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LA Rams boast 5 players ripe for Pro Bowl seasons
LA Rams have 5 players ripe for Pro Bowl seasons in 2020: two on offense and three on defense. Who are they? Will they have a breakout year?
ramblinfan.com
The LA Rams have plenty of talented players. Both on offense and defense, established veterans who are perennial stars are projected to put in another season of sustaining their NFL star status. Over the years, the Rams have been an incubation chamber of NFL talent. The team has an uncanny knack of finding prospects ripe with NFL potential, and then patiently developing those players over the course of several years into talented players.
But every now and then, a player comes along who just “gets it”. When that happens, the chemistry between players and coaching staff shows up in a big way on the field. For many reasons, those special types of connections convert into special types of players. After all, it makes sense, doesn’t it? If a player is so finely attuned to the methods taught by position coaches and coordinators, they’ll most likely deliver that same comprehension more quickly and thoroughly than their teammates.
Spotlights vs. Stars
We’ve seen it happen for the Rams before. Players who are average to above average on other teams suddenly emerge into football stars when they wear the horns. Perfect examples are that of former Rams stars Dante Fowler Jr. and Cory Littleton. While Fowler was an above-average defender with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he didn’t unleash his full potential until he signed on with the LA Rams in 2018. From that point on, he played at an entirely different level.
A different path awaited Cory Littleton. He was an undrafted inside linebacker for the Rams who impressed coaches so well on special teams that he was given an opportunity to play defensive snaps. From that moment on, he never looked back. And so, the Rams have a new season, and we’re left wondering who will step up in a big way. Who might that be? We have five players who are well-positioned to play at a pro-bowl level in 2020.
OG Edwards
The LA Rams offensive line was about as an unlucky group of professional football players in the NFL in 2019. The squad ran through how many players last season? Including the five starters who ended the season, the team had nine starters in various combinations in 2019. Of the nine, five had either post-season surgery, significant injuries, or both. That’s a difficult way to play a football season.
But it’s a good way to find future stars for the team. Trial by fire, throwing young offensive linemen out into NFL games and observing which players perform well, tread water, or simply collapse under the pressure. Right offensive guard David Edwards performed very well. Let’s pause and frame that performance for a moment. Edwards was drafted as an offensive tackle. He trained as an offensive lineman. But he started as an offensive guard for the Rams, and he did an admirable job.
Focus on proficiency
Now he has benefitted from an entire season of zeroing in on one offensive line position, he needn’t try to study the plays and scripts of all positions on the offensive line. The other four positions may or may not be up for grabs, but the right guard position is all about David Edwards this season. It’s a well-deserved promotion over last year’s status. But that’s only the beginning for Edwards in 2020. After all, the coaching staff won’t place the offensive linemen in overmatched situations this season, which will allow Edwards to grow exponentially this season.
The weakest link in the LA Rams offense was the center position and the two gaps to either side of the center. That weak spot proved to be difficult to fix last season, most likely due to the stream of new players starting in any given week. But the Rams will fix that weakness in 2020, which will give Edwards a much better opportunity to improve his run blocking and blitz pickups. And the scare of ranking as only the 31st offensive line in the NFL has pushed all linemen to work even harder for this year. The Rams recorded some good chemistry with starters Andrew Whitworth, Austin Corbett, Austin Blythe, David Edwards, and Bobby Evans to finish off 2019. While the competition between veteran Rob Havenstein and second-year player Evans may be a photo finish, the Rams will likely start 2020 where 2019 left off. That is ideal for Edwards.
ILB Kiser
The plan for the linebacker position appears at first glance to be no plan at all, doesn’t it? The Rams had a number of players cycle through the role in 2019, in terms of injuries, rotations, and production. While the clear best linebacker of the bunch, Cory Littleton, has signed on to play for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020, his teammate Micah Kiser was set to play next to him as a starter in 2019. Can he start without Littleton? We’ll likely find out soon.
On a linebacking squad with no clear favorite, Kiser is about as much of a sure thing on the team as possible. He was ready to start in 2019 before a pectoral injury ended his season. Now he’ll be counted on to start for the Rams at a position where veteran leadership is at an all-time low. While the competition may not be at a high level, the perception about where Kiser, and the roster, stand at linebacker is not a very high bar either.
Pro-bowl status wide open
The NFC pro bowl designation is wide open for 2020. Former perennial pro-bowler Luke Kuechly retired during the off-season, and his partner Bobby Wagner is entering his ninth season. Rams LB Cory Littleton signed in the AFC. So what will it take for Kiser to put up Pro Bowl numbers? Well, the number of tackles for interior linebackers runs high, so expect a minimum of 120 tackles. On a per-game basis, that averages out to 7.5 tackles per game. Sacks are not critical, but showing up in the quarterback’s face would be a plus, so recording two sacks would be good. Finally, defending passes is a must, so a minimum of eight passes defended, converting two into interceptions, would be the icing on the cake.
Littleton played in that range. His two seasons starting on the inside found his average of 130 tackles, four sacks, 11 passes defended, and 2.5 interceptions. If Kiser can land in that range, he would be a strong candidate for a Pro Bowl nomination. So it’s simply a question of whether Kiser can step up for the Rams this year. I believe he can, and will. He is a bona fide thumper, a big-hitting linebacker who savors the chance to make a big stop on defense.
NT Robinson
The LA Rams found that freeing up defensive lineman Aaron Donald from nose tackle duties benefited his production. But what about the player who takes over at the center of the defense? Will newcomer A’Shawn Robinson be diminished in the Rams defense? Or will he find himself playing at an entirely new level? Since he will be lining up next to Aaron Donald, and between Donald and Brockers, you can lean towards a career-high season out of him.
What might that be? In his rookie season of 2016, he converted 408 defensive snaps into 30 tackles, eight for a loss, and two quarterback sacks. Double that to an 800 defensive snap season, and he comes in at four sack and 60 tackles. Alongside Donald, he could play 700 snaps for five sacks and 50 tackles. That type of play from the nose tackle spot is in the All-Pro ballpark.
So no Suh, Say yay A’Shawn
In his one season as an LA Ram, Ndamukong Suh almost put up pro-bowl numbers. The cut-off seems to be five quarterback sacks, and Suh only recorded 4.5 with the Rams. While Robinson has not yet generated that level of quarterback pressure, he will certainly have his opportunities on a defense designed to keep offenses guessing. That, his own powerful size and strength, and lining up between Brockers and Donald will be in the best opportunity of his NFL career.
Robinson is still growing, developing, and getting stronger. Entering just his fifth NFL season, he will peak in another 2-3 years. So the Rams acquired him at the right time to realize his full potential. Will he realize that potential in 2020? It will take some effort, but that is the same story to all NFL players who break into the Pro Bowl. Robinson has plenty of raw talent. He finally lands on a roster that surrounds him with the right mix to complement his strengths.
WR Jefferson
It’s easy to look past LA Rams rookie wide receiver Van Jefferson and not expect much. After all, if it’s not broken, why fix it? Well, that’s all well and good if nothing changes in the NFL. But we know all too well that rookies who perform well circle the date when they enter the NFL free agency market. When that happens, teams either ante up or wave farewell. So the LA Rams face two players who could sign elsewhere – Cooper Kupp and/or Josh Reynolds. In their place? The Rams hope that rookie Van Jefferson will be ready to fill the roster void.
And he could prove to be even more in 2020. Even should the offense emphasize running the ball more frequently this season, the offense will pass over 600 times. From that total, the team will likely feature the combination of Kupp, Robert Woods, and Tyler Higbee in 360 pass attempts. That will mean 240 passes go to “all others”. If the Rams are willing to throw 150 passes at the combination of Jefferson and Reynolds as a minimum, Jefferson may not see much action.
Play today, plan for tomorrow
If the team held a completely myopic view, that would restrict Jefferson’s upside. But we know that the Rams run risks of injury. We also know that Washington Redskins WR Terry McLaurin needed just 93 targets to rack up 919 yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie season. Now that McLaurin’s offensive coordinator, Kevin O’ Connell, has signed on with the Rams, it makes sense to project similar results from his 2020 version. That happens to be Van Jefferson.
Jefferson stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 200-pounds. Compare that to 6-foot-0 210-pound McLaurin, 6-foot-0 195-pound Woods, or 6-foot-2 208-pound, Kupp, because Jefferson has been compared to all three receivers numerous times. When Jefferson lines up on the field, he will bring all that potential to the NFL. Will he record over 1000 yards receiving in 2020? With so many great receivers, nobody believes it is even possible. But the numbers work, and the talent is there. Let them sleep on Van Jefferson this season.
OLB Floyd
The LA Rams acquired the services of OLB Dante Fowler Jr. in 2018 and then benefitted from a huge upgrade in his production. Since Fowler left for a big payday elsewhere, why not try that again? Perhaps that was the logic behind the Rams signing up outside linebacker Leonard Floyd to a one-year prove-it deal. That could prove to be quite costly, as Floyd has the potential to be just as good, if not better, than Dante Fowler Jr. on the Rams defense.
Fowler arrived at the Rams mid-season in 2018 via a trade in which the Rams surrendered a 2019 third-round and 2020 fifth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Fowler. In his 2.5 seasons with the Jaguars, Fowler recorded just 14 sacks and 62 tackles. In his 1.5 seasons with the LA Rams, Fowler recorded 13.5 sacks and 79 tackles. Comparing Floyd’s numbers, his first 2.5 seasons registered 13.5 sacks and 90 tackles, while the last 1.5 seasons were just 5.0 sacks and 64 tackles. Can the Rams hope to jumpstart his career as well? There are reasons to believe the team can do exactly that.
Right player, the right fit, the right opportunity
From the moment the LA Rams chose Brandon Staley as the team’s new defensive coordinator, the wheels of motion began to turn. Staley was the former position coach for Floyd when he coached at Chicago. Floyd is also the only player arriving who has a jumpstart to the type of defense Floyd intends to run with the Rams. Finally, Floyd is familiar with Staley, and Staley is familiar with Floyd. So signing Floyd to the Rams defense was virtually predestined to happen.
Floyd can do it all from the edge. He can cover, set the edge, rush the passer, and defend the run. In fact, he may be stronger at covering passes and defending the run than Fowler. He has a lengthy 6-foot-5 frame to set a huge pass defense and is also entering his fifth NFL season. The Bears wanted to sign defensive end Robert Quinn, so Floyd was a cap casualty. That’s just fine for the Rams, who can convert Floyd into an upgraded Dante Fowler Jr. on the edge in 2020.
