The Rams got their man in the first round of this years draft. Carriker will come in and be an iunstant starter most likely and he will help out on an improving defense.
Rams Rookie Minicamp Opens Today
Saturday, May 12, 2007
First round pick, Adam Carriker is one of 32 players that will come in St. Louis this weekend for the team’s rookie minicamp. The group includes all eight drafted rookies, 20 undrafted free agents and four first-year veterans. Many of the players will get evaluated, hoping to earn a roster spot. For the draft picks, it's a chance to come in get firmiliar with some of the players, coaches, drills, and plays. It's a major learning experience for all players. Players were fitted for their uniforms friday, and introduced to the playbooks. As players walk into the lockerrooms and see the lockers of players like Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, and Leonard Little, they are in awe. "Carriker and many of his new teammates spent Friday playing the part of the awestruck kid. Tennessee cornerback Jonathan Wade said he spent about 10 minutes in front of receiver Torry Holt’s locker counting his shoes and looking on in awe. Undrafted defensive end Alton Pettway waxed about being in the locker room once inhabited by Marshall Faulk and having a locker next to Leonard Little. " - Nick Wagoner, St. Louis Rams Senior Writer
Rookie Minicamp info WHEN: Saturday and Sunday. WHERE: Rams Park in Earth City. SCHEDULE: Practices from 10:30 a.m.-12:10 p.m. and 3:35 p.m.-5:05 p.m. both days. ACCESS: Minicamp is closed to the public.
First Team Primary Backup Backups QB Marc Bulger Gus Frerotte Ryan Fitzpatrick Drew Tate Bulger is the starter, hands down. There is no competition, there won't be for a long time. Most likely, Frerotte will be his backup, and Tate will have to impress the coaches to make the roster. RB Steven Jackson Brian Leonard Travis Minor Kay-Jay Harris Same situation here, Jackson is the starter, hands down. He is emerging as an elite back in this league and has his best years yet to come. Rookie Brian Leonard will probably slip into the second spot on the depth chart due to the lack of talent after Jackson. Leonard will get his carries when Jackson gets tired or injured. Other backs that aren't listed will have a tough time making the active roster. FB Madison Hedgecock Unless a free agent comes in or they move one of their current RBs to FB, this is Hedgecock's job and he is getting better at it. FB really isn't used too much in the Rams offense. LWR Torry Holt Drew Bennett Dominique Thompson Willie Ponder Holt is the man at WR. He will go for another Pro Bowl year, and chances are, he may get it in this offense. Bennett was brought in to help replace Curtis and McDonald. He should be able to do that and more. He can still be a big threat. 5th WR is a battle between a few players. The losers may not make the squad. RWR Isaac Bruce Dane Looker Dante' Hall Marques Hagans Bruce doen't have many years left in him, but he still can be productive and he should put up good numbers. Looker will have to battle Hall for the 4th receiver slot. Hall has never been too much for a WR and his open field skills may not be what the were a few years ago. Hagans will be in the battle for 5th WR TE Randy McMichael Joe Klopfenstein Aaron Walker Dominique Byrd After drafting 2 TEs last year, Linehan brought in Randy McMichael from Miami. McMichael will come in and be another target for Bulger. They may even run more two TE formations, allowing Klopfenstein to get some catches. Walker will battle Bryd for the 3rd TE slot. ORT Alex Barron Todd Steussie Kendrick Shackleford Like most of the Rams offensive positions, This is Barron's spot and he won't lose it. Stuessie played well when he saw the field, but Barron is young and talented. Shackleford is just a rookie trying to learn. He may get his shot in the future. ORG Richie Incognito Adam Goldberg Things get a little interesting now. Incognito can be considered a G or a C. He has a shot at starting at either. If he does play C, Goldberg would move into the starting role. C Andy McCollum Brett Romberg Dustin Fry Depending on what Incognito does, McCollum is the starter. He has been for a while and probably should be.Fry will battle Romberg for a backup role. OLG Claude Terrell Mark Setterstrom Terrell should be the starter here, but there has been talks of Setterstrom slipping into this role. OLT Orlando Pace Jeremy Parquet The Rams anchor is Orlando Pace. If he can stay healthy, the run game will be better, the pass game will be better, and even the defense will be better. He helps everything. he has no chance at losing his starting spot.
1 LaDainian Tomlinson, SD, RB Turner knows how to keep the rock rollin' on ground 2 Larry Johnson, KC, RB KC wants to use Bennett more to ease LJ's load 3 Steven Jackson, StL, RB McMichael, Bennett adds may drop his catches a bit 4 Shaun Alexander, Sea, RB 15+ TDs still very likely in this offense if healthy 5 Frank Gore, SF, RB '07 goal is breaking Eric Dickerson's rushing record
Obviously Jackson is expected to put up big numbers. Being ranked behind only LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson should be a huge honor. Plus, he is the highest ranked NFC player in the entire league. If he can put up the numbers that people expect, then the Rams may be looking at a playoff birth.
Other Rams on the list 19 Torry Holt, StL, WR McMichael, Bennett additions means a lil' more sharing 41 Marc Bulger, StL, QB Loaded: S-Jax, Holt, McMichael, Bruce, D. Bennett
it's true, the Rams are "loaded" Bulger should be a good guy to have this season. Though there may be more "sharing," don't expect Torry Holt's numbers to diminish very much. He will find a way to get well over 1,000 yards and about 100 catches.
With the season coming up, we can start looking at NFL records and Ram's talented wide receivers that are closing in on them courtesy of pro-football-reference.com
It may be a stretch, but Bruce may look to move into fifth in receiptions late this season. While a 1,000 yard season would most likely place him forth in yards. He also may look at sneaking into the top ten in touchdowns.
As for Holt, he still has plenty of time left. He probably won't get into the top ten in receptions or receiving yards this season, but should in 2008. The same should be said for touchdowns. Holt is five seasons ahead of Bruce so he maybe right up there in all the categories. Unfortunately, close isn't that close when you are trying to catch Jerry Rice.
