The Rams let go of some mainstays on the offensive side of the ball. Gone are long-time No. 1 receiver Torry Holt and top offensive tackle Orlando Pace. These veterans are on the downside of their career, but will be missed for their leadership and talent level.

St. Louis used the draft to fill Pace's void, taking tackle Jason Smith with the second overall pick in the draft. Smith should be a starter for several years on the offensive line, becoming the anchor of this unit. The Rams also bolstered their offensive line by signing center Jason Brown to a big contract. Brown is a big upgrade at center for the Rams. St. Louis got a new backup quarterback, signing Kyle Boller to backup Marc Bulger. The last significant signing was fullback Mike Karney. The Rams want to run more, so getting a top blocking fullback was a priority and Karney fills that need.

If he can just stay healthy, Steven Jackson is as good as any back in the game. The problem is he hasn't stayed healthy. But the Rams will make Jackson the focus of their new West Coast offense. Jackson is a bruising back with good speed and decent moves for a big man. He is a load to bring down in the open field. And with an improved offensive line, Jackson could see a spike in production this season. The Rams will be a run-first team with Jackson leading the way.

Rush defense continues to be a huge weakness for the Rams. They ranked 29th last season, allowing 154.7yards per game. The Rams linebackers just don't make enough players. Rookie James Laurinaitis is going to be counted on to make a big difference, but he'll need some help from tackles Clifton Ryan and Adam Carriker, who need to show some progress this season. The Rams tackle position has been pushed around the last few seasons, which is a reason their rush defense has been so bad.

Receiver depth is a concern for the Rams. Holt is gone, leaving second-year wideouts Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton as the starters. Both have some promise, but could take some time to blossom. And we wouldn't consider either guy to be a true No. 1 receiver. And after those guys, the Rams are really thin. Laurent Robinson, Ronald Curry and Derek Stanley are the other top options, but are far from exciting for the Rams new offense. If Avery or Burton get hurt, the Rams could be in real trouble this season.

We think new coach Steve Spagnuolo will make a positive difference for the Rams, but they still lack the talent to make a playoff push. St. Louis could go 7-9 or 6-10, which would be an improvement over last season.