The Rams have been completely made over defensively and nearly so offensively from the team that went to the Super Bowl five years ago. Coach Mike Martz believes they're good enough to win it all again and offensively he might be right if quarterback Marc Bulger continues to improve his decision making and passing accuracy. But that will be impossible if Martz can't find a way to better protect his quarterback.

It was poor pass protection that broke the thumb and the spirit of Kurt Warner, and although Bulger cut his interceptions from 22 to 14 and completed 66.2 percent of his throws for 3,964 yards last season, he did it too often under duress. The Rams worked hard to improve their pass protection after allowing 50 sacks last season, their highest total since 1996. Martz claims at least 20 percent of those sacks were the fault of backs not picking up blitzes, but that doesn't help Bulger when he's staring through his ear hole.

To try to correct things, the Rams drafted tackle Alex Barron first and took offensive linemen in their three of their first six picks. St. Louis hoped Barron would be able to step in immediately at right tackle and be an upgrade, but he couldn't beat out veteran Rex Tucker. If he's solid, it leaves the perimeters safe because left tackle Orlando Pace is still among the best in football.

Defensively, the Rams signed free-agent linebackers Dexter Coakley and Chris Claiborne. Coakley is undersized but has been a tackling machine most of his career. Claiborne has great size and plenty of experience to step in immediately. Martz needs Coakley, Claiborne and the rest of his defense to make more plays. A year ago St. Louis forced only 15 turnovers, and in a free-wheeling offense like Martz's, that's a problem because his team will turn the ball over. That's why St. Louis was a deadly minus-24 in takeover ratio, worst in the league. Lastly, Martz has to keep his players from being homesick. St. Louis was 6-2 at home last season, but on the road it not only went 2-6 but lost five of those road games by a combined score of 178-72.

HOT SEAT: Steven Jackson. The big running back officially replaced future Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk as the lead back in the Rams' backfield. Jackson was impressive as a rookie but it's one thing to gain 633 yards and average five yards a carry splitting time. It's another to carry the load, especially since Faulk did it about as well as anyone during his time. At 233 pounds, Jackson is a different kind of runner, more powerful but less elusive. Faulk will back up Jackson this season. How that goes will be determined by how well Jackson runs.

OVERHEARD: The Rams are concerned about the play of safety Adam Archuleta, who is the last defensive player left in St. Louis from their 2000 Super Bowl team. He played with a herniated disc in his back last season, and his play suffered as much as he did. He's back, but no one is sure if his back will hold up after choosing rest and rehab rather than surgery. Archuleta also needs to continue as a big hitter, which he seemed to shy away from last season as his back gave him more difficulties. If either problem persists, his days will be numbered.

OUTLOOK: The Rams might again be the most talented team in the division, but that doesn't always mean Martz gets the most out of them. A year ago the Rams didn't travel well or score enough on the road. If they can overcome those problems, they're in the division hunt, for what that's worth.

PREDICTION: First.

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