20 Random Turning the Yuletide Thoughts

[AvengerRam]

1. So who had 51-14 in the pool (and can you pick my lottery numbers next week?)

2. Clearly this team needs a new nickname: The Greatest Show Unhurt.

3. Seriously… that may have been meaningless, but it was fun.

4. We, of course, should not make too much of this one, but there are a few things that could be significant going forward that we saw today.

5. I’ll start with Cam Akers. Maybe there’s still a future there. I still want to add to the backfield this offseason, but he has looked very good in recent weeks leading up to today’s huge game. Maybe he’s finally getting fully healthy…and I’m not just talking about his Achilles.

6. Baker Mayfield…is he playing too well to expect he’ll accept a backup role?

7. Tyler Higbee teases us again.

8. Larrell Murchison… fluke or find? (and will we see him again this year)

9. Cobie Durant… I like this kid. He’s a keeper.

10. Bobby Wagner… if he played Seattle or Russell Wilson every week, he’d be the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

11. Speaking of Wilson…I predicted his demise (along with the Broncos’) before the season. One of my few correct predictions.

12. Hard to believe that Denver had the No. 3 defense in the NFL coming into this game.

13. When the Rams were up by 30, they thought about putting in their backups. Then they realized that the backups had all started the game.

14. So, those who celebrate…X-mas games good or bad?

15. There were actually two Hanukkah games…which didn’t bother me one bit! (That’s a latka football!)

16. I like that our team has not given up.

17. I’m hopeful for the future.

18. Just give us some health next year.

19. Happy Holidays, ROD!

20. 51 points…seriously?

 

[PARAM]

13. When the Rams were up by 30, they thought about putting in their backups. Then they realized that the backups had all started the game.

LMFAO!! True.

 

[AvengerRam]

Looks like McVay agrees with #5:

On Monday, Rams head coach Sean McVay cited that recent success in response to a question about whether the Rams would consider dealing Akers this offseason.

“Oh, no,” McVay said, via Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. “I think right now, with what he’s done continuing to build on that momentum, I think it’d be silly based on what a great job he’s done to think of it anything differently than him being a big part of what you want to be able to do moving forward. But you just take it a day at a time. But that certainly, I think, is something that we’ve worked through. There’s totally a different trajectory in terms of what he’s done. And the way that he’s handled himself and the way that he’s playing the way like we know he’s capable of and hopefully you just continue to see him build on it these last couple weeks and into next year with the Rams.”

 

[fearsomefour]

Durant has been targeted 13 times this year in pass defense.
He has 3 pics and leads the NFL in Int return yardage.....he needs to be on the field.

Higbee is the best (pass catching) TE in Rams history.
He's been dinged up most of the year....he can still do his thing when not hobbled.

 

[CGI_Ram]

8. Larrell Murchison… fluke or find? (and will we see him again this year)

2:20 mark.
4:20 mark.

He beat Dalton Risner both times, handoff with Graham Glasgow. But these guys are no rooks.


View: https://youtu.be/nL4b607uriE

5. I’ll start with Cam Akers. Maybe there’s still a future there. I still want to add to the backfield this offseason, but he has looked very good in recent weeks leading up to today’s huge game. Maybe he’s finally getting fully healthy…and I’m not just talking about his Achilles.

I see renewed effort and fight. I like that. He still goes down easier than I perfer. I hope the Rams add someone with starter potential… I like @jrry32’s suggestion of Tony Pollard.

Cam Akers

With all the discussions/rumors about the Rams trading or releasing Cam Akers maybe he might just be worth keeping?!

ramsondemand.com

2. Clearly this team needs a new nickname: The Greatest Show Unhurt.

11. Speaking of Wilson…I predicted his demise (along with the Broncos’) before the season. One of my few correct predictions.

Put me in the opposite camp. I thought he’d do well in Denver. I am stunned by how quickly he’s fallen.

14. So, those who celebrate…X-mas games good or bad?

It was a GREAT Christmas weekend. The days and games fell nicely.

 

[PARAM]

Put me in the opposite camp. I thought he’d do well in Denver. I am stunned by how quickly he’s fallen

Does that speak more to Hackett or Wilson? Logic suggests the former. How did Wilson dramatically drop in 1 year? New system, new receivers?

 

[CGI_Ram]

Does that speak more to Hackett or Wilson? Logic suggests the former. How did Wilson dramatically drop in 1 year? New system, new receivers?

I don't think the offense and weapons has been a good fit for Wilson.

But I have seen many play breakdowns where he is missing throws, not pulling the trigger or not seeing the play. Maybe he's pressing but it's a huge drop off.

 

[BigRamFan]

If I may be so bold as to add #21 I think B. Hopkins did some nice things on Sunday both blocking and receiving. I know he has been left for dead a few times but I still hold out hope that he can do some stuff for this team next year if given the opportunity.

 

[Flint]

Does that speak more to Hackett or Wilson? Logic suggests the former. How did Wilson dramatically drop in 1 year? New system, new receivers?

Wilson isn’t your prototypical qb size but somehow Pete figured it out not sure why they couldn’t emulate some of that it Denver, on the other hand scheme didn’t have him throw it right to Wags, maybe he’ll be better in a new scheme but I heard more than one person predict them going deep in the playoffs this year. Gonna be a long offseason for those guys.

 

[Faceplant]

Put me in the opposite camp. I thought he’d do well in Denver. I am stunned by how quickly he’s fallen.

I dunno man, he has not put together a full season in at least 3 years now. I think the bloom was off the rose when that Sheadderall defense went tits up...

If I may be so bold as to add #21 I think B. Hopkins did some nice things on Sunday both blocking and receiving. I know he has been left for dead a few times but I still hold out hope that he can do some stuff for this team next year if given the opportunity.

This right here. I feel like BHop makes plays when he gets opportunities to play. He made some really nice blocks on Sunday...

 

[PARAM]

Wilson isn’t your prototypical qb size but somehow Pete figured it out not sure why they couldn’t emulate some of that it Denver, on the other hand scheme didn’t have him throw it right to Wags, maybe he’ll be better in a new scheme but I heard more than one person predict them going deep in the playoffs this year. Gonna be a long offseason for those guys.

For sure, many predicted great things for Denver and Wilson. IIRC, some said that division was "loaded" with KC (Mahomes), the Raiders (Carr), the Chargers (Herbert) and Denver (Wilson). As it turns out just two of them are any good this year.

I gotta look at the resumes. Wilson has a good one with loads of success. 8 of 10 years in the postseason with Seattle A couple of SB appearances with 1 Lombardi. The last 4 years the guy had almost 15,000 yards (14, 883), 100 more TD passes (131) than interceptions (31) and a QB rating of 106.3. Suddenly he sucks?

The resume of the head coach? His father was a successful football coach. He's been with Doug Marron a lot, which ain't exactly like being with Belichick or McVay a lot.

• Buffalo Bills (2013–2014) Marrone HC
  Offensive coordinator
• Jacksonville Jaguars (2015–2016) Gus Bradley (2015); Marrone (2016)
  Quarterbacks coach
• Jacksonville Jaguars (2016–2018) Marrone HC
  Offensive coordinator
• Green Bay Packers (2019–2021) LaFleur HC
  Offensive coordinator
• Denver Broncos (2022)
  Head coach

I don't know. If you look at the resumes, Wilson has a good one while Hackett's is spotty. His time in Jacksonville they went 23-40 with 1 winning season in 4. With the Bills 15-17. With Green Bay, 39-10, 2-3 in the postseason. In Green Bay he had LaFleur and Rodgers. In Denver it's just him and Wilson.

 

[Flint]

The question is, or should be, how can teams do a better job evaluating? Vultures have been circling Hackett for months but how did he get a job in the first place? Same with qbs, is Zack Wilson any good? Is Tua? Fields?