Starting wideouts Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt will once again make up one of the NFL’s most potent receiving duos. Holt is in his prime and is probably one of the top three or four receivers in the game. Bruce is on the down side of his career and may have lost a step, but he is still better than most No. 2 receivers in the league.
Second-year player Shaun McDonald looks to be a nice fit in the slot and Kevin Curtis, also in his second season, will come in when the Rams run four-receiver sets. Dane Looker and Mike Furrey will battle for the job as the fifth receiver. Brandon Manumaleuna will start at tight end, but he is not much of a weapon and will probably not be utilized a whole lot in this offense.
Offensive Line
The Rams have a very solid group of veterans starting on the offensive line, assuming starting LT Orlando Pace is in camp by the start of the season and RT Kyle Turley’s surgically repaired back holds up. Pace’s holdout has become an annual event, so it is probably not as big of a concern as Turley’s health, but should St. Louis be forced to use their bench, they are fortunate to have some depth at the tackle positions with Grant Williams and Scott Tercero, who could adequately step in for short periods of time. However, there could be problems if either are asked to start on a full-time basis.
Andy McCollum moved from center to left guard last year, and he struggled at times, but the coaches are hoping he will become more consistent after a year at the position. Two-time Pro Bowler Adam Timmerman will continue to start at right guard while veteran Dave Wohlabaugh returns at center. Wohlabaugh is an intense player and should have a couple good seasons left in him, but he lacks bulk and isn’t overpowering.
Defensive Line
The Rams could find themselves in a bit of a bind at defensive end if Leonard Little’s felony drunk driving charge causes him to miss time this season. He is an effective pass rusher who creates turnovers and big plays, but if he misses significant time, St. Louis will likely have to resort to a platoon system to fill in for him. Sean Moran, who came over as an unrestricted free agent from the Bills, will probably receive the majority of the playing time at right end, filling the hole left by Grant Wistrom, who signed with the division-rival Seahawks during the off-season. And a group that includes rookie Tony Hargrove, Tyoka Jackson, and Bryce Fisher will battle for playing time in the rotation.
Ryan Pickett will start at the nose tackle position, and Damione Lewis will play the one-gap, but this unit suffered a big blow with the loss of last year’s first-round draft pick Jimmy Kennedy, who suffered a broken leg in traininng camp and could be lost for the season. Although he struggled as a rookie, coaches had high hopes for the youngster this year, and he was being counted on to play a significant role in a three-man rotation at tackle. Bernard Holsey, who came over from the Redskins will probably take his place in the rotation, but if Little is forced out of action, he could be placed into service at end on running downs as well.
Linebackers
The starting linebacking squad is among the most athletic in the league and is the strength of this defense, however, there is little depth on the bench. Robert Thomas will start in the middle, with Pisa Tinoisamoa on the weak side and Tommy Polley at the Sam position. Thomas is a solid player with the potential to be one of the best middle linebackers in the league, but he is undersized, has trouble shedding blockers, and is a durability risk.
On the outside, Polley is a solid player with sideline-to-sideline speed, but he can be inconsistent when teams run at him and he, also, carries durability concerns. He is at his best when he is attacking and has the potential to be a playmaker if he can stay healthy. Tinoisamoa had a very nice rookie season and he should continue to get better with improved technique and experience. He is a playmaker with great burst and closing speed, and he also possesses good coverage skills. Rookie fourth-rounder Brandon Chillar will compete with second-year players Jeremy Loyd and Brandon Spoon for backup duties.
