Watching yesterday's Super Bowl and the two defensive coordinators involved, Spags and Fangio, I couldn't help but think about what a disadvantage we really had going into, not only the regular season, but the playoffs as well. Those two coordinators have about as much experience in the NFL as anyone and have probably seen more offenses than any of us will ever dream of seeing. Don't get me wrong, I think Shula made great strides throughout the season and, if not for three catastrophic breakdowns vs the Eagles, we have a great chance of playing in the Super Bowl. Think about it. We had a defense full of rookies and second year players and a man leading them with very limited experience. If we had Spags or Fangio do we beat the Eagles? I think we do. Did our defense improve from Week 1 to Week 18? Hell yes. Hopefully, Shula watches a ton of film over the offseason, figures out what worked and what didn't, and makes adjustments. I think he'll only get better now that he knows his personnel and has a season under his belt. Our problem is, we only have Stafford for another year or so (if we're lucky) and that window is rapidly closing. Let's hope we can put it all together next year. We were so close this season.
Defensive Coordinators
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Shulas incredible work with the young defense this season was the reason we ended up in the playoffs. Offense was dreadful down the stretch.
dang
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I’m confident in saying Reeder/ Rozeboom were a bottom 3 NFL starting ILB corp when the season started. Speights improved the run defense but not the pass defense. He was a rookie so I expect significant improvement from him in the next 2 years. We know what we have in Rozeboom (no bueno). The Eagles exposed them (not once but twice). I’d like the Rams to pursue one of these options for ILB:
1) add a proven ILB (Zach Baun/Nick Bolton/Greenlaw) vet that can cover sideline to sideline. Add a late round Draft pick that can cover TEs in case Speights still struggles in pass coverage.
2) add a 3rd round draft pick ILB that can cover sideline to sideline. Add a vet ILB that can cover TEs in case Speights still struggles in pass coverage.
WestCoastRam
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Shula earned the right for us to be intrigued by what he can do in year two. I'd like to see what he can do with a few more resources in the secondary.
fearsomefour
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I was super impressed with the job Shula did this year.
I expected a major step back with the D and at first it was not great.
But, Shula was able to adjust, both scheme and personal and using/not using blitzes.
The defense grew by leaps and bounds and was really one of the more enjoyable things about this past season, which itself was very enjoyable.
We don't as fans often get to see over the course of one season, young players grow. To see a whole group of them grow together was fun and exciting.
Id like to see a FA upgrade at ILB and or CB.
The right guy culture wise is a must along with being an upgrade.
Kudos to Shula.
I expected a major step back with the D and at first it was not great.
But, Shula was able to adjust, both scheme and personal and using/not using blitzes.
The defense grew by leaps and bounds and was really one of the more enjoyable things about this past season, which itself was very enjoyable.
We don't as fans often get to see over the course of one season, young players grow. To see a whole group of them grow together was fun and exciting.
Id like to see a FA upgrade at ILB and or CB.
The right guy culture wise is a must along with being an upgrade.
Kudos to Shula.
El Chapo Jr
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Man Shula did good as fuck considering what we had on the back end. Fuck Spags and Fangio, they aren't any of our concern. If Shula can improve as a D coordinator, we are going to be cooking.
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Was not a real fan of Morris. Had huge concerns with Shula. He did more with less ( AD) than most of us expected ( YAY!!!!). The real concern with Shula is another successful season and he'll be courted for HC jobs.
Honestly hoped the Rams would have had a chance at Fangio, but the Eagles already had their hooks in him before Morris got hired by the Falcons.
Honestly hoped the Rams would have had a chance at Fangio, but the Eagles already had their hooks in him before Morris got hired by the Falcons.
WestCoastRam
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If Shula gets a HC job, it'll prob mean he has a top 10 unit next year. I'm fine with that.
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The way the defense finished was impressive and a great reflection on Shula as well as the defensive roster. They fought hard and improved as the season went on, and peaked in the playoffs.
But there's a difference in being a team that makes it to the playoffs and a team that can get a high seed and that extra edge in home field plus the bye. So he needs more talent to work with. And I think he needs to keep showing he can adjust and learn and improve. I'm ok with a DC who is developing, provided he learns which Shula certainly has. His preparation vs Philly was night and day second time around. But this will be a whole new season so this league will come at him again with an offseason of prep.
This is why I think it's crucial to give the dude a good corner and a DL addition to make sure the beef's there up front. Maybe an ILB too whatever. Though I still think if your DL is great, which ours is and would be with a snot bubbler added, the job for your ILBs is simplified greatly.
But there's a difference in being a team that makes it to the playoffs and a team that can get a high seed and that extra edge in home field plus the bye. So he needs more talent to work with. And I think he needs to keep showing he can adjust and learn and improve. I'm ok with a DC who is developing, provided he learns which Shula certainly has. His preparation vs Philly was night and day second time around. But this will be a whole new season so this league will come at him again with an offseason of prep.
This is why I think it's crucial to give the dude a good corner and a DL addition to make sure the beef's there up front. Maybe an ILB too whatever. Though I still think if your DL is great, which ours is and would be with a snot bubbler added, the job for your ILBs is simplified greatly.
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The defense didn't lose the game against the Eagles. They had 7 sacks and a safety.
After the safety the Rams should have taken the lead but someone fumbled the ball and flipped the game again.
The defense did a great job keeping the Eagles to fgs after that and, if not for a blatant hold, probably would have kept them without a td for the rest of the game.
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The defense didn't lose the game against the Eagles. They had 7 sacks and a safety.
After the safety the Rams should have taken the lead but someone fumbled the ball and flipped the game again.
The defense did a great job keeping the Eagles to fgs after that and, if not for a blatant hold, probably would have kept them without a td for the rest of the game.
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HE WITH HORNS
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So we are all breathing a sigh of relief that we didn't lose our DC this year, and this thread is about how we need to upgrade our DC?
Give me a fucking break.
Give me a fucking break.
Tano
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Bottom 3? I would put them in the bottom 100 when they were together. They were that horrible.
Rozeboom needs a capable ILB next to him to be an average ILB.
Speights was capable in the run game and improved Rozebooms play dramatically in the run game.
But both Speights and Rozeboom were way below par in the pass game especially running down QBs like Allen Hurtz and Murray.
Rozeboom is ok. He showed improvement throughout the year and is a mostly capable player. However, I think a stud LB really changes this defense.
Noregar
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The defense is close and does not need a risky high dollar FA, I think most of the Ram’s FA dollars will go to retaining Stafford and Aleric Jackson.
Next year will probably be the last year we have Shula as DC. I think the defense can be a top 10 unit next year, but they will need overall health and stability at CB. It is without question that the Rams front is the strength of the defense and maybe the team and that is a great starting point. I also think the safeties are strong and deep. The Rams CB's group has a lot of depth and some potential upside but no proven top tier CB. I worry that Williams will continue to decline due to his age and Durant may be his replacement but with Witherspoon unsigned the other starter is up in the air. Forbes is still an unknown and the two rookie UDFA's provide solid depth but are not full-time starter material. Kendrick and Tomlinson are both coming off of IR but I do not think either is starter material. Many here do not like Kendrick but I think he can still have a roll. Tomlinson, however, I think is a lost cause and will get cut. Hopefully the Rams will resign Witherspoon and draft a CB. Maybe Forbes can take a big leap. His emergence would be a big boon to the secondary, but the Rams cannot hang their hat on that right now. As to off-ball linebackers, I do not expect the rams to invest any FA dollars into that position unless they resign Roseboom. I would also like to see the Rams resign Hoecht but he will probably get the Morgan Fox treatment. They can find bargain priced run stuffers in Free agency or even later in the draft.
Next year will probably be the last year we have Shula as DC. I think the defense can be a top 10 unit next year, but they will need overall health and stability at CB. It is without question that the Rams front is the strength of the defense and maybe the team and that is a great starting point. I also think the safeties are strong and deep. The Rams CB's group has a lot of depth and some potential upside but no proven top tier CB. I worry that Williams will continue to decline due to his age and Durant may be his replacement but with Witherspoon unsigned the other starter is up in the air. Forbes is still an unknown and the two rookie UDFA's provide solid depth but are not full-time starter material. Kendrick and Tomlinson are both coming off of IR but I do not think either is starter material. Many here do not like Kendrick but I think he can still have a roll. Tomlinson, however, I think is a lost cause and will get cut. Hopefully the Rams will resign Witherspoon and draft a CB. Maybe Forbes can take a big leap. His emergence would be a big boon to the secondary, but the Rams cannot hang their hat on that right now. As to off-ball linebackers, I do not expect the rams to invest any FA dollars into that position unless they resign Roseboom. I would also like to see the Rams resign Hoecht but he will probably get the Morgan Fox treatment. They can find bargain priced run stuffers in Free agency or even later in the draft.
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I don't think that is true. Speights was better than some other ILBs around the league. Jones for example, who everyone wailed and gnashed their teeth over when the Rams moved him. But you have some good ones in this league then a lot of teams saving money at that position.
Adding an ILB from the draft who can pair with him would be nice. Doesn't have to be early on though I'd be ok with that if they really like one of these guys. Thing is they're kind of like RBs though. You got your special ones who can stuff run game downhill but also show some coverage, and then a bunch of guys who are a mix of the two or converted SS or just straight flawed in some of the responsibilities.
Speights needs to get better at play recognition and getting into his drop quicker but it's hard to find guys who have stopping power like he's got. He really does have a nice mix of abilities. Restack that draft and some team would take him, you can bet on that one.