Give the Rams coaches credit for at least one thing: They felt that if veteran defensive tackle La’Roi Glover were called on for fewer snaps, he’d be more effective, and they were correct.

Glover, 33, already has topped last year’s totals, with 56 tackles (he had 47 in ‘06) and 6.0 sacks (4.5 in ‘06). The emergence of rookie tackles Adam Carriker and Clifton Ryan allowed the Rams to use Glover more as a rotation guy.

With 83 sacks over his 12 seasons, Glover ranks sixth among active players.

***

If Brandon Chillar’s strained calf muscle keeps him on the sideline Sunday at Arizona, the Rams would be able to suit up only four healthy linebackers. The starters would be Will Witherspoon in the middle, Chris Draft at weakside, and rookie Quinton Culberson at strongside. That would leave second-year man Tim McGarigle as the lone reserve.

“It’s going to be fine if we don’t have more than one guy have any problem during the game,” coach Scott Linehan said. “We’ll probably end up, if we have to go that way, carrying an extra defensive player, whether a D-lineman or a secondary player for special teams.”

The Rams use linebackers liberally on special teams, so they’d have to modify that. “We’ll have to make up for that with somebody or a couple of players at different spots that aren’t going to be linebackers,” Linehan said.

***

Notes & quotes:

>>CB Fakhir Brown has been out with a stomach ailment (bad fruitcake?), but he should be ready to go Sunday.

>>Expect Derek Stanley to return kicks and Brandon Williams to return punts vs. the Cardinals.

>>The Rams have four players that were on Arizona’s roster last year: O-linemen Milford Brown, Brandon Gorin and Nick Leckey, and special-teams regular Hanik Milligan.

>>For his two weeks on the active roster, recently re-signed RB Rich Alexis is due to receive $51,176 plus change.

All for now. . .