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Trade deadline is passed.. and the Rams couldn't pull the trigger on anything. So, what's next?
The Rams can't just give up on this season, obviously, but this year needs to be about developing younger players and thoroughly evaluating what's on their roster. There's a chance they can still make the playoffs, but it's obvious that outside of something very flukey, this isn't a Super Bowl team.
So, how do they get back in the '23 season? A lot of internal improvement, an excellent draft, and adding a couple of key vets from outside.
Here are some of the roster areas and players that I'm very interested on focusing on and believe will be key to getting back on track next year.
Force feed the young safeties. We need to see as much of Yeast, Lake and Burgess as possible, imo. Can any of those three be counted on to contribute next year? Is any one of them going to be a real player? Fuller also needs to show he can be healthy. This is a HUGE area of need.. if we want to see the Rams play tighter coverage more often, and we all do, there needs to be a big improvement here.
Same thing for the corners. Durant needs to be healthy and be on the field.. we need to see Rochell.. good or bad.. and see if he can be the player many of us thought he could develop into. Kendrick has shown early promise.. but has a lot of growing to do and needs to show he can.
Dline.. what is Bobby Brown? You have to know to make decisions on Gaines and Robinson. If he's *not* a real player.. your going to have to not only sign one of Gaines or Robinson, which I think you already have to plan on... you're going to have to dumpster dive. Maybe you'll bring Brockers back on a cheap deal.. and hope you hit on a mid-round contributor. My hope is that Brown really steps up in the second half.
Edge.. really.. not much to see here. Unless Lewis or Hollins make dramatic improvements, the Rams desperately need to find another starter at that position. I'd like to see Hardy.. but he's a gimmick rotational guy, imo.. you have to scheme him to take advantage of his speed, because he's just not big enough to be a regular edge.
ILBS.... Wagner's been good, but I don't know that they don't cut him loose and save 4.5 on the cap and move Ernest Jones to the primary role. There will be tough decisions to make and I just think that this is one obvious area it may happen. We'll see. Maybe we see more of Hummel and Rozeboom? Tough one.
QB.. ride or die with Stafford.. but it'd be fun to see them bring in someone with real potential.. A lucky Burger swing in the draft.
WRs.. I hope they can bring in a little more juice.. and I hope Van can be the deep threat he was last year.
RBs.. This is an interesting spot. Does Akers play like a guy who got a wakeup call? Does he fulfill his potential? Is Williams a solid addition to the room, a solid option? If the answer is "yes" to both of those questions.. you just dropped the need to spend a high pick next draft on the position. Fingers crossed. The Akers question is the most pressing... I think you can get 3rd down backs pretty easily, if you're smart.
TEs.. this room is so "meh" right now. Higbee's fine.. but is getting worn out.. and Hopkins isn't getting much action. We need to see a lot more Hopkins to figure out if he's the answer. Would also be great to see if Carter can be brought up to determine if he's a player.
Oline.. unfortunately, the guys who need to be evaluated most for next season are out hurt. Bruss and Anchrum could be the starting guards next year.. but we have no way to know if they'll be good enough. One option I dismissed too early is Noteboom coming back at LT.. and Anchrum at LG. That *could* be interesting.. with Bruss/Anchrum battling for RG. Either way, they need to draft a couple of guys... including a center because of Allen's recurring kneee issues.
Figure out what you got.. then nail the offseason. Lot's of roster questions.. but, the good news is that some real answers may already be on the roster.
An Oline of Noteboom, Anchrum, Allen, Bruse/Anchrum and Havenstein looks very interesting to me.. and you have a 6th guy already there. With Anchrum.. you have your 3rd tackle already there. They'd still need another tackle.. Arcuri? We'll see.. and absolutely another Center. I'd think they'd look at 9 Olinemen next year.
RB? We get to see how big a need there is for 23, fortunately. If the Akers situation ends up being a plus.. that would be a huge win, going into next year.
Between the young DBs, Bobby Brown.. and lack of second edge.. there's a lot to pay attention to on the Defense the rest of the way.
In a best-case scenario... They'd need to bring in a really good edge to play opposite Floyd.. and the rest of the lineup problems would work themselves out with players on the roster and a solid draft.. in order for the Rams to be a real contender next year, imo.
The Rams can't just give up on this season, obviously, but this year needs to be about developing younger players and thoroughly evaluating what's on their roster. There's a chance they can still make the playoffs, but it's obvious that outside of something very flukey, this isn't a Super Bowl team.
So, how do they get back in the '23 season? A lot of internal improvement, an excellent draft, and adding a couple of key vets from outside.
Here are some of the roster areas and players that I'm very interested on focusing on and believe will be key to getting back on track next year.
Force feed the young safeties. We need to see as much of Yeast, Lake and Burgess as possible, imo. Can any of those three be counted on to contribute next year? Is any one of them going to be a real player? Fuller also needs to show he can be healthy. This is a HUGE area of need.. if we want to see the Rams play tighter coverage more often, and we all do, there needs to be a big improvement here.
Same thing for the corners. Durant needs to be healthy and be on the field.. we need to see Rochell.. good or bad.. and see if he can be the player many of us thought he could develop into. Kendrick has shown early promise.. but has a lot of growing to do and needs to show he can.
Dline.. what is Bobby Brown? You have to know to make decisions on Gaines and Robinson. If he's *not* a real player.. your going to have to not only sign one of Gaines or Robinson, which I think you already have to plan on... you're going to have to dumpster dive. Maybe you'll bring Brockers back on a cheap deal.. and hope you hit on a mid-round contributor. My hope is that Brown really steps up in the second half.
Edge.. really.. not much to see here. Unless Lewis or Hollins make dramatic improvements, the Rams desperately need to find another starter at that position. I'd like to see Hardy.. but he's a gimmick rotational guy, imo.. you have to scheme him to take advantage of his speed, because he's just not big enough to be a regular edge.
ILBS.... Wagner's been good, but I don't know that they don't cut him loose and save 4.5 on the cap and move Ernest Jones to the primary role. There will be tough decisions to make and I just think that this is one obvious area it may happen. We'll see. Maybe we see more of Hummel and Rozeboom? Tough one.
QB.. ride or die with Stafford.. but it'd be fun to see them bring in someone with real potential.. A lucky Burger swing in the draft.
WRs.. I hope they can bring in a little more juice.. and I hope Van can be the deep threat he was last year.
RBs.. This is an interesting spot. Does Akers play like a guy who got a wakeup call? Does he fulfill his potential? Is Williams a solid addition to the room, a solid option? If the answer is "yes" to both of those questions.. you just dropped the need to spend a high pick next draft on the position. Fingers crossed. The Akers question is the most pressing... I think you can get 3rd down backs pretty easily, if you're smart.
TEs.. this room is so "meh" right now. Higbee's fine.. but is getting worn out.. and Hopkins isn't getting much action. We need to see a lot more Hopkins to figure out if he's the answer. Would also be great to see if Carter can be brought up to determine if he's a player.
Oline.. unfortunately, the guys who need to be evaluated most for next season are out hurt. Bruss and Anchrum could be the starting guards next year.. but we have no way to know if they'll be good enough. One option I dismissed too early is Noteboom coming back at LT.. and Anchrum at LG. That *could* be interesting.. with Bruss/Anchrum battling for RG. Either way, they need to draft a couple of guys... including a center because of Allen's recurring kneee issues.
Figure out what you got.. then nail the offseason. Lot's of roster questions.. but, the good news is that some real answers may already be on the roster.
An Oline of Noteboom, Anchrum, Allen, Bruse/Anchrum and Havenstein looks very interesting to me.. and you have a 6th guy already there. With Anchrum.. you have your 3rd tackle already there. They'd still need another tackle.. Arcuri? We'll see.. and absolutely another Center. I'd think they'd look at 9 Olinemen next year.
RB? We get to see how big a need there is for 23, fortunately. If the Akers situation ends up being a plus.. that would be a huge win, going into next year.
Between the young DBs, Bobby Brown.. and lack of second edge.. there's a lot to pay attention to on the Defense the rest of the way.
In a best-case scenario... They'd need to bring in a really good edge to play opposite Floyd.. and the rest of the lineup problems would work themselves out with players on the roster and a solid draft.. in order for the Rams to be a real contender next year, imo.
