A few random thoughts after sleeping on this fubar of a game…

[Kupped]

Starting to believe Stafford is a system QB. He needs a lot of parts around him to succeed.

"He (any QB in the NFL) needs a lot of parts around him to succeed."

 

[Merlin]

Starting to believe Stafford is a system QB. He needs a lot of parts around him to succeed.

If Stafford hadn't done what he did in the playoffs last year you might have an argument. But you don't.

His problem isn't being limited within the system. But rather playing within the system. When he plays within the system we're tough to beat.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Jackson is great, they got lucky that he was not drafted. If the interior were healthy I’d put him at OLT. Anchrum? He’s a seventh rounder. How long has he been a Ram and couldn’t crack the lineup? Bruss apparently wasn’t getting it since he was not beating Shelton for his starting position. I’m talking about prioritizing a lineman to get a difference maker. Hopefully locate one in the draft worthy of a second round pick.

Akers was drafted with Jefferson. How long do most teams keep trotting out injury prone runningbacks before they either sign a healthy vet or draft another one. It’s not a strong Runningback duo even when they are healthy. I actually think Henderson is better than Akers. It’s hard to count Williams since he is supposed to be the third down option and lacks size. They looked the best with Michel running the ball. He was consistent.

I agree about the RB situation. This is exactly why I brought up the possibility of us trading for one prior to the season starting since there was always a possibility Akers wouldn't be the same as achilles injuries are notorious to recover from. I get the crowd saying we need lineman (I'd welcome an addition there as well) but a good RB makes it easier for lineman to block as they only need slight creases to burst through. Based on what I've seen so far, we will definitely add one thru FA or the draft for sure next go round unfortunately.

 

[Giles]

Starting to believe Stafford is a system QB. He needs a lot of parts around him to succeed.

I mean that's all qbs. LJ is a system qb but people wouldn't believe it.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

I do get confused at some responses.
Anchrum is in his third year... and, yes, was a 7th rounder.. why would it be a bad thing that he's ready to go now? Jackson was a UDFA and this is his second year.... so.. what's the problem?
I watched Anchrum really closely in preseason.. he was the best Lineman on the Rams offense in those games and looked much better than last year.. he figured it out and that's why he was the primary backup for Shelton.. not Jackson.

Again.. the Rams literally drafted another RB this year and have Henderson on the roster. This is the first year we see Akers back.. what, exactly were they supposed to do? Write him off?


They could use Michel.. but it's pretty obvious McVay is looking for RBs who can produce some explosive plays.. that's not Michel.

They've OBVIOUSLY made some mistakes.. but I don't think it's as simple as "they ignored the line" or "they ignored the RBs"... I think there's been some injury misfortune, for sure. Could they throw more resources at those areas? Sure... but, no one is perfect in drafting, so mistakes will happen.
I'm actually very encouraged by what the line *could* be when it gets healthy. They better keep Jackson in .

Sorry man, really don't entirely agree with your RB assessment. We all know how injury prone our RBs are so yes, they should have done more to add one or maybe even just have kept Michel. Adding a rookie to cover us just in case Akers isn't the same is bad planning imo. I get there's nothing we can do about it now, but more competition (vet wise) was needed there. The o-line situation was one they screwed up last year that is spilling over to this year (I know dead horse) by choosing Tutu over Humphrey as that would have at least covered one spot on the line. Nothing against Allen, but his come back was remarkable but relying on someone with his injury history is playing with fire. It didn't burn us last year but this year, he's injured again. Obviously I don't blame him but some players just have bad luck in that department.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

I do get confused at some responses.
Anchrum is in his third year... and, yes, was a 7th rounder.. why would it be a bad thing that he's ready to go now? Jackson was a UDFA and this is his second year.... so.. what's the problem?
I watched Anchrum really closely in preseason.. he was the best Lineman on the Rams offense in those games and looked much better than last year.. he figured it out and that's why he was the primary backup for Shelton.. not Jackson.

Again.. the Rams literally drafted another RB this year and have Henderson on the roster. This is the first year we see Akers back.. what, exactly were they supposed to do? Write him off?


They could use Michel.. but it's pretty obvious McVay is looking for RBs who can produce some explosive plays.. that's not Michel.

They've OBVIOUSLY made some mistakes.. but I don't think it's as simple as "they ignored the line" or "they ignored the RBs"... I think there's been some injury misfortune, for sure. Could they throw more resources at those areas? Sure... but, no one is perfect in drafting, so mistakes will happen.
I'm actually very encouraged by what the line *could* be when it gets healthy. They better keep Jackson in .

However agree with your encouragement by the way and the misfortune. Don't interpret my earlier response as totally disagreeing with every part of the RB room, just part of it lol. More than anything, wished the plan worked out perfectly, but injuries can always ruin a plan easily.

 

[Kupped]

Sorry man, really don't entirely agree with your RB assessment. We all know how injury prone our RBs are so yes, they should have done more to add one or maybe even just have kept Michel. Adding a rookie to cover us just in case Akers isn't the same is bad planning imo. I get there's nothing we can do about it now, but more competition (vet wise) was needed there. The o-line situation was one they screwed up last year that is spilling over to this year (I know dead horse) by choosing Tutu over Humphrey as that would have at least covered one spot on the line. Nothing against Allen, but his come back was remarkable but relying on someone with his injury history is playing with fire. It didn't burn us last year but this year, he's injured again. Obviously I don't blame him but some players just have bad luck in that department.

I think you're looking for a perfection in "injury history" that just ain't there.

Sullivan had an extensive injury history.. same with Saffold.. it's the NFL, players get hurt.

Akers came back last year and they expected him to continue to improve.. showed some stuff against Cardinals.

Oline was fine until they got to 9 deep... to call that a deep failure is, at best, unfair, imo.

Again.. we all agree Tutu was a bad pick.. but can you honestly say that looking for more deep speed and playmaking on the offense was a mistake?

 

[El Chapo Jr]

I think you're looking for a perfection in "injury history" that just ain't there.

Sullivan had an extensive injury history.. same with Saffold.. it's the NFL, players get hurt.

Akers came back last year and they expected him to continue to improve.. showed some stuff against Cardinals.

Oline was fine until they got to 9 deep... to call that a deep failure is, at best, unfair, imo.

Again.. we all agree Tutu was a bad pick.. but can you honestly say that looking for more deep speed and playmaking on the offense was a mistake?

No I'm not looking at perfection in terms of injury history but if someone has had a serious injury or say multiple ones, chances are they'll probably get injured again. I'd think they do a better job at assessing the risk of injury for players like that and I feel like they misjudged that part. I'm a believer of plan for the worst and they didn't on this part. Also, no we did not need Tutu at all at that pick, that was just McVay wanting another toy that didn't work out. I say it's a mistake for sure as they were depending on a small statured WR working out as a deep threat when that mistake was made with Tavon Austin. O-line depth has been ignored way too long imo and it's biting us in the butt.

 

[Kupped]

No I'm not looking at perfection in terms of injury history but if someone has had a serious injury or say multiple ones, chances are they'll probably get injured again. I'd think they do a better job at assessing the risk of injury for players like that and I feel like they misjudged that part. I'm a believer of plan for the worst and they didn't on this part. Also, no we did not need Tutu at all at that pick, that was just McVay wanting another toy that didn't work out. I say it's a mistake for sure as they were depending on a small statured WR working out as a deep threat when that mistake was made with Tavon Austin. O-line depth has been ignored way too long imo and it's biting us in the butt.

Comparing Tavon to Tutu has nothing to do with skillset… just size.

Tavon was more RB than WR… and Tutu was a true downfield, over-the-shoulder WR in college.
A “toy”?
Speed is critical.. and the Rams don’t have any on offense. Not the kind that stretches a field.
The Rams have a reasonable backup in Shelton… they are on number 3.

I think there’s a difference between a bad pick and a bad philosophy.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Comparing Tavon to Tutu has nothing to do with skillset… just size.

Tavon was more RB than WR… and Tutu was a true downfield, over-the-shoulder WR in college.
A “toy”?
Speed is critical.. and the Rams don’t have any on offense. Not the kind that stretches a field.
The Rams have a reasonable backup in Shelton… they are on number 3.

I think there’s a difference between a bad pick and a bad philosophy.

Both still small statured WRs that didn't pan out. It's rare for smaller WRs to succeed if they are built tiny. What's crazy to me is Tavon isn't big but Tutu was barely pushing 160 which is way to small to last thru the rigors of the NFL. A bad pick is a bad pick which both were.

 

[Tano]

Comparing Tavon to Tutu has nothing to do with skillset… just size.

Tavon was more RB than WR… and Tutu was a true downfield, over-the-shoulder WR in college.
A “toy”?
Speed is critical.. and the Rams don’t have any on offense. Not the kind that stretches a field.
The Rams have a reasonable backup in Shelton… they are on number 3.

I think there’s a difference between a bad pick and a bad philosophy.

Bad pick and bad philosophy in thinking a guy that size was going to contribute

 

[iamme33]

Both still small statured WRs that didn't pan out. It's rare for smaller WRs to succeed if they are built tiny. What's crazy to me is Tavon isn't big but Tutu was barely pushing 160 which is way to small to last thru the rigors of the NFL. A bad pick is a bad pick which both were.

i agree but i remember when we picked him there were no high fives or fist pumps which make me think the player they really wanted was taken just before our pick came up. i think we were so set on a deep threat that we took a shot on a hobbit when we probably should have gone ol or edge rusher. oh well it's just my opinion

 

[El Chapo Jr]

I

i agree but i remember when we picked him there were no high fives or fist pumps which make me think the player they really wanted was taken just before our pick came up. i think we were so set on a deep threat that we took a shot on a hobbit when we probably should have gone ol or edge rusher. oh well it's just my opinion

It's extremely possible that is the case but either way, they totally botched the pick. For the trend setters are team is for roster construction, I'm surprised they were influenced, imo, by a run on WRs to draft one such as Tutu. The past is the past but we are paying for it.

 

[Kupped]

Both still small statured WRs that didn't pan out. It's rare for smaller WRs to succeed if they are built tiny. What's crazy to me is Tavon isn't big but Tutu was barely pushing 160 which is way to small to last thru the rigors of the NFL. A bad pick is a bad pick which both were.

I guess you just didn’t read my post.

 

[Kupped]

Bad pick and bad philosophy in thinking a guy that size was going to contribute

Jesus. Did I not say they made a bad pick?!???!

I asked if he was wrong to want more speed on offense.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

I guess you just didn’t read my post.

I did, but I didn't answer it like you wanted maybe? Fact is, both were smaller built WRs (both got drafted for that position) and both are failed picks, nothing changes that. Yes they both have different skill sets but both have blazing speed. What hampered both is the physicality of the NFL as both are smaller guys. Tutu barely outweighs some middle schoolers in a game played by some big ass grown men. Speed isn't everything, just ask Raiders fans that saw Al Davis draft that way for years. A speed gadget player should never be drafted that high. If Tutu were drafted much lower like he should have been, this pick wouldn't upset fans as much. Many of us crapped on this pick because regardless of what McVay wanted, we knew it was a reach and were right on that one. I for one wished the guy proved otherwise, but I'm not the least bit surprised he's a bust regardless of what McVay thought he'd bring to the table.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Jesus. Did I not say they made a bad pick?!???!

I asked if he was wrong to want more speed on offense.

To answer this part more directly, no he's not wrong to want more speed, but he made a dumb ass choice of player to do so. It happens but when it does, the team ultimately pays for it and we definitely are at the moment.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

By the way Kupped, as I have done with others, I appreciate the conversation and different view points offered by you even if we may or may not see eye to eye on some things. It's the main thing I love about this forum.

 

[Kupped]

To answer this part more directly, no he's not wrong to want more speed, but he made a dumb ass choice of player to do so. It happens but when it does, the team ultimately pays for it and we definitely are at the moment.

That’s what I asked.

Never once defended Tutu here and won’t.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

That’s what I asked.

Never once defended Tutu here and won’t.

No worries, I just like to discuss back and forth so if I don't always address a specific question sometimes lol.....I try to but I got caught up in the subject at hand. I know you aren't defending him but I'm mostly questioning the thought process of Snead and McVay in that one. While I understand they can't be perfect, when they miss, it hurts because of the picks we've traded away. It's brought us a championship which I'll always be grateful for, but it definitely has it's pros and cons.