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Can Rams' defense lead them to a championship?
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...-rams-defense-be-enough-to-win-a-championship
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The Rams under coach Jeff Fisher have never tried to hide their priorities when it comes to building the roster. Fisher covets a top-flight defense, complemented by a power running game with occasional help from a play-action passing game.
To this point the plan hasn't worked, as the Rams have yet to post even a .500 season in the four-year Fisher regime. But for those looking for encouragement that such a plan can lead to a championship, look no further than the Denver Broncos, who claimed Super Bowl 50 last weekend.
The Broncos won the Lombardi Trophy largely because of a dominant defense. ESPN columnist Kevin Seifert explored the idea that an elite defense can carry a team to a title.
It's a good read, and offers some numbers on what top defenses can do. Is it easier than having an elite quarterback leading a good offense? No, but it at least offers an alternative for the many teams that can't find such signal-callers.
From a Rams' perspective, the lesson should be this: while they've built a strong defense, it's not nearly good enough to carry the team to the playoffs let alone a Super Bowl. And with the offense being one of the least productive in the NFL, well, you consistently get mediocre finishes.
It puts the Rams in an interesting spot, because the defense looks much closer to being elite than the Rams are to landing a franchise quarterback. So yes, defenses can win championships. But more often than not, if that defense isn't complemented by at least a mid-level offense, it needs to be a historically great unit if it's going to end the season with the ultimate prize.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...-rams-defense-be-enough-to-win-a-championship
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The Rams under coach Jeff Fisher have never tried to hide their priorities when it comes to building the roster. Fisher covets a top-flight defense, complemented by a power running game with occasional help from a play-action passing game.
To this point the plan hasn't worked, as the Rams have yet to post even a .500 season in the four-year Fisher regime. But for those looking for encouragement that such a plan can lead to a championship, look no further than the Denver Broncos, who claimed Super Bowl 50 last weekend.
The Broncos won the Lombardi Trophy largely because of a dominant defense. ESPN columnist Kevin Seifert explored the idea that an elite defense can carry a team to a title.
It's a good read, and offers some numbers on what top defenses can do. Is it easier than having an elite quarterback leading a good offense? No, but it at least offers an alternative for the many teams that can't find such signal-callers.
From a Rams' perspective, the lesson should be this: while they've built a strong defense, it's not nearly good enough to carry the team to the playoffs let alone a Super Bowl. And with the offense being one of the least productive in the NFL, well, you consistently get mediocre finishes.
It puts the Rams in an interesting spot, because the defense looks much closer to being elite than the Rams are to landing a franchise quarterback. So yes, defenses can win championships. But more often than not, if that defense isn't complemented by at least a mid-level offense, it needs to be a historically great unit if it's going to end the season with the ultimate prize.
