Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /var/www/wp-content/themes/flex-mag/functions.php on line 939
Notice: Trying to get property 'count' of non-object in /var/www/wp-content/themes/flex-mag/functions.php on line 1008
Share
Share
Share
Email
The St. Louis Rams enter the 2014 season with a bit of a cloud over their future. The team is young and stacked on defense, but the offense is missing its starting quarterback Sam Bradford for the season with another ACL tear. Here is how our staff predicts the Rams will finish this season:
Staff writer Wayne West: The Rams continue to try to break through to the postseason for the first time since 2004. Accomplishing this will be made difficult by the fact that they are in the league’s best division and will also be up against the formidable AFC West. The Rams will look to beat teams up with their physical defensive line, which features four first round picks and notable depth. The question mark on defense lies in a young secondary, which will be without CB Trumaine Johnson for at least the first quarter of the season. If some of the youngsters back there can make meaningful contributions, the defense can be very good.
Snead and Fisher rolled the dice when they elected to pass on a crop of talented rookie quarterbacks to stand by Sam Bradford, despite his ACL injury, limited success, and bloated salary. But before the new season could even begin, Bradford re-injured his ACL in season ending fashion. Snake eyes.
On the bright side, the Rams have a competent backup to lead them through the season in Shaun Hill. They will be banking on the development of their young receivers to finally step up this season. If that happens and the offensive line stays somewhat healthy, the Rams offense should be adequate, despite the loss of Bradford.
Prediction: 9-7
Assistant managing editor Norm Hightower: I would have predicted things differently if Sam Bradford were still in the mix. Shaun Hill is a capable quarterback, but won’t win as many games as Sam would have. I think the Rams will finish at 9-7 and finally get a winning season. However, they will fall short of the playoffs once again.
Prediction: 9-7
Staff writer Steve Rebeiro: Shaun Hill steps in as the starter for the Rams and does a solid job. Zac Stacy rushes for over 1,000 yards, and Tavon Austin and Brian Quick show signs of improvement in the passing game. The defensive line is once again the best in the league. Despite all of this, the Rams will struggle in 2014. They will be competitive, but a brutal schedule will prevent the Rams from sniffing the playoffs. The Rams will finish 6-10, but there will be a lot of optimism going into 2015.
Prediction: 6-10
Staff writer Bob Garcia: The Rams took a bit of a step backwards with the loss of starting quarterback Sam Bradford for the season, but that’s not to say they won’t be competitive. The team had yet another successful offseason building on the strongest area of the team: the defense. However, they failed to add more playmakers on offense, in particular at wide receiver where their only offseason addition at the position was Kenny Britt.
St. Louis will be a force to reckon with on the defense, especially along the defensive line, but defense cannot carry them to wins night in and night out. They will also have a decent rush attack led by Zac Stacy, but outside of that the Rams do not possess the needed impact players to put up points on a consistent basis. Although a dominant defense will help the Rams win some games, the offense is where the questions are with this year’s team.
Prediction: 8-8
Staff writer Johnny Gomez: Some will look at the Rams’ 2014 season and say that it’s a lost cause without starting quarterback Sam Bradford who suffered yet another ACL tear. The loss is a terrible blow to the team, but it won’t prevent the Rams from being competitive. The Rams will call on veteran Shaun Hill, and he has an improved receiving corps to work with.
That said, the Rams have some concerns along the offensive line with questionable depth. The running game must be successful in order to be competitive which could be a problem if the offensive line isn’t cohesive. However, the Rams do have one of the best defensive fronts in the NFL, although the secondary is extremely young and will have their struggles along the way. Add in the fact that the Rams have one of the toughest schedules in the league and compete in possibly the toughest division and playoff hopes are not looking too promising.
Record: 8-8
Managing editor Derek Ciapala: The Rams are in better shape than many other teams would be in if they had lost their starting quarterback for the season. I hate to say it, but this isn’t the first time the Rams have lost Sam Bradford. Shaun Hill may not be a top-15 quarterback, but he is one of the league’s top backups. He’s more than capable of managing the Rams’ offense this season.
Unfortunately, the bigger problems are that the Rams’ offensive line isn’t settled, and their offensive weapons have yet to establish themselves. That may change as time goes on, but until that happens, St. Louis is going to struggle against one of the league’s most difficult schedules. The Rams need people to step up and take their place as playmakers. There’s little hope of them finishing with a winning record in the NFL’s toughest division without that happening.
Prediction: 7-9
Notice: Trying to access array offset on value of type null in /var/www/wp-content/themes/flex-mag/functions.php on line 939
Notice: Trying to get property 'count' of non-object in /var/www/wp-content/themes/flex-mag/functions.php on line 1008
The St. Louis Rams enter the 2014 season with a bit of a cloud over their future. The team is young and stacked on defense, but the offense is missing its starting quarterback Sam Bradford for the season with another ACL tear. Here is how our staff predicts the Rams will finish this season:
Staff writer Wayne West: The Rams continue to try to break through to the postseason for the first time since 2004. Accomplishing this will be made difficult by the fact that they are in the league’s best division and will also be up against the formidable AFC West. The Rams will look to beat teams up with their physical defensive line, which features four first round picks and notable depth. The question mark on defense lies in a young secondary, which will be without CB Trumaine Johnson for at least the first quarter of the season. If some of the youngsters back there can make meaningful contributions, the defense can be very good.
Snead and Fisher rolled the dice when they elected to pass on a crop of talented rookie quarterbacks to stand by Sam Bradford, despite his ACL injury, limited success, and bloated salary. But before the new season could even begin, Bradford re-injured his ACL in season ending fashion. Snake eyes.
On the bright side, the Rams have a competent backup to lead them through the season in Shaun Hill. They will be banking on the development of their young receivers to finally step up this season. If that happens and the offensive line stays somewhat healthy, the Rams offense should be adequate, despite the loss of Bradford.
Prediction: 9-7
Assistant managing editor Norm Hightower: I would have predicted things differently if Sam Bradford were still in the mix. Shaun Hill is a capable quarterback, but won’t win as many games as Sam would have. I think the Rams will finish at 9-7 and finally get a winning season. However, they will fall short of the playoffs once again.
Prediction: 9-7
Staff writer Steve Rebeiro: Shaun Hill steps in as the starter for the Rams and does a solid job. Zac Stacy rushes for over 1,000 yards, and Tavon Austin and Brian Quick show signs of improvement in the passing game. The defensive line is once again the best in the league. Despite all of this, the Rams will struggle in 2014. They will be competitive, but a brutal schedule will prevent the Rams from sniffing the playoffs. The Rams will finish 6-10, but there will be a lot of optimism going into 2015.
Prediction: 6-10
Staff writer Bob Garcia: The Rams took a bit of a step backwards with the loss of starting quarterback Sam Bradford for the season, but that’s not to say they won’t be competitive. The team had yet another successful offseason building on the strongest area of the team: the defense. However, they failed to add more playmakers on offense, in particular at wide receiver where their only offseason addition at the position was Kenny Britt.
St. Louis will be a force to reckon with on the defense, especially along the defensive line, but defense cannot carry them to wins night in and night out. They will also have a decent rush attack led by Zac Stacy, but outside of that the Rams do not possess the needed impact players to put up points on a consistent basis. Although a dominant defense will help the Rams win some games, the offense is where the questions are with this year’s team.
Prediction: 8-8
Staff writer Johnny Gomez: Some will look at the Rams’ 2014 season and say that it’s a lost cause without starting quarterback Sam Bradford who suffered yet another ACL tear. The loss is a terrible blow to the team, but it won’t prevent the Rams from being competitive. The Rams will call on veteran Shaun Hill, and he has an improved receiving corps to work with.
That said, the Rams have some concerns along the offensive line with questionable depth. The running game must be successful in order to be competitive which could be a problem if the offensive line isn’t cohesive. However, the Rams do have one of the best defensive fronts in the NFL, although the secondary is extremely young and will have their struggles along the way. Add in the fact that the Rams have one of the toughest schedules in the league and compete in possibly the toughest division and playoff hopes are not looking too promising.
Record: 8-8
Managing editor Derek Ciapala: The Rams are in better shape than many other teams would be in if they had lost their starting quarterback for the season. I hate to say it, but this isn’t the first time the Rams have lost Sam Bradford. Shaun Hill may not be a top-15 quarterback, but he is one of the league’s top backups. He’s more than capable of managing the Rams’ offense this season.
Unfortunately, the bigger problems are that the Rams’ offensive line isn’t settled, and their offensive weapons have yet to establish themselves. That may change as time goes on, but until that happens, St. Louis is going to struggle against one of the league’s most difficult schedules. The Rams need people to step up and take their place as playmakers. There’s little hope of them finishing with a winning record in the NFL’s toughest division without that happening.
Prediction: 7-9
Recommended for you