The 2012 St. Louis Rams showed signs of improvement after their dismal 2011 season. Under new head coach Jeff Fisher, who was hired to bring stability to the franchise, the Rams finished with a 7-8-1 record. While it wasn’t a winning season, it was a significant step up from their previous campaign and set the foundation for future success.
Here are some key points about the 2012 St. Louis Rams:
1. Head Coach: Jeff Fisher
- Jeff Fisher was hired as the Rams’ new head coach after the firing of Steve Spagnuolo. Fisher brought a defensive-minded approach and helped stabilize a team that had been struggling.
- While the Rams didn’t have a winning season, Fisher’s leadership helped the team become more competitive. His focus on discipline, toughness, and building a solid team culture began to show.
2. Quarterback: Sam Bradford
- Sam Bradford entered his third season with the Rams and, while he still faced challenges, showed some progress. He threw for 3,702 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. Bradford was more consistent than in 2011, though still limited in some aspects of his game.
- Bradford’s performance was decent, but the Rams’ offense lacked elite weapons around him.
3. Offense:
- Steven Jackson, the team’s star running back, had another solid season, rushing for 1,042 yards and 4 touchdowns. However, he was nearing the end of his prime and struggled to carry the offense on his own.
- The Rams’ receiving corps remained a weak point. Danny Amendola was Bradford’s top target, finishing the season with 63 receptions for 666 yards and 3 touchdowns, but the lack of a top-tier wide receiver limited the offense’s potential.
- The Rams also struggled in the red zone, finishing near the bottom of the league in scoring offense.
4. Defense:
- The Rams’ defense was one of the team’s strengths in 2012. They were particularly strong in the pass rush, finishing the season with 52 sacks, which ranked them among the best in the league.
- Defensive coordinator Greg Williams, who was brought in by Fisher, installed an aggressive 4-3 scheme, which paid off with the likes of Chris Long (who had 11 sacks) and Robert Quinn (who had 10.5 sacks) emerging as major contributors.
- The secondary was inconsistent, and while the defense had some standout individual performances, they still allowed a fair amount of yards and points.
5. Special Teams:
- Johnny Hekker, the punter, emerged as a bright spot. He had a fantastic season, and his punting ability was key in pinning opponents deep in their territory.
- The Rams’ special teams, in general, were solid, and Greg Zuerlein, a rookie kicker, made an immediate impact with some long field goals, earning the nickname “Legatron” for his impressive leg strength.
6. Key Games:
- Tie with San Francisco 49ers: One of the most notable games of the season was a 24-24 tie with the NFC West division rival San Francisco 49ers in Week 10. It was a hard-fought battle, and the Rams earned respect with a gutsy performance, though they ultimately could not secure a win.
- The Rams also beat some solid teams, including the Washington Redskins and the Seattle Seahawks, but struggled to put together a consistent winning streak.
7. Draft and Roster Moves:
- The Rams had a strong draft in 2012, making significant moves to improve their roster. They added Michael Brockers (DT) in the first round to help bolster their defensive line.
- They also made moves to improve their receiving corps, selecting Brian Quick (WR) in the second round, although Quick would take time to develop.
- Despite some decent draft picks, the team still lacked depth and star power at key positions.
8. Overall Outlook:
- While the Rams finished 7-8-1, it was an improvement from their 2-14 record the previous year. They showed flashes of potential and had a solid defense, but the offense was still limited.
- Fisher’s first season was seen as a positive step forward, and the team seemed to be headed in the right direction after years of mediocrity.
- The Rams ended the season with some hope, knowing that they had the right pieces in place and could continue to build under Fisher’s leadership.
In conclusion, the 2012 St. Louis Rams were a team in transition. They were far from a playoff contender but had a much more competitive and organized roster than the year before. The key areas of focus going forward were improving the offense, particularly the passing game, and continuing to develop their strong defense.
Head Coach: Jeff Fisher
- To be listed, a player must have played at least one game for the team during this season.
- + Primary starter
| Pos | # | Player | GP | GS | Start Pos | Exp | DOB | Ht | Wt | College | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WR | 16 | Danny Amendola | 11 | 8 | WR | 4 | 11/02/1985 | 5′ 11″ | 188 | Texas Tech | |
| T | 68 | Joe Barksdale | 6 | 2 | LT | 2 | 01/04/1988 | 6′ 5″ | 329 | Louisiana State | |
| C | 61 | Tim Barnes | 15 | 0 | 1 | 05/14/1988 | 6′ 4″ | 300 | Missouri | ||
| QB | 8 | Sam Bradford | 16 | 16 | QB+ | 3 | 11/08/1987 | 6′ 4″ | 224 | Oklahoma | |
| DT | 90 | Michael Brockers | 13 | 12 | RDT+ | R | 12/21/1990 | 6′ 5″ | 322 | Louisiana State | |
| LB | 57 | Sammy Brown | 1 | 0 | 1 | 04/17/1990 | 6′ 2″ | 242 | Houston | ||
| QB | 10 | Kellen Clemens | 2 | 0 | 7 | 06/06/1983 | 6′ 2″ | 220 | Oregon | ||
| LB | 52 | Justin Cole | 16 | 0 | 2 | 11/22/1987 | 6′ 3″ | 242 | San Jose State | ||
| DT | 71 | Matt Conrath | 1 | 0 | 1 | 08/11/1989 | 6′ 7″ | 290 | Virginia | ||
| DT | 93 | Jermelle Cudjo | 15 | 4 | RDT/RDE | 2 | 09/28/1986 | 6′ 2″ | 311 | Central Oklahoma | |
| S | 43 | Craig Dahl | 16 | 16 | FS+/SS | 5 | 06/17/1985 | 6′ 1″ | 212 | North Dakota State | |
| G/T | 62 | Harvey Dahl | 14 | 14 | RG+ | 7 | 06/24/1981 | 6′ 5″ | 308 | Nevada – Reno | |
| S | 37 | Matt Daniels | 4 | 0 | 1 | 09/27/1989 | 6′ 0″ | 211 | Duke | ||
| LB | 58 | Jo-Lonn Dunbar | 16 | 16 | WLB+ | 5 | 03/13/1985 | 6′ 0″ | 226 | Boston College | |
| CB | 31 | Cortland Finnegan | 16 | 15 | LCB+/NB | 7 | 02/02/1984 | 5′ 10″ | 188 | Samford | |
| CB | 32 | Bradley Fletcher | 16 | 4 | NB | 4 | 06/25/1986 | 6′ 0″ | 200 | Iowa | |
| RB | 42 | Terrance Ganaway | 3 | 0 | R | 10/07/1988 | 6′ 1″ | 240 | Baylor | ||
| WR | 11 | Brandon Gibson | 16 | 13 | WR+ | 4 | 08/13/1987 | 6′ 0″ | 205 | Washington State | |
| WR | 13 | Chris Givens | 15 | 12 | WR+ | R | 12/06/1989 | 6′ 0″ | 198 | Wake Forest | |
| LB | 51 | Mario Haggan | 11 | 2 | SLB | 10 | 03/03/1980 | 6′ 3″ | 274 | Mississippi State | |
| TE | 46 | Cory Harkey | 5 | 0 | 1 | 06/17/1990 | 6′ 4″ | 260 | UCLA | ||
| DE | 95 | William Hayes | 16 | 0 | 5 | 05/02/1985 | 6′ 3″ | 272 | Winston-Salem State (NC) | ||
| NT | 96 | Kellen Heard | 8 | 0 | 2 | 10/17/1985 | 6′ 6″ | 339 | Memphis | ||
| P | 6 | Johnny Hekker | 16 | 0 | 2 | 02/08/1990 | 6′ 5″ | 227 | Oregon State | ||
| LB | 56 | Josh Hull | 16 | 1 | SLB | 3 | 05/21/1987 | 6′ 3″ | 245 | Penn State | |
| T | 72 | Wayne Hunter | 14 | 4 | LT | 8 | 07/02/1981 | 6′ 5″ | 318 | Hawaii | |
| RB | 39 | Steven Jackson | 16 | 16 | HB+ | 9 | 07/22/1983 | 6′ 2″ | 240 | Oregon State | |
| CB | 21 | Janoris Jenkins | 15 | 14 | RCB+ | R | 10/29/1988 | 5′ 10″ | 193 | North Alabama | |
| CB | 22 | Trumaine Johnson | 16 | 3 | LCB/RCB | R | 01/01/1990 | 6′ 2″ | 204 | Montana | |
| TE | 88 | Lance Kendricks | 16 | 14 | TE+ | 2 | 01/30/1988 | 6′ 3″ | 247 | Wisconsin | |
| DE/DT | 98 | Kendall Langford | 16 | 16 | LDT+ | 5 | 01/27/1986 | 6′ 6″ | 295 | Hampton (VA) | |
| LB | 55 | James Laurinaitis | 16 | 16 | MLB+ | 4 | 12/03/1986 | 6′ 2″ | 250 | Ohio State | |
| DE | 91 | Chris Long | 16 | 16 | LDE+ | 5 | 03/28/1985 | 6′ 3″ | 270 | Virginia | |
| LB | 50 | Rocky McIntosh | 16 | 9 | SLB+ | 7 | 11/15/1982 | 6′ 2″ | 242 | Miami (FL) | |
| S | 23 | Rodney McLeod | 16 | 0 | 1 | 06/23/1990 | 5′ 10″ | 183 | Virginia | ||
| TE | 89 | Mike McNeill | 14 | 1 | TE | 2 | 03/07/1988 | 6′ 4″ | 235 | Nebraska | |
| LS | 44 | Jake McQuaide | 16 | 0 | 2 | 12/07/1987 | 6′ 2″ | 247 | Ohio State | ||
| S | 27 | Quintin Mikell | 16 | 16 | SS+/FS | 10 | 09/16/1980 | 5′ 10″ | 204 | Boise State | |
| FB | 49 | Brit Miller | 9 | 1 | FB | 4 | 09/15/1986 | 6′ 1″ | 253 | Illinois | |
| TE | 82 | Matthew Mulligan | 16 | 9 | TE+ | 4 | 01/18/1985 | 6′ 4″ | 265 | Maine | |
| T | 60 | Ty Nsekhe | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10/27/1985 | 6′ 8″ | 325 | Texas State | ||
| T/G | 69 | Quinn Ojinnaka | 6 | 5 | LG+ | 7 | 04/23/1984 | 6′ 5″ | 295 | Syracuse | |
| RB | 24 | Isaiah Pead | 15 | 1 | RB | R | 12/14/1989 | 5′ 10″ | 197 | Cincinnati | |
| WR | 18 | Austin Pettis | 14 | 2 | WR | 2 | 02/08/1988 | 6′ 3″ | 207 | Boise State | |
| CB | 33 | Quinton Pointer | 6 | 0 | 1 | 04/16/1988 | 5′ 9″ | 186 | Nevada – Las Vegas | ||
| WR | 83 | Brian Quick | 15 | 1 | WR | R | 06/05/1989 | 6′ 3″ | 220 | Appalachian State | |
| DE | 94 | Robert Quinn | 16 | 14 | RDE+ | 2 | 05/18/1990 | 6′ 4″ | 264 | North Carolina | |
| T | 79 | Barry Richardson | 16 | 16 | RT+ | 5 | 05/15/1986 | 6′ 6″ | 319 | Clemson | |
| RB | 26 | Daryl Richardson | 16 | 0 | R | 04/12/1990 | 5′ 10″ | 196 | Abilene Christian | ||
| T/G | 76 | Rodger Saffold | 10 | 10 | LT+ | 3 | 06/06/1988 | 6′ 5″ | 314 | Indiana | |
| DE | 92 | Eugene Sims | 13 | 2 | RDE/DE | 3 | 03/18/1986 | 6′ 6″ | 265 | West Texas A&M | |
| G | 66 | Shelley Smith | 11 | 6 | LG/RG | 1 | 05/21/1987 | 6′ 4″ | 297 | Colorado State | |
| WR | 12 | Steve Smith | 9 | 2 | WR | 6 | 05/06/1985 | 5′ 11″ | 195 | Southern California | |
| S | 20 | Darian Stewart | 12 | 0 | 3 | 08/04/1988 | 5′ 11″ | 214 | South Carolina | ||
| C/G | 59 | Robert Turner | 16 | 16 | C+/LG | 5 | 08/20/1984 | 6′ 4″ | 308 | New Mexico | |
| T | 73 | Rokevious Watkins | 1 | 0 | R | 02/24/1989 | 6′ 3″ | 338 | South Carolina | ||
| C | 63 | Scott Wells | 7 | 7 | C | 9 | 01/07/1981 | 6′ 2″ | 300 | Tennessee | |
| T/G | 65 | Chris Williams | 3 | 0 | 5 | 08/26/1985 | 6′ 6″ | 320 | Vanderbilt | ||
| K | 4 | Greg Zuerlein | 16 | 0 | R | 12/27/1987 | 6′ 0″ | 187 | Missouri Western State |
