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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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?

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.

Friday the 13th. After last season, I feel like I should be waiting for injury news to arrive any moment on an otherwise unnotable Friday. But, like some drugged out repressed 50s housewife, I choose to focus on the positive.

Om, the Rams will win. Om, the Rams will win.

• OT John Greco, the Rams 3rd round choice in this year's draft, signed a three year deal with the Rams. Schuening signed a 3 year deal too; the Rams traditionally give their later round picks 3 year deals.
• OTAs are over, and the Rams won't meet again until training camp begins on July 24. They'll be in Wisconsin. 
• Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley, who was recently granted his release from the Browns, has several teams calling about his services. No word on who those teams are. As jroman pointed out in the comments the other day, he'd be a nice addition in St. Louis, but he's looking for a starting gig and would have to compete with Romberg and Incognito here. Two years ago, he'd have been a shoe in, but he hasn't played for two seasons so you have to wonder how realistic his chances would be with the Rams.  Still, it's hard to watch a former Pro Bowl lineman get away.
• Barry Sims is in town  for a visit today.
  
• Ross Tucker at SI.com takes a look at "players on the hot seat" this season for each team, nominating La'Roi Glover and Claude Wroten for the Rams, citing the Rams decision to pass on Glenn Dorsey in the draft. Ahh, the ghost of Dorsey draft hype. (speaking of...) He is right about Wroten, but I'd have to add Alex Barron to that list. Who else?

Back with the Friday Fantasy tipsheet later.

The mere thought of playing without a salary cap in 2010 evokes images of the Wild West, anything goes to the highest bidder. Fortunately, the decision to opt out of the CBA triggered a number of rules and restrictions to keep the Cowboys from turning into the Yankees of the NFL that season. John Clayton has a nice summary over at ESPN , but here's the gist of it. Teams get an extra transition tag for a player, allowing to keep an extra fee agent along with the franchise tag. Players will need to have six years of service in the league, rather than the usual four, before they can become unrestricted free agents. That will make it easier for teams to keep their younger players via restricted free agency. And to keep the top teams from piling up the talent, teams that play for the conference championship for the '09 season won't be allowed to sign unrestricted free agents until they lose one of their own UFA, and the other, less fortunate playoff teams will face additional restrictions on free agency as well. 

With the new rules, some teams are in better shape than others, as pointed out in the Clayton article. That got me curious about the Rams; how are they set when 2010 rolls around? Fortunately, the Rams are in a good spot, with only a few free potential free agent casualties. 

Alex Barron - His contract with the Rams ends in 2009, but that will only be his fifth season in the league. Clearly, Barron's playing for his future this season as it is, but should he start to live up to his promise, he'd be a restricted free agent ahead of the 2010 season, meaning the Rams can tender him an offer just above his previous year's salary ($1.233 million for Barron) and get first right of refusal and a compensatory draft pick for his services. Besides, how Barron responds this season, much will depend on how John Greco develops as a potential replacement. Orlando Pace, who's under contract through 2011, probably can't be counted on in 2010, meaning the Rams will need Barron and Greco to emerge OR find another OT in the next two drafts.

Torry Holt - Holt's status as of 2010 has already received endless speculation. It's probably safe to assume that he won't be back in 2010, and use the capless year to cash in on free agency as he enters his age 33 season. The Rams expect Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton to blossom in the coming seasons to replace Holt.

Randy McMichael - Another contract that ends after 2009. McMichael will be 30 for hte 2010 season, hardly too old to contribute. Will the Rams look for TE talent in the draft before then? Their recent track record drafting TEs hasn't been spectacular, so should they?

Leonard Little - By 2010, Chris Long will be the Rams stand out DE, and they'll likely have to add another speedy pass rushing DE before the 2010 season, as Little will turn 36 early that season anyway.

Claude Wroten - Reportedly this offseason's workout warrior, the former LSU DT says he ready to get serious about the game. His contract ends after the 2009 season, but he won't have enough time in under the new rules to be an unrestricted free agent. Like Barron, the Rams can chose to tender him an offer as a restricted free agent in 2010. Just how far he comes in living up to his potential will determine what that offer is, if there's one at all. 

Some of the names on this list get top billing on the marquee to be sure. Recent draftees should grow to replace two of the biggest names on the list, Holt and Little. Losing McMichael will be a concern, as he figures to be a prominent part of the Al Saunders offense. The Rams will have the option of attempting to sign him to an extension ahead of that time, competitively bid on the UFA, or seek a replacement through the draft or free agency. As for the rest of the roster, we're pretty young in the right places, particularly on defense, and have our starters under contract through the uncapped season. There will be age concerns about some of the players we do have under contract, but with two more drafts between now and then, the Rams should be able to find the next generation of talent to fill those shoes.  

In between now and the 2010 free agent season the Rams will have some big contract issues to deal with. We mentioned the LT situation above, but their current candidates for center and right guard will be looking for contracts before then. Like Greco, if Roy Schuening emerges - and there are those that think he has the talent to play now - that leaves only the starting center role to be filled for 2009. There's also the 2,000 lbs gorilla in the room, Steven Jackson, who's contract expires after this season. 

Still, it's refreshing to see that the Rams won't be completely SOL when the uncapped 2010 rolls around.

Don't forget to make your voice and projections heard in the great Chris Long vs. Glenn Dorsey projection showdown!

Thankfully, we don't have to look to minicamp for answers about the Rams upcoming season. Players get together and run through drills for a few days. Spirits seem to be high, and everyone's ready to move forward to a new chapter. That's good enough for me.

I don't know if it's just the rookie the season or what, but Chris Long is really, really positive about things .

On getting around Alex Barron in a drill:

"That's a great tackle in the NFL, and just to be able to compete with him is going to make me better."

On D-line coach Brian Baker:

"Coach Baker's a great coach. He's got 20-something-odd years of experience. It's my job to be receptive to whatever he throws my way. You've got to come in here with no ego, and no idea that you know what's going on."

All kidding aside though, it's nice to see a little humility with athletes, top draft picks in particular. At least we don't have to take it on the chin from a hold out like so many other teams have had to struggle with. Chris Long's going to be the face of this franchise someday.

If you like things ranked and graded for easy consumption, ESPN has got your fix with their first round of power rankings for 2008. The Rams ranked 28th, and will have to play their way out of that spot. They did get some love from Mike Sando, who put them at 19th on his ballot. He presents a solid case , repeating what we've said here for sometime: the core of this team is solid and surely the injury bug doen't bite twice...or thrice for Orlando Pace.

I still think, barring injuries, the Rams can compete for the division title. They match up well against the Seahawks , who figure as the preseason favorites for that coveted spot. We'll take a look at how they compare to the Cardinals later this week.

You're really got to focus and try to read between the lines to glean much information about the first day of camp, at least if you're looking for much more than the usual platitudes that accompany such an affair. But there's a few positives to be found, for sure. 

First and foremost, nobody got injured. That's not exactly storming the beaches at Normandy news, but after whatever version of the bubonic plague swept through the knees and ankles and shoulders of the Rams last season, it's a plus. While we're on the subject of injuries, the Rams players expected to sit out went through all but the most strenuous activities in camp yesterday, including Leonard Little, Adam Carriker and Pace, who went through individual work and walkthroughs. It sounds like Carriker's status won't be a problem for the regular season. Head coach Scott Linehan told the PD that Carriker could play in a game "if he had to." Carriker's unflappable dedication will make this d-line a success. 

And that's the other positive sign we can carry away from the earliest of camp reports. There's an obvious enthusiasm and a real desire to move away from the three win campaign last season. That lacks any science, but the reassurance can't be ignored.

According to the Belleville News Democrat , Chris Long impressed Rams coaches his first day in camp. Other items of note in that piece:

• With Pace limited, Alex Barron worked at LT with the starting unit. Barron made some strides last season in that role; small strides that were mostly obscured by the rest of the makeshift line. He still had 13 penalties for 81 yards last season, so he's got a ways to go. However, I am interested to see if he finally starts to put that talent to work this season; he'd better because...
• Rams third round pick, John Greco, worked at RT with the second team offense. In the week after the draft, the Rams staff immediately stated that they expected Greco to compete with Barron for the RT job. Odds are that Barron keeps the RT job, but watch this story closely as the summer moves along.
• Adam Goldberg took reps at RT with the starting unit. It's good to see Goldberg back in action. He provides excellent depth, and is exactly the kind of guy you like to have in reserve - God only knows we could have used him for more than 4 games last season. His yeoman work filling in at G and LT in 2006 can't be forgotten. I also have a particular fondness for his alma matter. Go Pokes!

I'll be anxious to hear reports of the other draft picks, particularly wide receivers Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton.  I still like Avery and defend the pick, but I keep getting this feeling that Burton might be the receiver who really becomes a marquee player for the Rams down the road. He's physical, speedy and smart, and with some time to refine his skills for the Pro game, Burton might be a first down machine and the new face of a new greatest show. I'm not alone on this either. the estimable John Morgan from SBN's Seahawks blog FieldGulls said this  about Burton in a look at the Rams draft yesterday:

Burton has a pretty good shot of winning the starting #2 spot from Drew Bennett, and the two taken as a package, Burton and Avery that is, are nice combination of refinement and potential.

Here, here. Be sure to give Morgan's review of the Rams draft a good read. Prior to the draft he favored the Seahawks taking G Roy Schuening.