Martz was a smart man, but he thought he was the smartest guy in the room. Hubris was always his problem. Then later paranoia was added to that.
Do we already have WR3?
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I always have thought it was arrogance and pig-headedness that was Martz's downfall. He refused to adjust.
In that way, he was the antithesis of Sean McVay.
From 1999-2001, Martz wanted the opponents to blitz Warner. Madden used to joke that Martz referred to it as "Kill Kurt" ... and Martz loved it because he knew that put elite talent in one-on-one situations. Couple that with Warner's extreme toughness, competitiveness and accuracy, and the Rams' Offense had many big plays.
Problem was that so many hits on the Quarterback led to injuries. Martz refused to adjust. Indeed, @majrleaged use of the word "Hubris" is dead-on; and shows he is much too smart for this Forum.
Of course we all remember THE fumble/ muffed punt against NO to end the 2000 season.
And yeah, he was the man for a brief period, and then came the fumbles.
And i wasn't even over the Wendell Tyler period yet.
Interesting snap counts for the three WRs, Whittington, Smith, Mumpfield.
The first 8 weeks Whittington had the most snap counts of the three and it wasn't even close. Over the next 4 weeks Whittington led two, Smith led two while tying Mumpfield in one of those (Carolina). Over the last 5 weeks Mumpfield led all of them (and it wasn't even close), 6 if you count the game he was tied with Smith (Carolina 38.5%).
Since there were no injuries that I can remember to that group, I have to assume Whittington started the season as the #3 and Mumpfield finished the season as the #3. Is that the order they start training camp with (behind Puka & Adams)? 1. Mumpfield, 2. Smith, 3. Whittington?
The first 8 weeks Whittington had the most snap counts of the three and it wasn't even close. Over the next 4 weeks Whittington led two, Smith led two while tying Mumpfield in one of those (Carolina). Over the last 5 weeks Mumpfield led all of them (and it wasn't even close), 6 if you count the game he was tied with Smith (Carolina 38.5%).
Since there were no injuries that I can remember to that group, I have to assume Whittington started the season as the #3 and Mumpfield finished the season as the #3. Is that the order they start training camp with (behind Puka & Adams)? 1. Mumpfield, 2. Smith, 3. Whittington?
Adams missed 3 games and Mumpfield backed him up.
Also, I don't recall Whittington being on the field much when 13 personnel took off.
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In the Jacksonville game Whittington led all WRs in snaps (60%), with Adams second with 58.6%. The first 5 games of 13P starting with Jacksonville, Whitt was #1 in WR snaps, #3, #5, #3 and #3. Then he fell out of favor (or was dinged?) #5, #5, #5, #4, #4, #5. He was inactive for the first postseason game, then #3 and #5.
The last 9 games, including post season, Mumpfield was #3 in WR snaps, #1, #3, #2 the 3 games Davante was out, #5, #4 and #3 in the postseason.
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BonifayRam
Legend
2 days away from the end of preseason & final decisions on the 2026 initial Master Roster begins.....
Has the Question to this thread fully been answered without seeing any of our 4 top WR's or our 4 top TE's on the preseason field?
Most all Ram fans believe that CJ Daniels & Xavier Smith have made the MR. The round out a 6 WR room Adams / Nacua / Whittington / Mumpfield.
Leaving, Presley, Redman, Scott, Bachman, Villari, Jones & Edwards in high anxiety.
I have read & heard of the listed cadre above ......TE Mark Redman had greatly improved & had an outstanding TC & pre season all around. Far more ready for the NFL than Max Klare. Good chance we have seen the last of Redman as a Ram.
Has the Question to this thread fully been answered without seeing any of our 4 top WR's or our 4 top TE's on the preseason field?
Most all Ram fans believe that CJ Daniels & Xavier Smith have made the MR. The round out a 6 WR room Adams / Nacua / Whittington / Mumpfield.
Leaving, Presley, Redman, Scott, Bachman, Villari, Jones & Edwards in high anxiety.
I have read & heard of the listed cadre above ......TE Mark Redman had greatly improved & had an outstanding TC & pre season all around. Far more ready for the NFL than Max Klare. Good chance we have seen the last of Redman as a Ram.
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WestCoastRam
Legend
As far as I know, Klare got some first team reps in camp and a write up from Robinson for being a standout.
Redman did not.
Yeah, we might lose some guys to waiver claims. Too bad you don't get a draft pick for a certain number lost to waivers. After all, you did the scouting and either drafted them or signed them to UDFA deals. The least you could do is get a 5th or 6th if you lose a half dozen.
As far as "has the question to this thread been answered", I have to say "yes", with a caveat IMO.
The #3 WR will probably be a combination of Whittington, Mumpfield, Xavier, CJ and Ferguson with the latter probably getting more targets than the other 4. It's really an excellent issue to have.
Is your #3 WR, a 6'5" TE with good speed? Is it one of those first two who are going into their 3rd and 2nd season with the club (respectively). Is it the young rookie who seems to have all the tools? If we run 13 P as much (or more) than we did last year, Ferguson will play a huge role for sure. Last year, as rookies, Ferguson had 25 targets and Mumpfield 24. Whittington had 25 and Xavier 23.
I think we're okay so why put a number on it?
Yeah, I was thinking about this the other day. If a team has a certain number of players, that they cut from their 90 man roster, that get claimed and stick with another team for a season, they should get a 7th rd comp pick. It's not much, but it is a reward and recognition for an organization that finds players that turn into NFL players.Yeah, we might lose some guys to waiver claims. Too bad you don't get a draft pick for a certain number lost to waivers. After all, you did the scouting and either drafted them or signed them to UDFA deals. The least you could do is get a 5th or 6th if you lose a half dozen.
As far as "has the question to this thread been answered", I have to say "yes", with a caveat IMO.
The #3 WR will probably be a combination of Whittington, Mumpfield, Xavier, CJ and Ferguson with the latter probably getting more targets than the other 4. It's really an excellent issue to have.
Is your #3 WR, a 6'5" TE with good speed? Is it one of those first two who are going into their 3rd and 2nd season with the club (respectively). Is it the young rookie who seems to have all the tools? If we run 13 P as much (or more) than we did last year, Ferguson will play a huge role for sure. Last year, as rookies, Ferguson had 25 targets and Mumpfield 24. Whittington had 25 and Xavier 23.
I think we're okay so why put a number on it?
If the Rams have a player that would be in demand on the waiver wire, they likely could get something in a trade. Maybe a 7th, maybe a future 7th (like in 2029), or a swap of late round picks.
Let's say you're a team that wants one of our guys but are low on the waiver claim order (I can't remember the name of the player, but there was a WR once who got waived and almost every other team in the NFL put in a waiver claim on him.) If you anticipate multiple teams putting in claims, there's no way you are going to get that guy. So, if you plan on keeping him on your roster, just trade something small to the Rams to make sure you get him. It is a similar logic behind why teams draft certain players in the 7th round instead of trying to sign them as UDFAs. You don't have to worry about trying to bid against other teams if you draft them, but if you let them hit the UDFA free-for-all, they might choose to sign elsewhere and you don't get them.
Granted, a team only has a certain number of 7th round picks. You can't trade for 5 different players about to hit the waivers just using 7th rounders if you only hold one 7th round pick in the next draft. It forces you to prioritize which player you want the most. So, the "market system" does have a mechanism to reward the teams that have an excess level of talent. This can then become a positive feedback loop. Let's say the Rams got 3 extra 7th round picks in the 2019 draft via trades by dealing away good players they were about to cut. What the Rams could do next year in 2018 is use those picks to be on the exact opposite side of this market, become the buyer instead of the seller, using those 7th rounders to beef up the back end of their roster.
Les Snead has done this just about every year. We got Nothing for POOH last season,but a 2028 7th for KT Leveston.
The Rams got a 7th rd pick for a Punter to GBay a few years ago.The Rams traded away Ben Sko to Pittsburgh because it saved a roster spot.
Back in the day a 5th to Baltimore for EJ(Mizzu) a CB.I know there are a few more I can’t recall of hand.I think the way The Rams roster is stacked he will make a trade before Cuts again this year.
It's important they do maje a trade, considering the lack of picks in the last 2 drafts and likley the next 2 drafts. Even 7th rd picks have a shot here with the way they identify guys who fit in here.
Love the receiver room this year.
But to those who think we can replace Davante from within next year... ain't gonna happen.
Davante is a HOF player. Whittington is decent, Mumpfield had a solid start, and Daniels has potential. But I seriously doubt that McVay would trust any of those guys to be WR2 in 2027.
But to those who think we can replace Davante from within next year... ain't gonna happen.
Davante is a HOF player. Whittington is decent, Mumpfield had a solid start, and Daniels has potential. But I seriously doubt that McVay would trust any of those guys to be WR2 in 2027.
Ground Chuck
Pro Bowler
Perhaps but the 2027 draft is a long ways off. I think there is a small chance either Daniels or Whittington can work their way into that role but there’s a better chance that we have a high wide receiver selection next year or possibly a free agency signing.
Whittington stats: 2024, 22 rec for 293.
2025, down to 18 rec for 171.
Whittington is a reliable role player, but I don't see how he's gonna suddenly explode into a major weapon.
Same with CJ Daniel's... yeah it's possible, but it's awfully rare for a 6th round pick to become elite. (Granted we were spoiled by Puka, but he is a rare outlier).
McVay wants two deadly weapons at WR1 and WR2. Our cap situation is under control. After Davante leaves and his contract is off the books, McVay will replace him with another stud signing (or possibly a premium pick). I'm just saying that the chances are "slim to none" that McVay would roll with Mumps, Whittington, or Daniel's as WR2 in 2027.
To put it another way... DA signed a 2-year contract averaging 22M per year. Is McVay gonna roll in 2027 with a WR2 that makes one-twentieth of that? Just 5% of what DA makes? No, McVay would not take that risk of being a cheapskate on his Lamborghini offense.
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That is my concern. Next year, ideally, we would draft a WR and LT one/two but dont have the picks
Agree. Unless someone surprises this year, McVay will go hard for a vet WR2. Someone similar to DJMoore would be the floor. Someone similar to Pickens the ceiling. Whitt ain’t it. Mumpfield is doubtful.
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Are we in need of a major weapon at WR3? Or simply a functional group of 4 who can all play multiple positions.