St. Louis Rams
Layton Pang
6/24/2008

I read last year’s June report and had to laugh as the optimism was high and I thought the team was ready to improve from the previous year. Needless to say the team took a turn for the worst and now has no where to go but up. June is a slow month for football fans as the excitement of the Draft has worn off and the start of training camp is a month away. Not much has changed from my last report. St. Louis has signed one draft pick, 3rd rounder John Greco and will hopefully have the rest of the draft picks signed before training camp opens. A lot of talk has been made about a new attitude at Rams Park and how everyone is eager to show improvement in 2008. I just hope the Rams can stay healthy enough to fulfill their potential. Last year was a disaster with major injuries on both sides of the ball. Here are my thoughts on the current situations at the Fantasy positions heading into training camp.

QB: QB Marc Bulger is doing his best to forget the horrible 2007 season and hopefully will start earning the money he is getting paid. I think QB Trent Green will help Bulger two ways, one as someone who can actually push him on the field and another as someone who can mentor him in Offensive Coordinator Al Saunder’s complex offense. St. Louis recently picked up QB Bruce Gradkowski off waivers from Tampa Bay and he will compete with QB Brock Berlin for the #3 spot.

RB: RB Steven Jackson is gearing up for a big year (heard that before) and he is letting everyone know that he is in a "contract year" so he will be going extra hard. Why can’t players go all out every year and not just in "contract years"? I never understood that. If he stays healthy, Jackson could easily be a top 3 Fantasy Back. RB Brian Leonard had successful shoulder surgery and is getting bigger and stronger to be more of a traditional Fullback, which means RB Antonio Pittman, who Coach Linehan says has had an outstanding off season, will be Jackson’s primary back up.

WR: WR Torry Holt and WR Drew Bennett are the only veterans with legitimate credentials at receiver. WR Donnie Avery and WR Keenan Burton are rookies who will have to grow up quickly if they are to contribute on game day. As the first receiver taken in the Draft, Avery has a lot of pressure on him to succeed right away. WR Dante Hall returns but how much he has left in the tank must be questioned. WR Dane Looker, WR Marques Hagans, WR Derek Stanley, and WR Reche Caldwell are also in the mix to make the roster.

TE: TE Randy McMichael, TE Anthony Becht, and TE Joe Klopfenstein form a solid trio at tight end. Al Saunders has had Pro Bowl tight ends on his last two teams and McMichael is excited to be playing in his system.

K: Free agent PK Josh Brown should be solid for St. Louis as long as the offense can move the ball. The Rams have PK Justin Medlock, a 2007 5th round pick (and bust for the Chiefs), in camp to give Brown adequate rest and to give Medlock an opportunity showcase his talents to other teams.

DEF: Just like last year, the Rams #1 pick is a defensive lineman. DE Chris Long brings an impressive resume and should start game one opposite DE Leonard Little. DL Adam Carriker is coming back strong from his surgery should be better in his second season on the interior. Veteran DT La’Roi Glover and second year DT Clifton Ryan will team with Carriker to hopefully give the Rams their best interior since the Super Bowl years with D’Marco Farr. The Rams seem set on the line but look thin at linebacker. LB Will Witherspoon, LB Pisa Tinoisamoa, and LB Quinton Culberson (a 2007 undrafted free agent) are the current starters and since St. Louis did not sign any free agent linebackers, 7th round draft picks LB Chris Chamberlain and LB David Vobora have a legitimate chance of making the team. The secondary has a chance to be good but does not have much depth. CB Tye Hill has flashed potential but can’t stay healthy and looks like a bad pick for the Rams who passed on Pro Bowler Antonio Cromartie in favor of Hill. CB Ron Bartell could challenge CB Fakhir Brown for a starting spot. FS Oshiomogho Atogwe and SS Corey Chavous round out the starting secondary.

The most exciting thing going on for football fans at this time of year is that the magazines are starting to hit the shelves. Even that is tempered with all of the great information available on the internet (like right here!). At least optimism can run high as everyone is undefeated right now. Enjoy the summer and get ready for an exciting 2008 season. I myself am going on a little R&R with my family to visit my Bro in Vegas!