NFL team previews — NFC West
By Steve Korte
As published in print Aug. 21, 2000
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Rams QB
Kurt Warner
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The Rams have lost the element of surprise. As the defending Super Bowl champions, they
won’t be sneaking up on anybody this season.
"It’s going to be a lot tougher obviously, because we are not a secret
anymore,’’ CB Todd Lyght said. "It’s out that we are the best team in
the NFL.’’
The Rams return 19-of-22 starters from a team that accomplished one of the most
stunning turnarounds in NFL history, going from 4-12 in 1998 to 13-3 and Super Bowl
champions in ’99.
"Going into camp last year, we thought we could be good,’’ WR Ricky
Proehl said. "Now we know we are good. Confidence is an unbelievable factor when it
comes to sports. We are excited about this year.’’
The Rams still don’t feel as though they are getting their due respect, as many
people are picking the Redskins or the Buccaneers as the favorites to win the NFC title.
"You can say it’s a motivation to be the Super Bowl champs and not be
considered the favorite,’’ MLB London Fletcher said. "We feel like
we’ve been disrespected in a sense. But the only way you get respect is to go out
there and take it. So each and every game, that’s what we’re going out there to
do."
The biggest change for the Rams is with their head coach. Dick Vermeil rode off into
the sunset after winning the Super Bowl, and now offensive coordinator Mike Martz is in
charge.
Martz is the quiet, professor type. But he can be demanding, and he’s a stickler
for detail. He actually had his players practice clapping their hands together to break
the offensive huddle.
"It sounds like something you do with school children, but you can’t skim
over those little details,’’ Martz said. "Those are important in
winning.’’
Top of page
| Quarterbacks |
Grade A |
| NFL MVP Kurt Warner is eager to prove that last season was no
fairy tale. However, it will be hard for Warner to match his astonishing numbers —
65.1 percent completion rate, 4,353 yards, 41 touchdowns, only 13 interceptions and a
109.2 passer rating. "To say I’m going to go out and duplicate those stats each
and every year in the NFL is crazy,’’ Warner said. "But the bar is set up
there, and that’s what I’m shooting for. I’m going to shoot to be even
better. I think I can play even better than I played last year. I think going into the
season I’m much more comfortable with the offense than I was last year. That’s
going to help me be more consistent early on.’’ Trent Green is now the backup
after recovering from the knee injury that sidelined him all of last season. Green, like
Warner, is an extremely accurate passer. Green also knows Martz’s offensive system
like the back of his hand. Green will serve as an insurance policy this season, and then
he could be put on the trading block next year because he wants the opportunity to become
a starting quarterback again. The Rams believe that Joe Germaine is their quarterback of
the future, but it’s probably not the near future. Top of page |
| Running backs |
Grade A- |
| Marshall Faulk was arguably the Rams’ most important
player last year. He accounted for 37.9 percent of the team’s offense last season
with an NFL-record 2,429 total yards from scrimmage. Faulk spent the offseason lifting
weights and reported to training camp in great shape. Trung Canidate, the team’s
first-round draft pick, adds more speed to the Rams’ fast-break offense. The Rams
were pleasantly surprised to learn that the high-ankle sprain Canidate suffered in the
preseason won’t keep him out of any regular-season action. As a result, they cut
Derek Loville, who figured to make the team as a third-down back. Robert Holcombe is
getting more comfortable at fullback after being converted from running back. He is
capable as both a runner and receiver. Top of page |
| Receivers |
Grade A |
| Isaac Bruce re-established himself as one of the NFL’s
elite receivers after two years in hamstring hell. Bruce isn’t the fastest receiver
around, but his sharp cuts make him almost impossible to defend with one-on-one coverage.
Torry Holt probably would have posted a 1,000-yard season as a rookie if he played on a
team with fewer offensive weapons. He still caught 52 passes for 788 yards. He could put
up even bigger numbers this season. Az-Zahir Hakim is small but dynamic after the catch.
He averaged one touchdown every 4.5 receptions. Proehl remains one of the best possession
receivers in the NFL. TE Roland Williams has proven to be a good receiver around the goal
line. He could lose his starting job, however, to Ernie Conwell, a devastating blocker who
is coming back from reconstructive knee surgery. Top of page |
| Offensive linemen |
Grade B- |
| OLT Orlando Pace and ORG Adam Timmerman give this unit a
solid foundation. Pace strained the patella tendon in his left knee at presstime. OLG Tom
Nutten pleased the coaches with how well he played in his first season as a starter. C
Andy McCollum and ORT Ryan Tucker are now starters after serving as backups last season.
McCollum will be pushed by free-agent addition Steve Everitt, a former first-round draft
pick. Tucker, who has been tried everywhere on the line, seems to have found a home as
Fred Miller’s replacement. Top of page |
| Defensive linemen |
Grade B+ |
| Kevin Carter and Grant Wistrom have the potential to be the
best pair of defensive ends in the NFL. Carter led the NFL in sacks last season with 17,
while Wistrom was the team’s best defender at the end of the season, according to
Rams coaches. D’Marco Farr has cat-like quickness at one DT spot, and Ray Agnew is a
steady veteran at the other. Top of page |
| Linebackers |
Grade B |
| OLB Mike Jones remains good in pass coverage as he showed in
the Super Bowl with "the Tackle’’ on Titans WR Kevin Dyson. Fletcher, a
5-foot-10 sparkplug built in the Sam Mills mold, was the team’s top tackler with 138
takedowns last season. OLB Todd Collins is strong against the run. OLB Leonard Little,
with his off-the-field problems behind him, will serve as a pass-rushing specialist in
nickel situations. Top of
page |
| Defensive backs |
Grade B- |
| Most teams are happy with two good corners, but the Rams have
three in Todd Lyght, Dexter McCleon and Dre’ Bly. That trio combined for 13
interceptions last season. FS Keith Lyle was playing at a Pro Bowl level before he
suffered a nerve injury in his shoulder and missed the final seven games of the season. SS
Devin Bush is the only new starter on defense, and he played seven games at free safety in
place of Lyle last season. Rich Coady is the team’s top backup at both the FS and SS
spots. Top of page |
| Special teams |
Grade C+ |
| Oft-injured P Rick Tuten was fighting for his job with Louie
Aguiar at presstime. Tuten has a stronger leg, but Aguiar is a polished veteran. PK Jeff
Wilkins had offseason surgery to repair the tendinitis in his plant leg. He needs to
improve from long range after making just 8-of-15 FG attempts from 40 yards or longer last
season. WR Tony Horne and Hakim give the Rams one of the best return tandems in the NFL.
Horne had three returns for scores — two in the regular season and one in the
playoffs. Top of page |
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