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Predicting the St. Louis Rams final roster: offense

Will the St. Louis Rams fifth round draft pick WR Brooks Foster be on the roster when the season starts? (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

Will the St. Louis Rams fifth round draft pick WR Brooks Foster be on the roster when the season starts? (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Slowly but surely, camp inches closer. It's one of the more memorable starts to the Rams season in a long, long time. Obviously, camp and the promise of football that counts right around the corner is always exciting. Anyone else remember they felt in August the last time we started a new era of Rams football, when Linehan took the reigns? Without being a total homer, I feel much different this time, not only has the coaching staff turned over, but the entire front office has turned over too, a much needed development as the stench of rot was starting to whifting upwards from the suites at Rams Park. One thing I like about where the Rams sit right now, as I've siad before, is the coherent vision for putting together a winning team, emphasis on winning.

With that, I thought it would be a good time to take an early stab at predicting what the roster will look like once camp ends and the season starts. Today, let's start with the offense.

Star-divide

Rather than just rattle off my predictions for each position, I'm going to list players in the order I think they'll appear on the depth chart, with notes where necessary.

QB: Marc Bulger, Kyle Boller, Keith Null
I think the coaching staff likes Null, and sees him as a fit in the new offense. Fear not Brock Berlin fans, he'll find work elsewhere.

RB: Steven Jackson, Kenneth Darby, Chris Ogbonnaya
I'm not sure that the team won't carry four running backs, depending on the additional duties (i.e. KR, etc.) they'll ask of the players. Also, don't be surprised if they pick someone off the street when roster cuts start happening late in the summer. Finally, I went with Ogbonnaya over Pittman, because I never got the feeling from spring camp reports that the new regime was too high on Pittman.

WR: Donnie Avery, Kennan Burton, Laurent Robinson, Tim Carter, Derek Stanley, Brooks Foster
This one gets really tough to predict after Robinson, and though I'm sick of hearing about it, I understand why people have made this position the official Rams storyline of the offseason. I think Travis Brown or Horace Grant could easily push Foster to the practice squad, depending on how they use their size - both measure 6'3" - in camp this summer. Again, though the front office and coaches deny the likelihood of it happening, don't be surprised if there's a last minute addition to this list, especially if a younger player with experience in this kind of offense gets das boot.

FB: Mike Karney

TE: Randy McMichael, Daniel Fells, Billy Bajema
At this point, does anyone really expect Joe Klopfenstein to beat out Fells?

RT: Jason Smith

RG: Richie Incognito

C: Jason Brown

LG: Jacob Bell

LT: Alex Barron

OL (backup): Adam Goldberg, John Greco, Mark Setterstrom, Phil Trautwein, Tim Mattran
This is a tough one to call too, after Stetterstrom. An injury to a starter would likely push another starter to a different position. Goldberg is the primary guy to replace an OT, and Greco or Setterstrom are equally cabable at filling in for a G. However, after Goldberg, there is no tackle on the list, unless the Rams would go to Greco, who was an OT in college. I put Trautwein on this list for that reason. The position I really wonder about is center. What happens if Jason Brown can't play a game? I'd probably slide Incognito over, since he has experience at the position as well as good size and the team has solid guys to step into the hole at RG if Cogs slides over to the middle. Behind Brown, the Rams have two true centers on the roster right now, Tim Mattran and Daniel Sanders, both undrafted free agents. I'm deferring to Mattran for my list, because scouting reports show an intelligent player with a nasty demeanor and a physical style of play. Of course, Setterstrom was taking snaps last year prior to camp, and there have been reports of Greco doing the same this year. Don't be surprised if another undrafted free agent like Roger Allen or Ray Feinga sneak onto the list. You can count on some OLs being on the practice squad too.

Alright, there it is, subject to much debate. Who's missing? Who doesn't belong on this list?

0 recs  |  Comment 8 comments |

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The OL

I actually like this OL. It’s starting to come together. I’m glad the coaches realize the war is won in the trenches.

by 81 Witness on Jul 9, 2009 10:22 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Starters

I have high hopes this year it is a different feel this time and I think its that Super Bowl ring on Spags hand that defense stopped New England the man is legit, I say playoffs in our division why not. Still I hope special teams can improve and get us better starting position, and as always go CLEMSON.

by 39jackson on Jul 9, 2009 3:31 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Ah, a Clemson fan

I expect a bias, but I’d love your answer anyway. C.J. Spiller or Jonathan Dwyer? And take the question in any aspect.

Your uncle molests collies.

by 3k on Jul 9, 2009 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You know the more things change
 the more they stay the same.
We need a back up running back.
Also let’s not forget….
SPECIAL TEAMS!!
…and i’m not talking about a punter or kicker.

by ZamRam on Jul 9, 2009 4:32 PM CDT via mobile reply actions   0 recs

I agree

Berlin, Pittman and Klop are goners.

by edpjr on Jul 9, 2009 9:16 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Well, good

Nothing to fret over there except for the exit of another wasted 2nd rd draft pick.

Your uncle molests collies.

by 3k on Jul 10, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

What about #67...?

You left out Guard Roy Schuening…who was drafted in the 5th round of ‘08. He’s 6’3", 315 lbs. and only 25 years old. I thought he had a lot of up-side, didn’t he? Did I miss something? Did the Rams already get rid of him? Did I fall asleep at the wheel once again?

Go Rams!

"We can't run. We can't pass. We can't stop the run. We can't stop the pass. We can't kick. Other than that, we're just not a very good football team right now." --- Bruce Coslett, New York Jets Head Coach circa 1990s

by Nbr1RamFan on Jul 10, 2009 7:45 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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