State of the Rams on March 17th

[FrantikRam]

I think we're all a tad stressed right now. Reality is that there are good players out there....but it's possible we don't sign anyone. Who knows.

I'm feeling optimistic overall, so figured I'd put this out here.

Projected roster right now:

QB - Stafford, Perkins vs Wolford(?) - either way I think Perkins takes it this time

RB - Akers, Henderson, Funk, Xavier Jones

WR - Kupp, Woods, Jefferson, Atwell, Skowronek, Harris

TE - Higbee, Blanton, Hopkins

LT - Noteboom, Jackson

LG - Edwards, Anchrum

C - Allen, Shelton

RG - Shelton vs Evans

RT - Havenstein, Anchrum

DL - AD, Robinson, Gaines, Hoecht, Brown, Copeland

EDGE - Floyd, Hollins, Lewis, Garrett

ILB - Jones, Howard, Rozeboom

CB - Ramsey, Rochelle, Long, Haley(?)

S - Fuller, Scott, Rapp, Burgess




Looking at this, a few things jump out to me:

First - we're only down three starters from the team that took the field and won the Super Bowl - Corbett, Williams, Miller

Second - we were near the top of the league in sacks BEFORE trading for Von, and we crushed the Bucs without him the first time (and when they were fully healthy)

Third - Williams played pretty poorly for most of the year - I think we all know he is likely to fail in JAX

Fourth - we had roughly $15-17 million to give to Von, even factoring in extensions for Stafford and AD - so even if it's not today or tomorrow - we have some money to add to that roster. And by the way - take a look at that roster again. Where's the weakness? EDGE? Again, we had a good pass rush with essentially that group before trading for Von. CB? Again, Williams wasn't that great, so Rochelle stepping in likely nets the same result overall at worst. ILB? Jones appears to have a bright future

Fifth - Akers. It's easy to write him off because he came back. But he was on the fast track to breaking out. And McVay gets to sit in the lab all offseason and figure out why the run game was bad all year long

Sixth - year two for Stafford with McVay. Woods back. Another year for Atwell/Harris/Skow. Akers back. This offense should average more than 30 PPG next year - that in itself can cover for the loss of Von and then some



So, to quote the diva over in GB - R-E-L-A-X - sure, an EDGE and a CB would be great. ILB too. But we have the potential starters in place everywhere - we saw Hollins, Howard and Rochelle play well last year as complementary pieces. Our defense will still be a good unit and our offense should explode. And again, we have some money to improve those positions....and if we do, we just need to add some depth in the draft.

 

[Psycho_X]

Losers act desperate the first few days of free agency. Winners don't. The Rams front office is methodical in how they handle business every offseason and so far it's worked out well.

 

[RamDino]

So, to quote the diva over in GB - R-E-L-A-X - sure, an EDGE and a CB would be great. ILB too. But we have the potential starters in place everywhere - we saw Hollins, Howard and Rochelle play well last year as complementary pieces. Our defense will still be a good unit and our offense should explode. And again, we have some money to improve those positions....and if we do, we just need to add some depth in the draft.

Nice post FrantikRam. One last thing I would like to add, and someone mentioned it earlier, but if Snead sees a weakness, even DURING THE SEASON, he will pull the trigger and get another Von, or OBJ or whatever it takes. And you know some team will be looking to shed some superstars after tanking the first half of the season.

 

[Angry Ram]

Stressed? Nah. This happens every year, Super Bowl or not.

It's funny, when the Rams make a move its "they overpaid" or "they gave up too much" or everyone's favorite, "they mortgaged their future". And when they don't make the moves, its time to freak out. Stahhp. This is normal NFL and roster fluidity.

Colin Cowherd says it all the time. You need stability at ownership, GM, coach, and QB. The Rams got all 4. They'll be fine.

 

[Ramon Ram]

Nice post FrantikRam. One last thing I would like to add, and someone mentioned it earlier, but if Snead sees a weakness, even DURING THE SEASON, he will pull the trigger and get another Von, or OBJ or whatever it takes. And you know some team will be looking to shed some superstars after tanking the first half of the season.

Great write up from the OP. The Miller and OBJ pickups to me were more of anomalies as the NFL isn't usually like the NBA. We need to get the roster right before the season starts and post training camp cuts could huge this year as well. We are in good shape and we are Defending Champs

 

[AvengerRam]

We get two starters back: Woods, Fuller
Cam will be further removed from his injury
The 2021 draft class will get healthy and have a chance to contribute
We have 8 draft picks
We’ll sign more players
NFC rivals are losing players too

Not worried.

 

[dieterbrock]

State of the Rams currently?

 

[Allen2McVay]

Stressed? Nah. This happens every year, Super Bowl or not.

It's funny, when the Rams make a move its "they overpaid" or "they gave up too much" or everyone's favorite, "they mortgaged their future". And when they don't make the moves, its time to freak out. Stahhp. This is normal NFL and roster fluidity.

Colin Cowherd says it all the time. You need stability at ownership, GM, coach, and QB. The Rams got all 4. They'll be fine.

I was with you until you quoted Colin Cowherd.

I am going to pretend that you meant someone who is not an idiot but Auto-Correct changed it.

Damn that Auto-Correct!!!

 

[RamFan503]

Good thread @FrantikRam

We probably all wanted Von back. But I'm certainly not going to freak out from losing three starters off a SB WINNING team - especially when two of the three are eminently replaceable.

Cheers and GO RAMS!!!

 

[HitStick]

Akers, in two years has been injured twice. Hard to count on him at this point. He has the potential to be a top 5 back for sure…but the best ability is availability. We need a strong and consistent run game. You can’t have that when your best back is on the bench.

 

[Angry Ram]

I was with you until you quoted Colin Cowherd.

I am going to pretend that you meant someone who is not an idiot but Auto-Correct changed it.

Damn that Auto-Correct!!!

Colin is actually pretty good. He may get too "philosophical" but he was right there w/ the "fuck them picks" way.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Colin is actually pretty good. He may get too "philosophical" but he was right there w/ the "fuck them picks" way.

OK, now I am thinking you may be having some type of hallucinogenic episode. Avoid sharp objects.

 

[dang]

I was with you until you quoted Colin Cowherd.

I am going to pretend that you meant someone who is not an idiot but Auto-Correct changed it.

Damn that Auto-Correct!!!

Cowherd is better than most but can still be trendy.

 

[Ballhawk]

So, we aren't counting Hekker and Big Whit as starters?
And Michel was our best and healthiest RB for most of the year and probably isn't coming back either.

 

[Kupped]

6 starters... Weddle.
But... that's the NFL!
On defense.. there are young guys who are still improving... look at the jump Gaines made last year.. and then look at Ernest Jones and Robert Rochell, in particular. Nick Scott looked like he made a big step, we'll see if that continues.
Guys like Bobby Brown and Chris Garrett will have a chance to show they can contribute.

And.. yeah.. it's only March 17th.

 

[Ram65]

Great sentiment @FrantikRam.

The Rams have a great management team from the owner Stan Kronke who is willing to spend money to Reggie Scott who oversees the athletic training department. McVay isn't about to retire and with Snead will always try to improve the Rams. Also, Aaron Donald isn't about to retire either.

Stafford in year two should be even better as you stated. The Rams still have time to make the needed moves to stay at the top. I have faith they will. Von Miller is replaceable. A big part of the fun is seeing how Snead and McVay go about restacking some positions of the Champion LA Rams. We get to give our opinions on what they should and shouldn't do. Then have discussions if we like or dislike the moves they decide to make. Waiting is the hard part for now.

Go Rams!

 

[Merlin]

Super Bowl champs get worked over in FA. It's how this thing is designed. Win it all and then here come the vultures to pick the corpse clean in FA.

Losing Von really sucked. But even if we had paid him I don't know that he could sustain the pace he was giving us after that trade. I'm hoping at this point that they luck out and have a good OLB edge type slide to them in round 3 in the draft. Rams aren't gonna be able to keep hitting on these low-end signings. I mean they might add Fowler for example but I don't think he'll necessarily play even as well as he did for us the other year.

Generally you can forget about finding cornerstone players in bargain FA shopping. It happens of course. Happened for us with Whit for example. But for edge and corner I feel like they're gonna need to do a good job in the draft and coach them up.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Cowherd is better than most ...

That's just Kooky-talk.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

The biggest question for me is Corner and Safety right now. I’m not impressed with the depth at corner nor the starters at free safety.

 

[Loyal]

I just saw a Big Whit interview by Dan Patrick and he was asked about a moment that he liked after winning the Super Bowl, and Whit mentioned that he arrived at the facility a week after to clear out his locker, barely thinking straight after all the partying, and there was Aaron Donald, pounding weights in the weight room.

THAT makes me feel like the guy is too legit, to quit.