The State of the Rams Locker Room

[RamsOfCastamere]

I support Snead and McVay, and hope this works out, but after seeing players/coaches leave (or not resigned) and the number of trades that we do, a small part of me thinks they lost some of the locker room by holding players accountable for bad coaching and GM decisions.

Putting Talib on IR when he said he was healthy enough to play, Bones leaving for the Cowboys, not bringing back Wade, the Peters trade (at least we got Ramsey though!), and the whole TG situation. It kind of feels like players (and coaches if you count Bones) are jumping ship...that they may possibly feel like upper management isn't loyal to their players and are pointing fingers, not even to key veterans.

I don't know, but it feels weird...like something else is going on.

 

[TXRams86]

I haven’t heard anything like this coming out from reputable sources. I get you’re speculating but it isn’t like the Rams are the only team that experiences player and coach turnover. It’s part of the business, you can’t retain everyone. Coaches and GMs make decisions, good or bad. Sometimes it’s best to acknowledge a bad decision was made and try to cut bait, a la the Gurley contract.
Funny how none of this was the narrative when we were ruling the division and Super Bowl bound.

 

[Sleepy1711]

The Rams are running it more like a business now rather than a family as we initially thought when they started to resign alot of their star players.

 

[Dieter the Brock]

McVay has his guys in
He’s no longer a rookie coach, the youngest coach, etc. he feels comfortable bring in his own guys for the next phase
The culture is the same
Football has tons of turnover.
I mean where is the post about the state of the Patriots locker room? Nobody turns over more players or coaches then them

 

[Mackeyser]

I dunno.

The Rams generally go out of their way to set players up to be successful even after their stint here.

And prove it deals result in them getting paid here or in a good spot if they do well.

 

[FrantikRam]

I think the coaching staff was always eventually going to be turned over. McVay has been honest about his lack of experience - well after three seasons, he's been exposed to everything from situational coaching decisions, crazy travel schedules and even the Super Bowl.

In a way he wasn't building *his* staff in the beginning. And he definitely wasn't building *his* team either - he inherited Goff, Gurley, Saffold, Donald, Ogletree, Littleton, Havenstein, Higbee, Quinn, TruJo, GZ, Hekker, and I'm sure I missed a few.

Then, for Wade, he turned over the entire defense almost twice over.

The only thing he did for himself was Watkins (then Cooks), Woods, Kupp, Everett, Reynolds and Whitworth, and then Henderson. It should be encouraging that every player he has chosen has been outstanding on offense except for Henderson, who still has time to get there (not counting Kelly because that was a late draft pick).

He got burned several times last year:

First, Wade's handpicked defense was trash - in weeks 4 and 5 the offense played well enough to earn a 5-0 record, but because of the defense, we were 3-2. So McVay approves to trade TWO FIRST ROUND PICKS to once again upgrade Wade's defense, only to see them get wrecked a few more times.

Second, after letting Bones make roster decisions based on special teams (drafting Scott and keeping Jojo on the roster), and having a highly paid punter, the ST unit was a failure last season.

Third, and this could have been his own mistake obviously, but extending Gurley was a huge mistake. Whether Snead pushed for that or McVay, we'll never know.


On top of all that, Talib has said after the fact that the Rams got complacent - if that's true, we needed some serious turnover.

And now, McVay is faced with an impossible task: build a contender with no cap space that's losing several starters and already needed some upgrades. So what to do? Here's what I think he's doing:

-Build a coaching staff that after a year of experience, will be ready to compete by 2021
-Build up comp picks by letting these guys walk so that next year's draft can be productive
-Stop trading first round picks
-Use 2020 to make decisions on Cooks and Gurley (if not traded), Noteboom/Allen/Evans/Havenstein/Edwards and SJD/Gaines/Smart/Kiser/Obo/Polite/Ebukam

That could very well be an 8-8 team next year, or maybe worse - or, if a few of those guys are better than we currently think, maybe we win the NFC West - but from a longterm roster building perspective, 2020 would be a year to figure out how to move forward - obviously we'll still try to win - but this would be a conversation between the brass where they say "hey, we might be worse next year while we kind of re-build on the fly".

 

[RamsFanCK]

Honestly people aren't being resigned because we don't have the money to resign them even with a home team discount. I see where you're coming from though.

 

[Merlin]

I support Snead and McVay, and hope this works out, but after seeing players/coaches leave (or not resigned) and the number of trades that we do, a small part of me thinks they lost some of the locker room by holding players accountable for bad coaching and GM decisions.

Putting Talib on IR when he said he was healthy enough to play, Bones leaving for the Cowboys, not bringing back Wade, the Peters trade (at least we got Ramsey though!), and the whole TG situation. It kind of feels like players (and coaches if you count Bones) are jumping ship...that they may possibly feel like upper management isn't loyal to their players and are pointing fingers, not even to key veterans.

I don't know, but it feels weird...like something else is going on.

My only complaint with Snead is that he's been a little too loose with our picks in trying to fill holes and take shots. But our recent loss of picks for Ramsey I am good with provided we get that MFer inked. And if we don't sign him I think Kroenke needs to go get a better GM who can tie it all together with Demoff only doing the contracts.

Re: last season Snead did a pretty good job reloading the secondary during the season. But at some point constantly grabbing veterans with your draft picks will catch up to you. It's not sustainable and will lead to dips in roster quality. 2018 draft caused a slide in talent for example, as we discussed in another thread, where the differential between a haul of JAGs in LA and SF drafting high and often helped skew things in their direction. And the 9ers still have the better roster as well as a chance to load even more in this draft.

Re: the coaching moves... We have to support McVay. He is the face of this franchise. He's a young coach, build it around him and the Rams have supported that, they just need to do a better job of being a little tighter with their picks IMO.

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

McVay has his guys in
He’s no longer a rookie coach, the youngest coach, etc. he feels comfortable bring in his own guys for the next phase
The culture is the same
Football has tons of turnover.
I mean where is the post about the state of the Patriots locker room? Nobody turns over more players or coaches then them

I'm sure they have their own somewhere...

 

[Rams43]

I’m at peace with this off-season so far.

Wade and Bones did not deserve to be extended.

O’Connell (or someone much like him) had to be hired to take things off McVay’s too crowded plate.

Hate to see good players/teammates walk, but the cap makes it inevitable.

Actually, I pretty much predicted and recommended all of the above so hell yeah, I approve of the overall strategy.

Know what? After a shrewd FA involving 2nd/3rd tier players followed by a good draft, I predict a SB contending team after this ‘pruning’ process on coaches and certain players.

 

[So Ram]

I support Snead and McVay, and hope this works out, but after seeing players/coaches leave (or not resigned) and the number of trades that we do, a small part of me thinks they lost some of the locker room by holding players accountable for bad coaching and GM decisions.

Putting Talib on IR when he said he was healthy enough to play, Bones leaving for the Cowboys, not bringing back Wade, the Peters trade (at least we got Ramsey though!), and the whole TG situation. It kind of feels like players (and coaches if you count Bones) are jumping ship...that they may possibly feel like upper management isn't loyal to their players and are pointing fingers, not even to key veterans.

I don't know, but it feels weird...like something else is going on.

One of the worst observations I’ve heard on this thread in awhile. To each his own, but those moves needed to be made.

1.wade was a training wheel. Mcvay needs to be THE HEAD COACH barenone.
2. Peters made room for RAMsey. It’s not like Mcvay is afraid of a deva. Talib’s boy was Peters.
3.Todd Gurley is solid but has a mind of his own. He has certain believes that you can not change. He is not a me first player for sure. His contract & play are the biggest part.
4. Bones was the last HC before Mcvay.
5. Loyal will be if Whitworth comes back. That is KEY

 

[Ram65]

I support Snead and McVay, and hope this works out, but after seeing players/coaches leave (or not resigned) and the number of trades that we do, a small part of me thinks they lost some of the locker room by holding players accountable for bad coaching and GM decisions.

I'm not following this at all. Wade and Bones were not resigned. Bones special teams regressed as did Wade's defense. No big deal to let them go after their contracts expired. Younger up and coming coaches were signed. I think it brings some new energy to the Rams. McVay adds an OC that was a former QB to help him and Goff. It looks like big pluses to me.

Putting Talib on IR when he said he was healthy enough to play,

Where is Talib now? Rams made some moves midseason to help get to the playoffs. Younger players got more playing time over the fading Talib. It almost worked. The possible trades of Gurley and Cooks is where McVay has to keep the team together. If these moves give the Rams a better chance to win then the players will adjust. Players know there is the business side to playing in the NFL. The Rams paid both Giurely and Cooks very well for their services.

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

I think the coaching staff was always eventually going to be turned over. McVay has been honest about his lack of experience - well after three seasons, he's been exposed to everything from situational coaching decisions, crazy travel schedules and even the Super Bowl.

In a way he wasn't building *his* staff in the beginning. And he definitely wasn't building *his* team either - he inherited Goff, Gurley, Saffold, Donald, Ogletree, Littleton, Havenstein, Higbee, Quinn, TruJo, GZ, Hekker, and I'm sure I missed a few.

Then, for Wade, he turned over the entire defense almost twice over.

The only thing he did for himself was Watkins (then Cooks), Woods, Kupp, Everett, Reynolds and Whitworth, and then Henderson. It should be encouraging that every player he has chosen has been outstanding on offense except for Henderson, who still has time to get there (not counting Kelly because that was a late draft pick).

He got burned several times last year:

First, Wade's handpicked defense was trash - in weeks 4 and 5 the offense played well enough to earn a 5-0 record, but because of the defense, we were 3-2. So McVay approves to trade TWO FIRST ROUND PICKS to once again upgrade Wade's defense, only to see them get wrecked a few more times.

Second, after letting Bones make roster decisions based on special teams (drafting Scott and keeping Jojo on the roster), and having a highly paid punter, the ST unit was a failure last season.

Third, and this could have been his own mistake obviously, but extending Gurley was a huge mistake. Whether Snead pushed for that or McVay, we'll never know.


On top of all that, Talib has said after the fact that the Rams got complacent - if that's true, we needed some serious turnover.

And now, McVay is faced with an impossible task: build a contender with no cap space that's losing several starters and already needed some upgrades. So what to do? Here's what I think he's doing:

-Build a coaching staff that after a year of experience, will be ready to compete by 2021
-Build up comp picks by letting these guys walk so that next year's draft can be productive
-Stop trading first round picks
-Use 2020 to make decisions on Cooks and Gurley (if not traded), Noteboom/Allen/Evans/Havenstein/Edwards and SJD/Gaines/Smart/Kiser/Obo/Polite/Ebukam

That could very well be an 8-8 team next year, or maybe worse - or, if a few of those guys are better than we currently think, maybe we win the NFC West - but from a longterm roster building perspective, 2020 would be a year to figure out how to move forward - obviously we'll still try to win - but this would be a conversation between the brass where they say "hey, we might be worse next year while we kind of re-build on the fly".

I liked everything except the 8-8 or worse part. Don't want to go back there.

 

[RamWoodie]

At this point. It takes a real hard look at what to do. I'm not tripping...but I'm watching just to see how this all comes together. Brockers is gone, Littleton's gonna be a Raider, and Fowler may be gone too...

 

[SteezyEndo]

To OP you kind of do wonder about things like that. I know a lot of people don’t really like to look at those types of things because its considered negative. I am just hoping the Rams have a better season, otherwise I will really start to question the genius of what McVay is labeled as. From what I know thus far is he does get out coached by abandoning strategies that actually work. Anyways we can only wait and see how this season goes...

 

[OldSchool]

The state of it is still in construction like the rest of the stadium.

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

One of the worst observations I’ve heard on this thread in awhile. To each his own, but those moves needed to be made.

1.wade was a training wheel. Mcvay needs to be THE HEAD COACH barenone.
2. Peters made room for RAMsey. It’s not like Mcvay is afraid of a deva. Talib’s boy was Peters.
3.Todd Gurley is solid but has a mind of his own. He has certain believes that you can not change. He is not a me first player for sure. His contract & play are the biggest part.
4. Bones was the last HC before Mcvay.
5. Loyal will be if Whitworth comes back. That is KEY

We each have our own opinion, but I wouldn't say the WORST observation lol. Moves have to made, yes, but I think they do have an effect on the locker room culture.

Now, I don't think it's fair to say that Gurley has a mind of his own, or is a Me Not We player. His Twitter and Instagram is very supportive of Goff and other teammates. He hasn't said anything to the media bashing the organization either. At what point did he become me first? When we didn't try to get him the ball much in the Superbowl, when we let the media attack him all off-season, or after we mismanaged his touches and the OL last season? Yeah he was mopey as we underachieved last year, who wouldn't, but that doesn't mean he wasn't bought in.

 

[Merlin]

If Snead doesn't fix this OL we run the risk of further eroding McVay's clout. Which leads to the possibility we will end up parting ways with him and go back to the bad organization we were before he was hired.

And if that happens we will have to watch him turn another team into a perennial challenger like the Browns did with Belichick.

Fix the fucking OL. Add a center in this FA period and then a couple more talented draftees.

 

[WarnerToBruce]

...Fix the fucking OL. Add a center in this FA period and then a couple more talented draftees.

You make this seem so easy. They have stocked up on OL picks the last few drafts, and these are the guys you are wanting to replace.

You may argue they weren't quality picks (due to Snead trading these away as a habit), but I hope you don't need a history lesson on how our 1st round OL picks have worked out for us? Only so many Orlando Pace's to be had.

Harder than it sounds.

 

[Ram77]

I support Snead and McVay, and hope this works out, but after seeing players/coaches leave (or not resigned) and the number of trades that we do, a small part of me thinks they lost some of the locker room by holding players accountable for bad coaching and GM decisions.

Putting Talib on IR when he said he was healthy enough to play, Bones leaving for the Cowboys, not bringing back Wade, the Peters trade (at least we got Ramsey though!), and the whole TG situation. It kind of feels like players (and coaches if you count Bones) are jumping ship...that they may possibly feel like upper management isn't loyal to their players and are pointing fingers, not even to key veterans.

I don't know, but it feels weird...like something else is going on.

Heads roll when Championship caliber teams miss the playoffs