A week ago, we checked 20 mock drafts to try to gauge what others thought the Rams would do with their No. 2 overall pick in the draft. All were gleaned from sites that should have legitimate insight.

Then, Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long was cited as the overwhelming choice for the Rams, getting 10 nods. Ohio State defensive end Vernon Gholston and LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey received four votes each, with Virginia defensive end Chris Long garnering only two.

A day after the Dolphins assured that Jake Long would be the No. 1 selection by signing him to a contract, we went back to check out the updated mocks. This time, Chris Long was the big winner, the choice of 11 mock drafters. Dorsey had six votes and Gholston three.

The only sure thing — if there is a sure thing in any draft — the J. Long signing means is that the Rams will go defense with their first-round choice. The guess here is that they’ll take Dorsey, with the prospect of him and Adam Carriker patrolling the middle of the line for years to come just too enticing to pass up.

We’ll know for sure just after 2 p.m. Saturday.

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Notes & quotes:

>>Tackle Orlando Pace, recovering from shoulder surgery, is looking positively svelte at 320 pounds. “I’m trying to slim down,” Pace said. “The older you get, the weight is a big deal. I’m just trying to be in the best shape possible.”

>>Punter Donnie Jones attended the recent Country Music Awards in Nashville with the Bucs’ Kevin Carter, the former Rams defensive end. The two were teammates with the Dolphins in 2005 and 2006.

>>The Rams will spend three days in Nashville scrimmaging the Titans before opening their four-game preseason schedule there in early August. Next year, the Titans will travel to the Rams’ training camp site.

>>The last time the Rams had the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, it worked out pretty well. They took SMU running back Eric Dickerson, who is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

All for now . . .