Brand new St Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo has made it abundantly clear to the rest of the NFL that the Rams are no longer going to worry about trying to emulate the “greatest show on turf” years. Everyone that has watched the Rams in recent years knows that this team is and should be built around stud running back Stephen Jackson. To that end, Spagnuolo and the Rams have made moves in that very direction.

The 09 Rams are going to look very different from years past and might even resemble smash mouth football. They signed free agent center Jason Brown and fullback Mike Karney. They then drafted Tackle Jason Smith with the second overall pick in the NFL draft. All of these moves will not only help Jackson in the running game, but it will also help to keep quarterback Mark Bulger healthy. The Rams did let go of often injured All Pro Orlando Pace.

The receiving game should improve in 09 for the St. Louis Rams as well with the further development of Donnie Avery. This 08 rookie showed flashes of brilliance in an otherwise terrible passing year for the Rams. With Bulger having more time, and Jackson keeping the safeties up close to the line, the Rams should find some room for the West Coast passing game. For the first time in years, all world receiver Torry Holt will not line up in a Rams uniform. The Rams are going to look very different this upcoming season for sure. Holt was a classy part of the organization and will be missed on and off the field.

Spagnuolo is also known to covet defense, and the Rams began to work on the glaring holes. They drafted defense with cornerback Bradley Fletcher and LB James Laurinaitis. They also picked up safety James Butler from the Giants. Coupled with the continued improvement of Chris Long from last season, the Rams should see some improvement in this area. Spagnuolo’s focus on this side of the ball should help as well.

The Rams are set up to see some success in 09 if some of the rookies develop quickly. That is always a crap shoot but expect Laurinaitis and Smith to contribute right away. These two players are top shelf and they both play positions that the Rams needed badly. If Stephen Jackson and Marc Bulger can stay healthy for the season, the Rams actually could win several more games than in 08.

With the Rams playing in a division with the Seahawks, Niners, and Cardinals, they actually could sneak in the back door. Though the Arizona Cardinals are certainly capable of similar success to their Super Bowl run in 08, the odds are they will slip. The Seahawks may end up being the class of the division, but the Cardinals and Rams could end up giving them some competition. Though the Rams could surprise, I look for them finish second in the division in 09, behind the Cardinals.