Bold Prediction: The St. Louis Rams will Make the Playoffs!

That's right, I said it.  The 2009-2010 St. Louis Rams will make the playoffs.

No matter who, what, or where I get it from, when I read articles about the Rams these days the near unanimous consensus is that they might win four or five games, maybe even six!  While any of these "lofty" expectations would be an improvement over last season, I can't seem to recall a team with six wins or less that made the playoffs.

The consensus does seem to believe in Steve Spagnulo's ability to turn the team around, but more likely over a few years.  Aren't they forgetting something?

Anyone who has watched the NFL in recent years must realize we are in the age of the 1-year-turn-around.  I seem to recall two written off teams that surprised everyone and made the playoffs last year.

Remember the Falcons and the Dolphins?  Both of those teams had new coaches and new quarterbacks.  Both had unproven players that performed above and beyond expectations.

Like the 2008 Falcons and Dolphins, the Rams have a great formula in place for redemption and a destiny involving the postseason.  Allow me to make my case...

Exhibit A: The Coach

Players on losing teams love a fresh start, a new direction.  Under Linehan and Haslett, the Rams seemed soft, pathetically clinging to some old identity that didn't exist and unable to forge a new one.  Identity comes from the coach. 

The Giants defense had a great identity under Spagnulo, and they were really the collective MVP of Super Bowl XLIII.  Spags will do the same in St. Louis.  He will turn Chris Long, Carriker, and Laurinitis into men with attitudes. 

He has learned from winners like Andy Reid and Tom Coughlin, men who don't play, men who get respect.  The players will love playing for him.

Exhibit B: The Stud RB

The Dolphins had "Wildcat" Ronnie Brown and the Falcons had Michael Turner.  Everyone knows that the best player hitting the turf at the Edward Jones Dome is Steven Jackson.  He is 26 going into this season. 

That is the age when most NFL running backs reach their peak.  He has been plagued by some injuries and didn't train his body well enough due to a holdout last season, but this year he is ready.  And he has help.

Exhibit C: The O-line

The Rams brought in Jason Brown and drafted Jason Smith, both of who should turn out to be very good linemen in St. Louis.  Then take a fiery, emotional player like Richie Incognito and combine him with a disciplinarian like Spagnulo and you get a player who will wear defensive linemen thin with tenacity. 

This unit is different.  They will protect Bulger better and they will create more room for Jackson, so he isn't taking as many hits.

Exhibit D: The Scheme

The Rams are going to move to a West Coast scheme this season.  The short passing game will help everyone.  It will keep the line from marathon pass blocking.  It will give Bulger less time to hold the ball and end up on his back. 

It will use Jackson's great receiving skills.  The new addition of Ronald Curry will give Bulger a big target across the middle.  Donnie Avery could lead the league in YAC.

Exhibit E: The Make or Break QB

The Rams held onto Bulger causing many to scratch their head, but he is in an interesting position.  He has to know that this is his last chance to stay in the world of QB1's.  If he fails this year, he will be doomed to sideline cap wearing.  Kyle Boller is already there, but he is a good QB2 just in case.

I wouldn't be surprised if Bulger uses the newness to resurrect his career on the way to winning the comeback player award.  A comeback player has to have a place in their history to come back to, and Bulger was pretty good a few years ago.  It's his time to return.

Exhibit F: The Schedule

Okay, so the Cardinals went to the Super Bowl last season.  They wil be a tough opponent the Rams will have to face twice, but what about the others?  They can very realistically take all four from the Seahawks and 49ers.  Then they get the NFC North and AFC South.  Of those eight teams they are capable of beating at least half (Packers, Lions, Texans, Jaguars, and Bears).

Throw in games at the Redskins (a week two surprise win opportunity) and against the Saints at home coming off their BYE, and you have two more very winable games. 

And finally...

Exhibit G: Expectations and the Element of Surprise

Nobody expects them to win which is exactly how they will.  They will sneak up and bite good teams in the butt. 

The players pulled it off last year against those Redskins and then destroyed the Dallas Cowboys very unexpectedly.  They can do it many more times this year, and with a kicker like Brown, they can steal more than one game with a late field goal.

The NFL offers surprises every year.  There are no more Cowboys of the nineties, 49ers of the eighties or Steelers of the seventies.  Those days are quite literally in the past.  Today we have parity and parity brings out the unexpected from the underestimated.  The Super Bowls are always close and really bad teams can turn it around lickety-split. 

The St. Louis Rams will make the playoffs.  I've said it.  Now watch and behold.