- Joined
- Apr 22, 2016
- Messages
- 1,882
First of all, Happy New Years to all my fellow Rams fans. I've really enjoyed all the insight commentary this year - I learn something new each week, plus the vent thread is always nice catharsis.
Watching the games today, and realizing how easy it is to get used to being in the playoff picture after the last two seasons, it's a bit depressing, but I've come to accept that we are currently the third best in the West. I guess ultimately you are what your record says you are. So this is going to be an absolutely critical off season, one that will determine if we return to the SB hunt or slip back into mediocrity or worse. We will be playing in the toughest division in football, barring major injuries to the Hags or Whiners, (the NFC North being maybe the second toughest), and it's just not our luck to be able to look at six easy division wins every year a la the Cheatriots.
I've been thinking though about how we compare to the other teams in the West, and I feel like our receiving core and special teams are the best, although this was a down year in ways, like almost everything else. I think our secondary could be the best of the bunch (slightly edging out SF) if JJ returns healthy and Long/Williams develops into good outside/slot options. Rapp will have some experience under his belt, and Ramsey should be excellent, especially in a scheme that more truly fits his skills.
In other areas, sadly, we don't fare as well. Our O line obviously is a work in progress, which impacts everything else. Our RB situation is in limbo as well, as either something is wrong with Gurley or with how he was used (coaching), so SF and SEA both have a much better rushing attack at the moment (they were 2nd and 3rd in rushing yards per game -we were around 24th ), and SF has a much better DL, and Seattle has the edge at QB (based on performance not potential, Goff is probably 3rd right now). We probably have the biggest challenges in terms of cap and draft capital, although SF isn't in much better shape on cap space (Seattle is in the best shape cap-wise at the moment).
So what do I want to see this offseason and what are the biggest questions in my mind? Can McVay work on his offensive schemes, especially against the 6-1 fronts? Would he be willing to take on an OC who might help with in-game adjustments and planning? We lost a lot of good assistant coaches the last two seasons, and I think that hurt. Can we fix the O line? Do we need to move to another scheme or at least mix it up more? The blocking scheme we used against the Bears seemed to work better than our preferred outside zone and the 12 personnel seemed to work , too. I hope we find a C and G in FA or the draft, maybe use Corbett in the other one of those spots, and hope Whit returns (not sure Noteboom is the LT answer) and that Evans/Edwards keep developing. Then to me the three other huge questions: what do we really have in Goff, and can he get better with reading the field and avoiding TOs? Is Gurley healthy enough to be the feature back that this offense requires to be dynamic? Can Wade get the most out of a defense that's underachieved, at least in terms of consistency, during his tenure, or is time to move on?
Lots of huge questions and a thin margin for error, especially in the toughest division in football and with little draft capital until 2022. I like our coach and FO, plus I like our schedule next year, although that can change as teams rise/fall. This off season is going to be huge. Here's hoping for a great 2020!
Watching the games today, and realizing how easy it is to get used to being in the playoff picture after the last two seasons, it's a bit depressing, but I've come to accept that we are currently the third best in the West. I guess ultimately you are what your record says you are. So this is going to be an absolutely critical off season, one that will determine if we return to the SB hunt or slip back into mediocrity or worse. We will be playing in the toughest division in football, barring major injuries to the Hags or Whiners, (the NFC North being maybe the second toughest), and it's just not our luck to be able to look at six easy division wins every year a la the Cheatriots.
I've been thinking though about how we compare to the other teams in the West, and I feel like our receiving core and special teams are the best, although this was a down year in ways, like almost everything else. I think our secondary could be the best of the bunch (slightly edging out SF) if JJ returns healthy and Long/Williams develops into good outside/slot options. Rapp will have some experience under his belt, and Ramsey should be excellent, especially in a scheme that more truly fits his skills.
In other areas, sadly, we don't fare as well. Our O line obviously is a work in progress, which impacts everything else. Our RB situation is in limbo as well, as either something is wrong with Gurley or with how he was used (coaching), so SF and SEA both have a much better rushing attack at the moment (they were 2nd and 3rd in rushing yards per game -we were around 24th ), and SF has a much better DL, and Seattle has the edge at QB (based on performance not potential, Goff is probably 3rd right now). We probably have the biggest challenges in terms of cap and draft capital, although SF isn't in much better shape on cap space (Seattle is in the best shape cap-wise at the moment).
So what do I want to see this offseason and what are the biggest questions in my mind? Can McVay work on his offensive schemes, especially against the 6-1 fronts? Would he be willing to take on an OC who might help with in-game adjustments and planning? We lost a lot of good assistant coaches the last two seasons, and I think that hurt. Can we fix the O line? Do we need to move to another scheme or at least mix it up more? The blocking scheme we used against the Bears seemed to work better than our preferred outside zone and the 12 personnel seemed to work , too. I hope we find a C and G in FA or the draft, maybe use Corbett in the other one of those spots, and hope Whit returns (not sure Noteboom is the LT answer) and that Evans/Edwards keep developing. Then to me the three other huge questions: what do we really have in Goff, and can he get better with reading the field and avoiding TOs? Is Gurley healthy enough to be the feature back that this offense requires to be dynamic? Can Wade get the most out of a defense that's underachieved, at least in terms of consistency, during his tenure, or is time to move on?
Lots of huge questions and a thin margin for error, especially in the toughest division in football and with little draft capital until 2022. I like our coach and FO, plus I like our schedule next year, although that can change as teams rise/fall. This off season is going to be huge. Here's hoping for a great 2020!