Random Ramsdom, 8/23: Short week

The St. Louis Rams have short week with a Friday night game. One less day to prepare puts added emphasis on the work leading up to it. Spagnuolo and Devaney busied themselves with lineup changes and roster moves yesterday. Let's get a quick round up of the news.

Camp Confidential: St. Louis Rams - You probably saw this yesterday, but if not, it's a must read. Mike Sando gives his take on where the Rams are heading into the 2011 NFL season.

Monday practice report - The injury to TE Michael Hoomanwanui wasn't the only thing to happen at practice yesterday. Starting linemen Rodger Saffold and Jacob Bell returned to the field. Daniel Muir and Mardy Gilyard left the field, but their injuries are said to be minor. Brandon Gibson continued his stellar preseason, catching a couple of practice TDs.

Bernie Bytes: Thank Titans for blitzing Bradford - The Titans biltzed; the Rams did a poor job protecting it. Why you should be glad they did. Another thing Bernie points out is that with Sam Bradford now responsible for making his pre-snap reads - Jason Brown did that last year- this experience will be extremely helpful.

A look at four players fighting for a spot on the roster - Jabara Williams, Dionte Dinkins, Chase Reynolds and Ben Guidugli are all fringe candidates to make the Rams final 53-man roster. Each has shown some real potential in the preseason. A good reminder that not everyone in the NFL is a mega millionaire superstar.

Jason Smith's expectations for his third year are his own...and his coaches' - Third year right tackle Jason Smith is working his way into a more consistent, tenacious offensive lineman. Entering his third year in the NFL, expectations are high for the second overall pick in the 2009 draft. Helping him along are Chris Long, his sparring partner in practice, and Harvey Dahl, his neighbor on the line tasked with bringing out his inner animal.

Costly win for the Giants - The Giants absolutely crushed the Bears on Monday Night behind the power running of Brandon Jacobs and speed of Da'Rel Scott. They also unfortunately lost DB Terrell Thomas, their best corner, with a torn ACL. Early in training camp, they lost CB Prince Amukamara, their first-round pick. The Rams play the Giants in their second game of the season.