2012 Two-a-Days: St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515

To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2012 NFL season I am going to be giving a look to two teams a day. I will give you their impact players on offense and defense, a breakout, and the biggest question as they open training camp.

Offense
QB - Sam Bradford
RB - Steven Jackson
RB - Isiah Pead (rookie)
WR - Danny Amendola
WR - Brian Quick (rookie)

Defense
DE - Chris Long
DT - Michael Brockers (rookie)
DE - Robert Quinn
MLB - James Laurinaitis
CB - Courtland Finnegan (acquired in free agency)

Sam Bradford QB

Breakout: Chris Long - You can the high draft starting to pile up and specifically on defense. Now that teams can no longer double team the defensive end I can Long breaking out this season and becoming one of the top sack artists in the league. He has gotten more sacks each year and could improve on his 13.5 from a season ago.

Training Camp Question: Sam Bradford is the last of his kind and that his rich man before proving on the NFL stage. The Rams need their quarterback to take the next if they are going to move forward with him. He still does not have great weapons around him, but he is running out of time to show that he is a starting NFL quarterback.

Last year's record: 2-14

Projected finish: 8-8 (Second in the NFC West)

Offense
QB - Josh Freeman
RB - Doug Martin (rookie)
RB - LaGarrette Blount
WR - Vincent Jackson (acquired in free agency)
WR - Mike Williams

Defense
DT - Gerald McCoy
DE - Adrian Clayborn
CB - Aquib Talib
S - Mark Barron (rookie)
S - Ronde Barber

2012 1st and 2nd round picks

Breakout: Doug Martin - Even with the loss of Davin Joseph, their pro-bowl lineman, I think Martin has enough ability even as a rookie to reach benchmarks such as 1,000 yards and five scores. He will probably share time with Blount all season, but is clearly earning the lead role.

Training Camp Question: The defense is mixture of sexy name, talented rookie, and third-year guys that need to break out. The unit has a chance to be one of the worst again, but if a few players come to the form that was expected of them when they were drafted, the Bucs could surprise.

Last year's record: 4-12

Projected finish: 6-10 (Fourth in the NFC South)


**Check back tomorrow for the Titans and Redskins**