Are the St. Louis Rams too young to be considered true contenders?

[News Bot]

http://cover32.com/rams/2015/05/22/...nsidered-true-contenders/#CXPJETzx0otZUuHS.99

Some teams try to stay ahead in the NFL game by adding veterans with a lot of experience. Others go with a youth movement, using athleticism to get an edge.

The St. Louis Rams are definitely part of the latter group, as for the fourth year in a row they are projected to have one of the NFL’s youngest rosters…

According to Eagles beat writer Jimmy Kempsi of the Philly Voice, the Rams’ average age is 24.18 years old, which would make them the second youngest team in the NFL in 2015 behind only the lowly Jaguars.

Part of me wants to say that this is a concern, but the Seahawks are only slightly older on average at 25.73 years old, which ranks them 27th. (That seems to be working out pretty well for them right now.) Then again it’s worth noting that two of the best teams in the AFC, the Broncos and Patriots, are ranked the two oldest teams in the league.

What do you think? Are the Rams too inexperienced to be considered true contenders, or does it not matter at all?

You can read more here.

 

[-X-]

Doesn’t matter. What matters is how well coached the players are, and how NFL-ready they were when they came into the league. Since the Rams put a premium on athletic ability over “NFL-readiness”, they’ll always be lagging a little. This year could be different because the younger guys are more experienced.

Still have to wonder if that O-line is going to be ready though. Lotta inexperience there.

 

[PhillyRam]

Actually Seattle is a lot older when you think about it. That 1 1/2 year diff spread over a total 53 players is roughly 80 total years.

What does that mean? Well it means you could add 5 years of experience to 15 Ram players and still be slightly younger than Seattle since that would add 75 total years to the Rams roster.

So they are still young and if they keep a number of their rookies, which seems likely because they all fit a need on the team, they likely will be even younger.

 

[PhillyRam]

Btw, the reality is though it is not helpful being young if you don't keep your young core together. So far Snisher has done that for the most part, but it is going to get tougher as their past draft classes near the end of their contracts.

Past Ram regimes failed to keep the talent they were able to fnd. That 99' team dissipated fast as many of those players never signed a 2nd deal. Fletcher, Bly, Wistrom, Hakim, Williams, Tucker, Holcombe, Clemons, among others. That was the biggest failure of the Martz/Ziggy error.

 

[RaminExile]

Probably not too young per se.... but too bad a recent record for the national media to stick their neck out before the actual event and you know - predict that someone will improve rather than crow about it in hindsight later....

 

[CodeMonkey]

To answer the exact question: no

I don't know if I'd ask it quite the same way though because it's definately an interesting challenge. I think like most things it's a double-edge sword. Good coaching and preparation as well as smart players are needed to make it work but the upside and cost of a young roster is how dynasties are made. When does it start? Let's hope now! Go Rams!!!

 

[Rams43]

Our players may be relatively inexperienced, but our coaches sure as hell aren't.

I'll bet our collective coaching staff is among the highest in NFL coaching experience.

Man, that's gotta count for a bunch, don't you think?

 

[DaveFan'51]

Still have to wonder if that O-line is going to be ready though. Lotta inexperience there.

This^ is the key to it all!
I think, because we always seem to play the 'Hags well' and with all the players Both the 49ers and the Cards have lost, in post season. The Rams well have a great Season, 12-4 or better!

 

[snackdaddy]

The problem with being so young each year, at some point you would think the players would grow and become a very good team. So far it hasn't happened. We're giving it a 4th year. If the youth continues to be a problem with mistakes and still going through a learning process I would say it ain't working. All they're doing is recycling younger players every couple years and staying young. At some point they have to grow into a good team. If they can't do it in 4 years I gotta think it ain't gonna happen.

 

[mr.stlouis]

Yes, youth is heavily sprinkled up and down the roster with first and second year players. However, the offensive line is really the only unit to focus on in terms of a "make or break" scenario. Robinson, Brown, and Havenstein are almost as young as it gets for day 1 starters. But that is only a massive concern if we are looking to air it out a ton. It's quite the opposite as we all know.

In my opinion, a road grader's ability to run block in college transfers well to the NFL. You can't say the same for a pass blocking specialist. Let me go a bit deeper on why that is.

If you draft a guy out of college based on his unique ability to pass block, chances are he is average at best in the running game. What's a primary pass rush move for many DE's? The bull rush! So if a linemen is lacking power then he is gonna get pushed back at the next level, especially early. It's not like a power guy has to worry about that so much. Road graders lock in and drive. Combine that with a stable RB's range from "potentially great (Gurley)" to "solid (Watts)," I don't think you have to worry about individual pass protection so much.

What you do have to look at is blitz pick ups. But with a veteran pro-bowl calibre threat at QB at your disposal, I don't think Foles is gonna have to worry about that too much being the focus will be on the RB's. We want defense to blitz because that means more space for guys like Britt, Cook, Austin, and Bailey. The greatest weakest we had last year was not being able to capitalize on the defense stacking the box. Nick Foles is the man to make them pay for it.

I'm just looking forward to defenses having to decide to committing to Gurley, Tavon, or Cook. These guys are all-league calibre game breakers at their position with their skill sets. Last year we didn't have Gurley and a QB capable of getting them the ball enough. My how things can change in a year.

 

[nighttrain]

Btw, the reality is though it is not helpful being young if you don't keep your young core together. So far Snisher has done that for the most part, but it is going to get tougher as their past draft classes near the end of their contracts.

Past Ram regimes failed to keep the talent they were able to fnd. That 99' team dissipated fast as many of those players never signed a 2nd deal. Fletcher, Bly, Wistrom, Hakim, Williams, Tucker, Holcombe, Clemons, among others. That was the biggest failure of the Martz/Ziggy error.

Blame goes more to Shaw and Her Majesty, Georgia friggin Frontier
train

 

[OldSchool]

Keep in mind that article is only counting the projected offensive starters. And only starters at that it doesn't account for backup, defense and we don't know who it's calculating as starters. One interesting part is it is counting Gurley as the starter not Mason and we don't know what that'll be for the opener(yes it's only 1 year). It has our 2 WR as Britt and Austin, Quick easily could be slotted as a starter to raise it some.

As for last year Seattle was 7th in youth last year at 25.65 the Rams were first at 25.09. New England 11th at 25.76. So compared to last years SB teams that's 30 years experience for a 53 man roster compared to the Seahawks and 35.5 years compared to the Pats. I'm using last years because we don't have the 53 man rosters yet for this year for any team we can only project starters. The Rams actually got younger on defense as well. Ayers starting for Dunbar is 5 years younger.

 

[FRO]

I think at best we will be 9-7. I expect to win in the 7 or 9 game range. I don't think we are legit playoff contenders. It's going to take a while for this young line to be playing at a playoff level. Foles should be an upgrade over Davis and Hill. The defense should be ready to go week one. We will be improved, but I don't think we will be able to hit the ground running due to our inexperienced line.

Another thing I hate to think about is if we picked a bust in one or two of the linemen we drafted. We all know how big of a crapshoot the draft can be. We will have at minimum 2 rookie starters, a first time full time C starter, and a LT who is still going to be a little bit raw.

 

[JUMAVA68]

No I don't think so I think this team is ready to dominate the league we just needed a reliable Qb and better O-line.And it might take a few games to gel but they are very close and after the last decade I can't wait to enjoy every minute of it.

 

[-X-]

No I don't think so I think this team is ready to dominate the league we just needed a reliable Qb and better O-line.And it might take a few games to gel but they are very close and after the last decade I can't wait to enjoy every minute of it.

Why do I feel like you're calling me 'Esse' and asking me if I have a problem?

 

[CGI_Ram]

Still have to wonder if that O-line is going to be ready though. Lotta inexperience there.

But they have a lot of experience in college. That's got to give them a leg-up on most rookies at the position.

 

[OldSchool]

But they have a lot of experience in college. That's got to give them a leg-up on most rookies at the position.

Agree, I'd be worried if they were a bunch of redshirt sophmores we drafted. Havenstien a senior who started 3 years. Brown a senior who started 3 years(plus a couple his freshman year). Donnal a redshirt senior who started 4 games his freshman year. Even Wichman was a redshirt senior who started 10 games his freshman year and played in all 13. There is a lot of experience at the college level here. Yes I know that isn't the same as starting 3 years in the NFL but we're not talking about completely green rookies having been a starter a year or maybe two like Robinson last year.

 

[Rams43]

I think at best we will be 9-7. I expect to win in the 7 or 9 game range. I don't think we are legit playoff contenders. It's going to take a while for this young line to be playing at a playoff level. Foles should be an upgrade over Davis and Hill. The defense should be ready to go week one. We will be improved, but I don't think we will be able to hit the ground running due to our inexperienced line.

Another thing I hate to think about is if we picked a bust in one or two of the linemen we drafted. We all know how big of a crapshoot the draft can be. We will have at minimum 2 rookie starters, a first time full time C starter, and a LT who is still going to be a little bit raw.

I've simply gotta disagree on both counts, FRO.

First, the S&F team have drafted quite well through their first three years. I started a thread on this very subject. Of 18 total picks in the top 5 rounds only 2 have been outright busts. On three more the jury is still out (Tavon, Jones, and Alexander). The remaining 13 have been good to very good starters.

So why not assume a continuation of quality player evals from this draft?

The other disagreement is regarding our W/L record for this year. I see us winning 10 or more games this year. Stifling D, excellent ST, and now we have a starting caliber QB for the first time in 25 consecutive games. Not to mention the addition of Cigs over Schotty plus Weinke plus Gurley plus an improved OL.

Hell, maybe I'm being too cautious with a 10 win projection. Lol.

 

[FRO]

I've simply gotta disagree on both counts, FRO.

First, the S&F team have drafted quite well through their first three years. I started a thread on this very subject. Of 18 total picks in the top 5 rounds only 2 have been outright busts. On three more the jury is still out (Tavon, Jones, and Alexander). The remaining 13 have been good to very good starters.

So why not assume a continuation of quality player evals from this draft?

The other disagreement is regarding our W/L record for this year. I see us winning 10 or more games this year. Stifling D, excellent ST, and now we have a starting caliber QB for the first time in 25 consecutive games. Not to mention the addition of Cigs over Schotty plus Weinke plus Gurley plus an improved OL.

Hell, maybe I'm being too cautious with a 10 win projection. Lol.

Not saying anybody we pick will be busts, just saying it's very possible. We will be starting 4 pretty raw starters along the offensive line. I don't know how we can expect anything but a slow start out of our offense.

 

[JUMAVA68]

Why do I feel like you're calling me 'Esse' and asking me if I have a problem?

That's to funny, but I get that alot