Five Questions About the St. Louis Rams

Editor’s Note: Below is the first installment of a weekly feature in which Fansided editors will swap questions to help readers gain insight into their team’s next opponent. Our first interview is with Justin Stine, editor of Fansided’s Rams website ramblinfan.com. Here’s what he had to say.

1. Throughout the preseason Lance Kendricks has emerged as one of Sam Bradford’s favorite targets. Talk about the impact he figures to play tomorrow and throughout the season.

We really expect big things out of Kendricks here in St. Louis this season. He is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, and he just seems like one of those guys who makes big plays at the right time. I would expect him to get plenty of targets against the Eagles, but I wouldn’t be shocked if it took him a few weeks to really get going as a major weapon as he adjusts to the NFL game.

2. Sam Bradford had a big rookie season and many experts believe he’s on the verge of a breakout season. What makes Bradford so good and what type of progression do you expect from this season?

Bradford is great for several reasons, but I think the main thing that makes him so good is that he is such a student of the game. He never makes the same mistake twice, and the guy lives and breathes football. Getting with a quarterback guru like Josh McDaniels has only helped his growth, and as long as the offense continues to grow within the new scheme I think Bradford could really make a name for himself as one of the next great QBs in the league. The expectations are sky high for Bradford here in St. Louis, and as long as he stays healthy he hasn’t shown anything that would make me think he will regress after his big rookie season.

3. The NFC West has been mocked as one of the weaker divisions in football. The Rams fell just short of winning the division crown last season. Did they do enough over the offseason to separate themselves from the rest of the field?

It’s no secret that the NFC West isn’t loaded with talent, and it doesn’t help that every team in the West is going to have a fairly difficult schedule this season. I think the Rams are the best team in the division, but I also think their schedule is probably the toughest. If the Rams can get through the first half of the season anywhere close to .500, I think they win the West and probably finish with 9 or 10 wins. The offense should be able to put up enough points to win games, and as long as the defense continues to improve and the secondary holds up, this group could be one of the better units in the league.

4. Eagles fans are familiar with Steve Spagnuolo’s aggressive brand of defense that he learned while in Philadelphia under the late Jim Johnson. But with the Eagles assortment of offensive playmakers, are the Rams well-equipped to keep this offense in check?

The Rams defense vs. the Eagles offense is an extremely intriguing matchup to me. The Eagles just have so many weapons, but their offensive line should be in for a long day. I think they key for the Rams is containing Mike Vick, and this defensive line is certainly capable of making it tough on him. If the Eagles can establish a consistent ground game, I’m not sure the Rams have quick enough corners to cover Jackson on Maclin on the outside. Our corners are very good, but they are bigger guys as opposed to the smaller, quicker CBs around the league that might be better equipped to go against the skill players the Eagles have. If Vick has room to operate, both in and out of the pocket, the Rams are in trouble.

5. In recent years, Steven Jackson has been mainly responsible for the Rams’ offensive production. Will the additions of Mike Sims-Walked and especially Cadillac Williams help lighten the workload for the aging running back?

The thing about Jackson is that he wants to be the guy who carries the offense. He has said for years that de didn’t think the team needed to address a backup for him, but the reality is that bringing in Williams could extend Jackson’s career. I would expect Williams to get a few touches, but Jackson is going to be the man. As far as Sims-Walker goes, the team adding weapons on the outside should open things up for Jackson. Last season opposing defenses didn’t have to respect the Rams receivers much because of the lack of talent, but this year should be different. I would expect Jackson to get plenty of touches, and I think he will have a little more room to run in 2011 than he has over the last few seasons.