Super Bytes: Faulk, Warner discuss state of the Rams
• Bernie Miklasz
[www.stltoday.com]
NEWARK N.J. • The curtain dropped on “The Greatest Show on Turf” a long time ago, but running back Marshall Faulk and quarterback Kurt Warner are still teammates, working for the NFL Network.
During Super Bowl Media Day at the Prudential Center in Newark, the retired Rams' greats were asked about the state of the franchise under coach Jeff Fisher and GM Les Snead.
Both were optimistic, but Faulk isn't sure about the Rams' decision to stick with quarterback Sam Bradford. Faulk stopped short of recommending that the Rams draft a quarterback early, but that option is clearly on his mind.
“They have a tough decision to make with the second overall (draft) pick,” Faulk said. “I've heard them say that Sam Bradford is their future, and that's a tough one. You've got a guy who's been injured, and it's a tough decision to have to make.
“I'm glad I don't have to make it.”
Are the Rams making the right decision in staying committed to Bradford?
“We won't know until draft day,” Faulk said.
Here's my interpretation of what Faulk is saying here: the Rams are publicly supportive of Bradford, but their true feelings will be revealed during the draft. If they don't take a QB early, it means the Rams are fully committed to Bradford. But if they do grab a quarterback early, then Bradford's future isn't nearly as clear.
Otherwise, Faulk is upbeat on the Rams. “They're in a great position,” he said. “With a lot of youth.”
Warner praised Fisher for changing the culture at Rams Park.
“I like where the Rams are,” Warner said. “I think Coach Fisher has done a great job of building something there. Building an attitude there. Now it's just a matter of continuing to build on that. Continuing to place players there that can help them go to the next level.”
Warner likes the Rams defense, but wants to see more points from the offense. He identifies that offense as the team's key area going forward.
“We've seen what their defense is over the last two years, and how successful they've been,” Warner said. “Now it's about their offense catching up. Whether that's Sam coming into his own as a quarterback, or whether that's placing the right pieces around him and allowing those young players to grow up.
“But I like what they're doing. I think the NFC West is going to be a battle for years to come with all four teams. Because they're all competitive, they all play really good defense right now, and now it's going to be the teams that stay ahead of the curve offensively that will win that division.”
And Warner is correct; the Rams have improved offensively but are still trying to catch up to Seattle, San Francisco and Arizona.
In 2011 — offensive points only — the Rams scored 193 in 16 games for an average of 12.1 points per game. That ranked last (32nd) in the NFL.
In Fisher's first season the Rams offense scored 299 points, averaging 18.7 per game. That ranked 25th.
During their 2013 season the Rams offense scored 348 points, averaging 21.8 points per game. That ranked 21st in the league.
Seattle (26.1), San Francisco (25.4) and Arizona (23.7) all averaged more points on offense per game.
But the Rams defense was also ranked fourth among NFC West teams in offensive points allowed in 2013.
The Rams allowed 327 offensive points, which was tied for 13th overall in the NFL rankings. Seattle allowed the fewest points (217) by an NFL defense, followed by San Francisco (270 points, No. 3) and Arizona (315 points, tied for No. 8).
Thanks for reading...
— Bernie
• Bernie Miklasz
[www.stltoday.com]
NEWARK N.J. • The curtain dropped on “The Greatest Show on Turf” a long time ago, but running back Marshall Faulk and quarterback Kurt Warner are still teammates, working for the NFL Network.
During Super Bowl Media Day at the Prudential Center in Newark, the retired Rams' greats were asked about the state of the franchise under coach Jeff Fisher and GM Les Snead.
Both were optimistic, but Faulk isn't sure about the Rams' decision to stick with quarterback Sam Bradford. Faulk stopped short of recommending that the Rams draft a quarterback early, but that option is clearly on his mind.
“They have a tough decision to make with the second overall (draft) pick,” Faulk said. “I've heard them say that Sam Bradford is their future, and that's a tough one. You've got a guy who's been injured, and it's a tough decision to have to make.
“I'm glad I don't have to make it.”
Are the Rams making the right decision in staying committed to Bradford?
“We won't know until draft day,” Faulk said.
Here's my interpretation of what Faulk is saying here: the Rams are publicly supportive of Bradford, but their true feelings will be revealed during the draft. If they don't take a QB early, it means the Rams are fully committed to Bradford. But if they do grab a quarterback early, then Bradford's future isn't nearly as clear.
Otherwise, Faulk is upbeat on the Rams. “They're in a great position,” he said. “With a lot of youth.”
Warner praised Fisher for changing the culture at Rams Park.
“I like where the Rams are,” Warner said. “I think Coach Fisher has done a great job of building something there. Building an attitude there. Now it's just a matter of continuing to build on that. Continuing to place players there that can help them go to the next level.”
Warner likes the Rams defense, but wants to see more points from the offense. He identifies that offense as the team's key area going forward.
“We've seen what their defense is over the last two years, and how successful they've been,” Warner said. “Now it's about their offense catching up. Whether that's Sam coming into his own as a quarterback, or whether that's placing the right pieces around him and allowing those young players to grow up.
“But I like what they're doing. I think the NFC West is going to be a battle for years to come with all four teams. Because they're all competitive, they all play really good defense right now, and now it's going to be the teams that stay ahead of the curve offensively that will win that division.”
And Warner is correct; the Rams have improved offensively but are still trying to catch up to Seattle, San Francisco and Arizona.
In 2011 — offensive points only — the Rams scored 193 in 16 games for an average of 12.1 points per game. That ranked last (32nd) in the NFL.
In Fisher's first season the Rams offense scored 299 points, averaging 18.7 per game. That ranked 25th.
During their 2013 season the Rams offense scored 348 points, averaging 21.8 points per game. That ranked 21st in the league.
Seattle (26.1), San Francisco (25.4) and Arizona (23.7) all averaged more points on offense per game.
But the Rams defense was also ranked fourth among NFC West teams in offensive points allowed in 2013.
The Rams allowed 327 offensive points, which was tied for 13th overall in the NFL rankings. Seattle allowed the fewest points (217) by an NFL defense, followed by San Francisco (270 points, No. 3) and Arizona (315 points, tied for No. 8).
Thanks for reading...
— Bernie
