2010 St. Louis Rams

The 2010 St. Louis Rams marked the beginning of a new era for the franchise, as the team was under the leadership of Steve Spagnuolo, who had been hired as head coach after the disastrous 2009 season. The Rams showed significant improvement in 2010, despite still being a young and rebuilding team. The Rams finished with a 7-9 record, which was a major step forward after their previous years of poor performance. They were competitive in a weak NFC West division but ultimately fell short of making the playoffs.

Regular Season:

• Record: The Rams finished the season with a 7-9 record, which was a significant improvement from their 1-15 finish in 2009. While the team did not make the playoffs, the progress under Steve Spagnuolo was evident, and the Rams showed signs of life for the future.

Coaching:

• Steve Spagnuolo: Spagnuolo, who had previously been the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants and helped them win Super Bowl XLII, was tasked with rebuilding the Rams. In his first season as head coach, Spagnuolo brought a defensive-minded approach and began to instill discipline and structure within the team. While the team still had many flaws, the defense improved under his leadership, and the Rams were more competitive than they had been in recent years.

Offense:

• Quarterback Play: The Rams’ quarterback position was one of the most important areas of focus for the team in 2010. Sam Bradford, the Rams’ first overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, took over as the starting quarterback. Bradford had a strong rookie season, showing poise, accuracy, and leadership despite the challenges of playing for a rebuilding team.

  • Sam Bradford threw for 3,512 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions in his rookie season. His performance was impressive for a first-year quarterback, and he was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Bradford’s ability to stay composed in tough situations and his accuracy (60.0% completion rate) were bright spots in an otherwise inconsistent offense.

• Steven Jackson: Steven Jackson continued to be the workhorse of the Rams’ offense. He rushed for 1,241 yards and 6 touchdowns while also contributing 322 receiving yards. Although Jackson was again the focal point of the offense, he was often the only reliable weapon on the offensive side of the ball. However, he did show some signs of wear as the season went on, but his leadership and production were still critical to the team.

• Wide Receivers: The Rams’ receiving corps was among the league’s weakest, and it was clear that Sam Bradford lacked a true No. 1 receiver. Danny Amendola, a former undrafted free agent, emerged as the most consistent receiver, finishing with 689 yards and 3 touchdowns. Brandon Gibson also contributed with 591 yards and 3 touchdowns, but overall, the receiving unit lacked a dynamic playmaker.

  • The Rams also had Mark Clayton for part of the season, but his impact was limited by injuries, and the team’s passing game lacked the explosiveness needed to consistently compete.

• Offensive Line: The offensive line showed improvement in 2010 but was still not dominant. They allowed 39 sacks, which was middle-of-the-pack in the league, and struggled at times to protect Sam Bradford. However, Rodger Saffold, the Rams’ second-round pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, was a bright spot as a rookie, starting all 16 games at left tackle and providing stability.

Defense:

• Defensive Improvement: Under Steve Spagnuolo, the Rams’ defense showed significant improvement from the previous seasons. While the defense was not dominant, they played with more intensity and discipline, ranking 17th in total defense and 15th in points allowed at 21.3 points per game.

• Pass Rush: The Rams were able to generate some pressure on opposing quarterbacks, recording 42 sacks on the season, which ranked in the middle of the league. Chris Long, the Rams’ 2008 first-round pick, had a breakout year with 13 sacks, showing that he had developed into a true pass-rushing threat. James Hall, a veteran defensive end, added 10 sacks, helping provide some pass-rushing depth.

• Secondary: The Rams’ secondary was still a work in progress. Ron Bartell and Oshiomogho Atogwe (who was in his final year with the Rams) were the primary starters, but the secondary struggled with consistency at times. Atogwe, in particular, was a playmaker with 5 interceptions, but the unit as a whole was prone to giving up big plays.

• Linebackers: James Laurinaitis, the Rams’ second-round pick in 2009, emerged as the leader of the defense and one of the better young linebackers in the league. Laurinaitis had 130 total tackles and was a key player in the middle of the defense. Alongside him, Will Witherspoon provided solid veteran leadership.

Special Teams:

• Josh Brown: Josh Brown had a solid year as the team’s kicker, converting 22 of 24 field goals, including a long of 49 yards. He was reliable and provided stability on special teams.

• Danny Amendola: As the team’s primary return man, Danny Amendola contributed in both the punt and kick return game. While the Rams’ special teams were not spectacular, Amendola provided some spark in the return game, averaging 10.7 yards per punt return and 24.1 yards per kick return.

Key Players:

• Sam Bradford: As the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Bradford’s performance was a major highlight of the season. His poise, accuracy, and leadership provided hope for the future of the franchise.

• Steven Jackson: Jackson remained one of the league’s top running backs, consistently carrying the offensive load for the Rams, both in the running and passing game.

• Chris Long: Long had his best season to date, registering 13 sacks and proving to be a key part of the Rams’ pass rush.

• James Laurinaitis: Laurinaitis continued to be a defensive leader, racking up over 130 tackles and anchoring the linebacking corps.

• Ron Bartell: Bartell provided stability in the Rams’ secondary, while Oshiomogho Atogwe contributed with 5 interceptions before departing for free agency after the season.

Summary:

The 2010 St. Louis Rams showed significant progress under first-year head coach Steve Spagnuolo, finishing with a 7-9 record—a major improvement from their 1-15 mark in 2009. Sam Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, had a strong rookie season and was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Steven Jackson continued to be the focal point of the offense, while the defense, led by Chris Long and James Laurinaitis, improved significantly, though still had room for growth.

The Rams were competitive in the weak NFC West division, but a lack of talent at wide receiver and in the secondary, combined with inconsistency on both sides of the ball, meant they fell short of a playoff berth. However, the progress made in 2010 gave the Rams a sense of optimism moving forward. With Steve Spagnuolo at the helm and Sam Bradford at quarterback, the future looked brighter for the franchise.