St. Louis Rams: Predicting the Offensive Starters Pre Training Camp

By Curt Popejoy | Jul 29, 2015

With the St. Louis Rams getting set to descend on Earth City, MO and open their 2015 NFL training camp, we need to start thinking now about which collection of players will earn the coveted starting spots. For the first installment, let’s make a prediction about the offense.

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In 2014 the Rams offense struggled mightily. In fact, the struggles in 2014 were just business as usual, as this team hasn’t had an offense that has ranked in the Top 10 in either yards of points since 2006. With the additions this offseason, head coach Jeff Fisher hopes to change all that, and get this team back into the playoffs. This is territory this team hasn’t been in since 2004.

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With that, let’s take a stab at predicting the regular season starters, just before training camp begins.

Quarterback

Nick Foles

Foles came to this team via trade, and was immediately handed the reigns of the offense. St. Louis is hoping that they can get the incarnation of Foles that lit it up in 2013 for 2,891 yards, a 27/2 touchdown to interception ratio and a league-leading 9.1 yards per attempt.

Running Back

Todd Gurley

It’s hard to articulate what a positive sign it is that Gurley is going to open the season on the active roster. I was fairly certain he’d start off on the PUP list, and work his way forward from there. However, a healthy Gurley is a starter, and Gurley as a starter makes this offense much better.

Wide Receiver

Brian Quick

Kenny Britt

The tandem of Britt and Quick will give Foles a pair of 6-foot, 3-inch targets with exceptional catch radius. You mix in the speedy Tavon Austin in the slot, and you have yourself a very athletic three-headed monster. The battle for the fourth and fifth wide receiver spots will be heated and could come down to the final weeks of preseason.

Tight End

Jared Cook

Although I expect to see plenty of tight end Lance Kendricks, especially on run downs, when the Rams want to throw it, Cook is the man. He could quickly become Foles’ favorite security blanket on passing downs and have a very good season.

Offensive Line

Greg Robinson, Left Tackle

Rodger Saffold, Left Guard

Barrett Jones, Center

Jamon Brown, Right Guard

Rob Havenstein, Right Tackle

New faces abound on the right side of the offensive line. The rest of the spot remain static from the end of 2014, and if Robinson can develop with the two rookies on the right, this line could shape up to be very good by midseason.

So, by my count, that’s four players in starting roles for the Rams for the first time. A 36 percent turnover might scare some teams, but there is reason for hope. Where did I miss? Maybe Tre Mason supplants Gurley early on. Or perhaps Austin can steal a starting spot at wide receiver. Or maybe one of the other rookie offensive linemen earn one of those starting spots on the right. Be sure to comment below with what your version of the opening weekend starting lineup will look like.

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