The St. Louis Rams started 2012 by making a huge trade, netting a collection of draft picks from Washington when the Redskins traded up to the second selection in order to pick Robert Griffin III. The Rams finished the season 7-8-1, an improvement of 5.5 games over 2011, in Jeff Fisher’s first year in town.

The improvement was tangible. The offense went from scoring 193 points during the 2-14 debacle in 2011 to 299 points in 2012. And the defense improved from 26th in points allowed to 14th, a 59 point improvement.

The 2013 season promises to be full of more changes. The Rams still have a ton of draft picks, including two in the first round. And all-time franchise leading running back Steven Jackson has moved on to Atlanta, meaning the team will have to find a new offensive sparkplug at that position for the first time since 2004.

The Rams are stuck in a competitive division, fighting amongst current NFC favorites in San Francisco and Seattle. But this is clearly a team that is on an uphill swing and, as the team’s 4-1-1 divisional record in 2012 showed, the Rams are not going to go down easily. Ryan Van Bibber, an editor for both Turf Show Times and SB Nation’s NFL coverage, shared his thoughts on the future of the St. Louis Rams.

Zoneblitz: What did you think of Jeff Fisher’s first year as coach?

Van Bibber: I was very pleased with it. I never expected to see the Rams win seven games. Yes, it’s a low standard set here in recent years. More than anything, it was nice to see this team finally play with an identity and a chip on its shoulder.

Zoneblitz: Sam Bradford was up and down in 2012. What are your thoughts on his development and is he the quarterback of the future in St. Louis?

Van Bibber: I have my doubts. Then again, he’s played behind some terrible offensive lines and the best receiver he’s ever worked with is Danny Amendola. This is a critical year for Bradford, especially with moves like bringing in Jake Long and Jared Cook to add those missing pieces.

Zoneblitz: Steven Jackson moved on to Atlanta. Will the Rams miss him and are Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead ready to step in or will the team need an addition from outside the organization?

Van Bibber: Fisher’s been pretty clear that Pead can be “the guy,” i.e. a running back capable of working all three downs. They see him a bit like Ray Rice. Still, they need that one-cut runner, a between the tackles type. Richardson showed a little of that, but I’m not sure if it was enough. Again, the offensive line didn’t help anyone.

Zoneblitz: What are your thoughts on the addition of Jake Long as the team’s left tackle?

Van Bibber: It’s a risky move, but the Rams didn’t really have a choice. They’ve invested so much in Bradford, they have to see what he can do with a real line keep him clear.

Zoneblitz: Jared Cook was an interesting signing. What does he bring to the team and are the Rams in a position to use him better than Tennessee did the last few years?

Van Bibber: If you look back at Brian Schottenheimer’s history, the tight end has always had a big role. Dustin Keller should be canonized for making Mark Sanchez look competent during Schottey’s last job in New York. Cook gives the Rams a matchup piece on offense. They can line up in the slot, split the seams with him or run him out to the sidelines. And with a more physical tight end in Lance Kendricks, the Rams can replicate what a lot of the rest of the league is doing with tight end sets.

Zoneblitz: In Chris Long and James Laurinitis, the Rams have at least the core of a solid defense. What has to happen for that unit to take the next step?

Van Bibber: Experience is a biggie for the defense. Cortland Finnegan, Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson made for a deadly effective group of cornerbacks last year. Jenkins and Johnson are both rookies. Another year of experience ought to really make that group special. As a unit, the Rams really need help at safety, someone that plays deep well, tackles without question and has a knack for reading the plays in front of him. If they get that, this could be one of the league’s best defenses.

Zoneblitz: Are there any players on the roster you think are primed for breakout seasons in 2013?

Van Bibber: I really think Michael Brockers, a defensive tackle and last year’s first-round pick, is primed for a huge year. Injuries put him on the shelf to start the season, but once he got back on the field he was a even match for even the best offensive linemen. This is year you’ll see him doing more pocket crashing from the front.

Zoneblitz: What would you like to see the Rams do in free agency and the draft?

Van Bibber: Like I mentioned above, I was happy to see the Rams sign Jake Long, very pleased. The addition of Cook was a smart play to give them a receiver-type playmaker at something less than what one of the top free agent receivers would have cost them. They have to find offensive line help in the draft, especially at guard, but depth all over is a need. I’d like to see the Rams grab a veteran safety and either Matt Elam or Kenny Vaccaro in the draft. They have a lot of options.

Zoneblitz: In a division with the 49ers and Seahawks looking strong heading into 2013, how far are the Rams from being a legitimate playoff contender?

Van Bibber: I think they’re closer than it might seem. Remember, the Rams lost only once in the NFC West last year. Fix the offensive line, and that will go a long way toward putting them in the mix. Seattle’s deal for Percy Harvin and a gaggle of pass rushers along with San Francisco’s offseason moves, left some fans wondering, but the Rams have four first-round picks in the next two drafts.

Follow Ryan Van Bibber on Twitter at: @justRVB
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