St. Louis Rams: Tuesday's Rams News and Notes at Noon

Welcome to Tuesday's St. Louis Rams "News and Notes at Noon", the quintessential quick-stop for all major Rams headlines and other updates of interest, with brief commentary and analysis for Rams Nation. 

Today's edition, as you will see, is loaded with offseason analysis and team previews. 

CBS Sports Analyzes the Rams

Senior NFL columnist Pete Prisco previews the upcoming St. Louis season in this column at cbssports.com.

Specifically, Prisco offers his projected Rams won loss total, analyzes the personnel of the offense and defense, evaluates the team's key changes and presents second year defensive end Robert Quinn, a 2011 first round pick, as his "x factor."  

Prisco brings up the fact that when Jeff Fisher was in Tennessee, he had another young pass rushing ace to turn loose on opponents: Jevon "the freak" Kearse. 

In addition to the aforementioned, Prisco also presents several questions surrounding the 2012 edition of the St. Louis Rams: who is the go to receiver, can Sam Bradford bounce back and can the Rams stop the run? 

Prisco's answers to those pressing questions are interesting and the entire piece, as linked above, is well worth the read.  I will say, briefly, that Prisco still believes in Bradford. 

Furthermore, the link above also takes you to additional St. Louis columns from NFL insider Pat Kirwan and senior analyst Rob Rang. 

Kirwan breaks down the expected approach of the offense and defense in his piece.

Kirwan, among other things, feels that center Scott Wells will help solidify the line calls, something that should particularly aid pass protection efforts. He also asserts that Fisher told him he hopes first round rookie defensive tackle Michael Brockers plays like Albert Haynesworth did for him in Tennessee. 

Haynesworth, under Fisher, was a two time first team All-Pro (2007 and 2008.) 

As for Rang, he looks at the Rams 2012 NFL Draft class and explains why he feels that kicker Greg Zuerlein, a sixth round pick from Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, could make the biggest rookie impact for St. Louis this Fall. 

Preview of the 2012 St Louis Rams

In this piece for 12thmanrising.com, Keith Myers (with an assist from Justin Stine) previews the coming campaign of the St. Louis Rams. 

Myers, who normally focuses on the Seattle Seahawks, shared a nice breakdown of the Rams. 

Some of the topics covered include thoughts on what St. Louis did in the 2012 NFL Draft, the most interesting roster battle, biggest team strengths and weaknesses, most pressing lingering question and the predicted overall record. 

Among other things, Myers insists that St. Louis had one of the leagues best drafts.  He also sees a significant improvement in the team's won-loss total after last year's disastrous 2-14 campaign. 

As far as roster battles, Myers is most intrigued by the fight for spots and depth chart standings at both wide receiver and cornerback. I would have to concur: the battles at those two spots will be particularly interesting. 

It will also be interesting to watch things play out at outside linebacker, a position where a multitude of newcomers, both veterans and rookies, have been brought in to compete.  

As of now, Jo-Lonn Dunbar (formerly of the News Orleans Saints) appears to be the favorite to start on the weakside and a combination of Rocky McIntosh (Washington Redskins) and Mario Haggan (Denver Broncos) appear as the most likely candidates to earn most of the playing time on the strong side. The huge Haggan figures to play a lot in running situations. 

Where do the Rams Rank in the NFC West? 

My friend and colleague David Heeb posted a nice preview of the NFC West and his projected order of finish in the division here.

Heeb, a featured columnist at Bleacher Report, sees the San Francisco 49ers taking the division, as they did in 2011, while compiling an impressive 13-3 record. 

Heeb, as you can read via the above link, feels that the Rams will contend for a wild card berth this season.  

He also offers his expected won-loss total for St. Louis and the other teams in the division. 

According to Heeb, the Arizona Cardinals will replace the Rams as this year's cellar dwellers. The Rams have spent way too much time in the divisional basement of late, finishing last in the division four of the last five seasons. 

Looking at the Wide Receiver Situation in St. Louis 

Ryan Van Bibber of Turf Show Times took time to share this submission critiquing the Rams current conditions and prospects at the wide receiver position. 

Van Bibber asserts that St. Louis is putting some big expectations on rookie wideout Brian Quick, a second round selection from Appalachian State. 

Quick has all the tools to make the same sort of transition from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly known as Division I-AA, as Jerry Rice, Randy Moss and Terrell Owens did. 

The Rams missed out on free agents Pierre Garcon, who signed with Washington after playing for the Indianapolis Colts, and Robert Meachum, who headed west from the New Orleans Saints to the San Diego Chargers. 

They did, however, nab 2009 Pro Bowl wideout Steve Smith, 26, who is almost back to 100 percent after microfracture surgery in 2010.  

St. Louis also retained restricted free agent Danny Amendola, something that could be a coup for this offense. Often forgotten, Amendola hauled in 85 receptions in 2010 and developed a quick chemistry with Bradford, who was then, of course, a rookie.  

In addition to Quick, the Rams drafted Chris Givens, a former track star, in round four.  Givens, in my opinion, could be one of the draft's biggest steals. He not only possesses elite speed but enters the league with good route running abilities. 

As Van Bibber astutely points out, there are still question marks around the Rams youthful wide receiving corps, however, the talent appears to be better than it has been since the departure of Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt and Kevin Curtis. 

If second year man Greg Salas can continue to progress and Danario Alexander can stay healthy, this group could be much improved. 

In case you missed it, I strongly suggest this recent article on Alexander from Andrew Astleford of foxsportsmidwest.com. Astleford's profile of the former Missouri Tigers great is well worth the read. 

The former University of Missouri standout is absolutely determined, as you will read in Astleford's piece, to overcome his daunting injury history to continue to develop into a formidable NFL receiver. 

Have a great day, as always, STL Rams Nation. 

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Shane Gray covers the St. Louis Rams daily as a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. You are encouraged to check out the rest of his work here. Gray has also joined missourisportsmag.com and Missouri Sports Magazine. Finally, Gray also owns and operates stlramscentral.com.