The St. Louis Rams begin the Scott Linehan era this year. Mike Martz is gone and it looks like Marshall Faulk is almost certain to retire. This is a year for the Rams to reinvent themseleves on offense. Jim Haslett takes over as defensive coordinator and will try to simply invent a defense in St. Louis. The Rams needed a fresh start and the coaching changes should at least help them move in a new direction.
One thing the Rams have in their favor is a solid offensive line. They took 3 offensive lineman in the first four rounds of last year's draft, which should start paying dividends this year. Orlando Pace is still one of the best left tackles in the NFL and 2005 first round pick Alex Barron is developing into a solid right tackle. C Andy McCollum (36) and LG Adam Timmerman (34) are getting up there in years, but they provide experience on the interior. The team has its choice of two more 2005 draft picks, Claude Terrell and Richie Incognito, at right guard. The Rams also added Todd Stuessie (Tampa Bay) in free agency for depth. The Rams no longer have one of the best lines in the league, but the current group easily ranks in the Top 10 or 15 in the NFL. The biggest concern on offense for the Rams is staying healthy, so having a good line is paramount.
Marc Bulger, Isaac Bruce, and Torry Holt all missed time with injuries last year. The Rams had to turn to rookie 7th-rounder Ryan Fitzpatrick when backup QB Jamie Martin (New Orleans) also went down. The team added 13-year vet Gus Frerotte to backup Bulger. Frerotte went 9-6 in 15 starts for the Dolphins last year (where Linehan was his offensive coordinator), including wins in the final 6 games of the season. If Bulger should get injured, Frerotte can step in and give the Rams a chance to win. Isaac Bruce is nearing the end of his career if he is not there already, but the Rams have two capable young receivers in Kevin Curtis (60 rec, 801 yards, 6 TD) and Shaun McDonald (46 rec, 523 yards). Both were restricted free agents, but the Rams made Kevin Curtis a $1.573 million qualifying offer, which would have required a first-round pick as compensation if he signed elsewhere. It was a bit of a surprise that no one tried to lure away McDonald who they only offered $721,600 (requiring a fourth-round pick).
The biggest change on offense will come from the sidelines. Linehan has vowed to use less spread-type formations and pound the ball with Steven Jackson (6'2", 231). A ball control offense should help the defense stay a lot fresher than they did when Martz was running the pass-first "Greatest Show on Turf." A commitment to running the ball will also keep defenses from blitzing as often, which should help keep Bulger upright. As a former offensive coordinator, Linehan is also an offensive minded coach, but the team will definitely do things a lot differently. The Rams still have a lot of talent at the skill positions and a solid offensive line. The scheme should help them avoid injuries better and releive some of the pressure on the defense. The team also drafted two talented tight ends, Joe Klopfenstein (Colorado) in the 2nd round and Dominique Byrd (USC) in the 3rd round. Utilizing the tight end is something Mike Martz never did, and it should help in the running game as well as in pass protection. The Rams also brought in Tony Fisher (Green Bay) who should help pick up the blitz and contribute as a pass-catcher out of the backfield on third down.
Jim Haslett inherits a defense that ranked 30th in yards allowed and 31st in points allowed in 2005. The adversity he faced with Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans should help him deal with this disaster of a defense. The team lost a leader in SS Adam Archuleta (Washington), but added a comparable SS Corey Chavous (Minnesota) to replace him. Corey Chavous has already taken a leadership role in mentoring RB Steven Jackson in the film room. According to Len Pasquarelli, he has been teaching Jackson "how to read different defensive fronts, how to discern where the overload might be, or from where a blitz might be coming, and where a cutback lane might develop for him." The Rams also added a natural leader in MLB Will Witherspoon (Carolina) and drafted an absolute burner in CB Tye Hill (4.38) with the 15th pick in the draft. Although he is small (5'9", 185), he is tough and willing to come up in run support and tackle. Chavous, Witherspoon, and Hill should help toughen up a soft defense.
The biggest change on defense will be the front four. Leonard Little is the only holdover with Ryan Pickett (Green Bay), Damione Lewis (Carolina) and Tyoka Jackson (Detroit) all departing in free agency. It was not a stellar group; Pickett was inconsistent, Lewis never lived up to expectations, and Jackson was showing his age. However, St. Louis did little to replace them. The only real addition was La'Roi Glover. He did not fit the 3-4 scheme in Dallas, but now he is reunited with former head coach Jim Haslett. Glover had 25 sacks in his two seasons under Haslett in New Orleans. The rest of the defensive line is nothing to brag about. After Witherspoon, the rest of the linebackers are weak. Chavous and Hill are the only players worth mentioning in the secondary that will struggle to improve on last year's effort when they allowed 26 passing touchdowns (only San Francisco and Tennessee allowed more).
The Rams will continue to be a strong offensive team, especially if they can stay healthy. The Rams will improve on defense (it would be hard not to) if Haslett can bring some toughness to the unit, and Linehan can successfully install a run-oriented offense. It will take awhile for the new coaches to make an impact, and the defense still doesn't have the personnel to be anything more than below average. The Rams will not challenge Seattle for the NFC West crown, but have a good chance to finish second in the division again (note: St. Louis has never finished worse than second in the realigned NFC West).
Key Additions: HC Scott Linehan (MIA), DC Jim Haslett (NO), QB Gus Frerotte (MIA), MLB Will Witherspoon (CAR), SS Corey Chavous (MIN), DT La'Roi Glover (DAL), CB Tye Hill (R), TE Joe Klopfenstein (R), RB Tony Fisher (GB).
Key Losses: SS Adam Archuleta (WAS), QB Jamie Martin (NO), RB Marshall Faulk (ret), DT Ryan Pickett (GB), DT Damione Lewis (CAR), DE Tyoka Jackson (DET).
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