I guess I'm just not capable of August dread.

[AvengerRam]

The facts are the facts.

The Rams are coming off a 5 win season.
The team lost four key starters on defense during the offseason.
The team didn't add any top end FAs, and lacked a first round pick.
The start of the schedule is brutal.

I should be feeling a sense of dread, shouldn't I?

And yet, I'm not.

I don't think I ever have at this time of the year.

Sure, there are years when I had more hope and more expectation of contending for a championship than I do this year (I'm eternally optimistic, but even I wouldn't go that far.) But I'm still hopeful.

I tell myself that a healthy "big 3" will make a huge difference. I look for breakout candidates (Akers, Jefferson, Atwell, Jones, Durant). I hold out hope that a few of our many first and second year players will emerge as high quality starters. I put my faith in McVay to steal a few games with superior game planning and play calling.

I feel no sense of dread.

I guess I'm just not wired that way.

 

[Faceplant]

Man, you start a lot of threads, haha.

I never feel any sense of "dread", because win or lose I will have fun watching the Rams (minus 2016 maybe...the BoreUs offense was truly offensive). I CAN, however, temper or grow expectations due to what I see on the roster leading into the season. This would be a temper year for me, haha. I see a ceiling of 9 wins, and a floor of 4.

I will be most interested in seeing how McVay and co game plan and prepare a young and relatively pedestrian roster this year. It's all about building for 24' and beyond for me.

 

[Tano]

Man, you start a lot of threads, haha.

I never feel any sense of "dread", because win or lose I will have fun watching the Rams (minus 2016 maybe...the BoreUs offense was truly offensive). I CAN, however, temper or grow expectations due to what I see on the roster leading into the season. This would be a temper year for me, haha. I see a ceiling of 9 wins, and a floor of 4.

I will be most interested in seeing how McVay and co game plan and prepare a young and relatively pedestrian roster this year. It's all about building for 24' and beyond for me.

2016 - I have said this over and over - the worst OC in the history of the NFL

Let's send out 5 receivers within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage on 7 out of 10 pass plays in the first half and see if we can get a completion.

Don't believe me - go rewatch those games. I did at one time and just shuddered at the stupidity of those plays over and over again.

That is why I still had high hopes with Goff after that season because no QB could have been successful with that game plan.

 

[AvengerRam]

Man, you start a lot of threads, haha.

I never feel any sense of "dread", because win or lose I will have fun watching the Rams (minus 2016 maybe...the BoreUs offense was truly offensive). I CAN, however, temper or grow expectations due to what I see on the roster leading into the season. This would be a temper year for me, haha. I see a ceiling of 9 wins, and a floor of 4.

I will be most interested in seeing how McVay and co game plan and prepare a young and relatively pedestrian roster this year. It's all about building for 24' and beyond for me.

I get paid by -X- on volume, so...

My expectations are a bit higher than yours, but I'm not expecting miracles. I'll be happy as long as I feel like the arrow is pointing up at the end of the year.

 

[Ram65]

When will the dread come? After which game will ROD implode? It's a tough early schedule.

Hags
Whiners
Bengals
Colts
Eagles

I try to be optimistic. The offense looks good. The defense has lots of ??????. Teams still can't cover and FGs could be an adventure.

It's funny because just yesterday I was thinking to myself what if the Rams win the first two games?

CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!

Realistically it's hoping the offense stays healthy and gets back to near to top-level.

The defense has young guys that I hope can step up. Building toward next year.

 

[Londoner]

Expect nothing.

Then anything above that will be a pleasant surprise.

 

[Rams8821]

Dread???

We won a super bowl less than 18 months ago.
We have played in 2 of the last 5 super bowls
We've won 3 division championships in the last 6 years (More than any other team in the west)
We've been in the playoffs 4 of the last 6 seasons...

99% of NFL franchises would be ecstatic with our recent success.

I expect a solid season in 23, but considering the above, its all gravy....we got the right folks in place now.

 

[RhodyRams]

8 wins with this young roster would be a plus

 

[Psycho_X]

A LOT of things can happen to every NFL team and the ones they face every season that completely changes a lot of their trajectories throughout the season. There's no reason for any team to feel dread right now... well except maybe the Cardinals. But seriously there are so many things that can happen that can completely F us over hard or propel us to the playoffs that there's no reason to feel dread.

I'm extremely excited to watch this team this season.

 

[Rams43]

I feel pretty confident that this Ram team will be competitive, especially after the first month or so as they settle in.

There is a lot of talent on this roster even though some of it is very inexperienced.

I love their ‘new’ coaching staff, too.

This will be a fun team to watch.

 

[den-the-coach]

Something's wrong, shut the light
Heavy thoughts tonight
And they aren't of Snow White
Dreams of war, dreams of 49ers
Dreams of dragon's fire
And of things that will bite, yeah

Always loved listening to that before a football game. I believe the offense will be very good, but will they be able to score enough points? The defense will have to grow with hopes that Hoecht & Young can provide pressure and somebody will be able to stop the run.

Concur with @Rams43 about the coaching staff even good ole Raheem, who everybody loves to listen to, but dislikes his defensive scheme. I see myself enjoying single malts early in the schedule, followed by red, red wine by end of the season.

 

[Mojo Ram]

When will the dread come?

In the GDT? That’s easy. The first 3 n out on offense. The first 3rd n long converted on defense.

If the GDT was a foxhole during WWII I’d rather be hiding behind a tree.

 

[Allen2McVay]

...

I should be feeling a sense of dread, shouldn't I?

And yet, I'm not.

I don't think I ever have at this time of the year.

...

I feel no sense of dread.

I guess I'm just not wired that way.

OK but have you really tried? I mean, really applied yourself?

 

[snackdaddy]

I guess I don't like setting myself up for disappointment. Sure, they can surprise the whole league and win a bunch of games. It happened in 1999 and 2017.

But it sure didn't happen from 2005 to 2016. Or 1990 to 1998. So I've seen this story before. While I hope for the best I'm prepared for the worst.

 

[OldSchool]

Never felt dread don't understand those that do and have written off the season already. We see it with the Dodgers too, is it an LA thing?

 

[Merlin]

Still too busy polishing that Lombardi.

 

[RamDino]

Never felt dread don't understand those that do and have written off the season already. We see it with the Dodgers too, is it an LA thing?

If you're not first.. you're last! -LA fans

 

[Merlin]

I used to love watching all the fans leave in the seventh inning stretch to beat traffic. Allowed me to get better seats and finish out the game.

 

[XXXIVwin]

"We are like lambs in a field, disporting themselves under the eye of the butcher, who chooses out first one and then another for his prey. So it is that in our good days we are all unconscious of the evil Fate may have presently in store for us..."

--Arthur Schopenhauer

 

[Snaz]

I guess I don't like setting myself up for disappointment. Sure, they can surprise the whole league and win a bunch of games. It happened in 1999 and 2017.

But it sure didn't happen from 2005 to 2016. Or 1990 to 1998. So I've seen this story before. While I hope for the best I'm prepared for the worst.

1995 4-0 to start the season.