2009 Rams "Comeback Player of the Year"

[AvengerRam]

Who do you see turning things around from a sub-par 2008?

[Mooselini]

I want to say Will Witherspoon, but he has been injured. I'm not going to say he's been playing like crap due to his injury. It isn't fair.

However, the player I think will have the come back year is Marc Bulger. He has been gaining confidence in his line as of late. These next two games will show whether he trusts them again or not.

Of course, with the offseason, youre looking at three new starters on the line. My opinion, a center, RG (probably Greco) and our rookie OT at RT. If this line can be solid, the rookie receivers learning the game more, then I have a feeling Bulger will come back to his old self.

[BIG-BLUE]

Voted Bulger, even tho I'm not a huge Bulger fan. If things come together & Bulger has a banner year, then the Rams will be on the road to recovery sooner rather than later & we can start the grooming process of a young QB for the future giving him some time, learning the life of a NFL QB without being feed to the wolves.

[live4ramin]

James "the professional" Hall

[Bar-bq]

I think Jackson will have the best season; whether it's a 'comeback' or not is debatable.

[Nick_Weasel]

James "the professional" Hall

Hall's had a pretty solid '08.

[jkramsfan]

I picked Bulger because if we want to have any type of decent season next year he has to play much better than he has .

[Azul e Oro]

It's Bulger or bust for The Rams in 2009,imo.

And it's all about the short game in all its aspects.

Better line play to free up RBs/TEs for the short middle. And consistently grind out those 3-4 yd runs that keep drives alive & get you to the RZ where your skill guys can do their thing.

Better play from the new WRs, particularly in shorter route running and blitz reads. Either Holt regains his connection with Bulger or we need a replacement fast. He was MB's best RZ target in "06 when he caught 9TDs, this year 1. MB's rating in the RZ was 108.1, this year 65.0.

And then there are the sacks...weren't the Rams aiming for 29 or fewer this year? We're already at 39....

MB simply needs to be better in all areas that ARE solely under his control. Would it have killed the guy to get fired up when he made that catch last game? On the other hand,good to see him barking at guys when they mess up. I give him a semi-pass on a lot of the late game & super long ball INTs but there's no doubt he needs to regain the field vision, accuracy, and decision-making ability that made him the deadliest QB in The Red Zone in 06. I've wondered several times this year whether the combo of knee and shoulder injuries have robbed him of his quick release.

I'd like to see TG or BB playing before the end of the year to help MB enter the off season as physically sound as possible,even if only in the second half of the games.

Of course, it won't happen if The Rams real comeback player of the year, the braintrust, fails to fire on all synapses.

[eldfan]

I say Little with a soft voice.

[maineram]

I had to go with other and say BENNETT. If he stays healthy and plays on Sunday he has to be comeback free agent of the decade.

Maine -

[laram0]

Steven Jackson

If we are going to have any success next season at all. Jackson has to have a big season. We (as Devaney said in his interview) need to build our offense around Jackson. If Devaney does in fact use the draft and/or free agency to improve our offensive woes. Jackson will have a huge season in 2009.

GO RAMS!

[RealRam]

Of course, it won't happen if The Rams real comeback player of the year, the Braintrust, fails to fire on all synapses.

Excellent post AeO.

I voted for Jax. Both he and Bulger are in deep debt with the Rams organization and, particularly, with the FANS. Bennett is too. And oh, so is Bell -- [that Bulger, Bennett & Bell association needs to pay up].

But I'd like to focus on Steven Jackson on this one. Hopefully he'll have a better, stronger OL to work with.

[Azul e Oro]

Thx RealRam

No doubt that SJ is the only Ram who can singlehandedly change games in our favor. It just won't happen consistently enough for us to be a real contender.

Bulger & the rest don't need to be stellar,just competent for The Rams to make a real leap forward powered by SJ.If he stays healthy, I don't see him needing to be much better except as a blocker in pass pro.

It does get my sangre pumping to think what he could do if all the players you mentioned played up to their potential,if not their contracts.

Everything I've heard from Devaney makes me hopeful that the braintrust can make a comeback.

Go Rams Now & Forever

[RamsInfiniti]

Hall's had a pretty solid '08.

A very solid year for situational player, which likely means we'll let him go and be productive for someone else ...

I am going with Bulger. The line is coming together, and the young WR's will have more experience. He will return to pro bowl form ...

[shower beers]

A very solid year for situational player, which likely means we'll let him go and be productive for someone else ...

I am going with Bulger. The line is coming together, and the young WR's will have more experience. He will return to pro bowl form ...

Now that's confidence. While I don't think he'll get quite back to that form, I feel that he will improve, especially when he has Andre Smith on the line, and Tim Tebow to throw to.

I don't think it will be Hill, as I can see him easily getting bumped down the depth chart, with the emergence of Bartell, King, Craft and Manning.

If Bennett does ANYTHING, would it not be considered a comeback, after accomplishing nothing this year?

I'm hoping we take another LB in this years draft, and Witherspoon will have a much better 2009 campaign because of it. So, he gets my vote.