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Let's talk about the Rams!
Quarterbacks - Marc Bulger has all the tools to succeed in this WCO offense including the quick release and precision accuracy. However, his broken pinky could hinder him all season and his pocket presence must improve. He has to pay attention to work hard to avoid free blitzers as this new offensive line matures. Boller is a capable short-term backup and Null is in the experimental stages at this time.
Grade: C+
Running Backs - Steven Jackson is the complete package and will have to carry this team on his back the first half of the season: expect him to put up huge numbers both on the ground and in the passing game. Gado (minus his long run) and Darby didn't show alot this season, but both are capable runners, receivers, and blockers. Karney is a top-notch fullback who can catch the ball. What this group lacks is a burner.
Grade: B-
Wide Receivers - Avery and Robinson will prove to be a dynamic combo on the edges, that should get better and better as the season progresses. Burton must develop into a solid possession guy, who is not afraid to go over the middle. Stanley is a wild-card, who can be effective on short screens and slants. This unit is incomplete at this point.
Grade: C
Tight Ends - Can McMichael rebound and have success like he did in Miami? He better, because he is crucial to this offense's success. Fells has talent, both as a tight-end and HB, but needs to be more consistent. Bejema is a great blocker and showed surprising hands this offseason.
Grade: B
Offensive Line - A young, hungry group of offensive lineman that badly needs to find some cohesion based on a poor preseason performance, particularly in the run game. Brown and Incognito should solidify the right side of the line. Barron must play consistently from the left to allow Bulger to focus on pressure coming off the right as Smith learns the pro game. Left guard is a question mark.
Grade: C+
Defensive Line - This is the most intruiging group on the roster to me. Little is still a monster off the edge, and Long has consistently pressured the passer but is still inches away from becoming a sack master. Adeynaju and Hall should both prove to be effective hybrid lineman, both on the edge and rushing from the inside. Ryan, Hollis, Scott, and Gibson are a nice combination of youth and age inside, and this group played solid on the inside against the run in preseason.
Grade: C+
Linebackers - J.L. solidifies the middle of the D in way not seen since London Fletcher, but he must become a vocal leader. Draft and all the backups are solid, hard-working players. Witherspoon is the wild-card, and he must return to his 2007 form for this defense to become successful: he did not look good in preseason. Overall, this group lacks the fire and desire that more successful LB corps in the league have, and they must develop a killer instinct and prevent long gashing run plays.
Grade: C+
Cornerbacks - Ron Bartell should emerge as one of the games elite this season. Wade and King are burners who need to work on their ball skills to be effective in this league. Quincy Butler is the wild-card and it would not surprise me to see him as the starter across from Bartell eventually: he has great ball instincts. Fletcher has nice size, but is too green to contribute other than in a nickel or dime role.
Grade: C
Safeties - Atogwe is a consummate professional, a true leader, and one of, if not the best, ballhawks in the game. Butler is very solid at SS, and should be one of the leaders of the defense. Dahl is solid and rangy but cannot stay on the field. Anthony Smith is the true wildcard here: this youngster has starter potential, has WLB size, and can be a true-hybrid SS type that can wreck havoc wherever he roams on the field, truly a top-notch pickup.
Grade: B+
Special Teams: Donnie Jones is the best punter in the league, hands down. Josh Brown is also amongst the games top clutch kickers. There are doubts at both kick and punt returner. We saw a little of everything from the coverage teams this preseason.
Grade: A+ for kickers, D for other units
Coaching: Spags is the eptimoe of an NFL head coach. The players have seemingly bought into what he is doing and we will definitely see a renewed culture here. Shurmur seems to be able to get the most out of his players and has done a nice job at mixing up the playcalling. Flajole opened up the playbook in game three and hopefully this is the type of attacking, aggressive Rams defense we see this year.
Grade: B+
Prognosis: The first three games of the season are crucial to the seasons success. This young team will be playing with alot of pride from day one, but they may not react well to losing. A 2-1 or better start could keep the Rams in the mix until the end. An 0-3 start could mean we don't see real success until the second half of the season.
Projected Record: 7-9
Quarterbacks - Marc Bulger has all the tools to succeed in this WCO offense including the quick release and precision accuracy. However, his broken pinky could hinder him all season and his pocket presence must improve. He has to pay attention to work hard to avoid free blitzers as this new offensive line matures. Boller is a capable short-term backup and Null is in the experimental stages at this time.
Grade: C+
Running Backs - Steven Jackson is the complete package and will have to carry this team on his back the first half of the season: expect him to put up huge numbers both on the ground and in the passing game. Gado (minus his long run) and Darby didn't show alot this season, but both are capable runners, receivers, and blockers. Karney is a top-notch fullback who can catch the ball. What this group lacks is a burner.
Grade: B-
Wide Receivers - Avery and Robinson will prove to be a dynamic combo on the edges, that should get better and better as the season progresses. Burton must develop into a solid possession guy, who is not afraid to go over the middle. Stanley is a wild-card, who can be effective on short screens and slants. This unit is incomplete at this point.
Grade: C
Tight Ends - Can McMichael rebound and have success like he did in Miami? He better, because he is crucial to this offense's success. Fells has talent, both as a tight-end and HB, but needs to be more consistent. Bejema is a great blocker and showed surprising hands this offseason.
Grade: B
Offensive Line - A young, hungry group of offensive lineman that badly needs to find some cohesion based on a poor preseason performance, particularly in the run game. Brown and Incognito should solidify the right side of the line. Barron must play consistently from the left to allow Bulger to focus on pressure coming off the right as Smith learns the pro game. Left guard is a question mark.
Grade: C+
Defensive Line - This is the most intruiging group on the roster to me. Little is still a monster off the edge, and Long has consistently pressured the passer but is still inches away from becoming a sack master. Adeynaju and Hall should both prove to be effective hybrid lineman, both on the edge and rushing from the inside. Ryan, Hollis, Scott, and Gibson are a nice combination of youth and age inside, and this group played solid on the inside against the run in preseason.
Grade: C+
Linebackers - J.L. solidifies the middle of the D in way not seen since London Fletcher, but he must become a vocal leader. Draft and all the backups are solid, hard-working players. Witherspoon is the wild-card, and he must return to his 2007 form for this defense to become successful: he did not look good in preseason. Overall, this group lacks the fire and desire that more successful LB corps in the league have, and they must develop a killer instinct and prevent long gashing run plays.
Grade: C+
Cornerbacks - Ron Bartell should emerge as one of the games elite this season. Wade and King are burners who need to work on their ball skills to be effective in this league. Quincy Butler is the wild-card and it would not surprise me to see him as the starter across from Bartell eventually: he has great ball instincts. Fletcher has nice size, but is too green to contribute other than in a nickel or dime role.
Grade: C
Safeties - Atogwe is a consummate professional, a true leader, and one of, if not the best, ballhawks in the game. Butler is very solid at SS, and should be one of the leaders of the defense. Dahl is solid and rangy but cannot stay on the field. Anthony Smith is the true wildcard here: this youngster has starter potential, has WLB size, and can be a true-hybrid SS type that can wreck havoc wherever he roams on the field, truly a top-notch pickup.
Grade: B+
Special Teams: Donnie Jones is the best punter in the league, hands down. Josh Brown is also amongst the games top clutch kickers. There are doubts at both kick and punt returner. We saw a little of everything from the coverage teams this preseason.
Grade: A+ for kickers, D for other units
Coaching: Spags is the eptimoe of an NFL head coach. The players have seemingly bought into what he is doing and we will definitely see a renewed culture here. Shurmur seems to be able to get the most out of his players and has done a nice job at mixing up the playcalling. Flajole opened up the playbook in game three and hopefully this is the type of attacking, aggressive Rams defense we see this year.
Grade: B+
Prognosis: The first three games of the season are crucial to the seasons success. This young team will be playing with alot of pride from day one, but they may not react well to losing. A 2-1 or better start could keep the Rams in the mix until the end. An 0-3 start could mean we don't see real success until the second half of the season.
Projected Record: 7-9
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