2004 St. Louis Rams

The 2004 St. Louis Rams had another season of ups and downs, with a mix of offensive flashes and defensive struggles. They were in a period of transition and rebuilding, especially after the high points of the early 2000s. Despite some talented players, the Rams were inconsistent throughout the season and faced challenges both on offense and defense.

Regular Season:

• Record: The Rams finished the regular season with an 8-8 record, which was a step back from their previous 12-4 mark in 2003.

• Offense:

  • Kurt Warner started the season as the Rams’ quarterback, but after some struggles and injuries, he was replaced by Marc Bulger midway through the year. Warner was let go after the season, and Bulger became the team’s future.
  • Marc Bulger stepped in and showed flashes of being a solid starting quarterback. He played in 13 games, throwing for 3,845 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions. While his performance wasn’t as stellar as the Rams’ previous years, he showed potential.
  • Marshall Faulk was still a key offensive contributor, but by this point, he was starting to show signs of wear and tear. He had 3 touchdowns and 765 total yards from scrimmage (694 rushing, 71 receiving) in the season. His production dropped from his peak years, but he was still an important part of the offense.
  • Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt continued to be the team’s primary wide receivers, with Bruce posting over 1,000 yards and 6 touchdowns, while Holt added 1,300 yards and 6 touchdowns. They remained effective, but the offense as a whole was not as explosive as it had been in the past.
  • The Rams continued to be a pass-heavy team, but they struggled with consistency and depth at the skill positions, and their offense couldn’t sustain drives as effectively as in the “Greatest Show on Turf” era.

• Defense:

  • The Rams’ defense continued to be a major issue. They finished the season ranked 26th in total defense and allowed 24.1 points per game, one of the worst in the NFL. Their inability to stop opposing offenses was a recurring problem throughout the season.
  • Aeneas Williams, a veteran cornerback, was one of the defensive bright spots, but the defense as a whole struggled with pass rush and coverage.
  • The Rams also had trouble creating turnovers and stopping teams in key situations. There were flashes of solid individual performances, but no real cohesion on that side of the ball.

• Coaching:

  • Mike Martz continued as head coach, but there was growing pressure on him due to the team’s declining performance. While Martz had led the Rams to great success earlier in his tenure, his offensive schemes and lack of attention to the defense were seen as contributing factors to the team’s struggles.
  • Martz’s offensive philosophy, while still potent at times, was not enough to overcome the defense’s issues and the inconsistency at quarterback.

Key Players:

• Marc Bulger: Bulger emerged as the future of the Rams at quarterback, although his 2004 season showed a mix of good and bad performances. He was able to step in for Kurt Warner but still had work to do to develop into a consistent starter.
• Marshall Faulk: Faulk, now in the later stages of his career, still had flashes of brilliance but wasn’t the dominant force he had been in the past.
• Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt: These two receivers continued to be productive, but they no longer had the high-flying offense of years prior to complement their talents.
• Aeneas Williams: The veteran cornerback was one of the few consistent performers on defense.

Playoffs:

• The Rams missed the playoffs in 2004, finishing with an 8-8 record, which was not good enough to secure a spot in the postseason. This marked the second consecutive year that the Rams failed to make the playoffs after their Super Bowl appearance in 2001.

Summary:

The 2004 St. Louis Rams were a team stuck in the middle of rebuilding and retooling. While their offense still had some potent weapons in Marc Bulger, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, and Marshall Faulk, it lacked the consistency and explosiveness of the “Greatest Show on Turf” era. The team’s defense continued to be one of the worst in the league, which was a major reason for their mediocre record.

Mike Martz’s offensive-focused approach was still in place, but without a strong defense and with a declining offense, the Rams were no longer the perennial Super Bowl contenders they had been in the early 2000s. The 2004 season marked a turning point, where the team needed to reassess its direction, particularly regarding the coaching staff and roster changes, to return to playoff contention in the future.

Head Coach: Mike Martz

• To be listed, a player must have played at least one game for the team during this season.
• * Hall of Fame
• + Primary starter