Another draftee officially became a Ram yesterday. David Vobora, aka Mr Irrelevant, signed a three year deal. The seventh round pick is expected to be a special teams ace this season. 

In other good news, Linehan says one week on Pace, one week until the Pro Bowl left tackle can go full tilt, contact and all. 

Stay tuned, more as the morning passes.

Just four days. Friday morning, as you stumble out of bed and don your Hawaiian shirt for another casual Friday the Rams start doing what we've been waiting for them to do since February: play (or at least practice) football.

As good as it felt to read they reached a deal with Chris Long this week, reading that key players like Carriker and Little are healthy and ready to go was just as refreshing. Only Pace - probably the one player whose absence can't be compensated for by shifting personnel around - figures to be wearing street clothes when things get underway Friday morning. The good news, though, is that he is healthy, the Rams are just being cautious. And they should be. Be as cautious as needed. With his experience there's no need for Pace to go through every last drill in training camp, just get his legs in game shape and give him some contact work to get ready. With Linehan's stated desire to play the starters more in preseason games this year, Pace will get his work in before the season starts. 

Back at you later.

  - If I wasn't scared enough about the injuries of last year, here's how camp started for the NFL this year: a season-ending injury on the first play of 7-on-7 drills.   Philip Daniels (ESPN) , Redskins DE, injured his knee and will miss the entire season.  In the afternoon, another DE from deeper in their depth chart, Alex Buzbee, ruptured his achilles tendon and will also miss the entire year.  Solution: trade some draft picks for Jason Taylor (ESPN).  The Rams will travel to D.C. on Oct. 12th to play the Skins.  ESPN coverage here, reactions from SBNation brotherblogs Hogs Haven here, and The Phinsider here.

  - ESPN just released their training camp power rankings (here) and slotted the Rams at 26th.  Make Sando offered this:

Getting LT Orlando Pace healthy -- and keeping him that way -- must rank as the Rams' top priority heading into training camp and the season.

  Hard to disagree, given the state of the O-line.  Hopefully, we can grab an LT in the next two years and let Orlando relax until his HOF induction.  My only real issue with the rankings was, predictably, with the Seahawks.  They're ranked 9th above the Vikings and Browns.  I don't see how the Vikings, having picked up Jared Allen (ESPN) and Bernard Berrian (ESPN), still sit below the aging 'Hawks.

  - ESPN's travel guide to training camp (here) doen't offer much, but shows Linehan's inventive flexibility:

The Rams are moving north to Concordia University Wisconsin, which is near Lake Michigan and where camp is conducted at an ideal time of year. Head coach Scott Linehan wanted to try something different to get his team together after being at the team facility for work the past two summers. The Rams hope the change of scenery will promote team chemistry and generate some energy.

  Whatever promotes team chemistry and energizes the rookies gets the official 3k stamp of approval:

  - Tony Moss at The Sports Network serves up capsules (here) for every NFL team's training camp.  The St. Louis capsule includes this nugget:

A key to the offense's success will be the health and effectiveness of the line group, which will have to be identified during camp.

As an update, the poll from the offensive preview of training camp (here) saw 31% want to hear about the O-line while half of all votes were more interested in WR's.

And thus ends this random Ramsdom.

The first practice of the Rams' training camp is a week away.  It's tough to get from the final days of April, which host the draft, to the end of July which awakens the football fans who have slept through the summer.

But now we're here, close enough to start looking at some of the storylines we should be following as Rams fans, storylines that hint at whatever destiny awaits us over the next 5 months of this NFL season.

Position breakdowns after the fold.

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We seem to have a fairly optimistic projection for Marc Bulger, and, as noted yesterday, there's every reason to think that Bulger can bounce back in line with what he's capable of. Naturally, after two straight season of injuries to Orlando Pace, I worry about the big guy going down. However, he is healthy now - should be officially cleared sometime this month, before camp - and his recent injuries (rotator cuff & triceps) aren't the kind that tend to cascade for an OT and accelerate the downward side of a great career. The coaches and fans will be paying particularly close attention to the rest of the tackles in camp, hoping that should Pace miss a game, someone has at least improved to the point where they can fill in adequately on the blind side.

Before we change subjects away from Marc Bulger, Football Outsiders has their rankings for best QB games since 1995 posted. Third from the top is Marc Bulger's masterpiece against the Chargers in week 10 of the 2002 season.

That day, Bulger completed 36 of 47 passes for a stunning 453 yards and 4 TDs, leading the Rams to a 28-24 victory over San Diego. Bruce had 3 of those TDs and 10 catches for 163 yards. Ernie Conwell had the other TD, and Holt had 7 catches for 118 yards. The Rams played from behind after the Chargers made it 17-7 at the half, with Bulger and Bruce leading the 4th quarter rally with 2 scores. But it wasn't all pretty. Two fo San Diego's TDs came on fumble returns.

Nevertheless, that 4th quarter shone brightly as the crown jewel of a 7-9 season, a season that started with 5 straight losses. The roller coaster started to climb after hitting bottom in week 5 against the 49ers, who won the division with a 10-6 record. Riding the comeback momentum, the Rams beat the Bears the next week, before finishing the season with a disappointing 2-4 run.

That game was also Bulger's coming out party, one of 7 he started that season as the Rams grappled with quarterback turmoil as Warner started the season 7 INTs and 1 TD before succuming to a broken finger in week 4. The rest is pretty much history.

Back later today with some thoughts on Donnie Avery and the spread.

Missing out on Barry Sims didn't exactly qualify as missing the opportunity of a lifetime, after all, Sims is essentially an Alex Barron clone, right down to the penalties, except for having more starting expereince. Still, as we've talked about here before, the Rams could still use some depth at offensive tackle.

Bringing on another guard/center candidate and allowing the Rams to install Incognito at OT, if the injury bug bites, gives the Rams one route around that problem. The reason I mention this is because former Saints center and Browns free agent bust, LeCharles Bentley is reportedly healthy and looking for work. He would reportedly prefer to play gaurd too. Bentley has been out since 2005 with knee surgeries and staph infection (ewww), which means his market value sits right around what the Rams paid for the services of the street free agents who rounded out the o-line last season.

The key here is Richie Incognito, who the Rams, right now, envision as their starting center for 2008. If he doesn't start at C, he's a good bet to start at RG. Thus, in case of injury at OT, Incognito could replace an injured OT and Bentley could replace Cogs in the middle.

Either way, there's not much happening right now on the free agent front. Personnel staff not vacationing ahead fo camp is scrambling to get rookie deals done in time for camp, which starts next Friday.

Speaking of camp and the O-line, I'm anxious to see what draftees John Greco and Roy Schuening can do in their rookie season. Based on the scouting reports, either one is a sure bet to step in and play guard at the NFL level in their rookie season. The question is how ready is Greco to play OT at the NFL level?

Last day of June. The summer races by and that means we're now less than a month away from the start of training camp. Be prepared, the last leg of the journey is usually the longest.

Outside of their recent interest in Barry Sims, the Rams finished their offseason shopping with the signing of third QB Gradkowski. Are we satisfied they've made the right moves? Is that all they need to/can do heading into the season?

Reading about Kevin Jones working out for teams this weekend got me thinking about any other player acquisitions I might like to see the Rams make before the season starts. I couldn't come up with much off the top of my head, so thought it would be worth a Monday morning discussion to make sure we feel like the bases are covered, or at least as covered as they can be a month out from camp.

Position by position...

Offensive Line
With Pace healthy and high profile free agent Jacob Bell inked and ready to start, the left side of the Rams line is set. Incognito and Romberg will battle it out in the middle and Setterstrom and Barron will hold down the right side. Incognito and Setterstrom have done yeoman work filling in for injured starters the last two seasons, and since they both dealt with injuries last season, neither has reached their ceiling. The Rams intend to push those three, Setts, Cogs and Barron, to their ceiling, and with a couple hungry rookies, John Greco and Roy Schuening, who in the minds of some could start right away at G in the NFL, will do the pushing. Adding Barry Sims to compete with Barron as well as give the Rams a backup OT with plenty of starting experience would have been helpful. The line is in better shape to fill in around key injuries, like Pace. I don't know how many more depth linemen that best what the Rams already have among their backup ranks will shake out, but if they do, the Rams would be wise to at least make offers.

QB, RB
Obviously, the Rams have their starting RB, and he's primed fro a big, big season. Backing him up is Brian Leonard and Antonio Pittman, with one being expected to block more and the other coming in for their straight line speed. I'd like to see Leonard use his ball skills to catch a few passes in the middle, save some wear and tear on Jackson's legs. Is that enough? Are you satisfied with the depth behind Steven Jackson? With names like Travis Henry and Kevin Jones still out there, I'll admit, it's tempting to want to sign one of those guys, but that comes at a cost. At QB, the Rams made Bulger their starter for several years with a new contract last summer. Behind him, Trent Green's concussions give him his share of doubters, and rightfully so, but the Rams seem to think he's fit and need a QB that knows Saunders' complex offense. Finally, the addition of Brice Gradkowski gives them youth with starting expereince in the third QB slot.

TE, WR
Bennett has his doubters after a lackluster season last year, and Holt has a balky knee. Behind those two, the Rams are counting on a rookie, Donnie Avery, to be a deep threat. Reche Caldwell was signed this offseason to give the Rams another experienced WR. There are those who think the Rams should add another experienced #2/3 type WR, but that's not likely now. At tight end, the Rams have a blocker in Becht, a playmaker in McMichael, and something in between in Klopfenstein.

Defensive Line
There's an argument to be made for trying to find a big guy to play tackle in the middle, a roundish nose tackle type. However, the Rams feature a solid rotation at DT with Carriker and Glover starting and Ryan and a possibly much improved Claude Wroten behind them. At DE, the future starts now with Chris Long transitioning under the tutledge of the big man, Leonard Little. Adeyanju and Hall back them up.

Linebacker
This is where, on the surface anyway, the need for additional help stands out. After losing Brandon Chillar to free agency, the Rams turn to Quentin Culberson to replace Chillar's 54 tackles. Added last May as an undrafted free agent, Culberson played in 14 games, staring 1, last season and recorded 24 tackles and 2 forced fumbles. Haslett and the team endorsed Culberson hardily when they made little effort to retain Chillar. It's a big leap of faith with one of the team's other three starting LBs, Pisa Tinoisamoa, having last played all 16 games in 2005.

D-backs
This was a problem area last season with starters Fakhir Brown and Tye Hill both missing time due to suspension and injury. Jonathan Wade enters his second season and Ron Bartell begins his fourth. Bartell's a solid nickel and we'll know more about what Wade has to offer this season. Rumors about adding a proven veteran like Lito Sheppard circulated in the spring, but that had more to do with the assumption that Brown would wind up suspended for the whole season because of a repeat banned substance violation. At safety, the Rams have a real star in OJ Atogwe, who led the NFC with 8 INTs last year. At strong safety, locker room leader Corey Chavous was a bust on the field and the Rams will turn to Jerome Carter and rookie Chris Chamberlin, who has the speed and range to succeed at SS, to spell Chavous.

Special Teams
Josh Brown, K, was the big name added on ST this year, following last year's acquisition of another leg, punter Donnie Jones. The Rams have several candidates for return duties behind Dante Hall, and draft picks David Vorbora and Chamberlin headline the non-kicking/returner additions to ST. This is an area that MUST improve, and if a specialist or two turns up on the waiver wire or free agent roles, the Rams shouldn't hesitate to make a move.

Free agent OT Barry Sims signed with the 49ers today. I suspect much of that came down to his desire to start; he'll compete with RT Jonas Jennings in SF.

Is this a loss for the Rams? Not really. After last season's injury parade, we've learned you can never have too much depth, especially depth with starting experience. But at 33, Sims is older than LT Orlando Pace, and I think you'd have a hard time arguing that he's a better RT than Alex Barron. His best chance to start here would come if injury befell one of those two. Is he better than potential backups Adam Goldberg or this year's third round pick OT John Greco? He's more experienced, but is he better?

Oakland's o-line had a better Adjusted Line Yards rating than the Rams last season, according to Football Outsiders, but they ranked worse than the Rams in pass protection (8.5% sack rate versus 8.1%) as well as running down resulting in runs of 10 yards or more and running plays resulting in zero or negative gains.

This morning, however, I kind of hoped the Rams would sign him just to keep San Fran from doing so, not that it matters that much.

The biggest advantage to having Sims was that his name reminded me of the lead man for the Bee Gees, Barry Gibb, and Jimmy Fallon's brilliant portrayal of Gibb.

When the Rams opted not to draft a QB this season or even pick one up as a rookie FA, there was some speculation that they might look to add one some time before the season started, someone with some upside. Tampa Bay was cited as one potential trading partner, having six QBs on their roster. Well, now the Bucs only have five after releasing Bruce Gradkowski Friday. Hashmarks says that the Bucs will trade Chris Simms before the season starts. 

Hashmarks also has an injury update on Orlando Pace, reporting that he's well rested and in great shape and will be ready to roll come training camp. Also of note in that report:

If Pace, Richie Incognito and Mark Setterstrom all get healthy, the Rams could be a huge offensive turnaround story in '08.

I'm certainly ready for an offensive turnaround story in '08.

Chris Long is adjusting. He also tells the PD in that article that he expects to be signed and in training camp this summer. 

Ramblings wonders if Chris Long might be an option at MLB too.

Be sure to voice your opinion on the upcoming "K-dicitions"  ahead of the games this season. 

And if you haven't offered a prediction in the Long versus Dorsey sweepstakes, what are you waiting for, constant harassment from Chiefs fans?

I thought Kansas FB Brandon McAnderson might have a shot to stick on the roster, his 5'10" 240 lbs body filling a role in goal line situations and as a lead blocker. Guess that's why I'm not a scout. The Rams cut him this week. Richard Owens and a bulked up Brian Leonard will fill some of the need at FB and special teams.

We've discussed the role of the full backs plenty, and the Rams, like most other teams, don't necessarily need the traditional power lead blocks from an FB bursting though a tightly positioned offensive line and opening up a hole for the half back to the extent that those power plays used to be used in the game. However, those kind fo plays could be making a comeback according to NFL.com Larry Kirwan.

Here's a prediction for the NFC West , from SBN brother site Field Gulls. Morgan's got the Rams third with a 6-10 record, the Seahawks first, natch', and the Cardinals in second. He based his prediction on the availability of Orlando Pace, which I think is a valid concern. Pace probably doesn't have another three full seasons in his 32-year-old body (hard to type that as a 32-year-old myself), but let's not write his euology just yet. In a pretzel logic sort of way, I think the last two years off, with a should and a triceps injury, has probably saved his legs a little bit and could put a little extra gas in the tank this season. Look no further than Seattle's LT Walter Jones, 34, for proof that old timers can still play on the line. And say, at 34 there's as much reason to wonder if Jones can make it through a full season himself.

That's why they call them predictions though.

Ok, it's gonna be slim pickens for NFL fans over the next month or so. To occupy ourselves and give St. Louisians a break from crucifying the Cardinals' Jason Isringhausen, we'll start a nice little community project next week. We'll also size up the Arizona Cardinals.