2010 St. Louis Rams

FootballDad

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Well whadya know, the Lambs just hired Josh McWigger Eminem as their offensive coordinator today. All of those white guys best start looking for other jobs. Danny Amendola will now be the 95th-string wide receiver, or simply be relegated to WSTD duties.
 

Colonel_Reb

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Not good news!
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Your funny comment about Danny Amendola isn't too far from the truth, FootballDad.
 

Colonel_Reb

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Deadlift, I don't know. He might get a few more White linemen, but I wouldn't count on it. In his twisted mind, he might see them as a reason his team did so poorly this year. I don't have any faith in McEminem.
 

Woody

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<H2 =title>How many new starters will the Rams have in2011? </H2>
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by VanRam on Jan 27, 2011 11:46 AM CST in 2011 NFL offseason
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Jeff Roberson - AP
St. Louis Rams wide receiver Donnie Avery will likely be one of several "new" starters for the Rams in 2011.

View full size photo »


The roster turnover for the St. Louis Rams between 2009 and 2010 was nothing compared to what it was between the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Of course, that's to be expected, since a new front office and coaching staff took over the sinking ship. From there, it was on with the rebuilding.


Now, with the rebuilding process evolving into the next stage, fielding a winning team, which positions will feature new starters for the Rams?


It's not as easy as it might seem. Dive in with us after the jump.
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Let's start with the offense.


Because of rotations and different sets, it's not exactly clear cut. For instance, Danny Amendola sees as many snaps as the other receivers, but he's not technically a starter. For this purposes of thisexerciseI'll use the Rams 21 (two running backs and one tight end) grouping, their base formation.


Right guard - It stands to reason that the Rams will address this position, which was by far the weakest point of the front five. Adam Goldberg did a fine job, but he's overmatched against the more powerful defensive tackles and had difficulty getting to the second level with much success.


Tight End - Daniel Fells started the season in this spot, though Michael Hoomanawanui was starting to play his way into the mix before injury. The Rams probably will not bring back Daniel Fells, a free agent, this year, instead looking for more consistency. They might not even have more than three tight ends (Uh Oh, Billy Bajema and Fendi Onobun) depending on what Josh McDaniels prefers as the new OC. Hoomanawanui figures to be the starter, so that still counts as a new starter for 2011.


Wide Receiver - You can bet that the Rams will have two different receivers starting for them in 2011, the question is where were those players in 2010. One of the starters is most likely Donnie Avery, barring upset. Avery would have been a starter this year, but a preseason injury ended his season before it began. And what about the second receiver in their base set? It could be someone that's already in-house, Danario Alexander would be the most likely from that bunch. Brandon Gibson is a long shot. Most of us are probably hoping for a new face in that spot, either a big name free agent like Vincent Jackson or one of the big names in the draft like Julio Jones.


Fullback - Under Pat Shurmur, fullback was all but phased out. However, Josh McDaniels comes from a New England system that used the running back by committee approach before it was cool. Could Mike Karney stick around in 2011? That largely depends on what kind of backup/committee running back the Rams add during the offseason.


Now, over to the defensive side of the ball. With one notable exception, depth is more of an issue on defense than a need for rash of new talent. Recent draft picks like Chris Long, James Laurinaitis and Bradley Fletcher along with stalwarts from a few years back like Ron Bartell and Oshiomogho Atogwe constitute a solid foundation.


Strongside linebacker - Starting with the most obvious. It's not a question of 'if' so much as it is a question of 'who.' Ancillary to that question is how the Rams get a new SLB. If they can find someone in free agency, then they'll have an experienced player likely to have a more immediate impact than a rookie, especially if they can find someone familiar with their system...wementioned the possibility ofCarolina free agent Thomas Davis earlier.


Right defensive tackle - Gary Gibson is to be commended for the work he's done. However, the Rams really could use a bona fide three-technique pass rusher here. Given how much they've talked with 2011 NFL Draft prospect Terrell McClain, a South Florida DT, don't be surprised if they draft a defensive tackle. Actually, if they can't get a receiver in the first round a new defensive lineman might make the most sense for the 14th overall pick.


Strong safety - There's much less certainty about whether or not Craig Dahl will be the starter. Dahl is a machine against the run and plays more like an extra linebacker, but he is not as solid in coverage. The Rams like their starting safeties to be interchangeable. Adding a guy with stronger coverage skills makes sense. However, that guy might not start, technically. A draft pick would likely not begin the year as a starter anyway.


There's one more role where we're likely to see a new starter: kick returner. Danny Amendola has been reliable and consistent in that role, usually giving the Rams acceptable field position. But they really need someone who is a threat to score every time he catches the ball.
 

Woody

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notice the pattern of which starters are being called for to be replaced?
 

celticdb15

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Woody said:
notice the pattern of which starters are being called for to be replaced?

Yup. I thought the Rams defense had done enough for it to save some of its white starters for next year. But of course the DWF "journalists" are already calling for their heads. The Rams finished up ranked 19th in the league in overall defense. Not exactly grounds for an overhaul. If this defensewas comprimised with mostlyblack starters it would be considered"on the rise". If McDaniels is smart, he would turn Amendola into the next Welker. He's got a lot of ability and really seemed to click with Bradford at times last year.
 

snow

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Amendola replaced? lol. How many kick returners are a threat to score every time they touch the ball? Only two guys had 3 touchdowns, Jacoby Ford and Leon Washington. Coincidentally both have 3 fumbles on returns so I guess they have just as much of a chance of losing the ball. Only two more had more than 1. Not too many return men consistently get you good field position like Amendola. Id say hes a pretty good kick returner. Hes one of the best punt returners in the league, only Hester had more punt returns more than 20 yards with 9, Danny had 7. I don't think they would have him returning kicks, punts and on the field for like 40 to 80 receptions the past two years if they didn't think he was any good and easily replaceable, unless they think there are guys like Devin Hester just sitting around. There are however quite a few white guys that can get great field position like Edelman and Mariani. They just manage to get "overlooked' for the most part.

You would hope McDaniels would be smart enough to use Amendola in a Welker role like he did in New England. Amendola isn't used to his fullest potential, if he was used more like Welker he would be averaging a higher ypc ,but I don't think the way Welker is used was from the brains of McDaniels, it was from Bellicheck. Ever since the Superbowl against the Rams, Bellicheck was looking for a player to use like Marshall Faulk, (its in his book) and he had Welker doing pretty much every thing Marshall did minus the handoffs (Faulk was in the slot quite a bit). Now he has Woodhead kind of doing both and calls both offense and defense. I don't think McDaniels is smart as people would have us believe, see his time in Denver. That wasn't all because of getting rid of talented players, it was bad coaching as well.
 

Don Wassall

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This writer at least agrees about Amendola:

<DIV id=article-title-wrapper>
<H1 id=article-title hd="38">Greatest Show 2.0: Why Rams' Sam Bradford Will Thrive With Josh McDaniels</H1>

Although Bradford had a weak cast of receivers, the hiring of McDaniels immediately neutralizes this problem. With the Broncos, McDaniels helped Brandon Lloyd's career take off and now Lloyd is considered one of the game's better deep threats.



It could be argued that in St. Louis, McDaniels' cast of pass catchers is better.


Donnie Avery, coming off a season-ending injury, should provide a nice target for Bradford, and Mark Clayton may be back as well after also coming off a big injury.


While those two should have success, expect Danny Amendola to be the next Wes Welker.

Amendola and Welker are both diminutive, adept in-the-slot wide receivers from Texas Tech whom are renowned for their route-running and pass-catching ability. Neither one is a big threat deep, but any Patriot fan can attest to how instrumental Welker has been to the Patriots' recent success.


Amendola hasn't been able to take the next step in development, but the addition of a former New England offensive coach makes it awfully difficult for him to avoid Welker comparisons. McDaniels will be able to get Amendola to buy into the offense and take his game to the next level in the slot.
full article: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/610302-greatest-show-20-why-rams-sam-bradford-will-thrive-with-josh-mcdaniels
 

Colonel_Reb

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McEminem coming to St. Louis is going to be a negative any way you look at it. I can't imagine any scenario in which he keeps the current level of White starters, let alone increases it. Yes, Danny Amendola is a very good kick returner and should be used more in the receiving game, but this reality doesn't matter much now. I hope I'm wrong on this, but I just don't see any repeats of the 11 White starters out of 22 game anytime soon. I know he isn't the HC, but I still think we're going to see a decline in White starters/players on the offensive side of the ball.
 

whiteathlete33

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If we are lucky, David Vobora should stay as a starter after playing very well at the end of last season. Other than that who knows.
 

snow

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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?i...ce=NFLHeadlines
</span>
St. Louis Rams linebacker David Vobora was awarded $5.4 million by a
federal judge in his lawsuit against a supplement maker, his attorneys
announced Monday.




Vobora sued Anti-Steroid Program, LLC, a Florida supplement maker also
known as S.W.A.T.S, after he was suspended by the NFL for four games in
2009 for using a contaminated product made by the company. U.S. District
Court Judge Rodney W. Sippel found that the company intentionally
misrepresented the supplement in violation of Missouri law.



The $5.4 million judgment for Vobora, which was awarded Friday, includes
money for lost NFL compensation and marketing opportunities plus $2
million for damage done to his reputation.



"This monumental judgment cleared my family's name," Vobora said in a
statement. "We stuck together through threats, ridicule, and unfair
stigma. Finally vindicated, I'm relieved that I can refocus on football
and help the St. Louis Rams get back to the playoffs when the lockout
ends. I'm grateful the Rams organization believed in my character
through this trying process."



Vobora was the last overall pick of the 2008 draft but became a starter
in 2009. He played in 14 games last season and recorded 36 tackles and
two sacks.



Vobora tested positive for methyltestosterone after using a spray made
by the company. He studied the company's website and even called an NFL
hotline for players to ask about supplements before using the
supplement.



The NFL told ProFootballTalk.com on Monday that the verdict won't change
Vobora's status as an offender of the league's policy on
performance-enhancing drugs.



"We have not reviewed the decision but we support the player's effort
and hope that judgments like this will help to curb the activities of
supplement manufacturers who would seek to mislead consumers," NFL
spokesman Brian McCarthy told the website. "But our policy is clear and
places strict liability on the player. Players are responsible for what
is in their bodies."



Attorney R. Daniel Fleck said the judgment for Vobora is "believed to be
the largest of its kind for any athlete who has been suspended from his
or her sport because of a contaminated nutritional supplement.



"This case should be a warning to all supplement companies to improve
their manufacturing processes and ensure their products are
steroid-free," he said in the statement.



Attorney Howard L. Jacobs said the supplement industry is "rife with problems."



"Honest athletes like David Vobora pay a high price when supplement
companies are not held accountable," he said in the statement.

Edited by: snow
 
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