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Rams' first opponent is motivated
By Nate Latsch
http://www.scout.com/sports/nfl/rams/story/1550080-rams-first-opponent-is-motivated?s=124
The St. Louis Rams have just one victory in their past eight season openers and figure to have an even more formidable test on Sept. 13 when they host the reigning NFC champion Seattle Seahawks.
The Seahawks may be more motivated this offseason than ever before considering how the final minutes of the Super Bowl unfolded. A year ago, they were celebrating a championship. This offseason they were focused on coming up short.
“Oh yeah, I told a lot of people, it feels like this offseason, everybody worked their hardest,” Seattle safety Kam Chancellor told reporters on Tuesday. “I’ve seen guys out here busting their tails, the whole offseason going fast-tempo. Guys are lifting like crazy. It’s just like the mindset is just sharpened. It just sharpened even more. We’re more focused, more driven. We’re just hungry for the first game of the year.”
That is bad news for the Rams, who are coming off a 6-10 campaign and haven’t had a winning season or made the playoffs in more than a decade. St. Louis, which could have five new starters on offense, will face 2014 playoff teams in four of its first five games.
The Rams lost four of their first five games in 2014, including getting blown out 34-6 by the juggernaut that was the Matt Cassel-led Minnesota Vikings in the season opener at the Edward Jones Dome.
The Seahawks, who went 12-4 a year ago to win the NFC West, return much of their core from last season.
Quarterback Russell Wilson is back after throwing for 3,475 yards and 20 touchdowns and running for 849 yards and six scores. Running back Marshawn Lynch had 1,306 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns last season. Seattle upgraded its offense by trading for Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham, who had 85 catches for 889 yards and eight scores in his final season with the New Orleans Saints.
The defense returns many of the players that helped the Seahawks lead the NFL in fewest points allowed (15.9), fewest yards allowed (267.1) and fewest passing yards allowed (185.5) last season.
Cornerback Richard Sherman, middle linebacker Bobby Wagner and safeties Earl Thomas and Chancellor are all back for 2015.
But it may hurt more for Rams fans knowing that Chancellor, a three-time Pro Bowler, was selected with the fifth-round pick in 2010 immediately after the Rams took tight end Michael Hoomanawanui.
The Rams and Seahawks have had some entertaining games over the past few years, especially in St. Louis.
The Rams beat the Seahawks 28-26 in 2014 with the help of a strong performance from quarterback Austin Davis and Stedman Bailey’s 90-yard misdirection punt return for a touchdown.
In 2013, the Seahawks beat the Rams 14-9 in a Monday night showdown after Kellen Clemens, making his first start at quarterback after Sam Bradford got hurt a week earlier, drove the team down the field but was unable to score a touchdown in the final seconds.
The Rams beat the Seahawks 19-13 in 2013 behind four field goals from rookie kicker Greg Zuerlein, including from 58 and 60 yards, and a touchdown pass from punter Johnny Hekker.
We can only hope that this year’s season opener features the same level of theatrics and dramatics as the last three Rams-Seahawks meetings at the Jones Dome. The Seahawks will be motivated and the Rams will have plenty to prove.
By Nate Latsch
http://www.scout.com/sports/nfl/rams/story/1550080-rams-first-opponent-is-motivated?s=124
The St. Louis Rams have just one victory in their past eight season openers and figure to have an even more formidable test on Sept. 13 when they host the reigning NFC champion Seattle Seahawks.
The Seahawks may be more motivated this offseason than ever before considering how the final minutes of the Super Bowl unfolded. A year ago, they were celebrating a championship. This offseason they were focused on coming up short.
“Oh yeah, I told a lot of people, it feels like this offseason, everybody worked their hardest,” Seattle safety Kam Chancellor told reporters on Tuesday. “I’ve seen guys out here busting their tails, the whole offseason going fast-tempo. Guys are lifting like crazy. It’s just like the mindset is just sharpened. It just sharpened even more. We’re more focused, more driven. We’re just hungry for the first game of the year.”
That is bad news for the Rams, who are coming off a 6-10 campaign and haven’t had a winning season or made the playoffs in more than a decade. St. Louis, which could have five new starters on offense, will face 2014 playoff teams in four of its first five games.
The Rams lost four of their first five games in 2014, including getting blown out 34-6 by the juggernaut that was the Matt Cassel-led Minnesota Vikings in the season opener at the Edward Jones Dome.
The Seahawks, who went 12-4 a year ago to win the NFC West, return much of their core from last season.
Quarterback Russell Wilson is back after throwing for 3,475 yards and 20 touchdowns and running for 849 yards and six scores. Running back Marshawn Lynch had 1,306 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns last season. Seattle upgraded its offense by trading for Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham, who had 85 catches for 889 yards and eight scores in his final season with the New Orleans Saints.
The defense returns many of the players that helped the Seahawks lead the NFL in fewest points allowed (15.9), fewest yards allowed (267.1) and fewest passing yards allowed (185.5) last season.
Cornerback Richard Sherman, middle linebacker Bobby Wagner and safeties Earl Thomas and Chancellor are all back for 2015.
But it may hurt more for Rams fans knowing that Chancellor, a three-time Pro Bowler, was selected with the fifth-round pick in 2010 immediately after the Rams took tight end Michael Hoomanawanui.
The Rams and Seahawks have had some entertaining games over the past few years, especially in St. Louis.
The Rams beat the Seahawks 28-26 in 2014 with the help of a strong performance from quarterback Austin Davis and Stedman Bailey’s 90-yard misdirection punt return for a touchdown.
In 2013, the Seahawks beat the Rams 14-9 in a Monday night showdown after Kellen Clemens, making his first start at quarterback after Sam Bradford got hurt a week earlier, drove the team down the field but was unable to score a touchdown in the final seconds.
The Rams beat the Seahawks 19-13 in 2013 behind four field goals from rookie kicker Greg Zuerlein, including from 58 and 60 yards, and a touchdown pass from punter Johnny Hekker.
We can only hope that this year’s season opener features the same level of theatrics and dramatics as the last three Rams-Seahawks meetings at the Jones Dome. The Seahawks will be motivated and the Rams will have plenty to prove.
