20 Random Wonderful Week 1 Thoughts

[Elmgrovegnome]

On a not so good note: Couldn't they have signed anybody that can play olb better than Hoecht? He looks way to slow to man that position. Add the mental lapses and he's painful to watch. Dont they have a few other edge rushers that could take some of his snaps? If he's the best or second best option, then the rest of them must stink.

 

[oldnotdead]

This was a coaching win. Wendell's guys looked very good for their first game. Noteboom looked solid at RG. Pleasant's influence was immediately apparent. No more CBs lined up 10 yds off the LOS and uncontested dump off passes. The DBs were playing aggressive and even more so in the second half.

There are still a lot of things that need to be cleaned up. But there is no question this team isn't tanking, they are seriously playing to win. I said it in my predictions that 10 wins was likely and 11 wins possible and I believe it even more now. Both Wendell and Pleasant were the key coaches that needed to have a positive impact for this season to be successful. I think both delivered this week. If they can keep it up this team will be in the playoffs and once there anything can happen.

Byron Young is raw that much is obvious. But he will improve as the years moves on. Next year he could be a beast. He's got elite traits but most of all an outstanding work ethic. Playing with Donald for two years would only accelerate his development. AD wins with an explosive first step and elite hand play. If Byron can develop those same skills he could be an elite edge.

I think we will see VanValkenburg take over the starting DE position from Hoecht this year. VanValkenburg is further along in his development and offers the same length, strength and speed that Hoecht has.

 

[FrantikRam]

We are still going to lose next week - but that doesn't mean much. Eventually we will beat them.

More importantly - our entire schedule looks different after week one. Bengals and Eagles - if Mac Jones was able to throw three TDs on the Eagles and we have a healthy Kupp for that game....? Both will still be tough games obviously, but what were once sure fire losses don't feel that way.

Giants were awful, Saints were underwhelming. On the flip side the Packers look tough, but so do we.

 

[Londoner]

We are still going to lose next week

That’s the spirit!

 

[Rams8821]

We are still going to lose next week - but that doesn't mean much. Eventually we will beat them.

More importantly - our entire schedule looks different after week one. Bengals and Eagles - if Mac Jones was able to throw three TDs on the Eagles and we have a healthy Kupp for that game....? Both will still be tough games obviously, but what were once sure fire losses don't feel that way.

Giants were awful, Saints were underwhelming. On the flip side the Packers look tough, but so do we.

Probably thought we lose in Seattle too....

 

[snackdaddy]

Let's not forget the best halftime adjustment... injuring both their starting tackles!

They lost both their tackles? The 2022 Rams say "Hold my beer".

 

[snackdaddy]

I’ll eat crow on Tutu. No, he was not dominant, but he played well and was schemed to get off the line untouched a few times and it worked beautifully. He had reliable hands when the ball came his way. (wtf VJ)

I recall an article quoting a player saying that halftime adjustments are a myth. I disagreed then and think this game was proof. The first half game plan was very conservative. The Seahawks were clearly selling out to stop the run. So, in the second half, the Rams opened things up with a lot of downfield passes to punish them for it. I felt the same thing defensively. It was playing conservatively in the first half and got much more aggressive in the second. Bravo.

I’ll be happy to see this style of play every week. I hope that they continue the trend.

I'm not as surprised with Tutu. But I'll eat crow on Puka. I thought too many were enamored with another camp star. I think of Nelson Spruce and McCutcheon. He does look like the real deal. And Stafford trusts him.

 

[AvengerRam]

It was really a great Sunday. I started the day with a Publix run. I was, of course, wearing a Rams shirt. As I walked the aisles, I saw other shoppers wearing regalia of at least a half dozen other teams. Everyone feeling anticipation and hope for the start of a new season.

It’s amazing when that hope is fulfilled…even if it’s only one game.

 

[dang]

We are still going to lose next week - but that doesn't mean much. Eventually we will beat them.

More importantly - our entire schedule looks different after week one. Bengals and Eagles - if Mac Jones was able to throw three TDs on the Eagles and we have a healthy Kupp for that game....? Both will still be tough games obviously, but what were once sure fire losses don't feel that way.

Giants were awful, Saints were underwhelming. On the flip side the Packers look tough, but so do we.

“Whhhhhaaaatttt whhhhaaaatttt Whhhhaaaaaa…” Debbie Downer?!?

 

[AvengerRam]

20RT footnote…

Can we finally put to rest the argument that sitting starters during preseason is detrimental?

 

[Kupped]

20RT footnote…

Can we finally put to rest the argument that sitting starters during preseason is detrimental?

More than that... looking around the league and seeing what some THOUGHT they saw in the preseason and what ACTUALLY was the case is entertaining.

Steelers are a perfect example.

McVay has changed the league and he knows what he's doing. It's just great to see him having passed through his own crucible.. and embracing the fact that he just IS an NFL coach. The other stuff can wait.

 

[FrantikRam]

Probably thought we lose in Seattle too....

Just quoting you but responding to everyone who quoted me.....calm down y'all.

I didn't think we'd lose to Seattle, and I've been saying all offseason that we're a playoff team. For my sanity, I chalk up two Ls every year before the season starts. It's my one guilty displeasure. The amount of rage I feel losing to that team isn't healthy. Plus, for the first time in the McVay/Shanahan era, they actually have more talent than we do. It was close to similar in previous years, but I felt we always had the edge (and obviously Vegas did too because we were favored in almost all of those games).

I am not going to get too high or low on the Rams this year. I thought we could beat Seattle, I don't think we can beat the Niners. Will be beyond thrilled if I end up being wrong on that.

On the flip side, if we do lose next week it will not change a damn thing in regards to my expectations for this season

 

[snackdaddy]

It was really a great Sunday. I started the day with a Publix run. I was, of course, wearing a Rams shirt. As I walked the aisles, I saw other shoppers wearing regalia of at least a half dozen other teams. Everyone feeling anticipation and hope for the start of a new season.

It’s amazing when that hope is fulfilled…even if it’s only one game.

I know its only one game. We don't know if they can sustain it. But my modest hopes were that they could steal one of the 4 games most thought they would lose. They already did that.

If they beat the Colts, they are no worse than 2-3 with that tough beginning stretch. And the way the Bengals looked, I wouldn't pencil in a loss in that one. If we go 3-2 I think our chances at playoffs suddenly start to look realistic. The whole atmosphere has changed after an impressive start.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I know its only one game. We don't know if they can sustain it. But my modest hopes were that they could steal one of the 4 games most thought they would lose. They already did that.

If they beat the Colts, they are no worse than 2-3 with that tough beginning stretch. And the way the Bengals looked, I wouldn't pencil in a loss in that one. If we go 3-2 I think our chances at playoffs suddenly start to look realistic. The whole atmosphere has changed after an impressive start.

Yes. This. Can they sustain it? I think there's a lot to look at in this game and point to and say that there are some sustainable things here that could make us a competitive team week in and week out. There's also issues that need to be corrected and improvements that need to happen in skill/play that the Seahawks litany of injuries in the 2nd half may have masked.

1st games in the NFL can be fool's gold but I'd add 1-3 games to my win total off what I saw yesterday. (That still, most likely does not make us a playoff team).

 

[Rams8821]

Just quoting you but responding to everyone who quoted me.....calm down y'all.

I didn't think we'd lose to Seattle, and I've been saying all offseason that we're a playoff team. For my sanity, I chalk up two Ls every year before the season starts. It's my one guilty displeasure. The amount of rage I feel losing to that team isn't healthy. Plus, for the first time in the McVay/Shanahan era, they actually have more talent than we do. It was close to similar in previous years, but I felt we always had the edge (and obviously Vegas did too because we were favored in almost all of those games).

I am not going to get too high or low on the Rams this year. I thought we could beat Seattle, I don't think we can beat the Niners. Will be beyond thrilled if I end up being wrong on that.

On the flip side, if we do lose next week it will not change a damn thing in regards to my expectations for this season

10-4 I can respect that. But I DO think we will win next Sunday.

 

[PARAM]

He had reliable hands when the ball came his way.

Not disparaging your comment but the dude has great hands. It's like god said, I'm going to give this one a little man's body with big man hands. If Khadarius Toney had hands half as reliable KC would be 1-0.

 

[PARAM]

1st games in the NFL can be fool's gold but I'd add 1-3 games to my win total off what I saw yesterday. (That still, most likely does not make us a playoff team).

Well that's enough for me. One of the posters I respect the most on any Rams site is giving them 3 W's for 1. I love it.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Well that's enough for me. One of the posters I respect the most on any Rams site is giving them 3 W's for 1. I love it.

Hahaha. Honestly, the D still scares me and I think we're gonna see HUGE variance with them game to game but I was really impressed with the Oline play (I wasn't expecting such competent play early and there's a good amount of room to improve) and loved the usage of Tutu and Puka showing he could play elevated what I think this offense can be.

BUT... it's the 1st game. Anyone remember when Jared Cook looked like a world beater in that 1st game years ago?

 

[AvengerRam]

Look…our team may be far from elite, but… we have a lot of young guys who don’t know that! I’d appreciate it if you’d let them continue thinking they are!

 

[WestCoastRam]

Look…our team may be far from elite, but… we have a lot of young guys who don’t know that! I’d appreciate it if you’d let them continue thinking they are!

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW!

Especially the defense. They are the Donald Rumsfeld of defenses.