Rams preferred camp close to home over Western Illinois

Butler's knee injury seemed to be the only major setback suffered in training camp.

ST. LOUIS -- The Rams broke camp Wednesday with positive opinions about it being held close to the city rather than traveling to Illinois, where they've trained in past years.

"This year has been totally different," defensive end Leonard Little said. "I feel a whole lot fresher. This year has been so much better. It didn't feel like camp this year."

The Rams trained on the Western Illinois University campus in Macomb, Ill., since 1996 after spending their first year in St. Louis after moving from Los Angeles.

Holding camp in St. Louis turned out to be a good move, coach Mike Martz said. He would like it to remain in the city.

"I think being here was better than I thought it would be," Martz said. "It went very smooth. I really like how we scheduled camp. I was nervous about it, but we're way ahead in terms of what these guys have absorbed and what they can do."

Injuries were reduced in this camp, compared to previous years. Martz purposely did not schedule much contact work and put the focus on teaching.

With a mostly veteran team, he already knew what they could do on the field.

Cornerback Jerametrius Butler will miss the season with knee surgery but otherwise, the Rams did not sustain many severe injuries.

Back at it

Rookie guard Claude Terrell worked out after getting kicked in practice Tuesday. He was hobbling a little.

"He got leg whipped, but that's like kicking a piano leg," Martz said. "He's an offensive lineman. They gut it out. Get in the huddle and look at [Adam] Timmerman with a broken foot, two bad shoulders and a bad knee last year. Who are you going to complain to?"

Barron impresses Martz

Top draft pick Alex Barron has impressed Martz with his work habits. Barron, an offensive tackle who signed last week, began working out with the Rams on Monday.

"I was pleasantly surprised by a lot of things with Alex," Martz said. "I think the toughness and the resolve that he really came to camp with was evident after I looked at practice tape. I'm very pleased with that.

"He looks like a rookie. I mean, he's got a long ways to go. We've got two guys that we know can play now at right tackle."

Noteworthy

• The Rams travel to San Diego for their second preseason game Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium. Martz said he is not sure how he will divide the playing time but the starters will see "pretty good" playing time.

* The competition at right tackle between Grant Williams and Matt Morgan is "significant," Martz said.

* Third-round draft choice Richie Incognito remains unsigned. Incognito is recovering from offseason surgery on his kneecap. Martz said: "There's not much I can do about. He probably doesn't understand the significance of it."