The next four games and our future at QB

[gogoat1]

Lot of things factored in I am sure. But if Stafford was back in form and dealing in the second half you can bet your ass he would have finished the game.

Rams put his ass on the pine where he belonged at least in part due to his play.

I don't disagree with you a whole lot around here, but here I do.
McVay and Stafford are incredibly tight. He has said this is Stafford's team many, many times. He is the MVP.
I think McVay looked at the clock, the score and with the way things were going , the way the whole team was playing and said ,fuck this. Not taking a chance of getting him hurt. Lets get the hell out of here and get ready for the Giants before something terrible happend.

 

[David Ray]

I don't disagree with you a whole lot around here, but here I do.
McVay and Stafford are incredibly tight. He has said this is Stafford's team many, many times. He is the MVP.
I think McVay looked at the clock, the score and with the way things were going , the way the whole team was playing and said ,fuck this. Not taking a chance of getting him hurt. Lets get the hell out of here and get ready for the Giants before something terrible happend.

Perhaps he learned his lesson when he left Kupp in a game a few seasons back when the outcome was not in doubt and he suffered an injury in garbage time?

 

[jrry32]

Respectfully, @Merlin, there's no way I give up on this season after five games. If we're out of playoff contention late in the year, we can consider this. But we are chasing a Super Bowl until we are eliminated.

 

[Merlin]

No one is defending his play. He played poorly. However, for now I will put it in context of an entire team looking flat in a unique situation that their coach may have put them in that wasn't ideal.

If he sucks for the next month or more then there is potentially a real discussion on whether he is cooked. For now I am willing to give him the the benefit of the doubt considering his extremely high level of play exhibited just 8 months ago.

Your post directly framed things as if Stafford was being solely blamed for our loss. Which is not now nor has it been the case.

 

[Merlin]

Respectfully, @Merlin, there's no way I give up on this season after five games. If we're out of playoff contention late in the year, we can consider this. But we are chasing a Super Bowl until we are eliminated.

Completely fair take Jrry. I'm not absolutely certain about any of this. But I think it's bubbling in the background, in fact has been bubbling in the background for some time, i.e. since the contract impasses began a couple years back. I'm fine with the disagreements, I hope I'm wrong, and we'll see where this goes.

 

[Merlin]

I don't disagree with you a whole lot around here, but here I do.
McVay and Stafford are incredibly tight. He has said this is Stafford's team many, many times. He is the MVP.
I think McVay looked at the clock, the score and with the way things were going , the way the whole team was playing and said ,fuck this. Not taking a chance of getting him hurt. Lets get the hell out of here and get ready for the Giants before something terrible happend.

Maybe so. But again do you think he pulls Stafford if he's playing his best in that moment? I don't. So I welcome the disagreement.

 

[Coliseum Ram]

Merlin is not wrong to bring up these Stafford questions. The truth is, we have no idea when Stafford is gonna not be "Stafford" anymore. Once Quarterbacks hit about 37, 38, its a bit of a crapshoot.

There remains a scenario where Stafford has 4 or 5 good years left (Brady).

There remains a scenario where he has 2 or 3 good years left.

A scenario where he is in the 1-2 year range.

WE dont know. McVay and STAFFORD dont know.

We've currently seen Aaron Rodgers heading into his 5th "not prime Aaron Rodgers" season.

We saw Big Ben play 2 full "not Big Ben" seasons.

We even saw GOAT Brady play a "not Brady" season.

Peyton Manning, Eli Manning we saw fall off the face of the map at Stafford's age.

These are fair questions, and enter into the reason we used a 1st Round pick on a Quarterback recently.

Here's hoping Stafford goes the Brady route, and has multiple years left of "prime Stafford" left. At his age its never unfair to ask if he doesn't.

 

[PhillyRam]

Your post directly framed things as if Stafford was being solely blamed for our loss. Which is not now nor has it been the case.

I never said people are blaming just him. I did say those saying he should be benched this season are placing way too much on a game where, for whatever reason. everyone stunk the place up.

Please quote where I said fans are only blaming him.

 

[kurtfaulk]

We even saw GOAT Brady play a "not Brady" season.

The only thing that bozo was the goat at, was cheating. We know the nfl swept it all under the rug because they wanted him to be the guy, but a cheat is always cheating. It's in their nature.

.

 

[dieterbrock]

Can anyone confirm what the cap result would be for the Rams in a trade?

There is a better chance of winning the Mega Millions lottery than the Rams trading Stafford

 

[snackdaddy]

Maybe so. But again do you think he pulls Stafford if he's playing his best in that moment? I don't. So I welcome the disagreement.

The outcome was decided when he pulled Stafford. Heck, I wanted him pulled earlier. There was no way we were winning this game by the time the 4th quarter came around. He pulled Stafford because it was a done deal, No point in leaving him out there exposed. Some of those forty shitters are dirty players. Remember when Warner tried to knock him out of the NFCCG with the cheap shot to the back of Stafford's head?

 

[gogoat1]

Perhaps he learned his lesson when he left Kupp in a game a few seasons back when the outcome was not in doubt and he suffered an injury in garbage time?

Perhaps you are right on this.

 

[Merlin]

The outcome was decided when he pulled Stafford. Heck, I wanted him pulled earlier. There was no way we were winning this game by the time the 4th quarter came around. He pulled Stafford because it was a done deal, No point in leaving him out there exposed. Some of those forty shitters are dirty players. Remember when Warner tried to knock him out of the NFCCG with the cheap shot to the back of Stafford's head?

I disagree. This offense, when Stafford is on, can put up points very quickly.

There is no way he gets benched if he would have found his nutsack and started firing off. But he looked old and tired and defeated.

Though we are in agreement that he should have been benched earlier.

 

[Merlin]

WE dont know. McVay and STAFFORD dont know.

Appreciate the support in this difficult and annoying (to some) conversation.

One thing that I guarantee has occurred here... At some point after that game McVay and Stafford sat down and had a serious conversation about how poorly he played. And I guarantee Stafford is under no illusions that playing like he did vs SF is not acceptable going forward.

So if it continues he's gonna get benched. It's not even a question.

The question is how long is it going to take him to find his balls. And I would also ask "is he all content now because he won the MVP and has a title in his Hall of Fame quest?" Because at his age even the slightest dip in give-a-fuck can result in a dropoff in the excellence he showed us last season. I don't think that's a problem for him, for the record. But there are so many elements that go into being an elite QB that as you age and shit starts to drop off there are a lot of ways your game can atrophy.

For example suddenly not wanting to take hits any more. Or the aforementioned give-a-fuck. And so on. Good thing with Stafford is he's got such a strong arm we don't have to worry about that falling off.

 

[gogoat1]

Merlin is not wrong to bring up these Stafford questions. The truth is, we have no idea when Stafford is gonna not be "Stafford" anymore. Once Quarterbacks hit about 37, 38, its a bit of a crapshoot.

There remains a scenario where Stafford has 4 or 5 good years left (Brady).

There remains a scenario where he has 2 or 3 good years left.

A scenario where he is in the 1-2 year range.

WE dont know. McVay and STAFFORD dont know.

We've currently seen Aaron Rodgers heading into his 5th "not prime Aaron Rodgers" season.

We saw Big Ben play 2 full "not Big Ben" seasons.

We even saw GOAT Brady play a "not Brady" season.

Peyton Manning, Eli Manning we saw fall off the face of the map at Stafford's age.

These are fair questions, and enter into the reason we used a 1st Round pick on a Quarterback recently.

Here's hoping Stafford goes the Brady route, and has multiple years left of "prime Stafford" left. At his age its never unfair to ask if he doesn't.

We all know its a possibility Stafford could have a falloff. But he has earned the right to have one bad game and bring on serious discussions on it. After all, there was big time talk of it last preseason when he was in that fancy trailer, did not practice, then won the MVP. Its not like he has had a bunch of concussions lately like Warner dealt with either.
Now, if he looks the same after the whole team sleeps in their own beds for over a week in the real home opener.........................................
IMO, he is the best QB the Rams have ever had.

 

[RamDino]

I disagree. This offense, when Stafford is on, can put up points very quickly.

There is no way he gets benched if he would have found his nutsack and started firing off. But he looked old and tired and defeated.

Though we are in agreement that he should have been benched earlier.

Merlin... 3/4 of the team looked old and tired. You can't bench Stafford before garbage time unless everyone else was playing great. Imagine if Benett or Simpson came off the bench in the 3rd quarter and ignited the team? What a cluster (QB controversy) that would be for all involved -lol. This is Stafford's team and he isn't going anywhere unless he tells McVay that it's time. And that time is definitely not now.

 

[Rmfnlt]

We all know its a possibility Stafford could have a falloff. But he has earned the right to have one bad game and bring on serious discussions on it. After all, there was big time talk of it last preseason when he was in that fancy trailer, did not practice, then won the MVP. Its not like he has had a bunch of concussions lately like Warner dealt with either.
Now, if he looks the same after the whole team sleeps in their own beds for over a week in the real home opener.........................................
IMO, he is the best QB the Rams have ever had.

It's ONE fucking game!

 

[Merlin]

Merlin... 3/4 of the team looked old and tired. You can't bench Stafford before garbage time unless everyone else was playing great. Imagine if Benett or Simpson came off the bench in the 3rd quarter and ignited the team? What a cluster (QB controversy) that would be for all involved -lol. This is Stafford's team and he isn't going anywhere unless he tells McVay that it's time. And that time is definitely not now.

You are correct Dino. But a couple things here.

First, 3/4 of the team are not 38 years old, nor are they the QB, who must play well in any given game for the team to win.

And second, and also most unfortunately, great players don't always get that storybook ending where they tell the coach they're tired and sail into the sunset. Sometimes their game disintegrates and they drive into postgame traffic after being benched.

 

[Coliseum Ram]

We all know its a possibility Stafford could have a falloff. But he has earned the right to have one bad game and bring on serious discussions on it. After all, there was big time talk of it last preseason when he was in that fancy trailer, did not practice, then won the MVP. Its not like he has had a bunch of concussions lately like Warner dealt with either.
Now, if he looks the same after the whole team sleeps in their own beds for over a week in the real home opener.........................................
IMO, he is the best QB the Rams have ever had.

Of course he is. No one is disputing that. I'm fully expecting him to bounce back and be awesome, but when you get to be his age I guess some questioning is going to come with the territory. It's all small potatoes and the proof naturally will be in the pudding.

 

[So Ram]

So this won't be popular but I think the outcome of the next four games could potentially trigger a "transition" season at QB. Here's my rationale...

First, Stafford is old, he's got hard miles, and he's been butting heads with the Rams the past two offseasons about his contract. He got a new contract in May that will cover him through the 2027 season. He just won the MVP last year. Looking at his performance in the opener, he was overly concerned and affected by the rush, inaccurate due to it, and was benched in the 4th quarter (and rightly so).

Second, the Rams invested a top pick in Simpson. He played well during the preseason, looking very sharp, and because they took him in the first round he comes with 5 years of team control.

Third, the next four games are brutal. The Giants are the "easy" game, and they will be bringing the kind of physicality that always gives McVay teams fits. Then after that game we have @ Broncos, @ Eagles, and Bills. That's a 3/4 playoff level matchup, and it's possible the Giants end up a playoff team this year or at the least a contender for a spot instead of their usual failings.

Where the next four games factor in is that if the Rams end up sub .500 and/or alone in the divisional basement, that may serve as the trigger in utilizing this season as a transition to the new QB. It is when all those elements sort of come together and force the Rams to ask that question. Do you think they won't be thinking about starting the kid if we're sitting at 1-4 or maybe even 2-3? The worse the record of course the more likely it becomes.

And I don't know if Stafford sees this coming. Is he going to recognize the threat of it. I am sure, after all, that he feels quite comfortable with his new contract and coming off the MVP season, where his job security probably isn't a question in his mind. The kid is parked at QB3 as well, and if I were him I wouldn't worry about Bennett either. But the threat is the kid. Where the team will ask that question "why not see what he can do" in the event they find themselves buried in the early season standings. And depending on how they answer the question, that may effectively start the new era at QB a bit earlier than anticipated.

What a JOKE of a THREAD!!

Where you at NOW !! Maybe the Emotions got to you again & your actually celebrating The Rams victory.