2009 NFL Picks St. Louis Rams NFC West Betting Odds: The St. Louis Rams are coming off of a dismal 2-14 2008 campaign and fans shouldn’t expect a whole lot more. St. Louis has not put together a winning season since 2003 when the team went 12-4, and with the departure of tenured wide receiver and fan-favorite Torry Holt, thus goes the final remnant of what once considered the “Greatest Show on Turf.” It’s safe to say that rookie Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo is in the midst of a rebuilding era in St. Louis, but if the newcomer can stay focused and remain patient, it won’t be long before the Rams see the fruits of their labors. The 2009 NFL Picks experts at online sportsbook SBG Global have the St. Louis Rams +8500 odds to win the 2010 Super Bowl.
ST. LOUIS RAMS – NFC WEST
2008 Season Record: 4-12, fourth in NFC West
Defense: 6
Offense: 7
Special Teams: 7
Coaching: 7
2009 NFL Picks: 7-9
OVER 6 WINS: EVEN
UNDER 6 WINS: –130 odds
Pros: Sixth-year running back Steven Jackson enters the 2009 season as the key piece to the St. Louis puzzle, and if the Rams can figure out a way to build around their Pro-Bowl running back and keep him on the field, the Blue and Gold would be hard-pressed not to see at least a moderate level of improvement this year. Jackson is a speedy running back who is adept at catching passes out of the backfield and should the 25-year-old find a way to stay on the field in 2009, quarterback Marc Bulger will have a big safety net in him. The addition of fullback Mike Karney means that a healthy Jackson may be due for his best season as a pro. Rookie offensive tackle Jason Smith (Baylor, draft No. 2) will also provide the running back with another beast on the offensive line, setting the stage for what will be a very run oriented offense. Defensively, the Rams are excited to see what Spagnuolo brings to the table, and the acquisition of free agent strong safety James Butler (one of Spagnuolo’s favorite players in New York) adds a legit talent to a defense that gave up an average of 184.2 pass yards per game in 2008 (26th in the league).
Cons: Health has been an issue for Jackson throughout his entire career. The running back has managed to compete in 16 games only once throughout the course of his six-year career, playing in only 12 in both 2007 and 2008. Last season, it was a quad injury that sidelined Jackson for four games and if he can’t stay healthy in 2009, the outlook will continue to be grim in St. Louis. Bulger is another question mark that the Rams will have to deal with as they prepare for the upcoming season. Last year was the 32-year-old’s worst season as a pro. Perhaps a result of a shoddy offensive line that fed him to the lions for 38 sacks in 2008, the quarterback threw 13 interceptions compared to 11 touchdowns in 2008 and was the target of much scrutiny in the St. Louis media. The Rams are not going to get far riding the arm of an unreliable quarterback and unless he can find a way to rebound from a dismal 2008 campaign. Perhaps paramount to the progression of Bulger is the prospect of a suitable replacement for Alex Barron, the left tackle responsible for 7.5 sacks in 2008.
Bet your 2009 NFL Picks on the St. Louis Rams at online sportsbook SBG Global and receive up to 295% in Deposit Bonuses.
Outlook: The Rams don’t have the tools to fight for a playoff spot in 2009. Their game is too reliant on an erratic running game that depends entirely on the health of an injury-prone running back and the Blue and Gold won’t be fooling anyone with a vertical game that ranked 26th in pass defense last season (184.2 yards per game). Defensively, Spagnuolo has a long way to go before his team makes any noise in the division.
Draft Overview: The Rams took a big step in bolstering their offensive line when they selected Smith at offensive tackle with the second pick overall. Smith is a speedy lineman who can get downfield quick enough to block for Jackson in the open field, and his agility makes him a high-quality guard against outside blitzers. It won’t be long before Bulger notices the difference that a lineman like Smith makes. The addition of inside linebacker James Laurinaitis (Ohio State University, draft No. 35) also give the Rams some much needed protection through the middle. Laurinaitis is a smart player who understands the game and his discipline will come in handy within the confines of a Spagnuolo-run defense. With their third pick, the Rams selected Bradley Fletcher (Iowa, draft No. 66), an athletic cornerback who will be most effective when he can utilize his strength to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage.
Overall Outlook: The Rams won’t make the playoffs in 2009, but they will be better than 2-14. Spagnuolo will prove a highly capable head coach and under his guidance, the Blue and Gold have a bright future. The 2009 draft was a very solid one for the Rams and it won’t be long before a plethora of young prospects make the transition to veteran talents.
Intangibles: The introduction of Spagnuolo as head coach will provide a huge boost for the Blue and Gold. As a rookie, the former Giants defensive signal caller will have the enthusiasm and patience necessary to capture the spirit of the St. Louis locker room and as a former Super Bowl-winning defensive coordinator, he has proven himself a student of the game. Spagnuolo will have a long, successful career in St. Louis, and although his squad won’t make the playoffs in 2009, it won’t be long before his team takes the next step toward competing for the NFC West.
SBG Global has posted their 2009 NFL Picks odds to win the 2010 Super Bowl:Arizona CARDINALS: +2900
Atlanta FALCONS: +2000
Baltimore RAVENS: +2500
Buffalo BILLS: +8500
Carolina PANTHERS: +3950
Chicago BEARS: +2000
Cincinnati BENGALS: +8500
Cleveland BROWNS: +7500
Dallas COWBOYS: +1400
Denver BRONCOS: +6000
Detroit LIONS: +15000
Green Bay PACKERS: +2500
Houston TEXANS: +2000
Indianapolis COLTS: +1000
Jacksonville JAGUARS: +4500
Kansas City CHIEFS: +7500
Miami DOLPHINS: +3000
Minnesota VIKINGS: +800
New England PATRIOTS: +300
New Orleans SAINTS: +1700
New York GIANTS: +850
New York JETS: +3500
Oakland RAIDERS: +5500
Philadelphia EAGLES: +650
Pittsburgh STEELERS: +700
San Diego CHARGERS: +500
San Francisco 49ERS: +6500
Seattle SEAHAWKS: +3000
St. Louis RAMS: +8500
Tampa Bay BUCCANEERS: +10000
Tennessee TITANS: +2000
Washington REDSKINS: +4850
