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Yesterday, we took a look at the projected St. Louis Rams starting roster for 2015, and asked you to vote on how you think they’d fair against the Rams’ squad from 2010. It wasn’t very close. And that was against a team that won seven games that season...something the 2014 Rams were unable to accomplish.
Why don’t we got back a bit further - let’s say another five years - and put the 2015 Rams up against another 6-10 team: the 2005 Rams.
One cannot assume that all Rams’ fans are familiar with the team, and it’s players, from a decade ago. Here’s a quick look at the starters from 2005. You’re destined to recognize a name or 10...
|
Pos
|
Off. Starter
|
Age
|
Yrs
|
Starts
|
Pos
|
Def. Starter
|
Age
|
Years
|
Starts
|
|
QB
|
Marc Bulger
|
28
|
3
|
8
|
LDE
|
Leonard Little
|
31
|
7
|
14
|
|
RB
|
Steven Jackson
|
22
|
1
|
15
|
LDT
|
Ryan Pickett
|
26
|
4
|
16
|
|
WR
|
Isaac Bruce
|
33
|
11
|
10
|
RDT
|
Jimmy Kennedy
|
26
|
2
|
9
|
|
WR
|
Kevin Curtis
|
27
|
2
|
9
|
RDE
|
Anthony Hargrove
|
22
|
1
|
15
|
|
WR
|
Torry Holt
|
29
|
6
|
14
|
LLB
|
Pisa Tinoisamoa
|
24
|
2
|
16
|
|
TE
|
Brandon Manumaleuna
|
25
|
4
|
14
|
MLB
|
Chris Claiborne
|
27
|
6
|
7
|
|
LT
|
Orlando Pace
|
30
|
8
|
16
|
RLB
|
Dexter Coakley
|
33
|
8
|
9
|
|
LG
|
Claude Terrell
|
23
|
R
|
10
|
LCB
|
DeJuan Groce
|
25
|
2
|
15
|
|
C
|
Andy McCollum
|
35
|
10
|
16
|
RCB
|
Travis Fisher
|
26
|
3
|
8
|
|
RG
|
Adam Timmerman
|
34
|
10
|
16
|
SS
|
Adam Archuleta
|
28
|
4
|
14
|
|
RT
|
Alex Barron
|
23
|
R
|
11
|
FS
|
Mike Furrey
|
28
|
2
|
11
|
I imagine this one will be a bit closer, given the legendary names that don the roster; especially on the offensive side of the ball. But the strength of the 2015 Rams - as it has been for several years now - is their defense.
2005 Rams’ Offense vs. 2015 Rams’ Defense
2015 Rams’ Offense vs. 2005 Rams’ Defense
A few things to note:
* In 2005, Marc Bulger only played in eight games due to a shoulder injury. He finished the season 2-6 as a starter [2,297 yards, 14 TD, 9 INT]. Backup Jamie Martin went 4-1 as a starter [1,277 yds, 5 TD, 7 INT], and Ryan Fitzpatrick finished 0-3 as a starter [insert bad stats here].
* Steven Jackson earned the starting role over now Hall-of-Famer Marshall Faulk. Faulk would retire at the end of the season. Jackson went on to rush for 1,046 yards and 8 TD’s. Faulk ran for 292 yards with no scores.
* Wide receivers Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce finished the season with 1,331 and 525 receiving yards, respectively.
* Leonard Little lead the 2005 Rams’ defense with 9.5 sacks. Robert Quinn lead the 2014 defense with 10.5 sacks.
* The 2005 Rams’ offense finished 11th in the league in scoring with 22.7 ppg. The 2014 Rams finished 21st, scoring 20.3 per.
* The 2005 Rams’ defense finished 31st in the league allowing 26.8 ppg. The 2014 Rams allowed 22.1 ppg, which was good for 16th.