St. Louis Rams
Head Coach: Jeff Fisher (14-17-1 all-time in St. Louis, 156-137-1 all-time)
Last Year's Results: 7-9, no playoffs
Projected Starters:
(My Player Rankings Guide:
E - Elite Starter: Franchise changing player at his position
HQ - High Quality Starter: One of the best in the game at his position
GS - Good Starter: If this guy's on your team, he's likely starting and you should be perfectly fine with it
AS - Average Starter: This guy is OK, but if possible, I'd be looking for an upgrade
BAS - Below Average Starer: This guy should not be starting, but he will because he's the best option
??? - Not enough information regarding this guy and the jury is still out on him
R - Rookie: Pretty self-explanatory
PS - Poor Starter: This guy shouldn't be starting for your football team. NO EXCUSES!)
OFFENSE:
QB: Sam Bradford (AS)
RB: Zac Stacy (AS)
FB: Cory Harkey (BAS)
WR: Chris Givens (BAS)
WR: Austin Pettis (AS)
TE: Jared Cook (BAS)
C: Scott Wells (AS)
RG: Rodger Saffold (GS)
LG: Greg Robinson (R)
RT: Joe Barksdale (GS)
LT: Jake Long (HQ)
DEFENSE:
DE: Chris Long (GS)
DE: Robert Quinn (E)
DT: Kendall Langford (AS)
DT: Michael Brockers (AS)
WLB: Alec Ogletree (AS)
MLB: James Laurinaitis (AS)
SLB: Jo-Lonn Dunbar (BAS)
CB: Trumaine Johnson (BAS)
CB: Janoris Jenkins (AS)
SS: T.J. McDonald (PS)
FS: Rodney McLeod (PS)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
Schedule:
vs. Minnesota
vs. @ Tampa Bay
vs. Dallas
BYE WEEK
vs. @ Philadelphia
vs. San Francisco
vs. Seattle
vs. @ Kansas City
vs. @ San Francisco
vs. @ Arizona
vs. Denver
vs. @ San Diego
vs. Oakland
vs. @ Washington
vs. Arizona
vs. New York Giants
vs. @ Seattle
Predicted Results: 5-11 (1-5 in division)
Team Analysis: I said it last year and I'll say it again. The Rams under head coach Jeff Fisher are a team on the rise in the NFL (rookie defensive lineman Aaron Donald has the chance to be a "J.J. Watt-type" impact player). Since coming to St. Louis, Fisher and company have built a nice roster that's loaded with young studs ready to explode onto the NFL scene. However, that's also one of the Rams' biggest weaknesses, its youth. The Rams' also have the unfortunate pleasure of playing in the NFL's strongest division. Going up against teams like Seattle, San Francisco, and Arizona twice a year is hell for anyone, much less a roster filled with guys fresh out of college and diapers. Not only that, but the AFC division that the Rams get this year on their schedule also happens to be the same AFC division that had 3 playoffs teams last year. Ouch.
Needless to say, the Rams easily have one of the NFL's toughest schedules and for a team as young as the Rams, that's not a good thing at all. I expect the Rams to take a step back this year and will likely once again be at the top of next year's NFL Draft eyeballing their quarterback of the future. The good news for them though is, the draft is expected to have some nice talented quarterback's available (Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, etc.) so if St. Louis does falter this season, there is a nice consolation prize awaiting them in the draft. Say what you want about Sam Bradford, but the guy is not good enough to be an NFL starter and the Rams should have replaced him this off-season, but for some reason he got a vote of confidence from Fisher and will get one more year to try to turn his career around. Enjoy another year of mediocrity Rams fans. There shouldn't be too much concern though, because in my opinion, the direction of this franchise is still pointing up. Just need to have a little more patience and a good quarterback...
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