- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
St. Louis Rams: 5 Best Offseason Moves
by Russell S. Baxter
http://nflspinzone.com/2015/04/25/st-louis-rams-5-best-offseason-moves/
Talk about symmetry?
This past season, there were 13 teams that lost more games than they won. Of those clubs, 10 rang up double-digit totals in the loss column.
And those 10 franchises make up the teams that will be selecting in the Top 10 of this Thursday’s NFL draft.
We have already previewed 22 teams in a series we call the 5 Best Offseason Moves.
The first of those 10-loss squads is the St. Louis Rams, who have endured quite the drought when it comes to success. Playing in an NFC West that has sent a representative to the Super Bowl three straight years hasn’t helped.
Still, general manager Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher keep on trying to get this team back on track. How have they done so far this offseason? Let’s take a look.
1. Trading for quarterback Nick Foles
When it’s all said and done, the Rams traded away a quarterback who missed all of 2014 for a signal-caller who missed half of this past season.
Perhaps the biggest question regarding the acquisition of the former Pro Bowler is what to expect. Are we looking at a quarterback that in 2013 threw 27 touchdown passes compared to only two interceptions? Or will Foles have problems hanging onto the football, as evidenced by 13 touchdown passes and 13 turnovers in eight games in 2014?
Jeff Fisher must be hoping that his play falls somewhere in between, although it is interesting to note that Rams quarterbacks Shaun Hill and Austin Davis combined for 20 touchdown passes and just as many turnovers this past season.
2. Trading quarterback Sam Bradford
Obviously there are two sides to the deal that sent the number-one overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft to the City of Brotherly for quarterback Nick Foles – with some draft picks on both sides involved as well.
The bottom line was availability. Bradford started every game as a rookie and in 2012 as well. But his second season was cut short by injuries and after going down near midseason in 2013, he missed the final 25 games that the Rams played.
Hopefully healthy, it was time for a fresh start for the former University of Oklahoma star. And it wound up coming “Sooner” than later.
3. Re-signing wide receiver Kenny Britt
The one-time first-round pick of the Tennessee Titans while Jeff Fisher was still in Nashville put up half-decent numbers with the Rams in his first season in St. Louis.
This past season, Britt finished second on the team with 48 catches but led the club with 748 receiving yards, hence a very-respectable 15.6 yards per grab. He was tied for second on the team with three touchdown receptions.
You would hope that new Rams quarterback Nick Foles would utilize Britt like he did wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in Philadelphia this past season.
4. Signing defensive tackle Nick Fairley
The 6’4”, 298-pound defender should fit in quite well, granted he can elevate his game and once again look like a player that deserved to be selected with the 13th overall selection in 2011.
The Rams’ starting defensive line is made up of a quartet of former first-round picks. Defensive ends Chris Long (2008) and Robert Quinn (2011) and defensive tackles Michael Brockers (2012) and Aaron Donald – the latter the 2014 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year – make up for quite the quartet.
The former University of Auburn goes from being a teammate of Ndamukong Suh to being part of a defensive front with even more combined star power. Hopefully, he takes advantage of the situation a little better this time around.
5. Releasing tackle Jake Long and center Scott Wells
The pair of veteran blockers, as well as right tackle Joe Barksdale, remains on the open market as the Rams continue their revamping of their offensive line.
After owning the distinction of being the number-one overall pick in the 2008 draft by the Miami Dolphins and reaching the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons in the league, injuries took their toll on Long. His two-year stint in St. Louis totaled just 22 games, including only seven contests in 2014 as rookie Greg Robinson took over at left tackle.
After making 100 starts in eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Wells joined the Rams in 2012 but did not manage to start all 16 games until this past year. Tim Barnes, who made four starts in Wells’ absence in 2013, is the heir apparent at center.
by Russell S. Baxter
http://nflspinzone.com/2015/04/25/st-louis-rams-5-best-offseason-moves/
Talk about symmetry?
This past season, there were 13 teams that lost more games than they won. Of those clubs, 10 rang up double-digit totals in the loss column.
And those 10 franchises make up the teams that will be selecting in the Top 10 of this Thursday’s NFL draft.
We have already previewed 22 teams in a series we call the 5 Best Offseason Moves.
The first of those 10-loss squads is the St. Louis Rams, who have endured quite the drought when it comes to success. Playing in an NFC West that has sent a representative to the Super Bowl three straight years hasn’t helped.
Still, general manager Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher keep on trying to get this team back on track. How have they done so far this offseason? Let’s take a look.
1. Trading for quarterback Nick Foles
When it’s all said and done, the Rams traded away a quarterback who missed all of 2014 for a signal-caller who missed half of this past season.
Perhaps the biggest question regarding the acquisition of the former Pro Bowler is what to expect. Are we looking at a quarterback that in 2013 threw 27 touchdown passes compared to only two interceptions? Or will Foles have problems hanging onto the football, as evidenced by 13 touchdown passes and 13 turnovers in eight games in 2014?
Jeff Fisher must be hoping that his play falls somewhere in between, although it is interesting to note that Rams quarterbacks Shaun Hill and Austin Davis combined for 20 touchdown passes and just as many turnovers this past season.
2. Trading quarterback Sam Bradford
Obviously there are two sides to the deal that sent the number-one overall pick in the 2010 NFL draft to the City of Brotherly for quarterback Nick Foles – with some draft picks on both sides involved as well.
The bottom line was availability. Bradford started every game as a rookie and in 2012 as well. But his second season was cut short by injuries and after going down near midseason in 2013, he missed the final 25 games that the Rams played.
Hopefully healthy, it was time for a fresh start for the former University of Oklahoma star. And it wound up coming “Sooner” than later.
3. Re-signing wide receiver Kenny Britt
The one-time first-round pick of the Tennessee Titans while Jeff Fisher was still in Nashville put up half-decent numbers with the Rams in his first season in St. Louis.
This past season, Britt finished second on the team with 48 catches but led the club with 748 receiving yards, hence a very-respectable 15.6 yards per grab. He was tied for second on the team with three touchdown receptions.
You would hope that new Rams quarterback Nick Foles would utilize Britt like he did wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in Philadelphia this past season.
4. Signing defensive tackle Nick Fairley
The 6’4”, 298-pound defender should fit in quite well, granted he can elevate his game and once again look like a player that deserved to be selected with the 13th overall selection in 2011.
The Rams’ starting defensive line is made up of a quartet of former first-round picks. Defensive ends Chris Long (2008) and Robert Quinn (2011) and defensive tackles Michael Brockers (2012) and Aaron Donald – the latter the 2014 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year – make up for quite the quartet.
The former University of Auburn goes from being a teammate of Ndamukong Suh to being part of a defensive front with even more combined star power. Hopefully, he takes advantage of the situation a little better this time around.
5. Releasing tackle Jake Long and center Scott Wells
The pair of veteran blockers, as well as right tackle Joe Barksdale, remains on the open market as the Rams continue their revamping of their offensive line.
After owning the distinction of being the number-one overall pick in the 2008 draft by the Miami Dolphins and reaching the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons in the league, injuries took their toll on Long. His two-year stint in St. Louis totaled just 22 games, including only seven contests in 2014 as rookie Greg Robinson took over at left tackle.
After making 100 starts in eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers, Wells joined the Rams in 2012 but did not manage to start all 16 games until this past year. Tim Barnes, who made four starts in Wells’ absence in 2013, is the heir apparent at center.
