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- May 8, 2014
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No pun intended on the title, although maybe there should have been. Either way this season is about wrapped up now so wanted to take a quick spin through the offensive depth and see what it looks like. Here goes...
Key
Elite
Above Average
Average
Below Average / Unproven
Not Good Enough
Cut
(Cap hit or FA status for 2020 is in parenthesis)
Offense
WR: Kupp ($1.1M); Webster (ERFA)
WR: Woods ($9.1M); Reynolds ($.8M)
WR: Cooks ($16.8M with a potential out in 2021 that brings $13M cap hit); Thomas (UFA)
LT: Whitworth (UFA); Brewer ($.5M)
LG: Corbett ($1.1M); Noteboom ($.9M)
C: Blythe (UFA); Shelton (ERFA); Allen ($.8M)
RG: Edwards ($.6M);Demby ($.6M)
RT: Evans ($.8M); Havenstein ($7.8M, dead cap drops to $1.6M after 2020 season)
TE1: Higbee ($8.6M); Mundt (ERFA)
TE2: Everett ($1.9M); Blanton (ERFA)
QB: Goff ($36M); Bortles (UFA)
RB: Gurley ($17.2M); Brown ($1.1M); Henderson ($.9M)
Offensive summary:
Right out the gate it's clear that the slip in Cooks' play has hurt this team. Not only has his play completely degraded, but he is paid very well. Paired with him in the paid well but not producing at the level of previous season are Goff & Gurley. I realize some are going to disagree on where I ranked these guys on the key, but I think the OL deficiencies give both Goff (who needs to work on mechanics this offseason Jesus) and Gurley (who has dipped from an elite player to a plus runner) the benefit of the doubt, i.e. both will be above average IF the Rams fix the line.
Second thing that is noticeable is the lack of talent on the offensive line. Edwards & Evans might both become above average next season and I think at least one of them will, but for now they're average for roster planning purposes. Whit as above average is iffy, however he is still better than that midrange group so that's why he is in blue even though we all understand his UFA status and age make it difficult to think he is retained when the line needs more talent. Rams don't have draft capital to go get everything they need, so I would think they try to bring in a FA to settle this group down that isn't on the verge of his play dropping off a cliff (which is Whit's problem).
Now I know some will call me a hater with Brown being below average. But the deal here is he's not a guy we can count on as a primary backup. That's clear now after two seasons in a row and a sizable element in our struggles this season.
Offensive need list is as I see it...
1. (Starter) LT.
2. (Starter) C.
3. (Depth) RB.
4. (Depth) QB.
Curious how you guys are seeing things am I being a jerk here?
Key
Elite
Above Average
Average
Below Average / Unproven
Not Good Enough
(Cap hit or FA status for 2020 is in parenthesis)
Offense
WR: Kupp ($1.1M); Webster (ERFA)
WR: Woods ($9.1M); Reynolds ($.8M)
WR: Cooks ($16.8M with a potential out in 2021 that brings $13M cap hit); Thomas (UFA)
LT: Whitworth (UFA); Brewer ($.5M)
LG: Corbett ($1.1M); Noteboom ($.9M)
C: Blythe (UFA); Shelton (ERFA); Allen ($.8M)
RG: Edwards ($.6M);
RT: Evans ($.8M); Havenstein ($7.8M, dead cap drops to $1.6M after 2020 season)
TE1: Higbee ($8.6M); Mundt (ERFA)
TE2: Everett ($1.9M); Blanton (ERFA)
QB: Goff ($36M); Bortles (UFA)
RB: Gurley ($17.2M); Brown ($1.1M); Henderson ($.9M)
Offensive summary:
Right out the gate it's clear that the slip in Cooks' play has hurt this team. Not only has his play completely degraded, but he is paid very well. Paired with him in the paid well but not producing at the level of previous season are Goff & Gurley. I realize some are going to disagree on where I ranked these guys on the key, but I think the OL deficiencies give both Goff (who needs to work on mechanics this offseason Jesus) and Gurley (who has dipped from an elite player to a plus runner) the benefit of the doubt, i.e. both will be above average IF the Rams fix the line.
Second thing that is noticeable is the lack of talent on the offensive line. Edwards & Evans might both become above average next season and I think at least one of them will, but for now they're average for roster planning purposes. Whit as above average is iffy, however he is still better than that midrange group so that's why he is in blue even though we all understand his UFA status and age make it difficult to think he is retained when the line needs more talent. Rams don't have draft capital to go get everything they need, so I would think they try to bring in a FA to settle this group down that isn't on the verge of his play dropping off a cliff (which is Whit's problem).
Now I know some will call me a hater with Brown being below average. But the deal here is he's not a guy we can count on as a primary backup. That's clear now after two seasons in a row and a sizable element in our struggles this season.
Offensive need list is as I see it...
1. (Starter) LT.
2. (Starter) C.
3. (Depth) RB.
4. (Depth) QB.
Curious how you guys are seeing things am I being a jerk here?