That just about says it.  It's the time of year when two oddly colored animals stare at each other with disdain and fury in their eyes.  It's time for football.  Week 1 breakdown after the fold.

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Here's a few time wasters if you need a break from your family this weekend. Hey, one week from tomorrow it's here. All the preseason noise fades into background. Over the course of the week we'll be talking lots about the matchup, so stay tuned. 

• RB Lance Ball surprised everyone with a really solid camp. Unfortunately, he's probably just far enough on the other side of the bubble to be left off the 53-man roster. He is, however, almost a sure thing for the practice squad, unless... some other team in need of depth at RB puts in a claim when/if the Rams waive him before they can sign him to the practice squad. The Jets have cut Jesse Chatman and are left with just two RBs, Thomas Jones and Leon Washington. They could be looking for a third. Of course, Shuan Alexander might be a better option for a third RB, but a guy like Ball could come much cheaper. 
• With CB Fahkir Brown still not working in team activities and questionable for week 1, the Rams will most certainly be looking for an extra hand at CB. It's being reported that the Giants will likely release veteran CBs R.W. McQuarters, 31, and Sam Madison, 34. As you can see both guys are pretty long in the tooth, but as veteran depth they could be decent additions. McQuarters returned 42 punts for the Giants last season and played in all 16 games. He had three INTs in the post season and hauled in another against the Pats in preseason play this week. Madison had 67 tackles last season and 4 INTs. 
• DE Vernon Gholston was once on the Rams draft day radar, a little further down on the list. Gholston has struggled through the preseason with the Jets, and has been called their biggest disappointment of the preseason. They are working him at LB too. Interesting to note the struggles the young DEs taken in the draft are having, like Chris Long. I think with the talent these two guys have, they'll emerge, but it takes time. Remember when Mario Williams, drafted ahead of Reggie Bush, looked like a huge bust? Until he had 14.5 sacks last year. 
• WR Donnie Avery has a sprained right knee, nothing serious, and he should be able to play at Philly in week 1. They'll evaluate him in practice this week. It is, apparently, an injury he's dealt with before, in his senior year. 
• Five areas of progress, five areas of concern. 
• Rams drinking games. That drink for every Drew Bennett dropped pass could get you in trouble. 

Another round of cuts from the Rams today. The most surprising names on the list: Marques Hagans and Jerome Carter. Ok, not that surprising, but I did think Hagans maybe had a shot. Now, among the fringe WRs, I'd say Stanley has the best chance to stay on the active roster...maybe. According to the piece at the official Rams site, the team is interested in keeping Hagans for the practice squad. He'll have to clear waivers first. 

Jerome Carter's release means Eric Bassey most likely has a spot on the roster, adding depth at safety and role playing on special teams. That's a good move, IMHO. Remember that Ron Bartell has been working some at safety, though his primary m.o. remains CB. Carter was a fifth round pick in the 2005 draft, and like a number of Rams picks that year, he never lived up to his potential. (more on the 2005 draft below)

The other cuts came as no surprise: Matt Caddell, WR; Nick Cleaver, TE; Willie Williams, DT; Henry Smith, DT; Tanard Davis, CB; Cortney Grixby, CB; Donovan Raiola, C; and Marcus Riley, LB. Based on our limited viewing of these guys, I'd say, besides Hagans and Carter, Marcus Riley has the best chance of catching on somewhere else. 

Carter becomes the latest disappointment from the 2005 draft, when the Rams took a whopping 11 players. Also drafted in fourth round by the Rams, none other than classy Claude Terrell. Still, compared to others, the '05 draft turned out ok for the Rams. Of the 11 players taken, the four still with the Rams are starters.

First round pick Alex Barron hasn't lived up to his first round potential, but he has been a solid everyday player that hasn't missed a start in two seasons. Second round pick Ron Bartell battled inconsistency, but finally looks to be over the hump. He's starting at nickel for the Rams, and his performance down the stretch late last season and through this preseason could make him a starting CB for plenty of teams in the league. He's scheduled to be an UFA after this season, so see if that elevates his play. The Rams hit pay dirt in the third round, drafting O.J. Atogwe with the second pick in the round. They drafted Richie Incognito in the same round, 81st overall. 

Two other players taken by the Rams are still in the league. Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, and Madison Hedgecock, FB, both seventh round picks, have roles with other teams after getting jettisoned by the current Rams regime.

Those four players are solid contributors, and in one case, one of the league's elite at his position. But it's still just four of six, and after watching the game last night, it's clear that those drafts of recent past have hurt the Rams, leaving them without quality depth players. 

Contrast that with this year's draft. Our first round pick, despite a slow start, is widely expected to be a star. The two WRs, second rounder Donnie Avery and fourth rounder Keenan Burton, already look like solid players, with Burton maybe the steal of the draft. They should at a minimum give the Rams good depth at WR down the road. Third round pick John Greco won't replace Orlando Pace, but he already looks like a winner at G. CB Justin King, the other fourth rounder, could have been 4th on the depth chart this year had the injury bug not bit him. People are raving about one of the two LBs taken in the draft, Chris Chamberlain, and David Vobora, while still raw, could be a keeper. The biggest question mark of the draft is fifth round pick, G Roy Schuening. His ability was praised heading into the draft, but he had trouble adjusting in preseason. Still, with his profile and supposed dedication, he should be able to pick it up eventually. 

Truthfully, considering poor drafts have been the main culprit in long stretch of mediocrity for the Rams, Billy Devaney has been the most important offseason addition. 

70/1 for the Rams to win the Super Bowl. 5/1 to win the NFC West. 

Hey, after last season, I'll take those odds. The folks over at Bodog were king enough to share some Rams-related stats with us. Not a betting man, I was oddly interested from the predictive standpoint. 

Things to be oddly optimistic about:

• Rams favored to win more than 3.5 games at home, -135. That's a plus. The Rams first home game is against the Super Bowl champion NY Giants, a difficult match for sure, but the Giants are coming in without sack master Osi Umenyiora and Strahan opted to stay retired. Alex Barron's breathing easier. After the Giants the Rams get the Bills, Cowboys, Cardinals, Bears, Dolphins, Seahawks and Niners. The most winnable games on the list are the Dolphins, Niners, and Bears. Mistake free play could bring a win against the Cardinals, esp considering their chronic disarray under center. If the Rams are competitive, a games against the Seahawks are always tight. I'm more optimistic about our chances against the Giants than the Bills.
  
• The over/under on Bulger's stats are 3325 passing yards and 19.5 TDs. That would be his second best season in the last four years.
• Take the over on Steven Jackson. His over/under for rushing yards is 1300; he topped 1000 yards in 12 games with a terrible offensive line and offense last season. His over/under for receiving yards is 450, far off his 800+ yards in 2006. He should top that this year. For TDs, Jackson's o/u is 12.5, a tougher call than his yardage numbers. 
• Precedent weighs heavily in odds making, and Torry Holt is still favored to be a top WR. His over/unders are: 92 rec, 1172 yards, 8.5 TDs. He topped all those, except for TDs (he had 7), with a gimpy knee and a pathetic offense last year.

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For a view of things on the other side of the state, I checked in with Chris from Arrowhead Pride, SBN's Chiefs blog. Our QnA is below. 

In the meantime, Rams fans, better go weigh in on the pregame St. Louis bashing thread over at AP. Attack Hill-style thin crust pizza? Not on my watch mister.

1. Let me start by going back to April, the draft. There was plenty of debate among pundits and Rams fans about whether or not the Rams should draft Chris Long or Glenn Dorsey with the second overall pick. So tell us, how has Dorsey looked in camp and through the preseason? What kind of impact will he have in the regular season?

AP: Glenn Dorsey sprained his knee during an off-season practice in early August and is just now getting back to full strength. Prior to the injury, he only participated in a few practices so his off-season hasn’t had much to go on.

Being such a great college player, Dorsey should immediately improve what was in 2007 a very shaky Chiefs run defense. Will there be fireworks, sacks and huge run stops right off the bat? Probably not. Dorsey’s surrounding cast on the defensive line is almost as young as he is and because of his knee injury, the preaseason gelling period will most certainly run into the regular season.

We’re of course hoping for the best with Dorsey but doing so with a lot of patience. You learn patience after being a Chiefs fan the last couple of years. 

2. Chiefs fans are having to get used to the R word, Rebuilding, this year. Give us a quick sketch of the team's rebuilding plans. How soon do you them competing for the division title again?

AP: Herm Edwards, after going to the playoffs in 2006 and putting a freak show of a team on the field in 2007, blew up the team and basically kept and chose players on talent first then age. The Chiefs have quickly become one of the youngest teams in the NFL, adding twelve draft picks this year and not making any significant veteran free agent signings.

We are starting over with a young, young team and I think that’s exactly what you have to do to field a truly competitive squad down the line.

As far as competing for a division title, I look at the San Diego Chargers and I don’t see them slowing down dramatically at least for a couple of years. The Chiefs are looking at even competing for a division title no less than three years from now. 

3. Are you set on Brodie Croyle?

AP: I for one am willing to give Brodie Croyle this entire season to show us what he has. The problem evaluating Croyle has been that his offensive line has been terrible, which will impede and mask the progress of any young quarterback.

Most rational fans are willing to give Croyle at least this season as the starting quarterback. If he doesn’t show much improvement after this year, the doubters will increase and rightly so. 2008 will be his first full season and as fans, we owe him at least that. 

4. Is Larry Johnson ready to go after missing half the season last year?

AP: Sure is. Larry Johnson is back, 100% healthy and should benefit greatly from the up and coming supporting running cast the Chiefs have. 3^rd round pick Jamaal Charles and second year player Kolby Smith are more than capable of giving LJ a few rests each game. Now, the offensive line is still in flux but the runners themselves are ready to rock.

5.  Your other first round pick, Brandon Albert, figures heavily into the plans for the offense this season and down the road. What's the latest on his foot injury?What kind of performance do you anticipate from him this season? Down the road are you optimistic?

AP: Albert is walking on his foot now and I don’t believe he still has a protective boot on it. I’d say now he’s questionable for Week 1 and probable for Week 2 but I’m not privy to the inside info. The reports coming out about that have been few and far between, which I assume means we’ll just have to be patient.

I think I speak for every Chiefs fan when we expect Branden Albert to play left tackle for the Chiefs as long as he physically can. We’ll assume 2008 will be a learning period for Albert (he has never played left tackle before) but after that, expectations are high. 

Big thanks to Chris at Arrowhead Pride.

Well, we're one game away from the regular season.  It's almost like 9am on a Friday.  If you can just get through this, you can enjoy living for a short while.

As for the 3k series, some of you may be asking why there was no breakdown of the middle of the preseason schedule, games 2 and 3.  Let's be honest, none of you were asking that.  But let me answer anyway: one, VanRam had us covered.  I pledge eternal props for his service to true Rams fans, or as I call them, the Ramily.  And two, as a fan, I really only take a full interest in the first and last games of the preseason.

The first game is the first real taste of football, the first full-speed full-pads game against a real opponent.  Granted, the majority of the game is just fodder for sites like TST to mull over the pros and cons of rookie linebackers (see VanRam's story here for proof).  This last game is the last tune-up.  The final chance to get everything ready for game 1 (in Philly, no less).

So let's go ahead and get to it.

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Hard not to be pleased with last night's results. While Baltimore's offense didn't pose the biggest challenge, their defense still earns plenty of respect, with a front seven synonymous with elite defenders. (The Ravens were without starting nose tackle Kelley Gregg and starting d-backs Ed Reed and Chris McAlister).

The first team offense, sans LT Orlando Pace, scored, twice. Players looked sharp, and gave fans exactly what they wanted to see, what they needed to see. Last game's ought to help ticket sales at least a little. You wonder what might have been possible with Steven Jackson in there. I wouldn't start booking Super Bowl travel plans just yet, but finally we saw a competitive team, with the precision parts working like their supposed to. After watching the Rams struggle through their recent past, it finally feels like a new era.

Some positive notes:

• Bulger executed. We all knew he could, but the last two games doubts about what happens to man after he's sacked 6,546 times (or whatever ungodly number it really is), thinking, wondering if he still had it in him. 
• Rookie WRs Donnie Avery, playing his first preseason game, and Keenan Burton looked good playing with the first team. It's still preseason, but these guys look like they can contribute. Be patient. Rookies will make mistakes, but Avery and Burton are looking like solid draft picks. 
• Antonio Pittman has the speed to be an adequate backup and change of pace guy. 
• The o-line allowed NO sacks. Hell might be frozen. Adam Goldberg had a good night starting in his place. Baltimore smothered the run game to some extent, but this game was all about getting the pass going anyway. 
• The defense. It's almost getting to the point where you take the defense for granted. After the first loss to the Titans, they've been sharp. Little had another sack, but not seeing Long or Carriker's name in the box score with a tackle or two next to them doesn't sit well. 

In as much as the last weeks have been about Steven Jackson, tonight the narrative shifts for the St. Louis Rams. Tonight belongs to Marc Bulger, all eyes, all thoughts about the upcoming season, one supposed to improve upon a 3-13 run last year, have the Rams QB in focus. 

Baltimore's know for their tough defense, a theme for the Rams opponents through this preseason, but the Ravens aren't as airtight as they used to be. Last season, their pass defense had a DVOA of 12.5% ranked 22nd. The Rams by comparison had a DVOA of 18.6% ranked 25th for their pass defense. That didn't stop the Ravens from having a big day last season in week 6, beating down a Rams team that looked a lot more like a preseason roster by a score of 22-3. Bulger and Jackson both missed that game. Backup QB Gus Frerotte played his way out of good graces with a 5 INT performance, completing 19 of 36 passes for 208 yards. The Ravens also sacked the woebegone Frerotte, playing behind a paper mache line, 4 times. 

The four sacks against the Rams last year no doubt provide Bulger a frightening reminder that despite a weaker secondary, B-more still has one of the league's top defensive fronts, putting the Rams o-line under the lamp with their QB. There's some good news there; blocking TE Anthony Becht will play tonight. LT Orlando Pace is questionable, and even if he does play, he'll be limited, giving backup Adam Goldberg time with the first team. Goldberg's had a good preseason, so this will give him a chance to ease our minds with inspired play in Pace's place. 

There's a silver lining in that the Ravens' defense hasn't looked especially noteworthy in preseason action thus far. Last week against the Vikings (and Gus Frerotte) they played without both starting cornerbacks and super safety Ed Reed. Stabbin' Ray Lewis played for just two drives. The Ravens have allowed 206 passing yards and 2 TDs against the Vikes last week. The secondary comes into tonight's game still banged up, and will likely be without their starting CBs, Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle, as well as Ed Reed, who's still limited in practice. Secondary aside, the Ravens are expected to play their starters for up to three quarters, so the Rams will still have to play sharp against the Ravens defensive front to settle concerns and keep Bulger healthy. Torry Holt will play, so having his long-time companion catching his passes could help Bulger get the timing ironed out.

Even though Bulger's in the spotlight, this could be the night to shine for the Rams defense. The Ravens are in the midst of a QB battle between Kyle Boller and Troy Smith, with 2008 draft pick Joe Flacco lurking behind. None of the three have been particularly impressive, combing for 3 INTs. It would be nice to see the secondary, rolling out sans CB fakhir Brown and FS O.J. Atogwe, take advantage of jittery QBs playing for a job. An improved Bartell and Tye Hill starting at CB should be able to handle this offense, and expecting someone to come away with an INT isn't too much to ask.

Rams pass rushers will need to take advantage of an o-line in disarray, lost in the wilderness since LT Jonathan Ogden retired. They've allowed seven sacks in two preseason games. Obviously Leonard Little could have a big night, but Chris Long and Adam Carriker need to get in on the action too and have a big game. With Adeyanju back, with his giant white hand, and the linebackers having looked a little sharper last week, the run defense matches up well against a Ravens team that has managed just 161 rushing yards through two games (for comparison's sake, the Rams have rushed for a total of 259 yards in two games). On 3rd downs, the Ravens are just 6 for 22. 

As far as preseason games go, this is pretty good match up for the Rams. Bulger and the Rams offense have difficult test, facing a tough, but not impenetrable defense. Leonard Little and the Rams defense faces an offense struggling in key areas, giving them a chance to fine tune their attack and get some of the slow starters running on all cylinders. 

Here's a few more preview links. I'll have a game thread up later this afternoon.

• The view from the other side at Baltimore Beatdown, SBN's Ravens site. 
• Five things to watch from the Post Dispatch.
• What to watch at the official Rams site. 
• Game preview from NFL.com.

I don't think anyone doubts that it's the Rams offense that has the most to prove/lose in this weekend's preseason game against the Chargers. If their preseason scoreless streak runs to 10 games, panic sets in. Don't blame it all on Steven Jackson's holdout either, the Rams first team offense failed to score with Jackson in the mix last summer and the summer before that too.

However, while the offense was inducing panic last week, the defense wasn't exactly a beacon of hope when they gave up 340+ yards to the Titans on the ground. Add to that the pressure the Rams defense will carry if the offense is shaky or, heaven forbid, Steven Jackson's holdout continues. The defense needs a good night too tomorrow. Here's a few things we'll be watching for, feel free to add to this list in the comment or on in the fanposts. Oh, and before I forget, if you're new to the TurfShowTimes, be sure get an account via the links in the top part of the page. It's not used for any marketing crap or anything like that, it just allows you to comment and be a part of the community here. And you may well feel the need to vent if Steven Jackson's holdout goes on.

• On the d-line, rookie Chris Long and second year vet Adam Carriker didn't contribute much against the Titans, looking lost and getting manhandled at times. They'll play most of the first half against a Chargers team resting or missing some its marquee names: Tomlinson won't play, TE Antonio Gates is out with a toe injury and WR Vincent Jackson has a sore hammy. We've heard lots about Long's work ethic and ability to improve rapidly, and we'll need to see that this weekend. Plenty is expected out of Carriker too, and only crashed pockets and stuffed runs will ease minds.
  
• Stopping the run last week proved to be especially difficult with MLB Will Witherspoon and Culberson out. The Spoon and Culberson are back this week, but they can't do it all by his lonesome. Rookie linebackers like Chamberlain, who did have a good game, Vobora and Magro need to put on a show for a spot on the active roster. McGarigle has the most to lose after a bad game with plenty of lapses last week. These guys may be ultimately overmatched against a team like the Chargers, but they have to at least compensate by not missing assingments and lining up right.
  
• The Rams could be without several defensive backs this week, including safeties O.J. Atogwe, Jerome Carter and Eric Bassey as well as starting cornerback Fakhir Brown. Chavous, Todd Johnson and European import Sebastien Sejean will see plenty of playing time. Although his play at LB has garnered him attention, I'd like to see what Chris Chamberlain can do at safety. At corner, Bartell and Jonathan Wade will see more time with the first unit with Brown out. Bartell needs to show consistency and Wade needs to show he's a reliable option as the Rams fourth CB.
  
• Sacks, sacks, and sacks. Little's been "on" through the early goings, and a sack from the man, myth, legend would do much to bolster confidence. For that, he'll need solid play from his front line mates.
  
• Speaking of the d-line, there's plenty to anticipate from James Hall too.
  

I'm sure I left something off the list. The preseason's all about answering questions, so covering them all is unlikely. Add what you will.

Tomorrow, our eyes turn to the beleaguered offense and their mighty task of reassuring fans.

The first game-like simulation takes place today with an intrasquad scrimmage - no hits allowed for the established guys - at 9:50 a.m. I generally like the idea of the Rams practicing in WI, but it sure was easier to catch a few practices or a scrimmage when they were a little closer to home. Oh well, it's not like most fans get to go the away games either...of course, those are on TV. Fortunately, there's plenty of camp coverage for us to digest and add our two cents to. 

From the PD:

Linehan on Chris Long's rapid grasp of the game: “He just gets it. He understands what he has to do. His expectation is to improve daily. He’s hard on himself, but he understands if he works hard and keeps doing it the way he’s always done it, he’s just going to continue to improve. And he only has one speed, which is really good to see, especially in a rookie. Sometimes they start to shut it down when they’re thinking. But he doesn’t go there."

That's the stuff you want to hear about the second overall draft choice, and with Chris Long, it shouldn't come as too much of a surprise. Remember, Long was the draft pick many experts felt was closest to being NFL ready, able to make the most impact of any other DE in the draft.

With a rejuvenated James Hall in the mix alongside Long and Little, the Rams have real, quality depth at DE. Worried about playing time for the three? Don't. Hall and Little are both over 30-years-old (Hall turned 31 this year), so having a young guy in the mix can save some reps on their legs and extend their impact, La'Roi Glover theory that we saw last season.

WR Derrick Stanley continues to turn in a big catch every day. Actually, he had three nice grabs Friday — but he also committed a bad drop when he was wide open on the sideline.

Whose not rooting for Stanley? He was impressive returning kicks last season, and could be a real asset in that role going forward, especially if the Rams end up making Dante Hall more of a 3rd WR than KR (and Donnie Avery needs to be ticketed for a WR role). Early camp reports are filled with WRs making impressive catches in the more limited camp drills. When the real contact starts - for Stanley that's today - the real test begins. Stanley, according to the Rams depth chart is 5'11", a not unusual height for a WR, but weighs in at just 179 lbs, which makes you wonder about his size. Donnie Avery, whose main knock was his size, came to  the draft weighing 190 lbs to go with his 5'11" height. 

From the official site:

The play of the day award went to Bulger and fullback Russ Weil. With fellow fullback Dan Kreider nursing a sore knee, Weil has been getting a long look in about every formation as a lead blocker. On this play, though, Weil floated a deep sideline pass to Bulger that was right on the money and drew oohs and aahs from the crowd and delighted cheers from the team.

How often do you remember the fullback being called on last year...or even the year before? Hell, the Rams cut Madison Hedgecock who wound up getting a long term deal with the Super Bowl champion Giants. So far, the Rams and new OC Al Saunders seem to be taking no page in the playbook for granted. After last season, we're more than happy to have all the competent blockers on the field we can get, scripting them into the offense looks even better as Saunders leaves no stone unturned in seeking out mismatches between his offense and opposing defenses. 

Anxious to hear/see what the scrimmage has to offer.