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By Gil Brandt | NFL.com
Senior Analyst
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100000 ... n-a-corner
The St. Louis Rams, in my estimation, will make the biggest improvement, in terms of games won, of any team in the NFL in 2012. They finished with a 2-14 record in 2011, but I think they'll win seven games in 2012. I think they're going to surprise a lot of people this season.
Rams fans will need a program to identify the faces that will end up on the final roster. I think as many as 25 new guys will end up making the cut.
St. Louis had a great draft in April. Second-round pick Janoris Jenkins, who had faced questions about his character, will start at cornerback; he looked fantastic. During a passing drill toward the end of one practice, with the temperature around 104 degrees, I saw Jenkins make an unbelievable interception. The fact that Jenkins, as a rookie, had the wherewithal and drive to go hard like that, in that kind of heat and with practice winding down, is a great sign. The Rams are going to do everything they can to help him avoid trouble, and I think he'll be as good as any rookie cover corner in the league.
First-round pick Michael Brockers, who will strengthen the run defense, is going to start at defensive tackle. He looked great in practice. Folks talk about defenders who can fill a hole; Brockers can fill a hole-and-a-half. He's a big guy, very active, who has worked extremely hard. He also has a great attitude; the veterans can get on him, and it doesn't seem to faze him.
Greg Zuerlein, a sixth-round pick, is going to be a fabulous kicker. He has an unbelievably strong leg; during one scrimmage, he hit field goals of 59 and 53 yards and missed on a 64-yarder that had plenty of distance but was wide left.
Steve Smith, the former Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants receiver, looked completely healthy. He looks like someone who's going to catch a lot of passes and be a go-to guy for quarterback Sam Bradford, who also played well.
It's easy to see why new Rams coach Jeff Fisher has had such a successful career. Unlike a young or inexperienced coach, Fisher knows what he's doing. He's going to do some dynamic things with this franchise, provided Bradford can stay healthy. He's like a new CEO hired to bring a company back from the brink of bankruptcy. Everybody relates to the idea that his past success will translate to future success. That's the attitude that's defining their camp.
Rest of the story (Chiefs part): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100000 ... n-a-corner
Senior Analyst
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100000 ... n-a-corner
The St. Louis Rams, in my estimation, will make the biggest improvement, in terms of games won, of any team in the NFL in 2012. They finished with a 2-14 record in 2011, but I think they'll win seven games in 2012. I think they're going to surprise a lot of people this season.
Rams fans will need a program to identify the faces that will end up on the final roster. I think as many as 25 new guys will end up making the cut.
St. Louis had a great draft in April. Second-round pick Janoris Jenkins, who had faced questions about his character, will start at cornerback; he looked fantastic. During a passing drill toward the end of one practice, with the temperature around 104 degrees, I saw Jenkins make an unbelievable interception. The fact that Jenkins, as a rookie, had the wherewithal and drive to go hard like that, in that kind of heat and with practice winding down, is a great sign. The Rams are going to do everything they can to help him avoid trouble, and I think he'll be as good as any rookie cover corner in the league.
First-round pick Michael Brockers, who will strengthen the run defense, is going to start at defensive tackle. He looked great in practice. Folks talk about defenders who can fill a hole; Brockers can fill a hole-and-a-half. He's a big guy, very active, who has worked extremely hard. He also has a great attitude; the veterans can get on him, and it doesn't seem to faze him.
Greg Zuerlein, a sixth-round pick, is going to be a fabulous kicker. He has an unbelievably strong leg; during one scrimmage, he hit field goals of 59 and 53 yards and missed on a 64-yarder that had plenty of distance but was wide left.
Steve Smith, the former Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants receiver, looked completely healthy. He looks like someone who's going to catch a lot of passes and be a go-to guy for quarterback Sam Bradford, who also played well.
It's easy to see why new Rams coach Jeff Fisher has had such a successful career. Unlike a young or inexperienced coach, Fisher knows what he's doing. He's going to do some dynamic things with this franchise, provided Bradford can stay healthy. He's like a new CEO hired to bring a company back from the brink of bankruptcy. Everybody relates to the idea that his past success will translate to future success. That's the attitude that's defining their camp.
Rest of the story (Chiefs part): http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100000 ... n-a-corner