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Aging offense won't be able to bail team out anymore
By Stephen Nover of Covers.com
The Rams have had a nice five-year run. Since 1999, St. Louis has won 70 percent of its games making the playoffs four times while reaching the Super Bowl twice and winning once.
But there are ominous clouds signaling that good times may be coming to an end for the Rams.
The Rams have always been careless with the ball. They’ve led the league three straight years in turnovers. Their high-powered offense, though, has been able to bail them out. That may not be the case anymore.
The great Marshall Faulk is 31. That’s old for a running back. He’s slowing down and becoming injury-prone. Isaac Bruce also is 31 and isn’t as dangerous as he once was. Faulk has missed at least two games each of the past four years. If he goes down again, the Rams are in trouble because backup Lamar Gordon is out after ankle surgery and rookie Steven Jackson is too raw.
Quarterback Marc Bulger is fragile and interception-prone. The Rams only have washed-up Chris Chandler in case Bulger gets hurt. The Rams may have to begin the season, too, with a makeshift offensive line. Both center Dave Wohlabaugh and right tackle Kyle Turley are out indefinitely with injuries, guard Adam Timmerman has a bad shoulder and All-Pro left tackle Orlando Pace is doing his annual disruptive holdout.
Maybe it’s time to place a call to Jackie Slater. He did finally retire, didn’t he?
At least the Rams have their defense to bail them out. Yeah, right. The Rams' undersized front seven are vulnerable to ground attacks. At last remembrance, the Panthers were ending the Rams’ season, rushing for 216 yards and averaging 5.3 yards a carry in a playoff victory.
Don’t be surprised if the Rams defense gets worse. Grant Wistrom, the Rams’ best overall defensive lineman, signed with division rival Seattle. Leonard Little, their top pass rusher, is facing a possible suspension after another DUI arrest. And respected defensive coordinator Lovie Smith now heads up the Bears.
Also don’t look for Jeff Wilkins to make 39 of 42 field goals. That was a career year. His lifetime percentage before last season was 79 percent, not 93 percent.
Luckily for the Rams, they play in the NFC West, which means four games against weaklings San Francisco and Arizona. So oddsmakers have set St. Louis’ over/under regular season win mark at either 9 1/2 or 10. I see the Rams having trouble reaching 10 victories even being in an easy division.
Starting with an away game in Week 2 against the Falcons, the Rams have a four-game stretch where they play three road games in four weeks. Following their bye, the Rams have four tough games in a row. They host the Patriots on Nov. 7. Then they host the Seahawks. This is followed by road games at the Bills and Packers. If the Rams defeat the Seahawks at home, they face a letdown situation the following week against what should be an improved Bills team in possible cold weather.
Those believing the Rams can win the Super Bowl again need to do some heavy shopping. Future book odds on the Rams winning the Super Bowl range from 5-1 up to 22-1.
On the fantasy front, be careful with Faulk. He’s not a first-round pick anymore. The earliest to take him might be mid-second round, and that’s only if a huge run on running backs happens in your league.
Torry Holt is the consensus third-best wide receiver, behind only Randy Moss and Marvin Harrison. Holt is tremendous in yardage leagues, but until last year had never scored more than seven touchdowns in a season since joining the NFL in 1999.
Bulger is a starting fantasy quarterback, but shouldn’t be taken early. Neither should Wilkens. Let another owner reach too soon for him. Rams players are still worth grabbing, but St. Louis isn’t a fantasy gold mine anymor
By Stephen Nover of Covers.com
The Rams have had a nice five-year run. Since 1999, St. Louis has won 70 percent of its games making the playoffs four times while reaching the Super Bowl twice and winning once.
But there are ominous clouds signaling that good times may be coming to an end for the Rams.
The Rams have always been careless with the ball. They’ve led the league three straight years in turnovers. Their high-powered offense, though, has been able to bail them out. That may not be the case anymore.
The great Marshall Faulk is 31. That’s old for a running back. He’s slowing down and becoming injury-prone. Isaac Bruce also is 31 and isn’t as dangerous as he once was. Faulk has missed at least two games each of the past four years. If he goes down again, the Rams are in trouble because backup Lamar Gordon is out after ankle surgery and rookie Steven Jackson is too raw.
Quarterback Marc Bulger is fragile and interception-prone. The Rams only have washed-up Chris Chandler in case Bulger gets hurt. The Rams may have to begin the season, too, with a makeshift offensive line. Both center Dave Wohlabaugh and right tackle Kyle Turley are out indefinitely with injuries, guard Adam Timmerman has a bad shoulder and All-Pro left tackle Orlando Pace is doing his annual disruptive holdout.
Maybe it’s time to place a call to Jackie Slater. He did finally retire, didn’t he?
At least the Rams have their defense to bail them out. Yeah, right. The Rams' undersized front seven are vulnerable to ground attacks. At last remembrance, the Panthers were ending the Rams’ season, rushing for 216 yards and averaging 5.3 yards a carry in a playoff victory.
Don’t be surprised if the Rams defense gets worse. Grant Wistrom, the Rams’ best overall defensive lineman, signed with division rival Seattle. Leonard Little, their top pass rusher, is facing a possible suspension after another DUI arrest. And respected defensive coordinator Lovie Smith now heads up the Bears.
Also don’t look for Jeff Wilkins to make 39 of 42 field goals. That was a career year. His lifetime percentage before last season was 79 percent, not 93 percent.
Luckily for the Rams, they play in the NFC West, which means four games against weaklings San Francisco and Arizona. So oddsmakers have set St. Louis’ over/under regular season win mark at either 9 1/2 or 10. I see the Rams having trouble reaching 10 victories even being in an easy division.
Starting with an away game in Week 2 against the Falcons, the Rams have a four-game stretch where they play three road games in four weeks. Following their bye, the Rams have four tough games in a row. They host the Patriots on Nov. 7. Then they host the Seahawks. This is followed by road games at the Bills and Packers. If the Rams defeat the Seahawks at home, they face a letdown situation the following week against what should be an improved Bills team in possible cold weather.
Those believing the Rams can win the Super Bowl again need to do some heavy shopping. Future book odds on the Rams winning the Super Bowl range from 5-1 up to 22-1.
On the fantasy front, be careful with Faulk. He’s not a first-round pick anymore. The earliest to take him might be mid-second round, and that’s only if a huge run on running backs happens in your league.
Torry Holt is the consensus third-best wide receiver, behind only Randy Moss and Marvin Harrison. Holt is tremendous in yardage leagues, but until last year had never scored more than seven touchdowns in a season since joining the NFL in 1999.
Bulger is a starting fantasy quarterback, but shouldn’t be taken early. Neither should Wilkens. Let another owner reach too soon for him. Rams players are still worth grabbing, but St. Louis isn’t a fantasy gold mine anymor
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