St. Louis Rams

HISTORY
Joined the NFL as the Cleveland Rams in 1937. Relocated to Los Angeles in 1946. Relocated to St. Louis in 1994.

CHAMPIONSHIP SUMMARY
League Championships: 3 – 1945 (NFL), 1951 (NFL), 1999 (Super Bowl)

Conference Championships: 5 – 1950 (NFC), 1951 (NFC), 1955 (WFC), 1979 (NFC), 1999 (NFC), 2001 (NFC)

Division Championships: 15 – 1945 (NFL West), 1949 (NFL West), 1967 (NFL Coastal), 1969 (NFL Coastal), 1973 (NFC West), 1974 (NFC West), 1975 (NFC West), 1976 (NFC West), 1977 (NFC West), 1978 (NFC West), 1979 (NFC West), 1985 (NFC West), 1999 (NFC West), 2001 (NFC West), 2003 (NFC West)

Playoff Appearances: 27 – 1945, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1967, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004

2005 Finish: 6-10, 2 nd Place NFC West

Recent Records:

2004: 8-8 2005: 6-10 2006: 8-8 2007: 3-13 2008: 2-14 2009: 1-15 2010: 7-9

2011 Draft Grade

St. Louis Rams (F+)
14: Robert Quinn (6, 5 = 6) +8
47: Lance Kendricks (62, 82 = 72) -25
78: Austin Pettis (111, 155 = 133) -55
112: Greg Salas (82, 103 = 93) +19
158: Jermale Hines (179, 174 = 177) -19
216: Mikali Baker (255, 255 = 255) -39
228: Jabara Williams (255, 255 = 255) -27
229: Jonathan Nelson (255, 255 = 255) -28

With the 14th pick in the draft, the Rams got the 6th best player coming out of college football – a kid that didn’t even play a down this last season and was still rated the 6th best player in the draft. That’s pretty impressive, and for what it’s worth, I think they made out like bandits with Robert Quinn. +8 with the 14th pick is GREAT value – but it won’t show up that way in this draft grade. Kendricks was probably the best pass catcher in the draft, which is definitely what the Rams wanted when the grabbed him. He’s a nice fit, even though he’s a -25 value guy here. My guess is that the Rams really struggled with pick #78, ultimately choosing Pettis over Salas. When Salas was still on the board with their next pick, it was an easy decision for a WR starved team. Hines is a nice player as well. The rest of the guys, no disrespect to them, I don’t know all that much about them. I know they were all considered “undrafted free agents” – just being in the Seahawks same division rubs off on value!

Draft Pick Total: 1082– Player Rankings Total: 1248 —- TOTAL RANKING: -166

2011 NFL Draft

St. Louis Rams 7-9 – J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin: Everybody was looking for the Rams to buy a target for Sam Bradford in Round 1, but with Julio Jones playing himself into the Top 10, there’s not a receiver that fits into this talent slot in the draft. J.J. Watt, on the other hand, looks like great value at pick #14, and he would add a lot to a defense that really improved last season. Watt has an engine that never stops working, and his feel for the game is only matched by his great frame. He will have a spot in either a 3-4 or a 4-3, and I seem him making a big impact wherever he’s drafted this season.

2008 NFL DRAFT GRADES

St. Louis Rams: B-

Aside form Chris Long (whom I love) and then maybe John Greco and Keenan Burton there’s not much here than I am crazy about. The Rams got some solid kids but there wasn’t super value anywhere on their draft board. Even with Long, the 2nd pick, they may have reached a little to get a guy with a great personality.

Long is a stud, don’t get me confused, he’ll be a great player in the NFL and even more importantly has an infectious motor and love for the game of football. He will attack relentlessly and make plays all over the field. He’s a great guy to get this defense going.

Donnie Avery was an interesting pick. Sure, he’s really fast but I just don’t buy a kid getting drafted as the 1st receiver because he’s really fast. I am willing to bet he would have been there in Round 3. On that note, at least the Rams went with their gut.

John Greco has the potential to be a beast. He surprised a lot of people with a nice senior bowl performance, and while he’s not a big name, he could turn into a nice option where the Rams need some depth.

Justin King has decent size and solid speed at corner. At this point in the draft I like him here. He’s not a guy that I see as a starter in the NFL, and I don’t think he played well against top receiver talent, but he could help a secondary that doesn’t scare many quarterbacks.

Keenan Burton is better than a 4th round pick. He has good size, good speed, and more importantly really goes up and gets the ball away from his body. He seems to really understand the game, and I think he’s a better receiver than the guy St. Louis took nearly 3 rounds earlier.

Roy Schuening is a tough kid that battled a really long case of pneumonia his senior year. He needed IVs to keep playing, but he did, and for that he gets my vote of confidence. The big kid made 50 starts on the line at Oregon State and was productive throughout his career. He struggled a little bit against the big names, but he’s a nice pick here.

Chris Chamberlain is a very big defensive back with great numbers and skills that could very well translate to a solid NFL career. Apparently his Pro Day workout had a couple scouts falling in love with the kid, and the Rams went for it in Round 7.

David Vobrana is a very athletic kid that lacks size. If he can find a way to fight past his small stature he could find a roster spot with the Rams.


2007 St. Louis Rams

St. Louis just can’t get over that .500 barrier that has been their wall ever since the 2004 regular season. But I think these Rams are improving. Steven Jackson had an unreal season, something that would normally get MVP votes, had it not been for the best statistical year in decades by LaDainian Tomlinson. Regardless, Jackson led the league in total yards from scrimmage, just nudging out the aforementioned MVP. Marc Bulger also had a great season for the Rams, definitely his most consistent campaign, starting all 16 games, throwing for 4,300 yards, 24 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions (All career bests). Tory Holt had another fantastic year, catching 10 touchdowns and receiving for over 1,100 yards, while Isaac Bruce also got over the 1,00 yard mark for St. Louis. While the offense was fantastic, the defense had many problems, hence the Rams’ .500 record. The Rams finished in the bottom 10 in total defense, allowing over 335 yards per contest. They also allowed conversions on 3rd down at the 2nd highest percentage in the league. When you can’t get your offense on the field, you can’t win football games. Scott Linehan proved his worth in his first season, as good things look to becoming back to St. Louis in 2007.


2007 Off-Season Plans:

While the Rams lost some solid players via free agency this off season, the moves they made to add players has improved their team. Loosing players like Kevin Curtis and Travis Fisher will hurt, but adding guys like Drew Bennett, Chris Draft, James all, Todd Johnson, Randy McMichael, and Mick Rumph give the Rams plenty of options they didn’t have last season. Randy may be a kid with troubles, but his physical skills will make him a nice red-zone option in the passing attack, as will big receiver Drew Bennett. Bennett’s ball skills and jumping ability will give Marc Bulger two end zone targets he didn’t have during 2006. The draft should mean more help on the defensive side of the ball for St. Louis. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Rams picked up a young speedster at receiver on day 1, attempting to groom a young stud for the aging stars that can’t last forever in Tory Holt and especially Isaac Bruce, and while the safe pick would be a corner here, I like the Rams taking a chance on greatness and picking Ted Ginn Jr. and grooming him to take over for Bruce and Holt. Revis is another option, and so is Leon Hall, but I don’t think either have the upside of Ginn, an offenses dream.

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