HEADING FOR CAMP: HOW THE RAMS LINE UP : ON DEFENSE : ENDS

* The Starters: Robert Young, Fred Stokes * Designated Pass Rusher: Gerald Robinson * On The Bubble: Bill Hawkins, Warren Powers * At First Glance: Will quarterbacks be scared? * Analysis: Front office paid big bucks to re-sign Robinson for third-down duty. But Young holds key to defense’s climb to respectability. Young boosted chances to start and expectations after impressing coaching staff in mini-camp. Rams looked upon Stokes as a stiff in earlier stint here, but now they’ve made him a millionaire and regard him as a big-time quarterback mugger. Will Rams give Hawkins time to get healthy?

TACKLES * The Starters: Sean Gilbert, Marc Boutte * Pushing For Time: David Rocker * Extra Beef: Maa Tanuvasa, Mike Piel, Jeff Cummins * At First Glance: Stopping run becomes priority * Analysis: Rams lack Derrick Thomas-Leslie O’Neal type big playmaker on outside, but in Gilbert, they have force up the middle. Boutte fought weight problem last year; this year he has to knock off challenge from Rocker. Year of experience figures to improve Gilbert-Boutte duo and Rams’ 27th-place finish in stopping the opposition’s running game. Keep an eye on Tanuvasa, one of the team’s strongest players.

MIDDLE LINEBACKER * The Starter: Shane Conlan * Former Starter: Larry Kelm * In Reserve: Thomas Homco * At First Glance: Keep Conlan healthy * Analysis: How did Shane Conlan react to losing three consecutive Super Bowls? He signed with the Rams--who is this guy’s adviser, Dr. Kervorkian? Some NFL observers wonder if Conlan’s body will stand up to the demands of a 16-game schedule, but Rams have no such concerns and are thrilled with acquisition of run-stuffing linebacker.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS * The Starters: Henry Rolling, Roman Phifer * MVP Sub: Chris Martin * Special Teams Fodder: Leon White, Carlton Miles, Anthony Williams, Brian Townsend, Malcolm Goodwin * At First Glance: Who needs Kevin Greene? * Analysis: The Rams need Kevin Greene. They might be better off in certain situations with Rolling, but when it comes time to pressure the quarterback, there’s no one in this corps who can rival Greene’s fury. Addition of Martin, who can play either outside position, might be one of team’s best off-season moves.

CORNERBACKS * The Starters: Todd Lyght, Darryl Henley * Starters Most Anywhere Else: Robert Bailey, Steve Israel * Extras: Eric Geter, Courtney Griffin, Alfred Jordan * At First Glance: Lots of budding stars * Analysis: Fiesty Henley sets the tone for solid group of corners. When opposition goes to three- and four-wide receiver sets, it will be playing into Rams’ defensive strength so long as guys up front muster a decent pass rush. Best training camp competition: Can Bailey or Israel make run for starting position?

SAFETIES * The Starters: Anthony Newman, Pat Terrell * Trade Bait: Michael Stewart * In The Wings: R.J. Kors, Chris Crooms, Deral Boykin, Eric Buckley * At First Glance: Dogfight at strong safety * Analysis: Newman takes over center field as free safety, and Terrell takes on Stewart for strong safety honors. Newman, Stewart and Terrell enter final year of contracts, so front office will be eager to unload somebody. Kors’ acquisition and development of Crooms will free someone up for possible trade.

ON OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK * The Starter: Jim Everett * On the Rise: T.J. Rubley * Hanging on: Mike Pagel, Jamie Martin * At First Glance: Rams go as Everett goes * Analysis: The Rams worked hard last year to take the heat off Everett and persuade him he doesn’t have to do it all by himself. This year, they have lost their starting left tackle, are relying on an inconsistent Flipper Anderson as their only deep threat, lack a proven No. 3 and No. 4 wide receiver, don’t expect rookie tight end Troy Drayton to contribute much in the early going and figure to trade their leading runner and receiver of a year ago. In short, Everett will have to do it all by himself. But the big preseason push will be to give Rubley the chance to establish himself as Everett’s backup.

TAILBACK * The Starter: Jerome Bettis / Russell White * Miami Bound? Cleveland Gary * Lost in Shuffle: Anthony Thompson, Jay Barry * At First Glance: New meat for Ground Chuck * Analysis: Bettis gets every chance to be “The Man,” but keep an eye on White, who can catch as well as he can run. Bettis gives the Rams a bulldozer at the goal line, and White gives offensive whiz Ernie Zampese third-down versatility. Coaching staff would like to hold onto Gary for insurance lest Bettis/White get hurt or prove to be busts. But Rams won’t pay him 1,000-yard-gainer wages, so look for exhibition season-ending trade.

FULLBACK * The Starter: David Lang * Bruising Backup: Tim Lester * Good Luck: Kaleaph Carter, Jerone Davison * At First Glance: Potential potent backfield * Analysis: Lang might be better suited as tailback given his speed, but at fullback, he gives the team two runners in the same backfield who can pile up the yardage. He lacks the size to become an every-down blocker, which makes Lester a valuable role player. Lang and Lester took advantage of off-season, trained hard and impressed coaching staff as much as anyone on team.

WIDE RECEIVERS * The Starters: Henry Ellard, Flipper Anderson * The Backups: Todd Kinchen, Sean LaChapelle, Jeff Chadwick * Stiffs R Us: Joe Washington, Joe Johnson, Richard Buchanan, Curtis Gaspard, Phillip Bobo, Lynn James, Reggie Moore * At First Glance: Help! * Analysis: Rams will provide curbside limo service and bodyguards throughout the season for Ellard and Anderson. If either falls short of expectations or gets hurt, the season is over. Best thing going for Rams is fact that Anderson and Ellard are in final year of contracts and will be playing extra hard for free agency and pay raises next season. Off-season knee injury to Kinchen sabotaged his early run for more playing time. Rams are very high on LaChapelle, who has asked media not to refer to him as, “The Turtle” this season. No problem; but then it has been learned that the Rams intend to play LaChapelle this season and petitioned the league recently to allow “The Tortoise” a running start before the snap, a la Canadian Football League rules.

TIGHT END * The Starter: Pat Carter * The Heir Apparent: Troy Drayton * Character Actors: Jim Price, Damone Johnson, Travis McNeal * At First Glance: Drayton progress essential * Analysis: Development of Drayton, however, might not come in time to save the day. Not an easy position to learn, given the difference in H-back and tight end responsibilities. Solid Carter and return of Johnson off shoulder injury provide needed bulk in running game.

TACKLES * The Starters: Jackie Slater, Irv Eatman * The Backup: Darryl Ashmore * Warm Bodies: Nick Subis, Shawn Harper, Robert Jenkins, John James * At First Glance: No room for error * Analysis: Eatman has played most of his career on the right side but will now be charged with the responsibility of protecting Everett’s blind side from the left. Point of information: When Slater opens the year 2000 as the Rams’ starting tackle, it will mark his 25th season in the game. Ashmore has been bothered by a sore knee, and that makes the Rams vulnerable to disaster over the long haul of a season.

GUARDS * The Starters: Tom Newberry, Leo Goeas * The Draft Choice: Charles Belin * The Others: Joe Garten, Keith Loneker, Jeff Pahukoa * At First Glance: A lot riding on Goeas * Analysis: Offensive line enjoyed success last season in part to its stability. Defection of Gerald Perry and Joe Milinichik will be difficult to overcome. Rams need another prime-time performance from Newberry and someone to emerge as competent backup. Goeas caught San Diego Chargers’ fancy from day he arrived, but series of injuries turned their attention elsewhere.

CENTER * The Starter: Bern Brostek * Looking to Impress: Brad Fichtel * Killing Time: Kelvin Harris, Blair Bush * At First Glance: A rock in the middle * Analysis: Brostek is not challenged as anchor of the offensive line. Time for rest of league to take notice of his work. You want to retire and live off your child one day? Teach him to snap deep. The Rams paid Blair Bush $400,000 to be their deep snapper last season and re-signed him as their only legitimate deep-snapping candidate this year.

ON SPECIAL TEAMS

KICKER * The Starter: Tony Zendejas * Longest of Longshots: Louis Perez * At First Glance: Zendejas, the Tom Kite of Football * ANALYSIS: Can’t drive for distance, but packs great short game. Best in business from 45 yards on in the past two years. Work ethic indicates there will probably be no drop-off. But team needs much more leg on kickoffs to enhance its chances of gaining better field position.

PUNTER * The Starter: Jeff Buffaloe * Say Goodby: Don Bracken * At First Glance: Hang time favors rookie * Analysis: Bracken has fought off challenges before and hung tough with special teams coach Howard Tippett, first in Green Bay and now with Rams. But unless Buffaloe falls on his face mask during exhibition play, Bracken’s a goner.

RETURNERS * Punt Returners: Kinchen, Israel * Kick Returners: Lang, R. White * Future Consideration: Boykin * At First Glance: More zip needed * Analysis: Rams posted worst kickoff return stats in the league, and as often as they have to return kicks, this is not a good problem to have.