Rams 2007 Preview: Defense Optional

To get you ready for the season, FanHouse is previewing all 32 NFL teams. Here's St. Louis' outlook.

2006 Record: 8-8

2006 Offense: When Scott Linehan took over the Rams last year, he realized something that must have slipped past Mike Martz -- they've got a pretty good running back in Steven Jackson. So Linehan did what Martz never attempted -- depended on his back -- and Jackson rewarded the Rams with over 2,300 yards and 16 touchdowns. Marc Bulger had a typical Bulger season -- great but largely unnoticed -- and what new is there to say about Torry Holt?

2006 Defense: The Rams offense did well in putting up 360.4 yards and 22.9 points per game, but the defense gave up 335.1 yards and 23.8 points per contest. The defense was plagued by penalties and finished 31st in run defense. Though they finished eighth in pass defense, it was only because teams simply chose to run at will. In short, it was a typical Jim Haslett defense.

2006 Special Teams: The Rams couldn't return the ball (26th in kickoffs, 24th in punts), they couldn't really kickoff (21st), and their kick coverage appeared to be playing a man short (28th). But hey, field position can't be that important. Right? Right?

Coaching: Scott Linehan did an impressive job in his first year as the Rams coach. The final results weren't stellar, but Linehan instituted a complete change in team personality from the flashy but substanceless team Martz left him. He did an excellent job balancing out the offense, but he's stuck with an albatross in defensive coordinator Jim Haslett. Or maybe I'm just biased.

Draft: First-round pick Adam Carriker is a conversion product at defensive tackle, but the results so far have been positive. Brian Leonard (Jersey represent!) is proving in the preseason to be of the beastly nature. Beyond those two, however, the team should get little to no contribution this year from their draft.

New Additions: The Rams' first two big free agent moves were unexpectedly on the offensive side of the ball -- big endzone targets Drew Bennett and Randy McMichael. James Hall was acquired in a trade with Detroit to take some double-team pressure off of Leonard Little. But, from a need standpoint, no newcomer might have more of an impact than Dante Hall, who is being counted on to invigorate the pitiful special teams. Unfortunately, he's been on the decline since 2003.

Three Keys:

1) Will Carriker pan out at tackle? Haslett doesn't have a good history coaching position changes, but if Carriker continues to look good he'll make a big difference on the defensive line.

2) Is the preseason offense a sign of things to come? So far the offense has been unable to produce points or hold onto the ball very well, but I don't expect that to continue.

3) What role will Drew Bennett play? He's still technically the #2 receiver, but Isaac Bruce is so old even Ricky Proehl thinks it's time for Bruce to hang 'em up. Bennett should make Bruce largely irrelevant and add an interesting skillset to the offense.

Prediction: I think the sky is the limit for Linehan's offense, but until the defense proves that it has improved I will remain steadfastly pessimistic. All in all, this team should be what it was last year -- average. I see another 8-8 season.

Gratuitous YouTube: This is what happens when you tell Steven Jackson that dreads don't work on him.