Roster shifts

How do the Rams figure to compensate for all their missing players?

Offensive line: Alex Barron to LT for Pace; apparently Milford Brown at RT in Barron's place; Claude Terrell at RG for Incognito.
Analysis: While I like the Barron move, I don't understand the Rams staff's hard-on for Brown. He can't play guard, so let's move him to tackle? I would go with Adam Goldberg at RT and Andy McCollum at RG, preferring his veteran savvy to the knuckleheadedness of Terrell. Brown is distinctly the weak link here; don't look for Randy McMichael to run many patterns Sunday. Maybe this year.

Secondary: Lenny Walls steps into the starting lineup for Hill. Jonathan Wade remains nickelback. I assume Darius Vinnett is the 4th DB.
Analysis: Not good. I'd be ok with Walls covering the 49ers' off-receiver, I think Arnaz Battle, but he can't cover Darrell Jackson, and Ron Bartell hasn't proven ready to move into that line of fire, either. I'd rather pull Jerametrius Butler off the street and plug him in, not that that's going to happen.

LB: Chris Draft replaces Pisa. Draft is a consummate veteran. Not only should the Rams not miss a beat here, if Draft maintains his run discipline, this could mark an improvement for the run defense, and maybe turn a light bulb on for the constantly overpursuing 5-0.

D-line: Wroten, who I'm disgraced to say is still employed here, and apparently will be all year, may be replaced by Victor Adeyanju moving inside or by practice squad pick-up Louis Leonard. I can't think Victor is going to be too effective inside except maybe as a pass-rusher. He's coming off an injury, and he seems too small for the position. I figure LaRoi Glover will have play a lot more than they want him to, and Adam Carriker may be on the field all day, spelling Glover when he's not playing NT. Cliff Ryan better have ice bath reservations after Sunday's game as well. Thanks to Wroten the damn idiot, the Rams are going to be undermanned here at least until L. Leonard is up to speed.

There might be a couple of bright spots. If Barron looks good at LT, the Rams will be secure at that position for a long time. And Draft has potential to improve the LB play.

But that's a couple of bright spots in a dark, deep hole, because the Rams look completely outmanned in the trenches. Leonard Little and James Hall had better show the hell up, which neither did last week. Marc Bulger had better get himself in sync. And fitted for a flak jacket.

I fear the Rams' engine is missing too many parts to even start, let along run smoothly.