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killer b · 04-18-2009, 10:47 PM

Project 4 Wrote:I will eventually, just waiting for one more card before I post....I will surely check out your Avery collection! Are you from St. Louis by the way? What's the scoop on how he will do this year? and Burton?

Alright sounds good!

I am actually from Iowa, and still currently here lol. My dad grew up a big Rams fan and Ive followed in his footsteps as of about 12 years ago. I have ALOT of Rams memorabilia, I should probably take pictures sometime of it all and put'em on here for everyone to see! Stuff like Auto Jerseys, McFarlanes, Plaques and what not, but I mainly collect cards.

Well the scoop on Avery right now is that his injury is well healed up and is not bothering him anymore, as well is the same for Burton, the only one battling/healing from an injury is Derek Stanley and he should be fine. This article I'm about to post basically fills you in on Avery and Burtons status if you care to read, its life without Holt there and their progression, its pretty cool if you care to read.

As for my own opinion on Donnie Avery His play making ability dazzled me watching his film clips from last season. He's got dangerous speed to mix in with that play making ability which is sort or rare from what Ive seen in the past, it seems to be either one or the other, so with him sharing the number one spot next year that is if the Rams don't take a WR early in the draft I look for him and Burton to embrace this opportunity and run with it.

As for Keenan Burton His injuries had me a bit worried but he also didn't get the ball much last year between not playing to the Rams just not having a passing game because Bulger was always getting hit. When he did play though he showed great speed and collectiveness. Not as fast and Avery but still made the plays he was given the opportunity too. The pass thrown to him to win the game vs the Patriots WAS intercepted however it was also underthrown in triple coverage so you really can't blame him for that, even though Im sure he blamed himself, or was atleast dissappointed, him and Avery together put up over 200 yards on the Pats last year which to me was very impressive. Overall I look for Burton to have a very progressive year, atleast a 500 800 yard season with atleast 5 TDs thats my outlook prediction for his 2009 Season.

For Avery my outlook prediction is 800 1,000 yards with atleast 8 TDs. The reason why I don't look for more is because Spagnuolo is said that he will run more of a rushing game rather than pass but with a guy like Steven Jackson and now Mike Kearney blocking, why wouldn't you? I still think the run will open up the pass more so I believe they will cope well. Im looking to see a winning season for the Rams next year, Im not saying Super Bowl... but maybe Playoffs? We'll see what happens =)

[Image: Burton_Feature_Article_71348.jpg]

[Image: Burton_Feature_Article_71348.jpg]

In 2008, Burton flashed his potential, particularly going across the middle as he finished with 13 catches for 172 yards in 13 games.

Avery, Burton Prepare for Bigger Roles

Friday, April 3, 2009

By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

They don’t have much experience and they’ve never had 1,000 receiving yards but Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton aren’t concerned.

According to Avery, they have all the tools needed to form a bright, young receiving tandem for the Rams as soon as this season.

“We are young, we have got a lot of testosterone, man,” Avery said. “We are just going out there and having fun.”

Entering this weekend’s minicamp, Avery and Burton have more experience playing the receiver position than any other options on the roster. That wouldn’t mean much if the duo wasn’t entering its second season in the league.

After the release of veteran Torry Holt in mid-March, Avery and Burton took over as the most tenured receivers on the roster, along with Derek Stanley, who is recovering from a torn left anterior cruciate ligament.

Needless to say, coming back to St. Louis and walking in the locker room without having No. 81 around has been a bit of a strange awakening.

“It’s an experience,” Burton said. “I am definitely trying to adapt, I definitely miss Torry of course because of all the things he taught me and Donnie last year. I’m just trying to learn and trying to play as hard as I can and produce and be consistent.”

As it stands, Avery sits atop the depth chart after a rookie season in which he outlasted the growing pains and became a legitimate deep threat that teams had to be aware of when they game planned.

Avery struggled with a nagging hip injury early in the season and though it bothered him throughout the year, he eventually moved past the pain.

A monster month of October in which Avery posted a 163-yard performance against New England, let the league now that the young wideout from Houston was on the verge of becoming a game breaking talent.

All told, Avery finished the season second on the team with 53 catches for 674 yards and three touchdowns. That effort earned him the Carroll Rosenbloom Memorial Award, which is given to the team’s Rookie of the Year.

Fully healed from any lingering hip issues, Avery is attacking the opportunity to take over as quarterback Marc Bulger’s top option with plenty of zeal.

“I’m just steady going, steady going with what I did last year, practicing hard, taking every play hard and just going with it,” Avery said. “I came back down in the offseason and it healed. I’m just out here having fun and excited for the season to start.”

Like Avery, Burton dealt with his share of injury issues as well in his debut campaign. After the Rams used a fourth-round choice on the smooth receiver from Kentucky, Burton played exclusively on special teams the first two weeks before a knee injury put him on the shelf in the next three games.

When he returned, Burton became more of an option in the passing game, catching a pair of passes for 41 yards against the Patriots. Burton scored his first career touchdown on Dec. 12 against San Francisco, a 30-yard score.

Although he didn’t have the immediate impact of Avery, Burton flashed his potential, particularly going across the middle as he finished with 13 catches for 172 yards in 13 games.

Those numbers won’t blow anyone away but with an expanded role and immense potential, Burton and the Rams believe he has the potential for big things in 2009.

“The biggest thing is having confidence and being comfortable,” Burton said. “If you are not confident and you think you play slow, just having a year under your belt makes you more confident and makes you play as fast as you possibly can.”

In order to play at that speed, Avery and Burton face the task of learning their second offense in as many years in the league.

While learning any new offense can be a difficult exercise, Burton and Avery have a couple of built in advantages in learning new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s scheme.

Fortunately for Avery, Burton and any other receiver entering the system, this system doesn’t have as many reads and shifts as the one installed last year by offensive coordinator Al Saunders.

“It’s going to be receiver friendly,” Bulger said. “The guys can just play and run and show their speed off. It’s a little bit tougher on the (offensive) line too. They have to make a lot more calls. But all in all it’s been a successful system and I don’t think guys will have a problem picking it up.”

Just four practices into this weekend’s minicamp, Avery and Burton say they are taking to the system well and are embracing the opportunities the new offense and their roles in it will allow them.

“As you know, last year we had a heck of an offense that was really hard,” Avery said. “This year, we kind of toned it down a little bit without all of the motions and stuff so we are just lining up and playing. It’s not tough. Just go out there and be yourself, be relaxed and just play backyard football and just have fun. Then the numbers will come. It’s easier to react when you are running your routes.”

Like Avery, Burton is taking his expanded role and opportunity in stride as he translates the offense from the classroom to the field.

“The offense has its difficulties but at the same time, you have just got to adjust regardless if it’s hard or not you have just got to adjust to whatever the coach wants,” Burton said. “I think that’s what all of the receivers are trying to do right now.”

With plenty of time between now and the start of the regular season, it’s entirely possible the Rams will add to the depth at the receiver position. But considering the system and the depth chart, Avery and Burton will already be ahead of the curve.

Although Holt is gone, Avery and Burton are ready to put the year of lessons gleaned from him to use and create a legacy of their own.

“It’s a blessing,” Burton said. “It’s a blessed situation to be in and me and Donnie just have got to take advantage of it.”

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266 Autographs | 19 1/1's | 6 Inscriptions | Two Game Used Jerseys SIGNED in person

[Image: KillerB.jpg]