You can tell it's June. Know why? Because the signing of a backup tackle dominates the conversation, the football conversation at least, even at the expense of Pacman's decision to drop his now infamous nickname. 

Still running on the memories of a great meal this weekend at Harvest and a supply run to Viviano's (oh the luxuries of the city), here's some morning links. Back at you later.

• Barry Sims has a much better shot at regular playing time with the 49ers than the Rams. Sims could beat out the constantly injured Jonas Jennings for the RT job in SF, and gives the 49ers a legit backup at the tackle position, where they had very little. Niners Nation has more. 
• Another way to look at the Sims deal... with the Raiders signing OT Kwame Harris, the two Bay Area teams acquired the other's unwanted OT.
• The NFC West features some of the game's top linebackers, according to this report, two of the top five call the NFC West home, SF's Patrick Willis and Seatlle's Lofa Tatupu. They rank Will Witherspoon 19th, just below Shawne Merriman. Despite the questionable ranking, they make a good point about some expanded possibilities for WW. With Leonard Little back and Chris Long drafted, sacks may be harder to come by for WW, but working in coverage, he should pick up at least a couple of INTs. Still, Haslett's going to use the 3-4 and Little's not an everydown guy anymore, so WW should still pick up a few sacks.
• DE Victor Adeyanju has been working hard this offseason. The run stopping specialist, according to the Sporting News, beefed up his strength and made his bullrush more effective. 
• Experts seem to agree, the Rams are a good bet for .500, and a real good pick for more than 6.5 wins. 
• Mike Holmgren's a lame duck this year, does that effect how the team will perform? The Rams made a smart move in brining in high profile Al Saunders for thier OC and making numerous other coaching staff changes as well as a front office switch with Billy Devaney. Together, those moves helped to shore up Linehan's status with the team, from being a total lame duck, no idle threat to the team's performance given his "conversations" with the key players on the offense during the season. However, he's still coaching for his job this season, and the players know that. It's a factor, but not nearly the distraction it could be. 
• The impact of pass rushers (and a good sign for the Rams) from the Football Outsiders crew.

Ok, start turning over rocks, look in your closets, etc. we've got to find some football to talk about. Between dragging out the Super Bowl to February, the Pro Bowl, training camps, and the draft, the NFL made almost every month of the year interesting to the fans. They extended the season for me and you and all those hard working outfits that sell the things you need to have as a fan. It's almost a year round game. Almost. We've entered the dry spell, left to drift like a loney sailor at sea with nobody but his scroungy ship mates to catch his eye. Argh. It's a long slough 'til July maties, but I think we can make it. Tomorrow, we'll kick off the TST fan projection series, wherein we collectively posit the numbers for a key Rams player...similar to what you've seen 'round the internets with baseball fan projections. Anyway, more on that tomorrow. Here's a few links for a slow Monday.

Lost, somewhat, in all this talk about how many sacks Chris Long will or won't have in his frist season with the Rams is informed speculation about how often Haslett will employ the 3-4 that served the Rams so well last season. Yes, the Rams now have two studs to start at DE in a healthy Leonard Little and second overall pick Long, but Long's a rookie and Little's long in the tooth and will need to be kept fresh by not playing each and every snap. And, and, and...it would be foolish not to use a scheme that was so successful against the pass last season. 

I can't imagine we've seen the last 3-4 set with a play ending in a Will Witherspoon sack. Haslett, as you know, likes to mix up his play calls. Bringing out the 3-4 with Wtiherspoon featured as a rushing LB will keep opponents honest and fans happy. It also might make Will Witherspoon as vrey, very rich man when his contract with the Rams ends in 2011. You see, in resolving the Terrell Suggs situation in Baltimore, the league created the "defensive end-linebacker" franchise designatio n, whereas prior to that a pass rusher was either a DE or a LB, which was not a technicality given the disparity in salary attached to either position. Anyway, the more Witherspoon plays as a pass rusher, the more claim he has to that mantle come contract time.

Of course, with the collective bargaining agreement now looking like it might lapse in 2011 , it could be dead issue anyway.

I tried to forget, but reminders that the Rams scored just five rushing touch downs last season just keep appearing. That's likely to change this season. Mike Sando at ESPN takes a look at the Al Saunders/Steven Jackson offensive match made in heaven.

The PD looks at the Al Saunders/Randy McMichael match made in heaven.