Suggestions on how to Improve the Rams this Season?

[RamFanWA]

Suggestions, eh? If ya needs some networking, I can probably help...
otherwise, I never played football....

 

[Steve808]

I think McVay has to get conservative like how rat boy plays against us. Stafford is on pace to take like 80 sacks this season and he won't last if that happens. We need to go to some shorter passing plays and maybe even move the pocket once in a while like we did with Goff to buy more time on passing plays. Moving the pocket was effective against the whiners.

If not we'll continue to see more of the same frustrating results with the Rams scoring 10 points.

Our defense is capable of keeping us in games, at least until we get some of our starters back on the O-line.

 

[fanotodd]

I like the idea of bringing up Carter. He can block and is a terror on STs, which are not playing so hot right now either. I can’t remember the last time the Rams had 2 punts blocked in the same season and they have had 2 in 5 games.

How about giving McCutcheon a shot? There has to be a way to get a few plays his way and he too, can block.

More touches for Henderson this week.

More up tempo, go routes. The Rams offense needs to steal a couple big plays every game like vs the cowboys. Their offense doesn’t seem capable of sustaining multiple long drives.

Risky, but gamble more on defense. The Rams need some turnovers. We seem to be losing that aspect as well.

 

[Tano]

Risky, but gamble more on defense. The Rams need some turnovers. We seem to be losing that aspect as well.

This times 1000 - I can't stress this enough. If the offense isn't going to be able to make any long drives, we need to be much more aggressive on defense. I think we have the horses even with our CBs and Safetys in the game.

 

[OnceARam]

Turn the TV off and remember the glory days.

 

[TheTackle]

Former Colts Starting LT ‘Wants to Play’ Again, Has Turned Down 9 Offers

Former Indianapolis Colts starting left tackle Eric Fisher reportedly wants to play during the 2022 NFL season.

heavy.com

3 years $16 final year voidable? Would that get it done? Plug him at LG and extend his career? I don’t see why he couldn’t play there but perhaps he strictly wants to play LT? Either way he could and probably should provide an upgrade at either

That looks like a good move to me. He is two years removed from achilles injury and played well eventually on a good line in 2021. He claims to have had 9 offers but let’s face it there can’t be many better places to land - especially if we bring back OBJ as I hope

Question? Who is realistically traded to make room?

 

[nighttrain]

sign him right freaking now. replace Boom
train

 

[payote75]

In fact how about one way that what I'm saying makes Goff better than what he actually was. McVay in 2019 rolled Jared out of the pocket a hell of a lot more than he is for Matt making Matt and his OL look worse than what he did with Jared and the OL in 2019. It isn't me being a fan boy. It's me pointing out there's depth to each of these rankings and more than just the OL performance.

Understood to me at this point it doesn't have to be overcomplicating it's 5 games on maybe the rollouts will come but he is 12 sacks from that horrible offensive line. This pace it's a patter of numbers that you have to go by and all you have to go on is astronomical so I know we both know ways to avoid doll it up etc. But right now the pattern is one that's unseen even on our worst days almost I'd have to go back to see numbers but it hasn't happened yet and I hope you are so right and as I said I would take 12 sacks from hear on out but we both know it's hard to turn almost a whole offensive line in many season let alone game by game so hopefully we are just that smart and catch lightening in a bottle.

 

[BonifayRam]

Sean McVay on Rams' future: 'It's on the players to be able to execute'

The #Rams are in need of a win, and Sean McVay formally challenged his players to execute better against the #Panthers this weekend

theramswire.usatoday.com

 

[Kupped]

One thing Jourdan mentioned on "11" this week.. when has McVay every truly used a "quick game"?

It's time to try.

 

[BonifayRam]

Fixing Offensive Offenses Rams​

Fixing Offensive Offenses: Colts, Rams, and Broncos

It's a down year for offense, but some teams are more to blame than others. Can Indianapolis, L.A., or Denver shake off their early-season malaise in time to make a playoff run?

www.footballoutsiders.com

FL Week 6 - It's Week 6 in the NFL, and it's not too early to panic. It is, however, too early to despair.

At this point last season, the Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, and San Francisco 49ers were all sitting at 2-3, with various degrees of hair-pulling angst spread between them.

That being said, there are more than a handful of teams that need to correct things right now, or a once-promising season is going to end up being a lost year. Offense, in particular, has been down around the league—the lowest-scoring offensive environment since 2017, with the fewest truly high-scoring teams since 2008. And there are a few teams that are dragging the pack down more than others, teams we expected to be good who have yet to pick themselves up off the starting line.

Los Angeles Rams​

Preseason Projected Offensive DVOA: 6.7%
Current Offensive DVOA: -12.4%
Current Playoff Odds: 33.7%
Biggest Culprit: A Kupp Runneth Under

The following is a complete list of Rams offensive players who have been good this season:

• Cooper Kupp

End of list.

Oh, you could argue that Tyler Higbee (16th in tight end receiving DYAR) has been perfectly adequate, and the tackles (Joseph Noteboom and Rob Havenstein) are holding their own in run blocking, and Alaric Jackson has been doing more than adequate for a second-year UDFA and third-string player forced into a starting role due to injury. We can nitpick the definition of "good" all we want, but the Rams sit 26th in offensive DVOA because everything that could have gone wrong more or less has.

Unlike the Colts' total collapse, this is one we could have seen coming. And, in fact, we kinda did. The Rams offense lost two of their top three receivers, their leading rusher, and two starting linemen. The Rams chapter in Football Outsiders Almanac 2022 worried that Allen Robinson was running on fumes, that Cam Akers' struggles in the postseason would continue into the fall, and the lack of depth on the offensive line would be an issue, all of which have come to pass. And the player comments worried about Stafford's throwing elbow and his tendency for throwing terrible interceptions, which, yup, that seems about right as well. The Rams were gambling on things coming together, and its bad luck that pretty much every gamble they made has gone wrong so far.

The biggest problem is the offensive line, and the biggest thing that will fix it is time. After the bye week, the Rams should get both center Brian Allen and guard David Edwards back. Coleman Shelton should be back by the end of the year as well. No, none of them are Andrew Whitworth, but no team is going to look good when down to their third-string center. Just having Allen out there making line calls rather than the over-matched Jeremiah Kolone is going to be a huge boost. A good portion of the Rams' 25.2% pressure rate has been defenders unblocked because of miscommunications on the line—the Rams are not being out-physicalled, they're just getting schooled over and over on twists and stunts. Matt Skura, who was just added to the active roster, won't be a long-term solution, but he should at least allow the offensive line to know where the pressure is coming from until the starters come back.

Even some of the players who have been playing should be helped with time. Noteboom has struggled against the pass rush, but he strained his MCL in the opener against the Bills and hasn't been 100% out there; a week off is bound to do him some good as well. It's tempting to blame the Rams' struggles along the line on their stars-and-scrubs model, but even teams teeming with depth would be hard-pressed to overcome all the injuries the Rams have had upfront. With the majority those injuries being short-term problems, this is something that should work its way out over the course of the year. Mostly.

But that won't help the skill position players! Allen Robinson simply cannot get separation—just 2.5 yards of separation on his targets, per Next Gen Stats, and that's not including defenders being draped all over him on all the plays where he's not being targeted. Robinson's struggles last year were not just a case of the Chicago offense not suiting him; Robinson seems to be toast. And with Robinson flailing, and Kupp being Regular Great instead of All-Time Great, there's just not a lot there. Higbee is the Rams' second-leading target behind Kupp, and he has been fine, but not "this is our second target" fine. Then you have receiver-slash-fullback Ben Skowronek, and then the other running back, Darrell Henderson, next on the list of receptions. That's not a Super Bowl team. That's not a playoff team. That's a team in desperate need of help. Recent reports have Odell Beckham unlikely to come back, tweeting out that he only got the "lowest of low offers" from the team in his quest to return in November. While some of that is OBJ enjoying playing the media, the Rams better do everything they can to placate him, because boy oh boy could they use a healthy OBJ in their lineup. That, or they need to go out and trade for someone. They still have a second- and third-round pick they're not using; maybe they can convince the Panthers to have that fire sale after all?

 

[Allen2McVay]

I'm not an expert on NFL contracts and how they work with spending caps and all. However I would package a few players and trade them for O-linemen. Akers Robinson and another player and see if anyone bites.
Let Hendo finish out at RB then cut or trade him too and then stock up on O-linemen wherever you can find them and pick up a RB in the draft.
If Stafford keeps getting hit he will get hurt and miss games.
And for Christs sake LA fans. Go to the games and get loud! the Rams never have a home game anymore!
I've been to a game and I live 450 miles away.
There I feel better. Have a nice evening.

I agree with some of your thoughts, especially regarding lousy fan support. It's embarrassing.

Also understand not being a cap expert ... neither am I. However, some of the basic concepts are simple; and there are some very good sites out there ... like Spotrac.

For example, Robinson got a 5-year-deal that included a $14M bonus ... money was paid ... check was cashed.

14 divided by 5 = 2.8. For cap purposes, the Rams take a $2.8M cap hit per-year-for-5-years just on that bonus.

If the Rams trade him today, and the acquiring team takes on all the future contractual obligations, that has no impact on the above-bonus that was already paid. Furthermore, the Rams can no longer spread-out that bonus for five seasons for cap purposes because Robinson is no longer a Ram. Instead, the Rams take an immediate cap hit for ALL the bonus. The 2022 cap hit ... just on that bonus ... shoots-up from $2.8M to $14M.

That's an immediate increase of more than $11M. Currently, the Rams only have about $5M of cap space.

 

[BonifayRam]

I agree with some of your thoughts, especially regarding lousy fan support. It's embarrassing.

There was a reason the Rams left LA for St Louis.

NFL/ Rams/Raiders/Chargers all have a past history of departing LA due to "Lousy Fan Support".

https://www.sanluisobispo.com/sports/nfl/article267271512.html

Rams face identity crisis: It's ugly and urgent, but not time to panic – yet | Opinion

The defending Super Bowl champion Rams are 2-3 and looking far from formidable. Coach Sean McVay is searching for answers, Jarrett Bell writes.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Merlin]

The fact that Michel was our leading rusher is very sad.

 

[Merlin]

Also and btw I think we could use a top TE. I like Higs and I appreciate him but I dream of this offense with a badass TE who can win in both phases.

 

[snackdaddy]

First and foremost, they have to find a way to improve the line. Just saying it needs to be fixed isn't realistic. These guys just aren't that talented. You can't polish a turd and make it look good. But there has to be a way it isn't as terrible as its been. Just make it serviceable is a big improvement. I'm no offensive guru so I don't have the answer to how they do it. But there has to be a way to limit the damage.

Second, Stafford and Robinson have to find a way to build chemistry. I don't know whose fault it is. Stafford not having confidence to throw his way? Robinson not getting open? The play calling not giving Robinson targets? Whatever it is, defenses will be glad to let Kupp have his day and a touchdown as long as no one else chips in. Getting Robinson the ball would sure make things easier.

Running backs. Right now it sure looks like we have nothing more than JAG's. But they can do better if the line can block? The 49ers seem to just plug in any running back and get production. With their best lineman out. Other teams too. Are guys like Jeff Wilson and Tony Pollard that much better than Akers and Henderson?

 

[Riverumbbq]

There was a reason the Rams left LA for St Louis.

NFL/ Rams/Raiders/Chargers all have a past history of departing LA due to "Lousy Fan Support".

https://www.sanluisobispo.com/sports/nfl/article267271512.html

Rams face identity crisis: It's ugly and urgent, but not time to panic – yet | Opinion

The defending Super Bowl champion Rams are 2-3 and looking far from formidable. Coach Sean McVay is searching for answers, Jarrett Bell writes.

sports.yahoo.com

The owner really only cares if all the seats are sold, sure he'd rather they be locals, but L.A. will always be different that way because we are the most diverse big city in the country with non-native imports from every corner of the nation, much less the world.

 

[rdlkgliders]

As far as the fan support critiques now that they are losing. You have to think of the Rams as an Expansion team in one of the most diverse cities on the globe with fans from all over living here.
As a guy who has been a Ram fan for my full 58, I assure you the fan base has grown at a very healthy rate since they arrived. I used to hardly ever see gear or hear conversations about the Rams in the decade or more before they arrived and now there is merch and conversation everywhere. Be patient, I heard Padre chants at the Dodgers game yesterday it is happening in all sports and stadiums to some degree.

 

[RAMSinLA]

I agree with some of your thoughts, especially regarding lousy fan support. It's embarrassing.

Also understand not being a cap expert ... neither am I. However, some of the basic concepts are simple; and there are some very good sites out there ... like Spotrac.

For example, Robinson got a 5-year-deal that included a $14M bonus ... money was paid ... check was cashed.

14 divided by 5 = 2.8. For cap purposes, the Rams take a $2.8M cap hit per-year-for-5-years just on that bonus.

If the Rams trade him today, and the acquiring team takes on all the future contractual obligations, that has no impact on the above-bonus that was already paid. Furthermore, the Rams can no longer spread-out that bonus for five seasons for cap purposes because Robinson is no longer a Ram. Instead, the Rams take an immediate cap hit for ALL the bonus. The 2022 cap hit ... just on that bonus ... shoots-up from $2.8M to $14M.

That's an immediate increase of more than $11M. Currently, the Rams only have about $5M of cap space.

Thank you that helps

 

[Kupped]

There was a reason the Rams left LA for St Louis.

NFL/ Rams/Raiders/Chargers all have a past history of departing LA due to "Lousy Fan Support".

https://www.sanluisobispo.com/sports/nfl/article267271512.html

Rams face identity crisis: It's ugly and urgent, but not time to panic – yet | Opinion

The defending Super Bowl champion Rams are 2-3 and looking far from formidable. Coach Sean McVay is searching for answers, Jarrett Bell writes.

sports.yahoo.com

Lol.

Yeah.. it was because they had an awful, cash-poor owner looking to leverage her only asset.

Think Spanos with a dress.