St. Louis Success: Previewing the 2011 Rams

Last week in this space, I shared predictions for the winners in each division across the NFL. So you know generally what I think the Chiefs and Rams are going to do this season. But since many of you (as well as me) are big fans of one or both teams, I decided to dedicate an additional blog this week to break down some details for each team’s season. I did the Chiefs yesterday (9/6) and am detailing the Rams today (9/7).

For professional football fans in Missouri, 2011 was a breakout year. Over the course of the past three seasons (2007-’09), St. Louis and Kansas City combined to go an incredibly dreadful 16-80; the teams beat that three-year win total with 17 wins last year. So saying it was a true turnaround year is a massive understatement. The Chiefs won the AFC West title and the Rams came within a breath of winning the NFC West. Significant Show-Me progress for each franchise. Both teams have serious upside and I see bigger things coming soon. It’s an exciting time. So let’s get to the details.

ST. LOUIS RAMS

Key Additions: S Quintin Mikell, OG Harvey Dahl, RB Cadillac Williams, WR Mike Sims-Walker, LB Ben Leber, LB Brady Poppinga, RB Jerrious Norwood, DT Robert Quinn (rookie), Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels

Recipe for Success: In a word (well, OK, two words), Sam Bradford. The first-year quarterback had a solid if unspectacular 2010 campaign, attempting a rookie-record 590 passes. He completed 60 percent of them, throwing 18 touchdowns against 15 interceptions. Filling in the roster with better offensive weapons is key to the Rams continued progress. The font office did a good job of getting some complementary pieces to fill out the receiving corps and backup running backs; now they have to produce. Coach Steve Spagnuolo’s defense will continue to mature and get after the opposing quarterback. Adding LBs Leber and Poppinga to steady MLB James Laurinaitis will catapult the defense to significant improvement. As in year’s past, the big question mark is the secondary.

Schedule Breakdown: In addition home-and-home series within the NFC West, the division plays the NFC East and the AFC North as part of the normal NFL schedule rotation. The Rams host the Eagles, Ravens, Redskins and Bengals at the Ed (Jones Dome); and have to travel to New York (Giants), Dallas, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Plus games against fellow second-place finishers New Orleans at home and at Green Bay. The team faces a tough schedule right out of the gate, facing the Eagles, Giants, Ravens and Packer in the first six weeks. It is a much tougher schedule that last year and the team could start out as bad as 2-4, but the back half of the schedule looks almost sweepable.

Prediction: The Rams looked sharp this pre-season, winning all four games with relative ease. I know they mean nothing, but it shows momentum and that’s important for a young, improving team. I see the Rams rolling through the weak NFC West, winning it and going to the playoffs with a record of 8-8.

As always, I’d love to hear from you. How do you think the Rams will do? Am I being to realistic, too pessimistic? Come on, sound off.

Until next time, thanks for reading.

Steve