Where Do the Rams Rank in 2010?
by Brett Gall on Jun 27, 2010 4:45 PM CDT
in 2010 St. Louis Rams offseason
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The St. Louis Rams have certainly made some positive moves this offseason. In the free agent markets, the recent signing of O.J. Atogwe to a long-term deal, the pickups of Fred Robbins and Na'il Diggs, and theamputation of the infection (i.e. Alex Barron) on the left side of our line in exchange for a young Bobby Carpenter, will certainly help us out. In the draft, the trio of Roger Saffold, Sam Bradford, and Mardy Gilyard will provide some power and consistency to the offense, and we're certain to find some keepers in our numerous defensive selections.
The three worst teams last season, in my opinion, were the Browns, Buccaneers, and Lions. These three teams won 5, 3, and 2 games, respectively. While the Chiefs had one less win than the Browns on the season, I would put my money on the Chiefs over the Browns because of their (relative) offensive firepower in Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe, Chris Chambers, and Matt Cassel. I know, I know, I know, the Browns beat the Chiefs last year; but how often will the Browns rush for 325 yards?
Last season, I would put a healthy Rams team at the top tier of those basement-dwellers. The Rams were devastated with injuries across the board, lost some close games, and drastically underachieved, in turn yielding the league's worst record and a single win. Nearly everyone was reluctant, however, to name us the worst team in the league.
Looking forward to 2010, if Sam Bradford and Co. are to be expected to part the seas and lead us to some more wins, we have to not only improve, but improve relative to the rest of the NFL. Luckily, we get to play 2 of the above 3 teams in our cakewalk schedule.
Few doubt that Spags and Devaney are moving this team in a positive direction, especially with a front office hamstrung by the ownership change (or lack thereof).* The real question is: have we cut the deadweight, gained some size, speed and strength, and have the coaching to run with the big boys in 2010?
I believe that the Rams could certainly pull off some upsets and will play lots of close games, but that most of the other comparable teams have simply had better, more active off-seasons. The Browns, despite winning the most games of this group, have the least amount of talent on their roster in the entire NFL at this point. The Lions appear to have many more weapons on offense and defense and the Bucs should pick up couple wins as their 2009 draft class matures and their defense steps up.
Here are some offseason pickups by the dregs of the league to gauge how our boys are doing in the off-season:
LIONS:
Kyle Vanden Bosch (DE)
Nate Burleson (WR)
Corey Williams (DT)
Chris Houston (CB)
Tony Scheffler (TE)
Ndamukong Suh (DT)
Jahvid Best (RB)
Rob Sims (OG)
Larry Foote (LB)
Ernie Sims (LB)
BUCCANEERS:
Reggie Brown (WR)
Jevan Snead (QB)
Gerald McCoy (DT)
Brian Price (DT)
Arrelious Ben (WR)
Myron Lewis (CB)
Mike Williams (WR)
Byron Leftwhich (QB)
Antonio Bryant (WR)
BROWNS:
Joe Haden (CB)
T.J. Ward (S)
Montario Hardesty (RB)
Colt McCoy (QB)
Jake Delhomme (QB)
Shawn Lauvao (G)
Scott Fujita (LB)
Senece Wallace (QB)
Ben Watson (TE)
Peyton Hillis (RB)
Tony Pashos (T)
Dante Stallworth (WR)
Corey Williams (DT)
Hank Fraley (C)
Derek Anderson (QB)
Brady Quinn (QB)
Steve Heiden (E)
Kamerion Wimbley (LB)
RAMS:
A.J. Feeley (QB)
Fred Robbins (DT)
Na'il Diggs (OLB)
Bobby Carpenter (OLB)
Sam Bradford (QB)
Rodger Saffold (OT)
Mardy Gilyard (WR)
Hall Davis (DE)
Jerome Murphy (CB)
Marc Bulger (QB)
Randy McMichael (TE)
Alex Barron (OT)
Leonard Little (DE)
Adam Carriker (DT)
Jonathan Wade (CB)
What do you think? Where do the Rams, on paper, rank with the rest of the NFL?
*Thank you NFL ownership rules...
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The dumpees alone will help the Rams. And you didn't even include Boller, Lenon and Ruvell somebody?
Sam, Saffold, Murphy and Milyard gotta help. Although, the weight of the Rams world rests on the shoulders of Bradford and Jackson IMHO. And what about the popular Kevin Payne??? The Rams should eke their way into the 28-29 range. Their ranking would be considerably higher if they’d gotten only four more key players I addressed in a previous post. And I’m only talking good/capable players, not pro-bowlers, at DT, OLB, OL and b/u RB. Spags says 4 pillars. I say 4 players.
I actually compiled the list over the course of two days and with my judgment some names will be on there that aren’t THAT huge and others are left off that were significant but really not part of the team identity. Dumping players was huge, agreed. I definitely think if we got two more good role veterans in the offseason we would have been better off. I see us realistically at 30 in terms of talent, but we could actually get a decent record nonetheless because of our schedule and some luck.
Keep it classy St. Louis!
I voted 20-25, closer to 25
We gotta be better than 6 other teams this year with the additions. If not, I don;t know what to think… if Sam turns out to be sour, it’s gonna be a long decade Rams fans.
"The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall." - Vince Lombardi
I think Sam will develop to be just fine. He’s in a nice spot where (if everyone is healthy) he is behind an decent to good offensive line, has a stud running back with him, and some young receivers with whom he can develop rapport. While he’s not exactly ready for the pros, his accuracy will be huge if we can get him the time he needs.
Keep it classy St. Louis!
I can’t even begin to allow myself to imagine Sam as a bust, that would be too painful
If practice makes perfect....
Yet nobodies perfect.....
Then why practice ???
If we pick up another running back, preferably a dual threat westbrook/faulk/bush type of guy, that would likely put him in a far better position to succeed. SJ would benefit from less attention and more rest, SB would as well with a good dump option.
Keep it classy St. Louis!
chester taylor
really would have been the best pick-up the rams could ever make… i wish we really tried to get him, so underrated and easily one of the best 3rd down backs. westbrook would be great in that situation, only time will tell what happens with the backup spot.
jackson would be the 3rd down back
i don’t understand people when the suggest running backs…. jackson should and will get the call at the most important spot, 3rd down
Rasmus can hit lefties
cardinalred
St. Louis Sports blog
by stlcardsfan4 on Jun 29, 2010 11:47 PM CDT up reply actions
c'mon guys
We’re last until we prove otherwise. Everyone has reason to be hopeful at this point, and I remain optimistic, but having a great offseason does not in and of itself get you any wins. Also, I believe that every person in every major sports news outlet had us ranked last at the end of last season, and has us ranked last now.
I’m not saying I believe we’ll have the worst record in the NFL this season — we’ve improved and we’re due for some luck — but let’s not get too excited until we have some tangible results to celebrate.
It depends what we're ranking
Wins and losses are a factor of scheduling, talent, injuries, momentum and of course lady luck. What about the Bills or Jaguars or Seahawks? How many teams outperform or underperform expectations or talent levels?
If I’m ranking the quality of the organization (FO, coaching staff, roster), I’d put us mid-20’s with solid potential to land in the low 20’s by season’s end. If we’re gauging the final W-L record, I’d put us high twenties with the same ability to rise if we get a couple breaks. Unlike other organizations, though, we have key positions locked up with youthful talent. Sure, it’s near impossible to know if Bradford, J-Smith and Saffold will give us a QB and a pair of OTs that can solidify an offense for the next 4 years or so, but there’s reason to be optimistic. Compare that situation to Seattle and tell me who has a better long-term outlook.
So while there’s reason to, as postrophemo, mimic the all-knowing pundits who always rank the team with the worst record from the previous season 32nd and the Super Bowl champions 1st, I’d bet more money than I have that it won’t end up that way again. The NFL has plenty of parity to go around.
You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.
we’re ranking the team based off of talent and coaching. how the team looks ON PAPER. wins and losses will be dictated by schedule, injuries, adjustments, and a healthy dose of luck.
on paper, the bills have a bit better defense and probably the same firepower on offense that puts them over the hump. i’m really mixed on the seahawks. if hasselback has a huge year and their defense shapes up they could be solid, otherwise they’ll be in the bottom of the league as well.
Keep it classy St. Louis!
I like our chances...
Against the team you mentioned above and against a gutted (no Warner, Dansby, Boldin) Arizona squad let by Matt Leinart. If nothing else you have to be happy we play in the NFC West. I would think 4-5 wins would be very attainable if the injury bug doesn’t bite.
Can’t wait to see the new guys in action. Is there a Lindenwood scrimmage planned again this year?
hey now!
don’t overlook matt leinart! lol sorry, just a usc fan who would love to see him succeed. but really, i think matt will be better than expected. as for hasselback? if he stays healthy, he will have his best year since his super bowl season, he’ll fit into bates offense real well. but that’s a BIG if.
Like to start by saying....
I’m not a Rams fan, and I’m not going to share what I voted.
BUT!! I will tell you that the fans that voted them Super Bowl Champions… I APPLAUD ALL OF YOU!!
THOSE ARE THE FANS!! You don’t think anything bad of your team until it happens.
Just a high school student who lives his ambitions of working for the NFL,
http://prointerviews.org
i'm pretty sure
that the people who voted super bowl champions were just joking around… the ones who voted 20-29 are fans because they’re being optimistic yet realistic. if you voted last, get off this site.
Have to say,
I don’t think anyone was reluctant putting us as the worst team last year. and we were definitely not better than those bottom-dwellers other than maybe the lions.
Keith Null won't accept my friend requests.
If we could only score last year we are clearly better then all those teams
So this years improved offense should put us over the top of that list,we are better then our record and I’m sure this year will show that
If we could only score?
was your logic that if we could only score we would have been better then the worst teams in the league? maybe. It is not like scoring is some minor part of the game.
Look I love the Rams like air, but I don’t think anyone was reluctant to rank us last by the end of the year. Find me a ranking list that didn’t have us last.
I don't care how objective you are.
We’ve gotta start every season believing in Superbowl. How about it? Wouldn’t he be the first rookie QB to win it all his first year as a starter? What a unique opportunity.
Let’s have crazy optimism guys.
GO RAMS!
"I was just letting the shots fly. You know, I don't leave any bullets in the chamber."
"Everything negative- pressure, challenges- is all an opportunity for me to rise."
" 'So what if I hit the wall?"
(Reporter): 'Why?'
'Because I'll run right through it."
-Kobe Bryant
rams are going to get wrecked by every team they play
the lions are going to destroy the rams, Stafford is going to pass for 300+ yards that game, calvin johnson is going to get 100 yards recieving, suh is going to get 2 sacks and 10 tackles final score lions 28 rams 14
10 tackles?
don’t be retarded. i believe matt will throw for 300 but i’m pretty positive that he will throw 2-3 picks as well. so, how was it losing to us last year? oh and how is it being the only franchise in history to have an 0-16 season? THAT is getting wrecked by every team you play. way to overpay kyle vanden bosch and nate burleson, you’ll regret that.
Did we improve?
How much did we improve?
Offense: Rookie QB, who should be good in the long run, but as with any high profile rookie, time will tell. Bulger is a capable QB, but he just didn’t have the time, or the weapons to throw to. Here’s the main concern. We did not upgrade at WR and we’re in desperate need of a capable backup for SJ. Our receivers are pedestrian at best, and can be manned up across the board, leaving Bradford open to a lot of pressure. Most of our receivers would be lucky to make the #3 on any of the top tier teams. There is no threat on our offense, for defenses to fear. All year, we’ll see stack the box against SJ, and blitz Bradford.
Defense: Re-signing OJ helps keep some pieces in place, but it concerns me that no other teams were actively pursuing him. That tells me his injury is a bigger concern than we know. We couldn’t get pressure on opposing QB’s, and our Corners are our achilles heal. Look up how many picks our corners produces last year. It’s really shocking. Think about our superbowl run. Aeneas could lock up the other teams #1, but now we just don’t have that playmaker. Now hopefully with another year under his belt Laurinaitis will be the monster in the middle that he looks like he can be. With improved run defense, we may be more competitive. But remember this. The NFL has become a passing league, and on both sides of the ball, we either don’t have the talent, or are looking to a rookie to lead the way. I like Sam, but he doesn’t have a Calvin Johnson or Roddy White to count on to get open. I think if we would have pursued Chester Taylor and Brandon Marshall, we could be talking about winning the NFC west this year or next, but as is, 4 wins is about it, with 6 being a very good showing. Oh yeah, who’s going to pressure the QB for us? I just don’t have faith in Chris Long, but hopefully he will prove me wrong.
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