We're all expecting a solid season from Leonard Little . With first round pick Chris Long set to anchor the right DE spot, Carriker and some combination of Wroten, Ryan and Glover crashing the middle, Little and his healed up toe should be free to do what he's become famous for in St. Louis, sack the quarterback.

Of course, at 34 (he turns 34 in October) and coming off a season lost to injury, there's plenty of questions as to whether or not Little's up to it. Before we delve into the TST community projections, it's worth noting that Little's best season  came in 2006, at age 32 when he started all 16 games and recorded 13 sacks, 56 tackles, and 6 forced fumbles, all career highs.

For the results of our projection, I averaged out the numbers, which were fairly close to begin with.

I didn't explicitly ask for interceptions and forced fumbles to be included in your projections, but 3k added them to his "k-diction" so I listed them here for good measure. Overall, it's a reasonable projection.

Games played
It's very likely that Little won't play all 16 games, and we expect the Rams to be fairly judicious in making that call should he encounter health concerns during the season.

Tackles
In the five seasons before last, Little averaged almost 44 tackles a season. As forgettable as the 6-10 2005 season (with all the coaching hoopla) was for the Rams, LL still managed to record 9.5 sacks and 45 tackles in just 14 games. Starting at DE opposite Little on the right side was Anthony Hargrove, the Rams third round pick in the draft that year. Hargrove managed to rack up 6.5 sacks and 44 tackles. So before we try to totally purge our memories of the 2005 season, it's worth noting the similarities between this season, a top tier rookie RDE in Chris Long and a rejuvenated Leonard Little. Still, with LL likely to see fewer snaps per game than before as the Rams make an effort to save his legs for a full season AND more talent around him on the D-line, his number of tackles might actually fall a bit.

Sacks
And that's fine if he makes fewer tackles, because what we're really counting on are the sacks. Nine sacks is a very possibility for Little given the new look D-line he's leading now. With Long on the right side, Carriker et al in the middle, there's no reason for the Rams to be among the bottom of the league again in sacks. See the note above about the 2005 Rams defense, if you're at all dubious. 

Compare the TST projection to this one from Footballguys.com's John Norton. He sees Little making 45 tackles and 9 sacks. There's also this from SykosSports that we mentioned here last week commenting that 12 sacks isn't out of the question.

A big year for Leonard Little will be a big year for Rams fans, a confirmation of our belief that we're going to have a very respectable defense this season.

Another community projection coming tomorrow. Who will it be?

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. 

The 49ers seem to be in a kind of flux. They're not a bad team on paper, but to an outsider they just don't appear to be in the mix this season. (Something I have no doubt  fans of other NFC West teams are saying the same about the Rams.) Last season was San Francisco 5th consecutive losing season, and like his counterpart in St. Louis, head coach Mike Nolan enters his third season as head coach with whispers about his job security sure to come

The Chris Long selection nicely complements last year's additions of Adam Carriker and Clifton Ryan, and the spiffed up d-line figures to be the perfect monkeywrench for the Niners offense. They've resorted to threatening former first round pick Alex Smith with a competition for the starting spot, competing with such luminaries as Shaun Hill and Trent Dilfer. Hill, however, did play well down the stretch, getting wins in his two starts in weeks 15 and 16 against the Bengals and the Bucs. Few know better than we Rams fans the feeble amount of protection afforded a QB in a Mike Martz system, and the Rams d-line matches up well against the Niners o-line. 

San Fran's biggest move in the draft came last year, when they traded their '08 first rounder to New England to get OT Joe Staley. Starting on the right side, Staley did not disappoint. This year he faces a bigger test when he moves over to become the starting left tackle SF switcharooed their '07 and '08 drafts to get. Without a doubt, Staley looks legit at LT, but it's not unreasonable to expect some adjustment time in the higher profile role. On the other side, it looks like Jonas Jennings will start . Jennings played in only three games last season thanks mostly to a high ankle sprain that eventually required cleanup surgery. I'll have to defer to Fooch at Niners Nation as to who would start should Jennings go down again, but I suspect it would be Adam Synder, currently penciled in at RG. Second round draft pick G Chilo Rachal could be in the mix too. Either way, the Rams defensive line ought to able to find ways to exploit the San Francisco offensive line and get to the QB, whoever that winds up being.

Don't forget that Long is also considered a good run defender, and the Rams defenisve line should still find their hands full against Frank Gore, if he's healthy. Again, the SF o-line will be a factor here too. I think on rushing downs in a 4-3 with Carriker and Glover (or Ryan or Wroten) in the middle, the Rams should be capable run stoppers. Remember, the final stats didn't shake out so well for them last season, but the Rams defense didn't allow a 100 yard rusher until week 16 against the Steelers.

Obviously against a Mike Martz-led offense the passing game will be key, and as much as we heart Isaac Bruce, it's encouraging to know that he's the 49ers top wide receiver. I'll let Football Outsiders sum up that siutation:

Of course, it takes two players to complete a pass, and the receiving corps for the 49ers was just as dreadful. Their leading wide receiver in DPAR was Taylor Jacobs, with a whopping 0.0 DPAR and a catch percentage of 33 percent. Every other wide receiver came in below replacement level. The 49ers are hoping that Smith or Shaun Hill (who played well in the final three games of last season) can turn things around at the quarterback position, and that Isaac Bruce, who will turn 36 during the season, can save the receiving corps. This is madness. This is San Francisco.

Again, it's nice that Fakhir Brown is indeed going to be back this season, and the Rams 4th round pick, speedy CB Justin King, should get some nice opportunities playing nickelback against the 49ers.

On the other side of the ball, the Jacob Bell signing might prove to the Rams best offseason move of all. As long as the health of various members of the o-line holds up, particularly Orlando Pace, they should be able to exploit a team that struggled to stop runs up the middle (26th in the league) as well as power runs on 3rd and 4th downs. The 49ers first round pick, 29th overall, Kentwan Balmer, upgrades their line, but confusion reigns as to whether or not he'll play DE or NT. Bringing in Justin Smith via free agency adds to their pass rush, but the loss of Bryant Young (he retired) hurts. Again, for the Rams so much will come down to the health of key cogs on the offensive line. If they do stay taped together fairly well, they should be able to move against the SF front, although runs up the middle could be tough with ILB Patrick Willis in the middle of the field.

Against the pass, SF had the 29th ranked defense, depsite the addition last year of nate Clements to complement Walt Harris at CB. The two even had four INTs apiece, but it wasn't enough to keep them from allowing 225 yards per game, 25 TDs, and a 63.5% completion rate (6th worst in the NFL). Harris will be 34 this season, so depth matters . Draftee Reggie Smith figures to be more of a return man. After looking at the Seattle and now the SF secondary, I think there's more reason to be encouraged by the Donnie Avery draft pick. That speed could burn more than a few defenses this year.

All in all, the Rams (ans I'm biased) appear to have the advantage this season against the 49ers. Mike Martz will test the defense though, and no game between these two rivals can be taken for granted.

In an offhand sort of way, we've been joking about visions of Matt Hasselbeck being pummeled by the new and improved Rams defensive line. But, the Rams moves in the draft really should go along way to making that vision a reality.

Inspired by the talk of Jacksonville stocking up on pass rushers to break the Colts' grasp on the division, I think it's worth taking a look at the Rams moves in the context of how they figure to size up against our division rivals. And who better to start with the reigning division champ over the last four seasons, the Seattle Seahawks.

The most obvious place to start is with those lofty visions of Matt Hasselbeck sacked again and again. The Seahawks biggest need arguably was at offensive tackle. I'll let our friends at Field Gulls sum up the situation on the o-line there:

Walter Jones is no longer an elite left tackle. Where once Jones was irreplaceable, he is now simply inadequately able to be replaced. That is, Jones is not so good that the Hawks couldn't hope to replace his production with another player; they just don't have that player on roster. Sean Locklear wouldn't be lost at left tackle, perhaps deficient, but not disastrous or crippling. His replacement on the right, though, presumably Ray Willis, would jeopardize any hopes of contention. Willis may yet develop into a serviceable starter, but we're far from knowing that. Combining the inherent value of the position, the age of the incumbent and the overall team depth, no position presents a greater need for Seattle than offensive tackle.

Seattle did not draft an offensive lineman this year, not a one. Last season, they ranked 19th in pass protection , allowing 37 sacks and a had a sack rate of 7.1%. (The Rams, by comparison, has a sack rate of 8.1% and the paper thin o-line ranked 25th overall in pass protection.) With LT Walter Jones another year older and at a little higher risk for injury, they could very well struggle with pass protection. At the very least, figuring they stay at about the same level, the Rams figure to be much improved in their pass rush. The addition of Chris Long, the return of Leonard Little, improved play from second year players Adam Carriker and Clifton Ryan, the rejuvenation of La'Roi Glover, and whispers of Claude Wroten being the offseason's hardest worker, gives the Rams plenty of depth. Add to that equation Haslett's ability to attack with different looks in the 3-4, utilizing the emergence of Will Witherspoon as a rushing OLB, and the 4-3, and the passing game could get pretty difficult for Seattle.

The Seahawks' questions at wide receiver were also left unanswered in the draft and free agent period. Their best pass catcher, Deon Branch, has health questions, and behind him they lack a solid pass catching threat. The Rams d-backs, Fakhir Brown included thanks to his successful appeal,figure to have some good games against the Seahawks this season.

Of course, Seattle did make plenty of moves to beef up their running game, no longer dependent on the rusty jallopy Shaun Alexander. Bringing in Julius Jones from Dallas and T.J. Duckett gives them a pretty good 1-2 punch, with Duckett supplying the short yardage help they lacked last season. The addition of Mike Whale at guard figures to beef up the run game as well as the addition of West Virgina FB Owen Schmitt, who profiles as a top flight blocker in the NFL. The Rams pass attack has the chance to shine, but the run defense will have to build on last season's gains and prove it wasn't a fluke.

On the other side of the ball, Seattle's made solid improvements on their d-line. The addition of Lawrence Jackson at DE in the first round of the draft gives them a nice pairing with Patrick Kerney. The addition of Jackson will also save Darryl Tapp's legs for situational pass rushing. The Rams better be damn sure about Orlando Pace's health, and it's truly now or never for Alex Barron. The blockers will need to be firing on all cylinders in order for Bulger to make his passes.

While their defensive front improved, the Seahawks sport the same old backfield featuring Marcus Trufant as the only real threat. Take a look at Seattle's rank against types of receviers from last season:

With Trufant tied up with Holt and if the blockers up front can stave off the rush, the Rams second round draft pick, Donnie Avery, could have some nice games against the Seahawks, catching a couple deep balls and using his speed to cruise downfield relatively unfettered.

I like the way the Rams stack up against their division rivals, who've been wrongly holding the division title we grew accustomed to having. This, of course, is all on academic at this point. We'll get a much better sense of things in week three when the new look Rams pay a visit.