2001 RAMS
	Kurt Warner feels no ill effects from last year's concussion.
	Head coach: Mike Martz (2nd year). 2000 record: 10-6. NFC West finish: 2nd. 2001 preseason: 2-2. Season opener: Sept. 9 at Eagles. Schedule | Depth chart

The St. Louis Rams are seeking a little balance.

Having a take-no-prisoners offense isn't enough if you have a raise-the-white-flag defense, as the Rams found out last season. The Rams scored 540 points -- third most in NFL history -- but surrendered 471 points -- seventh most in NFL history.

The result was a disappointing 10-6 season and a first-round exit from the playoffs.

"Can we put up points?" running back Marshall Faulk asked. "We probably can just about on anybody, but you want to have that balance. That balance is what wins games, what wins championships."

Rams head coach Mike Martz ripped apart his defense and then put it back together with the emphasis on speed.

Pro Bowl linebacker Mark Fields was signed as a free agent from the Saints, and safety Kim Herring was signed as a free agent from the Super Bowl champion Ravens. Cornerback Aeneas Williams was acquired in a trade with the Cardinals to provide leadership for young cover men Dexter McCleon, Dré Bly and Jacoby Shepherd.

The Rams also used their first five draft picks, including all three first-rounders in the 2001 draft, on defensive players. Two of those first-rounders, defensive tackle Damione Lewis and safety Adam Archuleta, are being counted on as starters.

Martz hired defensive coordinator Lovie Smith, who has installed the Buccaneers' "Cover 2" scheme. Smith favors a base defense with a lot of zone coverages. You won't see the Rams blitz a lot. They'll leave getting pressure on the quarterback up to the front four.

"It's basically about lining up and beating the guy across from you one-on-one," defensive end Grant Wistrom said.

The 2000 season was a humbling experience for the defending Super Bowl champions. They not only failed to get back to the Super Bowl, they didn't even repeat as NFC West champs. The rejuvenated Saints took over the top spot in the NFC West and then ousted the Rams from the playoffs.

"That loss last year against New Orleans in the playoffs, that really hurt for everyone," offensive tackle Ryan Tucker said. "That has been on all our minds. Our whole goal is to get back to where we were a couple of years ago."

Offense
Quarterbacks: Kurt Warner proved that he was no one-hit wonder last season, but now he must prove he has shaken off the effects of a concussion suffered in the team's regular-season finale. Warner skipped the Pro Bowl because he was still experiencing headaches and light sensitivity. "I believe that I am going to be fine, that I'm going to continue to play, that I am going to have a long career, and that's that," Warner said. "The doctors feel the same way." Warner has established himself as one of the most accurate throwers ever to play in the NFL. He has completed 65.8 percent of his passes over his short career. With Trent Green gone and Paul Justin lost for the season due to injuries, two unproven commodities, Joe Germaine and Marc Bulger, are backing up Warner. Germaine, the Rams' fourth-round draft choice in 1999, has spent his time watching and learning for the past two seasons.
Grade: A-minus.

Running backs: Faulk is coming off his best NFL season. He broke Emmitt Smith's NFL record for touchdowns with 26, became the only player in NFL history to score four touchdowns in a game three times in one season and joined Jim Brown as the only NFL players to gain 2,000 yards from scrimmage in three consecutive seasons. Faulk accomplished all that despite missing two games due to knee surgery. He had more surgery on his right knee this winter. Robert Holcombe has shed 20 pounds and moved back to tailback after two seasons at fullback. The Rams are hoping Trung Canidate, their first-round draft pick last year, can stay healthy long enough to add some versatility to the offense. The fullback job is 275-pound James Hodgins' to lose, and that could happen with veteran Larry Bowie around.
Grade: A.

Receivers: Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt combined for 3,106 receiving yards -- the most by any same-team receiving duo in NFL history -- last season. Bruce is nine touchdowns away from breaking the club record for TDs in a career held by Eric Dickerson with 58. Holt is coming off a breakout season in which he led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,635. Az-Zahir Hakim is another threat to score every time he touches the ball. He set a career-high in receptions with 53 and receiving yards with 734 last season. Ricky Proehl is one of best clutch receivers in the game. Of his 31 receptions last year, 26 resulted in first downs. The Rams are hoping one of their young receivers -- Milton Wynn, Yo Murphy or Sherrod Gideon -- steps up to fill the role of No. 5 wideout with Tony Horne having left for the Chiefs. Tight end Ernie Conwell, who suffered a devastating knee injury more than two years ago, has regained his starting job. Conwell is a strong blocker, and the team is looking for him to be more of a factor in the passing game than Roland Williams was last season.
Grade: A.

		There's no question: The defense must perform better. Mike Martz made no bones about ripping the unit apart and bringing in defensive coordinator Lovie Smith, who got the players he wanted to fit his system, whether it was drafting defensive tackle Damione Lewis, a Warren Sapp type of player, or signing linebacker Mark Fields. A lot of times a coach will join a team and have to mold his philosophy and strategy around the existing talent. Smith doesn't have to do that. He is an enviable position of installing his system and then getting the people for it. That's a big advantage. It may take a while for the players to understand the defense and play together, but after the Rams gave up the seventh most points in league history, there is no place the defense can go but up.

Offensive linemen: This unit returns entirely intact. Left tackle Orlando Pace anchors the line. Left guard Tom Nutten is underrated. He's not talented athletically, but he gets the job done. Center Andy McCollum returns for a second season as a starter. He went through the entire 2000 campaign without being flagged for holding. Right guard Adam Timmerman continues to anchor the right side of the line, while Tucker showed he belonged at right tackle last season. Frank Garcia was added during the offseason to lend depth on the interior line. Cameron Spikes is versatile enough to play tackle or guard.
Grade: B-plus.

Defense
Defensive linemen: Wistrom is an emerging star. He led the team with 11 sacks last season, and his all-out style of play has endeared him to Leonard Little, who will start at the end opposite Wistrom. Little has an uncommon burst off the edge in passing situations, but he could be a little light (257 pounds) to hold up consistently against the run. That means Chidi Ahanotu, signed after Cedric Jones went down with a season-ending hip injury, also could see some playing time at Kevin Carter's old spot. Lewis and Jeff Zgonina, who had a career-high 42 tackles last season, will start at defensive tackle. Ryan Pickett, Tyoka Jackson and Brian Young also figure in the rotation on the interior of the defensive line.
Grade: C.

Linebackers: Middle linebacker London Fletcher had a franchise-record 193 tackles and a career-high 5½ sacks and four interceptions last season, but he can play better. He needs to gamble less and wrap up on his tackles more. Fletcher will be flanked by newcomers Don Davis and Fields. Fields is one of the fastest linebackers in the NFL, while Davis knows the Rams' new defensive system after playing the previous two seasons with the Buccaneers.
Grade: B-minus.

Defensive backs: Williams, a six-time Pro Bowler, is the cornerstone of the Rams' revamped defense. McCleon had eight interceptions last season, but he still gives up too many big plays. Herring is coming off a fine season with the Ravens, but he's been sidelined by a hamstring injury much of the preseason. Devin Bush was kept around in case Archuleta, who played linebacker at Arizona State, wasn't ready to start.
Grade: C-plus.

Special teams
Placekicker Jeff Wilkins is coming off a perfect season, as he went 17-for-17 on field goals and 38-for-38 on PATs last year. Punter John Baker has a booming leg, but he will need to be more consistent. Hakim is one of the most dangerous punt returners in the NFL when he holds on to the ball. Canidate, Bly and Aveion Cason are all vying for the kick return job previously held by Horne.
Grade: C.

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

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