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Friday, May 10
What did Mike Martz and the Rams learn from their Super Bowl loss? The simple truth is, the Rams and Mike Martz still believe that the Super Bowl XXXVI loss to the Patriots was an aberration. So, frankly, about all they took from the defeat was that no team is invincible every day of the year. And, oh, yeah, maybe that they should tackle a little better in the secondary.
Martz took a ton of heat after the game for not getting the ball in the hands of tailback Marshall Faulk enough and of abandoning the running game in general. His response to critics was, in retrospect, that he probably should have thrown the ball more. Don't expect Martz, who is a brilliant offensive iconoclast, to change many facets of the Rams team in 2002. St. Louis remains the early-line favorite to win Super Bowl XXXVII because, very simply, the Rams still have the best roster in football.
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Coming off their stunning Super Bowl loss to the Patriots, the Rams have to be chomping at the bit to get back on the field. With Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce still in the fold, the Rams remain one of the best teams in the NFL.
On the offensive side of the football, the biggest moves were made at wide receiver. Speedy No. 3 receiver Az-Zahir Hakim took the big money and bolted for Detroit and a five-year, $16 million deal. Hakim's loss was made up for with the acquisition of Terrence Wilkins from Indianapolis. A quick look at the numbers shows that Wilkins should be an adequate replacement. While Hakim is certainly more explosive, his penchant for fumbling is something that won't be missed in St. Louis. The Rams also retained a key member of their receiving corps by re-signing Ricky Proehl (40 receptions and five touchdowns last season).
In the backfield, the Rams matched Denver's offer sheet to fullback James Hodgins, retaining the three-year veteran. St. Louis also added more depth signing fullback Chris Hetherington (Carolina), who could also see some time at tight end.
Defensively, the Rams lost starting middle linebacker London Fletcher to the Bills. Fletcher had over 100 tackles each of the last two seasons and will be missed. However, after negotiations with Fletcher stalled, the Rams moved quickly to sign Jamie Duncan, who had spent his entire four-year career in Tampa Bay. While Duncan might not be the player Fletcher is, he is familiar with Rams defensive coordinator Lovie Smith from Smith's days in Tampa, and he should fit in well in St. Louis.
Along the defensive line, the Rams re-signed defensive end Leonard Little. The fourth-year pro emerged last season with 14½ sacks, pairing with Grant Wistrom to give the Rams one of the bestdefensive end combinations in the NFL. Defensive end John Burrough was signed as a free agent to add more depth to the defensive line. He'll replace Little in running situations, a role that had been filled by Chidi Ahanotu.
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RAMS AT A GLANCE
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| | Marshall Faulk scored over 20 TDs for the second straight year. |
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2001 record: 14-2
Team rank: Defense (2nd); Offense (1st)
Rams team news
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For a complete list of all the players St. Louis has signed and lost so far this offseason, click here.
How they drafted
The Rams took some criticism for a draft in which they appeared to reach for a number of players. Linebacker Robert Thomas, considered a second-round pick by many draft experts, was selected at No. 31 overall. However, the former UCLA standout has a chance to step into the Rams' lineup and earn a starting spot. Second-round cornerback Travis Fisher could see some time in nickel or dime packages. Another pick that left many scratching their heads was Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch in the third round. Martz believes that Crouch can be a standout at wide receiver and decided to roll the dice on the former Nebraska quarterback. The Rams pulled another surprise when they grabbed former Ohio State quarterback Steve Bellisari in the sixth round to play safety.
For a complete list of St. Louis' draft picks, click here.
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Fantasy Focus
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No. 3 WR Terrence Wilkins was signed to replace the departed Az-Zahir Hakim, but he won't be a viable fantasy option. He'll be competing with five other Rams who had at least 38 catches last season: Marshall Faulk (83), Torry Holt (81), Isaac Bruce (64), Ricky Proehl (40) and Ernie Conwell (38). In a down season, Hakim managed to have only 39 catches for 374 yards and just three TDs, all of which he scored in the first five games. Wilkins didn't produce worthy stats in 2001 for the Colts, either, gaining just 332 yards with zero receiving TDs. For more fantasy football news, click here.
-- Roger Rotter, Fantasy editor
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Unfinished business
One battle to keep a close eye on is at backup running back. Third-year back, and 2000 first-round pick, Trung Canidate could be in danger of losing his job to rookie Lamar Gordon, who was the Rams' third-round pick in the recent draft. Gordon, who played at Division II North Dakota State, has good size (6-0, 211) and speed (4.5 in the 40). The question is how quickly he can grasp the Rams' complicated offense. Add in the fact that Gordon hasn't played against top-level competition and he's not an experienced pass catcher, and expecting him to beat out Canidate could be asking too much. One area the Rams are still looking to shore up is the offensive line. The departures of offensive tackles Ryan Tucker (Browns) and Rod Jones (Redskins) leaves second-year pro John St. Clair as the starting right tackle.
Outlook for 2002
Nothing short of a return trip to the Super Bowl will be an acceptable outcome in St. Louis. The Rams believe they were the best team in the NFL last season and after an offseason that ensured virtually the same team would be on the field in 2002, that belief hasn't gone away. The Rams still have the most potent offense in the NFL and with good health, Warner, Faulk and company will continue to put up mind-boggling numbers. St. Louis likely won't improve on the 14 wins they put up last year, but expecting something close to that number is entirely reasonable.
Peter Lawrence-Riddell is the NFL editor for ESPN.com.
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