The St. Louis Rams brought Mike Sims-Walker in to be the veteran focal point of Sam Bradford’s revamped receiving corps, but ever since the Philadelphia Eagles blanketed him with their top cornerbacks he’s become the forgotten man of the offense. Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens Sims-Walker was targeted six times, fewer than both Danario Alexander, who barely made the team, and Brandon Gibson, who looked like an afterthought until the preseason. If it weren’t for Danny Amendola’s injury Sims-Walker, who’s seen most of his targets in the short-to-midrange game, might be the fourth option in a Rams passing game increasingly focused on the big play. 

Of course, Gibson and Alexander didn’t exactly reward Bradford’s confidence in them in Week 3. Gibson missed a bomb that would have been a sure touchdown by tripping in his route and then letting the ball slip out of his hands after he had to dive for it, while Alexander fell down on a route of his own, leaving the Ravens wide open for an interception on what might have been a drive-breaking sideline catch. 

Mike Sims-Walker hasn’t exactly dominated the Rams’ receiving game like some thought he might, but his six-reception, 92 yard performance Week 2 is what might be expected of him if Sam Bradford finds some consistency and his only veteran receiver—nothing as dramatic as Danario Alexander might provide, but consistent chain-movement. In that sense, Brandon Gibson, who did make an outstanding catch for the Rams’ only touchdown of Week 3, is his primary competition. 

When the St. Louis Rams finished their preseason schedule at 4-0, there was cause for excitement and elation. That doesn’t occur often in The Lou.

Granted, it was only exhibition football, but going undefeated in any setting is encouraging. Now comes real-time NFL play. The Rams are playing for keeps, starting Sunday.

“This is the best week of the year because it’s game week,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “Every game week is the best week of the year

Powerful Philadelphia comes to the Edward Jones Dome for a noon kickoff and the Rams should find out something about themselves.

Fans want to know: Are they for real?

We’ll know more by tonight and in the coming few weeks when the Rams play the New York Giants, Baltimore and Washington before they enjoy a Week 5 bye. Then it’s defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay, Dallas and New Orleans, so it doesn’t get any easier through the first half of the season.

If the Rams can navigate through Part 1, they could be dynamite during Part 2. We’ll see.

But let’s not get carried away with what’s down the road. Today’s test should be something akin to taking truth serum. And to be honest about it, the Rams have a chance to tell the truth, triumph and thrive. Those consequences could be grave for the Eagles.

“The four preseason games are in the rearview mirror and Philadelphia is in the forefront,” Spagnuolo said. “That’s only the way I can describe it or do it.”

The Eagles figure to be one of the top teams in the NFC, so the Rams face an acid test right out of the chute. It’s no time for them to get cute.

“Philadelphia is an elite team,” Spagnuolo said. “It’s going to be a hell of a challenge and I think our guys are looking forward to it.”

They should be glad the Rams’ bandwagon is growing. For too long, it has been one without all of its wheels rolling in the right direction.

St. Louis’ hideous 6-42 record from 2007-09 made it among the laughingstock franchises. The Rams then won more games last season – a 7-9 record – than they did the previous three, so you could spot gradual improvement.

The emergence of quarterback Sam Bradford and linebacker James Laurinaitis, among others, has propped up a weak team that was headed nowhere. Whether more help is on the way is open to discussion, but the Rams seem good enough to win the NFC West.

They came within one win of accomplishing that last season when 7-9 Seattle finished first. The Rams have a total of six games with Arizona, San Francisco and Seattle, but they don’t begin playing West Division teams until Nov. 6.

If St. Louis can survive a sluggish start, there’s a good chance they can make the playoffs. That might not sound like a great goal, yet getting to the second season is what it’s all about.

I’d take 9-7 at this point. With the Rams’ schedule, an 8-8 record might even be agreeable. Yet anything worse than the 2010 finish isn’t improvement. It’s backpedaling and that’s unacceptable.

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For St. Louis to be successful Sunday, the Rams need to attack the middle portions of the field.

It may be tough on the edges with the Eagles having arguably the best trio of corners in the NFL, but their linebackers are considered below average to average at best, so the Rams must attempt to exploit that.

The three keys here are Danny Amendola, Lance Kendricks and the Rams’ stable of running backs.

As we know, Amendola is one of the best in the business out of the slot.  He caught 85 balls in 2010 and will likely be a key to the receiving corps this year.

Amendola may be followed by Nnamdi Asomugha.  Asomugha is not that familiar with working out of the slot, as he worked almost primarily on the outside for the Oakland Raiders, his previous team.  Although he is talented, Amendola could have the advantage here given Asomugha’s inexperience in the slot. The Rams are sure to test that matchup if it indeed transpires to find out if that is the case.

Kendricks has been a head-turner in both camp and the preseason, drawing rave reviews locally and nationally and, most importantly, from Rams coaches and talent evaluators.

The Rams will hope Kendricks can beat the Eagles linebackers in coverage.  If the Rams establish the run, the play-action pass could be deadly down the seam for the Rams and Kendricks.  I would not be surprised to see a tight end screen thrown his way a time or two also. 

Finally, any or all of the Rams running back trio of Jackson, Williams or Jerious Norwood should be looked to in the passing game.  

Again, the Eagles are not thought to be particularly strong at the linebacker position.  The Rams should put pressure on the Eagles by sending our talented halfbacks out into pass routes and attempt to exploit these matchups.

By attacking the middle and the seam against the Eagles, the Rams should find success.  

Danario Alexander had enough positives in St. Louis Rams training camp to outweigh questions about his durability.

After surviving cutdown day, the second-year receiver can worry less about his oft-injured left knee and turn his attention to Sunday’s opener against Philadelphia. The grind of camp is over and so is the competition at a position the Rams addressed in the offseason.

The Rams cut receivers Mardy Gilyard and Donnie Avery, opting for Alexander — a 6-foot-5, 215-pounder who gives the team and quarterback Sam Bradford a true deep threat.

“It was a pretty big task,” Alexander said. “I wasn’t used to coming out here pounding every day on my knee. For me to get through it, it’s truly a blessing.”

Gilyard, a fourth-round pick last year, was released Saturday before signing with the New York Jets.

Avery was a second-round pick in 2008 and the first wide receiver chosen that season. He missed all of last season with a knee injury but came back this preseason and had six receptions for 91 yards, a 15.2 average, and a touchdown.

Alexander was cut just before the season opener last August while still rehabbing from a fourth knee operation, then re-signed to the practice squad and activated after Mark Clayton’s season-ending knee injury.

In his NFL debut, he caught a 38-yard touchdown pass against the Chargers.

That week, Alexander looked pretty much like the player who caught 113 passes and led the nation with 1,781 yards receiving at Missouri in 2009. Earlier in his college career, Alexander started ahead of future Eagles star Jeremy Maclin.

But he was not drafted after injuring the knee prior to the Senior Bowl, and his first NFL season was interrupted by a fifth operation.

This summer, he missed time with knee soreness and recently underwent an MRI that revealed no new issues.

“For me to go out there with a swollen knee for a couple of days and still fight through it shows what kind of heart I have,” Alexander said.

Alexander totaled seven catches for 109 yards in the preseason.

“We all know what he has to overcome and battle every week and he toughs it out,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “So, he’s one of the guys right now.”

General manager Billy Devaney said it didn’t necessarily come down to Alexander vs. Avery.

“There are a lot of factors that go into these decisions,” he said. “I don’t want to compare the two guys because I still think Donnie Avery is going to be a good player in the league and, knock on wood, Danario is going to give us a chance on game day to be out there and make plays and help us wins games.”

Alexander said he believed his performance last season and during the preseason proved he was NFL-worthy.

Now he’s happy he doesn’t have to prove himself with a new team.

“It’s a big relief,” he said. “This is my job and this is what I love to do. I love playing for the Rams and for the coaches just letting me be on the team it’s a great honor for me.”

ST. LOUIS (AP)—Danario Alexander(notes) had enough positives during training camp
to outweigh questions about his durability.

After surviving cutdown day, the second-year receiver can worry less about
his oft-injured left knee and turn his attention to the St. Louis Rams’ season
opener Sunday against Philadelphia. The grind of camp is over and so is the
competition at a position the team addressed in the offseason.

The Rams cut receivers Mardy Gilyard(notes) and Donnie Avery(notes), opting for Alexander
— a 6-foot-5, 215-pounder who gives the team and quarterback Sam Bradford(notes) a true
deep threat.

“It was a pretty big task,” Alexander said. “I wasn’t used to coming out
here pounding every day on my knee. For me to get through it, it’s truly a
blessing.”

Gilyard, a fourth-round pick last year, was released Saturday before signing
with the New York Jets.

Avery was a second-round pick in 2008 and the first wide receiver chosen
that season. He missed all of last season with a knee injury but came back this
preseason and had six receptions for 91 yards, a 15.2 average, and a touchdown.

Alexander was cut just before the season opener last August while still
rehabbing from a fourth knee operation, then re-signed to the practice squad and
was activated after Mark Clayton’s(notes) season-ending knee injury. In his NFL debut,
he caught a 38-yard touchdown pass against the San Diego Chargers.

That week, Alexander looked pretty much like the player who caught 113
passes and led the nation with 1,781 yards receiving at Missouri in 2009.
Earlier in his college career, Alexander started ahead of future Eagles star
Jeremy Maclin(notes).

But he was not drafted after injuring the knee prior to the Senior Bowl, and
his first NFL season was interrupted by a fifth operation. This summer, he
missed time with knee soreness and recently underwent an MRI that revealed no
new issues.

“For me to go out there with a swollen knee for a couple of days and still
fight through it shows what kind of heart I have,” Alexander said.

Alexander totaled seven catches for 109 yards in the preseason.

“We all know what he has to overcome and battle every week and he toughs it
out,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “So, he’s one of the guys right now.”

General manager Billy Devaney said it didn’t necessarily come down to
Alexander vs. Avery.

“There are a lot of factors that go into these decisions,” he said. “I don’t
want to compare the two guys because I still think Donnie Avery is going to be a
good player in the league and, knock on wood, Danario is going to give us a
chance on game day to be out there and make plays and help us win games.”

Alexander said he believed his performance last season and during the
preseason proved he was NFL-worthy.

Now he’s happy he doesn’t have to prove himself with a new team.

“It’s a big relief,” he said. “This is my job and this is what I love to do.
I love playing for the Rams and for the coaches just letting me be on the team,
it’s a great honor for me.”