Seven New Starters: What Will Their Impact Be?

[Ram Ts]

I feel like I said "more than 1 mistake". The super bowl xp would be that 1 mistake. So... other than that?

Yeah I was just pointing out the one.

But when you almost lose your job the year before, and you’re a high paid guy on the Rams (or any kicker), you are on very thin ice. You better be perfect and so much better than the alternative. Hekker being replaced in 2022 was an obvious sign.

 

[Kupped]

I think most important is the Rams improving the secondary. It is much deeper, in my estimation the deepest corner group I can recall. But where it has question marks is the quality of the CB2 and slot. Those two roles must get better production to counter the lesser rush. If not, we're going to be allowing average Joe dipshit QBs to look like Joe Montana.

Does Hill do that for one of those two roles? I am not so sure. Hill had his best season before he left us, but generally he is the same up and down dude he has always been. Rams know this and did a good job adding two corners in the draft who are advanced in ball awareness, i.e. they at least get their damn heads around which is something our young corners have had trouble with.

But who steps up for those top roles. That is going to be the biggest factor in how many wins this team puts together through the season.

Ideally by the playoffs one or both of those rooks will either have pushed the holdovers to be much better, or will themselves have won top roles under Ramsey. If this doesn't happen we'll get quickly knocked from the playoffs, because it is unlikely we see an impact addition the likes of Von again this year. Rushers will be bid heavily on due to what happened last season. The Rams will have much more competition this go round.

Really good analysis on the corners group.

This perspective falls in line with my feelings about Rochell being the x-factor when it comes to just how good this defense can be.

 

[Loyal]

I hate to be a downer, but I am underwhelmed by our running backs. Cam Akers is supposed to be the best we got and I don't remember one game that he took control of, last year. Hendo seems fragile and Funky is easily taken down. In fact all of them seem easily taken down and easily injured. Was Sony great RB for us? No, but he was decent and he was durable.

Boom for Whit might be a wash on the field, as long as Joe can stay healthy. Whit was a wily veteran, but he was also starting to get beaten by fast edge rushers at times. Total loss with Big Whit, leadership wise.

It seems to me if we had gotten a dominant runner who could hold onto the dang the ball and some premium beef on the Oline, the Rams would be unstoppable. Ah well, you can't have everything.

 

[Tumak61]

Isn't it 8 starters. I think Scott has supplanted Rapp at Safety

 

[den-the-coach]

It seems to me if we had gotten a dominant runner who could hold onto the dang the ball and some premium beef on the Oline, the Rams would be unstoppable. Ah well, you can't have everything.

Kyren Williams is the wildcard here and when Darrell Henderson is right, he's downright explosive. Williams runs very well behind the zone scheme and it's hard for the linebackers to find him, which enables him to scoot to the outside.

Williams is also extraordinary in pass protections and being a former receiver, allows another dimension for the Rams offense. A healthy Williams, will improve the running game overall IMHO.

 

[AvengerRam]

Isn't it 8 starters. I think Scott has supplanted Rapp at Safety

Scott started quite a few games last year due to Fuller's absence, so I didn't view that as a clear change.

 

[Loyal]

Kyren Williams is the wildcard here and when Darrell Henderson is right, he's downright explosive. Williams runs very well behind the zone scheme and it's hard for the linebackers to find him, which enables him to scoot to the outside.

Williams is also extraordinary in pass protections and being a former receiver, allows another dimension for the Rams offense. A healthy Williams, will improve the running game overall IMHO.

I hope so, but we've yet to see him in a real NFL game. Hopefully the kid can do something.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Kyren Williams is the wildcard here and when Darrell Henderson is right, he's downright explosive. Williams runs very well behind the zone scheme and it's hard for the linebackers to find him, which enables him to scoot to the outside.

Williams is also extraordinary in pass protections and being a former receiver, allows another dimension for the Rams offense. A healthy Williams, will improve the running game overall IMHO.

Lets hope so.

 

[majrleaged]

I hate to be a downer, but I am underwhelmed by our running backs. Cam Akers is supposed to be the best we got and I don't remember one game that he took control of, last year. Hendo seems fragile and Funky is easily taken down. In fact all of them seem easily taken down and easily injured. Was Sony great RB for us? No, but he was decent and he was durable.

Boom for Whit might be a wash on the field, as long as Joe can stay healthy. Whit was a wily veteran, but he was also starting to get beaten by fast edge rushers at times. Total loss with Big Whit, leadership wise.

It seems to me if we had gotten a dominant runner who could hold onto the dang the ball and some premium beef on the Oline, the Rams would be unstoppable. Ah well, you can't have everything.

As far as Cam goes, he was starting to dominate at the end of 2020. In 2021 he made an amazing comeback to even be playing, but he couldn't have been more than 80%. He didn't have the quickness and definitely was rusty. I think we will see the 2020 cam this year.

 

[Loyal]

As far as Cam goes, he was starting to dominate at the end of 2020. In 2021 he made an amazing comeback to even be playing, but he couldn't have been more than 80%. He didn't have the quickness and definitely was rusty. I think we will see the 2020 cam this year.

*shrugs......Hopefully.

 

[Tano]

As far as Cam goes, he was starting to dominate at the end of 2020. In 2021 he made an amazing comeback to even be playing, but he couldn't have been more than 80%. He didn't have the quickness and definitely was rusty. I think we will see the 2020 cam this year.

I hope so.

Cam definitely wasn't himself last year

 

[blackbart]

Good topic! I think it’s hard to limit the changes to these one for ones because that disregards some things like Miller only really playing 6 games.

RB I would say it was Henderson/Michelle/Funk vs Akers/Henderson/Williams. I think that is a clear upgrade even if the Oline can’t improve. Pass pro is a question mark but Williams is supposed to be good there and could be the third down back.

Oline with two new starters is my biggest concern. Let’s hope Noteboom is over being fragile, after the first group we are in trouble.

Miller was good in the playoffs but I attribute some of his production to the Donald affect. With the additions on D and Morris in his second year, I expect them to be top 5.

WR group is a clear upgrade to me. Not only did we bring in a great 1B but Stafford in year 2 of this offense along with year 2 for Skow and Atwell. These guys are going to terrorize DBs.

As with every year health over a ridiculous schedule is my number 1 concern. I don’t expect any panic in this organization if/when players go down and I know Snead will do what he can to continue shuffling the deck but, you need willing partners in a trade and I don’t expect anyone to want to help the Champs.

 

[Malibu]

I hate to be a downer, but I am underwhelmed by our running backs. Cam Akers is supposed to be the best we got and I don't remember one game that he took control of, last year. Hendo seems fragile and Funky is easily taken down. In fact all of them seem easily taken down and easily injured. Was Sony great RB for us? No, but he was decent and he was durable.

Boom for Whit might be a wash on the field, as long as Joe can stay healthy. Whit was a wily veteran, but he was also starting to get beaten by fast edge rushers at times. Total loss with Big Whit, leadership wise.

It seems to me if we had gotten a dominant runner who could hold onto the dang the ball and some premium beef on the Oline, the Rams would be unstoppable. Ah well, you can't have everything.

A dominant runner imo is only as good as his OL.

 

[Loyal]

A dominant runner imo is only as good as his OL.

How good was SJAX’s Oline in St Louis?

 

[den-the-coach]

How good was SJAX’s Oline in St Louis?

Well, considering most of Steven Jackson's career, he was the only good player on the team, one would surmise the offensive line sucked too.

 

[rdlkgliders]

Taking into consideration we just won the Superbowl, pointing out position groups of concern will have to remain relative to our recent success.
These are my somewhat mild concerns
O.L Run Blocking and Depth
RB Durability and production when healthy is still a question
DL has a lot of unproven talent and will need players to stay healthy and live up to or exceed expectations

O.L & RB are a bit of a tossup as the top 2 concerns. A distant 4th is TE with only 2 on the roster, Higz gets nicked up at times and BH is still somewhat unproven

 

[Loyal]

Well, considering most of Steven Jackson's career, he was the only good player on the team, one would surmise the offensive line sucked too.

But all it takes to have a dominant running game is a great Oline, I’m told? I don’t think GURLEY’s Oline was that great either in the Fisher years…..

 

[Ram65]

Kyren Williams is the wildcard here and when Darrell Henderson is right, he's downright explosive. Williams runs very well behind the zone scheme and it's hard for the linebackers to find him, which enables him to scoot to the outside.

Williams is also extraordinary in pass protections and being a former receiver, allows another dimension for the Rams offense. A healthy Williams, will improve the running game overall IMHO.

Williams fits right in for McVay and the Rams offense. It will be interesting to see how McVay uses him. Akers has the quickness and toughness the Rams run game needs. A healthy Akers becomes the workhorse back with Henderson #2 giving Akers a rest. I'm still a big fan of Henderson who has great quickness. I'm not sure how much Williams plays if both Akers and Henderson are healthy. At least he is a great fit should injury strike the others. I don't see a lot of blowout games but, maybe Williams takes some reps late in games when the Rams are comfortably ahead. That could help keep the RBs healthier.

 

[Ram65]

The addition of Aker and Williams makes the RBs a big improvement even if the offensive line takes a step back. I don't think the offensive line will have much of a drop-off. Look for McVay to establish the run early on to help the pass protection. A quicker offensive line might help the screen game which has dropped off in recent years.

ARob a big difference on the offense. A healthy Higbee also makes the offense scarier.

Hollins/Lewis will be a key to helping the pass rush keep up to late last year's effort. Wagner making the calls helps the defense. The secondary will be better all around with healthy bodies and depth.