A No. 1 season or bust for Rams' Carriker

~ first-round pick Carriker hopes to be more productive in his third NFL season.

ST. LOUIS -- Heading into his third season, Adam Carriker believes he's finally ready to play like a first-round draft pick.

The St. Louis Rams' defensive tackle was the 13th overall pick in 2007 out of Nebraska. The rookie year was a learning experience, although he was the franchise's first rookie since Sean Gilbert in 1992 to start every game and contributed a blocked field goal and a tackle for safety.

Last year, he was hobbled by injuries to both shoulders and an ankle. He had no sacks, started only nine games, and made little impact.

The 6-6, 300-pound Carriker said at the team's final minicamp Thursday that he's been 100 percent for more than a month.

"Hopefully, this year is kind of my breakout year," Carriker said. "I definitely want to assert myself more. Make more plays, make more of an impact."

Carriker lost his job for a stretch to veteran La'Roi Glover in 2008 while he was struggling with his ailments. He did his best to block out everything on Sunday, but mental toughness took him only so far.

"During the game you kind of forget everything else in the world but football so it wasn't as much of a big deal," Carriker said. "But it impacts the actual ability to make plays when you don't have that strength."

Besides being whole, he feels quicker after working with new strength and conditioning coach Rock Gullickson. Players are lifting heavier weights than in the past, working on developing fast twitch muscles.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo said Thursday that Carriker, a former high school quarterback, looked quicker. Carriker doesn't appear worried about picking up the new system.

He figures to settle in at left tackle with occasional work at the nose and with enough flexibility to enable him to pressure the quarterback more, and also expects to be in on third down more often.

"You don't want to lose your gap," Carriker said, "but it's more about penetrating and making plays in the outfield. Obviously you can't be reckless completely, but I like having a little bit more freedom."

A healthy Carriker might be like another offseason pickup for the Rams, who signed free agent safety James Butler and drafted middle linebacker James Laurinaitis in the second round.

"Laurinaitis looks good. Butler, he obviously knows the scheme and he's a heck of a player," Carriker said. "We've got the talent, we've just got to go out and do it."