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Analysis: Rams offense position-by-position breakdown for 2019
www.ocregister.com
THOUSAND OAKS — It was the offense that got most of the credit and then all of the blame when the Rams soared and later crashed last season.
Now it might be the offense that determines whether the Rams climb higher to a championship or fall back to Earth in the new season opening Sunday at Carolina.
The group certainly has a chance to improve, since the team brought back its top seven yards-producers, all between the ages of 24 and 27.But it could run into trouble. If defenses have figured out how to frustrate quarterback Jared Goff as the New England Patriots did in their 13-3 Super Bowl win. If running back Todd Gurley’s left knee acts up. If the offensive line struggles with two new starters.A lot might depend on whether Rams head coach Sean McVay figures out how to stay one tactical jump ahead of the defensive coaches trying to get one step ahead of him.
This week, McVay was asked if fans are likely to notice a difference in the Rams’ approach with the ball.“I think so,” he said — declining to get specific, of course, but acknowledging the challenge to “adapt, adjust and evolve.”It’s basically the same first-string talent trying to match or even exceed the exploits of last year, when the Rams were second in the league in points and yards and third per attempt in net passing and rushing yards.
Here’s a look at the Rams’ offense heading into the 2019 regular season:
Quarterbacks: Jared Goff, Blake Bortles
Goff goes into his third full year as starter with questions to answer after earning an NFL quarterback rating of 113.5 (league-leader caliber) in last season’s first 11 games, 74.8 (backup level) in the next five and 71.7 in the postseason.The Rams’ confidence in him appears undiminished, as management is talking about a rich contract extension.Bortles signed with the Rams in February. He quarterbacked the Jacksonville Jaguars to the AFC championship game after the 2017 season.
Running backs: Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson Jr.
The big question surrounding the Rams — how sound is Gurley’s knee? — can only be answered by seeing him in action. Or not in action, as the case may be.Gurley, the 2017 NFL offensive MVP, didn’t play in the preseason and is likely to receive fewer than the 17 to 20 carries per game he typically got before his workload was reduced from November onward last year.That means important roles for Brown, starting his fourth year with the Rams, and Henderson, a 5-foot-8 ballcarrier and pass-catcher they traded up to draft in the third round out of Memphis.
Offensive line: Andrew Whitworth, Rob Havenstein, Austin Blythe, Brian Allen, Joe Noteboom, David Edwards, Jamil Demby, Bobby Evans, Coleman Shelton, Aaron Neary (suspended)
A brief period of stability on the Rams line ends with the departures of left guard Rodger Saffold and center John Sullivan. They’re replaced, respectively, by Joe Noteboom and Brian Allen. Both make their first NFL starts in the opener at Carolina, the only changes from the 2018 lineup on offense.
The other starters are two-time first-team All-Pro Andre Whitworth at left tackle, Austin Bythe at right guard and Rob Havenstein at right tackle.McVay said this week that the first lineman off the bench probably would be David Edwards, a rookie who played tackle at Wisconsin but worked at guard as well this summer.The Rams have also been encouraging versatility in rookie Bobby Evans, a tackle at Oklahoma who has been learning to play guard too, and second-year Jamil Demby, a tackle and guard at Maine who also played center in the preseason.
Wide receivers: Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds, Michael Thomas, JoJo Natson, Nsimba Webster
The Rams had three wide receivers among the league’s top 23 in yards per game last season, and Woods, Cooks and Kupp should be Goff’s top targets again, along with Josh Reynolds.Thomas was limited by suspension and injury in his first three seasons. Natson takes over as the Rams’ top punt and kickoff return man. Webster made the 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie after leading the Rams in pass receptions and punt and kick return yardage in exhibition games.
Tight ends: Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett, Johnny Mundt
The personnel stays the same, but the roles could expand a bit for Higbee and Everett.
Higbee was productive when Goff threw to him last season. Everett was one of the quarterback’s favorite targets when he was on the field, mostly on passing downs.There’s speculation that the Rams will use more two-tight-end sets, as they started to do with success at the end of last season. All part of McVay’s effort to adapt, adjust and evolve.
Analysis: Rams offense position-by-position breakdown for 2019
The group certainly has a chance to improve, since the team brought back its top seven yards-producers, all between the ages of 24 and 27.
www.ocregister.com
THOUSAND OAKS — It was the offense that got most of the credit and then all of the blame when the Rams soared and later crashed last season.
Now it might be the offense that determines whether the Rams climb higher to a championship or fall back to Earth in the new season opening Sunday at Carolina.
The group certainly has a chance to improve, since the team brought back its top seven yards-producers, all between the ages of 24 and 27.But it could run into trouble. If defenses have figured out how to frustrate quarterback Jared Goff as the New England Patriots did in their 13-3 Super Bowl win. If running back Todd Gurley’s left knee acts up. If the offensive line struggles with two new starters.A lot might depend on whether Rams head coach Sean McVay figures out how to stay one tactical jump ahead of the defensive coaches trying to get one step ahead of him.
This week, McVay was asked if fans are likely to notice a difference in the Rams’ approach with the ball.“I think so,” he said — declining to get specific, of course, but acknowledging the challenge to “adapt, adjust and evolve.”It’s basically the same first-string talent trying to match or even exceed the exploits of last year, when the Rams were second in the league in points and yards and third per attempt in net passing and rushing yards.
Here’s a look at the Rams’ offense heading into the 2019 regular season:
Quarterbacks: Jared Goff, Blake Bortles
Goff goes into his third full year as starter with questions to answer after earning an NFL quarterback rating of 113.5 (league-leader caliber) in last season’s first 11 games, 74.8 (backup level) in the next five and 71.7 in the postseason.The Rams’ confidence in him appears undiminished, as management is talking about a rich contract extension.Bortles signed with the Rams in February. He quarterbacked the Jacksonville Jaguars to the AFC championship game after the 2017 season.
Running backs: Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson Jr.
The big question surrounding the Rams — how sound is Gurley’s knee? — can only be answered by seeing him in action. Or not in action, as the case may be.Gurley, the 2017 NFL offensive MVP, didn’t play in the preseason and is likely to receive fewer than the 17 to 20 carries per game he typically got before his workload was reduced from November onward last year.That means important roles for Brown, starting his fourth year with the Rams, and Henderson, a 5-foot-8 ballcarrier and pass-catcher they traded up to draft in the third round out of Memphis.
Offensive line: Andrew Whitworth, Rob Havenstein, Austin Blythe, Brian Allen, Joe Noteboom, David Edwards, Jamil Demby, Bobby Evans, Coleman Shelton, Aaron Neary (suspended)
A brief period of stability on the Rams line ends with the departures of left guard Rodger Saffold and center John Sullivan. They’re replaced, respectively, by Joe Noteboom and Brian Allen. Both make their first NFL starts in the opener at Carolina, the only changes from the 2018 lineup on offense.
The other starters are two-time first-team All-Pro Andre Whitworth at left tackle, Austin Bythe at right guard and Rob Havenstein at right tackle.McVay said this week that the first lineman off the bench probably would be David Edwards, a rookie who played tackle at Wisconsin but worked at guard as well this summer.The Rams have also been encouraging versatility in rookie Bobby Evans, a tackle at Oklahoma who has been learning to play guard too, and second-year Jamil Demby, a tackle and guard at Maine who also played center in the preseason.
Wide receivers: Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds, Michael Thomas, JoJo Natson, Nsimba Webster
The Rams had three wide receivers among the league’s top 23 in yards per game last season, and Woods, Cooks and Kupp should be Goff’s top targets again, along with Josh Reynolds.Thomas was limited by suspension and injury in his first three seasons. Natson takes over as the Rams’ top punt and kickoff return man. Webster made the 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie after leading the Rams in pass receptions and punt and kick return yardage in exhibition games.
Tight ends: Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett, Johnny Mundt
The personnel stays the same, but the roles could expand a bit for Higbee and Everett.
Higbee was productive when Goff threw to him last season. Everett was one of the quarterback’s favorite targets when he was on the field, mostly on passing downs.There’s speculation that the Rams will use more two-tight-end sets, as they started to do with success at the end of last season. All part of McVay’s effort to adapt, adjust and evolve.
