St. Louis Rams' Complete 2012 NFL Preseason & Training Camp Guide - Bleacher Report

After winning just two games last season, there are multiple positions up for grabs. And it's not just starting jobs that are being fought over, but also second- and third-string jobs as well. 

There are a lot of new faces in uniform this season, so there's going to be a number of depth chart battles that must take place before finalizing the 53-man roster. 

Here are some of the key battles to follow in training camp:

Cornerback: Bradley Fletcher Vs. Janoris Jenkins

Cortland Finnegan is a lock to start at cornerback, but the team still needs to determine who will lineup on the opposite side of Finnegan. 

Bradley Fletcher has three seasons of experience with the team and started 15 games in 2010. He was a starter in 2011 as well, but suffered a season-ending knee injury after just four games. 

And even though Fletcher has been very solid on the field, the 2011 injury resulted in Fletcher's second major knee operation in three years. It's unclear if he'll even be fully healed by opening week. 

As a result, rookie Janoris Jenkins is expected to win the battle. 

Jenkins is an elite talent with far more potential than Fletcher. His coverage skills and overall level of play makes him the easy choice for the job.

Predicted Winner: Janoris Jenkins

Safety: Craig Dahl Vs. Matt Daniels 

Quintin Mikell and Darian Stewart will both start at safety, but the backup safety job is still available for the hungriest player. 

Craig Dahl has started 24 games over the last three years for St. Louis, but his coverage skills have been suspect. 

Dahl's competition, undrafted rookie Matt Daniels, plays with great intensity even if he is inexperienced and lacking in raw talent. 

At least for the beginning of the season, the team will stick with Dahl due to his experience. Daniels will be stashed away on the practice squad, but don't be surprised if he emerges later in the season. 

Predicted Winner: Craig Dahl

Left Guard: Robert Turner Vs. Bryan Mattison

The Rams have a gaping hole at left guard and the only options at this time are questionable at best. 

The line surrendered 55 sacks a year ago and had a chance to select David DeCastro with their first-round draft pick, but instead opted for Michael Brockers. They made their own bed, now they have to settle with what they have left. 

Bryan Mattison was forced to start four games last season after a swarm of injuries on the offensive line. He was overwhelmed at times, but settled in nicely by the season finale against San Francisco. 

Robert Turner, who the team signed in free agency from the New York Jets, only has two career starts in five years, but his time in New York will ensure that he's well-acquainted with Brian Schottenheimer's offense

For now, the edge goes to Turner due to his experience in the offense.

Predicted Winner: Robert Turner

Wide Receiver: Austin Pettis Vs. Danario Alexander

As long as Steve Smith is healthy, the top five receivers are easy enough to predictâ€"Danny Amendola, Greg Salas, Brian Quick, Chris Givens and Smith. 

The only real question is the No. 6 spot, which will likely be the final wide receiver spot on the 53-man roster.

Austin Pettis struggled as a rookie and will be suspended for the first two games of the season, which could ultimately make the decision easy for the coaches. However, he's a physical receiver with all the tools to succeed. 

Danario Alexander is far more talented than Pettis and is a dangerous deep-ball threat, but his chronic knee condition makes him a risky option. 

Overall, as long as Alexander can remain healthy throughout training camp, he should be the choice. But don't be surprised if the coaches change their minds and decide to keep seven total receivers in order to retain Pettis.

Predicted Winner: Danario Alexander

Defensive Tackle: Jermelle Cudjo Vs. Darell Scott

Jermelle Cudjo played in 10 games for Rams in 2010, but he missed the entire 2011 campaign due to injury. 

Cudjo is a raw talent who still needs to be coached up, but he's also a hungry lineman willing to get after the offense. 

Darell Scott, who the Rams selected in the fourth round in 2009, has more on-field experience than Cudjo, but he's been inconsistent throughout his three seasons in the NFL. 

It wouldn't be surprising if both players made the team, but Cudjo has a good shot at sitting above Scott on the depth chart. 

Predicted Winner: Jermele Cudjo

Outside Linebacker: Sammy Brown Vs. Alex Hoffman-Ellis

Mario Haggan, Jo-Lonn Dunbar and Rocky McIntosh are three veteran linebackers who are expected to make the team, which means the younger guys will have to fight each other for roster spots. 

Sammy Brown and Alex Hoffman-Ellis both went undrafted last April, but they are two of the better undrafted linebackers available in this year's crop. 

As a senior at Washington State in the Pac-12 Conference, Hoffman-Ellis led his team in solo tackles (64) and finished eighth in total tackles among all Pac-12 players (88). 

Brown led the entire NCAA in tackles for a loss (28) and ended the season with 12.5 sacks. He clearly knows how to get into the backfield and be disruptive, but he just needs to continue that at the NFL level. 

If there's one thing we know the Rams will do well next season, it's pressuring the quarterback. If Brown can further improve that strength, then he sounds like the better option. 

Predicted Winner: Sammy Brown

Quarterback: Austin Davis Vs. Tom Brandstater

Sam Bradford is obviously the starting quarterback, and due to Kellen Clemens' familiarity in Brian Schottenheimer's offense, he's a lock as the team's second-string quarterback. 

While the top two spots are filled, the competition for third-string quarterback is a little blurry. 

The 27-year-old Tom Brandstater had an impressive career at Fresno State, but he has been trying to latch onto a team's 53-man roster for the last three seasons without any success. 

Austin Davis, on the other hand, broke multiple Brett Favre passing records at Southern Miss and has more overall potential than Brandstater. 

Davis is the more intriguing developmental project with more upside, so expect him to take over Brandstater's spot. 

Predicted Winner: Austin Davis 

Punter: Tom Malone Vs. John Hekker

It's not glamorous or interesting, but the Rams need to figure out who their new punter will be for 2012. 

Donnie Jones was a Pro Bowl-caliber punter, but his price tag didn't mesh well with the Rams' plans, so he was sent packing and the team will now settle for one of the two inexperienced punters who'll be joining the team for training camp.

Tom Malone spent some time with the New England Patriots, but he didn't see any action. John Hekker is a rookie out of Oregon State with zero NFL experience. 

This is tough to predict, but let's go with Hekker, simply because he's new and hasn't been turned down by multiple NFL teams already. 

Also, it doesn't hurt that he attended the same school as the franchise's top dog, Steven Jackson. 

Predicted Winner: John Hekker