Team MVP: Steven Jackson - Have you heard of Marshall Faulk, Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson? These are all NFL running backs that had career years while Al Saunders was their teams offensive coordinator. There is no doubt that Steven Jackson will be the player that makes this team tick in 2008. Jackson is going to have a monster year, and everything is going to revolve around him. Jackson will be the focal point of the media and fans alike. Love him or hate him he is one of the top 5 running backs in the National Football League. With Al Saunders returning as the Rams offensive coordinator Jackson's stats should explode. Five dump off / check down passes a game will give Jackson 80+ catches on the year. In addition if Pace can actually stay healthy for 16 games Jackson will easily rack up 1500+ yards rushing. All we can say for now is "Sign 3 9""!
Break-Out Player: Randy McMichael - McMichael had a down year in 2007 with 39 catches for 429 yards, and 3 touchdowns. McMichael averaged 65 catches for 671 yards his previous 3 seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Randy is a lot like Jeremy Shockey, he needs the ball early and often to let his emotions loose and to keep him happy and into the game. With Al Saunders as the new offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams I look for McMichael to get more catches in 2008. This years offense will feature Steven Jackson and Torry Holt, but a lack of depth at wide receiver will also help McMichael see more action.
Biggest Disappointment: Scott Linehan - Linehan is 11-21 so far as the St. Louis Rams head coach. I do not believe he is qualified or capable of being an NFL head football coach at this time. Linehan was a bad hire by a team that really made no effort to get a quality list of coaches to choose from. Linehan gets a lot of credit from when he was offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings, but a lot of jump balls to Randy Moss is not in the Rams play book. I hate feeling like we are just waiting out his tenure while Bulger, Pace, and Holt continue to get older. We had to go through 12 years of Bob Stull and Larry Smith with the Missouri Tigers, sometimes you just need to know when to fire someone. Linehan is far too soft to rally a 3-13 team and get them turned around quickly.
Fantasy Stud: Steven Jackson - This one is a no brainer. Steven is considered a top 10 draft pick in all fantasy leagues. In 2007 while only playing 12 games behind an awful offensive line Jackson still managed 1273 total yards. Projected through 16 games that is 1697 total yards. Orlando Pace, who only played one half of football last year, should be healthy to start the season. In addition the Rams picked up Jacob Bell and as their top pick up they now have Al Saunders as their offensive coordinator. Al Saunders is the man who has been the offensive coordinator behind the career years of Marshall Faulk, Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson. Look for Jackson to catch a ton more balls than the 38 he was able to grab in 07. *Jackson is in the last year of his contract and is going to go out and have a huge year. I see Jackson putting up 2000 total yards with at least 10 total touchdowns.
Offensive Outlook: Orlando Pace hurt his shoulder in the first half, of the first game of the season in 2007 against the Carolina Panthers. That is all you really need to know about the Rams offense in 07'. With devastating injuries to the O-line along with Bulger, Bruce, Bennett and Jackson all getting hurt, 2007 was a disaster. The Rams finished 28th in points per game, 25th in rushing YPG, and 19th in passing YPG. In addition Marc Bulger was 30th in QB rating behind such Hall of Famers as Cleo Lemon, Kyle Boller, and Tarvaris Jackson.
Enter 2008 where every team starts 0-0 and with hopes sky high. The Rams offense promises to be better in 2008, how could it not be. The Rams picked up Al Saunders as their new/old offensive coordinator to try and bring the Greatest Show On Turf back. Along with Saunders the Rams acquired Jacob Bell and Josh Brown as huge free agent pick ups. Hopefully a healthy O-line of Orlando Pace, Jacob Bell, Brett Romberg, Richie Incognito and Alex Barron will be able to keep the pressure off Marc Bulger long enough for him to make some plays to "Big Game" Torry Holt, and the other fleet footed receivers. Saunders will feature Steven Jackson who should have a monster season. In addition the Rams drafted speed in Donnie Avery and Kennan Burton to stretch the field. The Rams offense should be exciting in 2008 but will the defense be able to hold their opponents down?
Defensive Diagnosis: The Rams were 31st in points allowed in 2007, only ahead of the Detroit Lions. Jim Haslett gets a lot of credit in St. Louis for his "junk" defenses and his hard nose attitude etc. however what are the bottom line results? Haslett has been the defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints and Rams over for the last 5 years and his teams have been in the bottom half of points allowed every year. The Rams have been no better than 25th in points allowed over the past 4 seasons under Larry Marmie and Haslett, this has to change for them to have any hope in 2008.
The Rams drafted Chris Long with the second pick in the 2008 NFL draft, in hopes of improving their pass pressure. The front four should be pretty strong this year with Long, Leonard Little, Clifton Ryan, and Adam Carriker. The Rams also have decent depth along the line even with Claude Wroten gone.
The linebackers concern me a great deal heading into the season. Beyond Pro Bowl caliber Will Witherspoon there is not much depth. PisaTinoisamoa is still expected to start along with street free agent Quinton Culberson. It is a must that draft picks Chris Chamberlain or David Vobora (Mr. irrelevant) make the squad. The Rams may look back and wish they drafted Curtis Lofton LB from Oklahoma with their second-round pick instead of Donnie Avery.
The secondary is very sporadic, they play well for a period of time but then will give up a big play. Tye Hill and Fakhir brown will once again anchor the corners, with Ron Bartell and Jonathan Wade getting a lot of action as well. Oshiomogho Atogwe led the team and NFC with 8 interceptions in 2007. Atogwe along with aging Corey Chavous will patrol deep. Chavous only has three interceptions over the past three years and seems to be slowing quite a bit, the Rams will need him to have a much better year in 2008.
The lack of depth at linebacker and secondary concerns me a great deal heading into the season. The Rams need many of their younger players to really catch on and play better. I think this defense once again will be on and off. The Rams need the defense to move into the middle tier of the NFL, but I think they are still a year away, and probably a couple more players away as well.
"Red Letter" Game: Unlike any other sport, in the NFL every game is called a must game, and there is no bigger game than your next game. The St. Louis Rams next game will be their season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. I know your thinking, "how can the Seattle games not be the biggest", well I believe this team needs confidence more than any other. The Rams can not start 0-1 with the oh- woe-is-me attitude. This team needs to come out of the box firing on all cylinders and letting it rip. Head into this game to win it, not just compete. How good will the 2008 version of the St. Louis Rams be if they can go on the road opening weekend into Philadelphia and win a game that nobody is going to expect them to win?
Projected Record/Outlook: 2008 Record 7-9. I look forward to the upcoming season but the Rams will have an uphill climb. With Isaac Bruce gone and the Rams putting in a whole new offense under new offensive coordinator Al Saunders, there will obviously be a big learning curve. The St. Louis Rams have a lot of talent on offense but still have many questions facing them this season along with a brutal early schedule. The Rams will need to be much tougher mentally in 2008 with their first seven games against Philadelphia, New York Giants, Seattle, Buffalo, Washington, Dallas and New England. Four of those games are on the road and there is a good chance four or five of those teams will be playoff teams in 2008. The Rams started 0-8 in 2007 and can not afford to start down that path in 08''. There are just too many questions, so even though the last half of the schedule is much easier I see the Rams realistically going 7-9.
Seattle Seahags: Lard ass "The Walrus" Mike Holmgren is now 60 years old, time to hit the trail dude. One of Holmgren's claims to fame is molding quarterbacks such as Brett Favre. That's great Mike you are known for teaching a QB who has played in the league for 20 years and still has not learned how to read a defense, great job! People will say he is great for getting to 3 Superbowls and winning 1, but we all know Superbowl XXXI was won because the Packers picked up Reggie White, and picking on Drew Bledsoe, shame on you!
P.S. Tell your 12th man to sit down so I can see the St. Louis Rams kick your ass (twice)!
San Francisco Forty-Whiners: Beating the Forty-Whiners is always a San Francisco Treat. However you did pick up Mike Martz and Isaac Bruce in their prime. Hey Mike Nolan "Nice Suit". (The Alan Parsons Project intro music playing) And now your San Francisco 49ers wide receivers, Bryant Johnson, Isaac Bruce, Jason Hill, Arnaz Battle, Ashley Lelie, and Dominique Zeigler. That's right I went there!
Arizona Deadbirds: Wait for itttttttttttttttttttttttttttt Bill Bidwill! Sure you outscored the St. Louis Rams 82 to 50 in 2007 but................... Bill Bidwill!
* At the time of writing Steven Jackson only has one year left on his current contract.
- Vince Vitale
Break-Out Player: Randy McMichael - McMichael had a down year in 2007 with 39 catches for 429 yards, and 3 touchdowns. McMichael averaged 65 catches for 671 yards his previous 3 seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Randy is a lot like Jeremy Shockey, he needs the ball early and often to let his emotions loose and to keep him happy and into the game. With Al Saunders as the new offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams I look for McMichael to get more catches in 2008. This years offense will feature Steven Jackson and Torry Holt, but a lack of depth at wide receiver will also help McMichael see more action.
Biggest Disappointment: Scott Linehan - Linehan is 11-21 so far as the St. Louis Rams head coach. I do not believe he is qualified or capable of being an NFL head football coach at this time. Linehan was a bad hire by a team that really made no effort to get a quality list of coaches to choose from. Linehan gets a lot of credit from when he was offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings, but a lot of jump balls to Randy Moss is not in the Rams play book. I hate feeling like we are just waiting out his tenure while Bulger, Pace, and Holt continue to get older. We had to go through 12 years of Bob Stull and Larry Smith with the Missouri Tigers, sometimes you just need to know when to fire someone. Linehan is far too soft to rally a 3-13 team and get them turned around quickly.
Fantasy Stud: Steven Jackson - This one is a no brainer. Steven is considered a top 10 draft pick in all fantasy leagues. In 2007 while only playing 12 games behind an awful offensive line Jackson still managed 1273 total yards. Projected through 16 games that is 1697 total yards. Orlando Pace, who only played one half of football last year, should be healthy to start the season. In addition the Rams picked up Jacob Bell and as their top pick up they now have Al Saunders as their offensive coordinator. Al Saunders is the man who has been the offensive coordinator behind the career years of Marshall Faulk, Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson. Look for Jackson to catch a ton more balls than the 38 he was able to grab in 07. *Jackson is in the last year of his contract and is going to go out and have a huge year. I see Jackson putting up 2000 total yards with at least 10 total touchdowns.
Offensive Outlook: Orlando Pace hurt his shoulder in the first half, of the first game of the season in 2007 against the Carolina Panthers. That is all you really need to know about the Rams offense in 07'. With devastating injuries to the O-line along with Bulger, Bruce, Bennett and Jackson all getting hurt, 2007 was a disaster. The Rams finished 28th in points per game, 25th in rushing YPG, and 19th in passing YPG. In addition Marc Bulger was 30th in QB rating behind such Hall of Famers as Cleo Lemon, Kyle Boller, and Tarvaris Jackson.
Enter 2008 where every team starts 0-0 and with hopes sky high. The Rams offense promises to be better in 2008, how could it not be. The Rams picked up Al Saunders as their new/old offensive coordinator to try and bring the Greatest Show On Turf back. Along with Saunders the Rams acquired Jacob Bell and Josh Brown as huge free agent pick ups. Hopefully a healthy O-line of Orlando Pace, Jacob Bell, Brett Romberg, Richie Incognito and Alex Barron will be able to keep the pressure off Marc Bulger long enough for him to make some plays to "Big Game" Torry Holt, and the other fleet footed receivers. Saunders will feature Steven Jackson who should have a monster season. In addition the Rams drafted speed in Donnie Avery and Kennan Burton to stretch the field. The Rams offense should be exciting in 2008 but will the defense be able to hold their opponents down?
Defensive Diagnosis: The Rams were 31st in points allowed in 2007, only ahead of the Detroit Lions. Jim Haslett gets a lot of credit in St. Louis for his "junk" defenses and his hard nose attitude etc. however what are the bottom line results? Haslett has been the defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints and Rams over for the last 5 years and his teams have been in the bottom half of points allowed every year. The Rams have been no better than 25th in points allowed over the past 4 seasons under Larry Marmie and Haslett, this has to change for them to have any hope in 2008.
The Rams drafted Chris Long with the second pick in the 2008 NFL draft, in hopes of improving their pass pressure. The front four should be pretty strong this year with Long, Leonard Little, Clifton Ryan, and Adam Carriker. The Rams also have decent depth along the line even with Claude Wroten gone.
The linebackers concern me a great deal heading into the season. Beyond Pro Bowl caliber Will Witherspoon there is not much depth. PisaTinoisamoa is still expected to start along with street free agent Quinton Culberson. It is a must that draft picks Chris Chamberlain or David Vobora (Mr. irrelevant) make the squad. The Rams may look back and wish they drafted Curtis Lofton LB from Oklahoma with their second-round pick instead of Donnie Avery.
The secondary is very sporadic, they play well for a period of time but then will give up a big play. Tye Hill and Fakhir brown will once again anchor the corners, with Ron Bartell and Jonathan Wade getting a lot of action as well. Oshiomogho Atogwe led the team and NFC with 8 interceptions in 2007. Atogwe along with aging Corey Chavous will patrol deep. Chavous only has three interceptions over the past three years and seems to be slowing quite a bit, the Rams will need him to have a much better year in 2008.
The lack of depth at linebacker and secondary concerns me a great deal heading into the season. The Rams need many of their younger players to really catch on and play better. I think this defense once again will be on and off. The Rams need the defense to move into the middle tier of the NFL, but I think they are still a year away, and probably a couple more players away as well.
"Red Letter" Game: Unlike any other sport, in the NFL every game is called a must game, and there is no bigger game than your next game. The St. Louis Rams next game will be their season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. I know your thinking, "how can the Seattle games not be the biggest", well I believe this team needs confidence more than any other. The Rams can not start 0-1 with the oh- woe-is-me attitude. This team needs to come out of the box firing on all cylinders and letting it rip. Head into this game to win it, not just compete. How good will the 2008 version of the St. Louis Rams be if they can go on the road opening weekend into Philadelphia and win a game that nobody is going to expect them to win?
Projected Record/Outlook: 2008 Record 7-9. I look forward to the upcoming season but the Rams will have an uphill climb. With Isaac Bruce gone and the Rams putting in a whole new offense under new offensive coordinator Al Saunders, there will obviously be a big learning curve. The St. Louis Rams have a lot of talent on offense but still have many questions facing them this season along with a brutal early schedule. The Rams will need to be much tougher mentally in 2008 with their first seven games against Philadelphia, New York Giants, Seattle, Buffalo, Washington, Dallas and New England. Four of those games are on the road and there is a good chance four or five of those teams will be playoff teams in 2008. The Rams started 0-8 in 2007 and can not afford to start down that path in 08''. There are just too many questions, so even though the last half of the schedule is much easier I see the Rams realistically going 7-9.
Seattle Seahags: Lard ass "The Walrus" Mike Holmgren is now 60 years old, time to hit the trail dude. One of Holmgren's claims to fame is molding quarterbacks such as Brett Favre. That's great Mike you are known for teaching a QB who has played in the league for 20 years and still has not learned how to read a defense, great job! People will say he is great for getting to 3 Superbowls and winning 1, but we all know Superbowl XXXI was won because the Packers picked up Reggie White, and picking on Drew Bledsoe, shame on you!
P.S. Tell your 12th man to sit down so I can see the St. Louis Rams kick your ass (twice)!
San Francisco Forty-Whiners: Beating the Forty-Whiners is always a San Francisco Treat. However you did pick up Mike Martz and Isaac Bruce in their prime. Hey Mike Nolan "Nice Suit". (The Alan Parsons Project intro music playing) And now your San Francisco 49ers wide receivers, Bryant Johnson, Isaac Bruce, Jason Hill, Arnaz Battle, Ashley Lelie, and Dominique Zeigler. That's right I went there!
Arizona Deadbirds: Wait for itttttttttttttttttttttttttttt Bill Bidwill! Sure you outscored the St. Louis Rams 82 to 50 in 2007 but................... Bill Bidwill!
* At the time of writing Steven Jackson only has one year left on his current contract.
- Vince Vitale
Original Story:
