What do we need to do to get to the next level?

[Mackeyser]

I'm trying to figure a scenario in which we get Vita Vea... but that involves nothing short of Disney level plot holes in the story of the draft, so...

Maybe we get lucky and Tim Settle falls a bit due to mini runs on slim positions like WR, OL, TE and DE???

Don't wanna take any money out of a guy's pocket, but I can hope we get good players...

 

[Dodgersrf]

We need to stop the run.
We seemed to do a respectable job most if the time, but then we would give up a few big run plays a game.

CB and oline depth are a must.
Our CB injuries took a large toll on us last year. We lost the Minny game almost single handedly from Haurgagh getting smoked repeatedly.
We got fairly lucky with the oline as far as staying healthy. We shouldn't take that for granted, because I doubt that health can be sustained.

 

[kurtfaulk]

.

The rams need

Trey Burton. Higbee will never improve in catching the ball with a defender on him. Need someone who can make clutch catches when the rams need them.

A smart ILBer that can tackle non stop and that knows when to rush in quickly to make a tackle or when to simply contain and ensure a no gain or small gain doesn't become a 1st down.

A couple of big bodies in the middle that won't get pushed around. As soon as brokers went off injured the rams couldn't stop diddly from happening in the run game.

.

 

[jrry32]

I'm trying to figure a scenario in which we get Vita Vea... but that involves nothing short of Disney level plot holes in the story of the draft, so...

Maybe we get lucky and Tim Settle falls a bit due to mini runs on slim positions like WR, OL, TE and DE???

Don't wanna take any money out of a guy's pocket, but I can hope we get good players...

I think one of Vea, Settle, or Payne will be there. Vea is the most unlikely to be there. I don't see it happening if he performs as expected at the Combine.

 

[Mackeyser]

.

The rams need

Trey Burton. Higbee will never improve in catching the ball with a defender on him. Need someone who can make clutch catches when the rams need them.

A smart ILBer that can tackle non stop and that knows when to rush in quickly to make a tackle or when to simply contain and ensure a no gain or small gain doesn't become a 1st down.

A couple of big bodies in the middle that won't get pushed around. As soon as brokers went off injured the rams couldn't stop diddly from happening in the run game.

.

If ever there was a moment that defined how much Brockers means to this D (I'm admittedly biases as a huge Brockers fan.... "Can you smelllllllll...what the Brock is cookin?"), it was the playoff game.

 

[Mojo Ram]

We need a few upgrades on defense (ILB, NT, and #2 CB), improved depth, retention of our key FAs, and some luck.

I think with some more seasoning Gerald Everett can be a damn good TE. He was separating from DBs as a rookie. Kid has all the athletic gifts.

Saved me from typing.

Bolster the D
Season the O

 

[Mackeyser]

I think one of Vea, Settle, or Payne will be there. Vea is the most unlikely to be there. I don't see it happening if he performs as expected at the Combine.

I think both Vea and Payne are gone by 20 at the outside, potentially earlier than that.

I think Settle makes it to round 2, but once round two starts, it's anyone's guess how far into the second day he falls (as people readjust their boards for the few players that were really high on their boards and are still there).

Optimally, I'd like to get Josh Jackson from Iowa in Rd 1 and then BPA in round 3 (hopefully an exciting NT prospect or a super solid ILB). If Jackson isn't available, then trade down to the 2nd round to pick up a 3rd, hopefully, Settle is there and then go NT/OL/ILB with the 3rds unless some superstar falls because of smoking weed out of a watermelon or something...

 

[Mackeyser]

Saved me from typing.

Bolster the D
Season the O

There's a really, really dirty joke in there...somewhere...

 

[jrry32]

I think both Vea and Payne are gone by 20 at the outside, potentially earlier than that.

I think Settle makes it to round 2, but once round two starts, it's anyone's guess how far into the second day he falls (as people readjust their boards for the few players that were really high on their boards and are still there).

Optimally, I'd like to get Josh Jackson from Iowa in Rd 1 and then BPA in round 3 (hopefully an exciting NT prospect or a super solid ILB). If Jackson isn't available, then trade down to the 2nd round to pick up a 3rd, hopefully, Settle is there and then go NT/OL/ILB with the 3rds unless some superstar falls because of smoking weed out of a watermelon or something...

I'd like to get Payne or Vea in Round 1. If they're not there, I'd like to trade down a bit for Settle. I'd prefer us to add a veteran CB like Talib or Breeland or Butler.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I'm with @jrry32, we need to retain our key FAs first and foremost.

We need either more depth or perfect health on the Oline next year (it would be a statistical anomaly for us to have as healthy of a year in 2018).

We need some help on the Dline in the form of run defense and pass rush.

Goff needs to continue to develop.

 

[OnceARam]

We need an ILB the can get off blocks and punish running backs. We can pick up a FA NT.

This hybrid SS/LB thing has run its course. It's not 3rd down every down!

 

[Farr Be It]

Great topic for discussion this time of year. You guys mostly covered it.

My take:

• Shore up the OL with a future starter at LT, C, from within and the draft.
• I believe the coaches have a good idea whether the combination of Everett, Higbee, Hemmingway, Carrier and Mundt will rise to the level of better TE play next year that McVay expects. We will know by the end of April the answer to that question.
• I'd like to see Watkins with a full camp under his belt, practicing with Goff. If so, I think we will have one of the best, and deepest WR crews in the league.
• Defense: Good start with Peters. I think the bulk of the focus needs to go to NT, CB2, and ILB run stuffer, hopefully freeing Ogletree to play the position he plays best, more side to side, and occasional blitzing.

I like Barron and noticed that if it weren't for him, we'd have gotten BADLY gashed a lot more often. Lots of times, he was the ONLY guy who was gonna make a play. If he misses, it's going for 30+ easy.

I agree. We all sure loved Barron this time last year. I hope the Rams can keep him, and Wade can find a way to use his talents better this year.

Losing Brockers in that game made it crystal clear that we need a stronger defensive line.

True, as well. Good point. Losing Brockers that game was the turning point in that game. A monster stuffer should open Brockers and Donald up to make more plays.

 

[CGI_Ram]

I think the key to getting over the top is on defense. I can’t believe I just typed that.

On offense, if we retain Watkins and Sully... it feels like we have few “needs” besides luck. We DO need some oline depth, particularly at tackle and center. That would be about it, IMO.

On defense it depends on our FA’s. I’d prioritize DB and Linebacker at this point.

 

[Psycho_X]

Not much else to add that others haven't already said. Would be nice if we can find a wide body to stand up in the middle. Worse case scenario we could always resign Tyrun Walker for another year or two who wasn't stellar but adequate with a touch of playmaking ability once in a while. But as Mack said that d-line's success starts with Brockers and ends with Donald. One of them gets injured it's going to struggle. However, adding a stout ILB'er would help that and push our defense to the next level I think.

Having said all of that, we've got to on defense...
-resign Joyner and NRC.
-Get another CB some where whether draft or FA. With several stop gap CBs out there such as Talib this seems like the best option for this season.
-sign/draft an ILB'er who's stout against the run or if Barron is here another year we need either an OLB'er who can seal the edge and rush passer. Or worst case, can seal the edge and is stout to rotate with Quinn. I have no problem keeping Quinn as a pass rush specialist but he's still a liability against the run. Would prefer to see him rotated out on obvious run downs. Put him in on only passing downs and he'll still get his 10 sacks on the season.
-sign/draft a stout NT to man the middle of the field

on offense...
-retain Watkins to keep the WRs as is for another year minus Austin
-give Sullivan a 2 year contract
-get depth for the o-line anywhere you can get it.. our injury luck last season will not happen two years in a row.
-draft a speedy scat back to work opposite of Gurley 5-10 downs a game and replace Austin's role in the passing/jet sweep role
-TE... I feel like Gerald Everett can still be the guy in the passing game he was a rookie after all. But I'm also scared to rely on just him. But I don't want to spend anymore high draft picks or large free agency dollars on one. Take a flyer on someone in the 6th maybe or free agency? TE is the one position where I'm not really sure where to go with.

coaches
-McVay has a tendency to force things at times. But I'm seriously nitpicking. The guy is an offensive savant and got his team first in points. So nothing I say will matter lol. I think a reliable scat back and Everett taking a step up will make our offense tops for years to come.
-on defense, as mentioned, I'd like to see Quinn used on just passing downs. And Phillips will have to make sure he has safety valves for Marcus Peters who likes to take risks and some times loses. But overall, once again, Phillips is a defensive genius so my opinion is pointless.l
-special teams.... same as offense and defense.... god it's wonderful to have coaches in every phase you unequivocally trust.

 

[LesBaker]

Don't fumble in the playoffs

Highest scoring O in the NFL.

Best ST's in the NFL.

Decent defense.

The two fumbles kept the Rams from winning that game.

Not the run defense. 39 carries for 124 yards isn't a great day rushing.

The turnovers killed any hope.

 

[DaveFan'51]

Well, being the highest scoring offense in the league last year, I wouldn't say that TE is an immediate position of need or a position to UG. To me, its a thumper LB to help shore up the Run Defense. I also wouldn't be opposed of drafting a stud corner to pair with MP in the first round as a good ILB could be had in round 3 potentially. Either way, I believe that offense isn't as near as an issue as defense... who would have thought we'd be saying that after the past few seasons?

Well ... McVay himself did say, in his Final Presser, at the end of the Season, that he thought the TE area needed some work! What ever that means, we just have to wait and see!

I do think we need to improve the depth on both Offensive and Defensive Lines! And I wouldn't mind if we picked up Talib to go with MP!!

There is one "Thumper" of an ILB I have an eye on going into the Combine, Micah Kiser - Virginia - 6 ft 2 / 240 looks like a good 4th rounder!

 

[Seth Griffith]

-Find a creative way to sign D. Poe....NT position solid if that happens.

-Depending on how the draft shakes out, snag a NT that makes sense in the right round

-Draft/FA: OL, DL, CB, ILB,

-Resign: Joyner, NRC, Watkins, Sullivan

-Restructure/Trade/Release: Barron, Quinn (I'm all for the restructures here)

 

[OldSchool]

Highest scoring O in the NFL.

Best ST's in the NFL.

Decent defense.

The two fumbles kept the Rams from winning that game.

Not the run defense. 39 carries for 124 yards isn't a great day rushing.

The turnovers killed any hope.

Run defense didn’t help though. We could have used a stop in the second half but after Brockers went out was when they ran well. It kept us from mounting a comeback. It wasn’t any one thing but a lot of little things.

 

[LACHAMP46]

Either better defense....or other-worldly offense....

I think the defense would be easier to improve....

 

[nighttrain]

Our tight ends will be ok
Need help at DT, a big run stuffer would allow our linebackers to make more plays.

Resign NRC, resign Joyner.
Tag Watkins, pay 99

Draft a CB early .

Don't fumble in the playoffs

This team was was really good last year, just need to be ready for the bright lights.

This^

train