Familiar names on the bubble

Training camp's wrapping up its second week, and preseason games are underway, but at Rams Park, there's still not a lot of clarity on the many roster battles going on throughout camp. There are, though, some battles developing that may result in the departure of some familiar names as the team reduces the roster from 90 to 53. Here's some players whose roster positions today look a lot less comfortable than they did coming into camp...

* Donnie Avery. He's got the speed and certainly some ability. But he's missed a good half of camp to rest the knee he blew out last year, and hasn't run with the starters that I'm aware. Can't make the team from the training table. (That'll be a repeating theme here.)

* Danario Alexander. I had him as a starter in March, and he's been running there in camp, when his knees let him. That's one big concern; another is that camp reports haven't been really glowing. If the resurgent Brandon Gibson and free agent Mike Sims-Walker emerge as the starters, though, (with Danny Amendola, obviously) Alexander starts to become kind of a tough fit. You've got two rookie draft picks, plus marked improvements by Gibson and Mardy Gilyard; something has to give at WR.

* Na'il Diggs, David Vobora, Chris Chamberlain. The Rams have added three free agent LBs, all with fine reputations and all accomplished run-stoppers. When they added Zach Diles, I figured, cool, he becomes WLB, Vobora backs everybody up, which he's done well in the past, Diggs will be fine strongside, and Chamberlain might be their best special teams player. Not so fast - here come Leber and Brady Poppinga, and suddenly the linebacker position's more crowded than Groucho's stateroom in Night at the Opera. Even though I don't think he's all that good at LB or special teams, Brian Kehl appears to rank ahead of Vobora and Chamberlain on the depth chart, and rookie Jabara Williams has played well. Short of keeping nine linebackers, some familiar names are going to check out of Rams Park by Labor Day.

* Jermelle Cudjo, Gary Gibson. Gibson goes from 2010 Opening Day starter to 2011 third-stringer. Cudjo can't make the team from the trainer's room. The two and Darell Dorell Scott could all be fighting for one spot, and Scott's having the best camp. At least for Cudjo, Gibson's late signing keeps those two on level playing ground.

* James Butler. Not that it'd be a terrible surprise if he misses the roster, but Darian Stewart is stepping it up by all indications, and Jermale Hines isn't going anywhere.

* Kenneth Sims. Seems most vulnerable to become the DE who loses his roster spot to Robert Quinn. Lot of time left to go, though.

* Keith Toston. Rams can at least do him the favor of giving him a lot of fourth-quarter carries so the rest of the league can have a good look at him.

One thing that will be different: the Rams will cut a lot of players this year who are good enough to play for other teams, a strong sign that the franchise's talent base is on the upswing.

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