What Did I Miss? (Off-Season Update)
By Rams Nation's Don Ackerman
Now it's just about 7 months later and "next season" is just about
here.
If you shut off your TV after the victory of the Niners (31-20 for those who
forgot) because 7 wins were just not enough, I can completely understand. However,
2002 was a question mark with the question being "What happened?"
Now that 2003 has rolled around, you have had some time to step away from the
Rams. Maybe you want to give the lambs of old one more chance in 2003.
I thought it would be helpful to cover what happened in the off-season this
year. It's still going on and in the capped NFL, anything can and will happen
so stay tuned.
Opportunity 1: Which Kurt in 2003?
The biggest question for 2003 is which Kurt Warner will show up? Will we get
the "I'm not hurt but I play that way" 2002 version or will we get
the Super Bowl champion whose smile lights up a stadium? No one is certain but
everything points to the fact that Kurt's okay now. He's looking good in camp
and by all reports, he is "fine." Me, I'm not sure and am somewhat
worried that everything is not okay. After all, Kurt wasn't hurt in 2002 and
we know how that turned out.
Opportunity 2: O-Line is Bigger and Badder?
In 2003, we will see a new and improved offensive line. In the off-season,
the Rams stole (in a trade) Kyle Turley, the tattooed keg of power. Kyle was
a obtained for a 2nd rounder in 2004. I'd take that deal any day of the week!
On the down side, Orlando Pace is holding out and being a franchise player is
not enough for the all-pro tackle. If the Rams can get Pace into camp, the line
should be much improved.
Opportunity 3: Be Defensively Minded!
2002 was not a great year for the Rams on D and this year should be better.
The Rams picked up Jason Sehorn who is injured but will likely be an assistant
from a coaching perspective. If things go well, Jason is back when the Rams
make their push in the mid-season. The D did get a bit weaker with the loss
of Dexter McCleon to Kansas City and Dre Bly to Detroit. However, I would not
be terribly concerned as Lovie Smith is famous for a parts-based defensive system
and he has had time to fill in the voids left by those departures. I expect
a better club that has had one more year to gel.
Opportunity 4: Can Rams Be Offensively Minded?
The Greatest Show on Turf was on hiatus last season. This year could be challenging
with the loss of tight end Ernie Conwell (to the Saints) and wide receiver Ricky
Proehl (to the Panthers). There are other players who could step up but that
will be worth watching closely in 2003. The real run for the Super Bowl ring
hinges on the Rams' ability to score some points. I'm not expecting a shoot-out
each week but the offense needs to support the defense with some scoring as
opposed to last year's scoring drought.
Well Rams watchers, that's a quick update on what's been going on while basketball,
hockey, and baseball tried to rule the airwaves. They say baseball is America's
game but we know better. Now that you've seen the Rams' progress in the off-season,
are you ready for some football!?!?
Ram on,
Don