"It's been a long time coming," said Kanaroski. "It's means a lot to me. I was expecting big things from myself last year and unfortunately couldn't do it. Hopefully this year we can."

Last season, the 5-foot-10, 162-pound Kanaroski was expected to play a big role with the Rams after coming off a 2005 season that saw him spend time at receiver and quarterback as well as handle some of the returning duties with the Prairie Football Conference's Calgary Colts.

But during the first weekend of training camp in August, Kanaroski, who was also penciled in to hold field goals for former Colts kicker Perri Scarcelli, broke his collar bone after coming down awkwardly when he jumped to catch a pass.

When season-ending injuries affect some players -- particularly rookies -- it's never surprising if they stay away from the team entirely. But Kanaroski was at Rams practice nearly every evening after that, sporting his practice jersey behind the sling.

"It was important to me to come in and learn the system mentally instead of physically," said Kanaroski. "I had to learn it differently than usual, but it helped out a lot. The guys helped out and even though I was a rookie, I learned the system and now I can go play."

Rams coaches obviously noticed his presence at practice too.

"It just shows you his commitment," said receivers coach Rick Seaman. "He was toying with the idea of playing in a playoff game, but he knew that he'd burn a year (of eligibility) so he didn't do it. He came here to play football and he's doing well. And he came here to go to school and he's doing well in his classes. He's what you would call a good citizen."

And that good citizen could become a very important part of the Rams this season on a number of levels, considering his multi-positional background.

"He impressed in so many dimensions," said Seaman. "He can catch the football and he understands the game and he's played quarterback. He's multifaceted. He's really a player that can help you in so many ways. He can pin for snaps and that sort of thing. He's critical."

RAMBLINGS: Slotback Chris Getzlaf was a little late for the first session of spring camp Friday. He had been Fernie, B.C., but arrived shortly after practice began. Most of his teammates thought he had been in Anaheim watching his younger brother, Ryan, play with the Ducks in the NHL playoffs. Getzlaf isn't heading down there until Wednesday ...
Former Rams fullback Cory Olynick, now of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, was on the field Friday helping out with the U of R's running backs ... Defensive end Stanley van Sichem (shoulder) and cornerback Andrew Rumbaugh (suspension) are both sitting out the entire weekend camp ... Today's practices go at 9:30 a.m. and 3: 30 p.m.


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