Questions abound for Rams
as 2003 preseason starts

by Tim Franklin
Ram Report Webmeister

Aaah yes, preseason, that time of year when hope springs eternal for NFL fans around the nation. That time when every fans' team, from the lowly Bengals to the reigning champion Buccaneers, sits poised at 0-0 in the standings and all things seem possible.

Then comes September and the kick-off of the regular season and cold, hard reality sets in. Things are no different for Rams fans, especially this year.

After a disappointing 7-9 season in 2002, marred by injuries and inconsistent play, questions surround the 2003 St. Louis Rams. Will the coming season show them to be still among the NFL elite or was last season the first sign that the center tent pole is beginning to come down for the "Greatest Show on Turf?"

Will Kurt Warner return to MVP form? Will "all-world" running back Marshal Faulk bounce back from the nagging injuries that limited his on-field performance in 2002? With the additions of Kyle Turley and Dave Wohlabaugh, have the Rams fixed their deficiencies on the offensive line from a year ago? And will all-pro lineman Orlando Pace ever return to planet earth, reign in the unreasonable demands of his agent, and rejoin his teammates on the football field?

All these questions and more are out there in the minds of Rams fans as the team enters the preseason. While these practice games of August may offer fans a few clues as to what the 2003 season may hold for the Rams, we won't really know how high to set expectations until the first regular season game on Sept. 7.

Take the Rams preseason opener for example. The Rams defense, which under performed in many respects in 2002, held the potent Oakland offense to just seven points, shutting down the Raiders for the most part. While definitely an encouraging sign, early preseason is known for its vanilla game plans, so how much encouragement can realistically be taken from the defensive showing?

Ram Report photo by Tim Franklin
After a 2002 season which saw Rams quarterbacks take a pounding, the team acquired tackle Kyle Turley in hopes of solidifying the offensive line.

Ram Report photo by Tim Franklin
With two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner and last year's surprise performer Mark Bulger manning the quarterback position the Rams have two capable performers for the 2003 season.

On the other side of the coin, the Rams offense managed only a meager six points against the Raiders. Is this a bad omen of things to come? To quote the all-knowing Magic 8-ball ... "Ask again later."

I'm not one of those who contends that having a winning preseason is a predictor of how a team will perform once the games begin to count. It can, however, set a tone for how a team get out of the starting gate come September. And, if in the next three preseason games the Rams offensive starters don't show that they are starting to gel as a unit and playing with consistency, a sense of foreboding will undoubtedly start to mount among the faithful.

Certainly there are some sports pundits out there who have already written the Rams off, claiming that their veteran stars are too old and the window of opportunity has closed on the team. To counter that view, however, one only need point to last year's AFC Super Bowl representative, Oakland. The same things have been said about them for at least the past three seasons ... and yet each year there were the Raiders playing deep into the postseason.

With Warner, Faulk, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt still forming the core of the Rams offense, the pieces are still there for the Rams to challenge again this year and potentially for several more.

One thing is certain though, the Rams offensive line must start to come together as a unit, and quickly, or it could be a long, hard season for Rams quarterbacks. With the team's off-season additions, on paper the Rams have the makings of one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. However, Pace remains a hold-out and there's been no word in recent weeks on when, or if, he and the Rams will come to terms.

But enough of such musings. It's preseason. The planets are aligning in the heavens. The Rams and the rest of the league are all 0-0. The road ahead is open and all things are still possible.

Now, bring on the regular season and let the hitting begin!