Rams Look To Stay Young
Oct 14 2012; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson (39) is tackled by Miami Dolphins defensive end Jared Odrick (98) in the first quarter at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
The 2012 NFL draft brought sounds of disappointment, frustration and a genuine lack of transparency to the ever patient, yet faithful fans of the St. Louis Rams. After Michael Brockers shocked us all as their first round selection, the front office continued to confuse by adding the likes of Appalachian State’s Brian Quick, Cincinnati’s Isaiah Pead, Chris Givens from Wake Forest and then capping off their selections with Daryl Richardson from Abilene Christian. If Rams fans had been told following the 2012 draft that their beloved blue and gold would lose only one divisional game, there would have been waves of laughter coming from the Ed Jones’ dome.
After what was a dramatic turnaround season for St. Louis, the Rams find themselves positioned to markedly improve offensively. Given the chance at a solid, possibly legitimate number one receiver in California’s Keenan Allen, a 6’3″ 210lb route running, physical wide out with Percy Harvin like moves and Andre Johnson-esk power, the Rams could make a giant leap from being that thorn in the side, defensively minded team that just won’t go away, to the team that every opposing player and fan looks at on their schedule as a serious threat to end their Superbowl dreams. Assuming Allen is all that the scouting Gods say he is, combining him with the talented, but troubled, Titus Young, a buffet of other outside receivers, and a healthy Sam Bradford, St. Louis could experience a renaissance of the ‘Greatest Show on Turf’ years.
Young, going into his 3rd NFL year, has had more than his share of on and off the field issues. So long as he’s able to restrain those issues, at 5’11”, 175lbs, Young, who was checked at 4.39 seconds in the 40 yard dash and is a true route runner with great hands, could very strongly and positively impact the Rams offense. If the Rams are able to solidify the offensive line this off season, the NFC West could raise it’s population of power house teams from two to three.
The rumor mill seems to be feeding these days off of talk of trading away the Rams’ marquee player – Steven Jackson. Jackson, who posted numbers that for him are considered low, comes with a sizeable price tag but his upside seems to be never ending. At 29 years old, and affectionately dubbed ‘SJ-39’ by the hometown fans, Jackson is the uncontested team leader for the Rams and makes no secret that he loves the team, the City of St. Louis, and especially, the direction that the Rams seem to be heading in with Fisher at the helm. For now, teams that have expressed interest in SJ-39 include Green Bay, Arizona, Pittsburg and even the Big D, but it was Jackson himself who gave hope to all the Rams faithful by saying “what Coach Fisher has brought to this organization, the credibility that going on in the future, I definitely see a very bright future for this organization, and why wouldn’t I want to be a part of that?” Steven – no city will love you like this city can.