[killer b]

<br />
<br />
<div class="PhotoDescription">In 2008, Burton flashed his potential, particularly going across the middle as he finished with 13 catches for 172 yards in 13 games.<br />
</div>
<center></center>
<div id="ArticleBody">
<div class="ArticleTitle"><br />
Avery, Burton Prepare for Bigger Roles</div>
<div class="ArticleDate">Friday, April 3, 2009</div>
<br />
<hr />
<hr />
<p> </p>
<div id="divtarget" style="font-size: 14px">
<p><ffont size="1" /><strong>By Nick Wagoner<br />
Senior Writer</strong></p>
<p><ffont size="1" />They don’t have much experience and they’ve never had 1,000 receiving yards but Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton aren’t concerned. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />According to Avery, they have all the tools needed to form a bright, young receiving tandem for the Rams as soon as this season. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />“We are young, we have got a lot of testosterone, man,” Avery said. “We are just going out there and having fun.”</p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />“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.”</p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />“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.”</p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />“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.”</p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />“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.”</p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />“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.”</p>
<p><ffont size="1" />Like Avery, Burton is taking his expanded role and opportunity in stride as he translates the offense from the classroom to the field. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />“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.”</p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />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. </p>
<p><ffont size="1" />“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.” </p>
---</div>
</div>