Man, some people get so butthurt when the Rams are criticized.
The 2013 Rams Defense finished 15th in total defense, 19th against the pass, 9th against the run, and had a -6 turn over ratio. They added a d lineman who, while he could be dominant, will be a rotational player, a nickle corner, and some corner depth.
The Rams will get more sacks this year (probably), and Ogletree will improve, but are we seriously expecting the addition of a rookie d lineman who will not play every down and a rotational corner and Gregg Williams defense to account for 6-8 sports up in total defense, 5-7 spots up against the pass, and maybe make us top 5 against the run? If we can't answer those questions with a confident yes, then we are relying on an offense that put up bloated, gaudy numbers in blow out games when trying to come from behind in the first half of the season and a run first offense to make up an additional 10-14 points a game at least to compensate.
The question marks on Offense are holding back the preseason previews, and skepticism that the Rams will be better against the pass and big plays is holding them back as well. Until the Rams go 8+ games and prove they have, in fact, changed their stripes, no one should buy into anything other than what they are: a .500 team that lacks a couple key playmakers on each side of the ball to get them over the hump.