The Rams signed 29-year old kicker Josh Brown away from the rival Seahawks and he will do a good job for them.  Brown played in all 16 games for the Seahawks last season and he connected on 28 of 34 field goals (82.4%).  He also made all 43 of his extra points last season.  Look for the Rams to benefit big time from not leaving many points on the field this season.  Brown has now played in 80 games in his NFL career and he has made 116 of 145 (80%) field goals.  He has also made 223 of 224 extra points (99.6%) in his NFL career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A-

The Rams spent a lot of free agent cash on this position last season and they invested two draft picks here two years ago(Dominique Byrd is already gone) and they weren’t happy with the results.  The Rams still have high hopes for this position in 2008.  29-year old Randy McMichael is by far the best player of this bunch.  He played in all 16 games for the Rams last season and he caught 39 passes for 429 yards (11.0 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  The Rams would be very excited if McMichael could double those numbers and he has the talent to do it.  McMichael has now played in 96 games in his NFL career and he has caught 322 passes for 3,525 yards (10.9 avg) with 21 TD grabs. 

30-year old Anthony Becht was brought in as a free agent.  Becht played in all 16 games for the Buccaneers last season and he only caught 5 passes for 20 yards (4.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  The Rams would probably like to use him a little more in the passing game than the Bucs did last season but he’s 280 pounds now so that might not work.  Becht has now played in 126 games in his NFL career and he has caught 172 passes for 1,411 yards (8.2 avg) with 20 TD grabs.

2nd year man Joe Klopfenstein did a lot of blocking last season for the run and that will likely be his role again in 2008.  He played in all 16 games for the Rams last season and he caught 2 passes for 37 yards (18.5 avg) with 1 TD grab.  Don’t look for Klopfenstein to catch many passes in 2008 for the Rams.  He has now played in 32 games in his NFL career and he has caught 22 passes for 263 yards (12.0 avg) with 2 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B-

The Rams have brought in a couple of new faces (Donnie Avery, Reche Caldwell) to help out with depth at WR and they should help the offense.  But, 32-year old Torry Holt is the still the main man for the Rams’ passing attack.  Holt played in all 16 games for the Rams last season and he caught 93 passes for 1,189 yards (12.8 avg) with 7 TD grabs despite catching passes from a lot of different QBs in 2007.  Holt will likely have another stellar season in 2008 in which his numbers could actually increase without Isaac Bruce around to steal some catches.  Holt has now played in 142 games in his NFL career and he has caught 805 passes for 11,864 yards (14.7 avg) with 71 TD grabs.  He also has carried the ball 11 times for 57 yards (5.2 ypc) in his career.

29-year old Drew Bennett will step into Isaac Bruce’s role as the Rams’ #2 WR in 2008.  Bennett is a big guy at 6′5″, 206 pounds and he has pretty good hands despite lacking big time speed.  Bennett played in 14 games for the Rams last season and he caught 33 passes for 375 yards (11.4 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Look for Bennett to at least double those numbers in 2008 for the Rams as long as he can stay healthy.  Bennett has now played in 101 games in his NFL career and he has caught 306 passes for 4,408 yards (14.4 avg) with 28 TD grabs.

24-year old rookie Donnie Avery is the favorite to win the #3 job at WR for the Rams this season.  He played in 13 games (11 starts) for the Houston Cougars last season and he caught 91 passes for 1,456 yards (16.0 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  Don’t expect numbers like that in 2008 out of Avery but he could catch 40-50 passes.  Avery finished up his career at Houston playing in 50 games (44 starts) in which he caught 210 passes for 3,289 yards (15.7 avg) with 19 TD grabs.

29-year old Reche Caldwell could possibly move up the depth chart if he plays well in training camp and the preseason.  Caldwell played in 8 games for the Redskins last season and he caught 15 passes for 141 yards (9.4 avg).  Look for Caldwell to at least double those numbers in 2008 for the Rams.  Caldwell has now played in 71 games in his NFL career and he has caught 152 passes for 1,851 yards (12.2 avg) with 11 TD grabs.  He also has carried the football 14 times for 108 yards (7.7 ypc) in his career.

25-year old converted college QB Marques Hagans did not make a smooth transition as a rookie but he still has time.  Hagans played in 4 games for the Rams last season and he caught 8 passes for 101 yards (12.6 avg).  He also carried the ball 2 times for a loss of 4 yards (-2.0 ypc) last season. 

29-year old Dante Hall is too valuable on special teams for the Rams to use him too much on offense.  Hall played in 7 games for the Rams last season and he caught 5 passes for 27 yards (5.4 avg).  He also carried the football 3 times for 18 yards (6.0 ypc) last season.  Hall has now played in 99 games in his NFL career and he has caught 150 passes for 1,642 yards (10.9 avg) with 9 TD grabs.  He also has carried the football 50 times for 233 yards (4.7 ypc) in his career.

32-year old Dane Looker is a solid player who is trying to hang on for the Rams.  Looker played in 13 games for the Rams last season and he caught 6 passes for 38 yards (6.3 avg).  But, Looker has been productive in the past so don’t write him off just yet.  Looker has now played in 75 games in his NFL career and he has caught 89 passes for 953 yards (10.7 avg) with 3 TD grabs.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B

2nd year fullback Brian Leonard is so athletic that he also can play tailback.  He’s a little small for fullback at 6′1″, 226 pounds but he can cause matchup problems in the passing game for other teams.  Leonard played in 16 games (7 starts) as a rookie for the Rams last season and he carried the ball 86 times for 303 yards (3.5 ypc).  He also caught 30 passes for 183 yards (6.1 avg) last year.  Look for the Rams to get him the ball more this season.

6′4″, 273 pound converted TE Richard Owens will likely be the backup at fullback in 2008 for the Rams.  Owens played in 14 games (1 start) for the Rams last season and he caught 1 pass for 9 yards.  Owens likely won’t get much playing time at fullback unless the Rams suffer injuries at either tailback or fullback.  Owens has now played in 53 games (7 starts) in his NFL career and he has caught 17 passes for 141 yards (8.3 avg) with 1 TD grab.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  B

Steven Jackson is one of the best running backs in the entire NFL bar none when he’s healthy.  Steven Jackson has it all as he is a very powerful runner and he’s also one of the very best backs in the league at catching the football out of the backfield.  Jackson played in 12 games (all starts) for the Rams last season and he carried the ball 237 times for 1,002 yards (4.2 ypc) with 5 TD runs.  He also caught 38 passes for 271 yards (7.1 avg) with 1 TD grab for the Rams in 2007.  Look for Jackson to have much better numbers in 2008 for the Rams as long as both he and his offensive line can stay healthy.  Jackson has now played in 57 games (46 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 971 times for 4,249 yards (4.4 ypc) with 30 TD runs.  He has also caught 190 passes for 1,586 yards (8.3 avg) with 6 TD grabs in his NFL career.

The Rams swooped in and signed Antonio Pittman after he was cut loose by the Saints before even playing a game for them his rookie season.  Pittman isn’t the strongest of fastest back in the league but he’s simply just a good football player.  Pittman played in 11 games (0 starts) for the Rams last year and he carried the ball 38 times for 139 yards (3.7 ypc) without a TD run.  He also caught 3 passes for 15 yards (5.0 avg) without a TD.  Look for Pittman to score his first NFL TD this season as he will likely give Steven Jackson a breather once in a while on running downs.

Travis Minor is the classic third down back as he’s a small, fast guy who is a good receiver.  Minor played in 14 games (0 starts) for the Rams last season and he carried the ball 17 times for 68 yards (4.0 ypc) without a TD run.  He also caught 12 passes for 86 yards (7.2 avg) last year.  Don’t look for big numbers out of Minor this season but he will produce when he gets the chance.  Minor has now played in 105 games (4 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 294 times for 1,201 yards (4.1 ypc) with 8 TD runs.  He also has caught 62 passes for 439 yards (7.1 avg) with 1 TD grab.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A-