Are the Rams Contenders Again?

[Elmgrovegnome]

They are making the playoffs with a 10 6 record.

When the schedule came out I predicted 6 wins. I really hope I’m wrong, but I predicted 13 wins in 2018, when the schedule came out. . Let’s hope it was luck.

 

[FarNorth]

I really like the roster and impact ready draft picks. Also the new coaches Staley, O'Connell and Brown. The biggest concern, as others have flagged, is the lack of a full off season. The coaches are going to have to really excel to get everyone ready for new wrinkles in the schemes and to integrate new players and rookies.

It will be a challenge coming out of the gate but I believe the team has a high ceiling and will show its stuff as the season unfolds. I expect Rams to contend for the NFC West and make the playoffs, at worst by the extra wild card slot. If that happens we'll see what they've got then...

 

[Faceplant]

Not sure why so many of us are down on this team. We finished with a 9-7 record on a first place, Superbowl hangover schedule. Our OL was decimated by injury and our #1 RB was a shell of himself. Our deep threat WR missed half the season and our defense was bi-polar and injured in the back end (lol) .

Since then, we have added bulk on the front 7, gotten healthy throughout and drafted what could possibly be game one contributers on both side of the ball. Couple that with a 3rd place schedule and no one giving them any respect... Adds up to 12-4 and a SB birth for da Rams by my calculations.

 

[Corbin]

Nope! And I pray everybody doesn’t see us as a challenge either! Lol

 

[…..]

No edge, no line backers but hey, we got Aaron Donald!

Who needs a team when you can be proud of one All Pro guy!

Be nice to find a way despite the above.

 

[oldnotdead]

The o-line was really cobbled together due to injuries, and the poor o-line coaching was evident by their poor fundamentals. I think McVay passing Kromer over for the OC position was sending a message to Kromer and Dickerson to step up or they will be gone. But even then this o-line was good enough to give the Rams the #4 pass attack in the NFL. With a new scheme installed from day one, and a year's experience this group of o-line is young but talented. Gap blocking is something most if not all the o-line players have done at some time in their careers. It's used by most if not all the major programs. So it's not like it's something new. They simply need to actually practice it as a unit. Many of the basics are much the same as zone blocking.

This o-line stabilized once Blythe and Havenstein were off the right side and Corbett was at LG. Edwards was very raw but he showed a lot of potential as a first year starter. I still would rather have Brewer at RG but Edwards didn't play badly. Brewer is your prototypical RG who is a big strong mauler. I like Evans a lot but not at OT. I think his issues are the same as Havenstein's and showed in his play. Both lack that short-area quickness needed against edge speed. Edward's biggest issue is his poor footwork. But again that can be improved with good coaching and could make him into a good RT.

The biggest question mark in my mind is the health of Noteboom. If he can play, he would be the best candidate to start this year at RT. It would give him 2 years of experience before moving to LT after Whitworth retires in 2 years. It would give them 2 years to polish up Edwards technique to play RT.

The Rams have the personnel for a good o-line unit. They simply have to allow players to play to their strengths, i.e. to not play them out of position as Kromer did with Noteboom at LG when he had Brewer, and Shelton both OG by physical metrics and their style of play.

If Kromer is smart, assuming Noteboom's on PUP I would structure the o-line:

LT Whitworth
LG Corbett
C Allen
RG Brewer
RT Edwards (Noteboom if not on PUP)

 

[Ram65]

I have contended for a while that the Rams are contenders in 2020. They were right in the mix last year even against the NFC champs in a close away game late last year.

The defense will get an energy infusion from the new defensive coordinator Staley. The communication problems in the secondary should be significantly decreased. The depth on defense is markedly improved. The secondary and defensive line will be nasty. A nice rotation off the edge can be developed with veterans Floyd, Ebu, and Obo being complemented by high valued young bucks Lewis and Polite. The question marks are the ILbers. Unproven young players will be competing. Staley has mentioned versatility in players on defense which he has that can limit ILber play if need be. He has options to go Big Nickle with JJ, Rapp, and rookie Burgess. He wants to disguise the pass rush and he can with these Lbers and DBs. Look for the punt team lead by Hekker to get back to the top after a down year putting opposing offenses with poor field position.

The offense gets a new healthy starting running back and a potential new 3rd WR starter. The offense has a new coordinator that should benefit Jared Goff and the rest of the offense. McVay gets some help tweaking the offense. Together with a healthy running back trio of Akers, Henderson and Brown expect the Rams to get back to the 2017/2018 version of the higher point-scoring offense. While the offensive line has to improve staying healthier and the experience they got last year should help that unit. Expect Kromer to be able to switch up the run blocking schemes adding power zone blocking to open holes for the quick explosive running backs Akers and Henderson.

Better defense, better offense, and better special teams make the Rams a contender in 2020.

 

[Tano]

When the schedule came out I predicted 6 wins. I really hope I’m wrong, but I predicted 13 wins in 2018, when the schedule came out. . Let’s hope it was luck.

What did you have them in 2017?

I had the Rams at 9-7 and everyone at work gave me grief.

Even after the first 4 games they were still giving me grief until after the Dallas game.

In 2018, i said 12 -4.

2019 - I didn't like the focus of the team after a superbowl loss and said 10-6 at best.

This year I am saying 10-6 at minimum.

 

[badnews]

42 and O.
You heard it here first.

 

[PARAM]

The secondary and defensive line will be nasty. A nice rotation off the edge can be developed with veterans Floyd, Ebu, and Obo being complemented by high valued young bucks Lewis and Polite. The question marks are the ILbers. Unproven young players will be competing. Staley has mentioned versatility in players on defense which he has that can limit ILber play if need be.

Excellent post 65. But imagine if any or a couple of those unproven young players like Kizer or Young or Patrick (I like that kid playing inside) actually have talent and smarts? Surrounded by a nasty D line and OLB's as well as a nasty secondary? Staley might have more tools, between his skills, the established defenders, the versatility he sees and the unproven guys, than any of us can imagine at the moment. If we can field a decent OL, we could be a dangerous team.

 

[Mackeyser]

I think A’Shawn Robinson is gonna be huge for us.

I think he will anchor this DL and when we’re harder to run on, we can get ahead and then unleash hell.

I think our games against SF will be slobber knockers and we’ll win one or both.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

Excellent post 65. But imagine if any or a couple of those unproven young players like Kizer or Young or Patrick (I like that kid playing inside) actually have talent and smarts? Surrounded by a nasty D line and OLB's as well as a nasty secondary? Staley might have more tools, between his skills, the established defenders, the versatility he sees and the unproven guys, than any of us can imagine at the moment. If we can field a decent OL, we could be a dangerous team.

Staley's a real wild card--he might get outcoached as a rook, but he also seems full of confidence, detail-oriented, ready to unleash some innovations, and is building a motivational synergy with the players.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

What did you have them in 2017?

I had the Rams at 9-7 and everyone at work gave me grief.

Even after the first 4 games they were still giving me grief until after the Dallas game.

In 2018, i said 12 -4.

2019 - I didn't like the focus of the team after a superbowl loss and said 10-6 at best.

This year I am saying 10-6 at minimum.

12-4. Over by one. I loved the free agent pickups and the excitement and energy that McVay brought to the team. It was a bit optimistic, but I thought the schedule was favorable.

This year the schedule is tougher imo, and we don't know what the Offensive line will be like. How much will they miss Cooks? Can Cam Akers be an upgrade over injured Gurley. I'm not as impressed by Akers as others. We don't have any indication that the run blocking will improve. I think people are convincing themselves that it has to be better because of experience. But they will face some good very defenses this year. It's going to be tough without a few dominant Olineman to lead the group. I don't see a single one that I think will be dominant next year. Whitworth is the closest thing to a stud and age was starting to show up in his game last year. I don't think any of the last season's rookies will miraculously turn into border line All Pros.

 

[CGI_Ram]

In addition to new coordinators.... the Rams are making some projections:

OL will improve internally AGREE

Run game beefed with Robinson, others AGREE

Linebacker, Floyd, Lewis, edge, internal improvement UNSURE

WR, TE and DB’s are solid on this team AGREE

RB change Akers upgrade to 2019 Gurley AGREE

I like what we’ve done. Anxious to see the linebackers and edge come together.

 

[Ramstien]

But imagine if any or a couple of those unproven young players like Kizer or Young or Patrick (I like that kid playing inside) actually have talent and smarts?

I also like Patrick and think we have some young LBers on this team that are ready to hit their stride. I also like our 7th round pick Clay Johnson at ILBer along with several UDFAs; Greg Reaves, Christain Roseboom, and especially Daniel Bituli.

 

[Tano]

12-4. Over by one. I loved the free agent pickups and the excitement and energy that McVay brought to the team. It was a bit optimistic, but I thought the schedule was favorable.

This year the schedule is tougher imo, and we don't know what the Offensive line will be like. How much will they miss Cooks? Can Cam Akers be an upgrade over injured Gurley. I'm not as impressed by Akers as others. We don't have any indication that the run blocking will improve. I think people are convincing themselves that it has to be better because of experience. But they will face some good very defenses this year. It's going to be tough without a few dominant Olineman to lead the group. I don't see a single one that I think will be dominant next year. Whitworth is the closest thing to a stud and age was starting to show up in his game last year. I don't think any of the last season's rookies will miraculously turn into border line All Pros.

I see them going

3-1 AFC East (maybe 4-0 since I am not really that impressed with Buffalo's QB)
3-1 NFC East
3-3 Conference (at worst)
1-1 Against Tampa and Chicago Bears (And I think they can easily go 2-0)

I just don't see the difficulty in this schedule as you do.

10-6 to 14-2

AFC East

Buffalo - great defense - No QB
Miami - rebuilding
Cheatriots - rebuild year (don't count out Belicheat but we are at home against them)
NY Jets - no defense yet and Darnold only has rookie offensive help

NFC East

Redskins - Haskins sucks
Giants - No belief in them
Eagles - Wentz overrated
Cowboys - admittedly tough team but I think we can win at home against them - first game is always a 50-50 proposition unless you really suck

Other two games

Tampa - Brady is done
Chicago - WHO's at QB

Conference

Seattle - we have Wilson's number and if we stop the run like I think we can - we can win 1 or even 2 games
SF - Tough Defense but we had their number in the last game - a few key mistakes lost that game for us
Arizona - still not that impressed with midget 2.0 (the second year can be really tough on QBs because Defensive Coordinators can spot weaknesses in their game and make adjustments)

Note - Goff didn't have a tough 2nd year because his first year suck so bad with the worst OC in the history of the game (he is STILL Buffalo's TE Coordinator - that says much to me)

 

[Flint]

I am cautiously optimistic, there’s a lot of talk about the Hags but I’m not sure why. Josh Gordon is on his 29th chance and I don’t think he’ll ever be the guy he once was. The cards are everyone’s darling and Hopkins is no joke and there’s all this bs about Murray as mvp but I’m not sold. But think about the last times the Rams played these other teams, they put a pretty good beatin on the cards, they lost on a Fg to the Hags, and the 9ers pulled 2 improbable 3rd downs out of their asses. So I think the Rams can play with anyone in this division.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I see them going

3-1 AFC East (maybe 4-0 since I am not really that impressed with Buffalo's QB)
3-1 NFC East
3-3 Conference (at worst)
1-1 Against Tampa and Chicago Bears (And I think they can easily go 2-0)

I just don't see the difficulty in this schedule as you do.

10-6 to 14-2

AFC East

Buffalo - great defense - No QB
Miami - rebuilding
Cheatriots - rebuild year (don't count out Belicheat but we are at home against them)
NY Jets - no defense yet and Darnold only has rookie offensive help

NFC East

Redskins - Haskins sucks
Giants - No belief in them
Eagles - Wentz overrated
Cowboys - admittedly tough team but I think we can win at home against them - first game is always a 50-50 proposition unless you really suck

Other two games

Tampa - Brady is done
Chicago - WHO's at QB

Conference

Seattle - we have Wilson's number and if we stop the run like I think we can - we can win 1 or even 2 games
SF - Tough Defense but we had their number in the last game - a few key mistakes lost that game for us
Arizona - still not that impressed with midget 2.0 (the second year can be really tough on QBs because Defensive Coordinators can spot weaknesses in their game and make adjustments)

Note - Goff didn't have a tough 2nd year because his first year suck so bad with the worst OC in the history of the game (he is STILL Buffalo's TE Coordinator - that says much to me)

I think you are very dismissive of some good football teams

 

[Tano]

I think you are very dismissive of some good football teams

And I think you are dismissive of the Rams

Guess we will have to agree to disagree

I am not impressed with teams that had losing records last year. They will have to prove it to me. Maybe they will get better but until they do...

Miami NY Jets Dallas Washington NY Giants Chicago Tampa Bay Arizona - all had losing records last year.

That's 9 games against teams with losing records,

I think the Rams can go 7-2 against them easily.

And I think the Rams can go 4 - 3 against the teams with winning records.

But I can see me being off by 1 game with the above - sooooo 10-6 is what I am sticking with.