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The Rams featured one of the worst offenses in the NFL last season, and, apparently, a new offensive coordinator and an old tight end will fix things. Huh. According to SI.com's Bucky Brooks, Randy McMichael, who caught just 39 passes last season (his worst effort in his six-year career), will be the impetus for change, courtesy of Al Saunders' delectable schemes. In theory, anyway.

Saunders was the OC in St. Louis under Dick Vermeil, so he's had some success here, but after a forgettable two-year stint in Washington, his reputation as an offensive mastermind has taken a hit.

"He has the ability to put up big numbers in that offense," said a NFC scout. "I'm not saying that he is a better player than Chris Cooley, but he is a better athlete and he'll get enough opportunities to be a problem for the defense." ...

Under Saunders' direction, the starting tight end has averaged 72 receptions for 900 yards and six touchdowns. Saunders, who undoubtedly learned how to utilize the tight end while as working as an offensive assistant on Don Coryell's staff with the Chargers during the Kellen Winslow era, builds his attack from inside-out, using the running back and tight end in prominent roles.

That's all well and good -- and I don't think anybody would question Saunders' competence based on his track -- but there's a huge difference between working with, say, Tony Gonzalez during his time in Kansas City and trying to make something of the current Rams offense.

Sure, there's Marc Bulger, Steven Jackson and Torry Holt, and the offensive line will be much better than the ragtag bunch from last season (if for no other reason than every starter isn't on injured reserve), but is this unit good enough to, in Brooks' words, "[get] out of the doldrums and back to the ranks of the elite"? I'm skeptical.