Offense: This unit will be awesome once again.at least that is as long as Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk stay healthy. Neither has a proven back up, and untested Joe Germaine replaces Trent Green as the second string quarterback. This critical position went from a strength to a potential weakness. But, as long as Warner is strong and standing upright in the pocket, the Rams are a threat. Fourth round pick WR Milton Wynn adds some size to the receiver corps, but I am not sure how many touches he will contribute to this veteran group. The other fourth round pick, TE Brandon Manumaleuna will back up Ernie Conwell and be used primarily as a blocker. The Rams last draft pick, WR Francis St.Paul, may actually have the biggest impact of the three. He is seen as another Az-Azhir Hakim, only with better hands. All in all, not much gained here because they are to far down the depth charts.

Defense: Here is where things get interesting. Lots of changes, and as most 49er fans know, it can take several weeks for chemistry and efficiency to develop. Not only will there be seven new starters, there will be a new defensive coordinator and a new system, so even the veterans will have a period of adjustment. Did I mention that the new coordinator, Lovie Smith, was previously the Tampa Bay linebacker coach, and has never been a coordinator before? This isn't like Ray Rhodes stepping into Denver and turning that unit into his own image.Lovie Smith is an experiment which will take time to mature.

So, what about all the new faces? Free agent CB Aeneas Williams and FS Kim Herring are fine improvements over Todd Lyght and Keith Lyle, so has the backfield significantly improved? Only time will tell. Lets not forget that Aeneas was contemplating retirement a little over one month ago. I suspect he realizes he has lost a step or two. He may not be an All Pro caliber corner anymore, but he should be a team leader. While Williams and Herring improve the defensive backfield, they may be somewhat neutralized by the introduction of first round pick, SS Adam Archuleta. Not only is Archuleta a rookie, but he is also being converted from linebacker to safety, and it will take time for him to learn his new pursuit angles. If Archuleta isn't ready to contribute as the starter, then Devin Bush will resume his position. Remember, they thought replacing Bush was a first round priority. CB's Dre Bly and Dexter McCleon will battle for the other starting corner position. Bottom line: the Rams have improved their overall speed, but there are still weaknesses.

Moving up to the front seven, former Saints' OLB Mark Fields and Tampa Bay OLB Don Davis are expected to start and should be nice additions, replacing the departed Mike Jones and Todd Collins. Davis is the only player familiar with the new defense being installed, so you can bet he will start ahead of second round pick, Tommy Polley. Polley isn't expected to start, but should be a tremendous force in a year or two. Third round pick, Brian Allen is a couple of years away from usurping the MLB position from London Fletcher. Have they improved? Probably. They are a step or two faster, but the real improvement will come next year, when Polley and Allen assert themselves into the starting lineup.

This brings us to the defensive line, the most maligned group on the entire defense. Things are so bad here, that three of last years' starting veterans were cut or traded last month. Out of desperation, the Rams resigned DT Ray Agnew to rejoin RDE Grant Wistrom. How bad are things? The Rams are moving OG Cameron Spikes to DT this off season in an effort to improve the interior line. They even used two of their three first round picks to address this weakness. Highly regarded rookie DT from Miami, Damione Lewis is expected to replace D'Marco Farr and start beside Agnew. The late first round pick, Ohio State junior Ryan Pickett, is expected to be a backup. It is still unknown who will man the left end position vacated when the Rams traded former All Pro Kevin Carter. Talk centers on Leonard Little, Sean Moran, or a free agent that has yet to be signed. So, are they better? Wistrom and Lewis are impact players, but this defense has not yet replaced its best talent, the Carter who led them to the Super Bowl.

Remember, this is simply an early review of the team as it appears on paper. The Rams have found four new starters in free agency, and two starters in the draft. They should be thankful they had the cap space. Expect it to take some time for the defense to get situated in a new scheme and familiar with seven new faces. This isn't as dramatic a make over as what the 49ers have been through the past two years, but it is a bit shocking for a team one year removed from being Super Bowl Champions. You can look for improvement on defense to continue through the end of November, but they will lose some early games. If this team goes deep into the playoffs this winter, it will still be on the back of this explosive offense.