The Flock: Gateway to the West...

I'm from the west side of Chicago.... here on vacation.

  Written by J.R. Shepperd   

     After what seemed like the longest off season ever, we are ready to shift the NFL season into high gear!  I say it's time we break the bottle of champagne against this ship known as "The Flock". Allow me to act as your weekly guide through the rough and tumble world of the NFC Worst. (Freudian slip) And what better city to start with than the home of Nelly, bar-b-que, and the phrase "Honky Lips"  Good old St. Louis.

    Lets take a look at the up side of your 2012 Rams.....  Well that didn't take long.  Seriously, there isn't much to like here. The addition of Jeff Fischer as head coach was a step in the right direction.  Fischer, being a "run first" coach is exactly what Steven Jackson needed, 6 years ago.  But there is something about Fischer that I just dig.  Perhaps his swagger, or his knack for finding diamonds in the rough... or just that mustache. 
     Moving into the running backs. Steven Jackson was one of the "elite" backs in the league, the unfortunate thing is that at the age of 29 and 12,096 all purpose yards can take it's toll on a back. (pun intended) But this year they have Isaiah Pead to help lighten Jackson's load.  Pead isn't the power back that Jackson is, and reports show he is struggling with this whole "blocking" concept.  So expect Jackson to remain the third down back.
     Wide receivers are a dime a dozen in this league, turns out that the Rams' Costco membership has been allowed to lapse.  Going into a season with Danny Amendola as your premier wide out does not instill a lot of confidence. Amendola could be a productive receiver, but the fact remains in his fourth year in the league, he has only had one full season.  Brian Quick, now there is a dude I am keeping my eye one. At 6'3" 220 lbs and 4.45 40 time, he has the potential to be a big threat in the deep game.  
     Defense... more like picket fence (see what I did there?)  Having a preseason rank of 30. They tried to beef up their secondary with the additions of Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson. Cortland Finnegan is being reunited with Coach Fischer. Finnegan, being known more for his mouth than his shutdown ability.  Using their first round pick on DT Michael Brockers could turn out to be a smart move.  With Long at the end and Brockers in the middle, I could see a strong presence up front. In a few years that is... 

He's no Jim Everett

      Having saved the best for last, Wham bam thank you SAM!  I can't really put my finger on this kid.  He's got guts, great hair, but no speed and a line in front of him that couldn't stop a 4 man rush if they were paid...millions and millions.  I don't trust him to play 16 games in 2012 with that porous offensive line.  Having given up 55 sacks last year...  Bradford will spend more time on his back than David Hasseloff... isn't that how that joke goes??  
     I don't see big things for these Rams this year.  They aren't in such a weak division any more, with Seattle and San Francisco making big strides forward.  They could do better than Arizona, but that's like saying your child won the ugliest baby contest.  
     I see the Rams finishing the season at a 6-10.  Much better than last year, but still 100 miles away from anything resembeling a football team.


update: Michael Brockers has injured his ankle in the Rams' preseason finale.  Fischer is quoted as saying "Not too serious" when asked.


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