St. Louis Rams 2009 Position Battles: This Is Sparta!

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The traditional understanding of a positional battle in professional sports is when two or more athletes are vying for one spot, usually a starting role.

When your entire team is comprised of players trying to earn regular playing time, that's not a series of positional battles. That's a war of attrition. Those left standing at the end are the ones with roster spots.

So before the Leonidas-like cries start rising from Rams camp this summer, lets take a look at how the battles break down, combat-style.

Quarterback
   
Status: Skirmish

Even with Marc Bulger's poor play in recent years, his contract (and ostensibly the new regime's faith in him) was big enough that he survived the cleaning of house this offseason.

Rather than opt for the veteran backup a la Trent Green again this year, the Rams instead brought in some new blood in Kyle Boller.

The rap on Boller, as per his old teammate and new Ram Jason Brown, is that he got skittish in Baltimore and began hearing footsteps, a story Rams fans are all too familiar with.

Boller is still young and possesses ridiculous arm strength, though, so he has the ability to push Bulger this season. In the end, the job is still Bulger's to lose.

Running Back

Status: Olive Branch

See: Steven Jackson. An interesting backstory could be who backs up Jackson. Antonio Pittman is the incumbent and with Brian Leonard now gone, he looks to be the odds-on favorite as well.

But seventh-round pick Chris Ogbonnaya was drafted for a reason, and if he impresses enough, he may supplant Pittman and serve as the thunder to Jackson's...well, bigger thunder.

Kenneth Darby is the dark horse of the group, but he's the darkest of horses at this point.


Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
   
Status: War

When your best returning receiver has 53 career receptions, there may be some roster spots up for grabs. Donnie Avery is the apparent No. 1 receiver in Rams camp, but after that, it's anybody's guess.

Laurent Robinson, Keenan Burton, Derek Stanley, Tim Carter and Brooks Foster are all names that could, at best, emerge as weapons for the Rams in 2009, and at worst it looks as thought one of them is at least going to have to man the No. 2 position until help is found through the draft or free agency next year.

Of the group, Robinson has the best combination of size, speed and experience, so I'll give him the edge early.

At tight end, a healthy Randy McMichael will handle the pass-catching duties and newly signed Billy Bajema should serve as backup and run-blocker extraordinaire.

This might leave Joe "Clippety" Klopfenstein on the outside looking in. Klopfenstein has had multiple chances to win the starting job but repeatedly gets lost in the shuffle. His time might be near.

 
O-Line

Status: Scuffle
 
The front five seem to be set, but there are still potential pitfalls that could shake up the starting roster.

Jason Smith, though highly touted, is still a rookie. Alex Barron is moving back to the left side after spending most of his professional career at right tackle. Barron has also struggled with false start penalties in his career.

Richie Incognito's temper and inability to stay healthy has left him on the sideline more than once in the past few years, so he's never an absolute guarantee to be on the field. Still, talent-wise, the line has its starters.

In 2008 the Rams learned the value of quantity as well as quality, though. With last season's train wreck that was the offensive line still fresh in their minds, the team has a few viable options at backup.

Adam Goldberg, John Greco, Mark Setterstrom, and Roy Schuening all should make the team and provide valuable depth. Rookies such as Phil Trautwein and Ray Feinga will be trying to earn a spot as well.

Where the starters lack excitement, the battle for reserve among the O-linemen should be good to watch.

D-Line

Status: Attrition

The defensive line is simply in need of warm bodies. The youth movement ran La'Roi Glover out of town, and the recent Leonard-for-Orien Harris trade could be one viewed as a trade out of necessity.

Chris Long was drafted as a member of the Rams' future, so his spot on the end is secure; Leonard Little on the other side will be in on almost all downs considered passing downs.

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