The NFL is back, and Sportsnet is breaking down everything you need to know about each of the 32 teams—including why you should or shouldn’t be rooting for them this season—in the month leading up to kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 10. Today, the St. Louis Rams.
Last year’s record: 6-10
Head coach: Jeff Fisher
Core players: Nick Foles (QB), Todd Gurley (RB), Tre Mason (RB), Kenny Britt (WR), Tavon Austin (WR), Jared Cook (TE), Aaron Donald (DT), Robert Quinn (DE), Chris Long (DE), James Laurinatis (LB), Janoris Jenkins (CB)
2015 is about… Taking an important step forward. The Rams haven’t made the playoffs since 2004 and haven’t had a winning season since 2003. The defence has championship-calibre written all over it, but the offence just hasn’t been able to keep up. Fisher is banking on that changing with Nick Foles under centre and a potential franchise running back in 2015 first-round pick Todd Gurley. For a couple of seasons now, the Rams have been tabbed as up-and-comers and it’s time to start fitting the bill.
FOOTBALL PICK’EM: Play for a chance to win $3,000! It’s FREE and easy to play
They lost… Sam Bradford was shipped off to Philadelphia in a surprising trade as the free-agent market opened with a bang. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft showed flashes in St. Louis, but never had the team around him to make it work early on, while injuries ended his last two seasons with the team. By the time Bradford was dealt, both sides were ready for a fresh start. Zac Stacy, irked by the selection of Gurley, requested a trade and was eventually sent to the New York Jets for a late draft pick. Stacy had an impressive rookie season for the Rams in 2013, but failed to make an impact last year. With Gurley and Tre Mason in the mix, it’s unlikely St. Louis will miss him.
The biggest changes from last season came along the Rams’ offensive line. Three of the five starters from Week 1 of last season are gone after St. Louis gave up 47 sacks and ranked 20th in rushing.
Yeah, but they got… Foles, who was the principle return in the Bradford deal (along with some draft picks). Foles turned heads with his performance in 2013 under then-rookie head coach Chip Kelly, throwing 27 touchdown passes compared to just two interceptions on the way to a post-season berth. Despite a 6-2 record, the third-round draft pick came back down to earth statistically early last season before a broken collarbone ended his year and his time in Philly. The Rams are banking on 2013’s Foles to re-emerge, and he showed up at times in the pre-season.
On defence, the Rams added more depth to what is already a stacked defensive front with the addition of former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley. The 13th-overall pick in 2013 has had his struggles with weight and injuries, but has the potential to be a destructive force with so many great players surrounding him on the Rams’ defensive line, which now boasts five first-round picks. Former Titans and Patriots outside linebacker Akeem Ayers was also brought in and will start on the right side of the defence.
Growing from within: Despite suffering a devastating ACL injury in his final year at Georgia, the Rams made Gurley the first running back chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft since 2012. And rightly so—the man is a beast. Before his 2014 college season was ended prematurely, he was hands-down the best player in college football, drawing comparisons to Adrian Peterson.
Although he won’t be ready for the start of the season, Gurley will form a formidable running back duo with sophomore Tre Mason, who impressed in his rookie season last year.
Mason and Gurley will be depending on a young, inexperienced offensive line led by last season’s first-round pick Greg Robinson. Rookies Jamon Brown and Rob Havenstein will start the season for the Rams at left guard and right tackle, respectively. Three other first-year linemen are slotted in backup roles for Week 1. The men in the trenches are far-and-away the biggest unknown for the Rams in 2015, but early looks have shown promise.
The Rams need to see better offensive production out of Tavon Austin (and their underwhelming receiving corps in general) this season. The eighth-overall pick in 2013 has shown big-play capability during his first two seasons in the league, but has scored just seven offensive touchdowns—and five of those came in his rookie year.
Last but certainly not least is Aaron Donald, 2014’s defensive rookie of the year. Donald had one hell of a first year in the NFL, racking up 47 tackles and nine sacks, and he’s a disruptive run stopper to boot. To stand out on a defensive line as good as the Rams’ in a rookie campaign is quite an accomplishment, and Donald’s only getting better.
Why this team? The Rams’ have a nasty defensive front. In fact, it’s the best in the NFL. Not only do they have one of the best up-and-coming defensive players in the league in Donald, Robert Quinn (40 sacks since 2012) and Chris Long (34 sacks since 2011) wreak havoc from the ends and the massive Michael Brockers (six-foot-five, 322 lb.) does all the “dirty work” in the middle. Add in Fairley, and this group will be a force to be reckoned with this season.
Why not? Remember when I mentioned they haven’t had better than an 8-8 record since 2003? And there are some major question marks on offence, from the injured Gurley to the rookie offensive linemen to the inadequacy at wide receiver. The Rams are possibly still a year or two from ending that playoff drought.
Perfect for fans of… Youth, which St. Louis has an abundance of. The Rams have the NFL’s youngest average age at 24.94 and don’t have a player on their roster over the age of 30. That might mean the team will need some time before it has fully matured, but there’s an entire group of players that are just about to reach their primes. In sum: The future is promising.
How much hope? 6/10. The defence is bound to disruptive—if not great—in 2015, but the young Rams aren’t yet ready offensively to compete in the ultra-competitive NFC West, in which the Seattle Seahawks are king and the Arizona Cardinals appear to be further ahead in their quest to unseat the reigning division champs. It’ll be another uphill battle for St. Louis in 2015.
Will you be mocked for front-running? No, the days of the “Greatest Show on Turf” are long gone. People will mostly feel bad for you now.
A Meme to Remember: The Rams have Washington to thank for much of their up-and-coming talent.
Photo via Business Insider
