St. Louis Rams 2005 season preview

Updated: September 2, 2005, 11:31 AM ET

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THE BOTTOM LINE

By John Clayton, ESPN.com

The Rams might not be back to the 500-point days of 1999-2001, but they are smoking on offense. The reason for the excitement is young talents such as halfback Steven Jackson and wide receiver Kevin Curtis. The Rams will destroy teams that don't have safeties with strong coverage skills. Curtis and Marshall Faulk, coming out of the backfield, will drive defenses crazy in the middle of the field. Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce consistently drive teams crazy on the outside. Quarterback Marc Bulger, calm and cool in the pocket, makes it all work.

Where Jackson's presence will be felt is that he should average five yards every carry -- which he did as a rookie last year. In addition, he's 231 pounds and has speed. The Rams averaged only 20 points a game last year, but expect them to add a touchdown a game to their production.

There are concerns on defense, but there is improvement. Jimmy Kennedy is playing at a Pro Bowl level at defensive tackle. Dexter Coakley and Chris Claiborne solidify a linebacking corps that tended to overpursue and get caught out of position. The concerns are whether Adam Archuleta's back will hold up at strong safety and whether DeJuan Groce can handle the job of cornerback for Jerametrius Butler, who is out for the season with a knee injury.

Right tackle remains a problem unless first-round choice Alex Barron comes through, and that is a question mark. Rex Tucker wasn't the answer at guard and might not be the answer at right tackle.

ESPN's TAKE

By Joe Theismann, ESPN.com

The Big Question?
Can this team find offensive balance? This is another team that can rely a little too heavily on the pass to the detriment of the rest of the offense. It's time the Rams got a little bit more balance to keep defenses on their toes and to give QB Marc Bulger some breathing room.

FANTASY TAKE

By Scott Engel, ESPN.com

Sleeper: WR Kevin Curtis
Curtis showed off some great big-play ability during the 2004 postseason, as he had two 100-yard games right after a 99-yard outing to finish the regular season. Curtis could become fantasy football's next Brandon Stokley. He is simply an amazing third receiver with a ton of promise. Look for him to make lots of big plays when defenses focus on Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce as more prominent threats.
Bust: DE Leonard Little
Individual defender league owners will be hoping that Little can bounce back from a disappointing 2004 season in which he failed to register double-digit sack totals for the first time in four years. But Little could frustrate owners statistically again, not because of a lack of effort, but because he's the only true pass-rushing threat on the front line in St. Louis. More double-teaming means more fantasy frustration.

From ESPN the MAGAZINE

The Big Number

24 Don't blame the O for the team's league-worst turnover ratio; the 39 giveaways tied for the second-fewest under Martz. The D? It created just 15 takeaways, fewest in the NFL.

STRENGTH --> SKILL PLAYERS

Marc Bulger (21 TDs, 14 INTs) will take fewer risks. Makes sense. He's got future Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk's change of pace and pass-catching out of the backfield -- and Faulk's the backup. Jackson's power and speed as the No. 1 RB create even more options. Out wide, few tandems produce like Holt (94 catches in 2004) and Bruce (89). If WRs Shaun McDonald (pictured) and Kevin Curtis keep improving, the NFL should consider adding a 12th defender.

WEAKNESS --> SPECIAL TEAMS

A disaster. There's little emphasis on these units, leading to mismatches in every phase -- and four unit coaches in six years. Jeff Wilkins (pictured), whose skills are declining, is the bright spot. Coverage is abysmal; the return game is worse. The Rams were second to last in kickoff returns last year, and had a pathetic 4.8 yards per punt return. Punting? The team will pin all its hopes on rookie Reggie Hodges.

PROSPECTS

Mike Martz definitely isn't afraid of change. Since the Rams' 2001 Super Bowl appearance, he's changed his QB, tailback and all but one starter on defense. While the offensive moves (Bulger, Jackson) have worked, replacing everyone but Archuleta on D hasn't.

The Rams have three first-round picks on the D-line, but none is a star. The secondary gave up 24 TD passes last season with only six picks, and the special teams finished 30th or worse in four categories.

Though he brought in only two new starters -- free agent LBs Coakley and Claiborne -- Martz calls the defense "solidified." Is standing pat now another Mad Mike call? The Rams will have a tough time improving on last season's 8-8 finish, which means fans could be howling for another replacement. At the top.

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