A few thoughts to share this morning…

[fearsomefour]

In no particular order of importance, just a stream of consciousness thing…

Warning: I’m not gonna be holding back in this post.


Great to hear Stafford declare that he’s NOT retiring. That’s huge.

Rams must invest in a RB this offseason. Trade, FA, draft, I don’t care, anymore. My personal preference would be the draft. We just can’t go on like this. Fortunately, this is a deep RB draft.

Rams currently can’t run and can’t pass. Look no further than their OL. Even Hav is now struggling. No choice but to play out the string with these current guys, but damn! It’s ugly to watch, isn’t it?

I’m done with Allen. Heart of a lion but he can’t stay on the field, therefore he’s largely useless. Shelton would be an upgrade but Rams might go trade, FA, or draft for OG/OC anyway.

As I’ve posted in other threads, I believe Rams OL can be fixed with addition of just 2 players (plus return of health by guys already on roster). So fixing OL is not the Impossible Dream.

We, in effect, don’t currently have a functioning TE corps do we? Even Higbee has disappointed. Speaking of Higbee, his departure this offseason is probably on the table as a topic of Ram coaches discussion. I’m serious. This TE situation has been weakening for years without being recognized and dealt with by Snead/McVay. Almost unforgivable.

Hoecht is not the answer at OLB. Sorry. I love his effort but Rams need a lot better.

Thomas and Hardy did nothing to stand out last night. If they did I sure missed it while blinking my eyes. I was hoping for at least a flash or two…. Edge remains a very high priority for the offseason. Probably the highest priority.

Rams sure miss their healthy AD. Duh! Changes the whole dynamic on D and opportunities for opposing OC’s.

Wagner was a brilliant signing. He’s exceeded my lofty expectations. Probably MVP on D this year. Not his fault that team is struggling, that’s for sure.

Hill is a goner and I won’t miss him (or his tackling).

I was hoping for more from Durant. Rams need him to show something in these final 3 games if he wants to be prominently included in their ‘23 plans.

Did Lake get any snaps other than ST? If not, why not? Isn’t this the perfect opportunity to see what these kids can do? Maybe just 5 snaps or so? C’mon…

I love Gay and really like Dixon. Both are locks for extensions.


Okay, here’s where I may upset a few of the brethren but I’ve gotta call them as I see them. Sigh…

Snead and McVay may both be overrated. There, I said it.

Here’s why I suggest this.

Yes, it’s true that Rams have suffered terrible injuries on their OL, not to mention WR and their secondary as well. Doesn’t help to lose Stafford and AD either. But other teams have suffered many injuries, too, and they’re still in contention for the playoffs. Rams were such a team just last year.

Rams are also guilty of making some non-optimal personnel decisions over recent years via draft and FA (pretty diplomatic there, huh?). In addition, Rams coaching decisions have become more puzzling of late. McVay’s asst coaches currently are not of the same caliber as in recent years, either. Rams assistants used to be considered great teachers and rapid developers of young talent but that now seems to be gone. Hell, it seems like now they can’t develop ANYONE.

So, what am I saying? Certainly NOT that Snead or McVay need to be replaced. That would be foolish. But I AM suggesting that both men do some soul searching of their respective methods and results and come up with a game plan to correct their respective mistakes. Both need a course correction.

Snead has GOT to draft better and McVay has GOT to fix his anemic O and get his corps of assistants back up to their previous standards. Might want to rethink some of the current strategies on D, too.

There are holes at certain position groups that should NEVER be there if the two decision makers were paying proper attention.

Backup QB
RB
TE
Edge
CB
S

I might add that Rams OL has not been able to run block well for several years.

I hate seeing all the injuries as much as anybody else does, but if one thinks that the Rams woes are all attributable to injuries then one has simply not been paying enough attention. Some of these problems have been worsening for years.

Poor drafting or poor coaching? Or both? The results speak for themselves.

In terms of RB I would release Akers after the year.
I would sign one FA RB, say a mid/low priced FA like D'Onta Foreman or someone in that price range and I would draft 2 RBs as well.
OL is a tough one....I doubt the Rams will sink big money into a FA.
Some like Bozeman from Carolina to upgrade the C spot is likely to run (based on Sportrak) about $12M a year. He may be an upgrade over Allen but is he that much of an upgrade (nearly double the salary for 2023).
G a good option is possible for about $8-9M a year, guys like Jenkins from Green Bay or Davis from Tennessee that could upgrade a G spot. A guy like Risner I like more than those guys but will cost more probably.
RT, I can't see us not rolling with Havenstein.
LT, not a lot of affordable FA options.
Back up QB, obviously, would like Mayfield to return. If not Mayfield other FA options like Brissett or Rush should be out there.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Rams Paying Price of Win-Now Moves: Tough Offseason Ahead?​

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/sports/nfl/article270265142.html

Rams claim unwanted NFL history as Super Bowl champs lose to Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers led his Green Bay Packers past the Los Angeles Rams, who have been eliminated from playoff contention despite winning the Super Bowl back in February

www.mirror.co.uk

Most off-seasons are pretty tough, although this next one certainly requires that we do more to get it right than most. Still, I'm looking at this as a huge opportunity, and if we do well our next couple of years could be incredibly successful. jmo.

 

[XXXIVwin]

By next June we'll all be drinking the kool-aid.

We're pretty predictable that way.

 

[Oregonram]

Agreed. McVay winning the Super Bowl without the run game probably defused his greatest concerns with not having one. But that's a shit ton of wear and tear on the QB. Stafford got beat up pretty good in that game.

Granted McVay did mention the need to improve in the run game during the offseason, but there was no real push to do so. Keeping the same RBs in our backfield that had disappointed so many times before, not to mention the replacements they made on the OL simply were not enough. Regardless of the injuries we have seen up front, which have been epic, this OL was poised to throw the fucking ball for everything they had to get and at Stafford's age that is simply not a good plan.

So yes if he doesn't peel out of here for big TV money he is going to have to prioritize the run game this offseason. That is the reason Shanny owns his ass. It's the reason the other WCO disciples do pretty well against him too. They all know how to remove his bread and butter bullshit short passing/misdirection game. Shanny understands this. It is why he has speciated into his own direction that has consistently provided him said run game.

And before someone swoops in with "OMG we won the Super Bowl" I know that. But we're talking survival moving forward for this scheme. If he's going to throw the ball every down then he's going to need to invest in the OL a ton more than he already has and we don't have the resources for that so he is going to need to balance it.

When you see your running back getting 5 yards a pop and only run him 12 times let’s me know that this is pathological with Sean. He would rather sling it in 18 degree weather rather than keep gouging the defense to not only soften the defense, but encourage his beleaguered OL. And the QB he is slinging it with has been with the team 12 days…just really really weird.

 

[WarnerToBruce]

When you see your running back getting 5 yards a pop and only run him 12 times let’s me know that this is pathological with Sean. He would rather sling it in 18 degree weather…

Yeah. Sometimes it’s like he’s thinking he’s playing against his own D, where WRs are open on every play.

 

[RamFanWA]

Rams Paying Price of Win-Now Moves: Tough Offseason Ahead?​

https://www.bellinghamherald.com/sports/nfl/article270265142.html

Rams claim unwanted NFL history as Super Bowl champs lose to Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers led his Green Bay Packers past the Los Angeles Rams, who have been eliminated from playoff contention despite winning the Super Bowl back in February

www.mirror.co.uk

Some kind of reporting right there, from the mirror...

Lost me with the this sentence:

MVP Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to a 24-12 victory at SoFi Stadium...

 

[RamDino]

Granted McVay did mention the need to improve in the run game during the offseason, but there was no real push to do so. Keeping the same RBs in our backfield that had disappointed so many times before, not to mention the replacements they made on the OL simply were not enough.

Absolutely. I do not believe it was the running backs, however. Akers and Henderson and even Williams have proven that they can carry the rock if given some space. It is entirely on the O-line because the backs are getting hit in the backfield. The o-line gets blown up on almost every play. The same thing was happening with Gurley back in Fisher's last year and he couldn't run either. That's how I see it anyway.

 

[Faceplant]

If the Rams come back next year trying to run the same offensive scheme, even at full strength......we're probably looking at 7-9 wins. Something has to change.

 

[RamDino]

If the Rams come back next year trying to run the same offensive scheme, even at full strength......we're probably looking at 7-9 wins. Something has to change.

Absolutely.. they need a run game.

 

[dang]

I want the Rams to put all resources (trade, release, free agency, draft) this off-season to strengthening the trenches. OL to protect Stafford and help for Donald. Our 2 biggest assets. Anything left over goes towards an Edge and RB.

 

[fearsomefour]

When you see your running back getting 5 yards a pop and only run him 12 times let’s me know that this is pathological with Sean. He would rather sling it in 18 degree weather rather than keep gouging the defense to not only soften the defense, but encourage his beleaguered OL. And the QB he is slinging it with has been with the team 12 days…just really really weird.

It is bizarre.
Im not sure who could get into his ear about this he would listen to or respect.
I understand having the pieces to want to play to your strengths when Stafford, Kupp and all the other pieces are there. But, when Wolford and Perkins are out there, I figured.....ok.....now we get to try and fix the running game. Nope. Dropped Wolford back to pass almost 30 times his first start (if memory serves). The lack of running game success is nothing new with this offense. Going back to before last year.
This is why I would not sign a big money FA RB or draft a running back high......McVay isn't likely to use him.
If he Rams landed CMC.....how much would McVay really use him?
Trade away first round picks and run him 14 times a game??....because thats probably what would have happened.

 

[fearsomefour]

If the Rams come back next year trying to run the same offensive scheme, even at full strength......we're probably looking at 7-9 wins. Something has to change.

Ive said for a long time most coaches are not great.
Most are not great football minds that are adaptable really. They are experts in the scheme THEY run, but, thats all they coach really. So and so is a 3/4 D coach or a 4/3 D coach for example.
Most coaches are not that adaptable. They run what they run or the oversee it and have other run their scheme.
So I have no idea if McVay is interested is really changing his scheme that much. He has shown he can adapt although it takes a while for him to implement the changes.
The NFL works in cycles as we all know.
For awhile everyone was wanting big, physical receivers. Then it morphed into a spread offense, empty backfield, no huddle offenses that attacked through the air. Whats coming back this year? Running game.
Why?
Offenses make adjustments or someone has success and teams emulate and then defenses adjust. So, if you are an O facing a D with 3 good pass rushers and a good coverage secondary but light on beef up front and physical LBs.....well, you run the ball.
Offenses adjust.....defenses adjust....offenses adjust again.
Any offense if properly executed should work.
Injuries kill ya and being predictable (one dimensional) will kill your offense too.
The Rams have both problems going on.
At some point in nearly every NFL season, playoff in particular, it still comes down to running the ball and stopping the run.
The design this year was to have an O that scored TDs and a D that gave up FGs and didn't get killed on the ground.
For the most part the D has done its job, as designed, pretty well.
Now, add a running game to that O design and the D gets more rest etc.....the D goes from being good to potentially being a top D in the league.
The running game helps cover for a lot of other weaknesses. When the running game isn't there, no matter the talent, the offense is going to be a bit crippled.
Football is football. It has always been this way.
I don't know if there is anyone who can really reign McVay in or anyone on his staff that pushes back in a real way or is allowed to.
The Rams need another voice in there with McVay I think.

 

[Tano]

Yeah. Sometimes it’s like he’s thinking he’s playing against his own D, where WRs are open on every play.

Yeah - McVay tells his receivers - go out 12 yards and turn and you will be wide open every time.

 

[snackdaddy]

I wouldn't be too hard on McVay for the offense. The losses on the line are practically unprecedented. I don't know of any team that has that many injuries to one group. Perhaps he'd love to call a different game but knows it won't work with these guys. A coach is great when his players execute. Not so great when they don't. I'd wait to see what they do with changes next season.

 

[BonifayRam]

Most off-seasons are pretty tough, although this next one certainly requires that we do more to get it right than most. Still, I'm looking at this as a huge opportunity, and if we do well our next couple of years could be incredibly successful. jmo.

We did have a bit of a discussion on the positive opportunity that this 2022 revolving team roster will have provided the coaches an extra large amount of knowledge on the mass amount of wavier line contention players scrapped up after the 2022 season began.

From my point, there might be 2 or 3 worth keeping to see if they are worth their time.

I do not share your high optimism about this team's future. I just hope this team has enough to work hard to get back to 500 once again before what few Ram fans in LA area find something else to do better.

 

[AZRams]

I can't fault any of this. I feel the same way. As I have stated before, Mcvay’s offense worries me at this point. Seem the Rams run the same game plan every damn week and expect different results. Defenses seem to KNOW what the Rams are going to do most of the time and stuff it cold. So frustrating.

He doesn't have the players on the field to run the whole book. And even if he did, these guys can't run it as well...

 

[Faceplant]

He doesn't have the players on the field to run the whole book. And even if he did, these guys can't run it as well...

He hasn't had the players to run that scheme since 2018. That is why it is frustrating to see him still trying. You have to adapt to what you have at your disposal.

The Rams weren't scaring anyone last season either btw. They got hot in the playoffs and a LOT of things fell their way. Amazing couple of months that I will remember forever. That will have to last me for a while me thinks.....and I'm OK with that.