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September 6, 2014 at 11:01 am #6278
RamBillParticipant
Minus Bradford, Rams still hope 3rd year is charm
• By Jim ThomasAs the story goes, Jeff Fisher took one look at the returning Rams at his first team meeting in 2012 — the holdovers from the Steve Spagnuolo regime — and was taken aback. In terms of the eye test, they failed. And if you don’t look physically impressive, how are you going to play impressively?
Maybe this shouldn’t have been a surprise, considering the Rams program Fisher inherited was in the midst of a 15-65 stretch from 2007-2011. That’s an average yearly record of 3-13, and the worst five-year mark in NFL history.
No wonder then, that by the end of Fisher’s inaugural campaign only 21 of 69 players who finished the 2011 season with Spagnuolo on the active roster or injured reserve started and ended the 2012 season as Rams. That’s a 30.4 percent retention rate.
A staggering 28 of those 69 were not in the league at the end of the 2012 campaign; 26 didn’t play a down in 2012.
Such was the hole that Fisher and general manager Les Snead stepped into. Well, it was more than a hole — Earth City was the Death Valley of the NFL.
Today, as Fisher and Snead enter the third year of their rebuilding program, only 11 players remain who were with Spags in 2011. Listed alphabetically:
• Tim Barnes
• Sam Bradford
• Lance Kendricks
• James Laurinaitis
• Chris Long
• Jake McQuaide
• Austin Pettis
• Robert Quinn
• Chase Reynolds
• Rodger Saffold
• Eugene Sims
Of course, the most important name on that list, Bradford, won’t be around for the 2014 season after re-injuring the left knee that caused him to miss the final nine games of 2013. The latest injury was a blow to the gut, potentially a knockout punch to the franchise’s hopes of making the third year the charm under Fisher and Snead.
No one knows this more than the man who has spent as much time as anyone with Bradford over the past 2½ years, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.
“No. 1, I’m sad because of how hard he worked to get back,” Schottenheimer said. “And No. 2, I know for a fact people outside of this building that haven’t seen him every day, they don’t realize how good he really is.
“He’s probably the most pure passer I’ve ever been around, and that’s including Drew (Brees), Brett (Favre), Philip (Rivers). And he’s an awesome, awesome person. He was doing everything right, and sometimes things don’t make sense. But in this business, you can’t look back. You have to move forward.”
So forward is where the Rams will go, hoping their rebuilding project moves forward with veteran Shaun Hill at quarterback.
Through the draft, free agency, undrafted rookies and one monster trade, Fisher and Snead have gotten the Rams back to respectability: 7-8-1 in 2012 and 7-9 in 2013, playing with one of the younger teams in perhaps the toughest division in football.
They’re not satisfied with simply getting the team back to mediocrity but note that it’s progress nonetheless.
“You look at the data, you had 15 wins in five years,” Snead said. “You were 10 games out of 31st place. Detroit had 25 wins (from 2007-11).”
The past two seasons under Fisher and Snead the Rams totaled 14 wins, almost matching the victory total of the previous five.
“Not the goal, never will be,” Snead said. “Not the standard.”
But after being 10 games out of 31st place from 2007-2011, the Rams were 10 games out of second place in terms of wins and losses in 2012-13.
No need to award medals for that, but the franchise has at least pulled itself out of the chasm. Entering 2014, the expectations have changed. The Rams want to start climbing the summit, to the top of the division and ultimately the top of the league — even if it’s with Hill.
In 2012, it was privately stated within the walls of Rams Park that the team was aiming for 2014 as the breakout year. As 2013 wound down, that goal was publicly stated. Well, here we are in Year 3. Will the third year be the turning point for a franchise that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2004 and hasn’t enjoyed a winning record since 2003?
Can this still be the long-awaited breakout season?
“The division’s very, very competitive,” Fisher said at the start of camp. “But we feel like we’re built now to compete week-in, week-out. The schedule is not easy. We expect significant improvement in our defense, particularly because of our personnel, but now the system with Gregg (Williams) running the show.”
“Offensively, we’ve got a backfield that’s loaded between Zac (Stacy) and Bennie (Cunningham) and Tre (Mason). Kenny (Britt) is really going to help us. And the younger guys have improved. Sted’s (Stedman Bailey) improved.
“We’re gonna be without him for four weeks. And I think we’re better equipped as we move forward to continue to keep Tavon (Austin) involved. Quickie’s (Brian Quick) coming on. … So it’s a solid group.”
Perhaps the biggest gamble made by the team was basically standing pat at wide receiver. With the exception of Britt, it’s the same group as last season. Will they regret passing on Sammy Watkins in the draft? Or will their patience pay off with Austin, Quick, Bailey and Chris Givens — each of whom was taken in either the 2012 or 2013 draft?
Similarly on defense, the Rams didn’t bring in veteran help at either cornerback or safety. They are banking on youth, banking on marked improvement from cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, and safeties T.J. McDonald and Rodney McLeod.
The Rams’ entire secondary has only 71 NFL career starts on its résumé. And 15 of those starts will be missing until Johnson returns from a knee injury that’s expected to sideline him for at least the first month of the season.
And if Hill struggles as Bradford’s replacement, the criticism will mount over not adding a more experienced quarterback in the offseason and not drafting a quarterback before Garrett Gilbert in Round 6.
Those are the kinds of decisions than can make or break a regime. So is the blockbuster RGIII trade in which the Rams sent the No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 draft to quarterback-needy Washington. In exchange for giving Washington the ability to draft Robert Griffin III, the Rams received multiple picks and parlayed those picks into eight players.
Of those eight, offensive guard Rokevious Watkins is out of the league. Running back Isaiah Pead is out for the year with a knee injury and looks very much like a busted pick.
The other six are all starters or starting-caliber players: wide receiver Bailey, cornerback Jenkins, defensive tackle Michael Brockers, linebacker Alec Ogletree, offensive lineman Greg Robinson and running back Zac Stacy. In varying degrees, those six all appear to have good futures ahead of them.
But the pressure is on them, and many of the team’s other players, to move on to bigger and better things. So far, the only Pro Bowler brought in by Fisher and Snead is punter Johnny Hekker, an undrafted rookie in 2012.
The Rams need more; they need to really hit on several of the youngsters. That’s how you reach the Super Bowls. If somehow it all falls apart, who knows what happens?
“Everybody’s on the same page,” Fisher said. “If we stay healthy and continue to develop the younger players, we’re gonna be productive.”
A tougher task to be sure without a healthy Bradford.
September 6, 2014 at 12:25 pm #6296
znModeratorInside the Roster
• By Jim Thomas
QUARTERBACKS
Does NFL life begin at 34 for Shaun Hill? The avid fisherman who calls the Lake of the Ozarks home has a chance to start throughout an entire 16-game schedule for the first time in his career. He has opened a season as the starter only once in his previous 12 NFL seasons, and does so Sunday against a Minnesota team that he entered the league with in 2002. Sam Bradford’s replacement needs to pose enough of a threat in the passing game, especially by completing a deep ball every now and then, to keep opposing defenses from stacking the box against the run. Coming off an impressive preseason, Austin Davis enters 2014 as the No. 2 quarterback. But he remains pretty much an unknown since he has yet to play in a regular-season game. It will take weeks for No. 3 Case Keenum, claimed off waivers from Houston, to be a factor as he learns the offense.
RUNNING BACKS
What can Zac Stacy do for an encore? He helped salvage the 2013 season, coming off the bench in Game 5 and gaining 969 yards rushing over the final 12 contests. Stacy looked a little leg-weary as the preseason progressed, and his rushing totals were underwhelming (15 carries, 39 yards). Stacy’s strength is inside running, and he has a knack for burrowing into a group of defenders and moving the pile. It will be interesting to see how much playing time Benny Cunningham gets behind Stacy. Cunningham was the most impressive RB in exhibition play. He has a little more wiggle and a little more speed than Stacy. Third-round draft pick Tre Mason had issues with pass protection in the preseason, so he may see very limited playing time early in the season. Undrafted Trey Watts was a preseason surprise; now he’ll try to carve out a role in the regular season.
WIDE RECEIVERS
There is cause for optimism based on the play of Kenny Britt, Brian Quick and Stedman Bailey during the June OTAs, training camp and the preseason. Unfortunately for the Rams, Bailey will miss the first four games for violating NFL policy on performance-enhancing drugs. He has looked very much like a go-to receiver, so his presence will be missed. Britt has been a pleasant surprise, emerging as the veteran leader of the unit. He and Quick are a pair of big targets with big-play potential. Quick looks like a different player this year; he’s more confident and is doing a better job coming down with contested balls. But seeing will be believing in the regular season. If the Rams get Quick and Britt going, that will make Tavon Austin much more effective working underneath. Chris Givens brings speed; Austin Pettis is a red zone threat.
TIGHT ENDS/FULLBACKS
Back for his second season here, Jared Cook has big-play potential and has shown good run-after-catch ability. But drops remain a concern, so maintaining focus and consistency in that area is a must. Lance Kendricks continues to grow as an all-around tight end who can block on the line or in the backfield and catch passes. He doesn’t have Cook’s speed but can get down the seam. Cory Harkey is a blocking specialist who does most of his work lined up in the backfield in a fullback role. He has improved as a pass-catcher in his time with the Rams and can’t be overlooked coming out of the backfield occasionally. Undrafted rookie Alex Bayer made the roster based on his pass-catching. He’s a willing blocker but still needs to polish up there. The Rams used plenty of two- and three-tight end sets a year ago, and that doesn’t figure to change.
OFFENSIVE LINE
Once again, there is a feast-or-famine nature to this unit. If left tackle Jake Long, left guard Rodger Saffold and center Scott Wells can stay healthy, this could be one of the league’s better units. But recent history shows that’s probably wishful thinking. We’ll see. Wells is smart, tough, and gets off the line and into the second level quickly. Saffold was a revelation last year after switching to guard, showing power and athleticism pulling on running plays. Underrated as a run blocker, Long could be rusty early coming off knee surgery. At right guard, former Tampa Bay Pro Bowler Davin Joseph is a crafty veteran who plays with a mean streak. Joe Barksdale has developed into Mr. Reliable at right tackle and is kind of an unsung hero. No. 2 overall draft pick Greg Robinson begins the year on the bench and needs work on his pass blocking.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The glamour unit of this roster, the D-line needs to live up to the hype. Right end Robert Quinn emerged last season as one of the game’s elite pass rushers. Undoubtedly he will get more attention, so the sacks may not come as easily. Chris Long is more than just an effort player. He looked a little quicker off the ball in camp this summer and should be right in his prime at age 29. Tackles Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford were slowed by ankle issues during the preseason but should be at or close to full strength. Both are lighter this year, which in theory means they’ll be quicker. Talented backups at end, William Hayes and Eugene Sims have been slowed by injuries. It’s uncertain how much they can contribute early. The D-tackle rotation features rookie Aaron Donald, a pass-rush threat, and free-agent pickup Alex Carrington.
LINEBACKERS
After missing all of the preseason with an ankle injury, highly-productive middle ’backer James Laurinaitis is ready to go. He has quickly gained new coordinator Gregg Williams’ trust as someone who understands the scheme and can serve as a quarterback of the defense. Laurinaitis has developed into a “glue” player who holds things together on this side of the ball. On the weakside, Alec Ogletree needs to pick up where he left off in his strong rookie season. Quiet in camp, Ogletree can run sideline to sideline and has big-play potential. Look for a bit of a resurgence from Jo-Lonn Dunbar, who’s a collision defender, especially against the run. He played in Williams’ system in New Orleans, so he’s very comfortable with the scheme. Ray Ray Armstrong and Daren Bates are the only backups. Look for Armstrong to be used in some defensive packages.
SECONDARY
This is easily the most questionable unit on defense, in large part because of its inexperience. Look for teams to go right at the Rams’ corners in the passing game, particularly with Trumaine Johnson out at least a month with a knee injury. The other “veteran,” Janoris Jenkins, needs to cut down on penalties and do a better job tracking deep balls. He has the tools to be a very good corner. Rookie nickel back Lamarcus Joyner is smart, instinctive and hard-nosed. But he had some coverage issues during the preseason, so there may be an adjustment period. Rookie E.J. Gaines from Mizzou and/or Brandon McGee will man the corner spot opposite Jenkins until Johnson returns. Gaines doesn’t looked overwhelmed in any way so far by the NFL. At safety, T.J. McDonald and Rodney McLeod had good preseasons and have been quick studies in the scheme.
SPECIAL TEAMS
The kicking chores are in good hands — make that legs — in punter Johnny Hekker and place-kicker Greg Zuerlein. Hekker is coming off a Pro Bowl 2013 season in which, with the help of the coverage unit, he set an NFL record for net punting. When it comes to field goals, Zuerlein’s kicks haven’t had the “wow” factor of his rookie season — when for a while he was kicking one bomb after another. But he has become more consistent and remains a threat from 50-plus. Long snapper Jake McQuaide is very dependable. It’s a safe bet Tavon Austin will make something happen returning punts, assuming the return team minimizes penalties. Either Benny Cunningham or Chris Givens will handle kickoff returns. Givens has the long-distance speed. Perhaps because of his big-back frame, Cunningham looks unorthodox. But he usually puts together a good return.
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