1999 record: 13-3, first in NFC West, Super Bowl champions.

Last five years: 35-45.

Coach: Mike Martz (first year as NFL head coach).

Playoff past: The Rams were the losingest NFC team in the 1990s going into last season. They missed the playoffs in 1998 and have been in only one other Super Bowl in their history.

Outlook

The Rams refuse to act like defending Super Bowl champions.

"We have a lot of superstars on this team, but not a lot of guys who act like superstars," wide receiver Ricky Proehl said.

Maybe the Rams have remained grounded because they know they were 4-12 just two years ago.

Running back Trung Canidate, the Rams' first-round pick, is out with a high ankle sprain.(AP)

Maybe it's because few expect the Rams to get back to the Super Bowl. Most experts are picking the NFC title game to match the Washington Redskins against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"We thought we could win the Super Bowl going into last year even though we were coming off a 4-12 season," tight end Roland Williams said. "Everybody just laughed at us when we said that. Now even after we've won the Super Bowl, we're not getting respect again."

The Rams have a new coach in Mike Martz, last year's wunderkind offensive coordinator who replaces the retired Dick Vermeil.

They'll have a new right tackle in Ryan Tucker, who replaces Fred Miller, a free-agent casualty. The center also is different. Mike Gruttadauria left for Arizona. He'll be replaced by Andy McCollum or Steve Everitt, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles.

"Gruttadauria is smart and a fighter," Proehl said. "But he's not a huge, overpowering guy. I think Andy can do the job and replace him. Fred Miller is a guy who only is going to get better, but Ryan Tucker is the same way. I think we can get by."

The Rams have few weaknesses. Consider:

• Quarterback Kurt Warner, he of the new $46.5 million salary, is coming off a 41-touchdown season in his first year as a starter. His passer rating of 109.2 was the fifth best in league history.
• Running back Marshall Faulk, in his first year with the Rams, set a league record for total yards from scrimmage (2,429).
• Offensive tackle Orlando Pace is as good as anybody in the game.
• Defensive end Kevin Carter's 29 sacks are the most in the league the past two years.

"I think we're sound at every position," general manager Charley Armey said. "How we handle the psychological advantage of being the favorite rather than the psychological disadvantage all these years remains to be seen. Can we handle the pressure of staying on top?"

Proehl thinks so. He tells the story of Faulk going 65 yards on a play last year to reach the 1 and then getting shouted at as he reached the sideline.

"Somebody said, 'What are you doing coming out of the game? Don't you want to get yourself a touchdown?' " Proehl said.

"(Faulk) said, 'Let (fullback) Robert Holcombe score. He's been doing all the blocking."

The Rams are loaded with offensive weapons. Wide receiver Isaac Holt had 77 catches for 1,165 yards last season. Rookie Torry Holt had a team-high 20 in the postseason.

"Last year we were a first-year offense," Williams said. "We made some great things happen. But we watch ourselves on film now and laugh because we were so sloppy in our routes. The scary thing is, we can be so much better."

Schedule preview: It's not as tough as you'd expect for a team that went from worst to first a year ago. They should go 7-1 in the weak NFC West. Two of their toughest non-division games are at home -- Denver in the opener and Washington on Nov. 12. Their Monday night game at Tampa Bay on Dec. 18 is a rematch of last year's NFC title game and the Buccaneers will want revenge.

1999 offensive ranking: No. 1 overall, No. 1 passing, No. 5 rushing.

1999 defensive ranking: No. 6 overall, No. 20 vs. pass, No. 1 vs. rush.

Key players lost from 1999: C Mike Gruttadauria (to St. Louis), S Billy Jenkins (to Denver), OT Fred Miller (to Tennessee), DE Jay Williams (to Carolina), LB Charlie Clemons (to New Orleans).

Key additions for 2000: RB Derek Loville (Broncos), DT Sean Moran (Bills), C Steve Everitt (Eagles).

Rookies to watch: Injuries have taken a big chunk out of the draft class. First-round pick Trung Canidate, a running back from Arizona, and fourth-round pick Kaulana Noa, an offensive tackle from Hawaii, won't be back for months. The only rookie who likely will have much of an impact is second-round pick Jacoby Shepherd, a defensive back from Oklahoma State who could play in nickel and dime situations.

Offensive line: This is the biggest question mark on the team. The left side is solid with Pace, an All-Pro, and guard Tom Nutten. There is another Pro Bowl player on the right side in guard Adam Timmerman, a free-agent acquisition a year ago from Green Bay. But center and right tackle could be problem spots. At least at center, Everitt has experience if McCollum falters. But on the right side it's all or nothing with Tucker.

Wide receivers/tight ends: How deep are the Rams at wide receiver? Proehl, who was the team's No. 4 receiver, put the Rams in the Super Bowl with a diving touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter of the NFC title game. Az-Zahir Hakim, the No. 3 receiver, is an electrifying talent. Bruce and Holt have become one of the league's best tandems in only one year starting together. At tight end, the Rams made a significant move when they were able to re-sign Ernie Conwell, who missed the Super Bowl and most of the regular season because of a knee injury.

Running backs: Faulk wasn't just an outstanding runner. He had 87 catches for 1,048 yards. The Rams drafted Canidate to play behind him and be the team's third-down back. Martz wanted another weapon, but now the Rams don't know if they will get anything from him this year. With Canidate out, there is little proven depth behind Faulk. Holcombe doesn't get a lot of publicity at fullback, but the converted halfback is only going to get better as a blocker.

Quarterbacks: Warner might not put up the numbers he did last year, but nobody thinks he is a one-year wonder. He has shown the same accuracy in the preseason that enabled him to throw for 4,353 yards last year. Backup Trent Green began training camp a year ago as the starter. He was 28 of 32 against San Diego in the preseason before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He still hasn't completely recovered from knee surgery but should be at full strength by early in the season. He could start for most of the teams in the league.

Defensive line: The Rams still haven't renegotiated Carter's deal and would be wise to keep him happy because he is the only difference maker on their line. Grant Wistrom, the other end, is underrated, but he is coming off shoulder surgery. Tackle Ray Agnew is entering his 11th season and might not have much left. D'Marco Farr, the other starting tackle, is undersized but has great quickness. Injuries could take their toll here, although the Rams are high on free-agent acquisition Moran.

Linebackers: Warner hogged all the publicity, but London Fletcher, the 5-foot-11 starting middle linebacker who wasn't drafted, is another great story. There is a new book out on starting outside linebacker Mike Jones, who tackled Tennessee wide receiver Kevin Dyson on the 1½-yard line as Super Bowl XXXIV ended. But Jones was a good player before that play and is a great cover LB. Veteran Todd Collins has been overshadowed on the other side but is a solid performer.

Secondary: Only one team had more interceptions than the Rams' 29, but their secondary doesn't have a great reputation. Teams think they can pick on cornerbacks Dexter McLeon and Dre Bly, one of whom will line up next to Pro Bowl corner Todd Lyght. Free safety Keith Lyle seems recovered from neck and shoulder injuries. With Jenkins gone to Denver, veteran Devin Bush will start at strong safety, one of the weakest positions on the team.

Special teams: Tony Horne is one of the league's top return specialists. He comes with baggage, however. He missed four games last year because of substance abuse violations. Somehow, kicker Jeff Wilkins shook off tendinitis to perform in the Super Bowl. Punter Rick Tuten, a 12th-year pro, is the most experienced player on the team but will face stiff competition from Louie Aguilar.