Rams may think offense first in this year's draft

ST. LOUIS -- After emphasizing defense in the draft for three straight years, the St. Louis Rams might swing back to coach Mike Martz's favorite side of the ball.

Last spring, the Rams took defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy with the 12th overall pick. Two years ago, they selected linebacker Robert Thomas, and in 2001 they used all three first-rounders on defensive players: tackle Damione Lewis, safety Adam Archuleta and tackle Ryan Pickett.

Meanwhile, the offense that ruled the NFL from 1999-2001 fell back to earth. After three 500-point seasons, "The Greatest Show on Turf" became just another nice offense the last two years but was no longer something special.

"I want to draft a quarterback every year, to be honest with you," Martz said Wednesday. "I'd like to take one in the first round."

The Rams have the 26th overall pick after going 12-4 last year and winning the NFC West.

"I just understand there's so many other needs," Martz said. "We could take all defensive guys. If it makes us better, there's no question we'd do that. Don't be surprised."

Martz doesn't think the offense has been neglected, it's just that the defense needed a lot of help when he became head coach four years ago.

"We were an old defense in 2000 and we've spent these years trying to establish that speed and all that stuff that we covet," he said. "We're in a position right now where we're pretty solid in a lot of areas."

The only starting position the Rams need to fill is defensive end after Grant Wistrom signed a free-agent deal with the Seahawks. But they feel they may be able to get by there with a combination of role players.

Other areas of need are depth in a secondary and depth on the offensive line.

One area where the Rams are less concerned is running back after Marshall Faulk's strong rebound last year following an injury-plagued 2002. Martz believes Faulk, 31 and entering his 12th season, could play a few more years.

The toughest thing about the first day of the draft is it's considered a deep class, and the Rams have only two picks. They might have to wait four hours or so to make their first pick and they've got only one more selection on the first day, the 91st overall pick in the third round, after trading their second-round pick to the Saints last year in a deal for offensive tackle Kyle Turley.

"This is one of those drafts where you'd like to have five or six picks on the first day," Martz said. "That's the way it goes."

The Rams have eight selections overall, although two of them are compensatory picks in the seventh round.