Fitz isn't wrong on many of his points but what he underestimates is the McVay effect first and the Stafford effect second. No way this team should have done what they did last season and playoffs. They played over their heads largely due to those two I think.
Offensively the big question is Kupp. Since he came onboard in this offense he has been the grease that makes it great. He's the chain mover. He's the guy who keeps things rolling on key downs. So if he's not able to hold up we're not gonna do much in the playoffs. We need him to have a chance to run the table. Period. One SB we had him and did it, the other we didn't and didn't. Neither of those games did the offense have a run game, which puts even more pressure on Kupp being there.
So second question is how good is that run game going to be. Because this is the first time I've looked at the RB room at this time of year and thought to myself we are in a great spot. Well since before the wheels fell off Gurley. McVay has made chicken salad out of a lot of RB room chicken shit. Also he's had the Rams put up investment capital into that interior OL. And just like the lack of run game makes Kupp more important it is the same with Stafford in the sense that having a good run game will extend his window. There is precedent on that, just take a look at Elway who was on fuckin fumes at the end.
Goal with the offense should be ratcheting down the throw volume. Which gives the best chance for QB1 to be in good form for the duration of the season and playoffs without any arm BS. This is how I read the Rams moves too, and why I am very happy with what they have done.
Defensively it's a shitstorm of IFs. But I will say one thing about this offseason that I like, which is that we look more stout up front than we have in some time. Potentially. So another IF. Also I think our new DC is going to be very aggressive, but of course he's another IF no matter how you slice it. My guesstimate is we'll be solid to very good in the front seven. Secondary we'll see, comes down to the corners which there's just no telling.
I think the best way to sum up the defense is this... IF Shula is up to snuff the infusion of talent should show. I don't think it's realistic to expect him to top the league or anything. But if he is good then we're gonna have enough when paired with that offense to fuck people up.
So way I see it with Fitz is he's a typical talking head. Complete lack of vision in seeing anything other than what he saw last season. Him telling us SF is the team to beat does not require any real processing or vision. It's a default position. He may be right. Probably is. But the NFC West is going to be rough in 2024. Running the table in this division is going to be a ton harder than it has been. Throw in some injuries and maybe the Rams overperforming again and we're in this shit.
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