| This series of analysis on the 32 NFL teams takes a look at where teams have been over the last three years for each position - where they have ranked in the most notable categories and the hard statistics produced. This is to give a view of each team heading into training camp and what they most likely need to improve on this season and where their strengths lie that likely won't need any changes. Ending each team review is a brief summation of what to watch in training camp in August to uncover those developing situations that you can take advantage. Combining where teams have come from and what they have done in free agency and the NFL draft gives you the very same thing that NFL coaches are looking at as they attempt to improve their team for 2009. |
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Training Camp Opens: July 30 (Rookie), July 31 (Veteran)
Head Coach: Steve Spagnuolo (1st year)
Stadium: Edward Jones Dome (Dome) Surface: FieldTurf
2009 Schedule 2009 Roster 2008 Statistics 2008 Record: 2-14
| QB |
Carries |
Rush YD |
Rush TD |
Pass |
Comp |
Comp % |
Pass YD |
YPP |
Pass TD |
Int |
Rank YD |
Rank TD |
| 2006 |
18 |
44 |
0 |
591 |
371 |
63% |
4328 |
11.7 |
24 |
8 |
3 |
8 |
| 2007 |
18 |
0 |
0 |
573 |
332 |
58% |
3559 |
10.7 |
18 |
28 |
18 |
21 |
| 2008 |
17 |
45 |
0 |
515 |
290 |
56% |
3251 |
11.2 |
11 |
19 |
23 |
30 |
Quarterback - The Rams have kept Marc Bulger but it wasn't a foregone conclusion to start the year. Between a disintegrating offensive line and Bulger's natural tendency to get injured, he's fallen below 3000 yards in each of the last two years and by now has none of the old receivers that had him as an elite fantasy quarterback once upon a time. Bulger has a great passing schedule and no real threat but also no real receivers in a first year implementation of a new scheme. Things fell apart in St. Louis rather quickly and not much has been done yet to turn it around other than collecting very young players.
| RB |
Carries |
Rush YD |
YPC |
Rush TD |
Target |
Rcv |
Catch % |
Catch YD |
Rcv TD |
Rank YD |
Rank TY |
Rank TD |
| 2006 |
396 |
1725 |
4.4 |
13 |
157 |
124 |
79% |
1094 |
4 |
14 |
4 |
12 |
| 2007 |
378 |
1512 |
4.0 |
5 |
117 |
83 |
71% |
555 |
1 |
21 |
21 |
31 |
| 2008 |
382 |
1518 |
4 |
7 |
122 |
83 |
68% |
728 |
1 |
23 |
18 |
29 |
Running Backs - Not unlike Bulger, Steven Jackson has been much injured for the last two seasons and only played 12 games in each. He did barely manage to top 1000 rushing yards and maintained around 40 catches in each season but his shining glory remains 2006 when he not only ran for 1328 yards and 13 scores, he added a league-leading 90 catches by a running back for 806 more yards and three more touchdowns. Once again, Jackson is proclaimed the central focus of the offense. And once again, he'll be proclaimed as the central focus of the defense as well. Antonio Pittman came on last year to act as his relief and replacement but Kenneth Darby may challenge him for the #2 role. With Jackson's proclivity to get hurt, the #2 back is an important role on this team.
| WR |
Target |
Rcv |
Catch % |
Catch YD |
YPR |
Rcv TD |
Ranks YD |
Rank TD |
| 2006 |
391 |
219 |
56% |
2891 |
13.2 |
18 |
5 |
6 |
| 2007 |
366 |
200 |
55% |
2463 |
12.3 |
14 |
14 |
17 |
| 2008 |
331 |
172 |
52% |
2141 |
12.4 |
10 |
18 |
24 |
Wide Receivers - They are all gone. Gone. Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt and even Drew Bennett. Gone. The Rams intend on using second-year starter Donnie Avery and the #2 wideout is still open. It could end up with freshly signed Ronald Curry or second-year player Keenan Burton. There's also a chance that Laurent Robinson can work himself into some playing time. Let's be serious - this at least appears to be a disaster in the making hoping that cast-offs Curry and Robinson can step up into a starting role. Burton only has 13 catches in his career. Curry is 30 years old and no longer getting the benefit of his supposed potential. This is just a mess and should end up in the bottom five in the league. It's worth a draft pick in late rounds to see what happens but really nothing may happen. At least not with fantasy significance.
| TE |
Target |
Rcv |
Catch % |
Catch YD |
YPR |
Rcv TD |
Ranks YD |
Rank TD |
| 2006 |
45 |
27 |
60% |
333 |
12.3 |
2 |
28 |
28 |
| 2007 |
80 |
48 |
60% |
532 |
11.1 |
4 |
22 |
25 |
| 2008 |
62 |
35 |
56% |
382 |
10.9 |
0 |
28 |
30 |
Tight Ends- Randy McMichael missed 12 games last year because he broke his leg and tore a tendon but is back to full strength and will be healthy for camp. With the Rams wanting to establish the run, that will mean more blocking for McMichael who carries too much risk to be anything more than a fantasy backup.
Training Camp Fantasy Angle - There is plenty to watch on this rebuilding team but in the end - will it really matter outside of Steven Jackson? The battle for #2 behind him between Darby and Pittman is worth following if only for the Jackson owners. The passing game is wide open for players to step and make a difference but this is a really young, inexperienced group other than Curry who has never delivered on where ever he's been drafted in the past. The schedule is very nice and the Rams will need to throw. The final outcome of camp on the roles of the wideouts are good to know but still won't rank more than being a fantasy backup for you.
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