BY JEFF GORDON
Post-Dispatch Online Sports Columnist
Friday, Sep. 10 2004
Is the Rams' run done?
Many NFL experts believe so. One of my favorite scribes, the Orlando Sentinel's
Jerry Greene, has them pegged for an 8-8 finish that sends Mike Martz back to
the offensive coordinator ranks.
Over at ESPN, John Clayton, Len Pasquarelli, Joe Theismann, Tom Jackson, Merril
Hoge, Sean Salisbury, Mike Golic, Randy Mueller and Mark Schlereth all pick the
Rams to miss the playoffs.
Peter King, the NFL guru at Sports Illustrated, expects the Rams to go 9-7 and
miss the playoffs.
You get the idea. If the Rams can go 11-5 and make the playoffs – as I believe
they can – then the 2004 season will offer validation for many.
Let's start with coach Mike Martz. This season offers a golden opportunity to
prove he really does have the right stuff to prosper in this role.
Look at all the setbacks the Rams have suffered. Grant Wistrom and Brian Young
left holes in the defensive line by leaving as free agents. Then top cornerback
Travis Fisher broke his arm, compromising the secondary.
The team tried to bring safety Jason Sehorn out of retirement, but he flunked
his physical. Former ***** safety Zack Bronson came aboard . . . and
immediately suffered a broken ankle.
On the offensive side, starting right tackle Kyle Turley and starting center
Dave Wohlabaugh failed to recover from offseason operations – forcing the Rams
to jerry-rig their offensive line.
If the Rams can overcome all of those setbacks AND successfully navigate
through a difficult schedule, then Mad Mike will be a made coach. This is his
opportunity to silence all his critics, because the Rams will need great
coaching to prosper in 2004.
Many Rams players have a chance to gain validation, including:
Orlando Pace: He quit eating fried foods. When he finally showed up to play
football, he was in excellent physical shape.
Now let's see if he can become the on-field leader for an offensive line that
badly needs one. Let's see if he can put the onus on Rams management to give
him a lucrative long-term deal that will allow him to finish his career here.
We all know that he wants top dollar. Let's see if he can prove that he
deserves a record-setting contract for an offensive tackle.
Marshall Faulk: He already has Hall of Fame credentials, so his greatness isn't
in question. But we need to know if he can play anywhere near his established
All-Pro level after so many knee operations.
He feels great now, but he hasn't been exposed to real combat. The hitting
starts Sunday. Can he hold up? And can he still shift into breakaway gear when
he gets into the open field?
Marc Bulger: He's a pretty good quarterback right now, better than most. But
his play regressed during the latter stages of last season and he failed to
deliver in the big games.
Now he faces a daunting schedule. In '03, the Rams stole some sloppy victories
over inferior foes by mustering late heroics.
The offense must play at a much higher level to succeed this season, especially
when you see all those potential holes on defense. Bulger has more weaponry
than last season, with the addition of power runner Steven Jackson, the
emergence of big-play receiving threat Shaun McDonald and the potential for
more receptions at right end.
If Bulger can become consistent overall and more effective in the red zone,
he'll earn another Pro Bowl outing and legitimization in the eyes of his peers.
Ryan Pickett, Damione Lewis: These former first-round draft picks are overdue
to make a difference at defensive tackle. Now would be a good time to do that,
with Wistrom and Young gone and fellow No. 1 pick Jimmy Kennedy shelved by a
foot injury.
This is their make-or-break year in the NFL. Are they going to become standouts
or are they just a couple of guys?
Jerametrius Butler: During his short Rams career, he has been an excellent
prospect, then a near washout, then a solid second cornerback. It's been an
interesting ride, one that became more treacherous when Fisher went down.
Butler is on the island now. Can he survive? This is a wonderful opportunity,
but a dangerous one.
These Rams don't have much margin for error. I can see them regaining their
high-scoring ways with a more varied offense, one that blends effective power
running with four-receiver explosiveness.
I can also see a defense getting gashed and strafed for many points. I can
envision many entertaining shootouts on this schedule, some of the most
exciting football we'll ever see.
Of course, there is a chance this team will suffer additional injuries, buckle
and ultimately collapse.
Which way will it go? I'm an optimist, but it will take breakout or reaffirming
seasons from most of the individuals above to get the Rams to postseason play.
Post-Dispatch Online Sports Columnist
Friday, Sep. 10 2004
Is the Rams' run done?
Many NFL experts believe so. One of my favorite scribes, the Orlando Sentinel's
Jerry Greene, has them pegged for an 8-8 finish that sends Mike Martz back to
the offensive coordinator ranks.
Over at ESPN, John Clayton, Len Pasquarelli, Joe Theismann, Tom Jackson, Merril
Hoge, Sean Salisbury, Mike Golic, Randy Mueller and Mark Schlereth all pick the
Rams to miss the playoffs.
Peter King, the NFL guru at Sports Illustrated, expects the Rams to go 9-7 and
miss the playoffs.
You get the idea. If the Rams can go 11-5 and make the playoffs – as I believe
they can – then the 2004 season will offer validation for many.
Let's start with coach Mike Martz. This season offers a golden opportunity to
prove he really does have the right stuff to prosper in this role.
Look at all the setbacks the Rams have suffered. Grant Wistrom and Brian Young
left holes in the defensive line by leaving as free agents. Then top cornerback
Travis Fisher broke his arm, compromising the secondary.
The team tried to bring safety Jason Sehorn out of retirement, but he flunked
his physical. Former ***** safety Zack Bronson came aboard . . . and
immediately suffered a broken ankle.
On the offensive side, starting right tackle Kyle Turley and starting center
Dave Wohlabaugh failed to recover from offseason operations – forcing the Rams
to jerry-rig their offensive line.
If the Rams can overcome all of those setbacks AND successfully navigate
through a difficult schedule, then Mad Mike will be a made coach. This is his
opportunity to silence all his critics, because the Rams will need great
coaching to prosper in 2004.
Many Rams players have a chance to gain validation, including:
Orlando Pace: He quit eating fried foods. When he finally showed up to play
football, he was in excellent physical shape.
Now let's see if he can become the on-field leader for an offensive line that
badly needs one. Let's see if he can put the onus on Rams management to give
him a lucrative long-term deal that will allow him to finish his career here.
We all know that he wants top dollar. Let's see if he can prove that he
deserves a record-setting contract for an offensive tackle.
Marshall Faulk: He already has Hall of Fame credentials, so his greatness isn't
in question. But we need to know if he can play anywhere near his established
All-Pro level after so many knee operations.
He feels great now, but he hasn't been exposed to real combat. The hitting
starts Sunday. Can he hold up? And can he still shift into breakaway gear when
he gets into the open field?
Marc Bulger: He's a pretty good quarterback right now, better than most. But
his play regressed during the latter stages of last season and he failed to
deliver in the big games.
Now he faces a daunting schedule. In '03, the Rams stole some sloppy victories
over inferior foes by mustering late heroics.
The offense must play at a much higher level to succeed this season, especially
when you see all those potential holes on defense. Bulger has more weaponry
than last season, with the addition of power runner Steven Jackson, the
emergence of big-play receiving threat Shaun McDonald and the potential for
more receptions at right end.
If Bulger can become consistent overall and more effective in the red zone,
he'll earn another Pro Bowl outing and legitimization in the eyes of his peers.
Ryan Pickett, Damione Lewis: These former first-round draft picks are overdue
to make a difference at defensive tackle. Now would be a good time to do that,
with Wistrom and Young gone and fellow No. 1 pick Jimmy Kennedy shelved by a
foot injury.
This is their make-or-break year in the NFL. Are they going to become standouts
or are they just a couple of guys?
Jerametrius Butler: During his short Rams career, he has been an excellent
prospect, then a near washout, then a solid second cornerback. It's been an
interesting ride, one that became more treacherous when Fisher went down.
Butler is on the island now. Can he survive? This is a wonderful opportunity,
but a dangerous one.
These Rams don't have much margin for error. I can see them regaining their
high-scoring ways with a more varied offense, one that blends effective power
running with four-receiver explosiveness.
I can also see a defense getting gashed and strafed for many points. I can
envision many entertaining shootouts on this schedule, some of the most
exciting football we'll ever see.
Of course, there is a chance this team will suffer additional injuries, buckle
and ultimately collapse.
Which way will it go? I'm an optimist, but it will take breakout or reaffirming
seasons from most of the individuals above to get the Rams to postseason play.
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