Five surprise teams to watch in 2008

[shower beers]

I agree. Also, how can we, or the other teams listed, be suprise teams for 2008 if it's being predicted that they will be?

Ah, we've opened up a whole new realm of possibilities.

[bruce4life]

lets see out of the first 7 games.. we could go 3-4 and that would not be bad at all... I believe the seahawks will run out of magic this season

[MauiRam]

I think Clayton got it backwards .. Last year we were expected to do much better than we did, some pundits even projected us to win our division. The "surprise" was losing 80% of our starting O-line along with numerous other players on both sides of the ball .. One thing we must do for drastic improvement over last year is: stay healthy! Starting the year off with a win in Philly will be HUGE for us, and if Pace and Carriker are 100% by then, we have a good chance of pulling out a win. We have from now till September to game plan for the opener against Philly .. I think Al intends to earn his money and will prove he is against the iggles. It won't hurt that Al's most recent tenure was with an NFC East team .. The opening game could go a long way toward defining our season ..

[Chris58]

Not to be too picky, but Clayton thinks the Rams have a chance to win at least four more games than last year. I hope he is right. At least 4 more games means 7-9 or better. 8-8 would be a great improvement; if we go 9-7, it likely means playoffs. Go Rams!



[B][B]2. St. Louis Rams

Everything crashed in September when 80 percent of the Rams' starting offensive line went down with injuries. Marc Bulger lacks mobility, so he didn't have a chance to get off his passes without being hit, and the running game had no chance to get going. The Rams can't be as unlucky with injuries this year, so they have a chance to be at least four games better than their 3-13 disaster in 2007.
[/QUOTE]

[Rambos]

The one concern for the Rams is a tough first-half schedule that includes games against the Eagles, Giants, Redskins, Cowboys and Patriots.

Against these team if we win, we get respect. If we beat AZ,Whiners,Phins well that would add up to they have not played anyone. So if we win early we should get respect.

[Milan]

We will improve but I doubt we contend for the NFC West championship. At least not this year.

[RealRam]

B-R-I-N-G ... T-H-E-M ... O-N! -- GO RAMS!

[C-Mob 71]

I've been trying to tell my friends and family that the Rams were the best 3-13 team ever. I had high expectations last year, and if the line is healthy, i still have them for this year.

Super Bowl or bust.

Ok 8-8 or bust.

[laram0]

By John Clayton
ESPN.com

Surprise teams are the byproducts of good luck and good play.


2. St. Louis Rams

The 2008 schedule is slightly easier: The Rams will have a .512 strength of schedule as compared with last season's .488. The one concern for the Rams is a tough first-half schedule that includes games against the Eagles, Giants, Redskins, Cowboys and Patriots.

Am I reading this wrong?

John Clayton is saying our strentgh of schedule is easier in 2008 vs 2007?

Isn't .512 higher than .488? Is this that new math I'm hearing about?

Help.....