How close are the Rams?

[HitStick]

While Foles really needs to work on his accuracy, I do think with a proper supporting cast he can win in this league. We have a stud RB and a stud gadget player. If we can come out of this offseason with two legitimate outside threats (Jeffrey or Gordon in FA and a draft pick?), an upgrade on the OL and keep this D together, we can be looking at a powerhouse. This team reminds me of Seattle right before they took that big step. I'm loving the competitive games and I think next year we are dominant.

 

[Penguin.]

So an offense that a 5th round rookie could win with?

 

[Debacled]

The line is still problematic (especially the depth and at C). Qb needs to show major improvement (accuracy is one thing, he does not progress through reads at all). D-line depth at end behind Quinn and Long also appears to be an issue. Nothing but questionmarks at WR/TE

This team can compete, just not with many if any injuries or the stupid penalties. 5 offsides today?

 

[kurtfaulk]

.

The Rams won't be close until they get a hc that wants to win.

.

 

[RAMBUSH]

Oh I wish I knew how close they are , I really do! This loss to the Vikings really stings .
We never seem to be as close as I think we are . Although after this game I'm worried , Foles in my opinion was absolutely horrible .
Yea , the OL isn't jelling just yet , but there were some really open players today and Foles wasn't even close ! I know I seem more concerned about what seems like 100 penalties a game then our entire coaching staff. I just don't know anymore. Go Rams !!!!

 

[yrba1]

Continuity is key also, even though the verbiage of the offense is under Schotty's blueprint, Cignetti is trying to evolve this offense into his own image so the frequent end around's are experimental. The problem is though, he tends to get predictable on first down with the obvious hand off to Gurley. He is capable of adjusting the offense in some categories but he needs to further into detail even if it means getting Foles battered out there.

 

[HometownBoy]

Continuity is key also, even though the verbiage of the offense is under Schotty's blueprint, Cignetti is trying to evolve this offense into his own image so the frequent end around's are experimental. The problem is though, he tends to get predictable on first down with the obvious hand off to Gurley. He is capable of adjusting the offense in some categories but he needs to further into detail even if it means getting Foles battered out there.

To be fair, I'd probably go with getting even a little with Gurley than going with Foles throwing it to his first read completely covered and get nothing.

 

[HitStick]

So an offense that a 5th round rookie could win with?

Well, yeah. It worked for Kurt.

 

[jjab360]

It's really not even about the talent upgrades right now, outside of maybe the OL. We really just need some coaching adjustments, a kick in the ass, and the better half of our defense out there on the field and not nursing injuries.

 

[ProGen]

We have a lot of great pieces on this team, but we lack talent at a few key spots:

The ONLY goal of a team is to win the Superbowl and Fisher is not a Superbowl winning coach and Foles is not a Superbowl winning QB. To me, it is that simple.

 

[CGI_Ram]

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

LOL, I am so sure Fisher does not want to win a Superbowl. Or that he doesn't want to win in general. Now you can say that we need a less conservative coach, but I really think that Fisher tried to fix that wow by hiring Chudzinski to run the offense. Too bad none of the better OCs available wanted to work with Jeff.

And of course the Rams need a better QB and some WRs and a TE. That may take another 2-3 years.

 

[LumberTubs]

I think we're only 1 or 2 additional end around/jet sweeps to Tavon per game away from everything else falling into place. Cigs gave up on that play too quickly yesterday.

 

[dieterbrock]

I dont care who the coach is. You hand a HC, ANY HC in the NFL, arguably the best defense in the game, arguably the best RB in the game and a game changer like Tavon, and that team will win

No reason this team should be close at this point. They should be there.

 

[CGI_Ram]

I think we're only 1 or 2 additional end around/jet sweeps to Tavon per game away from everything else falling into place. Cigs gave up on that play too quickly yesterday.

:yess:

 

[lockdnram21]

Qb and WR away from playoffs

 

[Ram_Rally]

Offensive line is young. No need to upgrade them already except maybe saffold. Foles is horrible but I don't see how we upgrade the position without prime draft capital. Best thing we can do is overhaul the receiver core. All of them except Bailey and quick should start next season as our 5. We need receivers who are so good that they make up for Foles.

 

[Fatbot]

While Foles really needs to work on his accuracy, I do think with a proper supporting cast he can win in this league. We have a stud RB and a stud gadget player. If we can come out of this offseason with two legitimate outside threats (Jeffrey or Gordon in FA and a draft pick?), an upgrade on the OL and keep this D together, we can be looking at a powerhouse. This team reminds me of Seattle right before they took that big step. I'm loving the competitive games and I think next year we are dominant.

Heh "loving the competitive games" seems a bit masochistic right now, but I get it. It sucks to have my heart ripped out losing games like this but better than being the doormat knowing they'll lose before the game even starts. Kind of sad it seems those are the only two choices allowed for long-suffering Rams fans, why can't we have nice things??

Anyway, the Seattle reference is interesting, just shows the extreme serendipity that has to occur in this game for a team to do the worst-to-first thing. Seattle had the most important pieces all come of age at exactly the same and right time, plus the right supporting cast in place. The Rams are just missing bits of the crucial pieces and bits of supporting cast, but that's enough. In an NFL where success and failure is a razor-thin margin, if you miss by an inch you may as well be missing by a mile, either way you lose.

A big dread is having so many pieces developing at different rates, now we're starting to hit the time where players will leave before they had a chance to be that crucial piece to success, so the timing might be off to ever even have a window of opportunity. The fear is a massive churn just to stay relevant without the timing of players developing hitting together to get to the next level of winning.

Not sure what Gordon you want to add, but Josh isn't a free agent as far as I know, and if it's pinning the hopes on a suspended player that probably speaks more volumes to the state of things than anything. Maybe free agency can be the missing magic but to me seems mostly effective when a team is already there and you already know the piece you need to add versus crossing your fingers when overpaying on the market.

 

[Memphis Ram]

While Foles really needs to work on his accuracy, I do think with a proper supporting cast he can win in this league. We have a stud RB and a stud gadget player. If we can come out of this offseason with two legitimate outside threats (Jeffrey or Gordon in FA and a draft pick?), an upgrade on the OL and keep this D together, we can be looking at a powerhouse. This team reminds me of Seattle right before they took that big step. I'm loving the competitive games and I think next year we are dominant.

Gee. I believe that they have everything they need right now except at QB.

 

[junkman]

I know everyone likes to be all over Foles and I get it.

But the biggest problem with the Rams offense yesterday started with the loss of Havenstein. Moving Reynolds to RT (where he was fine) meant putting rookie Andrew Donnal at LG, and he just wasn't up to the task of controlling Linval Joseph. Like at all. I know that Donnal is just a rookie and that was his first game, but geez. And don't get me wrong, Joseph is a good player, but not that good.

A lack of veteran depth on the OL. We've been talking about it since before pre season. That was what it looks like in a game.

Fix that one spot on the OL and Gurley runs for 100+. Foles gets a bit more time to make his reads. A few more first downs. Maybe even a few TDs instead of FGs. Defense gets to rest.

You don't need the best LG in football to win. But you can't lose at that spot all day long like that and expect to win.