St. Louis Rams 2015 Season Preview

St. Louis Rams

2014 Record: 6-10

2015 O/U: 8

Off Season Overview

For the Rams, the whole of the off-season was so quiet, but the impact of those moves could be so loud. The quarterback change is the obvious move here. No one really knows how good Nick Foles is, but to be better than Austin Davis is really all the Rams need to improve this season. Sam Bradford is out the door, but he hasn’t really played in about a year and a half. Case Keenum is a guy I see as a wild card should things go wrong with Foles. It is not like the Rams are now set at the QB position, but at least there are fresh faces and the Rams have high hopes for 2015. Aside from the big QB change, the Rams were able to add to their greatest strength and sign Nick Fairley. He now rotates in a defensive line that on paper may be better than the one he played for in Detroit, which ranked 2nd against the run. Akeem Ayers was also added for depth and unlike the defense there is no doubt this unit improved. Starting tackles Jake Long, and Joe Barksdale left this year and it leaves the team with their biggest question, but for the most part we know what this team should be, and it should be fun to see if the defense can keep the offense in games.

Offensive Strengths

The other big off-season move was made in the NFL draft at pick 10, where the Rams took Todd Gurley. Gurley was the best athlete in college football last year. He would have been the Heisman favorite, but he was suspended for two games before tearing his ACL. I saw it as a freak accident, and I think this kid is a freak talent. I don’t think he will be ready for week 1, and I am skeptical as to how he will be used, but Gurley has once in a generation upside, and I am looking forward to every carry. Behind him is the strength of the offense already in the ground game feature by Tre Mason and Benny Cunningham. Mason was a rookie in 2014, and started nine games. He wasn’t bad, but I don’t think he is an every down back. In a change of pace role behind Gurley they may have the best depth in the league at running back, but until then it is all on paper. The Rams shouldn’t be bad with Mason, as the ranked 15th in rushing efficiency in 2014, but the hope is that Gurley can really add that punch at some point for the Rams this season.

Offensive Weakness

As a whole you wonder how this team is going to win games. To start the line is nowhere near complete. Mason looked good, but really couldn’t put up any numbers behind these guys. Greg Robinson should show improvement in year two, but with all the losses and jumbling in the line I don’t expect it to be much improved. It puts pressure on Foles, who had a strong line in Philadelphia, and puts him in a situation he was not in before. Foles also will have a different receiving core, and play caller. Chip Kelly was able to maximize his strengths and keep throws easy, and I am unsure if Frank Cignetti is quite the mind that Kelly was. The core of playmakers are also kind of just the poor mans Eagles playmakers. Lance Kendricks and Jared Cooks are both nice two way tight ends, but neither really has any upside. The receiving core is a rotation of about five different potential threats, yet none of have proven to be consistent over a full season. They have a high number of play making options, like in Philadelphia, I just see the Philadelphia play makers looking better than the Tavon Austin, Steadman Bailey, Kenny Britt, Brian Quick, Chris Givens rotation. Honestly who there is a trust worth go to guy? With below average QB play, and below average receivers, the offensive line will be under siege. It will come down to how Cignetti can open the pass with the depth options as to how good this offense can be.

Defensive Strengths

This defensive line will rival only the like of the Bills, Dolphins, and Texans. This line was made to be a force, and everybody seemed to know Aaron Donald was going to be great from the start. We are going to look back and wonder how Donald slid to pick 13 as he was the rookie of they year and may be up there with Ndamakung Suh as the best defensive tackle in the NFL. He just so happens to now rotate with Suhs’ former teammate, Fairley and Michael Brockers, another former first round pick. The interior has one of the best linemen in the game, and may not be as strong as the outside rushers. Robert Quinn, and a healthy Chirs Long is the best combination of rushers in the league. Donald came on slow and started with two sacks in his first seven weeks. He then went on a tear for seven sacks in his last nine games and the Rams as a team shot up the sack and defensive rankings. Despite the slow start they ranked 4th against the run in 2014, and that is due to the defensive line as well as the line-backing core. Alec Ogletree, and James Laurinitis have established themselves as sure tacklers in the league and an additon like Ayers can only assure the depth and stability here. As a whole you can easily argue this is the best front seven in the league.

Defensive Weakness

Despite the strong run stoppers, the defense ranked 20th against the pass in 2014. Now the team finds out that their rookie breakout-starting corner, EJ Gaines is out for the season before and you wonder if they have enough to hold up through the season. Janoris Jenkins is a nice corner back but will get caught looking for an interception too often and has been burnt badly before. Lamrcus Joyner will see a lot of time, but I thought he was primarily a slot corner, and it leaves them weaker on the outsides. The safety play has decent depth but really isn’t strong on paper. It will take a combined effort, and a few no name corners to step up to complete the unit. Overall they should be above average, but how weak the secondary is will determine how good the Rams can be.

Where do they rank O/U

The Rams home schedule is very manageable and this team should be able to find six or seven wins off of those alone. When you see the road schedule, you then question if they can get to eight wins. Aside from at Washington, this team goes to the Packers, Vikings, Ravens and Bengals outside of their division. I think at the end of the day the Rams will be an 8-8 team and there fore would advise no bet. I see them competing, and maybe slowing down the Cardinals in a playoff race, and give Arizona a slight edge due to experience. Although I rank them third, second in the division is not far off.

Parkers Pick: 3rd in the NFC West, No play

Logans Pick: 3rd in the NFC West, Lean under