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It’s been a decade since the St. Louis Rams last made a playoff appearance. Let that sink in for a moment. Ten years is a long playoff drought, but what would it take for the Rams to return to the “promised land?” The following are five steps the Rams need to follow to end their playoff drought:
1. Establish the run: It seems like a simple enough plan until you realize the lack experience on the depth chart. Head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead decided to focus on the ground game during the 2015 NFL Draft. The pieces may have been acquired, but most players involved in the rushing attack are inexperienced.
The entire right side of the offensive line will likely feature rookies Rob Havenstein at tackle and Jamon Brown at guard. Only left guard Rodger Saffold has started consistently for multiple seasons, and his health remains a concern. Left tackle Greg Robinson did start most of his rookie year, but he’s still raw. The Rams will likely look to veteran center Tim Barnes to start, but he hasn’t had a huge impact since arriving in St. Louis in 2011.
Of course, there is the top two ball carriers rookie Todd Gurley and Tre Mason. Expect countless learning lessons for an offense so young. It wouldn’t hurt for the Rams to explore other options such as bringing back Joe Barksdale. It’s possible that Fisher could ask him to move over to right guard while mentoring Havenstein at tackle. Barksdale’s options are dwindling down. At this point, both the Rams and Barksdale need each other, so he may have to settle.
2. Go back to the basics: Am I oversimplifying the Rams keys to success? Hardly. Think back to last season. The Rams lost some close games that could have been avoided if they focused on the basics of the game. For example, a dropped pass from tight end Jared Cook resulted in a disappointing loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3. Cook wasn’t the only receiver to drop passes, which can kill the momentum of a drive. The Rams need to be able to rely on their receivers to catch the football.
The defense was also guilty of losing track of the basics. The Rams suffered whenever defenders didn’t wrap up on their tackles. This was one of the main factors of the Rams being 16th in the league in points allowed with 354. The defense is too talented to surrender that many points, proving that overlooking the basics can have severe consequences.
3. Don’t settle for field goals: When a team has a kicker like Greg “the Leg” Zuerlein on their roster, it’s easy to depend on him. There were too many fourth-and-short scenarios last season when the Rams settled for a field goal. Sometimes that’s the best way to go, but not all the time. Risks are a part of football, and the Rams need to take more of them. Most of the teams featured in the playoffs advanced due to the risks they took. The Rams need to follow suit.
Taking risks are a good thing, but only if it is creatively conducted. Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti must avoid Brian Schottenheimer’s predictable approach. His style appeared to be one of the reasons the Rams elected to settle for field goals, because Schottenheimer didn’t have much to offer in his playcalling. If Cignetti avoids a routine offense, then expect more trips to the end zone.
4. Be more creative with Tavon Austin: The Rams’ offense needs to become more creative in general, but Austin needs to be singled out. Austin was the eighth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft and hasn’t lived up to his potential. To be fair, the media placed a lot of hype around him, but that’s not to say he can’t be a playmaker.
Cignetti needs to get Austin more involved. He shouldn’t be limited to just a special teams threat. Adding quarterback Nick Foles this offseason should improve Austin’s production, but getting more balls thrown his way isn’t enough. Austin should also be involved in more trick plays, rushing attempts and whatever else it takes to reinvigorate the lifeless offense.
5. Receivers need to step up: It always helps to have a consistent, proven quarterback taking the snaps, but the Rams’ receiving corps is much better than what the statistics show. In fact, the Rams haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2007, when Torry Holt compiled 1,189 yards. Remember those days when that was a “down year” for Holt?
Kenny Britt is certainly capable of the task, but he hasn’t been consistent since coming to St. Louis. Stedman Bailey has played much like Britt; at times he showed glimpses of greatness while he disappeared in other games. Brian Quick showed significant improvement before suffering a season-ending injury. Austin, Chris Givens and Bud Sasser will likely be thrown in the mix too. In other words, if the Rams cannot establish consistency from their receivers, another year can be added to the playoff drought.
Source: Pro-sports-reference.com
You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.
2015, 2015 NFL Draft, Brian Schottenheimer, Bud Sasser, Chris Givens, featured, Frank Cignetti, Greg Robinson, Greg Zuerlein, Jamon Brown, Jared Cook, Jeff Fisher, Joe Barksdale, Kenny Britt, Les Snead, NFL, Nick Foles, Rob Havenstein, Rodger Saffold, St. Louis Rams, Stedman Bailey, Tavon Austin, Tim Barnes, Todd Gurley, Torry Holt, Tre Mason
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It’s been a decade since the St. Louis Rams last made a playoff appearance. Let that sink in for a moment. Ten years is a long playoff drought, but what would it take for the Rams to return to the “promised land?” The following are five steps the Rams need to follow to end their playoff drought:
1. Establish the run: It seems like a simple enough plan until you realize the lack experience on the depth chart. Head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead decided to focus on the ground game during the 2015 NFL Draft. The pieces may have been acquired, but most players involved in the rushing attack are inexperienced.
The entire right side of the offensive line will likely feature rookies Rob Havenstein at tackle and Jamon Brown at guard. Only left guard Rodger Saffold has started consistently for multiple seasons, and his health remains a concern. Left tackle Greg Robinson did start most of his rookie year, but he’s still raw. The Rams will likely look to veteran center Tim Barnes to start, but he hasn’t had a huge impact since arriving in St. Louis in 2011.
Of course, there is the top two ball carriers rookie Todd Gurley and Tre Mason. Expect countless learning lessons for an offense so young. It wouldn’t hurt for the Rams to explore other options such as bringing back Joe Barksdale. It’s possible that Fisher could ask him to move over to right guard while mentoring Havenstein at tackle. Barksdale’s options are dwindling down. At this point, both the Rams and Barksdale need each other, so he may have to settle.
2. Go back to the basics: Am I oversimplifying the Rams keys to success? Hardly. Think back to last season. The Rams lost some close games that could have been avoided if they focused on the basics of the game. For example, a dropped pass from tight end Jared Cook resulted in a disappointing loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3. Cook wasn’t the only receiver to drop passes, which can kill the momentum of a drive. The Rams need to be able to rely on their receivers to catch the football.
The defense was also guilty of losing track of the basics. The Rams suffered whenever defenders didn’t wrap up on their tackles. This was one of the main factors of the Rams being 16th in the league in points allowed with 354. The defense is too talented to surrender that many points, proving that overlooking the basics can have severe consequences.
3. Don’t settle for field goals: When a team has a kicker like Greg “the Leg” Zuerlein on their roster, it’s easy to depend on him. There were too many fourth-and-short scenarios last season when the Rams settled for a field goal. Sometimes that’s the best way to go, but not all the time. Risks are a part of football, and the Rams need to take more of them. Most of the teams featured in the playoffs advanced due to the risks they took. The Rams need to follow suit.
Taking risks are a good thing, but only if it is creatively conducted. Offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti must avoid Brian Schottenheimer’s predictable approach. His style appeared to be one of the reasons the Rams elected to settle for field goals, because Schottenheimer didn’t have much to offer in his playcalling. If Cignetti avoids a routine offense, then expect more trips to the end zone.
4. Be more creative with Tavon Austin: The Rams’ offense needs to become more creative in general, but Austin needs to be singled out. Austin was the eighth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft and hasn’t lived up to his potential. To be fair, the media placed a lot of hype around him, but that’s not to say he can’t be a playmaker.
Cignetti needs to get Austin more involved. He shouldn’t be limited to just a special teams threat. Adding quarterback Nick Foles this offseason should improve Austin’s production, but getting more balls thrown his way isn’t enough. Austin should also be involved in more trick plays, rushing attempts and whatever else it takes to reinvigorate the lifeless offense.
5. Receivers need to step up: It always helps to have a consistent, proven quarterback taking the snaps, but the Rams’ receiving corps is much better than what the statistics show. In fact, the Rams haven’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since 2007, when Torry Holt compiled 1,189 yards. Remember those days when that was a “down year” for Holt?
Kenny Britt is certainly capable of the task, but he hasn’t been consistent since coming to St. Louis. Stedman Bailey has played much like Britt; at times he showed glimpses of greatness while he disappeared in other games. Brian Quick showed significant improvement before suffering a season-ending injury. Austin, Chris Givens and Bud Sasser will likely be thrown in the mix too. In other words, if the Rams cannot establish consistency from their receivers, another year can be added to the playoff drought.
Source: Pro-sports-reference.com
You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.
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