ENTHUSIASM! HIPA.KANE TELLS TSN WHAT RAM FAN OPTIMISM IS ALL ABOUT

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The Rams offensive success will depend on the newly acquired free agent QB, Trent Green and RB Marshall Faulk. Green comes over from Washington to be united with his QB coach for the last 3 years and the Rams new offensive coordinator, Mike Martz. Knowing Martz and what he expects will allow Green the liberty to fine tune his abilities to read defenses and throw timing routes. He knows the entire offense and the larger plan. His go-to receiver will be Rev. Isaac Bruce, a former All-Pro who has been injured the last two years. Bruce appeared at the top of his game in the latest training camp. In order to lower the chances of any reinjury before the season, newly acquired WR coach Al Saunders has Bruce on a strict "light" schedule of practice. Other receivers are the top WR of the draft, All-American Tory "the Bolt" Holt, Az-zahir "Oz" Hakim (a quick little speed wizard), Ricky Proehl, Marshall Faulk (#1 receiving back last year), and Amp Lee (#3 receiving back last year). Last year, the Rams ground game was dismal, with the exception of Greg Hill's performances. Unfortuneately, Hill broke his leg after two games. He appears fully recovered and is running as fast as ever, but most of the Rams running game next season will be performed by the phenomenal All-Pro Marshall Faulk. Last year Faulk was a Colt, where he led the league in total yards last year with 2227! Newly acquired Adam Timmerman, and another year of Jim Hannifan's teaching giant OTs Orlando Pace and Fred Miller, should allow the OLine to explode holes for Faulk and protect Green. Faulk's running and catching excellence coupled with the Rams dynamic receivers provide Green and Martz with a multi-dimensional unstoppable attack.

The Rams defense is a sophisticated attacking D evolving from Bud Carson. It relies on speed and isolated CB coverages with multiple blitz schemes. Last season, the defense played well but needed improvements, so changes were made at RDE, RCB, SS, SLB, MLB, nickleback, and run-stuff tackle. Many of these changes are from younger players winning starting spots. The greatest weakness was the inability to cover TEs and backs, especially inside the red zone. The other large weakness was the giving up of large chunks of running yardage. Contrary to the TSN article D'Marco Farr was not the weak link in the run D, he keeps a low center of gravity with fantastic quickness and leverage to be very effective, similar to John Randle. It was the inability of the LBs and SS to consistently stop anyone who got through the DLine. These problems were addressed with the signing of Devin Bush at SS, who is fast and strong and thought to have better coverage than Billy Jenkins, the continued improvement of OLB Mike Jones, the signing of a true strongside LB in Todd Collins and, a MLB with a greater grasp of complex coverages and faster ball pursuit (London Fletcher or Lorenzo Styles). Last year's #1(6) pick Grant Wistrom takes over at RDE with great speed and hustle. Farr and Ray Agnew are very fast DTs and Kevin Carter is on the cusp of being a Bruce Smith-esque dominator. Jeff Zgonina, Corey Sears and Alton Weaver will compete for rotating at the run-stuffing DT. The secondary should be a strength with smart FS Keith Lyle (most INT in last 4 years) and great speed, size and quickness at the corners in Todd Lyght, Dexter McCleon (who has been groomed for this role for two years and has shown he is ready) and rookie 3-time All-American Dre Bly (#2 pick). That most of the starting players have been in this defensive system for a few years will allow for more complex schemes, utilizing the Rams speed and athleticism to be truly dominating.

The Rams are about to become the ruling super team of the NFL, with an explosive offense both on the ground and in the air and a sophisticated defense with superior speed and athleticism.

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