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| | Thursday, August 24 Rams: What next for the champs? | |||||||||||||||
| By Tom Oates Special to ESPN.com In 1998, it was the Atlanta Falcons who came from nowhere in the NFC West to reach the Super Bowl. Last year, it was the St. Louis Rams who went from 4-12 to an NFL title. The Rams think they're better equipped to sustain their success than the Falcons even though coach Dick Vermeil retired after the Super Bowl and turned the team over to offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Martz has 20 of 22 starters back from a 16-3 team, so the pressure on him will be enormous. But Martz will catch a break because the NFC West is so weak. Unless injuries devastate the lines, the Rams should easily repeat as division champions.
Quarterback Kurt Warner went from Arena Football League unknown to NFL most valuable player in two years. What will he do for an encore? The Rams are simply hoping he doesn't regress, which doesn't appear likely given his football savvy and the offensive weapons at his disposal. If Warner does falter, the Rams are lucky to have proven Trent Green as a backup. Key position battle When center Mike Gruttadouria left in free agency, the Rams expected Andy McCollum, a part-time starter at guard, to take his place without a dropoff in performance. However, that was before Steve Everitt, a long-time starter with the Ravens and Eagles, dropped into their laps after falling out of favor in Philadelphia. If Everitt wins the starting job, McCollum would give Martz great flexibility on the depth chart. Biggest adjustment Martz was the architect of the most explosive offense in the NFL, but there's always a seed of doubt when a coordinator is elevated to head coach. Can he set the tone for the entire organization on a weekly basis? How will the players react when he disciplines them? After all those years on offense, will he pay any attention to the defense? The good news is that Martz is highly regarded in all precincts of the organization, so a seamless transition is possible. Rookie report People scratched their heads when the Rams took Trung Canidate on the first round, but the speedy halfback is the perfect insurance policy for Marshall Faulk. Second-round cornerback Jacoby Shepard is big and talented, but he's inexperienced and he'll have a hard time cracking the Todd Lyght-Dexter McCleon-Dre Bly trio at cornerback. Center John St. Clair and guard Kaulana Noa, taken in the third and fourth rounds, respectively, will have to wait their turn.
| ALSO SEE Falcons: Lots of ifs in Atlanta Panthers: Getting defensive Saints: Big Easy turnaround 49ers: Time to move on Faulk to be happy camper this year AUDIO/VIDEO   Kurt Warner breaks down the Rams coaching staff.wav: 60 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Isaac Buce wants head coach Mike Martz on the sidelines and not in the coaches' booth.wav: 43 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Marshall Faulk talks about the Rams new head coach Mike Martz.wav: 92 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Mike Martz will spend a lot of time in the film room this season.wav: 81 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 Kurt Warner says ongoing contract negotiations wouldn't keep him away from camp.wav: 61 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 | |||||||||||||||
