BY JEFF GORDON
Post-Dispatch Online Sports Columnist
09/01/2005
On paper, the Rams offense certainly looks explosive.
It appeared to be high-powered on the field, too, as the “Air Martz” attack strafed the Lions on “Monday Night Football” in Motown. So somebody just had to go there with coach Mike Martz during his weekly media briefing.
“It’s going to be a natural thing to compare this offense to years past,” Martz said.
So here goes:
* Quarterback:
Marc Bulger hasn’t reached the ludicrous heights attained by Kurt Warner during his glory years. Warner's statistics from 1999 through 2001 set the bar unrealistically high for his successor.
I mean, 41 touchdown passes and 13 intercceptions in ‘99? That’s not going to happen again. Warner is a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player and a Super Bowl MVP to boot. The franchise won’t likely have a QB do that again, either.
But Bulger is quietly making the statistical case that he, too, is one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks.
Back-up Jamie Martin appears to be solid, too, and Martz is touting Ryan Fitzpatrick as the Next New Thing.
* Running back: Marshall Faulk is headed for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In his prime, he was arguably the greatest all-purpose offensive threat of his era.
We can’t expect
Steven Jackson to produce at that level during his second NFL season. But Jackson’s powerful north/south running — combined with Faulk’s craftiness as a situational and change-of-pace back — creates an impressive combination.
If both stay healthy (with the help of the new Field Turf at the Edwards Jones Dome), Martz can invent new ways to attack defenses with a two-back offense. I particularly like Martz’s options with these two in the red zone, where the Rams have sputtered in recent seasons.
Jackson’s ability to hammer the ball between the tackles will make Faulk all the more dangerous as Martz moves him around the field to keep him in open space.
* Wide receiver:
Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce are still here and still at peak form. Third receiver Kevin Curtis is every bit as explosive as former Ram Az-Zahir Hakim and he has much better hands. Shaun McDonald also has big-play capability and
Dane Looker has many of the same skills of yesteryear third-down receiver Ricky Proehl.
“Just the speed of the three and four receivers is better than it’s ever been,” Martz said.
* Tight end: Martz raves about the potential tandem of Roland Williams, a hero from the good old days, and big Brandon Manumaleuna. Neither is a Pro Bowl candidate, but Williams understands the positional demands in this offense and he brings decent receiving and blocking skills to the field.
Manumaleuna still has much untapped potential . . . but we’re wondering if he will ever realize it. He makes some big plays and then blows some routine ones. If he does trend up this season, Martz will almost have too many weapons to choose from.
* Offensive line: Martz gushes about the preseason play of old warhorse Tom Nutten, who is currently filling the left guard slot. “In all my years with Tommy, he has never played this well, practiced this well,” Martz said.
Nutten, Andy McCollum, Adam Timmerman and
Orlando Pace have had lots of success together in St. Louis. Martz raves about the new right tackle, Rex Tucker, terming his play in Detroit as “exceptional.” He insists Tucker is a natural tackle, given his range, arm length, hand side and “punch.”
We’ll see. Top pick
Alex Barron ought to be ready to take over by midseason, if need be, and kids Blaine Saipaia and Claude Terrell. Back-up tackle Matt Willig has a history of staying healthy, unlike the just-departed Grant Williams.
This line remained in chaos all last season due to injuries, position shifting and the inexperienced of some fill-ins. If the unit comes together this season, Bulger will have a chance to exploit his wide array of weapons.
If it fails to solidify, Bulger will end up bruised, battered and then broken.
Overall, I’m impressed by the depth on this unit across the board. IF the unit stays healthy, IF the special teams can provide decent field position and IF the defense can get Bulger and Co. back on the field in timely fashion, the Rams will run and pass many foes ragged.
But will they score? In their prime, Warner and Faulk were masterful at finishing off drives. If Bulger, Jackson and the latter-day Faulk can do the same, the Rams could deliver one of the NFL’s biggest surprises this season.