2007 St. Louis Rams season

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NFL team season

2007 St. Louis Rams season
Edward Jones Dome
Results
Record	3–13
Division place	4th NFC West
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	WR Torry Holt
Team MVP	Will Witherspoon
Team ROY	Adam Carriker
← 2006 Rams seasons 2008 →

The 2007 season was the St. Louis Rams' 70th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 13th in St. Louis. This would prove the fourth-worst season for the Rams during their time in St. Louis. The team looked to improve on an 8–8 record from 2006. However, the Rams slumped early, losing their first eight games of the season heading into their bye week. Following their bye, they would beat both New Orleans and San Francisco on the road before losing 5 of their last 6 games to conclude the season. The Rams 0–8 start to the season is the worst in franchise history and matched their 3rd ever longest losing streak. The Rams also went 1–7 at home in 2007, the worst in franchise history until it was broken by the 2009 team two years later. The Rams' defense was dismal and was the biggest scar on the team the entire season, as they allowed the second-most points in the league during the season with 438.

The 2007 season was the fourth of thirteen seasons in a row that the franchise did not have a winning season, a streak that was broken in 2017 when the Los Angeles Rams posted an 11–5 record.

Offseason

Head coach Scott Linehan made several coaching changes. Al Roberts replaced Bob Ligashesky as the special teams coach. Mike Cox was given the position as the defensive quality control coach to replace Joe Baker who left to become the Denver Broncos' linebackers coach.^[1] Keith Murphy was named the offensive quality control coach to replace Randy Hanson who went to the Oakland Raiders. Murphy coached at the University of Washington with Linehan from 1996 to 1999.^[2]

On February 23, 2007, the Rams allocated five players to

Berlin Thunder; and Jeremy Parquet, Tim Sandidge, and John David Washington went to the Hamburg Sea Devils.^[3]

Free agency

On opening day of the free agency, the Rams traded a fifth round draft choice to the

B.J. Sander in case the team lost Matt Turk. On March 8, 2007, the Rams signed Randy McMichael to a three-year contract and acquired Todd Johnson from the Chicago Bears who signed a four-year contract.^[7] On March 21, 2007, the Rams signed Randy McMichael to a three-year deal.^[8] On March 26, 2007, Marshall Faulk announced his retirement from the NFL.^[9]

On April 18, 2007, the Rams signed punter Donnie Jones to a five-year $5.59 million deal. The Rams also gave up a seventh round draft choice to the Miami Dolphins for Jones.^[10] Sander was released from the Rams two days later.^[11]

On April 30, 2007, a day after the NFL Draft, the Rams added nineteen undrafted free agents to their roster. The most notable addition was

Kent State strong safety Andre Kirklan, Arkansas cornerback Darius Vinnett and Villanova cornerback Terrance Reaves. They added LSU defensive end Ryan Willis and Albany State defensive end Alton Pettway to the Rams' defense. The Rams added Cincinnati kicker Kevin Lovell.^[12]

NFL draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College
1	13	Adam Carriker	Defensive end	Nebraska
2	52	Brian Leonard	Fullback	Rutgers
3	84	Jonathan Wade	Cornerback	Tennessee
5	139	Dustin Fry	Center	Clemson
5	154	Clifton Ryan	Defensive tackle	Michigan State
6	190	Ken Shackleford	Offensive tackle	Georgia
7	248	Keith Jackson	Defensive Tackle	Arkansas
7	249	Derek Stanley	Wide receiver	Wisconsin–Whitewater

Main article:

2007 NFL Draft

The

Rutgers. His style of play is similar to that of Jim Taylor

.

On the second day of the draft the Rams selected

Offensive tackle Ken Shackleford from Georgia. Coach Linehan commented that he could develop into a starter over the next couple of years.^[15] The Rams had two compensatory picks and selected Arkansas Defensive Tackle Keith Jackson, son of former NFL Pro Bowl tight end Keith Jackson, and Wisconsin–Whitewater wide receiver Derek Stanley.^[15]

The Rams traded their fourth-round selection (117th overall) for the Detroit Lions two of their three fifth-round selections (139th and 154th overall).^[16] The Rams traded their seventh-round selection (225th overall) to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for signing restricted free agent Donnie Jones.^[17] The Rams received two seventh-round picks (248th and 249th overall) as compensatory selections.

Staff

St. Louis Rams 2007 staff
Head coaches Head coach – Scott Linehan Assistant head coach/linebackers – Rick Venturi Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Greg Olson Quarterbacks – Doug Nussmeier Running backs – Wayne Moses Wide receivers – Henry Ellard Tight ends – Judd Garrett Offensive line – Paul T Boudreau Assistant offensive line – Jim Chaney Offensive assistant/special assistant – Jeff Horton Offensive quality control – Keith Murphy			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Jim Haslett Defensive line – Brian Baker Assistant linebackers/assistant secondary – Ron Milus Defensive quality control/defensive line – Mike Cox Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Al Roberts Assistant special teams/defensive assistant – Todd Downing Strength and conditioning Head strength and conditioning – Dana LeDuc Assistant strength and conditioning – Brad Roll

Roster

2007 St. Louis Rams final roster

	Quarterbacks  3 Brock Berlin 10 Marc Bulger 12 Gus Frerotte Running backs 33 Rich Alexis 39 Steven Jackson 23 Brian Leonard 30 Antonio Pittman Wide receivers 83 Drew Bennett 80 Isaac Bruce 15 Marques Hagans KR 81 Torry Holt 89 Dane Looker 19 Derek Stanley KR 16 Brandon Williams KR/PR Tight ends 86 Dominique Byrd 88 Joe Klopfenstein 84 Randy McMichael 49 Richard Owens		Offensive linemen 70 Alex Barron T 72 Milford Brown G/T 62 Dustin Fry C 77 Brandon Gorin T 60 Nick Leckey C 75 Mark LeVoir T 67 Andy McCollum C/G 71 Rob Petitti T 65 Brett Romberg G 79 Todd Steussie G Defensive linemen 94 Victor Adeyanju DE 90 Adam Carriker DT 97 La'Roi Glover DT 96 James Hall DE 93 Trevor Johnson DE 92 Eric Moore DE 95 Clifton Ryan DT 99 Claude Wroten DT		Linebackers 54 Brandon Chillar OLB 53 Quinton Culberson OLB 52 Chris Draft OLB 59 Tim McGarigle MLB 51 Will Witherspoon MLB Defensive backs 21 Oshiomogho Atogwe FS 24 Ron Bartell CB 41 Eric Bassey CB/S 34 Fakhir Brown CB 25 Corey Chavous SS 35 Todd Johnson SS 37 Hanik Milligan FS 31 Darius Vinnett CB 20 Jonathan Wade CB Special teams  5 Donnie Jones P 45 Chris Massey LS 14 Jeff Wilkins K		Reserve lists 42 Jerome Carter S (IR) 73 Adam Goldberg T (IR) 82 Dante Hall WR/KR/PR (IR) 26 Tye Hill CB (IR) 68 Richie Incognito G (IR) 91 Leonard Little DE (IR) 22 Travis Minor RB (IR) 76 Orlando Pace T (IR) 66 Mark Setterstrom C (IR) 56 Raonall Smith LB (IR) 50 Pisa Tinoisamoa LB (IR) 87 Aaron Walker TE (IR) Practice squad 98 C. J. Ah You DE 58 Larry Edwards LB 18 Eric Fowler WR 32 Justin Phinisee CB 61 Donovan Raiola C 17 Dominique Thompson WR 36 John David Washington RB Rookies in italics 53 active, 12 inactive, 7 practice squad

Preseason

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Game site	NFL.com recap
1	August 10	at Minnesota Vikings	W 13–10	1–0	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	Recap
2	August 18	San Diego Chargers	L 13–30	1–1	Edward Jones Dome	Recap
3	August 24	at Oakland Raiders	L 10–20	1–2	McAfee Coliseum	Recap
4	August 30	Kansas City Chiefs	W 10–3	2–2	Edward Jones Dome	Recap

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Game site	NFL.com recap
1	September 9	Carolina Panthers	L 13–27	0–1	Edward Jones Dome	Recap
2	September 16	San Francisco 49ers	L 16–17	0–2	Edward Jones Dome	Recap
3	September 23	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 3–24	0–3	Raymond James Stadium	Recap
4	September 30	at Dallas Cowboys	L 7–35	0–4	Texas Stadium	Recap
5	October 7	Arizona Cardinals	L 31–34	0–5	Edward Jones Dome	Recap
6	October 14	at Baltimore Ravens	L 3–22	0–6	M&T Bank Stadium	Recap
7	October 21	at Seattle Seahawks	L 6–33	0–7	Qwest Field	Recap
8	October 28	Cleveland Browns	L 20–27	0–8	Edward Jones Dome	Recap
9	Bye
10	November 11	at New Orleans Saints	W 37–29	1–8	Louisiana Superdome	Recap
11	November 18	at San Francisco 49ers	W 13–9	2–8	Monster Park	Recap
12	November 25	Seattle Seahawks	L 19–24	2–9	Edward Jones Dome	Recap
13	December 2	Atlanta Falcons	W 28–16	3–9	Edward Jones Dome	Recap
14	December 9	at Cincinnati Bengals	L 10–19	3–10	Paul Brown Stadium	Recap
15	December 16	Green Bay Packers	L 14–33	3–11	Edward Jones Dome	Recap
16	December 20	Pittsburgh Steelers	L 24–41	3–12	Edward Jones Dome	Recap
17	December 30	at Arizona Cardinals	L 19–48	3–13	University of Phoenix Stadium	Recap

Standings

NFC West
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
(3) Seattle Seahawks	10	6	0	.625	5–1	8–4	393	291	L1
Arizona Cardinals	8	8	0	.500	3–3	5–7	404	399	W2
San Francisco 49ers	5	11	0	.313	3–3	4–8	219	364	L1
St. Louis Rams	3	13	0	.188	1–5	3–9	263	438	L4

Week-by-week results

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Week 1: vs. Carolina Panthers

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	7	0	7	13	27
Rams	7	3	3	0	13

at

St. Louis, Missouri

• Game time: 1:00 pm
  EDT/12:00 pm CDT
• Game weather: Indoors
• Game attendance: 65,307
• TV: FOX

The Rams began their 2007 campaign at home against

Steve Smith. In the fourth quarter, Carolina took over for the remainder of the game as kicker John Kasay

nailed a 34-yard field goal, Delhomme and Carter hooked up with each other again on a 9-yard TD pass, and Kasay finished the game with 32-yard field goal.

The game was notable when offensive tackle Orlando Pace had a season-ending injury. This injury severely hurt the Rams' offense.

With the loss, St. Louis began its season at 0–1.

Week 2: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	7	7	3	17
Rams	7	6	0	3	16

at

St. Louis, Missouri

• Game time: 1:00 pm
  EDT/10 AM PDT
• Game weather: 78 °F or 25.6 °C (Sunny) (Game was played indoors)
• Game attendance: 65,295
• Referee: Jeff Triplette

TV: FOX

Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Panthers, the Rams stayed at home for a Week 2 divisional duel against the San Francisco 49ers.

In the first quarter, St. Louis got on the board first with QB Marc Bulger completing a 12-yard TD pass to WR Torry Holt for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the 49ers tied the game up with RB Frank Gore getting a 1-yard TD run. The Rams would respond with kicker Jeff Wilkins getting a 27 and a 29-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, San Francisco took the lead with Gore getting an amazing 43-yard TD run for the only score of the period.

In the fourth quarter, St. Louis retook the lead with Wilkins getting a 53-yard field goal. However, when the Rams were on the receiving end of a kickoff, a muffed catch led to 49ers kicker Joe Nedney getting a 40-yard field goal. With little time left in the game, Bulger got his team into position for a game-winning field goal. Unfortunately, Wilkins' 56-yard attempt fell about a yard short of the crossbar.

With the loss, St. Louis fell to 0–2.

Week 3: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	0	0	0	3	3
Buccaneers	0	3	7	14	24

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

• Game time: Sunday September 23, 2007 – 1:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: 89 °F or 31.7 °C (Sunny)
• Game attendance: 65,257
• TV announcers (FOX): Sam Rosen, Tim Ryan, & Chris Myers

Trying to snap a two-game skid, the Rams flew to Raymond James Stadium for an intraconference duel with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After a scoreless first quarter, Tampa Bay managed to strike first prior to halftime with kicker Matt Bryant getting a 27-yard field goal. After a scoreless third quarter, St. Louis got its only score of the game with kicker Jeff Wilkins getting a 25-yard field goal to begin the fourth quarter. Afterwards, the Buccaneers ended the game with RB Earnest Graham getting an 8-yard and a 28-yard TD run.

With the loss, the Rams fell to 0–3.

Week 4: at Dallas Cowboys

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	0	7	0	0	7
Cowboys	0	14	21	0	35

• Game time: 1:00 pm EST
• Game weather: 85 °F or 29.4 °C (Sunny)
• Game attendance: 62,866
• Referee:
  Walt Anderson
• TV announcers (FOX): Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (color commentator), & Pam Oliver

(sideline reporter)

Still searching for their first win of the year, the Rams flew to Texas Stadium for a Week 4 showdown with the Dallas Cowboys. After a scoreless first quarter, St. Louis trailed early as Cowboys RB Julius Jones got a 2-yard TD run. Later in the period, the Rams would get their only score of the game as WR Dante Hall returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown. Afterwards, Dallas regained the lead with QB Tony Romo getting a 15-yard TD run.

In the third quarter, the Cowboys managed to put the game away with Romo hooking up with WR Patrick Crayton on a 59-yard and a 37-yard TD pass. Afterwards, the scoring ended with Romo's 17-yard TD pass to TE Jason Witten.

With no touchdowns in their last 30 offensive possessions to go with their fourth-straight loss, the Rams fell to 0–4.

Week 5: vs. Arizona Cardinals

Still searching for their first win of the year, the Rams went home for a Week 5 divisional duel with the Arizona Cardinals. With QB Marc Bulger out with an injured rib cage, back-up QB Gus Frerotte got the start. In the first quarter, St. Louis took the early lead with kicker Jeff Wilkins getting a 46-yard field goal. The Cardinals would tie the game with kicker Neil Rackers getting a 50-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Rams regained the lead with Frerotte completing a 16-yard TD pass to WR Drew Bennett. However, Arizona tied the game with RB Edgerrin James fumbling at the 1-yard line and OG Reggie Wells recovering the ball in the end zone. Afterwards, St. Louis regained the lead with Wilkins kicking a 35-yard field goal. However, the Cardinals took the lead prior to halftime with QB Kurt Warner getting a 1-yard TD run.

In the third quarter, the Rams regained the lead with Frerotte completing an 11-yard TD pass to WR Torry Holt. Afterwards, Arizona tied the game with Rackers nailing a 32-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, St. Louis continued its struggles with Cardinals CB Roderick Hood returning an interception 68 yards for a touchdown. The Rams would answer with Wilkins getting a 31-yard field goal, but the Cardinals increased its lead with Warner completing a 7-yard TD pass to WR Larry Fitzgerald. St. Louis tried to come back as Frerotte completed a 29-yard TD pass to TE Randy McMichael, along with Frerotte's 2-point conversion pass to Holt. Unfortunately, Arizona held on to win.

With yet another loss, the Rams fell to 0–5.

Week 6: at Baltimore Ravens

Still looking for their first win of the year, the Rams flew to M&T Bank Stadium for a Week 6 interconference duel with the Baltimore Ravens. With Marc Bulger still out with injuries, QB Gus Frerotte was given the start. In the first quarter, St. Louis' struggles continued with Ravens kicker Matt Stover getting a 43-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, Baltimore increased its lead with Stover kicking a 42-yard field goal, along with RB Willis McGahee getting a 6-yard TD run.

In the third quarter, the Rams continued its struggles with Stover giving the Ravens a 23-yard field goal. Afterwards, St. Louis got its only score of the game with kicker Jeff Wilkins getting a 32-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Baltimore finished the game with Stover getting a 31-yard and a 36-yard field goal.

With yet another loss, the Rams fell to 0–6 for the first time since 1962. It would be the second time in franchise history the Rams began a season 0–6.

During the loss, St. Louis committed 6 turnovers, with 5 of them being Frerotte interceptions.

Along with the Miami Dolphins, it marked the first time since the Bengals and Chargers in 2000 that two teams began a season at 0–6.

Week 7: at Seattle Seahawks

Still trying to get their first win of the year, the Rams flew to

In the third quarter, Seattle flew further into the lead with WR Nate Burleson returning the half's opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown. St. Louis would answer with Wilkins kicking a 29-yard field goal, yet the Seahawks continued its domination with Brown kicking a 48-yard and a 45-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Seattle sealed the win with Brown getting a 43-yard field goal, while Hasselbeck and Heller hooked up with each other again on an 11-yard TD pass.

With the loss, the Rams fell to 0–7 for the first time in franchise history.

Week 8: vs. Cleveland Browns

Still trying to get their first win of the year, the Rams came home for their Week 8 interconference duel with the Cleveland Browns. In the first quarter, RB Steven Jackson (in his first game back from a groin injury) helped St. Louis off to an early start with a 2-yard TD run. Afterwards, the Rams added onto their score with QB Marc Bulger completing a 1-yard TD pass to WR Torry Holt. The Browns would get on the board with kicker Phil Dawson getting a 35-yard field goal. In the second quarter, St. Louis' struggles continued as Cleveland took the lead with QB Derek Anderson completing a 12-yard TD pass to WR Braylon Edwards and a 21-yard TD pass to TE Kellen Winslow. The Rams' remaining response of the half was kicker Jeff Wilkins getting a 40-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, St. Louis continued to strain itself as Anderson and Edwards hooked up again to give the Browns a 5-yard TD pass. The Rams tried to come back as Wilkins kicked a 46-yard field goal. Unfortunately, St. Louis once again fell as Dawson nailed a 45-yard field goal for Cleveland.

With the loss, not only did the Rams enter their bye week at 0–8, but they became the first team since the 2001 Detroit Lions to begin a season 0–8 after finishing the previous season at .500 or better.

Week 10: at New Orleans Saints

Coming off their bye week, the winless Rams headed into New Orleans to face the streaking Saints, who'd won four straight games headed into the game. It looked much the same on the Saints opening drive that culminated in a 7-yard burst by Reggie Bush to give the Saints an early 7–0 lead. However, Steven Jackson answered with a 1-yard run of his own to tie the game toward the end of the 1st quarter.

Midway through the 2nd quarter, Randy McMichael gave the Rams a 14–7 lead on a 2-yard pass from Jackson. Jeff Wilkins made it a two-score game with a 49-yard field goal three minutes later. The Rams went to the locker room leading 17–7.

In the 2nd half, Wilkins kicked his 2nd field goal of the game, a 21-yard attempt, to increase the Rams lead to 13. Toward the end of the 3rd, Isaac Bruce caught a 9-yard pass by Marc Bulger to make it a 27–7 lead, and put the Rams in position for their first victory of 2007.

Drew Bennett added to the St. Louis lead by catching a three-yard pass by Bulger to give Bulger his second touchdown of the game, and to give St. Louis a surprising 34–7 lead. Drew Brees and Billy Miller hooked up for a 1-yard pass with 11:36 left to cut the lead to 34–13. The Saints then converted a two-point conversion on a Reggie Bush run, to make it 34–15. Aaron Stecker then scored on a two-yard run with 4:42 remaining to cut it to 34–21. This time, however, they failed on the two-point conversion. With 1:55 left, a Wilkins field goal made it 37–21, and, despite another New Orleans touchdown with 37 seconds left, the Rams held on for their first victory of 2007, a 37–29 win over the Saints.

With the win, the Rams improved to 1–8.

Week 11: at San Francisco 49ers

Coming off their first win of the year against the Saints, the Rams flew to

WR Isaac Bruce ended this game with 13,795 career receiving yards (6th All-Time).

• 
  Frank Gore takes a handoff
• 
  Rams running back Steven Jackson at the 49ers
• 
  Gore runs up the middle
• 
  Trent Dilfer hands off to Gore
• 
  Jeff Wilkins attempts a kick for the Rams
• 
  49ers punt return by Michael Lewis (wide receiver)
• 
  Rams QB Marc Bulger attempts a pass behind Brandon Moore (linebacker)
• 
  The 49ers on offense
• 
  49ers offensive line sets up

Week 12: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Coming off their divisional road win over the 49ers, the Rams went home for a Week 12 NFC West rematch with the Seattle Seahawks. In the first quarter, St. Louis got off to a fast start as rookie NT Adam Carriker tackled Seahawks RB Maurice Morris in Seattle's end zone for a safety, while RB Steven Jackson got a 53-yard TD run. The Seahawks immediately answered as CB Josh Wilson returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown. Afterwards, the Rams went back to work as QB Gus Frerotte completed a 15-yard TD pass to WR Isaac Bruce. In the second quarter, St. Louis improved its lead with kicker Jeff Wilkins getting a 23-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, Seattle drew closer as kicker Josh Brown nailed a 33-yard field goal, while QB Matt Hasselbeck completed a 9-yard TD pass to WR Deion Branch. In the fourth quarter, the Seahawks took the lead as RB Leonard Weaver got a 5-yard TD run. Near the end of the game, St. Louis managed to get into position to score from the Seahawks' 5-yard line. However, on four-straight down the Rams were kept out and Seattle managed to get the win.

With their sixth-straight loss to the Seahawks, the Rams fell to 2–9.

QB Marc Bulger (3/5 for 32 yards and 1 interception) left the game in the 1st quarter with a concussion and didn't make a return.

Week 13: vs. Atlanta Falcons