Well it has finally arrived. The 2009 St. Louis Rams will take the field for the first time under new head coach Steve Spagnuolo. For the most part I don't get too excited about what happens in a pre-season game. What you see in August often does not translate
into what you see in September when the games start counting. This year is a little different though because of the new coaching staff and a complete turnover in the roster. I think there is a lot of curiosity about what the new look Rams are going to offer. Here are the five things to watch for in tonight's game.....
#1 Smith and Laurinaitis
More than anyone else I want to see how first round pick Jason Smith and second round pick James Laurinaitis perform in their first "real" NFL game. Smith has had a tough training camp thus far not even winning the right tackle job at this point. How Smith handles his first game will be of high interest. Smith has struggled with handling Leonard Little. We'll see how he handles some of the Jets defensive ends. Laurinaitis, on the other hand, has already ascended to the starting middle linebacker role and has had a great training camp. Will he perform at that level in his first test? Those will be the two players more than any others who I will have my eye on.
#2 Marc Bulger
I don't think that you can get too excited or too distraught over anything that happens with Marc Bulger's performance tonight but I do think it is important for Bulger to come out and have some command over the new offense. Bulger was not a fan of Linehan's and not a fan of his offense. With a season that he openly admits means everything to his career it is important for Bulger to come out and look good. He will probably only see one quarter but for Bulger it needs to be efficient.
#3 Wide Receivers
If there is a position that is more wide open in the entire NFL I don't know what it is. With Donnie Avery out there is not a single wide receiver that can't see this game against the Jets as their great opportunity to win a spot. Throw all of the wide receivers in the mix and 
they have a shot at opening the season as a starting wide receiver. This game against the Jets will be interesting to see who is going to grab their chance.
#4 Who will return the ball?
Derek Stanley and Kenneth Darby are currently the punt and kickoff returners. While Stanley is OK you would hope that someone would come along to take over that position. Who that is remains to be seen. The Rams coaching staff has been trying various people at those positions but without going full tilt it is difficult to know who will win the position. The preseason will shake out who they think will be their main choice in September.
#5 The Battle for #3
Brock Berlin is the incumbent for the number three quarterback position but the Rams drafted Keith Null in the sixth round. To me it seems you don't take a quarterback in the draft unless you are prepared to have him on the roster. Will Berlin do enough to keep Null off the roster? Steve Spagnuolo said that he wants to play all four quarterbacks in this game so we will get to see Berlin vs. Null in the late stages.
At the end of the day the Rams have to hope for two things. First is that they play well. It doesn't mean anything to win the game, but if you can go out with your first and second team units and put together good offensive drives and don't give up big plays on defense then the night will be a success. Second you have to get through the game healthy. You can't have Marc Bulger or Steven Jackson get hurt on something goofy that can cost the Rams their season. The Rams are already running thin as it is so they can't afford to lose one of their star players to an injury.
Just a reminder to Rams fans that it is an early start in St. Louis with a 6 PM start.
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