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Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay an early favorite for coach of the year
by Shane Gray
https://nflspinzone.com/2017/10/07/los-angeles-rams-sean-mcvay-early-coach-of-the-year-favorite/
One quarter of the way through the Los Angeles Rams’ 2017 season, head coach Sean McVay is a emerging as a strong candidate for NFL Coach of the Year honors.
Having watched or covered the Los Angeles Rams as they flailed in futility for a dozen consecutive campaigns — 11 straight non-winning seasons in St. Louis and a 4-12 inaugural season in the team’s return to L.A. — it only came natural to doubt the club’s ability to rapidly rebound during head coach Sean McVay’s rookie year. After all, what could possibly have gone awry after an organization 13 years removed from the playoffs chose to name a man void of any head coaching experience at any level as its head coach in the nation’s second largest market?
This is the same franchise who posted the worst five-year win-loss record in NFL history from 2007-11 and has managed just four winning slates since 1989 and zero winning seasons since 2003.
To frame it further, the last time the Rams made the playoffs (2004), Donald Trump was just another eccentric billionaire, flat screen TVs were yet to come to market and Johnny Carson, James Brown, Richard Pryor, Rosa Parks, Steve Irwin, Don Knotts and Saddam Hussein were still with us.
Wow.
But if the 3-1 Rams keep winning and eventually make a playoff push — and if McVay’s offense continues to lead the league in scoring at over 35 points per game, they will — then you can expect to see McVay in the hunt for Coach of the Year. It still feels impossible that this is reality, but it is.
The Rams offense — which has looked more like the Greatest Show on Turf than the inept one featured in recent years — is built around a revamped offensive line anchored by left tackle Andrew Whitworth, who Los Angeles wisely targeted when he hit the open market during the offseason.
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For the passing attack, they have provided second year quarterback Jared Goff with a consistent pocket and ample time to throw, allowing just four sacks through four games — good for second best in the NFL.
Speaking of Gurley, he has shown noticeably more burst and strength than he did a year ago. His 4.2 yards per carry is a full yard better than that of 2016 and his increased workload in the passing game has him on pace for an 80 reception campaign.
And Goff has looked like a seasoned, franchise caliber quarterback to date, upping his completion rate from 54.6 a year ago to 66.7 percent while generating a 7-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Make no mistake, Goff has benefited from a noticeably upgraded receiving corps led by former No. 2 overall pick Sammy Watkins, free agent acquisition Robert Woods and rookie third round selection Cooper Kupp, who has reminded some of former Ram receiver Ricky Proehl.
In short, the Rams offensive turnaround has been one of the most radical and unexpected the league has seen in quite some time. But as much as the offense has stunned folks in a positive way, the defense has surprised onlookers in a negative manner.
Who would have thought — one-quarter of the way through the season — that the offense would be the Rams strong suit and the defense would remain something of a question mark? Who would have guessed that the unit ready for Hollywood attention was one not led by perennial All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald or former Pro Bowl defensive end Robert Quinn, but one spearheaded by a second-year quarterback who often looked lost in leading a pedestrian attack last season?
But through four games, the defense has yet to gel while giving up 26.3 points (27th) and 151.5 rushing yards per contest (30th). You need look no further than the aforementioned Donald and Quinn to peg why that may be the case.
While neither have played poorly by any means, neither has played to his potential just yet, either, following role adaptations in new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ defense.
