Honestly, this Cowboy game was a real eye opener for me...

[BonifayRam]

Agreed. Kupp has nothing left to prove to me other than can he be counted on to be there 99% of the time including the post season from here on out. I'm not sold yet if he's going to be durable enough.

How would the 2nd half of 2018 played out with Cooks, Woods and....Mike Thomas?

I'm not jettisoning Reynolds for depth somewhere else on the roster. We drafted and developed him and he's now a playoff experienced, high end #4 and a serviceable #3.

I would rate Josh Reynolds worth more than serviceable #3. JR's Saints game in the playoff was a serious upgrade in his performance level! Cooper Kupp injuries do cause me pause. He was hurt earlier before the ACL tear too. I share your concerns here. There's no doubt that Reynolds has much to add to this offense & 2018 he proved it. One big thing is his size & his improvement in run blocking.

I look @ it from another way too...... This team has made serious upgrades to its offensive weaponry since the end of the 2018season. Our 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th WR's are all in considerations to make the master roster. McVay has shown plans in increasing the use of the talented TE Everett out wide. Higbee has been on a big role all TC in the passing game especially in the Red Zone.

At RB, we added a lightning bolt in Henderson with plans on utilization in this passing offense. I am sure great considerations are to use that 21 plus MPH speed of a trimmed down Gurley, much more in the passing side of things other than the use of running him into a block wall.. Even RB Malcolm Brown is no slouch in quick screen passing game.

I am sure the entire NFL knows the skills & talent that he can bring to an offense......his high worth to the Rams in trade value sitting on the bench with a half dozen snaps a game as the 4th wide out.

 

[A.J. Hicks]

We have an embarrassment of riches at CB and in the whole defensive backfield in general. Now suddenly too at LB with the emergence of Natrez Patrick, Dakota Allen, Tevan Howard, Troy Reeder (unfair ejection IMO), Landis Durham, Josh Carroway AND OBO....who knew you could find such LB talent in lower Rounds and on the Waiver Wire.
Who knew????
Wade Phillips Knew!!!!

What your saying is that Snead has an eye for talent and Mcvay/Wade/Aubrey Pleasant/etc. are good coaches?

Mcvay has created a culture that has players thriving! Got to love it!

 

[Mojo Ram]

I am sure the entire NFL knows the skills & talent that he can bring to an offense......his high worth to the Rams in trade value sitting on the bench with a half dozen snaps a game as the 4th wide out

Why would the team trade Reynolds? His salary is less than $900K and they have him signed for 2 more years? They worked hard to develop him...only to give him away? WR's get hurt, you need depth there. Reynolds provides that crucial depth.

I understand the concept of trading talented players who won't necessarily see enough snaps, i do, especially when talking about QB's and RB's. Obviously you've also got to have a proven "farm system" in place as well...which IMO the Rams have.

Approaching this situation in particular i look at what does this offense like to do? Run the ball and spread the ball around to three WR's and a TE for chunk yardage. I think this is an offense where you have to have proven quality depth at receiver. Goff isn't a guy who is going to make something out of nothing with his legs very often. McVay relies on route running and timing.

I'm just not willing to trade a Reynolds for a veteran 6th man OLineman or a #3 TE or a 4th rd pick(for example).
Snead has done very well continuing to find talent and depth without the benefit of blue chip draft slots lately, and i really like being 4 deep at WR here in THIS offense where 2 of our top 3 guys have missed games.

 

[VegasRam]

Agreed. Kupp has nothing left to prove to me other than can he be counted on to be there 99% of the time including the post season from here on out. I'm not sold yet if he's going to be durable enough.

How would the 2nd half of 2018 played out with Cooks, Woods and....Mike Thomas?

I'm not jettisoning Reynolds for depth somewhere else on the roster. We drafted and developed him and he's now a playoff experienced, high end #4 and a serviceable #3.

Trading Reynolds is a seriously bad idea. Totally agree. I have watched the Dallas, KC and NO games about 5 times each (summer NFL jonesin’), and Reynolds was not only very good in those games, he was crucial in getting the wins. He really made some killer catches.

Question @Mojo Ram - how does one (Kupp) “ prove” he can be counted on not to get injured?

 

[TexasRam]

Agree with everything everyone is saying, but I want to add something.

I think we are in a bad spot with our offensive line. Two major problems.

1. Allen is unproven at Center
2. Depth at Guard

I think preseason has revealed that these rookies and backups are either not going to cut it at this level or they have a big learning curve ahead of them that will take some time. This leaves us with no depth at Guard and no backup plan if Allen is not the player we magically hope him to be at center.

If Whit or Havenstein go down I feel confident in Noteboom sliding out to handle the duties. But that leaves a big void at Guard. I don't think Edwards is any where near ready to man a starting tackle spot, though he might in the near future.

I could if I wasn't lazy, post game film of Allen getting completely blown up in preseason last year. He is not a sure thing guys.

If I am Mcvay I get snead of the phone ASAP for a stopgap interior lineman that has proven NFL experience and can hold down the spot if not for a year.

The is the one move I really think we need make.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

The things that stood out about Obo should translate well. He was very sudden and quick off the ball. He showed the ability to really bend the edge - almost like a young Robert Quinn. He also showed off a few counter moves to the inside.

I think people read too much into pre-season. I was hoping they would draft him, but I didn't see Robert Quinn comparisons.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Question @Mojo Ram - how does one (Kupp) “ prove” he can be counted on not to get injured?

For me a player needs to play a few full seasons in a row without missing games. Cooks for example. He's been dinged plenty(concussion protocol etc) but he hasn't missed a gm since '14.

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

I'm not getting my hopes up on LB depth until they play some starters.

 

[FrantikRam]

Reynolds is a good WR, that's why he has value, but he'll likely never be higher than a #4WR while with the Rams. We got him in the 4'th round, if a team offers a 3'rd rounder for him, he's history imo. The Rams have a couple quality rookies who are bound to be lost if placed on the practice squad, so if we can acquire a higher draft pick and keep a guy like Hodge & Webster around, I take that opportunity. We won't be able to pay Reynolds after 2020 anyway, but we can turn him into a value pick going forward. jmo.

All of Cooks/Woods/Kupp have been injured at some point in the last few years, even if it was only for a half.

Reynolds should be getting a lot more snaps when these guys are healthy to keep them healthy - same for Malcolm Brown with Gurley.

I would like to see Reynolds/Cooks/Woods/Kupp get an almost even number of snaps this year - then in the playoffs, just play our big three.