"SYNERGY":
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I don't think so but the reason is really something deeper than the obvious. It really centers around new offensive coordinator Mike Martz creating offensive synergy and I think he will. What one has to understand is that Martz was the Rams receivers coach in 96, the last season Isaac Bruce remained healthy, and a season in which he and Eddie Kennison combined for 17 TD receptions. Bruce played in pain that season but Martz and company were able to keep Ike on the field. They also used him as and excellent decoy to spring the rookie Kennison free to 9 TD's. This year I think they wull look to spring the rookie Torry Holt. IF that happens Holt will be in the runnning for rookie fo the year honors. Vermeil and company also gave Martz his quarterback, native St louisan Trent Green. Green had a nice debut in Washington with Martz as his quarterbacks coach. So again I think Martz will bring some good insight on what Green does well. So far the Green reports are glowing in all areas especially in regards to his leadership abilities and dedication to the details of the game. Top that off with an improving O line and Marshall Faulk and Rams fans are looking at a whole new way to play offense, which is to play it at all. Not to be lost is that the Rams have suffered deeply with depth problems. My thinking is that Greg Hill is one of the most underrated runners in the league and a great great backup to Faulk.. Keep Isaac Bruce healthy,who perhaps more than any player in the league makes those around him better and I could see Trent Green approach 30 TD passes and Holt getting as much as a third of those. Without Bruce the Rams have probably moved into the pack. With him I think they move towards the playoffs.
2. Were there risks associated in acquiring these new offensive toys?
The Rams defense has been a little underrated even as it's posted some good overall statistics. The problem really hasn't been on that side of the ball so much as it's been that the Rams have had so little offense to keep the defense off the field. Left covering big chunks of game time and a short field the Rams D has found little room to bend before breaking. I think too that attitude has played a huge part in their presence. They have been demoralized by losing and covering a pathetic offense. Get them into a game with a chance to win like the Jets and Patriots games last year and they can turn it on. Investing in the offense then actually could be a good investment in having a defense that isn't tired out and feels more like they have a chance to win. Rams defenders such as tood Lyght have already said as much.
3. Will the Rams be able to stop the run?
Questions do though center around the middle of the field and stopping an interior ground game. Anderson killed them and Ricky Williams might. They are probably going to lose a couple by getting pounded in the middle yet I think they will add to a few more victories buy not having the offense wear them out in a hole to which they will respond with plays. It's an interesting scheme, a gambling defense, that often one gaps the two tackles(as they lack a real two gap tackle), has LDE Kevin Carter soak up bodies, and adds a run blitz for good measure. Sometimes it works real well...other times it gets manhandled and burned... Kevin Carter is I think an underrated player. The sign of that is that two journeyman tackles, Ray Agnew and prior to him Bill Johnson , have posted huge numbers playing next to Kevin. He soaks up the heat. I like Grant Wistrom. His problems last year were injury and if you evaluated him on a per play basis he shook out quite good I thought. Of note is that Grant has excellent backside persuit on running plays. It may help in the middle some. Dexter McCleon is a great speciman and I think is still learning the corner game. I think he'll be good. Middle Linebacker has the biggest question mark over it. With his 4.4 speed London Fletcher looks like he could be another Zach Thomas or perhaps if we're lucky Sam Mills. He's fiery but inexperienced and Vermeil doesn't like inexperience, especially in a key spot like MLB in a demanding complex defense. Lorenzo Styles is really gonna compete for that job as he's big and very strong. Hopefully that competition breeds excellence. Free agent aquisition Todd Collins is a leader and tough player that should help out too.
4. Can Isaac Bruce stay healthy -- and happy?
I think so. Isaac is a top flight receiver and makes everyone better. He's got a lot of little tricks like only throwing his hands up at the last second to get the ball thereby not telegraphing it's whereabouts to defenders. In the Viking's game last year he had an 80 yard TD run of which 3/4ths of it was a dash right down the sideline with a Viking defender all over him that couldn't get him out of bounds. Then when the defender went to try and punch the ball loose Isaac felt it and turned his body so the blow couldn't land. He IS that good and I thought he was the best player on the field that game. The Rams have him on a very strict regimen with every bit of workouts and practice plotted out up until the season. He's relatively healthy now too and happy I think . He credited Mike Martz with a lot of his success in 96 and now Martz is the offensive coordinator. Don't think the two don't have something in common.
5. Does Vermeil have a clue?
On radio Fred Edelstein said that it's the same old Vermeil from Philly. That Vermeil had a clue and I think this one does too. He might be rusty. He's made mistakes. His first offensive coordinator was Jerry Rhome, a respected quarterbacks coach but a guy I just thought couldn't keep a defense off balance, although he really had little to work with. The two didn't get along and while the mangement demanded change I've got it that Vermeil already had much of that change already in mind...like getting a new offensive coordinator and at the least some competition at the quarterback spot. Also of note is the fact that I think Vermeil was a part of building the cap space that the Rams turned into the likes of Trent Green, Adam Timmerman, and what they'll use on Marshall Faulk. His future probably hinges on his hiring of Martz. If he can bring that synergy to the offense and get the players making plays Vermeil will be seen in a whole new light.