Rams' most indispensable

1. Steven Jackson. I wonder how many people know he had more offensive yards
than LT last year. He's as valuable to this offense as Marshall was to the GSOE,
and he's already putting up similar numbers. And his backup is just a rookie.

2. Marc Bulger. Definite Pro Bowler and probably one of the three best QBs in
the league, but he's not the focus of Scott Linehan's offense, and Gus Frerotte
is a serviceable and somewhat proven backup.

3. Torry Holt. As much as anybody on this team, the Rams go as Torry goes. Their
worst games have been the ones where the offensive plan inexplicably doesn't look
for him. When the Rams don't get Torry going early and often, they're more often
than not in for a bad day.

4. Jeff Wilkins. Like I said in the entry about the NFL's most indispensable, a clutch
veteran kicker is worth his weight in gold. How would your stomach feel with Remy
Hamilton lining up a 39-yarder to win the game?

5. Leonard Little. Lord help the Ram defense when it doesn't have Leonard at 100%.
He's been their only real pass rusher for what, three years? James Hall should help
this year, but even then, if LL were out, the Rams would get so little pass rush
Haslett would be better off dropping 11 guys into coverage.

6. Will Witherspoon. The Ram defense can't afford to lose much; it certainly can't
afford to lose a playmaker of Will's quality.

7. Adam Carriker. The Rams are relying heavily on the Nebraska rookie to come in
and contribute immediately. With the Claude Wroten saga playing as we speak,
the Rams absolutely have to get Adam in training camp on time.

8. Pisa Tinoisamoa. The noticeably-bad defense dropped off even more noticeably
when 5-0 was unable to go last year. He's a lot of the defense's heart, and the
guy likeliest to be the defensive tone-setter.

9. Orlando Pace. Don't mistake this as a slight to Pace. It's a tribute to the youngsters'
fine performance down the stretch last year without him and to the unit's depth. And
now with a healthy OP joining the young battle-tested line that closed out last season,
they have a shot at becoming something truly special.

10. Drew Bennett. I wouldn't want to have to rely on Dante Hall too much as a receiver.
And Bennett's being counted on so much as a red zone weapon right now, the Rams
can't afford him becoming a fumble-fingered free-agent bust they can't rely on. I think
the offense would lose confidence if he doesn't get off to a good start.

Honorable mentions: Tye Hill, Randy McMichael, Mark Setterstrom, Isaac Bruce, Dante Hall