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http://isportsweb.com/2015/05/28/areas-of-concern-for-the-st-louis-rams-in-2015/
Areas of concern for the St. Louis Rams in 2015
May 28, 2015 by Akhil Ganesh
St. Louis Rams news is slow these days, as fans and players count down the days until the Rams take the field again. However, with OTAs beginning next week in St. Louis, this is a time to set expectations and evaluations of the players the team has on roster. Over the past couple weeks, we’ve discussed reasons for hope for St. Louis fans as we enter a brand new campaign. But as every St. Louis Rams fan knows, offseason hope is worthless once the regular season rolls around. Even for the most optimistic fans, there’s always a reason for concern when it comes to Jeff Fisher’s team.
Offensive Line
Guard Rodger Saffold is the veteran amongst the offensive line, and needs to help the development of an otherwise inexperienced group.
The St. Louis Rams entered this offseason with questions all over the offensive line. They returned only one Day 1 starter from last year, and two with starting experience. Rodger Saffold and Greg Robinson return to hold down part of the line, but the three positions remained open. Joe Barksdale could have been in one of them, but he signed with San Diego. Centers Tim Barnes, Barrett Jones, and Demetrius Rhaney are expected to compete for the position, and the Rams have plenty of depth at guard and tackle. However, free agent acquisition Garrett Reynolds seems the best of the bunch, and doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence.
Make no mistake about it, the Rams did their part in addressing the line during the draft. But, then again, they had to. After largely ignoring the position during free agency, the team was primed to spend a number of picks on beefing up their protection for quarterback Nick Foles. The aversion to free agent acquisitions is warranted, after big name free agent signings over the last number of years have failed to produce any long-term production for the position. Harvey Dahl, Scott Wells, and Jake Long were all awarded lucrative contracts, but failed to produce consistently good protection.
After swinging and missing on veterans, the Rams took a different approach to beefing up the offensive line this time around. The team drafted four offensive linemen in Rob Havenstein, Jamon Brown, Andrew Donnal, and Cody Wichmann. Every single one of these players have a nasty edge to them, always looking for contact. The group is also extremely versatile, capable of playing both inside and outside along the line. For now, the team is expected to put Havenstein at right tackle and Brown at a guard spot.
But, what makes or breaks this talent group is its development. Every single player on the line with the exception of Saffold is a work in progress. Even veterans like Travis Bond and Reynolds have to put in time to get better if they want to start. Current projections of the line have Robinson at left tackle, Brown at left guard, the winner of the Barnes/Jones/Rhaney competition at center, Saffold at right guard, and Havenstein at right tackle. While the group definitely is build big and tough, they are not guaranteed for success right away. Offensive line coach Paul Boudreau has his work cut out for himself, and needs to get the best out of each and every one of these raw talents. Whether that happens this season remains to be seen.
Secondary
Cornerback Janoris Jenkins may have the most talent in the secondary, but his development must occur this offseason to help the whole group improve.
The St. Louis Rams secondary is another group that has plenty of young potential. Each and every one of these players loves to hit opposing receivers, and is unafraid to get in the face of any player lined up across from them. Cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, and E.J. Gaines are all capable starters in the NFL, and have flashed superstar potential with their play. However, each has also been burned badly by better receivers, and are far too inconsistent to provide a viable threat yet.
The safety group is equally as ferocious and hungry. TJ McDonald and Rodney McLeod have each displayed tremendous hitting ability, but each suffers when it comes to coverage. That’s okay for McDonald, who plays a more box safety role in the defense. But for McLeod, his communication and coverage skills led to more than one long touchdown for opposing offenses. In particular, McLeod and Jenkins often had issues communicating and collaborating on coverages, leading to wide open receivers down the field.
The secondary group is rounded out by what I like to call the “tweeners”. Mark Barron and Lamarcus Joyner have been used by Gregg Williams in multiple roles on the defense, and can be used in a variety of ways. Joyner is the primary candidate in my eyes to replace McLeod at free safety. Joyner’s coverage abilities as a corner need a little work, but transitioning him to safety might be a better use of his skills. Barron is a box safety like McDonald, but St. Louis opted to use him in a “Big Nickel” package, essentially converting him to an uber-athletic linebacker. This use of him plays to his big-hitting strength, while minimizing how much coverage he has to engage in.
This group isn’t as big of a concern as the offensive line in evaluating what each player brings to the team. Rather, the concern is whether the group will develop like they are supposed to. With a vast array of young talent, the group needs to develop in order to make the defense an all-around monster. The front seven of the Rams is more than capable of holding up the run game. The back end of the defense is what’s left to turn St. Louis’ defense into one of the best in the league. That depends on how well this group progresses this coming year. All the pieces are present, but blown coverage like the one on Dez Bryant against Dallas last year will not be accepted.
Wide Receiver
Wide receiver Kenny Britt helped bring an attitude to the Rams receiving corps, but he must also help develop the group to make the Rams a contender.
It seems like every year, St. Louis Rams fans clamor for change and talent at the wide receiver position. For the second straight year, however, the Jeff Fisher and Les Snead did little to upgrade the position for the coming year. Last year, the team signed Kenny Britt to a one year “prove it” deal. This year, they resigned Britt and drafted Bud Sasser in the sixth round. The group also has Stedman Bailey, Brian Quick, Tavon Austin, and Chris Givens, along with an assortment of camp bodies and undrafted free agents.
Austin was once supposed to be the marquee name of the group, but a disappointing second year put that dream on hold. After struggling to get going in his rookie campaign, the question remains of what to do with Austin’s speed and athleticism. New offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti has said that getting Austin more involved would be a primary concern for the team, but last year’s version of increased involvement for Austin was handing him the ball between the tackles. Bailey has turned into the better pure receiver, and Rams fans continue to have high hopes for him to snag a starting job.
Quick and Britt are the big men on either side, and Quick truly emerged as a talent last season. Before a season ending shoulder injury, Quick had a career high 25 receptions and three touchdowns. While these stats by themselves don’t seem to be impressive, his ability to use his body and fight for jump balls showed that he was finally progressing as a wideout. Britt was also a major factor in that, as well as delivering on his own. Bud Sasser offers the same kind of build as these two, and could thrive learning under Britt the same way that Quick did. If Sasser progresses, it’s possible that the Rams have three big threats on the corps.
Chris Givens is the odd man out, as his rookie campaign was tremendous. However, he struggled the next season, and seemed to be at the bottom of the depth chart last year after the emergence of Brian Quick. It is questionable at this point in time if he even makes the roster, as competition will be fierce at the position.
As with the other two groups, the talent is all in the right spot. Kenny Britt brought this team an attitude last season, and hopefully the stats will back it up this year. However, this group benefits from something else this season. The Rams have truly moved to a power-run game, and as such, the receivers will not be asked to deliver as much as they have had to in years past. By running to set up the pass, the pressure is off of these receivers to perform, and will help cultivate their growth. However, playcalling is a major concern after Brian Schottenheimer failed to use the group’s talents in years past. But the Rams receivers must deliver when they are asked to, and it’s hard to see whether or not they are capable of it.
Time to Deliver
For years, the St. Louis Rams have been slated as “the next team to break out” or were just “a quarterback away from the playoffs”. Now, the talent is all in place for the Rams. The problem, as it has been in years past, is whether or not the team can develop. Quarterback Nick Foles and running back Todd Gurley should lead an improved offense with an identity. The wide receiving corps and the offensive line are an enigma right now, and that’s a cause for major concern for St. Louis. The secondary has the ability to be great, but they can not afford to fail. The other parts of the defense are ready to take over the league. The offense is ready to get nasty. But for the St. Louis Rams, the concern isn’t about talent. It’s about winning.
Areas of concern for the St. Louis Rams in 2015
May 28, 2015 by Akhil Ganesh
St. Louis Rams news is slow these days, as fans and players count down the days until the Rams take the field again. However, with OTAs beginning next week in St. Louis, this is a time to set expectations and evaluations of the players the team has on roster. Over the past couple weeks, we’ve discussed reasons for hope for St. Louis fans as we enter a brand new campaign. But as every St. Louis Rams fan knows, offseason hope is worthless once the regular season rolls around. Even for the most optimistic fans, there’s always a reason for concern when it comes to Jeff Fisher’s team.
Offensive Line
Guard Rodger Saffold is the veteran amongst the offensive line, and needs to help the development of an otherwise inexperienced group.
The St. Louis Rams entered this offseason with questions all over the offensive line. They returned only one Day 1 starter from last year, and two with starting experience. Rodger Saffold and Greg Robinson return to hold down part of the line, but the three positions remained open. Joe Barksdale could have been in one of them, but he signed with San Diego. Centers Tim Barnes, Barrett Jones, and Demetrius Rhaney are expected to compete for the position, and the Rams have plenty of depth at guard and tackle. However, free agent acquisition Garrett Reynolds seems the best of the bunch, and doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence.
Make no mistake about it, the Rams did their part in addressing the line during the draft. But, then again, they had to. After largely ignoring the position during free agency, the team was primed to spend a number of picks on beefing up their protection for quarterback Nick Foles. The aversion to free agent acquisitions is warranted, after big name free agent signings over the last number of years have failed to produce any long-term production for the position. Harvey Dahl, Scott Wells, and Jake Long were all awarded lucrative contracts, but failed to produce consistently good protection.
After swinging and missing on veterans, the Rams took a different approach to beefing up the offensive line this time around. The team drafted four offensive linemen in Rob Havenstein, Jamon Brown, Andrew Donnal, and Cody Wichmann. Every single one of these players have a nasty edge to them, always looking for contact. The group is also extremely versatile, capable of playing both inside and outside along the line. For now, the team is expected to put Havenstein at right tackle and Brown at a guard spot.
But, what makes or breaks this talent group is its development. Every single player on the line with the exception of Saffold is a work in progress. Even veterans like Travis Bond and Reynolds have to put in time to get better if they want to start. Current projections of the line have Robinson at left tackle, Brown at left guard, the winner of the Barnes/Jones/Rhaney competition at center, Saffold at right guard, and Havenstein at right tackle. While the group definitely is build big and tough, they are not guaranteed for success right away. Offensive line coach Paul Boudreau has his work cut out for himself, and needs to get the best out of each and every one of these raw talents. Whether that happens this season remains to be seen.
Secondary
Cornerback Janoris Jenkins may have the most talent in the secondary, but his development must occur this offseason to help the whole group improve.
The St. Louis Rams secondary is another group that has plenty of young potential. Each and every one of these players loves to hit opposing receivers, and is unafraid to get in the face of any player lined up across from them. Cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson, and E.J. Gaines are all capable starters in the NFL, and have flashed superstar potential with their play. However, each has also been burned badly by better receivers, and are far too inconsistent to provide a viable threat yet.
The safety group is equally as ferocious and hungry. TJ McDonald and Rodney McLeod have each displayed tremendous hitting ability, but each suffers when it comes to coverage. That’s okay for McDonald, who plays a more box safety role in the defense. But for McLeod, his communication and coverage skills led to more than one long touchdown for opposing offenses. In particular, McLeod and Jenkins often had issues communicating and collaborating on coverages, leading to wide open receivers down the field.
The secondary group is rounded out by what I like to call the “tweeners”. Mark Barron and Lamarcus Joyner have been used by Gregg Williams in multiple roles on the defense, and can be used in a variety of ways. Joyner is the primary candidate in my eyes to replace McLeod at free safety. Joyner’s coverage abilities as a corner need a little work, but transitioning him to safety might be a better use of his skills. Barron is a box safety like McDonald, but St. Louis opted to use him in a “Big Nickel” package, essentially converting him to an uber-athletic linebacker. This use of him plays to his big-hitting strength, while minimizing how much coverage he has to engage in.
This group isn’t as big of a concern as the offensive line in evaluating what each player brings to the team. Rather, the concern is whether the group will develop like they are supposed to. With a vast array of young talent, the group needs to develop in order to make the defense an all-around monster. The front seven of the Rams is more than capable of holding up the run game. The back end of the defense is what’s left to turn St. Louis’ defense into one of the best in the league. That depends on how well this group progresses this coming year. All the pieces are present, but blown coverage like the one on Dez Bryant against Dallas last year will not be accepted.
Wide Receiver
Wide receiver Kenny Britt helped bring an attitude to the Rams receiving corps, but he must also help develop the group to make the Rams a contender.
It seems like every year, St. Louis Rams fans clamor for change and talent at the wide receiver position. For the second straight year, however, the Jeff Fisher and Les Snead did little to upgrade the position for the coming year. Last year, the team signed Kenny Britt to a one year “prove it” deal. This year, they resigned Britt and drafted Bud Sasser in the sixth round. The group also has Stedman Bailey, Brian Quick, Tavon Austin, and Chris Givens, along with an assortment of camp bodies and undrafted free agents.
Austin was once supposed to be the marquee name of the group, but a disappointing second year put that dream on hold. After struggling to get going in his rookie campaign, the question remains of what to do with Austin’s speed and athleticism. New offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti has said that getting Austin more involved would be a primary concern for the team, but last year’s version of increased involvement for Austin was handing him the ball between the tackles. Bailey has turned into the better pure receiver, and Rams fans continue to have high hopes for him to snag a starting job.
Quick and Britt are the big men on either side, and Quick truly emerged as a talent last season. Before a season ending shoulder injury, Quick had a career high 25 receptions and three touchdowns. While these stats by themselves don’t seem to be impressive, his ability to use his body and fight for jump balls showed that he was finally progressing as a wideout. Britt was also a major factor in that, as well as delivering on his own. Bud Sasser offers the same kind of build as these two, and could thrive learning under Britt the same way that Quick did. If Sasser progresses, it’s possible that the Rams have three big threats on the corps.
Chris Givens is the odd man out, as his rookie campaign was tremendous. However, he struggled the next season, and seemed to be at the bottom of the depth chart last year after the emergence of Brian Quick. It is questionable at this point in time if he even makes the roster, as competition will be fierce at the position.
As with the other two groups, the talent is all in the right spot. Kenny Britt brought this team an attitude last season, and hopefully the stats will back it up this year. However, this group benefits from something else this season. The Rams have truly moved to a power-run game, and as such, the receivers will not be asked to deliver as much as they have had to in years past. By running to set up the pass, the pressure is off of these receivers to perform, and will help cultivate their growth. However, playcalling is a major concern after Brian Schottenheimer failed to use the group’s talents in years past. But the Rams receivers must deliver when they are asked to, and it’s hard to see whether or not they are capable of it.
Time to Deliver
For years, the St. Louis Rams have been slated as “the next team to break out” or were just “a quarterback away from the playoffs”. Now, the talent is all in place for the Rams. The problem, as it has been in years past, is whether or not the team can develop. Quarterback Nick Foles and running back Todd Gurley should lead an improved offense with an identity. The wide receiving corps and the offensive line are an enigma right now, and that’s a cause for major concern for St. Louis. The secondary has the ability to be great, but they can not afford to fail. The other parts of the defense are ready to take over the league. The offense is ready to get nasty. But for the St. Louis Rams, the concern isn’t about talent. It’s about winning.
