24 points per game - Have we done enough?

[CGI_Ram]

For the most part, if you average 24 points per game… you make the playoffs.

The roster is mostly set. Have we done enough on offense to do that?

Just be “good enough” on defense… then…

Is it that simple?… Get the offense to 24 points per game?

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[Loyal]

Considering that our Oline will be much improved (I hope), If ANY other WR steps up and can relieve the pressure on Kupp to always win the game by himself, then we have a good chance.
I also think Sony is an underrated, low cost gem for Matthew Stafford, cuz the dude can block very well and can get tough yards to extend drives. Any kind of balance will make Stafford in Sean McVay's offense pretty dangerous.
Our defense? That's another story, but we'll see.

 

[CGI_Ram]

A team with Kupp, Stafford, and McVay will score points.

Little doubt… a healthy Stafford and Kupp easily boosts that 18.1ppg average into the 20’s.

Then… If the offensive line can be just average / good…

It feels to me it comes down to Akers, Jefferson, Atwell, or one of these new tight ends… Somebody adding 500yds to their career best.

Akers; that would be 1,300yds rushing
Jefferson; that would be 1,300yds receiving
Atwell; that would be 800yds receiving

IF someone(s) from that group emerges like that then I think we get to 24ppg and will be in the mix for a playoff spot.

 

[fanotodd]

24 points is very do-able.
The OL lineup in week 1 will be better than the one started vs the bills last year. Avila should be a huge upgrade and Jackson will start somewhere, depending on Noteboom’s availability.

The WR group should be better with a healthy VJ, Puka over the jettisoned robinson, and one more year of experience for Tutu and Skow.

If the Rams are gonna open up and throw deep more often, the blocking has to be better. I think it will, especially with the addition of Michel in the backfield.
…but depending on defensive performance, the ‘23 Rams could be the ‘22 lions.

 

[Loyal]

A team with Kupp, Stafford, and McVay will score points.

Little doubt… a healthy Stafford and Kupp easily boosts that 18.1ppg average into the 20’s.

Then… If the offensive line can be just average / good…

It feels to me it comes down to Akers, Jefferson, Atwell, or one of these new tight ends… Somebody adding 500yds to their career best.

Akers; that would be 1,300yds rushing
Jefferson; that would be 1,300yds receiving
Atwell; that would be 800yds receiving

IF someone(s) from that group emerges like that then I think we get to 24ppg and will be in the mix for a playoff spot.

 

[tempests]

I don't know. Cooper Kupp is still elite, but if the Rams have to go without him again for significant time, this looks like a below average offense.

 

[Loyal]

I don't know. Cooper Kupp is still elite, but if the Rams have to go without him again for significant time, this looks like a below average offense.

We still have a franchise QB and a promising Oline. If you have the QB and he has the time, watch out...with wonderful Cooper or not.

Thank heaven we do have him, healthy and ready to go.

 

[Tano]

We still have a franchise QB and a promising Oline. If you have the QB and he has the time, watch out...with wonderful Cooper or not.

Thank heaven we do have him, healthy and ready to go.

This times 1000 - the Rams will do well on offense if their OL stands up and will suck again if they have issues like they had last year. I am not confident at all of Noteboom's and Allen's durability. I do like their back-ups so we will see if the OL will be much improved.

Of course - at least we no longer have Evan's and Kolone on the team

I blame the futility and injury to Stafford almost entirely on Evans with a lot of help from Kolone.

I still cannot understand why McVay kept playing Evans. I would have gone thru all the practice squads trying to find someone that had to be better than Evans. One of the few times I agreed with PFF on their ratings on an OL player.

 

[PARAM]

As anemic as our offense was last year, it still didn't rival the years before McVay arrived. 17.7 PPG in 2022 with 58 different OL playing vs. 13.6 PPG in 2016 and 15.8 PPG in 2015. Our defense wasn't half bad under Fisher....averaging #15 in yards allowed and #17 in points. So having a better D doesn't equate to wins. We've averaged 24.4 PPG under McVay. 263 TDs, 182 FGs, 98 GP. So we ought to be able to accomplish 24 PPG this year.

 

[tempests]

We still have a franchise QB and a promising Oline. If you have the QB and he has the time, watch out...with wonderful Cooper or not.

Thank heaven we do have him, healthy and ready to go.

Well, my concern is there is no one on the Rams offense to "watch out" for except Kupp. His role in this offense and the impact he has on it can't be overstated.

Given his injury history, it's fair to wonder if we're going to have him for the whole year.

 

[PARAM]

Well, my concern is there is no one on the Rams offense to "watch out" for except Kupp. His role in this offense and the impact he has on it can't be overstated.

Given his injury history, it's fair to wonder if we're going to have him for the whole year.

He was healthy in 2017, injured in 2018. Healthy in 2019, injured prior to the playoffs in 2020. Healthy in 2021, injured in 2022. This is a + year for Kupp.

 

[Neil039]

Jack Bauer approves

 

[OldSchool]

 

[PARAM]

Here's the offensive TD count from winningest season down:

13 wins / 55 TD
12 wins / 51 TD
11 wins / 45 TD
10 wins / 39 TD
9 wins / 42 TD
5 wins / 31 TD

The defense helped in the 10 win season and hurt in the 9 win season, IMHO. But basically how the offense goes, so goes the record.

 

[den-the-coach]

Health is going to matter also I believe McVay's offense will transition more to a running offense especially with the addition of Offensive Coordinator Mike LaFleur. I am hoping for more 12 personnel which will take pressure of the receiver group as I concur with @tempests without Kupp it becomes an ordinary group with a little sizzle from Atwell and is why I believe Robinson & Johnson were late additions.

The running game will also protect Stafford plus give the offensive line more confidence as Offensive Linemen love to impose their will on the defense and it will also keep our defense off the field giving the young unit time to gel as the Rams can't afford that unit to be under siege early on.

Overall there will be growing pains, but the Rams have to stick to the running game with play action coming off it involving some different players like the tight ends for example getting a big year out of Higbee along with some of the others like Hopkins, Long & Allen. Plenty of Green for Akers, Kyren Williams as the third down back add in Michel early then maybe some Zach Evans later in the year as the running game is like Novocain, just give it time, it always works.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

I think Ryan Windell is a bit of a question mark. If our OL turns into a strength instead of a weakness, and a legit running game keeps Staff healthy, he'll light it up. And the ability to sustain drives will even help our defense.

 

[blackbart]

I believe they have done enough to make this target for point per game.

It will be hard to tell what they look like in preseason if McVay sticks to not playing starters.

Watching the scrimmages might give us a peek. It will be interesting to see how much fire there is in those practices and if there are any fights breaking out along our Oline.

I do expect a bigger year for Akers, easily filling that void @CGI_Ram

 

[Ram Ts]

To make the playoffs, we need all four of the following to happen:
1) OL/Stafford stay healthy -- if so, we score a lot and no problems here;
2) 3-4 of the DBs make huge improvements (or immediate as rookies) and become above average NFL players.
3) DL -- BBrown becomes a VERY good starter and Turner provides some immediate impact as well.
4) One or more (probably at least two) of the young/rookie edges/OLB become above average starters and become big impact players pass-rush wise.

#1 seems very reasonable and doable. I think #3 is very possible. #2 and #4 is the longshot though -- eventually i think they will but that's asking a lot of all these young DBs & Edges so early in their careers.

 

[CGI_Ram]

2) 3-4 of the DBs make huge improvements (or immediate as rookies) and become above average NFL players.
3) DL -- BBrown becomes a VERY good starter and Turner provides some immediate impact as well.
4) One or more (probably at least two) of the young/rookie edges/OLB become above average starters and become big impact players pass-rush wise.

We just need to get to 24ppg. All that means…

 

[Merlin]

Detroit last year demonstrated how a defense can derail a good offense. So if we are good on offense I think we'll be in the mix for a wildcard but whether that happens will come down to how the defense plays. They can't be breaking down on the backend and easily conceding short yardage situations.

So in combination we need the secondary and rush to be good enough. I think the coaching changes will help that happen. But we have young players who will be out there trying to prove it this year and to what extent they do that, particularly in the secondary, will determine how far this team goes.

But funny enough it wasn't long ago people were saying we would be in the mix for a top pick. So for myself I'm still where I was prior, thinking 6ish wins with a +/- of 3. And that 3 will be determined by injuries, how well the young players step up, special teams, etc. Offense can certainly help that if they are a top unit, which I think is possible, but I don't feel like that's a slam dunk or anything. But if they do score say 30ppg then obviously we will be a playoff team. Just a playoff team that will probably get eliminated quickly due to not having enough defense.