Leonard Fournette a great solve at RB

[Neil039]

Her agreeing to that makes me wonder if maybe the kids should be spending more time with dad.

He's a POS. Not because we are dating. Long story.

 

[Malibu]

The production comes from the O-line and ZBS. I have posted before that during the '17 & '18 season, Rams Rb's averaged nearly 3 yards of positive gain before contact ; that's the best in the League. It didn't matter who carried the Ball. Then, in '19, when there were problems with the O-line, that "yards-before-contact" stat really took a dump, and TG's numbers went down.
Fournette is a good RB, but I'm not sure he fits what the Rams do. There are RB's in this draft that do fit what the Rams do, and after drafted will have an average salary close to $800K, as opposed a RB like Fournette who would be closer to 5-Mil.

He fits exactly what the Rams need - a power back that goes between the tackles which compliments Henderson. Plus a huge threat in the passing game only Helaire fits that bill currently in the draft. LF is a great blocker. Zero learning curve that a draftee will take.

Sure I get it the oline was not good last year especially as it pertains to our run game. I have been probably the biggest proponent of that being our #1 issue along with our Run D. The Run D has been somewhat addressed still need a beefy ILB. If we spend draft capital on the oline and add LF the offense will be better.

 

[Merlin]

Gonna be honest, I half expect us to trade for Fournette. Jags fans are saying 4th or 5th round value. He's apparently a great pass protector and a good receiver. Considering our past trades with that front office (Fowler and Ramsey), I wouldn't be surprised if it happens this week. Question is do we want to move more cap into the future to make it work?

That would piss me off. RB is an easy position to run by committee with median draft pick investment. I am fucking tired of depending on veteran castoffs from other teams. Snead needs to put his big boy pants on and hit on a fucking RB in round 3 or 4 then enjoy the first contract benefit.

 

[Rams43]

About a Fournette acquisition...

I’m intrigued, frankly.

Yeah, there are issues including some injuries in the past, possible locker room problem (btw, who wouldn’t have an attitude if stuck in Jacksonville?), and the coming 2nd contract. Maybe others I haven’t even heard about.

But Damn! He can run either inside or outside with some of the best of them, pass blocking is already first rate, and he’s a genuine pass receiving nightmare to defend. What’s not to like about all that?

He could return the Ram run threat back to the early ‘18 level. Elite, IOW.

And he’s far better than any RB that we could possibly get at 52, much less 57 or 84, so there is that.

Like I said, I’m intrigued.

 

[wolfdogg]

He's a POS. Not because we are dating. Long story.

Yeah i got that but also saw an opportunity for some good natured razzing

 

[Malibu]

That would piss me off. RB is an easy position to run by committee with median draft pick investment. I am fucking tired of depending on veteran castoffs from other teams. Snead needs to put his big boy pants on and hit on a fucking RB in round 3 or 4 then enjoy the first contract benefit.

He is 25 played only 3 years in the league and has total baller stats for a 3ed year RB. He is an exact fit for what the Rams need.

Instead we can draft one of 10 prospects in the middle rounds and HOPE he is any good. Henderson was a high 3rd round how has he done. Not to mention the time it takes to acclamate to the NFL.

LF may cost a 4th round pick who are we going to draft in the 4th that is going to get us 1700 yards in 15 games that is good for top 5 in all RBs and he was on one of the worst teams with a mediocre QB sub par wide receivers and PFF 26th rated oline.

Just imagine LF on the Rams he will be close to McCaffery totals.

 

[Merlin]

He is 25 played only 3 years in the league and has total baller stats for a 3ed year RB. He is an exact fit for what the Rams need.

Instead we can draft one of 10 prospects in the middle rounds and HOPE he is any good. Henderson was a high 3rd round how has he done. Not to mention the time it takes to acclamate to the NFL.

LF may cost a 4th round pick who are we going to draft in the 4th that is going to get us 1700 yards in 15 games that is good for top 5 in all RBs and he was on one of the worst teams with a mediocre QB sub par wide receivers and PFF 26th rated oline.

Just imagine LF on the Rams he will be close to McCaffery totals.

Sure he's a good RB and young too. But he's expensive and the Rams have a roster full of veterans getting paid or about to be paid.

What this roster requires is first contract starters. Guys who come with a cheap price tag and who have some upside.

What we don't need is more expensive veterans. We are $6M over the cap and still need to pay Kupp & Ramsey here soon. Why add another expensive veteran at RB when you can draft a cheap one?

He makes perfect sense except for the cost. That effectively reduces his value to us in trade. We are not in the window where it makes sense to execute that move.

 

[TheTackle]

If they are trying to trade him, then they are probably willing to cut him

If he was a FA with guaranteed income from the Jags then we could sign him for cheap

 

[12intheBox]

I’m not convinced RB is an area to invest a lot of $$ in - unless the player is just that special.

 

[FearsomeFears]

I’m not convinced RB is an area to invest a lot of $$ in - unless the player is just that special.

The issue is RB durability. The position takes so much damage via hits, snaps, and injuries. So their life span in the league tends to be shorter than other positions. Gurley had several great years, got a ton of money, but then got hurt. He wasn't the same since before his knee injury. Would you pay a guy all those dollars for mediocre production? I wouldn't.

RBs can be found lower in the draft and fit the bill. There are some good runners available in this one.

 

[Juice]

Any running back the Rams bring in from free agency, trade, or draft is only as good as their offense line.

 

[Malibu]

Sure he's a good RB and young too. But he's expensive and the Rams have a roster full of veterans getting paid or about to be paid.

What this roster requires is first contract starters. Guys who come with a cheap price tag and who have some upside.

What we don't need is more expensive veterans. We are $6M over the cap and still need to pay Kupp & Ramsey here soon. Why add another expensive veteran at RB when you can draft a cheap one?

He makes perfect sense except for the cost. That effectively reduces his value to us in trade. We are not in the window where it makes sense to execute that move.

I am a win now guy not a hope and a maybe draft pick guy.

LF is WAY BETTER than any RB in the draft in literally every way possible. Great runner, great catcher out of the backfield, doesn't fumble like Taylor, great blocker at 230 lbs and best of all fits our need being the companion to Henderson's style of running.

As I will always say, we need to fix the oline at least or upgrade it. Not sure if it was you who said the stat that in '17 & '18 Gurley had 3' before first contact and that lead the league. Compared to last year in '19 we had 6" before first contact which was 4th worst which tells me our Run blocking sucked. Currently I see the OL no better than last year maybe the younger players got the reps needed and Komer and McVay figured out who is a keeper and who isn't so based on that we have improved slightly. With less injuries maybe we move up to low to mid 20s but we need to be between 10-15 of all teams to have a shot at the playoffs and move far in the playoffs.

In terms of cost Goff can restructure his deal. Next year the Rams will have substantially more $ and LF will be on his 5th year. By that point we will know if he is worth keeping or not. But don't be fooled a 4th rounder in this draft is highly unlikely to make any impact compared to LF this year for sure and next year most likely.

 

[Malibu]

If they are trying to trade him, then they are probably willing to cut him

If he was a FA with guaranteed income from the Jags then we could sign him for cheap

I doubt they cut him he was their #1 offensive option at 4.15m that obviously is substantially less than Cooks & Gurley.

 

[Young Ram]

He hasn’t played a full season in 4 consecutive years and he only had 3 TD all of last year. Yea so elite

 

[wolfdogg]

The offense took a huge step backward last year so id like to see the focus on that side of the ball for the remainder of the off season. The best, realistic, way of doing that would be to bring in the best attainable rb, Fournette, land one of the top 2 centers on friday, and draft the highest rated offensive player with the 57th pick. Those 3 things will give the rams the best chance, personnel wise, to turn this offense back around.

 

[jrry32]

Sure he's a good RB and young too. But he's expensive and the Rams have a roster full of veterans getting paid or about to be paid.

What this roster requires is first contract starters. Guys who come with a cheap price tag and who have some upside.

What we don't need is more expensive veterans. We are $6M over the cap and still need to pay Kupp & Ramsey here soon. Why add another expensive veteran at RB when you can draft a cheap one?

He makes perfect sense except for the cost. That effectively reduces his value to us in trade. We are not in the window where it makes sense to execute that move.

I love Zack Moss in the third, but Fournette gives us a proven HB on third downs and a guy who had the physical talent to go top 5 as a HB. The man was being compared to Adrian Peterson and Bo Jackson back then. Yes, he hasn't produced like that, but the Jaguars haven't given him a lot of help. If we could trade Everett and a 6th for Fournette, would you say no?

Sure, Fournette could prove to be an average HB. But with McVay and (hopefully) better blocking, he might explode like Jerome Bettis, Marshall Faulk, Ricky Williams, Marshawn Lynch, etc. after they were traded. (In fact, if you look at Marshawn Lynch's time in Buffalo, it was a lot like Fournette's time in Jax.) I think it's a risk worth taking if the price is right.

 

[Allen2McVay]

The offense took a huge step backward last year

I agree that the Offense was disappointing. The O-Line had injuries and was ineffective, Gurley showed decline and Goff had too many turnovers.

However, the Rams were still only one spot away from being a top-10 scoring team (11th); and were top-10 in yardage (7th).

 

[FarNorth]

I love Zack Moss in the third, but Fournette gives us a proven HB on third downs and a guy who had the physical talent to go top 5 as a HB. The man was being compared to Adrian Peterson and Bo Jackson back then. Yes, he hasn't produced like that, but the Jaguars haven't given him a lot of help. If we could trade Everett and a 6th for Fournette, would you say no?

Sure, Fournette could prove to be an average HB. But with McVay and (hopefully) better blocking, he might explode like Jerome Bettis, Marshall Faulk, Ricky Williams, Marshawn Lynch, etc. after they were traded. (In fact, if you look at Marshawn Lynch's time in Buffalo, it was a lot like Fournette's time in Jax.) I think it's a risk worth taking if the price is right.

Yes to trading Everett. For various reasons, including injury, he has never lived up to what the Rams thought was his potential. Then draft Claypool to replace him. A big fast guy who can stretch the field and catch the ball.

 

[Malibu]

He hasn’t played a full season in 4 consecutive years and he only had 3 TD all of last year. Yea so elite

All minor injuries. Have you seen their weapons on offense, the Jags suck minus LF.

Better yet who in the draft is getting us 1700 yards from a RB draftee! Answer none - not Swift, not Taylor, not Dobbins. Who can block as good or pass catch as good none of the top 3 RVs in the draft can hold a candle to LF. Remember he was the 4th player drafted. It is 50/50 that any guys this year even get drafted day 1. Big difference not to mention he is a proven commodity that gas a ton of NFL experience.

 

[Malibu]

The offense took a huge step backward last year so id like to see the focus on that side of the ball for the remainder of the off season. The best, realistic, way of doing that would be to bring in the best attainable rb, Fournette, land one of the top 2 centers on friday, and draft the highest rated offensive player with the 57th pick. Those 3 things will give the rams the best chance, personnel wise, to turn this offense back around.

100% agree.