https://www.ocregister.com/2017/12/...kes-the-right-to-rest-starters-against-49ers/
Bonsignore: Rams coach Sean McVay makes the right call to rest starters against 49ers
By
Vincent Bonsignore |
vbonsignore@scng.com | Daily News
PUBLISHED: December 27, 2017 at 6:12 pm | UPDATED: December 27, 2017 at 6:56 pm
What if I had told you at the beginning of the season the Rams would end the regular season as the NFC West division champions, earn a first-round home playoff game at the Coliseum, produce an MVP candidate in Todd Gurley, an NFL Defensive Player of the Year favorite in Aaron Donald, a Pro Bowl quarterback in Jared Goff and an NFL Coach of the Year candidate in Sean McVay?
If you’re a long-suffering Rams fan who just endured 13 straight non-winning seasons, the obvious immediate reaction would have been: Where do I sign up?
Followed by a sheepish: “Hold up. So what’s the catch?”
You just knew that was coming, right? And there is one, as it turns out.
The trade-off for all of that happening — and as we all know now, it all has happened — is that the Rams would rest many of their starting players in their regular-season finale. It’s not quite mailing the game in or conceding defeat. But, well, you might want to lay off this one if you’re a betting person.
McVay let that cat out of the bag when he said he’d most likely rest his key players on Sunday when the Rams close out their historic turnaround season at the Coliseum.
“I think you might see us rest some guys and use this week where, you don’t ever take anything for granted, but knowing that you do have a home playoff game regardless of how things play out, this might provide an opportunity for us to get some guys healthy,” McVay said.
Big deal, right? It’s essentially a meaningless game, the only real element at stake whether the Rams claim the third our fourth seed in the playoffs, who they’ll play in the opening round and what side of the postseason bracket they’ll end up.
In the whole scheme of things, none of those factors are worth risking injuries to key players or taking advantage of a chance to rest or heal up veteran players for the playoffs.
On top of everything else, it’s a no-brainer coaching decision to play it safe and prudently. And even the most hardcore fan should understand.
“(It’s) a luxury that we want to try to take advantage of, and everything that we did is what we think is best for our football team,” McVay said.
Makes all the sense in the world.
Oh by the way, did I mention the season-ending finale is against the hated 49ers at the Coliseum? The 49ers, you say? Hmm. Well then. That changes things.
At least that’s the sense I’m getting on social media, as some fans are complaining the Rams are positioning themselves for a loss against their longtime Bay Area rival by playing it safe this week.
Or arguing that the good money they shelled out for tickets should guarantee they get the best lineup the Rams can offer, rather than some knockoff consisting of a bunch of second- and third-stringers. Especially when the opponent just happens to be wearing scarlet and gold.
To which I reply: Oh come on now. Seriously?
There isn’t a single valid reason to expose Gurley or Donald or Goff to injury when nothing more than an insignificant playoff seed is at stake. And the only thing McVay and the Rams — and you as fans for that matter — should be focused on is being in the best possible physical shape to start the playoffs a week from Sunday.
There will be plenty of chances to play the 49ers straight up with every intention of beating them moving forward. Especially now with Goff in place and, apparently, Jimmy Garappolo the franchise quarterback San Francisco has long been searching for.
But Sunday isn’t one of them. Which is why Goff and Gurley will be — and should be — watching from the sideline.
“I agree with the decision on our coaching staff’s part to get some guys rest and get some guys healthy,” Goff said. “Yeah, I think it’s good to get myself back to feeling really good and feeling fresh.”
I’ve heard another argument, the one about trying to maintain the current seed to ensure better first- and second-round matchups. And still others in which it’s more beneficial to drop to the fourth seed to avoid having to play this team or that team.
You can argue your way in circles trying to mentally game the situation to the Rams’ advantage or figure out which seed is more advantageous moving forward.
It’s all fool’s talk. The minute you start focusing on fixing situations to line up certain teams to maximize supposedly beneficial matchups is the very second you lose sight of what the Rams’ playoff success is ultimately dependent on. And that’s the Rams themselves.
Which is why the right decision on Sunday is to take care of Number One. Not to line up the best first- or second-round opponent or game site.
But to make sure the Rams are positioned as best as possible — physically above all else — to make a prolonged postseason run.
