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Disclaimer: I am not a professional or a psychic. Your guess is as good as mine, unless it's something really crazy.
2014 Record: 6-10
Cuts: Jake Long, Scott Wells, Kendall Langford
Losses: Alex Carrington
Trades: Zac Stacy to the Jets for a seventh rounder, Sam Bradford and a fifth round pick to the Eagles in exchange for Nick Foles and a fourth round pick, a fourth and sixth round pick to the Buccaneers for Mark Barron, a seventh round pick for Case Keenum.
Signings: Nick Fairley
Draft Class: Todd Gurley, Rob Havenstein, Jamon Brown, Sean Mannion, Andrew Donnal, Bud Sasser (cut), Cody Wichmann, Bryce Hager, Martin Ifedi, Isaiah Battle (Supplemental Draft 5th Round)
Questions:
How much longer can the Rams finish under .500 before Jeff Fisher gets fired?
Can the Rams finally get some quality QB play?
Defense:
The Rams are stacked here. Aaron Donald, Chris Long, Michael Brockers, Robert Quinn, William Hayes, and now Nick Fairley on the defensive line and Akeem Ayers, James Laurinaitis, and Alec Ogletree at linebacker? That's just unfair. The Rams are almost impossible to run against and they don't make life any easier in the passing game, but they make life a whole lot easier for the secondary. With a defense this stout the Rams shouldn't be ranked here, except
Offense:
The offense is unable to pick up the slack.
The Rams have been trying to fix their offensive line for a while now, a labor that is still in progress as they took Greg Robinson second overall in 2014 and spent a whopping four draft picks on offensive linemen in this draft and a fifth in the supplemental draft.
The Rams' pass-catchers continue to underwhelm, as Lance Kendricks led the team in touchdowns with five and Kenny Britt led the team in receiving yards with 738. The Rams brought in Nick Foles this offseason, but I doubt that he'll be anywhere near as good as he was with the Eagles, as the Rams do not have anywhere near the weapons or the offensive playcalling that the Eagles do.
The Rams do have a lot of talent at runningback. Tre Mason had 769 yards rushing and four touchdowns, while averaging 4.3 yards per carry during the twelve games he played in last season and Benny Cunningham ran for 246 yards and three touchdowns on 66 attempts. The Rams rushing attack should have a nice three headed monster once first round pick Todd Gurley is cleared to play.
The Rams have a talented defense and a promising run attack. If they didn't have to play three of the league's best divisions, they'd probably win some more games.
Best Case Scenario:
Nick Foles plays game-manager while the defense and rushing attack takes the Rams to 8-8
Worst Case Scenario:
Nick Foles is a failed investment, the Rams can't make it to that ever elusive 8-8 record, and Jeff Fisher gets fired.
Predictions:
Tre Mason loses the starting job to Todd Gurley midseason. Gurley has 800 yards and nine touchdowns in 2015.
Nick Foles has 10 touchdowns and 14 interceptions before getting benched in Week Seven.
Sean Mannion and Case Keenum start at least one game each.
Kenny Britt leads the Rams in touchdown receptions with five.
Jeff Fisher is fired after the season and doesn't get another job.
Wins: Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, Cincinnati Bengals
Losses: Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks (Twice), Arizona Cardinals (Twice), Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns
Predicted Record: 6-10
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