like a very competent combo for the Rams starters. Keenan Burton has looked sharp too. Sean Walker and Derrek Stanley have looked alright with the second team. Another stand out performer here would finally put questions about this unit to rest.

Tight end - McMichael and Bulger looked to have a mind meld going in the Jets game, but Boller's accuracy left him catchless last week. It's fair to ask at this point mow much speed he has left. Fells was widely expected to grab the third spot on the depth chart, and that still seems likely. He made some noise with the first team against the Falcons. Bajema's been the most pleasant surprise. The blocking specialist is the second leading receiver on the Rams right now. Klopfenstein has done nothing to justify his spot on the roster.

Offensive line - Discussed above in more detail. I just need to see some consistency from this unit to rest easier. Smith hurt his cause last week, giving Goldberg a good chance to start the season on the right side. The first rounder will get better; he has the talent and will to do so. The backups look good.

Fullback - Mike Karney missed the preseason opener. The poor run blocking against the Falcons didn't give him much of a chance to clear lanes ahead of the runner. Need to see more here. Ditto for converted Jerome Johnson, a converted linebacker with nice size to play FB.

We'll run down the defense next.

Ahman Green and Samkon Gado in St. Louis

Brandon — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:00:24 -0000

Former Packer RB Ahman Green spent the last two seasons battling injuries in Houston. He was released back in February and is still trying to find a job for 2009. He tried out for the Rams this week. But this caught my eye:

"Four-time Pro Bowl RB Ahman Green worked out for St. Louis this week as the team examines its options at the position.

The Rams have Steven Jackson, a 2007 Pro Bowler, as their starting running back, with Kenneth Darby, Samkon Gado and Antonio Pittman as the experienced backups behind him."

Apparently St. Louis is trying to corner the market on ex-Packer/Texans running backs by reuniting Gado and Green.

Are the Rams interested in Ahman Green as a pass blocker?

VanRam — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:29:58 -0000

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger (10) is sacked by New York Jets cornerback Donald Strickland in the Rams preseason opener. Bulger's three sacks were largely the result of poor blitz pickup from the backfield, which could be why the Rams are interested in Ahman Green.

Browse more photos »

What to make of the St. Louis Rams interest in former Green Bay, Houston, etc. RB Ahman Green?

Green's 32-years-old and has an injury history sheet capable of bumping doctors up an income bracket or two. With that, I don't think Green's being viewed as a possible solution at backup running back, at least not as a true #2. For that job, the Rams have a good competition going between Sakmon Gado and Antonio Pittman, both younger and speedier than Green. If they wanted a veteran RB as a number two guy, Edgerrin James would make more sense, anyway.

Their flirtation with Ahman Green is likely more about finding a pass blocker in the backfield, an experienced and expert player at picking up the blitz.

Our own CoachConners mentioned this in the comments to today's Random Ramsdom post:

Wasn’t Ahman Green one of the best blocking backs in football when he played with Brett?

Brett Favre seemed to think so. Here's a quote from the un-retired one from back in the 2000 season, from Ahman Green's own web site nonetheless:

His pass blocking, which most people wouldn't notice, was as good as I have seen by a back in this offense. Several times it was guys he didn't have to pick up, he just kind of felt the guy coming.

That was from Mike Sherman's days as the GB head coach, Sherman being a West Coast offense disciple himself. There's some good information about Green and pass blocking in that style offense in the article posted on Green's site. To wit:

Such instinctive play is important for Green. He must know when to stay in and pass protect, sometimes cutting off play-action to one side to pick up a blitzer on the other side. If there is no blitz, Green must get out into his route quickly and be prepared to receive a pass even before Favre throws it.

All of these decisions, of course, must be made before the play begins and are subject to change because of audibles or defensive adjustments. Getting to the point where all of the information is processed quickly and reactions are made instinctively takes time.

If the Rams are suddenly concerned about Darby as third down, situational back - and they recently bumped him down on the depth chart, according to reports in the press - it wouldn't be a stretch to bring in Green to play a very limited role, albeit an important one, in the Rams offense. They can't afford to lose a QB this year, and with a rookie RT pass blocking in the backfield will be especially important. Don't think opponents won't take notice of what happened when the Jets overloaded the right side and sent six men.

[Note by VanRam, 08/20/09 11:37 AM EDT ] More on Green as a third down back...

He can definitely catch passes...or he could anyway, depending on how you view the situation. During his seven seasons in Green Bay's West Coast offense, he caught 347 passes, averaging almost 50 catches per season. The only season he had fewer than 40 receptions was 2005 when injuries limited him to 5 games. As you'll correctly note, that was then, this is now. The Rams don't need a guy to catch 50 passes out of the backfield; that's what Steven Jackson is there for. This merely points to the fact that Green's no stranger to moving into open ground as an a last-ditch option for the QB.

NFC West Position-by-Position: Running Backs

Fooch — Fri, 22 May 2009 21:00:13 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sakuma - AP

San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) runs during NFL football practice at 49ers headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., Tuesday, May 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

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Last week the rest of the NFC West bloggers and I discussed the various quarterback situations in the division. I gave the 49ers a B at the position and it certainly provoked some strong responses. I certainly was not surprised by that and was happy to see some solid discussion about the position.

This week we move to the running back position. The division has a mix of talent and potential across the board. The Cardinals bring some serious young talent with a high ceiling. The Rams are in good shape at the position behind Steven Jackson. The Seahawks have a some decent talent at the position, but a bit less upside than the other teams. And of course, the the 49ers are in good shape behind Frank the Tank. After some discussion, we came to the following rankings (and yes a pair of ties):

1. San Francisco 49ers
1. St. Louis Rams
3. Seattle Seahawks
3. Arizona Cardinals

San Francisco 49ers
Blogger: Fooch
I bounced back and forth on what grade to give the 49ers rushing attack. On the one hand the 49ers run game ranked near the bottom of the league in rushing. On the other hand, they've still got Frank Gore. As the NFL has moved towards more two and three-back systems, the 49ers have struggled to find a running back to complement Frank Gore. By himself, Frank Gore is an A+ running back. He became the first 49ers running back ever to put together three straight 1,000 yard rushing seasons. I think that says even more given the inept nature of the 49ers overall offense. They've lacked consistency at quarterback and their offensive line has struggled mightily at times. The best season for the offensive line happened to come in 2006 when Frank Gore set the 49ers single season rushing record. And that was a 7-9 team with a second year Alex Smith at the helm.

The reason I'm knocking the 49ers down from an A is because of the rest of the rushing situation. Similar to the Cardinals running backs, the 49ers RBs behind Frank Gore are based in large part of potential. In an ideal situation, Gore is the main back, Glen Coffee puts on 10-20 pounds and is the short yardage "power" back and UDFA Kory Sheets is the speed back, a'la the Earth, Wind and Fire of the New York Giants.

The 49ers do have two other backs in camp, Michael Robinson and Thomas Clayton. Michael Robinson was convered to running back from QB out of college and has found a niche in special teams more than anything else. He is also available for Wildcat formations, which may go the way of the DoDo in the Jimmy Raye offense.

And then there's Thomas Clayton. Clayton has been one of the top running backs in preseason play in each of his first two season, which naturally means the bandwagon filled up quickly for this guy. However, he has yet to touch the field in regular season action and he was never offered a contract off the practice squad by another team. If Kory Sheets shines in training camp, Clayton may be hitting the streets.

All things considered, I think the 49ers rushing attack will be markedly improved this season. Frank Gore will still be Frank Gore, but the question will come down to whether some combination of Coffee/Sheets/Clayton steps up. There is a lot of potential there, but none of them has proven a thing in the NFL regular season. They're just as much the key to the 2009 offense as anything else. Grade: B

St. Louis Rams
Blogger: VanRam
He can run, he can catch a pass, he needs to work on his pass blocking a little bit. The Rams have a real playmaker in Steven Jackson, a guy so talented the new coaching regime is building the offense around him. Of course, they'd probably build the offense around a solid running game anyway, but Jackson gives them an edge. The biggest criticism pinned on Jackson in recent years is his seeming inability to play a full 16 games. That's not entirely fair. After a career year in '06, when he led the league in yards from scrimmage, Jackson missed four games in each of the next two season. However, the offensive line, or lack thereof, shoulders some of the blame for his bruised thighs and other ailments. He did nevertheless manage to crank out 1000 yard seasons in each of his last four. This year the Rams have significantly upgraded the line with the additions of C Jason Brown, drafting OT Jason Smith, and bringing in blocking specialists in FB Mike Karney and TE Billy Bajema, some are even calling it a team strength, with the stated goal of making Jackson and the run central their offensive philosophy.

Behind Jackson, the depth chart has some more question marks. They've got a speed guy in Antonio Pittman, but he didn't make much of his chance with Jackson out last year. Was it just the line? Kenneth Darby, an in-season pickup, has been a nice surprise and looks like a legit third down guy. Veteran Samkon Gado will get a shot in camp, and all eyes are anxious to see exactly what kind of back seventh round pick Texas product Chris Ogbonnaya can be outside of a Big 12 spread offense. There's just not enough known commodities behind Jackson to feel good about a replacement...at least not yet. The team will definitely looks to see who becomes a roster casualty when teams pare down their rosters.

I'd give the Rams an A if they had less of a question mark behind Jackson. Without that, they get a B.

Seattle Seahawks
Blogger: John Morgan
Seattle's Julius Jones and TJ Duckett are just average rushers, maybe better, but that both are average, and that Jones can contribute as blocker and receiver, makes them together a bit above average -- just not "B" above average. Jones is the complete back. He has a little shake, a little second gear burst, some power, some cutting ability and above average vision. His speed is hard to determine. At Notre Dame he was a burner, but he no longer looks like much of a homerun threat. He is a very good, albeit stock receiver. He runs a pure rushing route tree: Outs, in, circles, flares, etc. He shouldn't motion into the slot and he won't dazzle with his receiving ability. He will secure the catch and redirect for run after the catch. So he's a steady, productive outlet receiver that can produce on screens.

Duckett is the interior thumper, but not in a traditional sense. He's not pure north-south and can be a bit picky behind the line. He's sort of a one-cut Earl Cambell, but worse. He blows through arm tackles, falls forward and excels at converting short yardage -- all the stock stuff -- but he also has impressive breakaway speed and some big-man moves. He was a workout warrior at Michigan State, and reportedly ran a 4.45 forty. That translates to good field speed. In his last two seasons, in just 127 attempts (mostly in short yardage), Duckett has a run of 29 yards, two of 32 yards and a 53 yard run in week 16 of 2007.

For reserves, Seattle has Justin Forsett, a tiny-powerback (think MJD) type that dominated in the 2007 preseason, but isn't very fast and isn't enough of anything else to tantalize, and Devin Moore, a rookie that isn't much more than a intriguing forty time right now. So no superstars or even superstars to be, but in the right offense, Jones and Duckett could power a very good rushing attack not unlike the Duckett/Dunn duo of the Jim Mora Atlanta Falcons. Grade: C

Arizona Cardinals
Blogger: cgolden
Grading the Cardinals' running backs is difficult because their value is based on potential rather than actual NFL production. The trio of Chris "Beanie" Wells, Tim Hightower and Jason Wright have combined just eleven starts and less than 1,000 combined rushing yards at the NFL level. Jason Wright, an under the radar free agent acquisition, is the longest tenured (five seasons), but he's never logged more than three starts or 62 carries in a season. Tim Hightower, a fifth round pick from a year ago, has the most experience with his seven starts and 143 carries last year, but his 2.8 yards per carry is certainly nothing to brag about. The final member of this trio, Beanie Wells, will be asked play a significant role very early in his career and he's got the talent be a difference maker, but how quickly can he pick up an offense that is night and day from the power running game at Ohio State?

While that may paint a bleak picture of the Cardinals depth at running back, there is some hope that this group can be more productive than the 2008 trio of Edgerrin James, Hightower and JJ Arrington. Wells has the talent to be more productive than the 30 year old Edge and Hightower has reportedly dropped about 15 pounds from his playing weight last year. While I'd love to grade this group based on potential, I'll swallow my homerism and try and give them an unbiased evaluation. Grade: D

So, do any of these jump out at you as over the top or even underrating their own team?

Poll

Who has the best RBs in the NFC West?

Arizona Cardinals

20 votes

St. Louis Rams

78 votes

San Francisco 49ers

795 votes

Seattle Seahawks

15 votes

908 votes | Poll has closed

NFC West Roundtable: Running Back

John Morgan — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:21:25 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

Steven Jackson is still one of the most talented running backs in football. If only that meant more.

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The four NFC West blogs, Revenge of the Birds, Niners Nation, Turf Show Times and Field Gulls, are running position roundtables. Today, running backs. Each blogger gives and an individual grade (A through F), but we collectively rank them.

San Francisco 49ers
Blogger: Fooch

I bounced back and forth on what grade to give the 49ers rushing attack. On the one hand the 49ers run game ranked near the bottom of the league in rushing. On the other hand, they've still got Frank Gore. As the NFL has moved towards more two and three-back systems, the 49ers have struggled to find a running back to complement Frank Gore. By himself, Frank Gore is an A+ running back. He became the first 49ers running back ever to put together three straight 1,000 yard rushing seasons. I think that says even more given the inept nature of the 49ers overall offense. They've lacked consistency at quarterback and their offensive line has struggled mightily at times. The best season for the offensive line happened to come in 2006 when Frank Gore set the 49ers single season rushing record. And that was a 7-9 team with a second year Alex Smith at the helm.

The reason I'm knocking the 49ers down from an A is because of the rest of the rushing situation. Similar to the Cardinals running backs, the 49ers RBs behind Frank Gore are based in large part of potential. In an ideal situation, Gore is the main back, Glen Coffee puts on 10-20 pounds and is the short yardage "power" back and UDFA Kory Sheets is the speed back, a'la the Earth, Wind and Fire of the New York Giants.

The 49ers do have two other backs in camp, Michael Robinson and Thomas Clayton. Michael Robinson was convered to running back from QB out of college and has found a niche in special teams more than anything else. He is also available for Wildcat formations, which may go the way of the DoDo in the Jimmy Raye offense.

And then there's Thomas Clayton. Clayton has been one of the top running backs in preseason play in each of his first two season, which naturally means the bandwagon filled up quickly for this guy. However, he has yet to touch the field in regular season action and he was never offered a contract off the practice squad by another team. If Kory Sheets shines in training camp, Clayton may be hitting the streets.

All things considered, I think the 49ers rushing attack will be markedly improved this season. Frank Gore will still be Frank Gore, but the question will come down to whether some combination of Coffee/Sheets/Clayton steps up. There is a lot of potential there, but none of them has proven a thing in the NFL regular season. They're just as much the key to the 2009 offense as anything else. Grade: B

Turf Show Times
Blogger: VanRam

He can run, he can catch a pass, he needs to work on his pass blocking a little bit. The Rams have a real playmaker in Steven Jackson, a guy so talented the new coaching regime is building the offense around him. Of course, they'd probably build the offense around a solid running game anyway, but Jackson gives them an edge. The biggest criticism pinned on Jackson in recent years is his seeming inability to play a full 16 games. That's not entirely fair. After a career year in '06, when he led the league in yards from scrimmage, Jackson missed four games in each of the next two season. However, the offensive line, or lack thereof, shoulders some of the blame for his bruised thighs and other ailments. He did nevertheless manage to crank out 1000 yard seasons in each of his last four. This year the Rams have significantly upgraded the line with the additions of C Jason Brown, drafting OT Jason Smith, and bringing in blocking specialists un FB Mike Karney and TE Billy Bajema, some are even calling it a team strength, with the stated goal of making Jackson and the run central their offensive philosophy.

Behind Jackson, the depth chart has some more question marks. They've got a speed guy in Antonio Pittman, but he didn't make much of his chance with Jackson out last year. Was it just the line? Kenneth Darby, an in-season pickup, has been a nice surprise and looks like a legit third down guy. Veteran Sakmon Gado will get a shot in camp, and all eyes are anxious to see exactly what kind of back seventh round pick Texas product Chris Ogbonnaya can be outside of a Big 12 spread offense. There's just not enough known commodities behind Jackson to feel good about a replacement...at least not yet. The team will definitely looks to see who becomes a roster casualty when teams pare down their rosters.

I'd give the Rams an A if they had less of a question mark behind Jackson. Without that, they get a B. Grade: B

Seattle Seahawks
Blogger: John Morgan

Seattle's Julius Jones and TJ Duckett are just average rushers, maybe better, but that both are average, and that Jones can contribute as blocker and receiver, makes them together a bit above average -- just not "B" above average. Jones is the complete back. He has a little shake, a little second gear burst, some power, some cutting ability and above average vision. His speed is hard to determine. At Notre Dame he was a burner, but he no longer looks like much of a homerun threat. He is a very good, albeit stock receiver. He runs a pure rushing route tree: Outs, in, circles, flares, etc. He shouldn't motion into the slot and he won't dazzle with his receiving ability. He will secure the catch and redirect for run after the catch. So he's a steady, productive outlet receiver that can produce on screens.

Duckett is the interior thumper, but not in a traditional sense. He's not pure north-south and can be a bit picky behind the line. He's sort of a one-cut Earl Cambell, but worse. He blows through arm tackles, falls forward and excels at converting short yardage -- all the stock stuff -- but he also has impressive breakaway speed and some big-man moves. He was a workout warrior at Michigan State, and reportedly ran a 4.45 forty. That translates to good field speed. In his last two seasons, in just 127 attempts (mostly in short yardage), Duckett has a run of 29 yards, two of 32 yards and a 53 yard run in week 16 of 2007.

For reserves, Seattle has Justin Forsett, a tiny-powerback (think MJD) type that dominated in the 2007 preseason, but isn't very fast and isn't enough of anything else to tantalize, and Devin Moore, a rookie that isn't much more than a intriguing forty time right now. So no superstars or even superstars to be, but in the right offense, Jones and Duckett could power a very good rushing attack not unlike the Duckett/Dunn duo of the Jim Mora Atlanta Falcons. Grade: C

Arizona Cardinals
Blogger: cgolden

Grading the Cardinals' running backs is difficult because their value is based on potential rather than actual NFL production. The trio of Chris "Beanie" Wells, Tim Hightower and Jason Wright have combined just eleven starts and less than 1,000 combined rushing yards at the NFL level. Jason Wright, an under the radar free agent acquisition, is the longest tenured (five seasons), but he's never logged more than three starts or 62 carries in a season. Tim Hightower, a fifth round pick from a year ago, has the most experience with his seven starts and 143 carries last year, but his 2.8 yards per carry is certainly nothing to brag about. The final member of this trio, Beanie Wells, will be asked play a significant role very early in his career and he's got the talent be a difference maker, but how quickly can he pick up an offense that is night and day from the power running game at Ohio State?

While that may paint a bleak picture of the Cardinals depth at running back, there is some hope that this group can be more productive than the 2008 trio of Edgerrin James, Hightower and JJ Arrington. Wells has the talent to be more productive than the 30 year old Edge and Hightower has reportedly dropped about 15 pounds from his playing weight last year. While I'd love to grade this group based on potential, I'll swallow my homerism and try and give them an unbiased evaluation. Grade: D

On the bubble: Which Rams need a good offseason to keep their job

VanRam — Wed, 06 May 2009 13:59:27 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

St. Louis Rams rookie seventh-round draft pick running back Chris Ogbonnaya could force some veterans off the roster with strong camp. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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New coaches, a new front office, and a host of roster changes, including the release of two long-time franchise greats, have marked the Rams offseason of change. As hard as it is to believe, the changes aren't done yet. There are some familiar names, familiar to Rams fans anyway, fighting for roles in the months ahead.

In his chat at the Post-Dispatch website yesterday, Bill Coats singled out CB Tye Hill, which should come as no surprise. Here's what he said about the Rams first round pick from 2006:

...he didn't have a very good minicamp and still seems to be affected by his knee injury from last season...I'd go even further and say this is a make-or-break preseason for Hill. If he can't earn the starting spot at the other corner, then he doesn't have much of a future here.

Like I said, not a huge surprise. If Alex Barron plays better this year, then Tye Hill might officially become the biggest disappointment for the Rams in recent years, in my opinion. At times, Hill has shown us glimpses of the talent that made him a first round pick, but injuries and inconsistency have really derailed his career. Tye Hill isn't the only player "on the bubble" heading into camp with a job on the line. Here's a look at some of the other players. (Note: This doesn't include rookies, since they haven't really established any kind of role with the team yet, just players who have been here that have a big case to make.)

TE Joel Klopfenstein - Another "no surprise" candidate and another disappointment from the 2006 draft. The second round pick has never blocked well or done enough offensively to justify his draft status, and now he's in danger of losing his roster spot to a mid-season free agent pickup from last season, Daniel Fells.

RB/FB Brian Leonard - I think Leonard's chances of sticking on the roster are better than Klop's; however, he has to prove he has some kind of role with the team, a role he fills better than Darby, Pittman, Ogbonnaya, Gado, or another potential RB addition that the team could make before the season starts.

RB Antonio Pittman - Really, you can put just about every Rams running back not named Steven Jackson on this list, though I think Kenneth Darby has a pretty good shot to stick as a third down back/return man. Pittman had the second most carries of any Rams RB last season, 79, and averaged 3.7 yards per carry. However, for a speedy guy he never really broke off a long run for a big play. Certainly the Rams poor o-line gets some of the blame, but Pittman has to earn a roster spot this summer.

G Roy Schuening - I really thought Schuening had the chops to be a contributor last year, but he only saw action in one game. And after last season, he still had some supporters in the building who thought he could be a solid player. Now, he's got some legit competition to round out the depth roles for the interior line with rookie free agents Roger Allen III and Ray Feinga.

QB Brock Berlin - Say what you want about the wisdom of the Rams drafting QB Keith Null in the sixth round, he threw the ball well in minicamp and could be a good fit as the third QB in the Rams new West Coast offense. That would make Berlin expendable.

LB Quentin Culberson - There's a log jam of young potential depth guys at LB, but Culberson stands out because he was the guy the Rams liked well enough to justify letting Brandon Chillar walk. If he can step it up in camp and through the season, he could be in line for a job as a starting strong-side linebacker, putting Tinoisamoa's name on this list for next season.

LBs David Vorbora & Chris Chamberlain - Both seventh round picks from last year's draft saw action last season on special teams and with the defense. Vobora even started a game...and he was Mr. Irrelevant you know. Despite their interesting stories from last season, their jobs are far from secure as some of the undrafted rookies and others, like free agent acquisition from last year Larry Grant, could push them for roles on special teams and in the LB rotation.

Obviously, there are other players who'll find themselves in a make or break campaign. These guys just stand out the most. Who else might be in danger of losing a job, or at least a prominent role with the team? Expect this list to evolve once camp starts in July and the season gets closer.

Let's Take A Look At The Roster

Tackle Box — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:00:11 -0000

More photos » by Jay LaPrete - AP

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Well, the draft is over and while there has been some teeth gnashing over some of the picks, my personal opinion is that the team filled it's most pressing needs and built some good depth.

Then again, that's my gut reaction.

The team solidified it's Offensive Line (Jason Smith) and bulked up the Run Defense (James Laurinaitis, Dorell Scott). They then went out and added some depth with some players who have raw talent (Brooks Foster and Bradley Fletcher) and a quarterback who has a lot of us scratching our heads.

I have to say I'm not exactly sure about Chris Ogbonnaya, but he's bigger than I realized and apparently has pretty reliable hands. Honestly, he's a lot like Steven Jackson without the stunning track record.

Anyway, the question that needs to be addresseed is, "is the team better after this draft?" I can't see how anyone would say it isn't. We added the best Offensive Lineman and a Top Middle Linebacker to the fold and these were two spots of definite weakness. But what about the rest of the team? Sure we got better at two key spots, but that might not be enough, Let's take a look at our depth chart to see if it is.

Starting with the offense.

Quarterback:

Mark Bulger - 6'3" 212 - 32 years old - 5 years remaining on contract
Kyle Boller - 6'3" 220 - 27 years old - 1 year contract
Keith Null - 6'4" 222 - Rookie
Brock Berlin - 6'1" 215 - 27 years old - Will be a RFA

Here, I'm listing Null as the number 3 since I really think he'll displace Berlin. Berlin brings absolutely nothing to the table so why not go with Null, right? He's younger and could possibly become something...well, something better than Brock Berlin. Besides, it's not like you could make the argument that Berlin knows the system. No one really knows the system since it's a new system.

Running Back:

Steven Jackson - 6'2" 231 - 25 years old - 5 years left on contract
Kenneth Darby - 5'10" 211 - 26 years old - Will be a RFA
Chris Ogbonnaya - 6'1" 225 - 22 years old - Rookie
Antonio Pittman - 5'11" 195 - 23 years old - Will be a RFA
Brian Leonard - 6'1" 226 - 25 years old - 2 years left on contract

Well, there's some depth. Probably nothing that could take over if something happens to Jackson. (By the way, I'm slotting Ogbonnaya in the 3rd slot. No particular reason, but that's how I see it.) I'm still holding out hope the Rams get after Warrick Dunn. He'd be a difference maker.

(Note: Jeremiah Johnson did not get drafted)

Fullback:

Mike Karney - 5'11" 258 - 27 years old - Signed through 2011

That's it. Hope nothing happens to him, but what are you gonna do? Have two really good blocking Fullbacks on the roster at the same time? No. So, we should be fine here and since Karney is a great blocker, hopefully we'll keep Jackson healthier this year.

Wide Receiver:

Donnie Avery - 5'11" 190 - 24 years old - Signed through 2011
Laurent Robinson - 6'2" 195 - 23 years old - Signed through 2010
Keenan Burton - 6'1" 200 - 24 years old - Signed through 2010
Brooks Foster - 6'3" 205 - 23 years old - Rookie

After Foster, you'll see Derek Stanley, who's injured, followed by Travis Brown, Joel Filani, Chad Lucas, and Nate Jones. DON'T expect to see any of those guys on the roster this year. DO expect to see the Rams re-sign Dane Looker. You might also expect to see them add a veteran receiver who's either already available or becomes availalble during camp (but I wouldn't count on it). This is a very young receiving corps (average age 23.5 years), but I feel there is a ton of upside here. Not necessarily for this season (it'll be there in flashes), but it should start to develop and really start to blossom in 2010.

However, if our ground game takes off like a lot of us hope it will, then you'll see an immediate (positive) impact on our receiving corps. It all starts up front and we now have the horses to get it going.

Tight End:

Randy McMichael - 6'3" 255 - 29 years old - FA in 2010
Billy Bajema - 6'4" 255 - 26 years old - Under contract through 2011
Joe Klopfenstein - 6'5" 262 - 25 years old - FA in 2010
Daniel Fells - 6'4" 252 - 25 years old - FA in 2010
Eric Butler - 6'2" 255 - 24 years old - FA in 2010

Let's hope McMichael stays healthy. If he does, you can pretty much add him to the receiving corps making it much more potent. Then you add Steven Jackson and possibly Ogbonnaya and you've all of a sudden find a lot of options. Then if you can just add Warrick Dunn..............

Anyway, as far as Tight End, look for the Rams to draft one next season. Tight ends seem to be able to make the move to the NFL rather easily so it wasn't imperative to draft and groom McMichael's replacement this year.

Center:

Jason Brown - 6'3" 320 - 25 years old - Signed through 2013
Tim Mattran - 6'5" 298 - 24 years old - FA in 2010

I don't know who Tim Mattran is, and I don't care. Jason Brown is a difference maker and should improve things immensely.

Guard:

Richie Incognito - 6'3" 330 - 25 years old - FA in 2010
Jacob Bell - 6'4" 295 - 28 years old - Signed throught 2013
Jonn Greco - 6'5" 325 - 24 years old - RFA in 2011
Adam Goldberg - 6'7" 318 - 28 years old - Signed through 2010
Mark Setterstrom - 6'4" 314 - 25 years old - FA in 2010
Roy Schuening - 6'4" 308 - 25 years old - RFA in 2011

Lot's of depth here and with the addition of Brown as the Center, I expect Incognito and Bell to have great seasons.

Tackle:

Alex Barron - 6'7" 315 - 26 years old - FA in 2010
Jason Smith - 6'5" 298 - 22 years old - Rookie
Adam Goldberg - 6'7" 318 - 28 years old - Signed through 2010
Daren Heerspink - 6'6" 315 - 25 years old - FA in 2010

Jason Smith rounds out this line and should be able to step in on day one and have an impact. He's not Orlando Pace in his prime, but who is? What he is is a great athlete with a great work ethic who has been extremely good and has yet to reach his full potential. We should see great things from this line.

Average age of Line Starters: 25.2 years (Barron 26, Bell 28, Brown, 25, Incognito 25, Smith 22).

So, going into next year, we're going need a new Tight End and we'll have to probably draft a legit Quarterback plus possibly look for a big Receiver.

On to the Defense:

Defensive Tackle:

Adam Carriker - 6'6" 296 - 24 years old - Signed through 2011
Clifton Ryan - 6'3" 310 - 25 years old - RFA in 2010
Dorell Scott - 6'4" 320 - 23 years old - Rookie

After Scott, they'll have to find a possible fourth DT for the rotation from Willie Williams, Antwon Burton, and Michael Marquardt, or go out and sign someone who gets cut during camp. I really like those top three, but the depth is less than palatable.

Defensive End:

Chris Long - 6'4" 284 - 24 years old - Signed through 2012 (Voided 2013)
Leonard Little - 6'3" 263 - 34 years old - FA in 2010
James Hall - 6'2" 280 - 32 years old - FA in 2010
Victor Adeyanju - 6'4" 280 - 26 years old - FA in 2010
Eric Moore - 6'4" 268 - 28 years old - FA in 2010
C.J. Ah You - 6'4" 275 - 26 years old - FA in 2010

There's enough depth here for the season, but look for the team to move on without Little after this season. And despite what some may say, Chris Long had a good season last year and should improve under Coach Spagnoulo.

Middle Linebacker:

James Laurinaitis - 6'3" 240 - 22 years old - Rookie
David Vobora - 6'1" 236 - 23 years old - ERFA in 2010

Laurinaitis lends stability, leadership, and legitimacy to the middle of our defense. He'll be a difference maker.

Outside Linebacker:

Will Witherspoon - 6'1" 240 - 28 years old - FA in 2012
Pisa Tinoisamoa - 6'1" 235 - 27 years old - FA in 2012
Chris Draft - 5'11" 232 - 33 years old - FA in 2010
Chris Chamberlain - 6'2" 226 - 23 years old - RFA in 2011

We've got good depth here and with the addition of Laurinaitis at MLB, we can now move Witherspoon back outside where he is a legitimate playmaker. Pisa is a bit of a weak link, but should improve with the upgrades at MLB and SLB. Nevertheless, look for the Rams to find a new WLB next year but it's not going to be on the top of the list since Pisa is locked up until 2012.

Cornerback:

Ron Bartell - 6'1" 205 - 27 years old - Signed through 2012
Tye Hill - 5'10" 185 - 26 years old - FA in 2010
Bradley Fletcher - 6'2" 200 - 22 years old - Rookie
Justin King - 6'0" 186 - 21 years old - RFA in 2011
Jonathan Wade - 5'10" 195 - 25 years old - RFA in 2010

After Wade, you'll see Marcus Brown and Eric Butler. This isn't the fanciest of units, but the addition of Fletcher's size could help a ton when going up against the giant receivers in our division. Then again, if the defensive line can put adequate pressure on the quarterback, then you make the job of the DBs that much easier.

Strong Safety:

James Butler - 6'3" 215 - 26 years old - Signed through 2012
Todd Johnson - 6'1" 200 - 30 years old - FA in 2011
David Roach - 6'2" 215 - 23 years old - ERFA in 2010

The addition of Butler to the Defensive backfield should greatly help out the CBs. He was great under Spags last year and looks to continue that success.

Free Safety:

O.J. Atogwe - 5'11" 211 - 27 years old - FA in 2010
Eric Bassey - 6'1" 200 - 26 years old - RFA in 2010
Craig Dahl - 6'1" 207 - 23 years old - FA in 2010

We should be expecting a lot out of the duo of Atogwe and Butler this season. Those two make our Defensive backfield legit. Atogwe is franchised this season. Look for the Rams to lock him up next offseason (hopefully before the offseason).

So, there you have it. This is the roster as it stands today. I'd still like to see a D-Lineman who's been cut to fill out the rotation along, and you all know how I feel about Warrick Dunn.

Next season, look for the Rams to add a top tier Quarterback (Lefevour? Please?), a Tight End, a WLB (maybe), a DL, CB, and a big Receiver. They could possibly find the Linebacker, Receiver, and D-Lineman through free agency. They'll also have to address Atogwe at some point.

Bottom line is, this isn't done. This team has been improved, but we had a long ways to go. This is a great start and the team is extremely young and there is talent emerging in the right areas.