Off-season Analysis: St. Louis Rams

The Rams need a lot of work.  That’s to be expected when you go 2-14, losing your last 10 to close the season.  Marc Bulger isn’t the answer at QB, but he’ll be with the team in ‘09 because he’d be too costly on their cap to cut. 

I don’t see them going QB with the second pick, though, because they would have over $100 million earmarked to that position.

A more likely scenario is they attempt the monumental task of replacing Orlando Pace with either Michael Oher or Andre Smith.  Steven Jackson looked great down the stretch running for 517 yards and four TDs (three rushing, one receiving) in the last five weeks.

He needs to prove he can stay healthy though as he missed four games.  Kenneth Darby and Antonio Pittman are his backups, but that’s a spot that could use and upgrade.

New coach Steve Spagnuolo saw first hand what a solid stable or RBs can do for a team.  He didn’t quite pass the torch yet, but this could be the year Torry Holt relinquishes his throne on the No. 1 spot. 

There is talk that he could even be cut or traded.  Donnie Avery will likely be the new number, unless they surprise everyone and select Michael Crabtree.

Keenan Burton dealt with a lot of injuries in his rookie season, but should see an expanded role next year.  This is another spot attention. 

The Randy McMichael experiment did not work out.  Joe Klopfenstein doesn’t appear to be the answer so Tight End needs to be addressed as well.  So if you’re keeping score at home the Rams need to upgrade on O-Line, WR, TE, and backup RB on Offense. 

Last year’s #1 pick Chris Long should improve in his second year.  Leonard Little is in the last year of his contract and will be playing for a new deal.  They both should be able to produce in Spags’ scheme. 

The Rams will likely bring Restricted Free Agent Victor Adeyanju back and lose La’Roi Glover as a cap casualty or to retirement. 

Their LBs are fairly set with Pisa Tinoisamoa, Will Witherspoon, and Quinton Culberson.  

The Rams have some key free agents in their secondary.  CB Ron Bartell and S Oshiomogho Atogwe will likely be back.  Fahkir Brown and Corey Chavous (already cut) will not return. 

With so many needs, Rams fans need to be patient.  Rough waters are ahead.

KFFL Free Agent Tracker:

Pos	Player Name	FA Status	Previous Team	Current Team
QB	Brock Berlin	RFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
RB	Samkon Gado	UFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
RB	Travis Minor	UFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
FB	Richard Owens	UFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
WR	Matt Caddell	Signed	St. Louis Rams	St. Louis Rams
WR	Joel Filani	Re-signed	St. Louis Rams	San Francisco 49ers
WR	Dante’ Hall	UFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
WR	Dane Looker	UFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
TE	Dominique Byrd	RFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
OG	Mark Setterstrom	RFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
OT	Adam Goldberg	UFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
OT	Brandon Gorin	UFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
OT	Clint Oldenburg	Signed	St. Louis Rams	Denver Broncos
C	Nick Leckey	UFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
DL	Victor Adeyanju	RFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
DL	La’Roi Glover	UFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
DL	Eric M. Moore	UFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
DL	Willie X. Williams	Re-signed	St. Louis Rams	St. Louis Rams
LB	Gary Stills	UFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
CB	Ron Bartell	UFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
CB	Fakhir Brown	UFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
CB	Jason Craft	UFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
CB	Ricky Manning Jr.	UFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
SS	Corey Chavous	UFA (Cut)	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent
FS	Oshiomogho Atogwe	UFA	St. Louis Rams	Free Agent