Brady Hanlen: Jim, How do you see this team playing out this year ie: stout d/ power running, score and score more and hope you have the ball last, watered down greatest show?

I think they will be more of a balanced team that will be in the mix if they can hold there own at the begining of the season, that schedule could be a killer or it could launch them towards a great season

Jim Thomas: I don't think there's any doubt they have to lean more heavily on the running game, particularly early in the season with the hope that the line develops, the young WRs develop, and Bulger gains confidence as the season progresses. The problem with that in Weeks 1 and 2 is whether Steven Jackson is able to carry a full load what with his holdout and limited practice time.
No doubt, if the Rams win one of the first two games _ it could be a nice launching pad for the season. This team needs to gain confidence as much as anything else. Beating Philly or the Giants could do that.

RamFanNC: Who is most likely to get cut today once all of the new additions show up and sign their new contracts?
Vobora, McCarigle, Bassey or has this already been decided??

Jim Thomas: Bassey was cut yesterday to make room for Manning Jr.
McGarigle was cut today to make room for Stills.

Joe: So Manning Jr. is our nickel back now. I like that move, but where does that put Bartell? I guess I dont knwo what a nickel back is. Could you explain the differect between corner, nickel, and dime backs? And who our starters will be at each?

Thanks!

Jim Thomas: It's no guarantee that Manning steps right into the nickel back role. That's to be determined, and it's partly a matter of Brown's health and Manning's ability to have a basic grasp of the defense.
Cornerbacks are the guys who generally line up on the outside, covering the wide receivers in two receiver sets. When teams go to three wide receivers, an extra cornerback comes off the bench. Generally, this third corner is called the nickel back. Technically, the nickel back is the fifth defensive back (if you include the two safeties_ hence the name "nickel" as in "five." The nickel back covers the slot receiver. The dime back is a fourth corner used in situations where the opposition lines up in four wide receivers. Generally you want a cornerback on the field for every wide receiver on the field.
If everyone was healthy, right now, the starting corners would be Brown and Hill, with Bartell as the nickel back. Don't know yet where Manning fits into this.

David: Hi Jim!

How long do you think it will take for the Rams offense to 'click' with Al Saunders system?

Also, does Randy McMichael have a legitimate shot of making the Pro-Bowl this year (ie Tony Gonzalez, Chris Cooley)?

Jim Thomas: I don't expect it to happen this week, what with Jackson's late start, and the injury situation at wide receiver.
I'm not sure about McMichael being in the Pro Bowl, but I'd be willing to bet that barring injury he will catch 50-plus balls as opposed to the 39 he caught last season.

RamFanNC: I know that JAX has not had any live action and this always concerns me on holdouts for injury, fumbles and stuff. What kind of practice do they have to help simulate tackling and hits (or do they do this for real) so that JAX is really ready to play Sunday?

Jim Thomas: The Rams have a drill where the running back runs through a "guantlet" and gets hit by blocking pads. The "team run" periods can get pretty physical. But I think the Rams have had only one full pads practice since Jackson signed, so he hasn't gotten jostled around too much. Wednesday will be the last full pad practice of the week.