"In a normal year, you get the rookie camp and you get one mandatory minicamp," coach Steve Spagnuolo said.

And that's it. But as a new head coach, Spagnuolo gets two extra opportunities per league rule to look at his veterans in a "voluntary" minicamp setting. He has decided to throw the rookies right into the mix with the veterans this weekend, combining the rookie minicamp with one of the "voluntary" veteran minicamps for one big minicamp extravaganza.

The team practices twice today, twice Saturday, and once Sunday. The minicamp remains closed to the public, but unlike Spagnuolo's first minicamp in April, this one is open to the media.

"It'll be a little bit different dynamic for them," Spagnulo said, referring to the rookies, not the reporters. "They'll be thrown right in the fire. It's not such a bad thing. Our vets, they'll embrace them. I told them the other day as they broke for their lifting period to embrace these guys and teach them the Rams' way."

Actually, most of the veterans are still learning how to do things the Rams' way - at least the Rams' way since Spagnuolo was named head coach Jan. 17. The veteran players have been on campus in an official capacity only since the start of the offseason program March 16. As for formal practices, they've had only the five sessions from the veterans minicamp April 2-4 to learn how Spagnuolo wants things done.

Assuming everyone is on hand today, and this minicamp is still "voluntary" for the vets, there will be 87 players on the field this morning. Of that group, 47 have one season or less experience on an NFL regular-season roster. Only six of the 87 players are age 30 or older, headed by 34-year-old defensive end Leonard Little.

Two players from the April minicamp did not make it to May. The club has released:

- Quarterback Jeff Otis, the St. Louis native and son of former St. Louis Cardinals fullback Jim Otis. He became expendable when the team drafted quarterback Keith Null of West Texas A&M in the sixth round Sunday.

- Wide receiver Joel Filani of Texas Tech, who spent the last four weeks of the 2008 season on the Rams' practice squad. In a sense, Filani was pushed off the roster by St. Olaf College's Horace Gant. Gant participated in the April minicamp on a tryout basis, and performed well enough to be added to the offseason roster.

Seven draft picks and 15 undrafted rookies will be among those at Rams Park over the weekend. Of course, the rookie who will draw the most attention is No. 2 overall pick Jason Smith, the offensive tackle from Baylor.

"We're going to start Jason out at right tackle because we think Alex (Barron) has been doing a good job over there (at left tackle)," Spagnuolo said. "Now, the way we begin is not always the way it kind of unwinds. But I think it'll be more of a natural progression for Jason. He's played both. Alex has played both, so it gives you a little bit of versatility."

Six of the seven Rams draft picks already have earned their degrees, and the "slacker" of the group, Clemson defensive tackle Darell Scott, is scheduled to receive his degree in a week.

"That is impressive," Spagnuolo said. "I'm glad to hear that. That's encouraging."

With the Rams' depth chart thin in several areas and a youth movement underway, there may not be a better year for one of the 15 undrafted rookies to make the Rams' final roster.

"In this league, the surprises go both ways," Spagnuolo said. "Guys that you think are going to be really good, sometimes they don't surface right away. And then somebody that your expectations aren't as high kind of jumps out there. We'll have one or two either way. I hope we have more (the good way)."

On paper this is a better group of rookie free agents than the Rams have had in several years. Three of them, offensive guard Roger Allen of Missouri Western, offensive guard Ray Feinga of Brigham Young, and defensive end Ian Campbell of Kansas State were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. Mississippi linebacker Dominic Douglas led the SEC in tackles last season with 116.

At the end of the draft, the competition for rookie free agents can be fierce. Sometimes a signing bonus of just a few thousand dollars can clinch the deal. In recent years, the Rams have not spent much signing bonus money on rookie free agents. Last year, in fact, the Rams were the only team in the league that didn't spend a cent in signing bonus money on undrafted rookies. This year, however, the team spent about $50,000 in signing bonus money, which may have helped them get better prospects.

As for the veterans, wide receiver Derek Stanley, still in the rehab stage from late-season knee surgery, will be held out of minicamp. Cornerback Justin King, who underwent toe/foot surgery following an exhibition game injury, may be limited. Safety Craig Dahl may be limited to one practice a day to avoid wear and tear on his knees.