MACOMB, Ill. -- Observations on the 2003 St. Louis Rams from training camp practices on July 23:

1.

	Warner

Kurt Warner looks like the Kurt Warner of old with one exception. He seemed to be throwing a few more longer passes, which is a good sign. The Rams are speedier and deeper at wide receiver. The misconception was that Warner always threw spirals and the thumb injury changed that. Warner's strength was getting catchable passes to his receivers that weren't always tight spirals. Sure, the right thumb could be a problem if it's hit, but that's why the Rams traded for Kyle Turley, the right tackle. A lot of the times Warner was hit in the past was from the right side.

2. Backup Marc Bulger isn't going to beat out Warner in training camp, but he's really, really good. As he showed last season, Bulger is an accurate quarterback who can real off wins. He's got a live arm and a good presence in the pocket. Any injury to Warner won't cause much of a dropoff in the offense, and that's saying something because when Warner is right, he's an MVP candidate.

3. Cornerback Aeneas Williams says he's playing at about 90 percent coming off his broken ankle, but the key is that he's playing. Noticeably, this is a young cornerback group, younger than some of the groups Williams worked with in Arizona. Travis Fisher is in his second year and is the starter on the other side. Jerametrius Butler is entering his third season and hasn't started a game. There are three draft choices competing for jobs. If Williams can't make it back, they'll make the young San Diego Chargers cornerback group look like old men.

4. Brandon Manumaleuna started 10 games at tight end last year. Bet you didn't know that. But with Ernie Conwell gone, he's one of the most interesting tight ends to look at in football. He entered camp in the 290s, but can be a 300-pounder. Eric Green is the last tight end who comes to mind who weighed 300 pounds. Manumaleuna only caught eight passes last year, but he's a big time blocker and has a flair for the one-handed catch in practice. Cam Cleeland is the more legitimate pass catching tight end, but he has a history of injuries. Manumaleuna creates some interesting matchups 10 yards downfield if catches the ball.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.