St. Louis Rams: The Offensive Players the Rams Can Build Around

With the NFL season winding down, St. Louis Rams' fans are happy to put 2011 in the rear-view mirror. There is no need to try to find the sliver lining on this cloud, because if you spent all day looking, I'm not sure you could find one.

Yeah, 2011 was that bad. It was just plain ugly.

The Rams do have the kind of pieces in place to build with, and if they have a good draft in April, then I think 2012 will be a breakout season for several Rams.

Here are the players the Rams can build around on offense...

Sam Bradford

Sam Bradford was terrible in 2011. He was just awful.

We can talk about how his line was bad and how he had better receivers at the University of Oklahoma, but that is just a waste of time.

Sam Bradford didn't play well in 2011.

I think he will bounce back next year because he is going to have a lot more help. He will probably have a new head coach, someone with a stronger hand, and he is going to play better in 2012. Bradford is accurate, he is tough and he works hard. If you put a QB with those qualities in a good situation, most of the time, he is going to be successful.

I think 2012 will be a much better situation because of the rest of the players on this list.

Steven Jackson

I've gone on the record and said the Rams should trade Steven Jackson. How can Jackson be a building block if the Rams trade him?

Well, I think the Rams could flip Jackson, a player with two more good years in him, into two or three solid players that could help the Rams for the next 8-10 years. If you can get that kind of value for Jackson, then he will help the Rams build a better team for the future.

If the Rams do keep Jackson, they need to use him more on offense. Granted, it's hard to use Jackson when the Rams are trailing big before the end of the first half, but that's why I think the Rams should trade him. Simply put, a power runner like Jackson has a lot more value on a good football team.

The Rams don't qualify as a good football team.

If Jackson retires as a Ram, then he will be a great ambassador for this organization, and he would be a great mentor for a young running back.

Brandon Lloyd

Brandon Lloyd was a breath of fresh air when he arrived in St. Louis, becoming easily the best receiver the Rams have had since the "Greatest Show on Turf" days.

The Rams need to lock up Brandon Lloyd to a reasonable contract, then immediately have him spend the summer living in Sam Bradford's guest bedroom.

If Lloyd and Bradford get on the same page, I can see both the QB and WR being named to the All-Pro team next year. Lloyd is a stat stuffer, and he could be Bradford's "go-to" receiver for the next couple of seasons.

"Wide Receiver to Be Named Later"

The Rams are going to draft another wide receiver. The only question is, will it be with their first-round pick (No. 2 overall), or will it be another "Mardy Gilyard Special" in the third-fifth round?

Personally, I'd love to see the Rams trade down from the No. 2 pick. There are enough QB-desperate teams out there that somebody is going to give you a ton of picks for the chance to draft Baylor's Robert Griffin III.

If the Rams could slide back to fourth-seventh, I would seriously consider making that move, because Oklahoma State's explosive WR Justin Blackmon will probably be sitting there waiting for the Rams.

If you line up Brandon Lloyd opposite Justin Blackmon, I think Rams fans would finally get to see what Sam Bradford is capable of.

Danny Amendola

Remember Danny Amendola? Good special teams player, tough little slot receiver?

Imagine his impact in this Rams offense. He was Bradford's security blanket. The player he most resembles (the Patriots' Wes Welker) seems to do pretty well in the exact same role running the exact same offense.

I think Amendola will have a major impact on the Rams offense next season. With Lloyd and Blackmon lined up outside, and Amendola working the middle...

Hey, this is starting to look like a real NFL offense. Now if the Rams could only find a good tight end...

Lance Kendricks

Lance Kendricks is a physical specimen. He looked great during the preseason. When the regular season rolled around...

What the hell happened to Lance Kendricks?

It's like he just disappeared. Wasn't this offense supposed to feature the tight end? Didn't the Rams "reach" to draft Kendricks in the second round because he was a perfect fit for Josh McDaniels' offense?

I'm still just scratching my head trying to figure out what happened to Kendricks.

He showed flashes of brilliance, and he proved that he can get open. He is also a really good run blocker. With a full offseason and time to work with Bradford, I think Kendricks is going to explode next year.

Show me a good QB in the NFL, and I'll show you a QB with a good tight end. More than any other player on this roster, Sam Bradford needs Lance Kendricks to step up.

Greg Salas

I really like Greg Salas. He was having a really good season, showing weekly improvement and becoming a favorite target of Sam Bradford before he broke his leg.

I think Salas is a bigger, stronger Amendola. He works the underneath routes and he holds onto the football. I think he has a big future in St. Louis, and he is going to be a great red-zone target.

Salas is definitely part of the Rams' future as a 3rd/4th wide receiver.

Rodger Saffold

Rodger Saffold is a hard worker and a smart guy and has played fairly well during his two seasons with the Rams. Saffold's impact on the Rams offense was made painfully obvious after the Rams had to play without him.

After Saffold tore a pectoral muscle lifting weights, the Rams had a really hard time running the ball, and their pass protection was nonexistent.

That might explain why the Rams are on their third quarterback of the season.

If Saffold can get healthy, he should continue to improve. I think Saffold will be protecting Bradford's blind side for the next 10 years.

Harvey Dahl

Harvey Dahl, the Rams' starting RG, is a rough, tough dude. He plays hard and he plays nasty. He greatly improved the Rams' interior run blocking this season.

I think he is a keeper, and the Rams will continue to add to the interior of that offensive line.

Jason Smith

Right now, you are probably shaking your head and saying, "WHAAAAAAT?!?!?"

Stop throwing things at the computer and just listen.

I think Smith is a very strong, very physical offensive lineman. He is a mauler and a very good run blocker. Smith just struggles in pass protection, especially against speed rushers. If you move Smith to guard, he might be able to contribute and extend his NFL career.

Why not move Jason Smith to left guard? He can't be any worse than Jacob Bell, can he? If Smith can't cut it there, then you just send him packing.

If he shows the same nasty streak and is a road grader blocking for Steven Jackson, then the Rams have turned lemons into lemonade.

Austin Pettis

I think the Rams should keep Austin Pettis, simply because they spent a third-round pick on him, and he never got a full preseason to learn the offense.

Pettis is tough, he can play special teams and he has the ability to be a good NFL receiver. He didn't show as much this year as I would've liked to see, but he did show enough to keep him around. Pettis has a better chance to make it as an NFL receiver than Brandon Gibson (not explosive enough) or Danario Alexander (explosive but can't stay healthy).

Who Didn't Make the Cut

All of these players won't be cut, but they are being put on notice: We are looking to upgrade at your position. Either you shape up, or we're shipping you out.

Cadillac Williams was supposed to be the guy to help give the Rams some depth at running back. He played well when he was in there, but in typical Cadillac Williams style, he couldn't stay healthy. Ditto for Jerrious Norwood.

Sorry guys, but you've got to go. Spend a late-round draft pick on a running back or hit the free-agent market again.

Brandon Gibson and Danario Alexander have both had two years to make an impact, and neither player has been able to do so. Gibson can't get open and Alexander can't stay healthy. If the Rams can find an upgrade, in my opinion, both Gibson and DX should be on the chopping block.

The tight end position has been a nightmare. Illinois Mike can't stay healthy, and his head is firmly on the chopping block. Billy Bajema also hasn't been able to establish himself as an impact player and is expendable.

The O-line is a mess. Jason Brown appears to have worn out his welcome in St. Louis. Jacob Bell hasn't played up to his contract. If the Rams do move Jason Smith to left guard, then they will need a new starting right tackle.

The Offensive Depth Chart

Here is what the depth chart would look like. A "Bradford-Jackson-Kendricks-Lloyd-Blackmon-Amendola" combo at RB/TE/WR would be tough to contend with for opposing defenses.

QB: (1) Bradford, (2) TBA

RB: (1) Steven Jackson, unless they trade him, (2) TBA, (3) TBA, (4) TBA

FB: (1) TBA

WR: (1) Brandon Lloyd, (2) Justin Blackmon, (3) Danny Amendola, (4) Greg Salas, (5) Austin Pettis, (6) TBA

TE: (1) Lance Kendricks, (2) TBA, (3) TBA

LT: Rodger Saffold

LG: Jason Smith

C: TBA

RG: Harvey Dahl

LG: TBA

O Line Backups: (1, 2, 3) TBA