7 Takeaways from Rams victory over Chargers ...

[Kupped]

These are my, "I know it's early, but..." thoughts..

The TEs, behind Higbee, are liabilities when it comes to any kind of blocking. I miss Mundt.

The biggest threats I see to the Rams ability to have another tremendous season are the Oline overall, and the Dline depth.
I am NOT saying the Oline is bad or will be bad, it's just got the biggest question marks, as a unit. It has the potential to be good, but I do think that we can't expect it to be good as last year. You don't lose Whitworth and Corbett and not miss something. We'll see how quickly the replacement(s) for Corbett step up... and whether Noteboom can be healthy AND pick it up a little in the run game.

Bobby Brown being suspended troubles me because the Rams will be missing some real size depth on the dline. We didn't see Hoecht or Copeland... so we know those two are absolutely locked in. Copeland is an undersized, classic, 3-tech. Hoecht is listed at 310.. but I don't feel like he's a guy who anchors well? Maybe that's just wrong. But I'd like an absolute clogger on the depth chart.

Other than that? Outside of injury, I can't think of anything I'm worried about.

I think the DBs floor is about a 6 out of 10.. with the potential to be a 9.
ILBs are just an 8, imo. I think we know what they are and know what they'll be. Really fucking good.
Edge.. I think this is an area where the Rams are fine. I'm not worried because I think the floor is pretty high, as long as they stay healthy.
RBs.. I'm just not that worried because I think there are always solutions out there.

It's a hell of a roster, imo.

 

[BonifayRam]

I would cut Ceasar Dancy-Williams

I have never seen an air tackle as bad as Dancy-Williams made.

He just dived in the air and missed the receiver by over 3 yards.

It was absolutely horrible.

And he didn't make any other plays that I could see during the game - cut him

At this time Snead has the corner unit looking pretty well set......

David Long
Robert Rochell
Troy Hill
Jalen Ramsey
Decobie Durant
Derion Kendrick

The only other real player that I have seen is CB Grant Haley. Do you think that DC Morris will go with 6 corners? Rams will lose their #2 & #3 corner in Free Agency in March. So it would look like a good plan to go heavy with these half dozen corners to me & light on safeties this season.

I say this because starting CB Ramsey is the best safety that DC Morris has on his roster.....

 

[Kupped]

At this time Snead has the corner unit looking pretty well set......

David Long
Robert Rochell
Troy Hill
Jalen Ramsey
Decobie Durant
Derion Kendrick

The only other real player that I have seen is CB Grant Haley. Do you think that DC Morris will go with 6 corners? Rams will lose their #2 & #3 corner in Free Agency in March. So it would look like a good plan to go heavy with these half dozen corners to me & light on safeties this season.

I say this because starting CB Ramsey is the best safety that DC Morris has on his roster.....

This is one of the reasons I've said that I think Rochell is the key to the defense's upside this season. If he takes a big step to free Jalen up? He can be a true wild card.. all over the place, including safety. His ball instincts deep? Fun stuff, imo.

 

[OldSchool]

At this time Snead has the corner unit looking pretty well set......

David Long
Robert Rochell
Troy Hill
Jalen Ramsey
Decobie Durant
Derion Kendrick

The only other real player that I have seen is CB Grant Haley. Do you think that DC Morris will go with 6 corners? Rams will lose their #2 & #3 corner in Free Agency in March. So it would look like a good plan to go heavy with these half dozen corners to me & light on safeties this season.

I say this because starting CB Ramsey is the best safety that DC Morris has on his roster.....

Don’t we also have two safeties headed for free agency? Assuming Burgess makes the team.

 

[rdlkgliders]

At this time Snead has the corner unit looking pretty well set......

David Long
Robert Rochell
Troy Hill
Jalen Ramsey
Decobie Durant
Derion Kendrick

The only other real player that I have seen is CB Grant Haley. Do you think that DC Morris will go with 6 corners? Rams will lose their #2 & #3 corner in Free Agency in March. So it would look like a good plan to go heavy with these half dozen corners to me & light on safeties this season.

I say this because starting CB Ramsey is the best safety that DC Morris has on his roster.....

Hey Boni,

I never see Donte Deayon on these lists and in fact haven't really heard anything in regards to him.

Do you think he isn't in the picture at all? I thought we gave him a 1-year 1-million contract.
Maybe I missed something?

 

[oldnotdead]

From what I hear, Morris didn't call that defensive game. He allowed two of his assistants to make the defensive calls. The plan was not necessarily to win, but to evaluate the depth players. Their core DB players are set IMO, Ramsey, Rochell, Durant, Rapp, Fuller, Scott, Lake, and Yeast. Rochell, Durant and Yeast all saw limited snaps to help them develop. Rochell missed so much last year this is how they are working him back into the lineup. Live game snaps are the best way to learn.

If McCutcheon has another strong game this week he makes the roster. This would spell bad news to OBJ because with Kupp, Robinson, Jefferson, Tutu, Harris, Powell and now McCutcheon that's a loaded WR room. I see OBJ signing with Buffalo. Robinson, Kupp and McCutcheon will give Stafford a really good red zone receiving group with height, speed and hands. McCutcheon is actually faster than Robinson and even Kupp when he was a rookie. Getting separation is about route running and quickness.

People criticize Perkin's arm strength but watch that pass to McCutcheon along the sideline it was an absolute dime. With good coaching, arm strength can be improved. Perkin's play from the pocket is improving. If he has a second strong preseason, to go along with last year, he will be the #2 QB by the end of the season. Wolford is on a one year contract as is Perkins. I think they only resign Perkins and draft a developmental QB next year. They need to prepare for Stafford's arm issue which I think may only hold up for 3 years. Next year is supposed to be a good year for QBs. They would have Perkins for at least one maybe two years as their #2 and a developmental prospect behind him.

That said I still think McVay would prefer a proven vet as his QB.

 

[Kupped]

Hey Boni,

I never see Donte Deayon on these lists and in fact haven't really heard anything in regards to him.

Do you think he isn't in the picture at all? I thought we gave him a 1-year 1-million contract.
Maybe I missed something?

Hope you don't mind me answering..
DD is long gone, and, imo, that's a GREAT sign for this secondary. Loved the personality and instincts.. but he was a physical non-factor and didn't belong on an NFL field.
The Rams *worst* corner this year will probably be Decobie Durant.. and he's got a shit-ton of potential.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Hey Boni,

I never see Donte Deayon on these lists and in fact haven't really heard anything in regards to him.

Do you think he isn't in the picture at all? I thought we gave him a 1-year 1-million contract.
Maybe I missed something?

Tutu complained about his size and got him kicked off the team.

 

[OldSchool]

From what I hear, Morris didn't call that defensive game. He allowed two of his assistants to make the defensive calls. The plan was not necessarily to win, but to evaluate the depth players. Their core DB players are set IMO, Ramsey, Rochell, Durant, Rapp, Fuller, Scott, Lake, and Yeast. Rochell, Durant and Yeast all saw limited snaps to help them develop. Rochell missed so much last year this is how they are working him back into the lineup. Live game snaps are the best way to learn.

If McCutcheon has another strong game this week he makes the roster. This would spell bad news to OBJ because with Kupp, Robinson, Jefferson, Tutu, Harris, Powell and now McCutcheon that's a loaded WR room. I see OBJ signing with Buffalo. Robinson, Kupp and McCutcheon will give Stafford a really good red zone receiving group with height, speed and hands. McCutcheon is actually faster than Robinson and even Kupp when he was a rookie. Getting separation is about route running and quickness.

People criticize Perkin's arm strength but watch that pass to McCutcheon along the sideline it was an absolute dime. With good coaching, arm strength can be improved. Perkin's play from the pocket is improving. If he has a second strong preseason, to go along with last year, he will be the #2 QB by the end of the season. Wolford is on a one year contract as is Perkins. I think they only resign Perkins and draft a developmental QB next year. They need to prepare for Stafford's arm issue which I think may only hold up for 3 years. Next year is supposed to be a good year for QBs. They would have Perkins for at least one maybe two years as their #2 and a developmental prospect behind him.

That said I still think McVay would prefer a proven vet as his QB.

It was a nice catch by Cutch on an underthrown ball. He stopped to catch it a dime hits him in stride. Nice play but far from a dime.

 

[Tumak61]

McCutcheon's problem is that Skowronek and Powell are monsters on special teams. Don't see him unseating either of those guys. I think McCutcheon is headed to the practice squad.

 

[Kupped]

From what I hear, Morris didn't call that defensive game. He allowed two of his assistants to make the defensive calls. The plan was not necessarily to win, but to evaluate the depth players. Their core DB players are set IMO, Ramsey, Rochell, Durant, Rapp, Fuller, Scott, Lake, and Yeast. Rochell, Durant and Yeast all saw limited snaps to help them develop. Rochell missed so much last year this is how they are working him back into the lineup. Live game snaps are the best way to learn.

If McCutcheon has another strong game this week he makes the roster. This would spell bad news to OBJ because with Kupp, Robinson, Jefferson, Tutu, Harris, Powell and now McCutcheon that's a loaded WR room. I see OBJ signing with Buffalo. Robinson, Kupp and McCutcheon will give Stafford a really good red zone receiving group with height, speed and hands. McCutcheon is actually faster than Robinson and even Kupp when he was a rookie. Getting separation is about route running and quickness.

People criticize Perkin's arm strength but watch that pass to McCutcheon along the sideline it was an absolute dime. With good coaching, arm strength can be improved. Perkin's play from the pocket is improving. If he has a second strong preseason, to go along with last year, he will be the #2 QB by the end of the season. Wolford is on a one year contract as is Perkins. I think they only resign Perkins and draft a developmental QB next year. They need to prepare for Stafford's arm issue which I think may only hold up for 3 years. Next year is supposed to be a good year for QBs. They would have Perkins for at least one maybe two years as their #2 and a developmental prospect behind him.

That said I still think McVay would prefer a proven vet as his QB.

Perkins is in his 3rd year in the NFL. His arm is not going to get any stronger and it's just way too weak to be effective against real NFL defenses.
He will *not* be the 2nd QB and may not make the roster.

Next year's backup? Who knows? Maybe guys like Darnold or Jones look around for the chance to learn and maybe have a long career. Sitting a couple of years behind Stafford *might* help them... and they'd still be young.

 

[Kupped]

McCutcheon's problem is that Skowronek and Powell are monsters on special teams. Don't see him unseating either of those guys. I think McCutcheon is headed to the practice squad.

He won't make it through waivers. No way.

And those two aren't the competition for the roster spot, imo.. it's Harris.

Powell seems locked in... but the X-factor is Kyren Williams and how well he can return kicks and punts.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Perkins is in his 3rd year in the NFL. His arm is not going to get any stronger and it's just way too weak to be effective against real NFL defenses.
He will *not* be the 2nd QB and may not make the roster.

Next year's backup? Who knows? Maybe guys like Darnold or Jones look around for the chance to learn and maybe have a long career. Sitting a couple of years behind Stafford *might* help them... and they'd still be young.

My hunch is that any ability Perkins shows now is about his possibility as the backup next year or an outside chance that they can flip him for a future low rounder. Wolford offers too much to the team to be leapfrogged this year.

 

[Tumak61]

My hunch is that any ability Perkins shows now is about his possibility as the backup next year or an outside chance that they can flip him for a future low rounder. Wolford offers too much to the team to be leapfrogged this year.

McVay wouldn't risk his backup QB in a meaningless game, nor do I think there is any competition at this point. Wolford is the guy behind Stafford this season.

 

[Flint]

Folks need to tap the brakes on McCutcheon's performance, while he was a highlight, he was also playing against some pretty pathetic D. And while we are waxing poetic on him, are we willing to keep him instead of signing OBJ?

The charger dbs were having a horrible night, they sometimes had pretty good coverage but zero ball awareness which led to mccutcheon looking like randy moss or drawing pi. It’s hard to know what to make of his performance, he didn’t really separate and some of the throws weren’t the best but he came down with it which is all you can ask for. I don’t suppose we’ll be seeing Stafford or Wolford in these games, it would be interesting to see how he does with better qb’ing.

 

[BonifayRam]

Hey Boni,

I never see Donte Deayon on these lists and in fact haven't really heard anything in regards to him.

Do you think he isn't in the picture at all? I thought we gave him a 1-year 1-million contract.
Maybe I missed something?

Donte Deayon has no contract at this time. He appears to be a Free Agent.

Don’t we also have two safeties headed for free agency? Assuming Burgess makes the team.

Yes, we sure do. Taylor Rapp & Nick Scott both UFA's & they might both start this season too.

Leaving DC Morris with Jordan Fuller, Terrell Burgess, Quentin Lake & Russ Yeast if those two rookies make the MR53 or PS. Makes me wonder if Jalen Ramsey will help bring some skill to the safety unit in 2023?

Safety Burgess sure did not look at his best last Saturday Night.

 

[CoachAllred]

McCutcheon looks like the real deal. I know it's still early, but Damn what a start.
Jourdan Rodrigue has been talking this kid up since beginning of OTA'S

Seeing Troy Reeder in a chargers uniform brought me great joy. Rarely have I disliked
a Ram more than this guy.
If I'm being fair though it's not his fault , we should have never put a 3rd/4th
string ILB/ST guy in that position. 9er fans are mourning the loss.

 

[Tano]

McCutcheon looks like the real deal. I know it's still early, but Damn what a start.
Jourdan Rodrigue has been talking this kid up since beginning of OTA'S

Seeing Troy Reeder in a chargers uniform brought me great joy. Rarely have I disliked
a Ram more than this guy.
If I'm being fair though it's not his fault , we should have never put a 3rd/4th
string ILB/ST guy in that position. 9er fans are mourning the loss.

I agree. He's a good ST guy. He should never have been used as a starting linebacker. Only should have put him in on occasional 3rd down and long to either blitz or pretend to blitz.

 

[CoachAllred]

Assuming Burgess makes the team.

IMHO he is hanging by a thread. not sure what went wrong. I had high hopes for the kid.

 

[Flint]

He won't make it through waivers. No way.

And those two aren't the competition for the roster spot, imo.. it's Harris.

Powell seems locked in... but the X-factor is Kyren Williams and how well he can return kicks and punts.

That backup rb position seems like it’s up for grabs as Hendo has never lived up to his potential so is Kyren really going to be returning kicks? I don’t know. Seems like all the rbs got hurt last year.