2003 RAMS
	Warner appeared in just 7 games in '02.
	Head coach: Mike Martz (4th year). 2000 record: 7-9. NFC West finish: 3rd. Season opener: Sept. 7 at Giants. Schedule | Depth chart

Proving last season was merely an injury-induced hiccup -- and not the end of their run as a Super Bowl contender -- is motivation enough for the Rams. They entered the 2002 season as the consensus pick to win the Super Bowl, but they ended up missing the playoffs with a disappointing 7-9 record.

"Last year, we were the team to beat going into it, but this year we have a chip on our shoulder going into the season," Rams defensive end Grant Wistrom said. "Anytime you step on the field with an attitude, it's going to help you."

The Rams' vaunted offense, which had produced an unprecedented three straight 500-point seasons, scored only 316 points last season with running back Marshall Faulk and quarterback Kurt Warner fully healthy (at the same time) for only two games. Injuries weren't the only reason for the Rams' tailspin. Many of their problems were self-inflicted. They led the NFL in turnovers with 45. They had five interceptions and two fumbles returned for touchdowns against them.

So can "The Greatest Show on Turf" recapture its magic?

"I don't know,'' Faulk said. "Kurt is still here. I'm here. Isaac (Bruce) and Torry (Holt) are here. We have some new receivers, some new inside guys. We'll see. That's all you can say. It's up in the air. The suspense lies."

Revamping their offensive line was the Rams' No. 1 offseason objective after watching all three of their quarterbacks go down with injuries last season. Kyle Turley was acquired in a trade with the Saints to shore up the troublesome right tackle spot, and Dave Wohlabaugh was signed as a free agent from the Browns to play center. The Rams also continued to load up their defense with young talent, taking defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy and linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa with their first two picks in the 2003 draft.

Offense
Quarterbacks: Warner has physically recovered from last season, but he must show he is mentally recovered from a taxing year that saw him bear much of the blame for the team's trouble. Warner, who battled hand injuries much of last season, just wasn't the same confident quarterback that guided the Rams to two Super Bowls. His decision-making wasn't nearly as good, as evidenced by his three touchdowns to 11 interceptions. "I think he has his confidence back,'' Rams head coach Mike Martz said of Warner. "He is having fun again. He has his pizzazz back. He deserves to have a swagger. I think he is the best in the league.'' The starting job is Warner's job for now, but if he struggles, Martz won't hesitate in going with Marc Bulger. Bulger was voted as the Rams' Most Valuable Player by his teammates last season after leading the team to a 6-1 record in his seven starts. His passer rating of 101.5 would have led the NFC if he hadn't fallen just short of qualifying. Rookie Kirk Farmer and first-year player Greg Zolman are competing for a roster spot as the third-string QB. Farmer, who was hand-picked by Martz after a private workout at the University of Missouri, has the tools to be an NFL quarterback, but he's still learning the position after being a backup as a senior last season.
Grade: B-plus.

Running backs: Faulk is the best all-around back in the NFL when he's healthy. He had 1,490 yards from scrimmage and scored 10 touchdowns despite missing two games and portions of six others due to injuries last season. A high ankle sprain reduced him to a shadow of his former self late in the season, but he showed his toughness by continuing to play with the injury. Faulk became a workout warrior in the offseason, staying in St. Louis to participate in the team's conditioning program for the first time. He is noticeably more buff, especially his upper body. "He's stronger without a doubt,'' Rams running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery said. "He had a great offseason in the weight room, and to me, he looks faster and a lot more explosive. He's broader across the shoulders, and he is going to be more receptive to taking a lot of hits. Marshall has 10 years in this league, and it looks like he has the energy of a rookie or a second-year guy.'' Lamar Gordon is Faulk's backup now that Trung Canidate has been traded to the Redskins. Gordon has a good burst and good receiving skills, but he needs to do a better job of holding on to the football and being more decisive in picking his running lane. Finding a replacement for fullback James "The Hammer" Hodgins, released in a cost-cutting move, has proved a challenge. Brian Natkin, Chad Kuhns, J.R. Niklos and Maurice Rodriguez are fighting for the job. They all can catch the ball, but none of them are punishing blockers like Hodgins.
Grade: B-plus.

Receivers: Bruce and Holt still are a dangerous duo, but it's Holt who has become the team's main deep threat. Holt needs to be more consistent -- he drops too many passes and has too many mental lapses -- if he wants to become one of the game's elite pass catchers. Bruce spent the offseason working on his speed, though it's his ability to cut on a dime that enables him to get open. Four young receivers -- Shaun McDonald, Troy Edwards, Dane Looker and Mike Furrey -- are locked in a battle royal for the No. 3- and No. 4 wide receiver spots. McDonald has great elusiveness. Edwards and Looker have a mental edge, since they've both been in the Rams' complex offensive system. Rookie Kevin Curtis is expected to be out 4-6 weeks with a broken leg. Brandon Manumaleuna is the No. 1 tight end since Ernie Conwell signed as a free agent with New Orleans. Manumaleuna weighs nearly 300 pounds but is a better blocker than receiver at this point. The team signed Cam Cleeland to serve as another weapon in the passing game. The key is keeping Cleeland, who has blown the Achilles' tendon in both legs, on the field. Fifth-round pick Dan Curley is capable of filling an H-back-type role. The team also likes seventh-round pick Richard Angulo, who is raw but has rare physical tools at 6-7, 260 pounds.
Grade: B.

Offensive linemen: With Orlando Pace having finally ended his holdout, this group could form the best offensive line that the team has had since moving to St. Louis in 1995. Turley adds a much-needed mean streak to the Rams' offensive line. He'll likely remain at right tackle, even though he has experience at left tackle. Wohlabaugh, who has 119 NFL starts under his belt, adds some flexibility to the Rams' blocking schemes due to his quickness and agility. Andy McCollum, the team's starting center the past three years, was re-signed to play left guard. McCollum and right guard Adam Timmerman are both steady blue-collar blockers.
Grade: B.

Defense
Defensive linemen: This should be one of the team's strengths, since it has four first-rounders -- Grant Wistrom, Damione Lewis, Ryan Pickett and Kennedy — on this unit. Defensive end Leonard Little is the team's top pass rusher with 26½ sacks over the past two seasons. He also forced a franchise-record nine fumbles last season. The Rams' coaching staff believes that Pickett is ready to stake his claim as one of the top run stuffers in the NFL. Look for Kennedy to play in a rotation at tackle with Pickett, Lewis, who is healthy for the first time in his three seasons with the Rams, and Brian Young. Tyoka Jackson is a quality reserve at both end and tackle.
Grade: B.

Linebackers: The Rams must get better play out of their linebackers. Things got so bad last year that defensive coordinator Lovie Smith went with a 4-1-6 alignment with Tommy Polley as the only 'backer on the field in passing situations. The Rams will use the 4-1-6 a lot again this season, but they also believe that they potentially have one of the fastest linebacker corps in the NFL with Robert Thomas, the team's first-round pick in 2002, in the middle, and Tinoisamoa and Polley on the outside. It's an inexperienced group too. The three projected starters have a combined three years of NFL experience. Jamie Duncan, last year's starter in the middle, has been reduced to a backup role.
Grade: C.

Defensive backs: The Rams are so confident in their young corners that they moved Aeneas Williams to free safety. Travis Fisher, who was a pleasant surprise as a rookie starter last season, and Jerametrius Butler, who has emerged after a season in Martz's doghouse, are the starters. Rookie DeJuan Groce will see playing time in the team's nickel and dime packages, as will rookie Kevin Garrett and second-year pro James Whitley once they return from wrist and foot injuries, respectively. Strong safety Adam Archuleta could be on the verge of becoming a superstar, but he still needs some work in coverage. Backup safeties Jason Sehorn (broken foot) and Kim Herring (fractured forearm) will be sidelined when the regular season begins. Sehorn will miss the first month of the season, while Herring is expected to miss at least the first six weeks. Williams might have lost a step due to time and injuries, but his ballhawking skills should enable him to excel at free safety.
Grade: C.

Special teams
Placekicker Jeff Wilkins had an inconsistent year as he tried kicking shoeless for the first time in his career, then put his shoe back on. Punter Sean Landeta returns for his second tour of duty with the Rams. He is a savvy veteran who still has a strong enough leg to get the job done at age 41. The leading candidates for punt returner are Groce and McDonald, while the leading candidates for kickoff returner are Gordon and undrafted rookie Arlen Harris. The Rams' coverage units are in immediate need for improvement as they gave up four returns for touchdowns last season.
Grade: D-plus.

Steve Korte covers the Rams for the Belleville (Ill.) News-Democrat.

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