Watercooler: Who needs to step up for Rams?

Who needs to step up for Rams?
BY ROGER HENSLEY
Posted: Thursday, October 14, 2010

QUESTION: Who is one Rams player that you think will have to step up and have a huge game this weekend for the Rams to have a chance to beat the Chargers?

JIM THOMAS

With Mark Clayton done for the year, somebody needs to step up in the receiving corps. The best remaining candidate for that, at least perhaps until Michael Hoomanawanui gets his legs back under him, is Brandon Gibson. Gibson has good quickness and decent size. It’s all a matter of gaining consistent separation and having the focus to avoid drops of routine throws.

BRYAN BURWELL

It can’t be one player. If it is only one player, the Rams will lose. It has to be the same formula that was used during the two-game winning streak. Strong defense, no dropped passes, bad penalties, drive-killing turnovers. The Rams can play with most of the average teams in the NFL when they play mistake-free football. But they can and will lose to anyone when they get sloppy like they did last week and the first two weeks of the season.

JEFF GORDON

Brandon Gibson has flashed big-play potential at receiver. He has also dropped some passes. With Mark Clayton, somebody besides Danny Amendola has to get open for Sam Bradford. Gibson has the rest of this season to establish himself as a NFL receiver. Can he make the most of it? Yes. Will he make the most of it? We’ll see. Gibson is like so many Rams: He has the talent to play in the NFL but he still must prove he can make a difference at this level.

BILL COATS

Not one player, but one unit – the offensive line. The Rams’ best chance is to keep the Chargers’ high-powered offense off the field. To do that, they have to run the ball effectively in order to knock time off the clock. If the line can give Steven Jackson room to grind out 20-25 carries with success, the Rams will have a chance.

KATHLEEN NELSON

I think the Rams would be better off if no one had a huge game but if every one of the receivers stepped it up a bit. Danny Amendola can’t contribute much more, so it’s time for Brandon Gibson to contribute more. I think the tight ends will be more involved as well.