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How they look • Offense
BY JIM THOMAS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/30/2009
Talk about tough breaks, pun intended. In what's a make-or-break year for Marc Bulger, a broken pinky finger suffered in practice already has cost him two preseason games. Not to mention two weeks of practice time that could've been used polishing up on the new West Coast scheme installed by offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. The hope at Rams Park is that better pass protection by a revamped line will help Bulger return to his Pro Bowl form and showcase his accuracy. But the finger won't be completely healed on opening day, Sept. 13, in Seattle. Backup Kyle Boller, a former first-round pick by Baltimore, lacks Bulger's accuracy but has a stronger arm. He also has the quickness and speed to avoid the rush and make something happen with his legs.
Obviously, the Rams are counting on a big year from Steven Jackson, both as a runner and receiver. He will be the centerpiece of what coach Steve Spagnuolo hopes is an efficient ball-control offense that spreads the ball around in the passing game. Jackson has compiled four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons, but missed four games and most of a fifth because of injury in each of the past two seasons. The dropoff has been dramatic when Jackson is sidelined, and the Rams really didn't address the No. 2 running back issue during the offseason. So barring a late roster move prior to opening day, they will rely on some combination of Samkon Gado, Antonio Pittman, Kenneth Darby and Chris Ogbonnaya behind Jackson — each of whom has holes in his game.
Mike Karney missed two weeks of camp with a sprained ankle, so he's still not entirely in sync with Jackson. But at least the Rams have their first true lead-blocking fullback since Madison Hedgecock was unceremoniously released by Scott Linehan one game into the 2007 season. Karney is a thumper built low to the ground. If he stays healthy, the running game should be that much better. At tight end, Randy McMichael returns from an injury-shortened '08 season, still hoping to become the receiving threat that has been forecast for him every year since signing here as a free agent in 2007. Offseason pickup Billy Bajema is a blocking specialist who also has shown surprising ability to catch the ball on the practice field and in the preseason.
No Holt, no Bruce, no hope? We'll see. This unit remains the biggest question mark on the team because of a lack of proven experience. Plans for speedy Donnie Avery to be the No. 1 option were derailed three weeks ago when he suffered a fractured foot in the Lindenwood scrimmage. There's no guarantee that Avery will be back for the season opener, although he appears to be progressing more quickly than expected. Laurent Robinson, acquired in a pre-draft trade with Atlanta, has been impressive this summer, flashing size, speed, hands and some run-after-the-catch ability. Keenan Burton is a grinder who has the ability to make the tough catch. Like Avery, he must stay healthy. After that, Tim Carter, Ronald Curry and Derek Stanley are the frontrunners for the final two or three spots on the 53-man roster.
Barring injury, there are no excuses this season for this unit. The Rams have expended a lot of money and draft picks, and it's time to produce. Left tackle Alex Barron and right tackle Jason Smith are first-round draft picks; Smith was the No. 2 overall pick in the draft in April. Left guard Jacob Bell and center Jason Brown were free-agent pickups the past two offseasons, to the tune of more than $60 million in combined contracts. The other starter is hard-nosed Richie Incognito at right guard. At the moment, versatile veteran Adam Goldberg is the starting right tackle, but Smith should be there sooner rather than later. This is a bigger line and should be a more physical line — the better to run-block for Jackson. Guard-center Mark Setterstrom and guard John Greco provide depth.
BY JIM THOMAS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/30/2009
Talk about tough breaks, pun intended. In what's a make-or-break year for Marc Bulger, a broken pinky finger suffered in practice already has cost him two preseason games. Not to mention two weeks of practice time that could've been used polishing up on the new West Coast scheme installed by offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur. The hope at Rams Park is that better pass protection by a revamped line will help Bulger return to his Pro Bowl form and showcase his accuracy. But the finger won't be completely healed on opening day, Sept. 13, in Seattle. Backup Kyle Boller, a former first-round pick by Baltimore, lacks Bulger's accuracy but has a stronger arm. He also has the quickness and speed to avoid the rush and make something happen with his legs.
Obviously, the Rams are counting on a big year from Steven Jackson, both as a runner and receiver. He will be the centerpiece of what coach Steve Spagnuolo hopes is an efficient ball-control offense that spreads the ball around in the passing game. Jackson has compiled four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons, but missed four games and most of a fifth because of injury in each of the past two seasons. The dropoff has been dramatic when Jackson is sidelined, and the Rams really didn't address the No. 2 running back issue during the offseason. So barring a late roster move prior to opening day, they will rely on some combination of Samkon Gado, Antonio Pittman, Kenneth Darby and Chris Ogbonnaya behind Jackson — each of whom has holes in his game.
Mike Karney missed two weeks of camp with a sprained ankle, so he's still not entirely in sync with Jackson. But at least the Rams have their first true lead-blocking fullback since Madison Hedgecock was unceremoniously released by Scott Linehan one game into the 2007 season. Karney is a thumper built low to the ground. If he stays healthy, the running game should be that much better. At tight end, Randy McMichael returns from an injury-shortened '08 season, still hoping to become the receiving threat that has been forecast for him every year since signing here as a free agent in 2007. Offseason pickup Billy Bajema is a blocking specialist who also has shown surprising ability to catch the ball on the practice field and in the preseason.
No Holt, no Bruce, no hope? We'll see. This unit remains the biggest question mark on the team because of a lack of proven experience. Plans for speedy Donnie Avery to be the No. 1 option were derailed three weeks ago when he suffered a fractured foot in the Lindenwood scrimmage. There's no guarantee that Avery will be back for the season opener, although he appears to be progressing more quickly than expected. Laurent Robinson, acquired in a pre-draft trade with Atlanta, has been impressive this summer, flashing size, speed, hands and some run-after-the-catch ability. Keenan Burton is a grinder who has the ability to make the tough catch. Like Avery, he must stay healthy. After that, Tim Carter, Ronald Curry and Derek Stanley are the frontrunners for the final two or three spots on the 53-man roster.
Barring injury, there are no excuses this season for this unit. The Rams have expended a lot of money and draft picks, and it's time to produce. Left tackle Alex Barron and right tackle Jason Smith are first-round draft picks; Smith was the No. 2 overall pick in the draft in April. Left guard Jacob Bell and center Jason Brown were free-agent pickups the past two offseasons, to the tune of more than $60 million in combined contracts. The other starter is hard-nosed Richie Incognito at right guard. At the moment, versatile veteran Adam Goldberg is the starting right tackle, but Smith should be there sooner rather than later. This is a bigger line and should be a more physical line — the better to run-block for Jackson. Guard-center Mark Setterstrom and guard John Greco provide depth.
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