By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

In 2001, the Rams entered the NFL Draft with a desperate need for an influx of youth on the defensive line. An aging group was headed toward the end and, armed with three first-round picks; St. Louis made revamping the defensive tackle position one of its greatest needs.

The Rams promptly selected Miami tackle Damione Lewis with the 12th pick and Ohio State tackle Ryan Pickett with the 29th selection. Fast forward to 2006 and the Rams find themselves in a similar, if not quite so dire, position.

After a disappointing stay in St. Louis, Lewis and Pickett departed in free agency. Lewis, the more disappointing of the two, signed with Carolina, while Pickett (who had become a solid player) took Green Bay’s contract offer.

Moving quickly to fill one of those holes, the Rams inked veteran Pro Bowler La’Roi Glover to a contract and quickly installed him as the starter at the three technique. Jimmy Kennedy, another former first-round pick, will move to the nose position after spending his time as a swing man last season.

Still, for a defense that struggled mightily against the run last year, the Rams have a glaring need for some depth in the defensive tackle rotation. Veteran leader Tyoka Jackson isn’t likely to return after he spent years playing end and tackle.

That leaves the Rams with youngsters Brian Howard and Jeremy Calahan behind Glover and Kennedy. While Howard has played some in his first two seasons, he has yet to show he can handle the chore of being in the tackle rotation. Calahan is one of the strongest players on the team, but is a bit raw. Chances are, only one of those two players will be make it through camp and land on the roster.

With that in mind, the Rams have made adding another defensive tackle a priority, preferably one who can contribute right away and is strong against the run. The Rams have brought in a number of candidates on visits to Rams Park and could take a tackle as high as their first-round pick, No. 11 overall.

Two tackles have separated themselves from the pack as potential high first rounders. Oregon’s Haloti Ngata and Florida State’s Brodrick Bunkley are the highest-ranked tackles in the draft.

That duo is different in a few ways. Nagata is a pure run stuffer with massive size and strength while Bunkley is more of a three-down player capable of playing the run, but he also has the ability to get to the quarterback.

For what the Rams need, the run stuffer might make more sense. Glover is a strong pass rusher and decent against the run. Kennedy has showed signs of being able to do both well, but has yet to put it all together. Bunkley is clearly a better athlete than Ngata, but for the purposes of the Rams, Ngata might make more sense, especially if they want to go to a 3-4 more consistently.

Should the Rams pass on that duo or should both be gone when the Rams come on the clock, there are a number of other candidates that St. Louis has its eye on. That group includes North Carolina State’s John McCargo, Virginia Tech’s Tim Sandidge, Louisville’s Montavious Stanley, LSU’s Claude Wroten and Kyle Williams and Michigan’s Gabe Watson. 

With the lack of depth at tackle, it’s a safe bet the Rams will emerge from the first day (rounds one through three) with a tackle and it’s probably a safe bet that before it’s all said and done, they will add another tackle on day two.