The 2005 St. Louis Rams experienced a season marked by offensive flashes but continued struggles on defense. While they had some individual performances that stood out, the team as a whole was inconsistent and couldn’t overcome their defensive deficiencies.
Here’s a breakdown of the 2005 Rams:
Regular Season:
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Record: The Rams finished the 2005 season with an 6-10 record, marking another disappointing year after their 8-8 finish in 2004.
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Offense:
- Marc Bulger had a solid season as the starting quarterback, continuing to show growth as the Rams’ leader. Bulger played in all 16 games and threw for 3,954 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. He showed improvement from previous seasons and was one of the better quarterbacks in the NFC.
- Steven Jackson, in his second season, emerged as the team’s primary running back. Jackson had a breakout year, rushing for 1,046 yards and 8 touchdowns while also contributing as a receiver with 38 catches for 366 yards. Jackson was a key piece of the offense and helped balance the Rams’ attack.
- Isaac Bruce continued to be a reliable target at wide receiver, finishing the season with 1,292 yards and 6 touchdowns. Torry Holt, the team’s other top receiver, also had a solid year with 1,106 yards and 6 touchdowns. The Rams’ passing attack was still potent, and both Bruce and Holt remained key contributors.
- Marc Bulger’s connection with Bruce and Holt was one of the brighter spots of the season. However, the Rams still faced struggles in creating consistency, especially in the red zone, which hurt their overall offensive production.
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Defense:
- The Rams’ defense continued to be their Achilles’ heel. They ranked 25th in total defense and allowed 25.1 points per game, which was among the worst in the league.
- The defense was unable to generate a consistent pass rush, and their secondary struggled to cover opposing wide receivers. They were prone to allowing big plays, which resulted in the Rams losing many close games.
- Will Witherspoon, acquired in the offseason, was one of the team’s better defensive players, but the Rams still lacked a true standout pass rusher or shutdown cornerback. Aeneas Williams and Adam Archuleta remained key defensive figures, but overall, the defense couldn’t perform at a high enough level to help the team win consistently.
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Coaching:
- Mike Martz, the Rams’ head coach, faced increasing pressure due to the team’s struggles. Despite continued offensive production, the team’s defensive deficiencies and lack of overall success caused tension in his tenure. Martz was eventually let go after the 2005 season, ending his tenure as the Rams’ head coach.
Key Players:
- Marc Bulger: The Rams’ quarterback showed consistency and potential, establishing himself as one of the more capable passers in the NFC. He continued to grow into a leadership role on offense.
- Steven Jackson: Jackson had a standout year as the Rams’ workhorse back, providing both rushing and receiving contributions. His performance solidified him as one of the league’s rising stars.
- Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt: Both receivers continued to be productive, providing stability to the passing game, but the offense still lacked the explosiveness of its earlier years.
- Will Witherspoon: Witherspoon was one of the few bright spots on defense, contributing as a linebacker, but the Rams’ defense was inconsistent.
Special Teams:
- Jeff Wilkins, the Rams’ kicker, had another strong season, making 24 of 28 field goals. His reliable leg was one of the team’s more consistent elements.
Summary:
The 2005 St. Louis Rams were a team with promise but unable to capitalize on their offensive firepower and continued struggles on defense. Marc Bulger and the wide receivers (Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt) provided a solid passing game, and Steven Jackson emerged as a rising star in the backfield. However, the defense was simply too weak to support the offense and keep the team in games consistently.
The Rams finished the season with a 6-10 record, marking their second straight year missing the playoffs and their third year in a row without a winning record. The team was still unable to find a balance between their offensive and defensive units, and the lack of improvement on defense ultimately led to the firing of head coach Mike Martz after the season.
Despite the team’s struggles in 2005, the Rams had some key pieces in place for the future, especially in Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson, but significant changes were needed to improve the defense and overall team performance moving forward.
Head Coaches: Mike Martz, Joe Vitt
- To be listed, a player must have played at least one game for the team during this season.
- * Hall of Fame
- + Primary starter
| Pos | # | Player | GP | GS | Start Pos | Exp | DOB | Ht | Wt | College | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RB | 34 | David Allen | 4 | 0 | 3 | 02/05/1978 | 5′ 9″ | 195 | Kansas State | ||
| CB | 20 | Dwight Anderson | 3 | 0 | 2 | 07/05/1981 | 5′ 10″ | 172 | South Dakota | ||
| S | 31 | Adam Archuleta | 14 | 14 | SS+ | 5 | 11/27/1977 | 6′ 0″ | 223 | Arizona State | |
| S | 21 | Oshiomogho Atogwe | 12 | 0 | R | 06/23/1981 | 5′ 11″ | 219 | Stanford | ||
| P | 4 | Bryan Barker | 11 | 0 | 16 | 06/28/1964 | 6′ 1″ | 205 | Santa Clara | ||
| T | 70 | Alex Barron | 12 | 11 | RT+ | R | 09/28/1982 | 6′ 8″ | 320 | Florida State | |
| CB | 32 | Ron Bartell | 10 | 7 | RCB/LCB | R | 02/22/1982 | 6′ 1″ | 211 | Howard | |
| WR | 80 | Isaac Bruce | 11 | 10 | WR+ | 12 | 11/10/1972 | 6′ 0″ | 188 | Memphis State | |
| QB | 10 | Marc Bulger | 8 | 8 | QB+ | 4 | 04/05/1977 | 6′ 3″ | 215 | West Virginia | |
| DT | 90 | Jeremy Calahan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 07/07/1983 | 6′ 2″ | 298 | Rice | ||
| S | 27 | Dwaine Carpenter | 1 | 0 | 3 | 11/04/1976 | 6′ 1″ | 203 | North Carolina A&T | ||
| S | 42 | Jerome Carter | 14 | 2 | SS | R | 10/25/1982 | 6′ 0″ | 217 | Florida State | |
| RB | 26 | Aveion Cason | 2 | 0 | 5 | 07/12/1977 | 5′ 10″ | 204 | Illinois State | ||
| LB | 54 | Brandon Chillar | 16 | 7 | WLB | 2 | 10/21/1982 | 6′ 2″ | 253 | UCLA | |
| LB | 55 | Chris Claiborne | 14 | 7 | MLB+ | 7 | 07/26/1978 | 6′ 3″ | 259 | Southern California | |
| TE | 87 | Cameron Cleeland | 9 | 3 | TE | 7 | 08/15/1975 | 6′ 5″ | 270 | Washington | |
| LB | 52 | Dexter Coakley | 12 | 9 | WLB+ | 9 | 10/20/1972 | 5′ 10″ | 231 | Appalachian State | |
| TE | 48 | Jerome Collins | 3 | 0 | R | 04/18/1982 | 6′ 4″ | 267 | Notre Dame | ||
| WR | 83 | Kevin Curtis | 16 | 9 | WR+ | 3 | 07/17/1978 | 5′ 11″ | 186 | Utah State | |
| CB | 30 | Terry Fair | 5 | 0 | 6 | 07/20/1976 | 5′ 10″ | 191 | Tennessee | ||
| RB | 28 | * | Marshall Faulk | 16 | 1 | RB | 12 | 02/26/1973 | 5′ 10″ | 211 | San Diego State |
| LB | 57 | Trev Faulk | 16 | 5 | MLB | 2 | 08/06/1981 | 6′ 3″ | 254 | Louisiana State | |
| CB | 22 | Travis Fisher | 8 | 8 | RCB+ | 4 | 09/12/1979 | 5′ 10″ | 189 | Central Florida | |
| QB | 12 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | 4 | 3 | QB | R | 11/24/1982 | 6′ 2″ | 221 | Harvard | |
| WR | 25 | Mike Furrey | 16 | 11 | FS+ | 3 | 05/12/1977 | 6′ 0″ | 185 | Northern Iowa | |
| LB | 51 | Michael Goolsby | 2 | 0 | 1 | 09/10/1982 | 6′ 3″ | 249 | Notre Dame | ||
| DE | 93 | Brandon Green | 16 | 1 | RDE | 2 | 09/05/1980 | 6′ 2″ | 264 | Rice | |
| CB | 24 | DeJuan Groce | 15 | 15 | LCB+ | 3 | 02/17/1980 | 5′ 10″ | 192 | Nebraska | |
| DE/DT | 95 | Anthony Hargrove | 16 | 15 | RDE+ | 2 | 07/20/1983 | 6′ 3″ | 269 | Georgia Tech | |
| RB | 33 | Arlen Harris | 16 | 0 | 3 | 04/22/1980 | 5′ 10″ | 212 | Hofstra | ||
| S/CB | 27 | Michael Hawthorne | 5 | 5 | FS | 6 | 01/26/1977 | 6′ 3″ | 204 | Purdue | |
| FB/RB | 44 | Madison Hedgecock | 16 | 7 | FB | R | 08/27/1981 | 6′ 3″ | 259 | North Carolina | |
| P | 4 | Reggie Hodges | 5 | 0 | R | 01/26/1982 | 6′ 0″ | 226 | Ball State | ||
| WR | 81 | Torry Holt | 14 | 14 | WR+ | 7 | 06/05/1976 | 6′ 0″ | 190 | North Carolina State | |
| DT | 98 | Brian Howard | 5 | 0 | 2 | 09/09/1981 | 6′ 4″ | 278 | Idaho | ||
| CB/S | 35 | Corey Ivy | 16 | 5 | NB/RCB | 5 | 03/29/1977 | 5′ 8″ | 188 | Oklahoma | |
| RB | 39 | Steven Jackson | 15 | 15 | RB+ | 2 | 07/22/1983 | 6′ 2″ | 233 | Oregon State | |
| DE | 97 | Tyoka Jackson | 16 | 2 | LDE | 11 | 11/22/1971 | 6′ 2″ | 280 | Penn State | |
| CB | 37 | Chris Johnson | 13 | 1 | RCB | 1 | 09/25/1979 | 5′ 11″ | 198 | Louisville | |
| DT/NT | 73 | Jimmy Kennedy | 15 | 9 | RDT+ | 3 | 11/15/1979 | 6′ 4″ | 320 | Penn State | |
| DT | 92 | Damione Lewis | 16 | 7 | RDT | 5 | 03/01/1978 | 6′ 2″ | 301 | Miami (FL) | |
| DE/LB | 91 | Leonard Little | 14 | 14 | LDE+ | 8 | 10/19/1974 | 6′ 3″ | 261 | Tennessee | |
| WR | 89 | Dane Looker | 16 | 0 | 4 | 05/05/1976 | 6′ 0″ | 194 | Washington | ||
| LB | 56 | Jeremy Loyd | 4 | 0 | 2 | 07/30/1980 | 6′ 2″ | 235 | Iowa State | ||
| TE | 86 | Brandon Manumaleuna | 14 | 14 | TE+ | 5 | 01/04/1980 | 6′ 2″ | 288 | Arizona | |
| QB | 11 | Jamie Martin | 8 | 5 | QB | 7 | 02/08/1970 | 6′ 2″ | 205 | Weber State | |
| RB | 45 | Chris Massey | 16 | 0 | 4 | 08/21/1979 | 6′ 0″ | 245 | Marshall | ||
| C/G | 67 | Andy McCollum | 16 | 16 | C+ | 11 | 06/02/1970 | 6′ 4″ | 300 | Toledo | |
| WR | 84 | Shaun McDonald | 16 | 2 | WR | 3 | 06/30/1981 | 5′ 10″ | 183 | Arizona State | |
| T | 71 | Matt Morgan | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12/03/1980 | 6′ 6″ | 304 | Pittsburgh | ||
| C | 61 | Tom Nutten | 8 | 6 | LG | 8 | 06/08/1971 | 6′ 5″ | 280 | Western Michigan | |
| T | 76 | * | Orlando Pace | 16 | 16 | LT+ | 9 | 11/04/1975 | 6′ 7″ | 325 | Ohio State |
| NT/DT/DE | 79 | Ryan Pickett | 16 | 16 | LDT+ | 5 | 10/08/1979 | 6′ 2″ | 310 | Ohio State | |
| TE/LS/DE | 87 | Jeff Robinson | 5 | 1 | TE | 12 | 02/20/1970 | 6′ 4″ | 250 | Idaho | |
| C/G | 60 | Blaine Saipaia | 9 | 3 | RT | 2 | 08/25/1978 | 6′ 3″ | 310 | Colorado State | |
| G | 75 | Claude Terrell | 14 | 10 | LG+ | R | 04/20/1982 | 6′ 2″ | 343 | New Mexico | |
| WR | 17 | Dominique Thompson | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12/28/1982 | 5′ 11″ | 197 | William & Mary | ||
| G | 62 | Adam Timmerman | 16 | 16 | RG+ | 11 | 08/14/1971 | 6′ 4″ | 310 | South Dakota State | |
| LB | 50 | Pisa Tinoisamoa | 16 | 16 | SLB+ | 3 | 07/15/1981 | 6′ 1″ | 235 | Hawaii | |
| T | 66 | Rex Tucker | 8 | 3 | RT | 6 | 12/20/1976 | 6′ 5″ | 315 | Texas A&M | |
| C | 63 | Larry Turner | 6 | 0 | 2 | 03/08/1982 | 6′ 2″ | 290 | Eastern Kentucky | ||
| LB | 58 | Drew Wahlroos | 15 | 0 | 2 | 06/07/1980 | 6′ 3″ | 230 | Colorado | ||
| K | 14 | Jeff Wilkins | 16 | 0 | 12 | 04/19/1972 | 6′ 2″ | 205 | Youngstown State | ||
| TE | 88 | Roland Williams | 4 | 3 | TE | 8 | 04/27/1975 | 6′ 5″ | 265 | Syracuse | |
| T | 77 | Matt Willig | 4 | 0 | 12 | 01/21/1969 | 6′ 8″ | 315 | Southern California |
