Howard Balzer posted on August 11, 2009 07:08
Observations as the Rams prepare for their first preseason game:
* There’s really no point in pursuing a “veteran” receiver despite the foot injury suffered by Donnie Avery. Anyone new would need time to learn the offense, and by the time 
that happens, Avery should be healthy.
Doctors tell me the fourth metatarsal bone usually heals without problems, and the four-week down time for Avery is realistic. Names like Marvin Harrison and Ashley Lelie get thrown around, but Harrison is not a speed guy, and there’s a reason Lelie bounces from team to team and is without one in the middle of August.
For the Rams’ offense to be successful, the line will have to block well for Steven Jackson, and the passing game will be one that spreads the ball around to numerous players. Keep your eyes on tight end Billy Bajema Friday night against the Jets. Bajema was signed for his blocking, but he has been showing the ability to catch the ball.
* Will Adam Carriker ever stay healthy? Carriker suffered an injury to the same ankle he injured last season, and is becoming a huge question mark. The depth at defensive tackle consists of Gary Gibson, Hollis Thomas and rookie Darell Scott.
* The wild card in the wide receiver equation could be Derek Stanley. He didn’t see many balls in the first week of training camp, but that was partly due to him being brought along slowly following little work in OTAs as he recovered from ACL surgery.
He was more active in practice Monday, and Stanley also appears to be the team’s best option as a kickoff and punt returner.
* Antonio Pittman and Joe Klopfenstein appear to be dead men walking. Samkon Gado has a quietly solid camp, and has helped himself by showing he can play fullback, if needed. Gado has size and toughness. Rookie Chris Ogbonnaya has also looked good, 
so it’s hard to figure out how Pittman can make the roster.
As for Klopfenstein, even unknown Eric Butler looks just as good. Clearly, the top three tight ends are Randy McMichael, Daniel Fells and Bajema.
* Heard some troubling news while in Canton for the Hall of Fame weekend. I was surprised to see that Rams Hall of Famer Deacon Jones didn’t attend the festivities, something he usually does every year. The Hall pays travel and hotel expenses for any Hall of Famer and his spouse to be in Canton for the weekend, and 84 took them up on it this year.
When I was first told Jones was sick, I didn’t think anything of it. However, I later heard he was recently diagnosed with a lesion on his lung. Jones is scheduled to be in St. Louis for his jersey retirement ceremony Sept. 27.
In addition, I was also told Rams Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen is undergoing radiation treatment. Our prayers go out to both great men.