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- May 25, 2013
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Lately, every year, there’s been a point in the season when the Patriots looked like their reign had ended. It usually happened early but as recently as last season, they lost bad games late. And yet, their defense seemed impregnable against the Chargers, Chiefs (first half), and Rams in the postseason.
Last year, the Rams defense disappointed against the run in the regular season. Peters was toasted so often I thought his name was Melba, not Marcus. Suh seemed to be invisible. Joyner and Brockers flat disappeared from impact. I feared Zeke would run wild, Kamara would juke untouched, and Brees/ Brady would carve the defense like Thanksgiving turkey in the playoffs.. But no, a championship level defense transcended the regular season doldrums. It’s almost as though the whole plan was to build for post-season success by Wade and his staff... much like the Pats do most years.
Why is this relevant to the offseason moves we are currently witnessing? The additions of Suh and Talib last season and Weddle plus Matthews this season are part and parcel of a post-season plan. Vets like them will get the Whitworth/Sully treatment during the pre-season and game week preparation. Their bodies will be monitored for optimum effectiveness not just for the first 16 weeks...but with an eye toward the final three through the planned SB run. The belief here is that the team that recently was perennially the league’s youngest required more veteran discipline, calm, and focus. The long ranged vision the Rams have is evident in how Gurley was bubble wrapped late in the year even with a Championship at stake.
The hidden genius in all this is how the Rams draft developmental talent (Noteboom, Allen, Obo, JFM) and give them the vet reps to mature at an optimum pace. And like the NE formula, they acquire under the radar vets from other teams (NRC, Woods, Fowler, Blythe) that are better system fits to their scheme than their previous jobs afforded.
This is an intentional system. A method patterned by NE that Kroenke communicated when he hired Fisher and Snead. McVay and Phillips added panache to the formula. The result of sustainable excellence has yet to be proven over the long term in Los Angeles, but in my 50 years plus of studying and supporting this team, I’ve never witnessed a stronger base than I see before me now. Balanced excellence is a theme this staff embodies.
It sure is fun again to be a Ram fan...even in the Arctic Abyss that is the football offseason.
Last year, the Rams defense disappointed against the run in the regular season. Peters was toasted so often I thought his name was Melba, not Marcus. Suh seemed to be invisible. Joyner and Brockers flat disappeared from impact. I feared Zeke would run wild, Kamara would juke untouched, and Brees/ Brady would carve the defense like Thanksgiving turkey in the playoffs.. But no, a championship level defense transcended the regular season doldrums. It’s almost as though the whole plan was to build for post-season success by Wade and his staff... much like the Pats do most years.
Why is this relevant to the offseason moves we are currently witnessing? The additions of Suh and Talib last season and Weddle plus Matthews this season are part and parcel of a post-season plan. Vets like them will get the Whitworth/Sully treatment during the pre-season and game week preparation. Their bodies will be monitored for optimum effectiveness not just for the first 16 weeks...but with an eye toward the final three through the planned SB run. The belief here is that the team that recently was perennially the league’s youngest required more veteran discipline, calm, and focus. The long ranged vision the Rams have is evident in how Gurley was bubble wrapped late in the year even with a Championship at stake.
The hidden genius in all this is how the Rams draft developmental talent (Noteboom, Allen, Obo, JFM) and give them the vet reps to mature at an optimum pace. And like the NE formula, they acquire under the radar vets from other teams (NRC, Woods, Fowler, Blythe) that are better system fits to their scheme than their previous jobs afforded.
This is an intentional system. A method patterned by NE that Kroenke communicated when he hired Fisher and Snead. McVay and Phillips added panache to the formula. The result of sustainable excellence has yet to be proven over the long term in Los Angeles, but in my 50 years plus of studying and supporting this team, I’ve never witnessed a stronger base than I see before me now. Balanced excellence is a theme this staff embodies.
It sure is fun again to be a Ram fan...even in the Arctic Abyss that is the football offseason.
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