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St. Louis Rams Samkon Gado is the talk of the town after an impressive 93-yard night against the Jets in Friday's preseason opener. With six productive carries, he vaulted himself up the depth chart. 

He's also playing fullback, where he started Friday night in place of Mike Karney. His ability to play both spots may be the key to his job security this year. Gado told the PD:

We've got three more games left, and I've still got a lot of work to do at fullback. I think I'm being evaluated at that position. And how well I do there I think is going to dictate where I land on this team.

Should be a good story to watch. In short, Gado is doing what the Rams once expected former second round pick Brian Leonard to do. One was signed in-season as a free agent, the other was a second round pick. I"m just sayin'...

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St. Louis Rams cornerback Quincy Butler, right, has had a great camp. Is he part of the answer at CB for the Rams or just an August surprise?

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The St. Louis Rams are just a few minutes away from today's afternoon practice. Tomorrow, they'll travel to New York for the preseason opener. That's right, just tonight and one more miserable evening after that before we have Rams football to watch again. Step away from the edge of the building.

I'm always leery about camp hype for non-established guys, for lack of better term. Countless guys turn it on in August only to disappear come September, never to be seen again until the next August. CB Quincy Butler is no stranger to NFL training camps than he's played regular season games, since being signed as an undrafted rookie by the Cowboys in 2006. So far, he's having a great camp with the Rams. He impressed coaches and observers in practice today with strong play in coverage and a Kyle Boller pickoff.

Is Butler an August hero or the real deal? I suspect we'll know more as the preseason games play out, especially since the Rams are auditioning every CB not named Ron Bartell to determine the depth chart. Butler's size, 6' 1", 190 lbs lends itself well to the more physical style of play embodied in the Spagnuolo/Flajole defensive scheme, and the chance to work with a new coach in a new scheme could certainly give Butler the fresh start he needs. I'm not ready to anoint him the right man at the right time for the Rams defensive backfield, but I think, especially given the Rams situation a cornerback, he's a guy you'll want to keep an eye on as the season gets closer. You're certainly hearing lots more about Butler than you are last year's early camp surprise CB, Justin King. Well, maybe. King filled in with the first team defense in practice today as Bartell sat out to rest a sore hammy.

Carriker is out for Friday's game. FB Mike Karney's status has yet to be determined.

Starters will play a quarter or thereabout in Friday's game, and all four QBs will take some snaps.

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

St. Louis Rams safety Craig Dahl, top, breaks up a pass intended for wide receiver Derek Stanley during training camp.

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The St. Louis Rams wrapped up this morning's practice without CB Tye Hill, who left the field with a swollen knee. It's in his right knee, the surgically repaired one. Coaches say he'll be fine, but it's something to keep an eye on. Hill's competing for his football future and any little thing that slows him down can be a serious speed bump. Here's ESPN's Mike Sando on what he saw from an obviously hurting Hill in drills today:

I watched receiver Nate Jones beat Hill for a touchdown despite relatively tight coverage. The Rams would like Hill to contest such plays more aggressively. "Compete!" was an order heard often in drills pitting cornerbacks against receivers. In this case, Hill was hurting.

Let's hope it's just the injury. This morning I mentioned that Chris Draft was still working as the starting SLB, but he sat it out today, thanks to a thumb to the throat, giving Larry Grant a chance to shine in work with the first team. He picked off Bulger and tackled Kenneth Darby to breakup a running play before Darby could gain any yardage. This is exciting news. If the Rams can start getting good play out of more linebackers than just the starting three, it will go along way toward erasing those painful memories of last year's linebacker play.

Grant wasn't the only linebacker making an impression on the visiting Sando today. Check out what he said about Witherspoon:

Linebacker Will Witherspoon was easily the most impressive linebacker. He caused problems rushing the passer and taking down running backs behind the line of scrimmage.

I think moving 'Spoon back to the weakside will breath new life into his game, after years being miscast in the middle. Remember how well he did in limited work on the weakside last year, when the Rams used him to bolster their struggling pass rush? He picked up seven sacks that season. This move might be almost like adding a new player to the roster.

An Alex Barron sighting! Sando reports Barron handling Chris Long in a pass rushing drill. Good news for Barron or bad news for Long?

The PD includes a note about Derek Stanley stepping up in practice today, answering the call in Avery's absence. That's good to hear, especially considering what the PD reported in today's piece about the receivers behind Avery on the depth chart. Here's what they said in the a.m. edition:

Derek Stanley is coming back from major knee surgery and hasn't made the kind of plays in practice so far in Rams camp that he did a year ago.

Now, is today a new trend or a blip on the radar for Stanley? Stay tuned.

Carriker and Dahl are still sitting out, but Mike Karney is getting back up to speed.

More photos » by Kevin Rivoli - AP

Quarterback Kellen Clemens, left, will start for the New York Jets against the St. Louis Rams in this week's preseason opener. Mark Sanchez, right, will battle Clemens for the starting job.

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Friday will be here before you know it, and with the end of the week comes the first game, preseason variety, of the new-look St. Louis Rams. We need to start getting ready. With only so many hours in the day, a family, a job, a Rams blog, and a penchant for malty, hoppy beverages, I don't spend much time following the New York Jets of New Jersey. So, let's start previewing this week's preseason opener with a quick look at what's going on with the Jets this season.

Though they won't face each other, for obvious reasons, this game features two of the league's best centers in the Jets' Nick Mangold and the Rams' Jason Brown. A first round pick in 2006 (29th overall), Mangold and guard Alan Faneca give the Jets an imposing middle, which should be a good test for the Rams defensive line. Unless of course, Mangold can't play this week. The Jets center hurt his knee in practice this weekend. He's expected to be fine, but is still being held out of practice. No word on whether or not he'll play Friday or how much time he'll see in the preseason opener.RT Damien Woody is also dealing with a minor injury.

On the other line, another Jets keystone player is sitting out. NT Kris Jenkins, another of last year's big offseason additions, injured his calf the first day of camp. He is unlikely to play in the game this week. Too bad, Jenkins would be a good matchup for the middle of the Rams o-line, a chance to test Brown's Haynesworth theory. Former Seahawks backup DT Howard Green will see plenty of time replacing Jenkins this week.

Then, of course, there's the news that Kellen Clemens will start at QB, over Mark Sanchez, this week. And, the Leon Washington holdout continues.

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo, right, talks with linebacker Chris Draft, who has been playing with the first team at strongside linebacker.

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Day one without WR Donnie Avery is in the books for the St. Louis Rams. We've talked plenty here about the team's receivers behind Avery, their prospects for the season, and their potential. If you want more, there's wide receivers stepping up stories all over the media today, the PD, Belleville News Democrat, and the official site. 

No surprises as to the names now atop the depth chart at WR, Laurent Robinson and Keenan Burton. Both are having a good go at it early in camp, with their next major test coming this Friday against the Jets. Most surprising is the report that Tim Carter, who sat out last season, appears to be the most likely guy to get a shot at the #3 job. With his speed, a millisecond slower than Donnie Avery, and strong route running ability, I see the seven-year vet as an intriguing possibility out of the slot. Add some Ron Curry into the mix and the Rams could have a decent stable of pass catchers filling in while Avery recovers. The only problem they've got right now is that they're mostly unknown. Should be a good role to watch Friday.

Speaking of position battles, Chris Draft still seems to be getting most of the snaps at SLB, with Laurinaitis now in the middle with the starters. There's time left in camp and a position battle may yet emerge, especially with strong performances in the preseason game. I wonder if Flajole won't use a rotation for the SLB spot, bringing in a guy for blitz packages or to match up against certain TEs. I guess we'll find out. Laurinaitis is impressing the vets with his football acumen and leadership. That's good.

DE James Hall has a champion in head coach Steve Spagnuolo, who likes the veteran's versatility and plans to use him at DT also to play the matchups. Hall offers his take on the differences between DT and DE in this piece from the BND.

Sakmon Gado is playing fullback with Mike Karney still out, and playing his way into Spagnuolo's versatility loving heart. I don't know about the FB thing once the hitting steps up a notch for the 5'10" 227 lbs Gado, but his special teams ability would seem to give him a roster spot.

Get your Steven Jackson stats predictions in. 

More photos » by Alex Brandon - AP

The St. Louis Rams, led by newly acquired center Jason Brown, will look to run over the Washington Redskins and NT Albert Haynesworth when they meet in week 2. "It's raining money," said Haynesworth.

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We haven't said much about St. Louis Rams C Jason Brown's comments about how to beat Redskins DT Albert Haynesworth. That needs to change.

Brown, one of the league's premier offensive linemen and no stranger to facing the best NTs week-in and week-out, told a local radio station that he relished the chance to face the Redskins big free agent addition in the second week of the season. Here's what Brown said:

I'm so glad we're playing Washington early in the year because it's going to be hot out there, we're going to be running hurry-up offense and he's going to get fatigued. And I'm not sure if you have watched film before, but when he gets fatigued, he taps out. He just falls down to the ground and you're like, 'Oh my gosh, is he hurt? Is something wrong with him?'

No, he's just giving the guy on the sidelines enough time to mosey on out there so he can get up, go to the sidelines, catch a breather, get something to drink and then he comes right back out. And then people are like, 'I thought he was hurt.' No, he got tired.

It's not as though Brown gave away the secret formula for Coca Cola or anything. The Rams have always planned to make the hurry up offense part of their strategy. Well, the Washington media is having a field day with Brown's comments, even getting Jim Zorn in on the fun.

The Rams and Redskins will both be geared up for a rematch after the Rams surprising upset win at FedEx Field last year, and Haynesworth is the most notable addition for Washington. I'll take my chances against them again this year, though I the matchup certainly does favor the Redskins, on paper anyway.

Brown probably should have added a question about whether or not we'll be seeing contract year Haynesworth. Either way, it's a great early test for a much improved offensive line.

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson, left, talks with head coach Steve Spagnuolo. The Rams and their fans and lots of fantasy football players are expecting a big season from Jackson.

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This is it. This is the last Monday until week 9, in November, that we won't have a St. Louis Rams game to talk about. The preseason schedule gets underway with a trip to New Jersey, er, New York, to face the Jets this Friday at 6 p.m. Central time. That game will be broadcast on FOX KTVI in St. Louis and nationally on the NFL Network.

We'll talk more about that game as it get closer. One interesting note I gleaned scanning SBN's Jet site, Gang Green Nation, is that Kellen Clemens will start this week, over first rounder Mark Sanchez.

We know who out starting QB will be, no camp battle at that position. I'll spare you the rehash of the expectations heaped upon Marc Bulger for this season, and one guy he'll be passing to often is RB Steven Jackson. So let's start the preseason community projections with Jackson, paying particularly close attention to his receiving numbers.

Leave your projection in the comments, and I'll compile the numbers for the end of the week. Here's what to project:

Rushing attempts, rushing yards, rushing TDs, receptions, receiving yards, receiving TDs.

Have at it.

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

St. Louis Rams wide receiver Keenan Burton becomes the top guy with Avery on the shelf. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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Damn. The St. Louis Rams lost WR Donnie Avery in Friday's scrimmage. Didn't someone tell them football is dangerous? Anyway. The, uh, sort of good news is that if hits the middle of that 4-6 week time frame for recovery, he'll be suited up to face the Seahawks to open the season. It's not great news, but it's not the end of the world either. Some RAMifications rippling from Avery's foot fracture...

• Reports out of camp so far, including the spring, have Avery and Bulger connecting well in the new offense. That's good, and should mean that last year's rookie surprise shouldn't be totally lost in the offensive system when he returns.
• Laurent Robinson and Keenan Burton are the top guys now, with Ronald Curry a probable candidate for top three on the list. Robinson has the speed and ability to be a deep threat, stretching the field. The former Falcon has also looked good in camp's early going, showing good run after catch ability. This year's camp just got even more important for Burton, who needs to establish himself as a top possession threat. Curry is a good set of hands in coverage too.
• It was a tackle by CB Justin King that put Avery on the shelf. King had his season ended early in camp last year, after a promising start, with a toe/foot injury. Oh the irony. 
• The PD mentions some free agent possibilities for the Rams, none of whom would be straight up replacements for Avery. I'd say to watch Avery's progress, and if he's not on the speedy side of a recovery, the Rams will probably add a player from among the roster casualties as teams hone their rosters down to 53 players.
• No offense to Avery, but be happy this wasn't Steven Jackson.