The St. Louis Rams are perhaps the most underrated squad heading into the 2013 NFL season. They continually get overlooked in favor of their NFC West counterparts time and again.

But before we analyze the Rams’ prospects for this year, let’s review their on-field product from 2012.

Quick 2012 Review

The Rams may not have faired all too well against the majority of their opponents. But they surely took it to their divisional foes with an unabated, hit-you-in-the-mouth approach.

St. Louis finished 3-7 against teams not originating from the NFC West. This regrettable mark included a three-game losing streak between Week 6 and Week 8—albeit against the respectable Dolphins and playoff-bound Packers and Patriots—and worst of all, a defeat at the hands of the hapless New York Jets.

Allowing 27 or more points in five of those contests did nothing but sully the collective reputation of this squad.

Fortunately, the Rams developed a means of balancing things out against some of their tougher opponents.

Led by no-nonsense head coach Jeff Fisher, the Rams went 4-1-1 against the San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals. They outscored a defensively strong Cardinals team by a 48-20 margin. They also handled the Seahawks at home and lost by just seven points to them at CenturyLink Field—otherwise known as the most unfriendly and challenging road stadium and where the Seahawks went a perfect 8-0.

But best yet, the Rams battled the NFC Super Bowl-representative 49ers to a 24-24 tie in Week 10, followed by a grind-it-out overtime win three weeks later, holding them to just 13 points. No other team challenged the 49ers to a similar degree of success.

Newsworthy highlights from their 7-8-1 campaign included yet another 1,000-yard campaign from running back Steven Jackson, a 16.6-yard average per catch by rookie wideout Chris Givens and an incredible four interceptions and four defensive touchdowns by first-year corner Janoris Jenkins.

Now, will their 2013 schedule produce more favorable results conducive for an above-.500 or even playoff-worthy season?

Schedule Analysis

Well, if St. Louis is to attain that 8-8 or better record, it’s going to be one heck of an uphill battle.

The Rams have the unfortunate luck of playing the fourth-hardest schedule in the league. Opponents went a combined 137-117-2 with a .539 winning percentage last season.

Aside from the always-difficult divisional battles, the Rams must travel to Atlanta, Houston and Indianapolis—three teams that went 36-12 last year—and host the thoroughly-improved Saints, Buccaneers and Bears. Emerging from this veritable buzz saw with a 2-4 mark could be qualified as a pretty auspicious result.

In any case, if St. Louis can survive three brutal stretches and can take care of inferior opponents, it has a great chance of finishing 8-8, with a decent shot at earning nine victories in 2013.

Offensive Outlook

Few other teams, if any, orchestrated a better draft class than the Rams’ Les Snead and Jeff Fisher.

This impressive front office duo grabbed arguably the biggest impact player in wide receiver Tavon Austin with the No. 8 overall pick. They then picked up Austin’s insanely productive teammate Stedman Bailey in Round 3, followed by a fifth-round selection of Zac Stacy, an underrated Vanderbilt product who will help bolster an unproven corps of running backs.

Austin, though, will change the very makeup of St. Louis’ offensive attack. He will provide very much dynamic and versatile production out wide, in the slot, from the backfield and any place where he can utilize his elusiveness and sub-4.3 speed.

If Austin doesn’t lead his team in receptions, yards and touchdowns, then quarterback Sam Bradford has the luxury of another offseason addition with which to power the Rams offense. Tight end Jared Cook will serve as a focal point in this system and will establish career-highs while doing so. He finally has the opportunity to play in an offense that utilizes his awesome athleticism (i.e. not the Tennessee Titans).

Furthermore, sophomore receivers Chris Givens and Brian Quick and third year-man Austin Pettis will form a solid nucleus at wide receiver with Austin and Stedman Bailey now on board. They all complement each other with either speed, size, leaping ability or big-play potential.

The acquisition of Jake Long at left tackle will shore up a much-needed area along the offensive line as well. He will provide Bradford with consistent protection from his blind side.

One possible positional deficiency lies at running back. Neither Daryl Richardson, Isaiah Pead or rookie Zac Stacy quite fit the mold of a prototypical every-down RB. They must all contribute in a running-back-by-committee fashion for the Rams to execute a balanced offense in 2013.

Then again, many would believe that it’s up to Bradford to finally harness his innate talent if the Rams are to indeed take the proverbial next step. With all of these new game-changing offensive players, he really doesn’t have any other choice.

Defensive Outlook

Regarding defensive strengths, two things are definitely for certain: The Rams get after opposing quarterbacks and prevent them from completing passes in the end zone.

This defense led the NFL with 52 sacks last year. Chris Long (11.5) and Robert Quinn (10.5) each racked up double-digit numbers. William Hayes completed this formidable trio of defensive ends with seven sacks of his own.

Fellow defensive linemen Michael Brockers and Eugene Sims added seven, while Jo-Lonn Dunbar contributed 4.5 from the linebacker position. Now with Alec Ogletree patrolling the field as well, the Rams are in total position for a prolific repeat performance in the pass-rushing department in 2013.

Throw this unit’s work in pass defense into that argument as well. Starting corners Cortland Finnegan and the aforementioned Janoris Jenkins collected seven interceptions and five defensive touchdowns in 2012. While predicting similar unreal production this season would be rather implausible, expect this corps, along with the 6’2’’ Trumaine Johnson, to shut down opponents’ respective passing games.

One potential obstacle to the Rams’ pursuit of another top-five mark in passing touchdowns allowed is an unproven collection of safeties. Darian Stewart, Rodney McLeod and Matt Daniels have a combined five years of NFL experience, with neither one logging much statistical production. T.J. McDonald, despite his solid physical abilities and pre-draft grade, remains an untested rookie.

Overall, the 2013 Rams’ defense will operate as a smart, hard-hitting and productive group. If it can eliminate its proclivity for allowing the third-most rushing touchdowns (18 in 2012), then this collective whole may very well find its way into the top 10.

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