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Last Word on Pro Football
Last Word On Sports brings you NFL news, analysis, rumors, fantasy, and commentary coverage from a dedicated staff with a decade of experience covering the game.
As we head into the 2020 season, the past decade brought plenty of change to the Los Angeles Rams. You might call it a tale of two cities as the Rams were a dismal 36-59-1 in St. Louis for their first six seasons of the 2010s. Then the franchise embarked in a triumphant return to Los Angeles by going 37-27 in their march back to prominence. The Rams homecoming was highlighted by a Super Bowl appearance and a roster filled with stars, who could contend for an NFC West division title well into the next decade. Some of the names on the Rams All-Decade Team have brought great joy and disappointment to their fan base, but no one can deny the lasting memories they provided all.
Quarterback: Jared Goff (2016-19)
You may get an argument from die-hard Rams fans who want to nominate Sam Bradford, but the franchise’s quarterback of the decade is Jared Goff. Sure, everyone had concerns about Goff following his disappointing rookie season. But the next three years have been quite productive and firmly established his place on the Rams All-Decade Team, and in Rams history in general.
Goff’s passing numbers for the 2010s were 14,219 yards, 87 touchdowns, 42 interceptions with a 62.4 pass completion percentage in 54 games played. The biggest contribution Goff has brought to the Rams is his poise in the pocket that allows him to make plays with a small chance of turning the ball over. Career-wise, he is 33-21 as a starting quarterback, but you have to take into account that Goff was winless in seven starts during his rookie season. Thus after a rocky start, Goff has led the Rams to three consecutive winning seasons including four playoff games and one Super Bowl appearance.
The bottom line, Goff’s career with the Rams has been quietly very successful with a few bumps along the road. And he has the rare opportunity to be a player who could make consecutive appearances on a team’s All-Decade Team. That’s quite an achievement.
Running Back: Todd Gurley (2015-19)
The phrase that might best describe Todd Gurley’s career with the Rams is “short but sweet.” Gurley is an underrated all-around running back who rushed for 5,404 yards and scored 58 touchdowns in 74 games played with the franchise. Plus, he caught 218 passes for 2,090 yards with 12 touchdown receptions. This earned him three Pro Bowl appearances and two All-Pro team selections during his time with the Rams. No question, Gurley’s 2017 season cemented his place in Rams lore and on the Rams All-Decade Team as he gained just under 2,100 yards from scrimmage and scored 19 touchdowns.
The amount of productivity achieved is quite astonishing considering the severity of Gurley’s ACL injury in his junior season at Georgia. But the wear-and-tear of being an NFL running back has begun to take a toll on his body. Last season, Gurley’s production slowed down as he became more of a situational option in the offense. Nevertheless, Gurley has earned his place among the Rams all-time great (Marshall Faulk, Eric Dickerson and Steven Jackson) running backs.
Wide Receivers: Robert Woods (2017-19), Cooper Kupp (2017-19), Danny Amendola (2010-12)
One of the franchise’s major shortcomings in the 2010s was the lack of quality receivers on the roster. Too many quick-fix candidates came with high expectations, but little production on the football field. But that all change after the free agent signing of Robert Woods from the Buffalo Bills.
Woods is a terrific route runner who can stretch the defense for the occasional deep throw, but his toughness going across the middle for a reception is Woods’ forte. Plus, he’s a terrific downfield blocker that often extended running plays into the end zone.
Woods’ production with the Rams has been nothing short of spectacular as he has caught 232 passes for 3,134 receiving yards with 13 touchdowns. In fact, he became the franchise’s first wideout to record consecutive (2018-19) 1,000 receiving yard seasons since Torry Holt accomplished this feat in 2006-07.
Cooper Kupp is a remarkable story as he worked his way through the ranks of the Rams receiving corp. At first, Kupp was used strictly as a slot receiver on third-down passing situations. More playing time came his way after developing an immediate connection with Goff. However, a devastating knee injury prematurely ended Kupp’s 2018 campaign, which ended with the Rams playing in the Super Bowl. Some fans suggest Goff lost his effectiveness as a passer with Kupp out of the lineup.
For his career, Kupp’s production has been outstanding. He’s caught 196 passes for 2,596 receiving yards and 21 touchdown receptions in three seasons with the Rams. No question, Kupp is on a path to become one of the most decorative receivers in Rams team history. But that is all provided he can stay healthy and remain productive heading into the next decade.
Finally, Danny Amendola was the best wide receiver for the Rams during their final seasons in St. Louis. He was an ideal third-down receiver as Amendola made the majority of his catches (153 for 1,400 yards) across the middle or in red zone. Quickly, he became Bradford’s top target as the young quarterback looked for Amendola to bail out the offense on key passing downs. It was his destiny to leave the franchise. Amendola became Tom Brady’s top slot receiver option in the New England Patriots passing game.
Tight End: Jared Cook (2013-15)
By far, Jared Cook was the most productive tight end for the Rams in the 2010s. He caught 142 passes for 1,786 yards and eight touchdowns in three seasons with the franchise. At first, Cook struggled to gain notice from the coaching staff, but their opinion of him quickly changed. Soon, the Rams coaches began to incorporate him into a struggling passing game. It didn’t take too long before Cook became a top target downfield. After his departure, the Rams haven’t found a suitable replacement for him as prospective candidates cannot match Cook’s production on the field.
Offensive Tackles: Andrew Whitworth (2017-19), Rob Havenstein (2015-19)
Few NFL players have ever lived up to their big money free agent contract deals, but Andrew Whitworth has been a diamond in the rough. The Rams thought they were getting a stop-gap option at the left tackle position with the signing of Whitworth. But, he became much more than that as it didn’t take long before Whitworth became the leader of the offensive line. In his first season with the Rams, he earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors with his outstanding play. It doesn’t seem like his dominating style is tailing off any time soon.
Rob Havenstein isn’t a perfect offensive tackle, but he’s very effective at his job. Havenstein brings stability to the unit. He rarely misses games due to injury. Havenstein came to the Rams with high expectations as a second-round draft pick, he’s done a nice job of becoming a perennial starter for the second half of the decade.
Offensive Guards: Rodger Saffold (2010-18), Jamon Brown (2015-18)
Rodger Saffold deserves his spot on the Rams All-Decade Team as he’s played both the tackle and guard positions for the franchise. It wasn’t an easy tenure as Saffold battled through a number of injuries to remain in the lineup. Once he recovered, Saffold became a valuable member of the Rams offensive line until his departure after the 2018 season.
Jamon Brown was a serviceable starting offensive guard for the Rams, but the front office was continuously looking for his replacement each off-season. Brown’s block technique wasn’t textbook in nature. Yet, it opened holes and allowed Gurley to shine brightest as an elite NFL running back.
Center: John Sullivan (2017-18)
John Sullivan didn’t have a lengthy stay (two seasons) with the Rams, but his presence was immediately felt inside the locker room. Sullivan brought stability and leadership to a unit that seemed lost on the field. His calming influence converted five individuals into one cohesive group that allowed Goff to gain the confidence needed to become a promising young starting quarterback.
Last Word on Pro Football
Last Word On Sports brings you NFL news, analysis, rumors, fantasy, and commentary coverage from a dedicated staff with a decade of experience covering the game.
As we head into the 2020 season, the past decade brought plenty of change to the Los Angeles Rams. You might call it a tale of two cities as the Rams were a dismal 36-59-1 in St. Louis for their first six seasons of the 2010s. Then the franchise embarked in a triumphant return to Los Angeles by going 37-27 in their march back to prominence. The Rams homecoming was highlighted by a Super Bowl appearance and a roster filled with stars, who could contend for an NFC West division title well into the next decade. Some of the names on the Rams All-Decade Team have brought great joy and disappointment to their fan base, but no one can deny the lasting memories they provided all.
Defensive Ends: Robert Quinn (2011-17), Chris Long (2010-15)
The front seven of the Rams defense has been the heart-and-soul of the franchise for the last decade. The defensive line provided a fierce pass rush while the linebackers were rock-solid against the run. Robert Quinn and Chris Long were the perfect bookend duo at the defensive end position for the team, easily landing them on the Rams All-Decade Team.
Quinn was a terrific pass-rusher as he recorded double-digit sacks (2012-14) for three consecutive seasons. Arguably, his 2013 season should go down as one of the most dominant by a pass-rusher in NFL history. He recorded 19 sacks, 34 quarterback hits, tackled a ball-carrier 23 times behind the line of scrimmage and forced seven fumbles on the season. Often a stat sheet of this nature is filled by two or three players, not one defender. For his effort, Quinn was named to both the All-Pro and Pro Bowl team that season. The lone negative with Quinn during his time with the Rams was the amount of nagging injuries that kept him out of the lineup.
Two words come to mind when Long’s name is mentioned: reliable and productive. He was a three-down defensive end as he could rush (45.5 sacks) the quarterback and play the run (56 tackle for losses) just as effectively. Plus, Long was a vocal team leader for the Rams as his voice was heard on the field and in the locker room. Had Long had the opportunity to play in a major media market like Los Angeles, his impact on the league could have been significant. He is a quality person on-and-off the field.
Defensive Tackles: Aaron Donald (2014-19), Michael Brockers (2012-19)
It’s hard to imagine a better defender that played in the 2010s than Aaron Donald. In his six seasons with the Rams, Donald has won some hardware for his outstanding play: a five-time All-Pro selectee, six-time Pro Bowl honoree and a two-time winner of the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award. If you’re not catching on, Donald is a special football player. Often, he creates havoc in an opponent’s backfield. Donald has recorded double-digit sacks in four seasons and before it’s all over, he could be considered “the best-ever” to play at the defensive tackle position.
Michael Brockers is your classic “stay-at-home” interior defensive lineman. His ability to take on multiple blockers has allowed Donald to roam freely and make plays on opposing ballcarriers. Brockers production has been solid all throughout the decade. In eight seasons with the Rams, he has recorded 23 sacks, 52 quarterback hits and 43 tackles for loss. Brockers’ importance to the defense should never be overlooked.
Linebackers: Alec Ogletree (2013-17), James Laurinaitis (2010-15), Mark Barron (2014-18)
In today’s NFL, you need athletic linebackers who are versatile enough to play both the inside and outside positions depending on the scheme run by the coaching staff. Alec Ogletree falls under this category as he began his Rams career at the outside linebacker position before moving to the inside. Now, Ogletree never seemed comfortable on the edge as he appeared to be lost on pass coverage. However as an inside linebacker, Ogletree became the Rams leading tackler (2013-14) in two consecutive seasons. And over time, Ogletree supplanted James Laurinaitis as the unit’s leader.
If you’re looking for that one individual who brought change on the football field for the Rams, then look no further than Laurinaitis. In his six seasons with the franchise, Laurinaitis quickly became the leading voice inside the locker room and his play set the tone each week in games. He made 112 consecutive starts during his time with the Rams. Often, Laurinaitis led the team in tackles (655 for his career) before a man named Ogletree came on-board. One might feel his time with the Rams was way too short.
Mark Barron’s career with the Rams was quite unique as he came to the franchise as a safety and left as an outside linebacker. Injuries forced Barron to switch positions as he gained immediate success lining up on the edge. Barron was solid tackler and very reliable in pass coverage schemes. The lone complaint about him was his inconsistency in getting to the quarterback.
Cornerbacks: Trumaine Johnson (2012-17), Janoris Jenkins (2012-15)
For most of the decade, the Rams secondary has been one of the best units in the NFL. The partnership of Trumaine Johnson and Janoris Jenkins rose immediately to elite status for most of the 2010s. Both players were part of the Rams 2012 draft class.
Johnson was more of a physical defender who punished opponents off the line of scrimmage. Jenkins developed into an excellent showdown corner who used his quickness to stifle top receivers in one-on-one coverage. In fact, he tied an NFL record of returning three interceptions for touchdowns in his rookie season. Johnson had 18 interceptions in his six seasons with the Rams. Jenkins recorded 10 interceptions in his four seasons with the franchise.
It was unfortunate that neither player could remain with the Rams longer as each moved on via free agency.
Safeties: TJ McDonald (2013-16), LaMarcus Joyner (2014-18)
Many Rams fans thought TJ McDonald would become the centerpiece of the defense for many years to come. McDonald was a vastly underrated safety as he could knock an opposing receiver off-stride with a vicious hit. Plus, his pass coverage technique was textbook perfect. This helped McDonald in picking off a pass or two during his career with the Rams.
LaMarcus Joyner is another versatile pass defender who could play all four secondary positions. Joyner bounced between cornerback, slotback and safety before the Rams coaching staff moved him permanently to the safety position prior to the 2017 season. Despite having outstanding pass coverage skills, many opposing coaches rave more about Joyner’s ability to defend the run.
Kicker: Greg Zuerlein (2012-19)
It’s hard to find an NFL kicker with a stronger leg than Greg Zuerlein. He has successfully converted 82 percent of his career field goal attempts. Plus, Zuerlein has made 33 field goals that were over 50 yards in length and is one of three kickers (Brett Maher and Sebastian Janikowski) to have two or more field goals over 60 yards. Simply put, Zuerlein is one of the best kickers to ever play in the NFL.
Punter: Johnny Hekker (2012-19)
Rams fans should never take for granted how great a punter is Johnny Hekker. In fact, the partnership of Hekker and Zuerlein has made the Rams kicking combo one of the best in the 2010s. Hekker has been a four-time All-Pro selection and he was named to four Pro Bowls as well. He’s averaged 47.0 yards-per-kick for a career and no one will forget his 65-yard punt against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII. Plus, Hekker is a terrific executor of the fake punt for the Rams.
