JACKED UP
by Steven Michalovich


Dreadlocks flying, Steven Jackson had an outstanding
year in 2006; another one will go a long way toward
making the Rams division champs

My fantasy football season in 2007 would not have been as successful as it was if it wasn’t for the St. Louis Rams offense. My starting quarterback and wide receivers consisted of Marc Bulger, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, and I rode their 37 touchdowns to a one-loss regular season. There is no doubt about it, that the Rams have an explosive offense.

As far as their team’s success goes in 2006, it was an up and down and up again season. They started off by winning four of their first five, but came out of their bye week losing six of their next seven. They are hoping that the momentum from a season ending three-game winning streak will carry over into 2007. It certainly is possible despite not having a winning season since 2003 – Mike Martz’s last season as coach.

In St. Louis, offense is to be expected. Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson have hit their prime. Bulger is a top-ten quarterback in the league and has become a strong leader, showcasing his heart along with accuracy and decision-making ability. Jackson has become one of the best all-around backs in the league as a productive runner and reliable receiver out of the back field – and his 2,334 total yards from a season ago prove that. Holt and Bruce are getting a little older, but are still very capable receivers. Third-receiver-to-be Drew Bennett, while his numbers have been down in recent years, provides a tall, versatile option as well. The offensive line isn’t perfect, but who’s in the NFL is? The healthy return of one of the best lineman in the game, Orlando Pace, makes this a stellar offense.

The defense still has some holes though. They gave up 145.4 yards per game - most in the NFC. There are some bright spots though, that this franchise is trying to build around. Defensive end and Pro Bowl alternate Leonard Little had 13 sacks and six forced fumbles last season. 2006 free agent, middle linebacker Will Witherspoon stabilized the center of the defense despite his smaller size. Rookie Tye Hill is tough and great in coverage from the cornerback position, but must work on tackling fundamentals before he will be considered an elite defensive back.

While the defense wasn’t superb, the special teams left something to be desired as well. Jeff Wilkins was tied for the league lead in field goals made last season, but coverage teams and return teams were almost non-existent. The notorious Dante Hall is now a Ram and the front office is thinking he can bring a spark to the return game, as this facet of football has become increasingly emphasized in recent years.

Their first five games are very winnable, and they face each divisional opponent in that stretch. Getting off to a fast start and establishing their offense by firing on all cylinders is pivotal as the defense will attempt to find some stability. But Arizona and San Francisco are sharply emerging in the league and Seattle is still a Super Bowl contender. Is this team too far removed from the Kurt Warner days or are they rebuilt and poised for success?

BEST-CASE SCENARIO:
Bulger and Jackson have career years, the defense is the biggest surprise in the NFL and Dante Hall has five return TD’s. Rams go 11-5, edging Seattle for the division crown. Hey, they’re in the NFC, and while Arizona and San Fran look to be improving, much could still go wrong with those clubs.

WORST-CASE SCENARIO:
Flip the best-case around to 5-11. Bulger and Jackson are the only big names among falling stars and inexperienced youngsters. We know the offense is going to win this team some games, but below-average defenses can and will get exploited when they have to travel to New Orleans and Cincinnati. Will the defense step up and complement this dynamic offense?