Three Team Race?

[Card'em]

Here in St. Louis the local radio personalities are calling the NFC West a three team race with the Rams being the surprise contender. No doubt that the Rams will be improved and may contend for the division, but there is absolutely no consideration of the Cards. Talk about flying under the radar...we're super stealth. The NSA's got nothin' on us.

 

[HotSauce]

No surprise there. Though stranger things have happened, teams that finish 5-11 and 1-5 in the division the prior season aren't usually considered contenders.

What helps the Rams is that they almost swept the division last year and have had a strong offseason.

 

[NashDishesDimes]

Absolutely not. The only reason the Rams win in the division is because teams walk in there thinking it is a gimme game.
Why are people always giving the Rams credit??? They dont do anything great. They lost Stephen Jackson, their OL has been a mess, Jake long is overrated at this point, Sam Bradford is the worst QB in the division, their secondary is young and weak, they have no recivers except for Austin who is not a posession reciever.

 

[Jay Cardinal]

I am not a 100% sold on the rams changes either. Stephen Jackson was the heart and soul of that team and Bradford has yet to show he is a franchise qb. I do think they have made some great picks on defense the last couple years. Janoris Jenkins and Michael brockers look like solid players for years to come.

 

[Cards Czar]

Here in St. Louis the local radio personalities are calling the NFC West a three team race with the Rams being the surprise contender. No doubt that the Rams will be improved and may contend for the division, but there is absolutely no consideration of the Cards. Talk about flying under the radar...we're super stealth. The NSA's got nothin' on us.

Don't believe everything you hear from 101 ESPN "The Fast Lane". Randy Karraker (Who hates the Cardinals because they left) and D'Marco Farr because he was a Ram. They are both total homers.

 

[HotSauce]

Absolutely not. The only reason the Rams win in the division is because teams walk in there thinking it is a gimme game.
Why are people always giving the Rams credit??? They dont do anything great. They lost Stephen Jackson, their OL has been a mess, Jake long is overrated at this point, Sam Bradford is the worst QB in the division, their secondary is young and weak, they have no recivers except for Austin who is not a posession reciever.

Can't speak for others, but I give the Rams credit because they have a lot of young, fast, talent, have a pretty good head coach, and appear to have had another strong offseason.

And I'd call leading the NFL in sacks great. And with a young DLine that will probably get better as last year's 1st rounder Brockers develops and the addition of LB Ogletree to help via the blitz.

Offensively, I believe that Jared Cook and Tavon Austin are going to be matchup nightmares for most teams and I haven't forgotten how that rookie Chris Givens torched the team last year. Couple that with Bradford playing in same offense for the first time since he's entered the league and I expect them to make a serious run at the division title.

Steven Jackson is a big name, but I've always thought he was overrated. I question just how big of a loss he will be given his backups averaged more yards per carry. And unlike Jackson, they have the home run speed to take it the distance.

 

[kerouac9]

Can't speak for others, but I give the Rams credit because they have a lot of young, fast, talent, have a pretty good head coach, and appear to have had another strong offseason.

And I'd call leading the NFL in sacks great. And with a young DLine that will probably get better as last year's 1st rounder Brockers develops and the addition of LB Ogletree to help via the blitz.

Offensively, I believe that Jared Cook and Tavon Austin are going to be matchup nightmares for most teams and I haven't forgotten how that rookie Chris Givens torched the team last year. Couple that with Bradford playing in same offense for the first time since he's entered the league and I expect them to make a serious run at the division title.

Steven Jackson is a big name, but I've always thought he was overrated. I question just how big of a loss he will be given his backups averaged more yards per carry. And unlike Jackson, they have the home run speed to take it the distance.

This. For the most part. What the Rams are lacking, IMO, is size.

I don't know if the Rams can push for a division title, just because there aren't a lot of markers there that St. Louis is in the position to challege teams outside of the division.

St. Louis was 4-3-1 in games decided by a TD or less. They finished 8-7-1 despite being outscored by 49 points.

 

[HotSauce]

This. For the most part. What the Rams are lacking, IMO, is size.

I don't know if the Rams can push for a division title, just because there aren't a lot of markers there that St. Louis is in the position to challege teams outside of the division.

St. Louis was 4-3-1 in games decided by a TD or less. They finished 8-7-1 despite being outscored by 49 points.

Austin is small. They lose size with Jackson's replacements at RB. But, otherwise I don't see them as having a lack of size.

And that 45-7 lost to New England overseas provided for 38 of the 49 points they were outscored.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

Austin is small. They lose size with Jackson's replacements at RB. But, otherwise I don't see them as having a lack of size.

That team has such potential offensively. By adding Austin and Bailey via the draft, along with Cook via free agency, they could wind up being a very explosive receiving core. Givens showed glimpses last season of being a good WR and I still think Brian Quick has a future. Honestly, as this team develops, if Bradford doesn't succeed, it's not by fault of the team for not trying to surround him with talent. As for defense, that's Jeff Fisher's MO. They'll be more than fine there.

 

[seesred]

IMO it;s going to be a 4 team scramble in the last 5 weeks of the season. Ram fans look through the same glasses we do. I think that Ram fans are going to push verbally for their team as we do for ours. Our QB vs. theirs. Our 4 backs VS. theirs. Improved O-line and a D that will bring it without Wash and then bring it some more.

I like our chances. It will be a great season as the Cards take the division at 9-7.

GBR
40

 

[Denny Green Fan]

IMO it;s going to be a 4 team scramble in the last 5 weeks of the season. Ram fans look through the same glasses we do. I think that Ram fans are going to push verbally for their team as we do for ours. Our QB vs. theirs. Our 4 backs VS. theirs. Improved O-line and a D that will bring it without Wash and then bring it some more.

I like our chances. It will be a great season as the Cards take the division at 9-7.

GBR
40

seered you are a great Cards fan but I think the Niners and Seahawks both

win more than nine games. This year I would love for the team to simply

win 8 games and show improvement

 

[Cardsfanstl]

Don't believe everything you hear from 101 ESPN "The Fast Lane". Randy Karraker (Who hates the Cardinals because they left) and D'Marco Farr because he was a Ram. They are both total homers.

You speak the truth. I like the fact they are not talking about us. In my opinion Rams this year will really miss Jackson and Amendola.

 

[TJ]

You speak the truth. I like the fact they are not talking about us. In my opinion Rams this year will really miss Jackson and Amendola.

Amendola has played on average just a hair above 10 games per season in his four year career with the Rams. If Tavon Austin can play the whole season, Amendola will be an afterthought.

Jackson is a different story. He will be missed for his hard running and leadership. If Bradford cannot execute with guys like Cook and Austin in the fold, their offense could be historically bad.

 

[HotSauce]

Amendola has played on average just a hair above 10 games per season in his four year career with the Rams. If Tavon Austin can play the whole season, Amendola will be an afterthought.

Jackson is a different story. He will be missed for his hard running and leadership. If Bradford cannot execute with guys like Cook and Austin in the fold, their offense could be historically bad.

Yep. Amendola has played in 12 total games the past couple of seasons.

Jackson's leadership may be an issue, but his hard running doesn't seem to have done much for the team these past few seasons, which is one reason why I believe he is overrated.