The Rams will still be a good team so relax

[Ram65]

So far the Rams moves have gone about as I expected, except I didn't think TG30 would get fired. I would like to see TG30 still in horns but, the Rams made a difficult business decision. It may not be the end of the world and the Rams will move on. I hope they will have a running back that can cash in near the goal line as TG30 did. The Rams do save some valuable cap space that is needed. They have Henderson ready to go and will need to find a running back or two for backup.

The Rams have Whit and Blythe back without breaking the bank. Even with the poor offensive line of last year the rookies Evans, Edwards along with Blythe settled down later in the season and will improve this year. A rebound year from Havenstein will go a long way to solidifying the offensive line. Lots of competition to make everyone better. The Rams still have plenty of offensive weapons. Goff, Henderson, Woods, Kupp, Cooks, Reynolds, Higbee and Everett. They could add a running back and offensive lineman in the draft. This is still going to be an explosive offense. It should improve with the help of the new young offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell. This offense did put up 31 points in the last game of the season against a good defense.

As expected the defense has taken hits in free agency but added a couple of young early-round drafted veteran players that can still improve in Floyd and Robinson. Both the new additions are solid run defenders. The secondary should be much stronger with Ramsey, Hill JJ and Rapp as starters. They have depth with Williams, Long, Deayon and Alexander as solid depth. We know they have a bunch of young outside LBers just waiting to get more opportunities. The Rams still have the best defensive player in football named Aaron Donald. They will play the run better and be more disciplined. New defensive coordinator Brandon Staley will be scheming up new defenses to confuse opponents. I expect this to be a much better defense.

We still have to wait on special team kicker and returner.

I'm not buying into the total doom and gloom. It's time for the young players that Snead and McVay drafted to step up and fill some voids that happen to every NFL team. The Rams have a nice mixture of veterans and hungry young players to compete against any team.

 

[Merlin]

My whole thing is I think it was smarter to pay him this year and run him into the ground then move on from him after the season. We incur the guaranteed money next year we can move on from that. So instead we’re paying him this year to not play with a minimal cap savings but we have to replace him so the savings is even less. Couple that with they did the June 1st designation so there is dead money in next year as if we’d kept him anyways. As a businessman this makes no sense how they did it.

As I have been saying the only way moving him makes sense is if he was a problem in the locker room.

Some drama was going on. We know that now IMO.

 

[Deac]

My whole thing is I think it was smarter to pay him this year and run him into the ground then move on from him after the season. We incur the guaranteed money next year we can move on from that. So instead we’re paying him this year to not play with a minimal cap savings but we have to replace him so the savings is even less. Couple that with they did the June 1st designation so there is dead money in next year as if we’d kept him anyways. As a businessman this makes no sense how they did it.

I hear ya Oldschool, I see a slightly different take. It definitely would have been smarter for this year, but I'm pretty sure they are eyeing Ramsey's contract negotiations for next year, which is where we get the 8 mill in relief for cutting Gurley this calendar year. Sucks bad, but its the equivalent of trying to decide which of 2 snakes you want to be bit by, if we lost signing Ramsey after spending 2 1st rounders on him because we didn't cut Gurley this year, that would be a much bigger travesty.

Now, as far as the return or lack thereof on Gurley, could have been handled better I think, but then again, a smart team would have waited for him to be cut....

 

[Malibu]

I don't think it is doom and gloom like some feel the 6-10/5-11 crowd, BUT we need to address RB position someone that can BLOCK, catch and rush around 4+ per yards per play we can solve this in the second round but then we lose getting one - an edge rusher, Center or ILB we need.

We need imo a upgrade on the oline - Center in the draft, and I would still try for Thuney or Scherff +both tagged). Besides the injuries losing Saffold was a huge loss. The interior of the line is the weakness of our team and our QB is a pocket passer. Without a strong interior line and a good RB is a huge prescription for a bad season. Henderson doesn't seem to be the answer imo.

As for the Defense losing Littleton that was huge whether you didn't like how he did against the run but his pass coverage was great. We will really miss him unless addressed. He will be this year's Saffold unless we solve this. I know we need to solve our run D, but losing CL and NRC is not good for our coverage and we will see the effects.

The Rams minimumally need better options than currently on the roster: RB, C, G and a ILB maybe one more OLB. We can't fix all these issues - probably can fix the C and maybe the RB in the draft or FA rest doubtful especially ILB. We can't afford Clowney can't probably trade for Thuney or Scherff everyone else has some type of warts.

If we fix the oline or they gel and don't have the huge injuries we had last year and we add a RB we may be a wildcard playoff team. But I can see us missing the playoffs as well with Brady at TB, and Hopkins going to AZ.

This next month (rest of FA and the draft) will tell us alot. I am on the fence about where we will be at the end of 2020 season.

At the coaching level - I do like adding a new DC I was one that wanted Wade gone so I am happy to try something new. I like adding an OC it will take some of the stress off of McVay. A new ST coach I liked Bones so we will see there.

 

[fearsomefour]

I understand the reason for the moves.
Team might be fine and might be a dumpster fire with so many young players.
Looking at the schedule, could go 11-5 or 5-11.
I’ve decided this year will be interesting....as most transitional years are.
I’m looking forward to watching all the young players and young coaches to see how they do.
Cautiously optimistic, without being blinded, and interested to see how it goes.
That’s my approach.

*I do reserve the right to freak out in a momentary fit of anger.

 

[OregonRamsFan]

In order to not be negative...(insert sound of crickets)

 

[Rams43]

I’m cautiously optimistic about this ‘20 season at this point, tbh.

Rams will add a RB, probably via draft. The rookie along with Henderson will create a sufficient 1-2 punch for McVay’s potent O, assuming that our ‘new’ OL is merely league average and I suspect that this OL might somewhat exceed that status. I have very few worries about this Ram O.

Staley will likely receive the lions share of draft help and it will be invested in the front 7, I think. These picks, along with players already on the roster will compete and form a better run D and a more consistent overall D. This ‘new’ D will be far more unpredictable and far more difficult to attack. I expect an overall better D than last year’s version, frankly, and one much better able to compete in this division.

Bonamego is a wild card. He needs to prove himself to Ram fans and a good place to start is at that kicker position. Fingers crossed re our new ST coordinator.

Why am I feeling so confident in this FO and coaching staff? Well, I saw them turn a pathetic 4-12 team into an 11-5 division winning team in one offseason, already. These guys ‘get it’ and the challenges this year are not nearly as daunting as they were in ‘17. Sooooo...

 

[Rambitious1]

I understand that there is a lot of turnover and we have lost some important players but that's life in the NFL.

I fully expect this organization to prove the doubters wrong.

This team's success the last few years has been built around its offense.

We still have:

-A young and developing Goff at QB who has shown flashes of being an All-Pro at the position when supported.

-A very good corps of receivers with or without Cooks. Woods, Kupp, Reynolds, Higbee and Everett give Goff a bunch of familiar targets.

-A young and developing OL with a leader at LT.

-A solid RB prospect in Henderson.

So the offense should still be quite good even without Gurley and maybe Cooks.

On the defensive side, there's more turnover but we still have Donald and Ramsey who are elite. We have JJ3 amd some good young players.

Let's see who we draft.

I trust in McVey and Snead.

We'll still be a very good team moving forward.

Your definition of 'a very good team' is...….?

 

[Mackeyser]

With so many unknowns, it's impossible to model much of anything for any team.

Once we have the draft and then post draft FA, we can have a better understanding where each team is, but before?

I agree that right now we could be anything from 11-5 to 5-11. I say that while being pretty confident that 12 wins is likely the cap as I don't see any teams getting past that except for MAYBE KC and both Denver and Las Vegas improved.

We'll see, but I'm cautiously optimistic.

Reasons:

1) McVay was focusing the offense on more than pure efficiency last season. That's gone now. No one is being "managed" which changes so much. I think the focus will be back on efficiency and maximizing the offense based on the talent we have. D Henderson is gonna surprise some folks. I think he'll break out for us the way Phillip Lindsay did for Denver.

2) With A'Shawn Robinson and Floyd, we have substantial commitment to stopping the run. We have depth and flex now with SJD and Gaines sharing time with Robinson.

3) Natrez Patrick is gonna have a breakout year as will one of our OLBs, be it Floyd or someone else.

4) Cooks is gonna rebound. This year, Cooks, Kupp and Woods all break 1k yards.

5) Our OL is gonna be substantially better than last year. Edwards, Evans and Corbett will make a huge difference and I think Hav has a comeback season. Big Whit is Big Whit.

6) Our secondary is gonna be a strength and presuming we stay healthy is gonna win games for us.

We have concerns, but I think we have grounds for optimism. I also think we drafted better than we as fans are giving the FO credit and we'll see young guys step up and do well.

Will it be enough with SF, Seattle and AZ in the same division? We'll see. I think our division will be as feral as male lions fighting.

I wonder if the new stadium will be a blessing or curse. Presuming the season happens on time, even if the off-season is truncated, will people sell their primo seats to opposing fans at primo prices or will the games be such an event that people will want to "be there" more than they want to sell out? I dunno.

I really hope that as we're recovering by then that people are so happy to get out and see something that they refuse to sell and our home stadium becomes a boon for our team and fans.

Again, I have reason to be optimistic, but we'll see...

 

[Corbin]

I’m not happy about the moves this off season regarding much of anything. A Shaun was a good pick up and resigning Blythe and Whit. Outside of that o_0 smh.

Not really feeling which way our franchise is going.

 

[London59]

I understand that there is a lot of turnover and we have lost some important players but that's life in the NFL.

I fully expect this organization to prove the doubters wrong.

This team's success the last few years has been built around its offense.

We still have:

-A young and developing Goff at QB who has shown flashes of being an All-Pro at the position when supported.

-A very good corps of receivers with or without Cooks. Woods, Kupp, Reynolds, Higbee and Everett give Goff a bunch of familiar targets.

-A young and developing OL with a leader at LT.

-A solid RB prospect in Henderson.

So the offense should still be quite good even without Gurley and maybe Cooks.

On the defensive side, there's more turnover but we still have Donald and Ramsey who are elite. We have JJ3 amd some good young players.

Let's see who we draft.

I trust in McVey and Snead.

We'll still be a very good team moving forward.

I think on defense we improved vs the run so far this off season and slipped vs the pass.

On offense the Rams should simply be better. O line all return plus a healthy Noteboom and hopefully the better version of Havenstein. We just have to do better than 3.8 yds a carry at running back and I think we will. Goff will likely improve on last season as well and our receivers all return and we get the Higbee weapon for a full season.

Special teams we will have to wait and see, but they were not good last year and the penalties were really bad. I like our chances improving there too.

 

[CGI_Ram]

I will miss the 2018 Todd Gurley, but it shouldn’t be too hard to upgrade over the 2019 version.

Yeah, the OL is still circled in my mind as one to watch, but the offense should be good.

And we have pro bowlers on Defense to build around.

We have a solid roster.

 

[Loyal]

I will miss the 2018 Todd Gurley, but it shouldn’t be too hard to upgrade over the 2019 version.

Yeah, the OL is still circled in my mind as one to watch, but the offense should be good.

And we have pro bowlers on Defense to build around.

We have a solid roster.

11-5, and win the NFC West in 2020! ~ CGI & I

13-3, you bastids! ~ @flv

 

[TheTackle]

When can we sign FAs without them counting against the compensatory pick formula?

Watch this space, we will sign some veterans then

 

[EasyE]

I think year to year records depend largely on the law of averages and return to the mean....except for Cleveland

 

[Ramlock]

I’m on record with my feelings on Gurley...it was the wrong move, IMO.

Also, I can’t get on board with the “locker room problem”...screw that.

This is a guy that slid down inbounds NOT TO SCORE multiple times, to run clock and win games.

A stud and a team player..,it sucks.

With that said, I’m a Ram fan.

 

[Memento]

Dammit, you're confusing me with that avvie. Had to double-check to make sure it wasn't Loyal's.

 

[RamsCardsJazz]

Last year I had optimism, this year none. With the players we lost, in addition to Arizona making their team much better. Unfortunately, I think we are in the basement of the NFC West. And on top of that, we have to see that hideous new logo in the middle of the field, on home games. Ha