St. Louis could be faced with some serious concerns in the secondary, where they lack a true shut-down corner and experienced depth. Travis Fisher and Jerametrius Butler are adequate starters, but neither matches up well with most teams’ No. 1 receivers and would struggle if forced into a heavier man-to-man package. Second-year players DeJuan Groce and Kevin Garrett will play in nickel and dime situations, giving the Rams a very inexperienced group that could possibly be exploited by opposing offenses.
The safety position appears to be more stable with Adam Archuleta returning at strong safety and veteran Aneas Williams back at the free safety position. Archuleta has good speed and agility, and he’s solid against the run. He has also improved his coverage skills since entering the league in 2001. Williams brings 13 years of experience to the secondary, and although he is obviously on the downside of his career, he is always in position and rarely makes mistakes.
Overview
The Rams still have the weapons to compete for the division crown, but there are some serious concerns on defense. If Leonard Little is lost for a significant period of time, it could have a seriously adverse affect on the pass rush, which could further expose an inexperienced secondary. If Little misses time, someone will have to step up to match his production or this unit will likely struggle. Defensive tackle is also a big concern with a couple guys that have never fully lived up to their potential and another whose season may already be over.
Offensively, I don’t think they will miss a beat, and I believe the offensive line will not be a problem even if they are forced to accommodate Turley’s injury for a short period. Steven Jackson and Marshall Faulk should cause match-up problems when the Rams line them up together in the backfield and the receiving corps could have a bit of a renaissance with the young guys legitimizing the No. 3 and 4 roles again and Marc Bulger fully gaining control of the QB duties.
Overall, I believe the Rams will compete for the division, but defensive problems will allow the Seahawks to take the crown from them. They could very well pull out a wild-card berth and make some noise in the playoffs, however, and could be legitimate contenders if the defense holds together.
