Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009

Rams go deep into receiver options; 9 wideouts in camp

Avery suffers a stress fracture

ST. LOUIS -- With Donnie Avery sidelined for at least the next month with a broken foot, the St. Louis Rams have several options -- nine to be exact -- at wide receiver.

"Somebody has to step up in his spot,'' Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "If I do my math right, there are nine (wide receivers) left there, and they'll all certainly get a lot of work when we get to our three-wide receiver sets.''

Spagnuolo confirmed that Avery has a stress fracture in his left foot (fourth metatarsal). He will miss four to six weeks, which makes him questionable for the team's season opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 13.

Avery was the Rams' top returning wide receiver. He had 53 catches -- third most among NFL rookies -- for 674 yards and three touchdowns last season.

The thing that the Rams are going to miss the most is Avery's blazing speed.

"No question Donnie brings that, and somebody else in that group is going to have to step up and bring that,'' Spagnuolo said. "The way (the offense) is designed, quarterback Marc (Bulger) gets the ball out quick, and if we can keep moving ... as I've always said, let's just get a bunch of first downs.''

Second-year wide receiver Keenan Burton undoubtedly will have his role increased while Avery is out.

Burton had 13 catches for 172 yards and one touchdown last season. His development was hurt by a hamstring injury in training camp and a knee injury in the regular season.

Burton said he was having fun playing in the Rams' new West Coast offense.

"I feel very comfortable, very confident about the offense,'' Burton said. "It is really a very wide receiver friendly offense. You have to get open. That's the base of this offense, and I am definitely enjoying the task of being able to compete out there.''

Laurent Robinson, acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons in early April, was getting a lot of work with the starting offense prior to Avery's injury.

The 6-foot-2, 194-pound Robinson caught 37 passes for 437 yards and one touchown for the Falcons in 2007.

"I thought he came into training camp here in great shape, really ready,'' Spagnuolo said. "The attitude and the way he has carried himself, he was really ready to step up, and he has done that. Every time (wide receivers coach) Charlie Baggett talks about him in the personell meetings, its all positive.''

Robinson said he feels like he has something to prove after falling into disfavor with the Falcons.

"I have a little chip on my shoulder,'' Robinson said. "I want show everybody that I can still play, that I've still got it. I've got a great opportunity here.'''

Veteran wide receiver Tim Carter has caught 80 passes for 1,084 yards and four touchdowns in six seasons in the NFL.

"He legitimately has speed, and he has played in the league and has experience,'' Spagnuolo said. "Hopefully, the combination of those two things will help us out.''

Carter is trying to re-establish himself in the NFL. He hasn't played in the league since 2007 with the Cleveland Browns. He was cut by the Houston Texans after training camp last year.

"Every day I'm on the field, I feel like that's an opportunity,'' Carter said. "Every rep that I get, that's an opportunity. Nothing has really changed with the way I approach practicing and the games.''

Ronald Curry, acquired in a trade with the Detroit Lions prior to the start of training camp, brings size to the receiving corps. He's the Rams' biggest receiver at 6-foot-2, 212 pounds.

"It's a big asset, especially going against our (defensive backs) who like to press all the time,'' Curry said. "I'm a physical receiver. I have good feet. I know I'm not a blazer like the rest of them, but being physical is something I bring to the table.''

The Rams also have: rookie Brooks Foster, taken in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft after catching 30 passes for 334 yards and two touchdowns; Derek Stanley, who is returning from surgery for a torn AC in his knee; first-year receiver Nate Jones out of the University of Texas; and undrafted rookies Sean Walker (Vanderbilt) and Jarrett Byers (Northeastern State).

Contact reporter Steve Korte at skorte@bnd.com or 239-2522.