Jeff Fisher faces arguably the most difficult job in the NFL heading into the 2012 season. Fisher has to fix a culture of losing that has plagued the St. Louis Rams and led to just 15 wins in five seasons.
With this in mind, the Rams have naturally been very active this offseason in the hopes of quickly reversing their fortunes. The early phase of Fisher's plan has been characterized by the attention paid to the trenches.
Free-agency yielded former Green Bay Packers' Super Bowl winning center Scott Wells. Having a savvy pivot man like Wells direct a line blighted by inexperience and numerous injury-enforced changes is a wise move.
The addition of Steve Smith may not give Sam Bradford the high-profile, big-play target many believe he needs. Yet Smith is at least a reliable receiver who can be trusted to hold onto the ball.
Failing to add true explosion to the supporting cast around Bradford may be the main criticism that could be leveled against Fisher and general manager Les Snead. However, knowing Fisher's history it's difficult to imagine how anyone could expect him to run anything other than a safe, run-first offense.
On defense, Fisher opted for ex-Miami Dolphins rotation player Kendall Langford. Though his background is in the 3-4, Langford is a powerful 2-gapper who can occupy blockers and help create one-on-one matchups for rush ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn.
Securing the services of Cortland Finnegan was worth the investment for a team with a major weakness at cornerback. Finnegan's aggression will get him into trouble, but he can lock up receivers in man and press coverage and will give Fisher more freedom to blitz.
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Ultimately, Fisher's first offseason, maybe even the next two, will be defined by the draft trades with the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys. The Rams were smart to hold an auction for the No. 2 pick, and certainly got what they wanted from the Redskins in the form of two first-round picks.Â
The trade with the Cowboys was less obvious, and while the Rams could have used Morris Claiborne, they clearly identified their cover men in later rounds. The selections of Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson raised a lot of eyebrows, due to the character concerns surrounding the pair.
However, not enough people have considered what the Rams will get if both players come good. Fisher is gambling on their natural man coverage skills which are an essential requirement for a coach fond of a 46-style defense.
Opting for defensive tackle Michael Brockers in the first round addressed a more pressing need than corner, or even wide receiver. With Long and Quinn on the outside and the prospect of dealing with Frank Gore and Marshawn Lynch twice a season, St. Louis has to be stout in the middle.
In many ways, it appears as though the Rams are trying to build a bully. While that strategy often makes this author skeptical, the Rams have to find a way to compete with the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks.
They are both particularly physical on either side of the ball. This might explain why the Rams have gone for solid players rather than loading up on the kind of big play potential offered by the Arizona Cardinals.
Fisher's fondness for the run means the team will rightly emphasize its best player, Steven Jackson. The defense has received a crucial influx of youth and aggression in the right areas.
Fisher and Snead will be judged on how they have handled this draft and what they do with the next two, especially given the dubious success rate the Rams have had with early picks. However, the early signs are good.
Through their trades, Fisher and Snead have at least ensured that a framework for staying competitive is in place.
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