2013 St. Louis Rams

The 2013 St. Louis Rams took another step forward under head coach Jeff Fisher, finishing the season with a 7-9 record. Although they didn’t make the playoffs, the team showed significant improvement, especially on defense, and the foundation for future success was being built. However, the season was marked by some inconsistency, particularly with quarterback Sam Bradford‘s injury, which ultimately impacted the team’s overall performance.

Here are the key points about the 2013 St. Louis Rams:

1. Head Coach: Jeff Fisher

• Jeff Fisher entered his second year as head coach, and while the Rams were still not a playoff team, they were a much more competitive squad than in previous seasons.
• Fisher’s focus on building a strong defense and improving the overall culture of the team remained a cornerstone of the program.

2. Quarterback: Sam Bradford’s Injury

• Sam Bradford was the starting quarterback, but his season was cut short by a torn ACL in Week 7. Prior to the injury, Bradford had shown some promise, throwing for 1,687 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions over the first 7 games.
• With Bradford out for the rest of the season, Kellen Clemens took over as the starting quarterback. Clemens wasn’t able to spark the offense in the same way, and the Rams’ passing game struggled. Clemens threw for 1,673 yards, with 8 touchdowns and 7 interceptions in 9 games.

3. Offense:

• Running Back: Zac Stacy: The biggest offensive bright spot was Zac Stacy, a rookie running back who quickly became the team’s workhorse. Stacy rushed for 973 yards and 7 touchdowns, providing a much-needed boost to the Rams’ ground game.
• The Rams’ offensive line was inconsistent, and the lack of a dynamic receiving corps made it difficult for the offense to consistently move the ball. Tavon Austin, the 8th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, had flashes of brilliance, but was often inconsistent, finishing with 40 receptions for 418 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also contributed on special teams and as a running back in some gadget plays.
• Chris Givens and Brian Quick were also key contributors in the passing game, though neither had standout seasons.

4. Defense:

• The Rams’ defense was one of the strongest units in the NFL in 2013, ranking 14th overall in total defense. The pass rush was particularly dominant, as they finished with 53 sacks, tied for 3rd in the league.
• Robert Quinn, a standout defensive end, had a breakout season, recording 19 sacks and earning Pro Bowl honors. He was one of the top pass rushers in the league.
• Chris Long, another defensive end, also contributed with 8 sacks, and the Rams’ front four was one of the most disruptive in the NFL.
• James Laurinaitis, the middle linebacker, was a consistent presence in the defense, leading the team with 141 tackles.
• The secondary was solid but not elite. Cornerback Janoris Jenkins had some ups and downs, but was capable of making big plays.

5. Special Teams:

• Johnny Hekker, the Rams’ punter, continued to be a standout in 2013, earning All-Pro honors for his performance. His punting played a crucial role in flipping the field position for the Rams.
• Greg Zuerlein, the kicker, was solid, making 24 of 28 field goals, including some long-range attempts. However, his accuracy was occasionally inconsistent.

6. Key Games:

• Win over the Indianapolis Colts (Week 10): The Rams stunned the Indianapolis Colts, winning 38-8. The defense was dominant, and the Rams took advantage of turnovers and poor play from the Colts’ offense.
• Upset win over the New Orleans Saints (Week 15): The Rams managed to beat the Saints, a playoff team, by a score of 27-16, demonstrating their ability to compete with top-tier teams.
• Loss to the Seattle Seahawks (Week 17): Despite a strong finish to the season, the Rams’ playoff hopes were dashed with a loss to the NFC West champion Seattle Seahawks in the season finale.

7. Draft and Roster Moves:

• Tavon Austin (WR) was the Rams’ first-round pick (8th overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft. Austin showed flashes of his potential but was inconsistent throughout the season. His speed and versatility were key, but he struggled with injuries and adjusting to the NFL.
• The Rams also selected Alec Ogletree (OLB) in the 1st round, who made an immediate impact on the defense.
• Overall, the 2013 draft class showed promise, with several players contributing to both the offense and defense, though they had to develop over time.

8. Overall Outlook:

• The Rams were a team on the rise. Despite finishing with a 7-9 record, they were competitive in many of their games and were one of the toughest teams in the NFC West.
• The defense was top-notch, especially with the dominance of the pass rush, but the offense remained inconsistent, especially after Bradford’s injury.
• Going into 2014, there was optimism surrounding the team, especially with a solid defensive unit and some promising young players like Zac Stacy, Robert Quinn, and Tavon Austin.

In conclusion, the 2013 St. Louis Rams were a team that showed significant improvement, particularly on defense. While injuries and inconsistent quarterback play held them back from a better record, they were beginning to look like a team on the rise, with a strong defensive foundation and some offensive potential that could be unlocked in future seasons.

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
LB	50		Ray-Ray Armstrong	16	0		1	03/05/1991	6′ 3″	227	Miami (FL)
WR	11		Tavon Austin	13	3	WR	R	03/15/1990	5′ 8″	174	West Virginia
WR	12		Stedman Bailey	16	2	WR	R	11/11/1990	5′ 10″	193	West Virginia
T	72		Joe Barksdale	16	13	RT+/RG	3	01/04/1988	6′ 5″	326	Louisiana State
C	61		Tim Barnes	16	4	C	2	05/14/1988	6′ 4″	300	Missouri
LB	53		Daren Bates	15	0		1	11/27/1990	5′ 11″	225	Auburn
QB	8		Sam Bradford	7	7	QB	4	11/08/1987	6′ 4″	224	Oklahoma
DT	90		Michael Brockers	16	16	RDT+	2	12/21/1990	6′ 5″	322	Louisiana State
QB	10		Kellen Clemens	10	9	QB+	8	06/06/1983	6′ 2″	200	Oregon
DT	71		Matt Conrath	8	0		2	08/11/1989	6′ 7″	290	Virginia
TE	89		Jared Cook	16	13	TE+	5	04/07/1987	6′ 5″	248	South Carolina
DT	93		Jermelle Cudjo	13	0		3	09/28/1986	6′ 2″	311	Central Oklahoma
RB	36		Benny Cunningham	14	0		1	07/07/1990	5′ 10″	217	Middle Tennessee State
G/T	62		Harvey Dahl	9	9	RG+	8	06/24/1981	6′ 5″	308	Nevada – Reno
S	37		Matt Daniels	2	0		2	09/27/1989	6′ 0″	211	Duke
S	38		Cody Davis	12	0		1	06/06/1989	6′ 1″	204	Texas Tech
LB	58		Jo-Lonn Dunbar	12	10	RLB+	6	03/13/1985	6′ 0″	226	Boston College
CB	31		Cortland Finnegan	7	5	LCB	8	02/02/1984	5′ 10″	188	Samford
S	27		Matt Giordano	16	2	NB	9	10/16/1982	5′ 11″	204	California
WR	13		Chris Givens	16	14	WR+	2	12/06/1989	6′ 0″	198	Wake Forest
TE	46		Cory Harkey	15	10	TE+	2	06/17/1990	6′ 4″	260	UCLA
DE	95		William Hayes	14	0		6	05/02/1985	6′ 3″	272	Winston-Salem State (NC)
P	6		Johnny Hekker	16	0		3	02/08/1990	6′ 5″	227	Oregon State
CB	21		Janoris Jenkins	16	16	RCB+	2	10/29/1988	5′ 10″	193	North Alabama
CB	22		Trumaine Johnson	16	12	LCB+/NB	2	01/01/1990	6′ 2″	204	Montana
G	67		Barrett Jones	3	0		R	05/25/1990	6′ 4″	306	Alabama
TE	88		Lance Kendricks	15	13	TE+	3	01/30/1988	6′ 3″	247	Wisconsin
DE/DT	98		Kendall Langford	16	16	LDT+	6	01/27/1986	6′ 6″	295	Hampton (VA)
LB	55		James Laurinaitis	16	16	MLB+	5	12/03/1986	6′ 2″	250	Ohio State
DE	91		Chris Long	16	16	LDE+	6	03/28/1985	6′ 3″	270	Virginia
T	77		Jake Long	15	15	LT+	6	05/09/1985	6′ 7″	319	Michigan
S	25		T. J. McDonald	10	10	SS+	R	01/26/1991	6′ 2″	219	Southern California
CB	32		Brandon McGee	15	0		R	12/11/1990	5′ 11″	193	Miami (FL)
S	23		Rodney McLeod	16	16	FS+	2	06/23/1990	5′ 10″	183	Virginia
TE	82		Mike McNeill	14	0		3	03/07/1988	6′ 4″	235	Nebraska
LS	44		Jake McQuaide	16	0		3	12/07/1987	6′ 2″	247	Ohio State
LB	52		Alec Ogletree	16	16	LLB+	R	09/25/1991	6′ 2″	242	Georgia
RB	24		Isaiah Pead	10	0		2	12/14/1989	5′ 10″	197	Cincinnati
WR	18		Austin Pettis	16	6	WR	3	02/08/1988	6′ 3″	207	Boise State
CB	33		Quinton Pointer	2	0		2	04/16/1988	5′ 9″	186	Nevada – Las Vegas
WR	83		Brian Quick	16	5	WR	2	06/05/1989	6′ 3″	220	Appalachian State
DE	94		Robert Quinn	16	16	RDE+	3	05/18/1990	6′ 4″	264	North Carolina
RB	34		Chase Reynolds	16	0		1	10/22/1987	6′ 0″	200	Montana
RB	26		Daryl Richardson	8	3	RB	2	04/12/1990	5′ 10″	196	Abilene Christian
DE	99		Gerald Rivers	2	0		1	06/22/1990	6′ 5″	249	Mississippi
T/G	76		Rodger Saffold	12	9	RT/RG/LT	4	06/06/1988	6′ 5″	314	Indiana
DE	97		Eugene Sims	16	0		4	03/18/1986	6′ 6″	265	West Texas A&M
G	66		Shelley Smith	14	2	RG	2	05/21/1987	6′ 4″	297	Colorado State
RB	30		Zac Stacy	14	12	RB+	R	04/09/1991	5′ 8″	216	Vanderbilt
T	79		Max Starks	2	0		10	01/10/1982	6′ 8″	345	Florida
S	20		Darian Stewart	13	6	SS	4	08/04/1988	5′ 11″	214	South Carolina
WR	19		Justin Veltung	3	0		1	03/30/1991	5′ 11″	183	Idaho
G	70		Brandon Washington	1	0		1	08/13/1988	6′ 2″	320	Miami (FL)
C	63		Scott Wells	12	12	C+	10	01/07/1981	6′ 2″	300	Tennessee
T/G	65		Chris Williams	16	16	LG+	6	08/26/1985	6′ 6″	320	Vanderbilt
LB	51		Will Witherspoon	16	3	RLB	12	08/19/1980	6′ 1″	242	Georgia
K	4		Greg Zuerlein	16	0		2	12/27/1987	6′ 0″	187	Missouri Western State