Illustration by Danny Elchert
Will the Rams silence skeptics this season?
It’s a bit like watching SNL’s MacGruber try to disarm a ticking time bomb—and, at times, nearly as comical.
Before the preseason kicks off August 14, here’s a replay: The squad is coming off a dismal 5–27 record from the past two seasons. It hasn’t had a winning record since ’03, and it missed the playoffs the past four years.
Enter Steve Spagnuolo. In January, the former Giants defensive coordinator assumed the role of head coach and hopeful savior. “We’re going to have to start at the beginning here,” he told USA Today. So far, he’s kept busy. He’ll work with new defensive coordinator Ken Flajole to improve on last season’s 28th-ranked defense. With three of the first four draft picks destined for D, newly signed safety James Butler, and Spagnuolo’s solid track record, the defense should improve.
The Rams’ offense, on the other hand, is another story. The team finished 30th in scoring last year, and they’ll be playing sans Pro Bowlers Torry Holt and Orlando Pace. New offensive coordinator Pat Shurmer hopes the West Coast offense spurs success, but it will take time to adjust.
Therein lies the problem: Time could be running short.
Faced with sizable estate-tax issues, co-owners Chip Rosenbloom and Lucia Rodriguez put the team up for sale in late May, while minority owner Stan Kroenke remained mum. As of press time, Blues owner Dave Checketts showed interest—but with Forbes estimating the team’s worth at $929 million, investors will need a significant sum.
Beyond the ownership hurdle, the Edward Jones Dome is among the league’s oldest arenas. “By 2010, 23 NFL stadiums will have been built or thoroughly renovated since the Edward Jones Dome opened in 1995,” pointed out Post-Dispatch columnist Bernie Miklasz. Soon it will be time to discuss funding additional improvements to meet a lease agreement.
So will Spagnuolo diffuse the Rams’ on-field issues this season, convincing owners (new or old) and local leaders the team can be saved?
The game clock is ticking.
