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6 questions the Rams must answer in their last 6 games
The Rams might be considering drastic makeovers at offensive line and outside linebacker while evaluating young players for the rest of the season.
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6 questions the Rams must answer in their last 6 games
THOUSAND OAKS — The Rams have a quarterback battle in December, an obvious indicator the season hasn’t gone their way.The injury-depleted and disappointing Rams (3-8) will face the Seattle Seahawks (6-5) on Sunday at SoFi Stadium without starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, receivers Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson and defensive tackle Aaron Donald.
As of Thursday afternoon, the Rams hadn’t decided between Bryce Perkins and John Wolford as their starting quarterback against the Seahawks. Each backup has had a start this season and neither had much success.
But this looming quarterback decision only affects the short term. The Rams aren’t headed to the postseason and have plenty of decisions to make during the final six games of the season that could affect next year’s roster.
Questions abound at many positions and, with several veteran starters sidelined, the Rams can evaluate their younger players in upcoming games against the Seahawks (twice), Raiders, Packers, Broncos and Chargers.
Here are six questions the Rams need to answer during the final six games of the season:
Wide receiver: Can Tutu take advantage of the opportunities?
Tutu Atwell’s two catches for 23 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs last week might have helped him more than his 62-yard touchdown reception versus the New Orleans Saints the prior week.The Rams already knew Atwell had the speed to complete downfield plays on go-routes, which is what occurred on his first career touchdown catch during Week 11 against the Saints.
But the 5-foot-9 Atwell displayed much more with his two critical catches versus the Chiefs during the Rams’ lone touchdown drive. Atwell, a 2021 second-round pick, moved the chains on fourth-and-2 with an eight-yard reception and followed that with another first down on a 15-yard catch to put the Rams in the red zone.
“The ability to be able to make plays, the ability to be able to move around the formation,” Rams coach Sean McVay said about what Atwell has shown him the past two games. “For him the other day, I thought it was a great job on the fourth down by Bryce to be able to avoid the free hitter. He ends up hitting Tutu on the shallow on the fourth down, ends up hitting him on a crossing route. You want to just continue to see him grow and you’ve seen steps in that maturation process.”
The Rams will need to decide how their wide receiver depth chart will look in 2023 behind Kupp, but Atwell is already proving that he belongs in the rotation and not solely as a one-trick wideout.
Offensive line: Should there be a drastic rebuild?
Rams right tackle Rob Havenstein is the only offensive lineman to start in all 11 games this season. He’s one of 13 linemen to receive at least one start amid a tumultuous and unprecedented season for the injury-riddled unit.Havenstein, who signed a three-year contract extension before the season, might be the only offensive lineman who’s guaranteed a starting spot next season.
Left tackle Joe Noteboom, left guard David Edwards, center Brian Allen and right guard Coleman Shelton were the other Week 1 starters. The Rams might be considering a drastic makeover for the offensive line after what has transpired this season.
Noteboom struggled in his first season as the full-time starter and had his season cut short after an Achilles injury in Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers. Allen has been productive in his starts, but availability has been an issue with many injuries throughout his five-year career.
The Rams are in a tough position. Most of the starting offensive linemen haven’t been on the field to be evaluated. Perhaps it was one unlucky season filled with injuries. Or might it be time for serious upgrades?
Running back: Can Kyren Williams be a playmaker?
The Rams opened the season with high hopes for a three-man running back rotation of Darrell Henderson, Cam Akers and rookie Kyren Williams. The Rams wound up with one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL this season.The injuries to the offensive line didn’t help, but Henderson and Akers struggled to break tackles and create plays on their own. Henderson was recently waived, Akers was sent home for nearly a month because of differences with McVay. Williams missed most of the first half of the season because of an ankle injury.
Akers managed to return to the team, but he might be headed for an official breakup once the season is complete. That likely leaves Williams as the lone running back who will be back in 2023.
“For a young guy with limited experience, his preparation, his attention to detail, his play energy, the way that he goes about his business, those are the types of things that led us to believe that this would be a good movie for us to watch with Kyren in there,” Rams offensive coordinator Liam Coen said.
Williams hasn’t made an impact with his limited carries, but the team admires how he prepares and they’re fans of his pass blocking, which is often a struggle for young running backs. Williams will be around, but he can prove to the Rams that he deserves more carries next season.
Outside linebacker: Will the Rams move on from Floyd?
The Rams have a looming decision to make with Leonard Floyd. They have an out next season with no guaranteed money left on his contract.Floyd is clearly the Rams’ best edge rusher, but they might be enticed to cut him to free cap space and start fresh at outside linebacker. The Rams haven’t been pleased with the production from the group this season and they were connected to Panthers edge rusher Brian Burns before the trade deadline.
The Rams have struggled without Von Miller, who left in free agency to join the Buffalo Bills. Floyd has recorded five sacks in the past five games after a slow start to the season, but he might need an impressive final six games to stick around with the Rams.
Terrell Lewis is also being evaluated, but the team might not be counting on him to start next season because of his history with injuries. Lewis is currently dealing with a back injury. Inexperienced players Michael Hoecht and Keir Thomas will likely get opportunities to rush the passer in the final upcoming games.
Cornerback: Can Kendrick and Durant develop into starters?
The Rams might be considering reducing the snaps of cornerbacks Troy Hill and David Long to see more of rookies Derion Kendrick and Cobie Durant.Rams star cornerback Jalen Ramsey is a fan of the tenacity Kendrick and Durant provide on the field. The rookies’ aggressiveness hurts them at times, but that might lead to more takeaways.
The Rams’ defense has only nine takeaways this season. It might be time to let Kendrick and Durant learn on the job to see if they can develop into quality starters for next season.
Safety: Revamped group in 2023?
Taylor Rapp, a pending free agent, has struggled on the field. Jordan Fuller might not be back this season after missing the past seven games with a hamstring injury. Nick Scott, however, has had a productive 2022 season.If the Rams are all about the inexperienced players for the rest of the season, they might start giving rookie safeties Russ Yeast and Quentin Lake more defensive snaps than special teams work.
