Season Review: St. Louis Rams

Record Overview: 1-15



Remember the “Greatest Show on Turf?” This Rams team was perhaps the furthest thing from those great offensive teams. You could tell they were playing hard but they seemed to be unable to keep themselves from screwing up at the wrong time. While they only tied for tenth in the league in penalties with 100, but they had 24 false starts, 15 offensive holding calls and 10 unnecessary roughness, showing a lack of fundamentals and discipline. That’s odd considering how tough minded Head Coach Steve Spagnulo is. An interesting note on these penalties is that you can directly attribute 18% of their 834 penalty yards to two players, Richie Incognito and Alex Barron. Incognito, who was cut after several personal foul penalties in the game against Tennessee, was only guilty of six penalties during the entirety of his time with the Rams this season. However, two of those penalties were the idiotic personal fouls that got him cut and three more were committed in the first game of the season, which accounted for 41% of the penalty yards in that first game. Barron, on the other hand, was guilty of just not being confident enough to handle the best pass rushers in the game. He has always had problems with false starts and, while he was less guilty of them this year than in years previous, but he had a penalty in 11 of 16 games. These penalties were major problem and they need to be worked out over the course of the offseason if the Rams want to become a better team.

Another major problem that hurt the Rams was the fact that there was little continuity on the team. 13 players ended up on injured reserve and a number of other players who ended the season hurt. Three different quarterbacks started games at various points during the season and none of them played particularly well. This of course wasn’t helped by the fact that the starting offensive line only had all five starters playing at the same time for the first two games of the season. If it wasn’t the rookie Jason Smith missing time with a knee injury and the last 5 games with a concussion or Jacob Bell tearing a hamstring muscle and missing the last two games, it was Incognito getting hurt and missing a couple of games in the middle of the season then getting cut for his idiotic actions in week 12. Backup Adam Goldberg started in all but the first two games at almost any position he was needed.

The Wide Receivers didn’t help much either. What started the season as a young group that needed a playmaker to appear ended the season in much the same fashion. Laurent Robinson started the season opposite Donnie Avery and looked like a real steal after trading a seventh round pick for him in the offseason, but he ultimately broke his leg in week three that cost him the season and cost the Rams a good chance to see what they had long term in him. Keenan Burton then stepped in and was playing pretty well though not real explosively when he injured his knee and missed the rest of the season. Brandon Gibson and Danny Amendola then stepped in and did show talent. But all of this change didn’t help the Quarterbacks in establishing a rhythm within the offense. Also, during all of this Donnie Avery, one of the few players who started all 16 games, went through a rash of injuries (8 to be exact). At least in his case, he missed very little time and the worst of his injuries (a stress fracture in the left foot and a concussion) happened at times when they wouldn’t effect his performance during the season (the facture during the preseason and was healed before the season started and the concussion in the last game of the season.)

Then there was the defense, which was just as inconsistent in terms of lineup as the offense. The defensive line was relatively stable except for the defensive tackle spot opposite Clifton Ryan (who started all sixteen games). That spot was originally where former first round pick Adam Carriker was supposed to start, but then he tore a muscle in the same shoulder that he has had injured in years previously. To replace him, they ended up starting three different players at his spot. Starting with Gary Gibson who ended his season when he broke a bone in his leg. Then they throw in LaJuan Ramsey who is eventually replaced by the draft pick Dorell Scott. Scott and Ramsey had some good moments and may have place in the rotation going forward. However, for this season, they didn’t fill in well for Carriker. Also, it was odd how this one injury hurt the line play so much when all the other starters were healthy for the majority of the season. Leonard Little did miss some time but only a few games and Chris Long was there the entire season as was Ryan. It was a rough showing considering they didn’t get to the QB much during the course of the season.

Linebacker was less of an issue, but there was still some major upheaval that took place during the course of the season. Yes, it is possible to have major upheaval that doesn’t affect play on the field. James Laurinaitis started all 16 games and was a great pick, playing well in all aspects of the game. The issues were at the outside linebacker spots. David Vobora, the former Mr. Irrelevant of the 2008 draft, started at strongside spot for every game that he was eligible and he was never in over his head. The spot opposite him was the area of much upheaval. Solid starter Will Witherspoon was traded to Philadelphia for a seventh round pick and Brandon Gibson at the trade deadline following week 6. That was three games into the four game suspension of David Vobora for use of performance enhancing substances, leaving the Rams in a bit of a bind, but at the same time addressing a more immediate need at wide receiver. Paris Lenon was signed when Vobora was suspended and played at his spot during the first three games of the suspension and then took over at the weakside when Witherspoon was traded. During the one game when Vobora was suspended and Lenon was on the weakside, Larry Grant started on the strongside and played admirably. Grant and backup Chris Chamberlain also were important special teams players and add good depth to this unit.

The secondary really was a mess, notably at the cornerback position. Ron Bartell played fairly well, but was guilty of three defensive pass interferences and had another called against him that was declined. Even the best corners have a few of these penalties, but on a team that had been struggling to keep good offenses from finding a rhythm, the last thing that one of their best defenders needs to do is give those offenses a first down. The corner spot opposite him was yet another spot where there was a rotating door of players. The season started with Jonathan Wade starting opposite Bartell. Wade played alright for the five games he started, but was benched after week 5 for poor performance. After which rookie Bradley Fletcher started two games before severely injuring his knee which ended his season, opening the door for Quincy Butler and Justin King to get starts for the remainder of the season. Safety, on the other hand, was a position of strength through the entirety of the season, even though O.J. Atogwe and James Butler both missed several games. Craig Dahl played the run very well during the games he was starting. His coverage was somewhat questionable and he will never really push Atogwe or Butler for the starter spot, but he will definitely play well when called on. Butler continued where he left off in New York, a great run defender and a solid coverage defender who could become confused in his assignments. However, he had a solid season even though he missed a couple of games. Then there is Atogwe, the best defender on the team. A strong tackler and coverage defender who has a nose for the ball that is reminiscent of Charles Woodson. He can cause turnovers in any number of ways and can turn those turnovers into points if he has the space and time to do so.

Overall this was one terrible season. The injuries and constantly changing lineup allowed for neither side of the ball to develop and great deal of chemistry with one another. Veteran players only got older and one year closer to free agency creating more personnel problems for the team and many of the promising younger players got hurt and gained little in terms of experience. On the positive side though, those players who were healthy got good experience and were able to build some chemistry. Also, the Rams were able to discover some good players who would likely have never been given a chance if the injuries never took place, like Danny Amendola. Also, the Rams never quit no matter how hard the circumstances, showing that this team is high in character which will serve them well going forward.


Team MVP: Steven Jackson


This should be no surprise to anyone. The only Pro Bowler on the team, a top five rusher in NFL, led the team in catches (again), played through a painful back injury at the tail end of the season and played hard through all of the changes in the offensive line. The man should have been given medal for not shutting down at the end of the season. He runs hard and is shifty, fast and powerful as a runner. To anyone who wonders if he was worth the big contract extension he signed last offseason, I think this season should show you he was.


Offensive Player of the Year: Steven Jackson


Must I repeat myself?


Defensive Player of the Year: O.J. Atogwe


I feel kind of bad about making this pick, not because it is a bad pick, but because it seems so obvious. Atogwe is a lot like Charles Woodson playing at the safety position. He is excellent in coverage and is able to pull the bait-and-switch with the best of them. The comparison to Charles Woodson also comes in his ability to both intercept passes and force fumbles. He also plays the run well and is someone that offenses have to account for in game planning. The turnovers are what got him this award as opposed to James Laurinaitis.


Rookie of the Year: James Laurinaitis


Speaking of whom, Laurinaitis is obvious as he rookie of the year for this team. He started every game he played in, led the team in tackles, adjusted well to calling the plays for a professional team, blitzed well, covered well and brought an enthusiasm that seemed to be lacking before he came in. While he didn’t put up astounding statistics in any individual aspect, other than tackling, he was excellent in the aspect that matters the most, assignments. He was almost always in the spot that he needed to be through the course of the season, notably in blitz packages. It also helps his cause that rookies like Brooks Foster, Bradley Fletcher and, of course, Jason Smith missed a lot of games this season with injuries. Regardless, Laurinaitis was a big positive in a very poor season.


Breakout Player of the Year: Chris Long


Some would disagree with this pick because Long didn’t have a ton of sacks. I would say that this is exactly the point. He didn’t start out as a terror off the edge. He started off very much like he finished last year, playing hard and making some plays, but overall not the kind of impact you expect for a top-flight defensive end. At the end of the season, he was doing something that is even more important than sacking the quarterback….making the quarterback uncomfortable in the pocket. The logic is this, sacking the quarterback affects that player once. Making the quarterback uncomfortable in the pocket, which includes sacking the quarterback, affects that player for the entirety of the game. Hitting the quarterback, sacking him, causing pressure and batting down passes are parts of making that pocket uncomfortable to stand in and deliver the ball with confidence. This leads to hurried passes, poor mechanics and poor decision making, which of course helps lead to turnovers. He also played the run very well, doing all the little things that coaches, scouts and teammates appreciate and fans might not,


Surprise Player of the Year: David Vobora/Keith Null


This one was impossible for me to pick just one. Vobora was the very last pick of the 2008 draft and was considered nothing more than a practice squad body. This year however he started every game he was eligible and played fairly well in every game. He didn’t always have the best assignment coverage nor did he ever threaten a team with his marginal athleticism. However, he played hard and was quite good is run support and got better in coverage as the season went along. He came out of nowhere to become a solid addition to the Rams defense.

Null is a very different kind of story. He wasn’t expected to do much when he was brought on because he was a sixth round pick from a Division II school, West Texas A&M. However, he not only got some playing time, he started four games and was more impressive than many will give him credit for. He did make the classic rookie mistakes of staring down receivers and not always moving well within the pocket and had his fair share of problems adjusting to the speed of the pro game. However, after all of that he never let the game overwhelm him and get him down. He was described as unflappable and as being a strong presence in the huddle, that’s the kind of intangibles that make a player like him a possibility as a future starter. His arm strength and accuracy were also quite impressive and if he develops well over the offseason, he could end up as the long-term backup if not the future starter.



(The reason I am looking at the 2006 draft and not one of the more recent drafts is very simple. I believe that it takes four full seasons to truly and accurately grade a draft class. In that regard, I am not going to quickly jump on the 2009 draft class and make snap judgments, it’s now time to examine the draft of four years ago.)


2006 Draft Review and Final Grade: D-


Tye Hill, Cornerback, Clemson


Known as a fast, athletic corner that had good instincts and great measurables, Hill has had a hard career. In his rookie year, he played pretty well, not great, but good enough to show his promise. The following season however, he was plagued by injuries and missed the majority of the season. He then came back the next year and was quickly out matched in terms of speed by Desean Jackson, ruining his confidence in himself and his abilities. He was benched halfway through the season and was traded to the Falcons this past offseason for a seventh round pick. With the Falcons he showed a bit more of that promise he once had and might factor in as the dime corner, but his fast fall from starter to backup on another team shows how quickly a career can fall. Hill is a bust.


Joe Klopfenstein, Tight End, Colorado


Another player who was coming out known for his crisp route running and good hands who never lived up to his billing. It didn’t help that he wasn’t a strong blocker to begin with, then adding the fact that he was never able to become the solid underneath target that the Rams were hoping for, just lead to him being expendable. He is currently with the Bills and not likely to stay past training camp. Another bust.


Claude Wroten, Defensive Tackle, LSU


This was a risky pick to being with. Wroten was known more for his character issues than he was for his play coming out. While he did have a couple of moments here and there through his first two years with the Rams, but he was often deactivated and eventually landed both a four game suspension and a year long suspension for violation of the substances abuse policy. He was caught with those violations in the course of one calendar year. He was released by the Rams before the season and hasn’t been picked up by anyone. Another bust.


Jon Alston, Linebacker, Stanford


A speedy linebacker who was expected to bring youth to the linebacking corp in St. Louis, was deactivated for the majority of his rookie season and then was cut the following year. He ended up signing with the Raiders and has been with them ever since, acting as a special teams ace and spot starter. In those roles he has been good so, the Rams blew it twice over. Once by drafting him too high, then by cutting him too early and losing the chance to have another solid player on their team. A bust to the Rams, but not to the Raiders.


Dominique Byrd, Tight End, USC


Much like Klopfenstein, Byrd was supposed to be a solid receiver who really only needed to grow as a blocker and stay out of trouble off the field. He succeeded in neither aspect. Poor performance along with an arrest and what was reported to be a lazy attitude during practice lead to him being cut after only his second season. He was out of football until this past offseason when the Cardinals gave him a chance. He lasted a couple of weeks into the season before being cut again in favor of other options. Bust.


Victor Adeyanju, Defensive End, Indiana


Well finally, someone who isn’t a bust. Victor Adeyanju isn’t only still with the team, he is a key contributor along the defensive line. He was originally considered to only be a run defender and had little value as a pass rusher. This was true for his first two seasons, where he played mostly as a rotational defensive end who specialized in run defending. However, over the last two season, he has grown into a pretty good all around defensive end. He can rush the passer much better now than he could previously and has been a solid member of the Rams since. He is still with the team and should get a contract extension, as minor as it may be. Good pick.


Marques Hagans, Wide Receiver, Virginia


A quarterback in college who was very fast and quick. However, when he got to the NFL, he struggled to find his way off the Rams practice squad and onto the field. After basically trying to learn his new position for two years, the Rams cut him and he found is way to the Chiefs, Colts and Redskins practice squads. He was cut from the Redskins before this past season and is looking for a new job. Bust.


Tim McGarigle, Linebacker, Northwestern


A tackling machine in college who figured to be a backup and special teams player at the next level. After spending his first two season rotating between the practice squad and the regular roster, the Rams released him and he hasn’t been seen since. Bust.


Mark Setterstrom, Guard, Minnesota


The only other pick from this draft still on the team. Setterstrom has had a number of opportunities to lock down one of the starting guard positions, but has always been beat out by other players. Also, injuries have hurt his cause as he has missed a lot of time with knee, shoulder and triceps injuries. He is likely to stay with the team for reasons of depth, but it is hard to call this a good pick because of all the injuries.


Tony Palmer, Tackle/Guard, Missouri


Palmer never even got to suit up for the Rams, he was waived early in training camp of his rookie year. He was picked up by the Packers and spent several years on that team trying to prove himself as a starter of the future. He was cut before last season and has been missing from the game since then. Bust.


Offseason Needs


There are several needs on the Rams, though not as many as some fans may lead you to believe. The safety position is set and needs no help. The runningback position is good condition too. A new backup may ne needed, but it’s hardly a major concern. Linebacker is pretty well established and only a few adjustments may be needed, the weakside spot may need a long-term starter as current starter Paris Lenon is likely going to leave in free agency. The defensive line needs some help. Both Leonard Little and James Hall are free agents this season and it’s unlikely that both will be brought back. To ensure that there isn’t a constant double teaming on Chris Long, they need to bring in veteran end who can help rush the passer. Also, their long snapper Chris Massey is also a free agent so look for them to try and re-sign him or to target someone similar to him in the draft, or even trade for another long snapper. In that case keep an on the Giants Jay Alford and Zak DeOssie. Both are backups on the defensive side of the ball, both played under Steve Spagnulo in 2007 and 2008, both are experienced long snappers. Both are also in the last two years of their contracts and Zak DeOssie was selected to the Pro Bowl as the long snapper this year. It would be tough to get them, but it would solve the problem.

Another couple of key free agents are Kyle Boller and Randy McMichael. Both would like to return but reports are that it is unlikely that either would return. I can see that with Boller, there are plenty of available QBs who could do just as well as him in a backup role. With McMichael however, I don’t see the logic. Tight end is major concern for this team and just letting a solid veteran player like McMichael leave like that is a mistake in my opinion. I do think they could probably find a good tight end in the draft, but just looking at their history in doing so does not inspire confidence. Also, I think it would be smart for the Rams to switch Alex Barron back to the right side and let Jason Smith take his place as the left tackle of the future, keep in mind that is assuming that they keep Alex Barron, he is a free agent this offseason. For all the problems I have with him, he does play well, I just wouldn’t trust him on the left side. Corner is a similar problem, they really need to figure out who will start opposite Ron Bartell in the offseason. Marc Bulger’s status is also concerning. Should he retire they will have to go directly to a young player or a spotgap, otherwise I would keep him as the starter until he decides to retire or the young player is ready. I believe that now would be a horrible time to cut him in spite of his salary.

So roughly in order, the Rams need to address: Defensive End

Tight End

Cornerback

Quarterback

Long Snapper

Wide Receiver

Offensive Line


1st-round Draft Prediction and Suggestions


1st Round Pick should be: Ndamukong Suh, Defensive Tackle, Nebraska.


You’re going to hear a lot about Suh’s physical abilities and production in the coming months so I won’t bore you with that. What I want to talk about is one play from Nebraska’s bowl victory that I think defines exactly what makes Suh such a great prospect. Arizona decides to run the ball to the same side as Suh (the right if memory serves), but the play is intended for the outside. The Arizona runningback patiently waits to see where the crease opens up and commits to that crease. Meanwhile, Suh has engaged the guard but has not overpowered him yet, but is also not being blocked. He is kind of just waiting to see what the runningback does. When the runningback committed to a specific hole, Suh throws the guard aside and meets the runningback at the hole, stopping him for a loss. This is the kind of intelligent play that one rarely sees from young defensive tackles, reading the offense and waiting for the runningback to commit to one spot before going to crush him. Also, understanding the specific runningback as a player is just as important as having the physical tools to defeat them. He is one of the rare players who is a truly can’t miss prospect. The Rams would be fools to pass on him for anyone else, barring injuries of course.


In terms of their other picks, the Rams could go a couple of ways. Personally, I think that too many people are jumping on the concept of grabbing the best QB available in the second round. I personally believe that if Mike Iupati, the massive guard from Idaho is available in the second round, that they should grab him and solidify the spot that was once occupied by Richie Incognito. Then they could address the QB issue in the third round with a player like Daryll Clark of Penn State or Dan LeFevour of Central Michigan. Additional, the wide receiver issue could be addressed in the fourth or fifth round with players like Freddie Barnes of Bowling Green, Blair White of Michigan State, Kerry Meier of Kansas or Chirs McGaha of Arizona State.

Another way they could go is to take the best QB available in the second round, likely Colt McCoy, and the address wide receiver in the third round with a player like Eric Decker of Minnesota. In those last couple of rounds they could look at some guard prospects, but I think the difference between the top of that class and the middle range of that class is too vast to consider it a viable option, either get them high or don’t get them at all. They could look at some young defensive ends like Jan Jorgenson of BYU (the guy who knocked Sam Bradford out of the game), Albert McClellan of Marshall or Greg Middleton of Indiana. There would also be a few young corners they could consider like Alterraun Verner of UCLA, Stephen Virgil of Virginia Tech or Walter McFadden of Auburn. I personally would go with the suggestion described earlier, but these are some good options should Iupati not be there at the top of the second round.