Rams close to fitting missing pieces of the jigsaw – Part Two: Offense

Despite the obvious need to surround Bradford with weapons for his sophomore season, there were a lot of observers left with raised eyebrows when the Rams took TE Lance Kendricks from Wisconsin in the second round, and two very similar receivers in Austin Pettis out of Boise State and Greg Salas from Hawaii in rounds three and four.

Securing the services of the athletic Kendricks appeared odd to a lot of fans because of the decision to take two development TEs in Michael Hoomanawanui and Fendi Onobun in the 2010 draft.

However, considering new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels – previously head coach at the Denver Broncos and OC at the Patriots under Bill Belichick – likes to employ a spread offense with two TEs it is understandable why this decision was made. It also provides a nice comfort blanket for Bradford, in the form of a solid check-down option with good hands, and an equally useful blocker for Pro Bowl running back Steven Jackson.

There was also frustration at the choice of two very similar receivers in Pettis and Salas – both of whom are big, strong receivers with solid hands and great route-running ability, but who lack the explosiveness and speed of a number one receiver.

However, it is important to point out that last season the Rams struggles were not in moving the ball down field, the problem was picking up six once they reached the red zone – something which Pettis, Salas and Kendricks will all help address because of their route-running ability. And it must also be stressed that an out-an-out no.1 receiver would not solve this weakness in the Rams’ offensive unit.

Adding three new weapons for former Heisman trophy winner Bradford has now given the team serious depth in their receiving corps – enhanced by the return from season-ending injuries of Donnie Avery, a speedster who was selected ahead of Eagles stand-out receiver DeSean Jackson in the 2008 draft, and veteran Mark Clayton, who gelled well with Bradford in the short time he was on the field after joining from the Ravens.


Although he will hit the free agency market when the lockout is over, Clayton has expressed a desire to return to St Louis, and the Rams will surely look to snap up his services sooner rather than later. Then there’s Missouri wide receiver Danario Alexander – a guy who was undrafted in 2010 but signed by the Rams after Clayton went down injured. He struggled to stay healthy all year – part of the reason why he ended up signing with St Louis as an undrafted free agent after putting together stellar collegiate numbers in 2008.

However, if he can stay healthy there is real hope from within the organisation that the glimpses he showed last season were just a snippet of his talents. If he can fight off competition during training camp and gets an extended run in the team then he is a legitimate candidate for the number one receiver spot for years to come.

With Clayton, Avery and Alexander looking like shoe-ins for three of the receiver spots on the roster, and Amendola developing nicely as a slot receiver last season – much in the mould of Wes Welker, it leaves two players part of last year’s team out in the cold. Assuming the Rams do not cut this year’s third and fourth round draft picks, it would seem that Brandon Gibson and Laurent Robinson will likely be the two receivers released.

Then there’s the running back dilemma. Steven Jackson has been outstanding, there is no question about that. Last year he became the Rams’ all time leading rusher, surpassing the previous record set by Eric Dickerson. But he has been asked to carry the team for the past seven seasons and now the rebuilding finally appears to be taking shape it is crucial the Rams sign a change-of-pace back to help share the load.

San Diego’s Darren Sproles has been mooted as a potential addition to the team, and would seemingly be a perfect complement to Jackson in a feared running back tandem. Similarly, the explosive nature of Reggie Bush, who was vocal about his displeasure in seeing the Saints draft Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram in the first round last month, would turn the offense and special teams unit into an exciting and potentially devastating force.

The tackle spots on the offensive line seem set for years after Saffold, a second round pick in 2010, had a breakout year protecting Sam Bradford’s blindside and former number two pick Jason Smith finally found his feet on the right. With one of the most consistent and reliable center’s in Jason Brown bolstering the line the only real upgrades needed appear to be at the guard positions.

Veterans Adam Goldberg and Jacob Bell do not appear to be long term solutions for the Rams. Both struggled badly towards the end of last season, failing to create the necessary holes and running lanes for SJ to burst through. John Greco showed glimpses of potential but failed to remain healthy on a consistent basis. That means it is imperative the Rams pick up at least one guard in free agency and another in the later rounds of the 2012 NFL draft.

The only other area of need which many believe can be addressed in the free agency market is an out-and-out number one receiver. Having discussed the various options the Rams already have at this position it doesn’t appear to be that much of a glaring need. One thing is for sure, coach Spags believes above all else in playing for the team and having players with strong characters to be a part of it. It wouldn’t make much sense going out and grabbing Chad Ochocinco, Terrell Owens or Randy Moss because they’re likely to upset the apple cart and do more harm than good.

That leaves the only other option being Sidney Rice who may well hit the market from the Vikings. But despite having clear potential, as was demonstrated when he put together such impressive numbers with Brett Favre at the helm in 2009, Rice was hampered by injuries last season. And he wouldn’t come cheap either. The Vikings are likely to want at least a first-round pick for someone who has been a focal point of their offense – and that’s if they let him go at all. This move seems like a stretch for the Rams, and again one which seems unlikely when considering how coach Spags has built his team up till now.
The smart money says Spagnuolo sticks with what he already has and lets Josh McDaniels work his magic. And judging by the new offensive coordinator’s previous record, there is a distinct possibility he could ignite the passing game, while balancing it off with the consistent and devastating threat posed by the evergreen Steven Jackson.

Rams close to fitting missing pieces of the jigsaw – Part One: Defense

After a breakout season for last year’s number one draft pick Sam Bradford, and a young defense which stepped up to the plate under the stewardship of head coach Steve Spagnuolo, Rams fans can be forgiven for believing a return to the good ol’ days of the ‘the greatest show on turf’ aren’t too far away.

Most of the talk pre last month’s draft was dominated by speculation that the Rams needed a no.1 receiver to provide a weapon for offensive rookie of the year Bradford. However, when Julio Jones excelled at the Scouting Combine there was no chance either he, or number one receiver in the draft A.J. Green, were realistically going to fall to St Louis at 14 without a team putting together an expensive package like Atlanta did to grab him as high as six.

The Rams have too many other needs and could not afford the luxury the Falcons had to exchange multiple first and second round draft picks. Disappointing though it was that they were unable to add Jones to the roster, when general manager Billy Devaney and coach Spags saw DE Robert Quinn – rated by many as the best pass rusher in the draft – drop into their laps in the middle of the first round it was an opportunity too good to miss.

Quinn offers an immediate upgrade to the front four and will likely create a formidable pass rush with four-year veteran Chris Long – a former no.2 draft pick in 2008 – and the experienced sack machine James Hall, 34, working in rotation – a tactic coach Spags employed with great success as defensive coordinator of the Giants.

Although the loss of pro-bowl safety O.J. Atogwe to the Redskins and the lack of a ‘shutdown’ corner have created a couple of glaring holes in an inexperienced secondary, the pressure up-front from Hall, Long and Quinn should be enough to counteract this weakness.

Either way, it is clear the Rams need to lure a veteran strong safety or cornerback from the free agency market to put together what would be a young and formidable defensive machine. The best available would be former Oakland Raiders defensive back Nnamdi Asomugha, but it is unlikely St Louis will have the financial resources to tie down a guy who is seen by most as the best cornerback in the game.

The lack of talent in the free agent market at that position is why there were cries from fans to snatch Prince Amukamara instead of Quinn in the first round of the draft, before he ultimately fell to the Giants.

But although it would have significantly enhanced the secondary there would still be the need of addressing the safety position, and it’s clear that, despite an ultra-productive season in 2010, Hall is unlikely to hit the same heights with his aging body, meaning Quinn’s selection was the more sensible. Especially as C.J. Ah You struggled badly as the third DE towards the end of the season, after what had been an encouraging start.

Instead, coach Spags has placed his faith in veteran cornerback and defensive captain Ron Bartell to lead the back seven alongside battalion leader James Laurinaitis – who was the centre piece of a stellar defensive unit at the middle linebacker spot. Bartell needs to marshal second-year cornerback Jerome Murphy, rookies Jermale Hines, Mikhail Baker and Jonathan Nelson, and promising young DB Bradley Fletcher – who collected four takeaways last season.
But the team is still short of experience on this side of the ball.

If St Louis could attract the services of safety Eric Weddle from the Chargers, Ike Taylor from Pittsburgh and an OLB like Chad Greenway from the Vikings, they could be the missing pieces of the puzzle. And signing players like Greenway, Taylor and Weddle to help mentor St Louis’ young group of defenders brings with it the real potential of turning the rebuilding franchise into one of the most feared outfits in the NFL.

It’s a long-shot, but coming off the back of a season where the team won more games than the previous three put together, the mere talk of it has got Rams fans excited about the team’s future.