BY BERNIE MIKLASZ
Post-Dispatch Sports Columnist
Friday, Aug. 27 2004
I like the Rams, and their fans, so I'm going to do everyone a favor:
I predict the 2004 Rams will finish 9-7 and miss the NFC playoffs.
And that's optimistic. A record of 8-8 is more realistic.
That's good news for observant readers who undoubtedly will recall that I
joined most residents of Western civilization in picking the Cardinals to
finish third in the National League Central this season, behind the Cubs and
the Astros.
So I figure a doom-and-gloom forecast is the least I can do for the Rams, who
have provided such entertaining and (mostly) fulfilling football for the town
and their fans since 1999. During this special five-year run, which represents
the golden era of NFL football in St. Louis, the Rams won 70 percent of their
regular-season games. They averaged 30 points per game. They made the playoffs
four times. They reached two Super Bowls, winning one. They produced MVPs in
quarterback Kurt Warner and running back Marshall Faulk. It really was The
Greatest Show on Turf.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and that's especially true in the
NFL, where the finest teams are eventually devoured by the jaws of the league
salary cap. With so many free-agent defections, it's difficult to stay on top.
The Rams managed to build to winning form through solid drafts and expert
salary-cap management by Jay Zygmunt. But there's been slippage. The Rams won
12 games last season, but five victories came by six points or fewer and could
have gone either way. Shockingly, their defense was slapped around during a
home playoff loss to Carolina, allowing 216 yards rushing at 5.3 yards per
carry. The offense finished ninth in total yards; that was down from the norm.
Drafts that once kept this team stocked and poised to compete have resulted in
too many recent misses. The Rams invested a lot of premium picks in their
defensive line and haven't received the anticipated impact.
Warner is gone, Faulk has slowed, and there are disturbing signs of
deterioration. Two starters on the offensive line (Kyle Turley and Dave
Wohlabaugh) are victims of injuries, and this jerry-rigged O-line will be
pressed to match last season's mediocre output of 3.6 yards per rushing
attempt. The defensive line is precariously thin. When the interior lines are a
team's most alarming areas of concern, major problems are likely.
When they were The Greatest Show, the Rams featured dominant performers at
multiple key positions. That's no longer the case. Scanning one scouting
service, I saw some eye-opening rankings. Marc Bulger was the 12th-rated QB.
Faulk was dropped to the No. 12 spot among halfbacks. Only one receiver (Torry
Holt) was listed among the league's top 20 wideouts. Orlando Pace was tabbed as
one of the NFL's premier offensive tackles, and guard Adam Timmerman was given
a good grade, but other residents of the current line were relegated to
back-of-the-pack status. And the Rams' tight ends and fullbacks were graded at
the bottom.
On defense, Leonard Little scored as the No. 7 defensive end, but the other
D-linemen were slotted far down the list. The Rams' highest-rated linebacker
(Tommy Polley) was No. 25 at his position, and he's slumping. The Rams'
starting cornerbacks (Jerametrius Butler, injured Travis Fisher) didn't crack
the top 35. Adam Archuleta is viewed as a top 10 safety. Aeneas Williams,
surprisingly, was left out of the top 25.
We can quibble with some rankings; certainly, Williams is worthy of more
respect, as is wide receiver Isaac Bruce. But clearly, there's been a decline
in the overall talent. Just glance at the Rams' roster . . . realistically, how
many positions still qualify for elite status? When compared to other groups
around the NFL, the Rams are well above average at only two spots - wide
receiver and safety.
Now, here's the important question: Can the Rams close this widening talent gap
during the course of the season? It's possible, but they face what appears to
be a brutally tough non-division schedule.
There is an upside, however. The offensive line could exceed expectations.
Maybe Faulk's legs can generate a few more thrilling Sundays. Perhaps rookie
running back Steven Jackson can make up for any O-line weakness by powering for
tough yards, on his own. If Bulger gets time to throw, he can choose from
several attractive targets. And if Bulger gets back to what he used to do so
beautifully - deliver with a quick release, show accuracy downfield and dump
the ball to avoid sacks and interceptions - then he'll claim a place among the
league's best QBs.
A young defense, led by its promising linebackers and corners, can blossom and
make a positive difference. The Rams should get good production from their
committee of defensive right ends. And maybe this is the year that defensive
tackles Damione Lewis and Ryan Pickett finally bust out.
But if the Rams are to hold off rising Seattle for first place in the NFC West,
or contend for a wild-card playoff spot, they must overachieve. They'll have to
play above their projected talent level.
And that's exactly what we were saying about the Cardinals' starting pitching
before the 2004 season. So it can be done. There's hope
Post-Dispatch Sports Columnist
Friday, Aug. 27 2004
I like the Rams, and their fans, so I'm going to do everyone a favor:
I predict the 2004 Rams will finish 9-7 and miss the NFC playoffs.
And that's optimistic. A record of 8-8 is more realistic.
That's good news for observant readers who undoubtedly will recall that I
joined most residents of Western civilization in picking the Cardinals to
finish third in the National League Central this season, behind the Cubs and
the Astros.
So I figure a doom-and-gloom forecast is the least I can do for the Rams, who
have provided such entertaining and (mostly) fulfilling football for the town
and their fans since 1999. During this special five-year run, which represents
the golden era of NFL football in St. Louis, the Rams won 70 percent of their
regular-season games. They averaged 30 points per game. They made the playoffs
four times. They reached two Super Bowls, winning one. They produced MVPs in
quarterback Kurt Warner and running back Marshall Faulk. It really was The
Greatest Show on Turf.
Sadly, all good things must come to an end, and that's especially true in the
NFL, where the finest teams are eventually devoured by the jaws of the league
salary cap. With so many free-agent defections, it's difficult to stay on top.
The Rams managed to build to winning form through solid drafts and expert
salary-cap management by Jay Zygmunt. But there's been slippage. The Rams won
12 games last season, but five victories came by six points or fewer and could
have gone either way. Shockingly, their defense was slapped around during a
home playoff loss to Carolina, allowing 216 yards rushing at 5.3 yards per
carry. The offense finished ninth in total yards; that was down from the norm.
Drafts that once kept this team stocked and poised to compete have resulted in
too many recent misses. The Rams invested a lot of premium picks in their
defensive line and haven't received the anticipated impact.
Warner is gone, Faulk has slowed, and there are disturbing signs of
deterioration. Two starters on the offensive line (Kyle Turley and Dave
Wohlabaugh) are victims of injuries, and this jerry-rigged O-line will be
pressed to match last season's mediocre output of 3.6 yards per rushing
attempt. The defensive line is precariously thin. When the interior lines are a
team's most alarming areas of concern, major problems are likely.
When they were The Greatest Show, the Rams featured dominant performers at
multiple key positions. That's no longer the case. Scanning one scouting
service, I saw some eye-opening rankings. Marc Bulger was the 12th-rated QB.
Faulk was dropped to the No. 12 spot among halfbacks. Only one receiver (Torry
Holt) was listed among the league's top 20 wideouts. Orlando Pace was tabbed as
one of the NFL's premier offensive tackles, and guard Adam Timmerman was given
a good grade, but other residents of the current line were relegated to
back-of-the-pack status. And the Rams' tight ends and fullbacks were graded at
the bottom.
On defense, Leonard Little scored as the No. 7 defensive end, but the other
D-linemen were slotted far down the list. The Rams' highest-rated linebacker
(Tommy Polley) was No. 25 at his position, and he's slumping. The Rams'
starting cornerbacks (Jerametrius Butler, injured Travis Fisher) didn't crack
the top 35. Adam Archuleta is viewed as a top 10 safety. Aeneas Williams,
surprisingly, was left out of the top 25.
We can quibble with some rankings; certainly, Williams is worthy of more
respect, as is wide receiver Isaac Bruce. But clearly, there's been a decline
in the overall talent. Just glance at the Rams' roster . . . realistically, how
many positions still qualify for elite status? When compared to other groups
around the NFL, the Rams are well above average at only two spots - wide
receiver and safety.
Now, here's the important question: Can the Rams close this widening talent gap
during the course of the season? It's possible, but they face what appears to
be a brutally tough non-division schedule.
There is an upside, however. The offensive line could exceed expectations.
Maybe Faulk's legs can generate a few more thrilling Sundays. Perhaps rookie
running back Steven Jackson can make up for any O-line weakness by powering for
tough yards, on his own. If Bulger gets time to throw, he can choose from
several attractive targets. And if Bulger gets back to what he used to do so
beautifully - deliver with a quick release, show accuracy downfield and dump
the ball to avoid sacks and interceptions - then he'll claim a place among the
league's best QBs.
A young defense, led by its promising linebackers and corners, can blossom and
make a positive difference. The Rams should get good production from their
committee of defensive right ends. And maybe this is the year that defensive
tackles Damione Lewis and Ryan Pickett finally bust out.
But if the Rams are to hold off rising Seattle for first place in the NFC West,
or contend for a wild-card playoff spot, they must overachieve. They'll have to
play above their projected talent level.
And that's exactly what we were saying about the Cardinals' starting pitching
before the 2004 season. So it can be done. There's hope
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