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Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Rams in 2012:

Dream scenario (8-8): Sam Bradford takes every snap on offense for the second time in three seasons as the Rams protect their franchise quarterback with sensible play calling. It's the sixth time a Jeff Fisher-coached team finishes 8-8, but no one is complaining after the Rams' 15-65 run over the previous five seasons. Trusting offensive line coach Paul Boudreau to salvage right tackle Jason Smith becomes one of the surprise success stories of the 2012 season, and a critical one for the Rams' efforts to re-establish Bradford.

Turns out the Rams were not fibbing when they suggested Brian Quick, the receiver they took in the second round, ranked up there with first-rounder Justin Blackmon on their board. The constant threat of Steven Jackson and Isaiah Pead out of the backfield creates favorable matchups for Quick and the Rams' underrated receivers. Bradford publicly downplays a Week 2 victory over Robert Griffin III and Washington, but it feels good to win at home against the player St. Louis could have selected second overall this year.

Watching Janoris Jenkins score on a fourth-quarter punt return in Patrick Peterson's house improbably stakes the Rams to a 6-5 record, stirring visions of the postseason. It's certainly sweet to finally win within the division again. The Rams lose to San Francisco the following week and ultimately finish the regular season with a respectable defeat at Seattle, but the season is a success by any measure.

Nightmare scenario (3-13): Road games against Detroit and Chicago in the first three weeks expose Bradford to significant punishment as Smith and the line struggle to find their bearings. Bradford doesn't want to talk about the ankle injury he aggravated at some point in the season's first month, but it's clearly a factor. Facing Cliff Avril, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Ndamukong Suh, Brian Orakpo, Ryan Kerrigan, Julius Peppers, Chris Clemons, Bruce Irvin, Calais Campbell, Darnell Dockett, Cameron Wake and Clay Matthews in the first seven games leaves Bradford limping toward the bye week, his confidence shaken.

Steven Jackson continues to plug away, but we've seen this movie before and it doesn't end well for the Rams. The depth at receiver is indeed improved, but Bradford doesn't have any truly dynamic weapons. Quick understandably needs seasoning, but with Blackmon and Arizona's Michael Floyd challenging rookie receiving records, the Rams look bad for trading down. It's tough finding open receivers with Smith struggling at tackle, anyway.

First-round pick Michael Brockers and free-agent addition Kendall Langford upgrade the run defense, but life as an every-down defensive end is tough for Robert Quinn. The veteran outside linebackers signed as stopgaps represent only a minor upgrade from last season. Off-field issues dog Jenkins and the defense fails to meet expectations. Critics conveniently blame Gregg Williams' suspension, but the problems are more complex than that.

The Rams head into the offseason with another high draft choice, one they'll almost certainly have to invest in a playmaker of some sort.

Thoughts on the St. Louis Rams following their performance against the Cincinnati Bengals at the Edward Jones Dome in Week 15:

What it means: The Rams fell to 2-12 and remained tied with Minnesota for second in the projected draft order for 2012. The strength-of-schedule tiebreaker would come into play if both teams finished 2-14. The Rams held the tiebreaker heading into Week 15, but the situation was fluid heading into the final three weeks. The team is now 10-36 in two-plus seasons under coach Steve Spagnuolo.

What I liked: The Rams' defense was on its game from the beginning and put St. Louis in position to stay competitive throughout. Cornerback Josh Gordy picked off an Andy Dalton pass and returned it 30 yards. Chris Long added to his career-high sack total. Darian Stewart, James Laurinaitis, Quintin Mikell and others made aggressive plays against the Bengals' running game. Kellen Clemens' mobility and overall health at quarterback gave the offense a boost after Sam Bradford, named inactive for this game, struggled to play through an ankle injury previously. Danario Alexander's leaping touchdown grab in the final minutes brought the Rams within striking distance. Clemens passed for 229 yards and finished with a 95.7 NFL passer rating. Rookie Robert Quinn got his hand on an opponent's punt for the third time this season.

What I didn't like: The offense struggled again, and there were additional opportunities to question play calling. The Rams lost yardage on a toss to Steven Jackson on third-and-long. A week earlier, they ran five plays in a row from the Seattle 1-yard line before giving Jackson the ball. More than anything, the Rams couldn't seem to get a break. A questionable pass-interference call gave the Bengals a long gain. The Rams forced fumbles, only to have the ball bounce back into the Bengals' possession. It's been that kind of year for the Rams. Despite a mostly strong showing on defense, the Rams let A.J. Green beat them for six receptions covering 115 yards.

What's next: The Rams visit the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16.

The St. Louis Rams' injury situation should, in theory, clear the way for the team to evaluate young depth against Cincinnati in Week 15.

That will happen at defensive end, where rookie Robert Quinn is getting the start over injured and inactive veteran James Hall. Quinn has shown flashes of ability as a situational player this season. Taking a longer look at him across additional situations will help.

But in too many other cases, the Rams are playing out the season without learning much about the future. Injuries are one reason. Not having enough young depth is another reason.

Sam Bradford is inactive against the Bengals, but replacement Kellen Clemens is a stopgap, not a developmental player. The team had hoped to keep Thaddeus Lewis on is practice squad coming out camp, but Lewis signed with Cleveland. And without a regular offseason, the team decided to stick with veteran A.J. Feeley as its backup even though Feeley, now injured, did not know the new offense.

Left tackle Rodger Saffold is also out. His replacement Sunday, Adam Goldberg, is 31 years old. The team knows he projects as a backup guard and tackle. He isn't going to develop into more than that.

The team has suffered too many injuries at cornerback to even consider developing young players at that position. With Justin King out Sunday, Rod Hood gets the start. Hood is 30 years old and still coming back from a career-threatening knee injury. He did not play in 2010.

Some of the players St. Louis wanted to develop this season -- tight end Michael Hoomanawanui, receiver Greg Salas and tackle Jason Smith -- are on injured reserve.

As a result, the Rams are largely just playing out the final three games.

A quick look through the NFL rookie sack leaders shows NFC West teams with three of the top 10 producers, led by the San Francisco 49ers’ Aldon Smith with 9.5.

This is how it should be.

NFC West teams drafted two of the first three outside pass-rushers in 2011.

Denver’s Von Miller, the first pass-rusher chosen, leads all rookies with 10. 5 sacks. The 49ers’ Smith, drafted seventh overall, was the second outside rusher chosen. The St. Louis Rams’ Robert Quinn, tied for eighth on the list with five sacks, was the third outside rusher chosen. Houston’s J.J. Watt has more sacks than Quinn, but as a 3-4 defensive end, he’s not a pure outside rusher.

Arizona’s Sam Acho has outproduced his draft status as a fourth-round choice. Acho has five sacks in the Cardinals’ past seven games, though three of Arizona’s past four opponents have held him without one.

Sacks aren’t the only measure of a pass-rusher’s performance. The good ones tend to rack up a lot of them, however.

Charles Haley holds the 49ers' rookie record since the NFL began tracking sacks in 1982. He had 12.5 sacks during the 1986 season. Dana Stubblefield had 10.5 sacks during 1993, his rookie season.

Smith needs 3.5 sacks over the 49ers' final four games to pass Haley. He has all 9.5 of his sacks in the 49ers' past nine games, including two during the 49ers' division-clinching victory over St. Louis on Sunday.

Thoughts on Seattle and St. Louis following the Seahawks' victory at the Edward Jones Dome in Week 11:

What it means: The Seahawks improved to 4-6 heading into a three-game homestand against losing teams. Seattle is now in position to approach its 7-9 record from last season. That would be admirable, but also costly for those hoping the team will draft high enough to select the college quarterback it prefers. For the Rams, this defeat drops their record to 2-8 while again revealing their limitations on offense, with or without Sam Bradford at quarterback. Defeats such as this one -- at home, against a losing team, without being competitive -- raise questions about Steve Spagnuolo's job security beyond this season.

What I liked: The Seahawks won the field-position battle and continued grinding out yards on the ground despite losing right guard John Moffitt and right tackle James Carpenter to season-ending injuries before this game. They exploited matchup advantages against the Rams' injury-depleted secondary, including with receiver pass for a 55-yard gain. They also took advantage of their pass-rush matchups after the Rams, already playing without starting left tackle Rodger Saffold, lost backup Mark LeVoir as well. Chris Clemons dominated and finished with three sacks. Leon Washington enjoyed a strong day on punt returns for Seattle. For the Rams, linebackers Chris Chamberlain and James Laurinaitis were everywhere at times. Chamberlain picked off a pass. Rookie defensive end Robert Quinn got a piece of another punt. He also collected a sack.

What I didn't like: Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor, fined $20,000 for an illegal hit last week, drew a personal-foul penalty with a helmet-to-helmet hit on Rams tight end Lance Kendricks. Chancellor could be subject to bigger fine and/or suspension. Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson tossed two early touchdown passes. He also took four sacks and eight quarterback hits, raising questions about his ability to last through the season as he plays with an injured pectoral. The Rams' Mark Clayton dropped a pass. Steven Jackson had his three-game streak of 100-yard rushing games end. He has now played 15 career games against Seattle without reaching 100 yards.

What's next: The Seahawks are home against the Washington Redskins in Week 12. The Rams are home against the Arizona Cardinals.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks coach. Coaches lose credibility with their players over time when they risk defeat with imprudent decisions. Carroll handled the quarterback situation questionably against Cincinnati on Sunday. He clearly botched the sequence when the first-half clock ran out, preventing the Seahawks from getting points. He did not stop the team from calling another option running play for quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, even though Jackson was still playing with an injury stemming from the last time Seattle called such a play. Making mistakes is bad enough. Refusing to correct them is worse. Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times recently ran through some of the other questionable decisions from Carroll. The Seahawks deserve better for their $35 million investment.

2. Russ Grimm, Arizona Cardinals assistant head coach/offensive line. Grimm's Hall of Fame pedigree and long-established reputation as a top offensive line coach have largely buffered him from criticism. That should change given where the Cardinals' line stands five seasons into Grimm's tenure with Arizona. Grimm hasn't been able to turn a top-five draft choice, Levi Brown, into even an average starting NFL tackle. Quarterback Kevin Kolb, though largely to blame for holding the ball too long, nonetheless needs better protection than the Cardinals' line has afforded him.

3. Charlie Whitehurst, Seahawks QB. Carroll's patience with Whitehurst finally ran out against the Bengals. Whitehurst is likely finished in Seattle unless an injury forces him into the lineup and he suddenly performs at a high level for an extended stretch. The team needed to find out about Whitehurst this season. Carroll made it clear he's seen enough when he benched Whitehurst after only seven pass attempts Sunday. Whitehurst took two sacks during his brief time on the field. He appeared unsettled by the rush and unsure what to do.

RISING

1. Steven Jackson, Rams RB. Jackson is the Rams' emotional leader, but that leadership had its limits when a quadriceps injury was preventing Jackson from performing at high level. Jackson has shown over the past two games an ability to run with abandon. Jackson carried 25 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns in the Rams' 31-21 upset of New Orleans. He now has 28 career 100-yard rushing performances with the Rams, one more than Marshall Faulk. Only Eric Dickerson (38) has more in franchise history. Jackson's four receptions tied him with Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch for sixth on the Rams' career list (343 catches). Jackson also moved past Faulk for third on the Rams' list for most yards from scrimmage.

2. Chris Long, Rams DE. Long's three-sack performance against Drew Brees and the Saints came after a quiet week for Long and the Rams' defense at Dallas. This was a breakout game in every way. Long had one sack in each of the Rams' first three games this season. He then went three games without one before breaking through against Saints right tackle Charles Brown. Long next faces an Arizona team that has juggled personnel at right tackle, switching between Brandon Keith and Jeremy Bridges. Long's rise could continue.

3. Robert Quinn, Rams DE. A few unestablished young players in the division qualified for consideration in this spot. Richard Sherman, Greg Salas, Sam Acho and O'Brien Schofield come to mind. Patrick Peterson was another consideration, but his punt return for a touchdown wasn't his first of the season, and the Cardinals ultimately lost. The San Francisco 49ers' collective stock has already surged, making it tough to pinpoint one player from that team following a routine victory over Cleveland. I went with Quinn because his stock had sagged quite a bit early in the season. He wasn't even active for the opener. But with a sack and blocked punt against New Orleans, the rookie first-round draft choice played an important role in the Rams' first victory of the season.

A quick look at where NFC West rookie first-round draft choices stand at roughly the midpoint of the 2011 season:

• Patrick Peterson, CB, Arizona Cardinals (5th overall): Peterson has started all seven games. He has one interception and has not yet upgraded the Cardinals' pass defense. Peterson has had problems with penalties, but he generally wasn't the one in coverage when Arizona appeared helpless against Anquan Boldin last week or, for one play, Mike Wallace the previous week. Peterson has dramatically upgraded the Cardinals' punt-return game. His touchdown was the difference in the team's victory against Carolina in the opener. He scored again as the Cardinals nearly upset Baltimore. It's fair to say the Cardinals might be winless without him.
• Aldon Smith, OLB, San Francisco 49ers (7th overall): Smith has become a legitimate candidate for defensive rookie of the year. He has 6.5 sacks, most in the NFC West and seventh-most in the league. Smith also collected a key safety during a 25-19 victory at previously unbeaten Detroit. The 49ers' 6-1 record and lofty standing on defense work in Smith's favor regarding rookie honors. Smith is improving as the season progresses and playing a more prominent role. He has collected all of his sacks in the 49ers' last four games. He has a realistic shot at double-digit sacks.
• Robert Quinn, DE, St. Louis Rams (14th overall): Quinn improved his standing substantially with a sack and blocked punt during the Rams' upset victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 8. The Rams did not plan for Quinn to start this season. James Hall remains the starter ahead of him. Quinn's performance against the Saints suggests his playing time should continue to increase. I thought Quinn started to come on against Washington a few weeks ago. The Rams haven't scored enough points to create the favorable pass-rush situations that would play to Quinn's strengths, particularly at home.
• James Carpenter, RT, Seattle Seahawks (25th overall): Carpenter has started every game for the Seahawks, mostly at right tackle, but also at left guard. His conditioning was a problem early. Carpenter was making strides, but the last couple games have been difficult. Officials flagged Carpenter for two penalties in third-and-long situations against the Bengals. The trend could continue as the Seahawks prepare to face the Dallas Cowboys on the road in Week 9. Overall, though, Carpenter appears on track as the starting right tackle.

Teams aren't getting much from their second-round picks. Arizona's Ryan Williams is on injured reserve. San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick is the No. 2 quarterback, as expected. Lance Kendricks is playing for St. Louis, but his role has diminished lately. The Seattle Seahawks did not make a second-round selection.

Thoughts on the St. Louis Rams' 31-21 victory against New Orleans in Week 8:

What it means: The Rams scored one of the biggest upsets of this NFL season, giving them a badly needed boost heading into an easier portion of their schedule. The Rams saw encouraging developments on multiple fronts. This outcome gives them hope for a strong finish to the season, particularly once quarterback Sam Bradford returns from a high-ankle sprain. This game takes the heat off coach Steve Spagnuolo and general manager Billy Devaney for the time being, at least.

What I liked: The Rams, though badly outmatched based on how the teams had performed before Week 8, were competitive from the start. Their defense kept them in the game early. Rookie Greg Salas' 17-yard reception on fourth-and-2 moved the Rams into position for the field goal that gave them a 3-0 lead. Rookie first-round pick Robert Quinn, who blocked a field-goal try during preseason, blocked a punt in this game, setting up a Steven Jackson touchdown run for a 10-0 lead. Jackson dominated with his running, topping 150 yards. The workload showed he's fully recovered from the quadriceps injury he suffered in Week 1. Chris Long had three sacks, a breakout game. Quinn also got pressure as a pass-rusher at times. The Rams played with attitude. Their defense, despite playing without all its top corners, somehow prevented Drew Brees from building on his five-touchdown game against Indy. Safety Darian Stewart's interception return for a touchdown to close out the Saints provided the proper punctuation to a game the Rams dominated.

What I didn't like: Quarterback A.J. Feeley, subbing for Bradford, missed Brandon Lloyd twice on consecutive plays that should have produced touchdowns. Lloyd dropped a pass to kill a drive in the fourth quarter when the Rams needed to sustain drives. I could go through the game picking nits, but why? The Rams easily could have mailed it in for this game. Bradford's injury gave them an out. They did not do that. They deserve credit for that. Brees' scoring pass in the final seconds made the game appear closer.

Streak ends: Until this game, the Rams had not run an offensive play all season while leading on the scoreboard. The 2005 Houston Texans did not run an offensive play while leading until Week 7 that season. The Rams can finally put to rest this dubious streak.

What's next: The Rams visit the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9.

Thoughts on the St. Louis Rams' 34-7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7:

What it means: The Rams fell to 0-6 and could be headed for 0-7 with New Orleans visiting St. Louis in Week 8. They need to step down in class. They need to welcome back Sam Bradford from injury and get him synced up with new receiver Brandon Lloyd. And they need to figure out an alternative to the way they're playing run defense. The Rams are now within two defeats of their total for the 2010 season.

What I liked: The Rams hung tough early and trailed only 14-7 late in the first half. Steven Jackson had a 40-yard run. James Hall and Gary Gibson had sacks. Rookie Robert Quinn hit Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo on an incomplete pass in the red zone. This game could have gotten out of hand earlier if the Rams didn't hold the Cowboys to a field goal on a drive that began at the St. Louis 30. The Rams allowed only one sack. Cornerback Al Harris seemed to bounce back from a rough game at Green Bay. Backup quarterback A.J. Feeley completed 20 of 33 passes for 196 yards, reasonable stats for a player without a victory as a starter since 2004. Feeley wasn't the primary reason the Rams lost the game. Lloyd caught six passes for 74 yards.

What I didn't like: The run defense was generally abysmal again, allowing the Cowboys' DeMarco Murray to set a franchise single-game rushing record thanks to a 91-yard run. Murray rushed for 253 yards. The Cowboys rushed for more yards in this game (294) than any NFL team has gained in a game this season, even though they entered the game ranked 27th in rushing yards per game. The Rams ranked last in rushing yards allowed per game before Sunday, and that certainly will not change following this performance. This was the most rushing yards a Rams team has allowed in a game since 1981. It was the seventh-most rushing yards a Rams team has allowed since at least 1940 (the team dates to 1937). That historical context shows the current Rams cannot blame their deficiencies against the run to their inability to sustain drives on offense. The Rams were often worse on offense while posting a 6-42 record from 2007-09, but they never gave up this many yards on the ground. Just about every move the team made on defense this offseason was supposed to upgrade the run defense. The secondary has fallen apart through injuries, putting additional pressure on the front seven, but the Rams tackled horribly in this game.

Injury scare: The Rams lost right tackle Jason Smith to an apparent neck injury after Smith was injured making a tackle following a turnover. Smith left on a stretcher. His status was not immediately known, but coach Steve Spagnuolo said Smith suffered a strained neck and a blow to the head. Smith has had concussion problems in the past.

What's next: The Rams are home against the Saints.

As you get ready for this afternoon's game against the St. Louis Rams in Dallas, here's one reason for Cowboys fans to feel good and one reason for concern:

Feeling good: It's tough to pick just one, honestly. The Rams have yet to win a game. They allow 33 more yards per game on the ground than does the second-worst run-defense team in the league. It looks as though they'll be without starting quarterback Sam Bradford, which means DeMarcus Ware gets a shot at A.J. Feeley once he gets past St. Louis' woeful pass protection. The Rams' best hope is running back Steven Jackson, and no team in the league has been better at stopping the run this year than have the Cowboys. Unless Feeley can get something going right away with new receiver Brandon Lloyd, Dallas should be able to key on the run game and limit it effectively.

Cause for concern: If the Rams can keep it close, they have the kind of pass-rushing defensive line that could cause trouble for the Cowboys' banged-up offensive line. Chris Long and Robert Quinn have shown an ability to get to the quarterback, and rookie right tackle Tyron Smith looked like a rookie for the first time last week.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. San Francisco 49ers secondary. Three spots weren't enough to process all the falling stock within the division this week. I have requested and received special permission to expand the "falling" section. Nothing in the division failed quite so spectacularly as the 49ers' pass defense against Dallas. Blaming individuals in the secondary can be tricky without knowing specifics about coverages. I'll point to the secondary in general for allowing three touchdowns to Miles Austin and a backbreaking 77-yard reception to the little-known Jesse Holley in overtime. Tough way to lose.

2. Ray Horton, Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator. The Cardinals have allowed more yards through two games than any team in franchise history since at least 1940. Sure, they're learning a new system and breaking in young cornerbacks, but that was the plan. Horton expected significant improvement this season. He put it this way back in July: "The things we need to work on are very correctable. If we're not markedly improved, I'd be shocked. Not surprised, but shocked if we're not one of the better defenses in the league."

3. St. Louis Rams backups: Cadillac Williams, subbing for the injured Steven Jackson, dropped an ill-fated screen pass from Sam Bradford against the Giants, then mistakenly thought the play was dead. The Giants' Michael Boley returned the loose ball for a touchdown. Bradford took responsibility for getting pressured into throwing the ball backward, but Williams should have been aware the play was live. Williams, whose stock rose with a strong rushing performance in Week 1, gained 36 yards on 13 carries Monday. Another Rams backup, rookie receiver Greg Salas, muffed a punt against the Giants and could not handle a third-down pass. He required X-rays after the game for an unspecified injury.

3a. NFC West self-esteem: All four division teams lost in embarrassing fashion. The Cardinals allowed 455 yards to Rex Grossman and the Washington Redskins. The 49ers blew a 24-14 fourth-quarter lead. The Seattle Seahawks were shut out at Pittsburgh. The Rams slopped their way through the team's first Monday night appearance since 2006, falling to the New York Giants. At least one NFC West team will likely win in Week 3. Arizona visits Seattle.

3b. Tarvaris Jackson, Seahawks quarterback. Coach Pete Carroll was right when he said the Seahawks' problems against Pittsburgh went far beyond the quarterback position. It's also reasonable to expect a quarterback to spark his team from time to time. Jackson, once a threat as a scrambler, has so far abandoned that aspect of his game. He needs to show more against Arizona in Week 3.

3c. Chansi Stuckey, Cardinals receiver. Stuckey lost a fumble when the Cardinals were trying to mount one final drive with a chance to get into field goal range during a one-point game at Washington. Last season, when Stuckey was with Cleveland, he lost an overtime fumble while the Browns were driving toward a potential winning field goal.

3d. Brandon Browner, Seahawks cornerback. Browner had problems in coverage against the Steelers' Mike Wallace and will need to bounce back against Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals in Week 3.

RISING

1. Danario Alexander, Rams receiver: Three catches for 122 yards and a touchdown against the Giants validated the highest expectations for Alexander. He was the only Rams player on offense to show game-changing ability as a playmaker.

2. Beanie Wells, Cardinals running back. The Cardinals got their ground game going in the second half against Washington, with Wells leading the way. This was as physical as Wells has run in some time and exactly what Arizona needs from him. Wells had 93 yards rushing on only 14 carries and was in position for much bigger numbers if Arizona's defense could have gotten off the field more readily.

3. Robert Quinn, Rams defensive end. The Rams' first-round draft choice made his regular-season debut against the Giants and played more extensively than I had anticipated. Quinn had one sack and gained valuable experience.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The St. Louis Rams and New York Giants have submitted their inactive lists for their Monday night matchup.

• Rams: receiver Danny Amendola, running back Steven Jackson, receiver Austin Pettis, safety Jermale Hines, linebacker Jabara Williams, tight end Stephen Spach and defensive end C.J. Ah You. Jackson tested his strained quadriceps during warmups, but was never expected to play. Amendola is recovering from a dislocated elbow. Rookie defensive end Robert Quinn is active after sitting out the opener. Ah You underwent wrist surgery recently. Right tackle Jason Smith, who suffered an ankle injury in the opener, is active.
• Giants: receiver Jerrel Jernigan, cornerback Prince Amukamara, running back Da'Rel Scott, tight end Travis Beckum, guard Mitch Petrus, defensive end Osi Umenyiora and tackle James Brewer. Umenyiora and fellow Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Tuck missed the opener with injuries. Tuck is active and, if sufficiently healthy, will likely present matchup problems for the Rams, particularly when lined up against Smith.

We're about an hour from kickoff. I'm seeing Rams fans wearing Eric Dickerson and Jack Youngblood jerseys, and another with a Sam Bradford jersey. The stadium remains mostly empty at this time, however.

The St. Louis Rams will be without tight end Michael Hoomanawanui for Week 1, no surprise given concerns over aggravating his calf injury.

It's an upset, at least to me, that 2011 first-round draft pick Robert Quinn is also not active for the Rams against Philadelphia. The Rams drafted Quinn knowing they would not need him to start right away. But there was never any indication Quinn would be relegated to inactive status.

Two other NFC West first-rounders, James Carpenter of Seattle and Patrick Peterson of Arizona, are starting Sunday. Another, Aldon Smith of San Francisco, is expected to open his career in a reserve role.

Quinn might need longer to develop given that he did not play during his final season at North Carolina. If he is healthy, the Rams' decision to name him inactive reflects strong confidence in their depth along the line. Also, in leaving defensive lineman Eugene Sims active instead, the Rams could have an eye toward special teams. Sims has more overall value in that area.

The Rams' Greg Salas was active over fellow rookie receiver Austin Pettis, likely for similar reasons.

Looking back on three things discussed here before the St. Louis Rams' preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night:

1. Sims-Walker homecoming: There was one point in the first half when receiver Mike Sims-Walker's maneuvering before the snap suggested quarterback Sam Bradford might be coming his way with the football. It did not happen. Bradford attempted 11 passes, but none for Sims-Walker, who was returning to the stadium he called home for the previous three seasons. It's tough to fault Bradford for ignoring Sims-Walker. He was too busy finding a wide-open Lance Kendricks for 17 yards on third-and-4, 12 yards on first-and-10 and 44-yards on a third-and-1. Who needs wide receivers? Kendricks, the Rams' rookie tight end and second-round draft choice, caught a scoring pass in three of the team's four exhibition games.

2. Robert Quinn's development. George Selvie was the first defensive end off the bench after the Rams' starting right defensive end, James Hall, left the game with a back injury. Hall's injury was not thought to be serious. He was dominating to that point in the game, but he collided awkwardly with fellow defensive end Chris Long when the two met at the quarterback. Quinn, the Rams' first-round pick, entered the game with the other backups a bit later. He got close to the quarterback a couple times, but didn't make an obvious impact.

3. Pass protection. The Jaguars entered this game with no sacks during the exhibition season. The streak ended when they brought down Rams third-stringer Thaddeus Lewis. Bradford took a couple hits, including a late helmet-to-helmet shot that drew a penalty. Bradford held up well and appeared to come out of the preseason healthy. He completed 7 of 11 passes for 133 yards, one score and a 135.8 rating. The pass protection was good overall. The Rams did a good job beating pressure with screens.

Note: I posted this during the fourth quarter of the game, with the Rams leading, 21-10. Games involving the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals were just beginning.

Three things to watch for in the St. Louis Rams' preseason road game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at 7:30 p.m. ET:

1. Sims-Walker homecoming: Only preseason, right? Right. But new Rams receiver Mike Sims-Walker has to be looking forward to playing his old team in Jacksonville. The Jaguars made little effort to bring back Sims-Walker, even though their receiving corps lacked front-line talent. Sims-Walker wound up settling for a modest deal in St. Louis. When I visited Rams camp, Sims-Walker said he was walking around with a whole cracker, not just a chip, on his shoulder this season. Rams fans have been anxious to see production from some of their new receivers, including Sims-Walker and two rookie draft choices. Some other receivers are fighting for roster spots.

2. Robert Quinn's development. The Rams' first-round draft choice had three tackles, two quarterback hits, one sack and a blocked field goal against Kansas City in the team's most recent exhibition game. Some of those stats were redundant -- sacks are hits, while both are tackles -- but the overall production was encouraging for the Rams. The Jaguars have allowed 10 sacks through three exhibition games, so Quinn should have an opportunity or two. The Rams aren't banking on him as a starter right away, but getting contributions from him is important as their defense tries to take another step.

3. Pass protection. The Jaguars have not sacked an opposing quarterback to this point in the exhibition schedule. They've gotten good pressure at times, and Aaron Kampman is expected back on the field for them in this game. Keeping Sam Bradford upright is always a top priority for the Rams. But with the Rams feeling good about themselves following a strong showing against the Chiefs last week, now isn't the time to relax, particularly while Bradford is in the game.