St. Louis Rams Need to Ignore Defense In the Draft and Focus on Offense

After witnessing Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray trample the Rams defense for 253 rushing yards during Week 7, it's difficult to ignore the gaping holes on the defensive side of the ball.


That is, unless Rams offense is much, much worse. Which it is.


The St. Louis offense was not just conventionally bad in 2011. They were inept even in comparison to some of the worst teams in recent NFL history.


The Rams scored a measly 12.1 points per game after finishing with a 2-14 record.


Meanwhile...


The 2007 Dolphins (1-15) scored 16.6 points per game.


The 1999 Browns (2-14) scored 13.5 points per game.


The 2000 Chargers (1-15) scored 16.8 points per game.


The 2008 Lions (0-16) scored 16.6 points per game.


But forget the fact that the Rams were outscored by some of the worst teams of the last decade, or that they're just one of five teams in the last 10 years (with the 2009 Rams being another) to score less than 200 points in a season (193).


The simple fact is that the St. Louis defense was not the reason for the Rams losing 14 games last season.

The offense was the worst in the NFL when it came to converting third-downs (28.0 percent), while converting just 64 out of 228 third-down attempts.


Just to give you an idea of how truly awful those numbers are, the New Orleans Saints converted 118 times on 208 attempts (57.0 percent), and the average conversion rate in the NFL was 38.1 percent.


On top of that, the Rams were 30th in average time of possession per game (28 minutes, 11 seconds).


With that in mind, did the defense have a realistic shot at succeeding?


The offense couldn't score and they forced the defense back onto the field 72 percent of the time on third downs. On top of that, they could not maintain possession for any significant amount of time whatsoever.


The defense had to deal with fatigue after constantly being forced onto the field, which resulted in a false portrayal of their true capabilities.


But other than being forced into an impossible situation thanks to the offense, what other factors indicate that the defense is better off?






Level of Talent


The offense has two Pro Bowl-caliber players— running back Steven Jackson, and newly-acquired center Scott Wells.


Jackson will turn 29 years old before the start of next season, and Wells is 31.


Meanwhile, the defense has four players who can perform at a Pro Bowl-caliber level— linebacker James Laurinaitis, defensive end Chris Long, safety Quintin Mikell and newly-signed cornerback Cortland Finnegan.

The two premiere offensive talents are aging, while the defensive stars are all well within their prime, except for the 31-year-old Mikell.


Additionally, the defense has three up-and-coming players who are expected to greatly contribute as starters— defensive end Robert Quinn, safety Darian Stewart and defensive tackle Kendall Langford.


The defense has one more starter, cornerback Bradley Fletcher, who is expected to play at an acceptable level if injuries are no longer an issue for him.


As a result, eight of the 11 defensive starters are thought of as dependable players, but there are still questions regarding both outside linebacker positions, as well as the second defensive tackle position.


While the defense has just three questionable positions, the offense is lacking in multiple areas— left guard, right tackle, tight end, wide receiver, and backup running back.


Clearly, the offense is desperately in need of reinforcements. More so than the defense.






Severity of the Needs


While the offense is lacking top-notch playmakers, who are typically found early on the the draft, the defense has needs that can be addressed with late-round picks.


Defensive tackle and outside linebackers are the only desperate positions on the defensive side of the ball, but neither of those positions require premiere draft picks.


The Rams run a 4-3 defense, and while the outside rush linebacker is a vital part of a 3-4 defense, there's not a lot of value in 4-3 outside linebackers.


There were 16 NFL teams who ran the 4-3 defense on a regular basis last season, which means there are 32 starting linebackers for that system.


Of those 32 starters, 21 of them were acquired in the third round or later, while 15 were drafted in the fourth round or later.


Only seven of the 32 starters were first-round picks, while just four were selected in the second round.


Of the 11 outside linebackers selected in the first or second round, Chad Greenway (Minnesota Vikings) is the only one who has been to a single Pro Bowl (2011).

In fact, of the 32 starting outside linebackers, the only one who can be considered an elite defensive talent is Lance Briggs (Chicago Bears), who was a third-round draft pick in 2003.


When taking all of that into consideration, maybe using a second-round pick on Zach Brown (North Carolina) is not such a hot idea.


Defensive tackle, on the other hand, is more of a priority in the 4-3 defense, but it's another position that doesn't require top-notch talent.


Of the 32 starting tackles in a 4-3 defense, 19 of them were acquired outside of the first two rounds.


Out of the five 4-3 teams who finished with a top 10 defense, just three of the 10 defensive tackles from those teams were first-round picks, while just one was a second-round pick.


Meanwhile, offensive production requires more of an investment.


When looking at each NFL team that finished with a top 15 offense and taking the two top receivers from each of those teams, here's what you'll find...


Half of those 30 receivers are either first or second round picks, while 20 of them were selected in the first three rounds.


Just 10 of the 30 receivers were found in the fourth round or later.




Conclusion


The Rams own four picks in the first three rounds of the upcoming draft, but there's honestly nothing more nauseating than seeing a mock draft that has the Rams using two or three of those picks on defensive players.


Obviously, mock drafts don't dictate the actual mindset of the front office, but there has to be some concern considering head coach Jeff Fisher has a defensive background.


Since the defense is the better unit, perhaps it's logical to dedicate more resources towards that side of the ball in order to build a dominate defensive team.

However, at the end of the day, no matter how "shut down" a defense is, a team cannot win without outscoring the opponent.


Also, there's Sam Bradford and his $78 million contract. As long as he's averaging $13 million per year, the Rams must do everything in their power to allow him to succeed. That means surrounding him with talent.


Out of the four receivers currently on St. Louis' roster, Austin Pettis was drafted higher than any of them (third round), which isn't going to cut it.


As long as the people in charge treat offensive production like a joke, we'll continue to get a laughable performance from that side of the ball.


Not that Fisher and Co. are striving to ignore offense, but at this point there's no reason to believe that the offense has improved compared to last year's team.


So whether it's help at receiver or help on the offensive line, the Rams will not produce more wins until they can score points.

Rams Sign Pro Bowl Center Scott Wells

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers offense lit up the NFL after leading the league in scoring with 560 total points.


And while most are familiar with the contributions of Rodgers and his offensive weapons, it's easy to overlook the men up front on the offensive line, including the man who snapped Rodgers the ball on every play during every game in 2011.


Center Scott Wells started all 16 games for the Packers last season and was a vital part of an offensive line that produced one of the top offenses in the league. And as a result, Wells was elected to his first Pro Bowl.


On top of that, Wells also started all 16 games during the Packers' 2010 Super Bowl winning season, and he has started 100 total regular games throughout his eight NFL seasons.


He has been a Packer for his entire career, but next season he'll be wearing the horns on his helmet and snapping the ball to quarterback Sam Bradford.


As of Friday evening, the St. Louis Rams agreed to terms with Wells. The signing was confirmed by ESPN insider Adam Schefter.


Although the exact details have not been confirmed, it's been estimated that Wells will make approximately $6 million to $7 million a year.

The Rams had a need for a center ever since cutting Jason Brown earlier in the week. Brown was due $5 million in base salary in 2012, which is likely far too lopsided for a player who has generally underperformed ever since being signed in free agency in 2009.


Not only will Wells be an upgrade over Brown, even at the age of 31, but he'll also provide third-year passer Sam Bradford with invaluable insight that can only be gained after years of snapping the ball to great quarterbacks such as Rodgers and Brett Favre.


Wells will not only benefit Bradford, but his veteran presence will provide the younger linemen, such as Rodger Saffold and Jason Smith, with the proper leadership necessary for them to succeed.


Wells is only the Rams second signing since the the beginning of free agency on Tuesday (the other was cornerback Cortland Finnegan), but regardless of their slow activity, they are making their dollars count with yet another solid acquisition.

The New St. Louis Rams: A Requiem For the Pipe-Dreams

The "Greatest Show On Turf" era ended abruptly after the controversial departure of Kurt Warner, and the Rams have become well-acquainted with losing ever since.


But not too long ago, Warner and Dick Vermeil shared a podium together in celebration as they proudly hoisted the Lombardi Trophy high in the air for all to see.


During those years, the offense was a force to be reckoned with. The current Rams, on the other hand, celebrate if they can just get the ball to midfield.


However, while it's difficult to dispute the current team's incompetence, there's hope that the franchise is in the midst of a renaissance.


In fact, if you care enough to notice, you'll see the telltale signs of a full-blown revolution in motion:


- Stan Kroenke makes a move to purchase the team in Spring of 2010.


- Rams draft quarterback Sam Bradford with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft. He is expected to be the new face of the franchise.


- Kroenke hires veteran head coach Jeff Fisher to replace Steve Spagnuolo.


- The team currently owns the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. The pick is expected to bring in a king's ransom.


With a wealthy owner, a veteran coach and a potential franchise passer, a winning season could be within reach if the front office can just execute intelligent decisions in the upcoming months.

In addition, with competent drafting, solid free agency signings and a little luck from the injury bug, the Rams will possibly be competing for a division title sooner than we all expect.


However, even though respectable leadership is now in place, a minority of fans are humoring a few of the oddball rumors that have been formulated by the media, which means they didn't get the memo that this team is now on the straight and narrow.


So in an attempt to spare us all from a long offseason loaded with ridiculous hearsay and unsupported rumors, let's get this straightened out immediately...




1. The Rams Are Not Drafting A Quarterback


It's true. They're not going to draft a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick. Robert Griffin III has absolutely no shot at entering training camp with the team.

He might be a member of the team for about five minutes until the final details of the trade are worked out. Then he's off to begin his career in either Cleveland or Washington. Maybe Miami.


For starters, you don't use No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks on two different quarterbacks in just a three-year span. The very thought is completely absurd.


Secondly, only a fool would give up on a prospect like Bradford after one down year. I suppose Tampa Bay is about to throw in the towel with Josh Freeman after one tough season as well?


Maybe Bradford will live up to his draft status, but then again, maybe he won't. But what we do know with complete certainty is that he'll get a competition-free shot at redemption in 2012.




2. The Elderly Headcases Are Not A Fit


There has been talk about both Randy Moss and Terrell Owens returning to the NFL in 2012. To add even more fun to the mix, Albert Haynesworth was cut by Tampa Bay.


But let's not pretend that any of these three players are viable options for the Rams.


True, Haynesworth played some very good football under Fisher in Tennessee. On the other hand, he's a borderline sociopath.


Moss and Owens would almost be worth the risk... if it was five years ago.


Moss didn't "retire" from the NFL—he wasn't wanted in the NFL. And while Owens at least has the knee injury excuse, he's also at a point where his talent does not exceed the headaches.

So instead of giving one of these guys a shot at a sequel (likely more pathetic than Rocky V), the Rams need to diligently scan their draft board and find the next big play receiver, or perhaps the next run-stuffing defensive tackle.


Finding the next great player sounds a lot more appealing than trying to milk one last ounce of talent out of a has-been who has nothing left to offer.




3. We Don't Know If the Rams Are Moving


We don't. No one can possibly claim to have insider knowledge on the motives of Kroenke, so it's pointless to speculate.


What we do know, however, is that the negotiations between the Rams and the Edward Jones Dome are not unusual. The lease is nearing an end, so the negotiations were bound to happen regardless of whether or not Los Angeles is looking for a team.


Also, no team is going to move until there's a brand new stadium in Los Angeles with a giant red ribbon placed on top. And as far as we know, there has not been a single nail hammered in, or even one scoop of dirt shoveled up.


What we have here is a classic Scarface "Show me the stuff, and I'll show you the money!" showdown. Right now, Los Angeles doesn't have the "stuff," which isn't going to cut it. Just ask Tony's friend Angel.




Conclusion


After nearly a decade of laughable management, it's fair to say that poor decisions are not just expected out of the Rams' organization, they're assumed.


Throwing first-round draft picks at Alex Barron, Tye Hill and Adam Carriker is a good way to brain wash the fanbase into thinking that the team is destined to make poor decisions.


Perhaps that's the reason why the media links the Rams with some of the most far-fetched scenarios out there.


In 2010, the Rams were rumored to be interested in both Moss and Owens, which has been a recurring theme this year.


Now, there's speculation that St. Louis is a candidate in the non-existent Albert Haynesworth sweepstakes. And while we're at it, why don't we make the Rams the very first NFL team based in Europe?


Sure, the team has had terrible drafts in recent years, but they generally do not pursue bone-headed distractions. So why the sudden assumption that the Rams are involved in every ridiculous possibility?


The answer: They're losers.


It's true. But not to worry, because after several years of proper drafting and inspiring leadership, the team will soon be embraced as a true franchise.


Get ready St. Louis... no longer will the Rams be linked to every Area 51-worthy rumor. With this current regime, it's about time we finally win our respect back.

Bradford Ranks High In Efficiency

Is anyone else surprised by how low Sam Bradford's interception total was in 2011? 


It seems like a true "garbage" quarterback would have thrown far more interceptions than touchdowns if placed in a situation similar to Bradford's, and by "situation" I mean his lack of pass protection and the absence of a true receiving threat for the majority of the year. 


Surprisingly, Bradford finished with six touchdowns and only six interceptions in 357 pass attempts, meaning he only throws an interception once every 59.5 pass attempts. 


How would that rank against the other 31 quarterbacks in the NFL? 


As it turns out, Bradfords' interception to pass attempt ratio is the third-best in the entire NFL. 


Check it out...


NOTE: Numbers indicates how many pass attempts it takes before each quarterback throws an interception, so the higher the number the better. 



Alex Smith (49ers)- 89.0
Aaron Rodgers (Packers)- 83.6
Sam Bradford (Rams)- 59.5
Tony Romo (Cowboys)- 52.5
Tom Brady (Patriots)- 50.9
Matt Schaub (Texans)- 48.6
Matt Ryan (Falcons)- 47.1
Drew Brees (Saints)- 46.9
Joe Flacco (Ravens)- 46.1
Tim Tebow (Broncos)- 45.1
Jay Cutler (Bears)- 44.8
Colt McCoy (Browns)- 42.0
Matthew Stafford (Lions)- 41.4
Andy Dalton (Bengals)- 39.6
Blaine Gabbert (Jaguars)- 37.5
Matt Hasselbeck (Titans)- 37.0
Eli Manning (Giants)- 36.8
Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)- 36.6
Tarvaris Jackson (Seahawks)- 34.6
Kevin Kolb (Cardinals)- 31.6
Cam Newton (Panthers) 30.4
Michael Vick (Eagles) 30.2
Mark Sanchez (Jets)- 30.1
Matt Cassel (Chiefs)- 29.8
Philip Rivers (Chargers)- 29.1
Curtis Painter (Colts)- 26.0
Josh Freeman (Buccaneers)- 25.0
Ryan Fitzpatrick (Bills)- 24.7
Rex Grossman (Redskins)- 22.9
Christian Ponder (Vikings)- 22.3
Carson Palmer (Raiders)- 20.5




Other than a few obvious exceptions, such as Philip Rivers and Cam Newton being rated in the bottom half, as well as Alex Smith being rated No. 1, it doesn't look too far off from an actual power ranking of NFL quarterbacks. 


Obviously, this isn't indisputable proof that Bradford is a great quarterback. But still, you would think he would've ranked much lower if he is actually as bad as a few non-believers claim he is. 

Rams Will Interview Hue Jackson For Offensive Coordinator Job

The reports have been flying in since Sunday and they initially suggested that Brian Schottenheimer, the former offensive coordinator for the New York Jets, would accept a coordinator job with the St. Louis Rams.


Schottenheimer was booted out of New York after his offense finished 25th in the NFL (average yards per game), but he was interviewed by Rams head coach Jeff Fisher and was expected to be Josh McDaniels' replacement as the team's offensive coordinator.


The hiring was thought to practically be a done deal, despite the fact that there are questions regarding Schottenheimer and whether or not he's qualified for the job.


But if you're a St. Louis fan who initially had concerns over Schottenheimer, there may not be any reason to panic, at least not yet.


Chris Mortensen of ESPN just announced on Twitter that the Rams will also be interviewing Hue Jackson for the offensive coordinator job.

Jackson was the Raiders' head coach this past season, but he was fired after the team failed to make the playoffs with an 8-8 record.


The firing was somewhat of a surprise, since 8-8 is a solid record for a rookie head coach. Also, coaches are typically given more than one year to prove their worth.


Prior to being a head coach, Jackson has been an offensive coordinator for the Oakland Raiders (2010), the Atlanta Falcons (2007) and the Washington Redskins (2003).


He was also the quarterback coach for the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 and 2009, which means he deserves some credit for the development of Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.


One thing Rams fans should be thrilled about in regards to Jackson is the fact he runs a West Coast Offense, which is the same system Sam Bradford thrived under in 2010 with Pat Shurmur as the offensive coordinator.


Also, the return of the familiar West Coast system would mean that the young offense won't be forced to learn their third different system in three years. There will likely be differences between Shurmur's offense when compared to Jackson's, but the overall concepts should be very similar.


Fisher will hire whoever he feels is the best man for the job in the long run, but since the Rams' roster is primarily built for the West Coast Offense, it would certainly make sense to bring Jackson on board.

Schotty and Williams Set to Take Over As Coordinators?

It was rumored that newly-hired Rams head coach Jeff Fisher was planning on piecing together a "rock star" coaching staff in St. Louis, but there have been no quotes from the Rams organization to elaborate on what that means exactly.


While Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and former Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer may qualify as "rock stars" due to their undeniable name-recognition, there are certainly questions surrounding their qualifications.


Schottenheimer has been the the Jets' offensive coordinator since 2006, but chose to leave New York after the Jets failed to make the playoffs this season (although, the common consensus is that he was forced to leave).


The Jets offense ranked 25th in NFL (average yards per game) in 2011 and has generally been considered an underachieving unit for the majority of Schottenheimer's tenure there.


Regardless, NFL.com is reporting that Schottenheimer interviewed with Fisher on Sunday morning and is expected to be the next offensive coordinator of the Rams.


If the hiring is confirmed, Schottenheimer will be quarterback Sam Bradford's third different offensive coordinator in as many seasons, which is not an ideal situation for the young quarterback.


On the other hand, while it's not official yet, ESPN's Adam Schefter has reported that Gregg Williams is expected to join the Rams, which makes sense given Williams' history with Fisher and the fact that Williams is a Missouri native.

Williams, who is taking a lot of heat for the Saints' 36-32 playoff loss against the 49ers on Saturday, is actually the potential hiring that's easier to stomach.


While it's concerning that Williams' defense gave up 36 points and allowed two touchdowns in the final minutes of the game against a stale San Francisco offense, let's not forget that he also has a Super Bowl ring as the Saints' defensive coordinator in 2009.


Also, Fisher has a defensive background and will be leading the St. Louis defense more so than Williams, so he won't have the same amount of control that he had in New Orleans.


It's also worth noting that Williams was Fisher's defensive coordinator from 1997 to 2000 in Tennessee.


While working together, their defenses were solid. During the 2000 season, their defense ranked 2nd in the NFL in fewest points allowed, and they never ranked worse than 15th (1999) in points allowed during Williams' tenure.


So while there are clear question marks regarding both potential coordinators, St. Louis fans will just have to sit tight and defer their judgement to the man who has 17 years of head coaching experience in the NFL.

Why Jeff Fisher Can Succeed with the St. Louis Rams

With all the excitement surrounding the race for Jeff Fisher between the St. Louis Rams and the Miami Dolphins, there has been a slither of skepticism within the St. Louis fanbase.

Some of the hype surrounding the situation makes it seem as though the two teams are dueling with each other to fill their head coaching vacancy with a Tom Landry caliber legend, rather than Fisher.

With a career record of 142-120 (.542) over 17 seasons as a head coach in the NFL, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is not exactly starting to weld his statue in Canton.

In six playoff seasons over 17 years, Fisher's post-season record is 5-6, with three of those five playoff wins coming in a single season (1999).

However, his team's appearance in Super Bowl XXXIV gives his resume a little more validity.

Since there's nothing overly eye-popping about Fisher's application, it may lead some to believe that he just happens to be the best available option in a bad year for finding a head coach with experience.

Perhaps, the team could hire an up-and-coming coordinator, such as Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, who may possess a more modern train of thought and could prove to have more potential in the long run.

However, the last three head coaches in St. Louis have been flavor-of-the-month coordinators who ultimately failed (Mike Martz, Scott Linehan, Steve Spagnuolo), which makes any option other than Fisher an unpopular one.

But that is not necessarily a bad thing. As it turns out, Fisher might be the best option after all, despite not having an overwhelming amount of success in the past.

Here are some points to bring up regarding Fisher...

Quarterback

Fisher has never had the benefit of a bonafide franchise quarterback capable of consistently leading the team every year.

If Sam Bradford can reach the potential that most people feel he possesses, then he would be providing Fisher with a weapon he's never had—a star quarterback for multiple years.

Here are Fisher's previous quarterbacks that started a significant number of games during his tenure:

-Kerry Collins stared 32 games over five seasons under Fisher, throwing for 33 touchdowns and and 29 interceptions during that five-year stretch. He started in only one playoff game (a 13-10 loss to the Ravens).

-Vince Young started 47 games off-and-on for the Titans with a 30-17 record as a starter, but he greatly benefited from solid defensive play. He threw 42 touchdowns against 42 interceptions and was considered a problematic player in the locker room.

-Steve McNair was Fisher's most consistent starter at the position with 131 starts over 11 seasons. His best statistical season came in 2003 with 3,215 yards and 24 touchdowns, which means the best quarterback production Fisher received was still just above average. McNair led the Titans to a Super Bowl appearance in 1999.

As you can see, Fisher did not have luxury of having both production and longevity out of the most important position.

Fisher's career winning percentage is .542, which equates to approximately an 8-8 season if you condense that record to a single year.

Now, if Bradford can become an elite passer, you can surely imagine how adding someone like him could do wonders for a coach that can basically get to 8-8 without an elite passer.

The Colts

When you look at the fact Fisher has only made the playoffs six times out of 17 seasons, it is a bit alarming at first sight.

However, the Titans often fielded solid football teams, but they had to play the Colts twice a year and frequently played second fiddle to Peyton Manning and his elite passing attack.

It's not often when a team has to bi-annually face a team that has been absolutely dominate for the better part of a decade.

Though the 49ers looked solid in 2011, it's probably safe to say that Alex Smith will not lead a 10 year dictatorship in the NFC West. There will be room for other teams to win some division titles, which is not a benefit Fisher had in Tennessee.

Bud Adams

Fisher has been the face of the Titans ever since they moved to Tennessee from Houston in 1997. He has been the only head coach the team has ever known up until Mike Munchak took over in 2011.

However, owner Bud Adams never fails to make his face known, despite the fact his role as owner states that he would be better off remaining behind the scenes.

Instead, the final years of Fisher's tenure with the Titans was practically a daytime soap opera. Fisher wasn't the cause of the drama, but it was a result of Adams' antics, as well as an egotistical quarterback in Vince Young.

Adams is an overly involved owner, which usually has bad results.

The Rams, on the other hand, do not have any overly dramatic players like Young, and owner Stan Kroenke's nickname of "Silent Stan" says all you need to know about how often he forces himself into the everyday operations of his sports teams.

The general manager (who ever it may be) will handle the personnel, Fisher will handle the coaching, and Kroenke will make executive decisions and sign paychecks.

There won't be an owner putting extra pressure on someone who's already involved in an extremely stressful occupation. 

Closing Statement

While Fisher has not been the poster child of a Hall of Fame caliber head coach, it's clear that there were factors working against him in Tennessee that, perhaps, prevented him and his teams from reaching their full potential.

There's no guarantee that Fisher will have more success in St. Louis than he had in Tennessee. Actually, there's no guarantee that he'll even have an equal amount of success.

However, Fisher was the longest tenured head coach in the NFL by the time he left the Titans, and you don't keep a head coaching job in the NFL for 17 consecutive years without possessing significant knowledge on how a football team should be run.

The last three coaches in St. Louis were promoted coordinators with no prior head coaching experience, so after watching those coaches "learn on the job" just to ultimately fail, the fans are certainly ready to take a chance on an experienced head coach such as Jeff Fisher.  

St. Louis Rams: 10 Trends That Will Surely Continue Next Week Against Arizona

Despite winning two out of the last four, making it the most successful four game stretch of the season, the St. Louis Rams (2-8) are still showing some disturbing trends. 

Obviously, any team with a .200 winning percentage is not going to be a fundamentally sound group, which is certainly the case for the Rams. Consistency, or a lack thereof, has been detrimental to their 2011 season.

Fans are witnessing the same mistakes week-in-and-week-out from a team that was widely thought to be talented enough for a run at the NFC West title. The way the talent is under performing can certainly be pinned on a coaching staff that hasn't been able to develop the players or get the most out the roster. 

And there is no end in sight. 

Other than poor football, here are some trends that will continue against the Arizona Cardinals. They are not all bad, but regardless, this it what we can expect out of the team this Sunday...

10. Robert Quinn Will Continue To Grow

Despite being inactive in the Rams' opening day game against Philadelphia and receiving very little playing time in the first few weeks of the season, defensive end Robert Quinn is still putting together a quietly magnificent rookie campaign. 

Quinn was the No. 14 overall pick in last April's draft and has been flashing some of the monster potential he possesses. 

He has three sacks and two blocked punts in the last four games. He has four total sacks on the year and he also had a blocked field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs during the preseason. 

Expect Quinn to continue his rampage against Arizona this Sunday, especially since the Cardinals have a poor offensive line. 

9. Sam Bradford Will Continue To Be Inefficient

Sam Bradford is due for a breakout game at some point this season, he's too talented to continue his downward spiral. 

Bradford was just starting to click with the offense against Green Bay (29-for-45, 328 yards), but his sprained ankle at the end of that game kept him sidelined for two games and he has been unable to continue his growth ever since. 

At some point this season the offensive line will gel for a game or two and Bradford will start to click once again with the receivers. 

However, it likely will not happen against Arizona. 

Despite the Cardinals being ranked 27th in pass defense, they have talent in the secondary, such as Adrian Wilson and Patrick Peterson. They will be able to keep Bradford in check, especially with some help from their pass rush, which will dominate the Rams weak line. 

The Rams will have to win the game on the ground with Steven Jackson, which brings us to the next point...

8. Steven Jackson Will Pound Away

After rushing for 417 yards in three weeks, Steven Jackson finally cooled off against the Seahawks last week with only 42 yards on 15 carries (2.8 yards per carry). 

Both of the Rams' starting tackles are out with injuries (Rodger Saffold, Jason Smith), so Jackson is running behind a patchwork line, which might lead you to believe that he'll be contained. 

However, the Cardinals are not stout against the run (ranked 24th in run defense), and Jackson is an elite player. He is too good to be completely held in check two weeks in a row, despite the inevitable poor run blocking that he'll receive.

7. The Receivers Will Be Unproductive

Brandon Lloyd has been very good ever since arriving in St. Louis, he has 26 catches and 322 yards in five games and has been one of only two consistent players on offense (the other being Steven Jackson). 

Lloyd has averaged 64.4 yards per game since arriving in St. Louis and had 80 yards against Arizona two weeks ago. So in the team's rematch against the Cardinals we can expect him to finish somewhere in the range of 65 to 80 yards and maybe a touchdown, which he has three of with the Rams this year. 

Lloyd is solid, but Bradford has no "bailout" option in the slot. Greg Salas and Danny Amendola, who were both solid options in the slot, are both out for the year with injuries. The only other slot option is Austin Pettis, who has been very mediocre so far in his rookie campaign (16 catches, 133 yards).

With Danario Alexander's return from a hamstring injury still questionable, the only other receiver capable of producing is Brandon Gibson, who has been a ghost the last two weeks with only four receptions and 37 yards. 

The injuries, combined the dropped balls that have been cursing the unit, so it's safe to say that the receivers will have yet another underwhelming performance. 

6. Chris Long Will Impress

The Arizona Cardinals' offensive line has surrendered 33 total sacks through 10 games, which is the third most in the NFL. 

Defensive end Chris Long has been an absolute beast for the Rams recently, with six total sacks in the last four games and nine total sacks on the season (already a career high). 

With the way Long has been playing, the Cardinals' line is in for a long day on Sunday. 

5. Penalties Will Hurt the Rams

Penalties have killed the Rams so far in 2011. They have 74 penalties on the year, which is the ninth most in the NFL. 

It's not that they can't survive going at the rate of 7.4 penalties a game, although that makes things tricky, but the timing of their penalties has been awful. 

Outside of their win against New Orleans, the Rams never fail to disappoint. Their ability to commit a procedure penalty on a promising drive, or hold in a unnecessary situation to wipe out a solid gain, is uncanny.

Then there is the occasional delay of game or unnecessary roughness, which always seems to hand the momentum right over the the opposing defense.  

There's no reason to expect a change in this trend on Sunday against Arizona. 

4. Quinn Porter Will Be Tackled Behind the 20-Yard-Line

The Rams are certainly missing Danny Amendola in the return game.

Amendola, who is out for the year with a dislocated elbow, was never a "take it to the house" type a returner, but he certainly was a fighter that found a way to give the offense some solid field position. 

Quinn Porter, a former practice squad running back for the Cleveland Browns who was claimed by the Rams early in the year, has taken over kick return duties and has not excelled, to say the least. 

Porter has attempted a return 19 times this season, and only 11 times has he brought it past the 20. But he never gets too far past the 20, as he's averaging 20.7 yards per return.

On the other eight attempts he has been tackled behind the 20, which has really been hurting him in recent weeks. 

The NFL moved the kickoff spot forward in 2011, so that's something to consider, but someone needs to tell Porter to play it safe an take a knee. He's not good enough to take it for a score, so don't even try. 

3. The Defense Will Give Up a Fourth-Quarter Touchdown

The defense has been a strong point for the Rams in recent weeks, keeping opponents relatively in check and giving the offense a reasonable opportunity to come up with a win, which they've only done twice. 

However, the defense has been letting opposing offenses slip by in the fourth quarter. 

Over the last five games the Rams' defense has allowed six fourth quarter touchdowns, which was particularly harmful against Arizona two weeks ago when Larry Fitzgerald's touchdown with just under four minutes left was the difference in the game. 

You can't really blame the Rams' defense. The stale offense commits so many three-and-outs that no one can reasonably expect the defense to stay rested and effective for four full quarters. 

2. The Offensive Line Will Be Dominated

The Rams have been forced to put together an amateur offensive line due to injuries at the position, but the line wasn't even good to begin with when healthy. 

Tackles Jason Smith and Rodger Saffold are both injured. Saffold is out for the season, and while Smith has a chance to return, his serious concussion makes missing the season a realistic possibility.

Saffold's replacement at left-tackle, Mark LeVoir, was injured last week against Seattle with a pec injury and could be sidelined for up to four weeks. Third-stringer Kevin Hughes is the current left-tackle, despite having a pathetic performance against Seattle. 

Jason Brown, the Rams' starting center since 2009 and a $37.5 million free agent, lost his starting job ever since his poor performance against the Cardinals two weeks ago. However, he could possibly be forced into action again if the injuries continue.  

Calais Campbell, Darnell Dockett and rookie outside-linebacker Sam Acho are capable of creating a dominate pass rush for the Cardinals and the three of them should excel in St. Louis this Sunday. 

1.  The Offense Will Be Atrocious

The Rams have scored only 120 total points through 10 games this season, which averages out to 12.0 points per game, making them the worst ranked offense in the NFL. 

The Rams have scored only 33 points in their last three games combined. If you take away their win against the Saints, a game where they score 31 points, the Rams next highest point total in a game this season is 16, which was against the Giants back in Week 2. 

The word "pathetic" does not rightfully describe the state of the Rams' offense. The point of the NFL is to provide entertainment and the Rams are certainly not entertaining to watch while they lose.

In other words, they are even bad at losing. 

There's likely nothing that will revitalize the offense by Sunday, so expect another poor offensive performance against the Cardinals, who the Rams were only able to score 13 points against two weeks ago.