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 13 consecutive seasons 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. 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.
On February 23, 2007, the Rams allocated five players to NFL Europa: Mike Brown and Josh Lay went to the Berlin Thunder; and Jeremy Parquet, Tim Sandidge, and John David Washington went to the Hamburg Sea Devils.
Free agency On opening day of the free agency, the Rams traded a fifth round draft choice to the Detroit Lions for James Hall. On March 3, 2007, the Rams signed Drew Bennett to a six-year, $30 million deal. Unrestricted free agents Todd Steussie and Travis Minor re-signed with the Rams each for a one-year deal. The Rams acquired 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. On March 21, 2007, the Rams signed Randy McMichael to a three-year deal. On March 26, 2007, Marshall Faulk announced his retirement from the NFL.
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. Sander was released from the Rams two days later.
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 Iowa quarterback Drew Tate. The Rams brought four wide receivers: North Carolina State's Lamart Barrett, Wake Forest's Nate Morton, Hofstra's Shaine Smith and Texas State's Markee White. They added Boise State fullback Brad Lau, Nevada running back Robert Hubbard, University of Pittsburgh tight end Steve Buches, University of Washington guard Stanley Daniels, and Massachusetts guard David Thompson to the Rams' offense. They also added four defensive backs: Alabama free safety Jeffery Dukes, 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.
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
The 2007 NFL draft began on April 28, 2007, and with the thirteenth pick overall, the Rams selected Defensive end Adam Carriker from Nebraska. The Rams have said that Carriker would be moved to the Defensive tackle position to help with the run defense. With the Rams second round pick they selected Fullback Brian Leonard out of Rutgers. His style of play is similar to that of Jim Taylor.
On the second day of the draft the Rams selected Cornerback Jonathan Wade from Tennessee in the third round. With a 4.4 second 40-yard dash, Wade will add some speed at the cornerback position. In the fifth round the Rams selected Center Dustin Fry out of Clemson. With Andy McCollum and Brett Romberg competing for the starting position at Center, Fry will likely be the third stringer at that position. Later in the fifth round the Rams selected Defensive tackle Clifton Ryan from Michigan State. The Rams stated that he will be used as a Nose Tackle. In the sixth round 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. 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.
The Rams traded their fourth-round selection (117th overall) for the Detroit Lions two of their three fifth-round selections (139th and 154th overall). The Rams traded their seventh-round selection (225th overall) to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for signing restricted free agent Donnie Jones. 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
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 at Minnesota Vikings W 13–10 1–0 Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeRecap 2 San Diego Chargers L 13–30 1–1 Edward Jones DomeRecap 3 at Oakland Raiders L 10–20 1–2 McAfee ColiseumRecap 4 Kansas City Chiefs W 10–3 2–2 Edward Jones DomeRecap
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 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 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
Week-by-week results
Week 1: vs. Carolina Panthers
The Rams began their 2007 campaign at home against the Carolina Panthers. In the first quarter, St. Louis trailed early as Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Drew Carter. The Rams would tie the game with quarterback Marc Bulger completing a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Torry Holt. In the second quarter, St. Louis would take the lead with kicker Jeff Wilkins getting a 42-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the third quarter, Wilkins added to the Rams' lead with a 28-yard field goal. However, this was all wiped out as Delhomme completed a 68-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver 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 touchdown 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
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 quarterback Marc Bulger completing a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Torry Holt for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the 49ers tied the game up with running back Frank Gore getting a 1-yard touchdown 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 touchdown 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
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 running back Earnest Graham getting an 8-yard and a 28-yard touchdown run.
With the loss, the Rams fell to 0–3.
Week 4: at Dallas Cowboys
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 running back Julius Jones got a 2-yard touchdown run. Later in the period, the Rams would get their only score of the game as wide receiver Dante Hall returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown. Afterwards, Dallas regained the lead with quarterback Tony Romo getting a 15-yard touchdown run.
In the third quarter, the Cowboys managed to put the game away with Romo hooking up with wide receiver Patrick Crayton on a 59-yard and a 37-yard touchdown pass. Afterwards, the scoring ended with Romo's 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end 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