The Rams have their first home game of the preseason tonight against the Atlanta Falcons.  After beating the Jets 23-20 last Friday night, the Rams have a good feeling heading into tonight's game but it is tempered by the fact that there was a lot to improve on after watching the film.  The game tonight will be a better gage of where the Rams first and second teams are at this point and what might lie ahead for the Rams in 2009.  Here are five things to watch for in tonight's game....
 

#1 Kyle Boller

Marc Bulger will not play in tonight's game because of his broken finger so tonight will be Kyle Boller's chance to show what he has to Rams fans.  Boller was signed in the offseason because there was a belief that he would be a significant upgrade at backup quarterback.  Boller was not impressive in his first chance with the Rams on Friday going 3/9 for 25 yards.  Tonight he will have the first team around him so we will get a true sense of what Boller has to offer the Rams in 2009.

#2 Jason Smith

Alex Barron will most likely not play against the Falcons so that means that Jason Smith will receive his first start of the preseason and should play at least a half.  Smith played pretty well after a lot of concern about his performance in the early part of camp.  The Falcons will have their starters on the field and that means Smith, assuming he is lined up at right tackle, will be getting a healthy dose of Jamaal Anderson.

#3 The Running Back Race

The backup running back position has been turned upside down in the past week.  Kenneth Darby who looked very safe heading into the Jets game is in trouble.  Antonio Pittman who looked like he was on his way out has found new life and Samkon Gado, who was not on most people's radar before camp, looks like the favorite to be the backup.  All this after a couple weeks of practice and one game.  Tonight's game will be another test for all of the backs.  Backup running back was a question mark before camp and it still remains up in the air.  Tonight's game might put some separation between the three.

#4 Who wants the cornerback job?

I was hoping that someone was going to take a big step forward for the other cornerback position opposite Ron Bartell against the Jets.  It didn't happen.  Tye Hill, Justin King and Bradley Flecther all had some good things and some bad things happen to them against the Jets.  My guess is Tye Hill will remain the starter on opening day, but the chance is still out there for someone to make their play for the job.  How King and Flecther play will be of great interest.

#5 Will someone surprise at Wide Receiver?

Donnie Avery, Tim Carter and Brooks Foster will all not be playing against the Falcons so there will be ample opportunity for a number of receivers to make their name known.  Keenan Burton needs to prove he is worthy of being a starter.  Ronald Curry needs to solidify his position.  Laurent Robinson needs to continue to impress the coaches.  Will there be someone off the radar, like Sean Walker, that makes some plays?  Wide receiver is still a huge question mark but tonight will give some unknown options a great opportunity to grab a spot on the roster.

 It is interesting.  When your team is good the preseason games boil down to holding your breath that everyone remains healthy.  When your team is bad there are story lines and questions everywhere.  That is why the preseason is only interesting when your team needs to improve.  Who will be the players that make your team better?  The Rams got some hints to some of those answers against the Jets.  Tonight's game against the Falcons will be a better test.

A couple things to remember, there are tickets still available for the game tonight so if you want to see what the Edward Jones Dome renovations look like, and what the Rams look like, then you can go downtown and watch a little football.  Because there are tickets available that also means the game will not be televised locally, as ridiculous as that is, till 10:30 PM or later, because KTVI has another preseason game at 7:00 pm.  So it could be a late night of football or make sure you have those DVR's working.

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