A few random thoughts after sleeping on this fubar of a game…

[Rams43]

I hate to say it but this might be an 8-9 win team, y’all. Players that we all were relying upon are struggling mightily.

Preseason I thought this was a 13-14 win team despite a difficult schedule. Thought our O would be unstoppable. Boy, do I now feel foolish.

This is the second game of only 4 played where I didn’t recognize my team. Where I wondered who were these imposters impersonating my Ram heroes?

As I see it, the decimation of our OL is the root of all O problems. We were starting Bobby Evans at LG for crying out loud! Let that sink in for just a minute. Now that’s desperation on multiple levels!

Hope our regulars start coming back soon because this crew was dysfunctional vs a quality D like the 49ers. Like a boxer with one hand tied behind his back. Pitiful.

Still, Stafford should have handled it better. He compounded the problems with erratic plays, accuracy, and decision making. Worst of all worlds. I’m a big Stafford fan but he really disappointed me last night.

Don’t look now but Rams have no running game. None. How the heck can one expect to beat teams like the Bills and 49ers without a damned running game? The Impossible Dream.

Running game problems start with a crippled OL but I still think both Akers and Hendy should be getting better results. Probably an offseason priority. Enough, already!

OL will also be an offseason priority for next year, too. Maybe at the top of Snead’s draft. Wouldn’t Creed Humphrey look good in horns now?

I’m still pissed at Hopkins. So shortsighted, so stupid.

Count me among those that expected AR to be a star at WR opposite Kupp. And after those glowing camp reports? Honestly, I can’t explain his struggles. All the ingredients for great success are there. So disappointing…

Well, our concerns about lack of sufficient edge pressure have been validated. We do NOT have a SB caliber pass rush outside of AD. Period. Unless Morris sells out to manufacture one.

Our secondary has been decimated also. It’s deep and has a bright future but when a D is down to starting it’s 5th CB plus a guy off of practice squad you’re in trouble. By season’s end this secondary will be a team strength but that is then and this is now.

I expected more from Bobby Wagner. Actually, a helluva lot more. Yeah, I knew he was on the back 9 physically, but I still thought he was a quality ILB with unparalleled experience. So far I think he’s only been so-so and outplayed by Jones, frankly. Another bummer.

AD can only do so much. Frankly, he’s not getting the help from teammates that he deserves when getting double and sometimes triple teamed. So what’s new? Such a shame.

ST backslid on coverage and return units. Picked a bad game for it. Gay and Dixon played well, though.

It’s a short list for me of Ram players that I noticed that played well…

AD (what’s new)
Kupp
Gay
Dixon

That’s about it. Sorry.

I’m a big results oriented guy but the results in this game were unacceptable. Coaching, game planning, and certainly most players all really screwed the pooch in this one.

I have rarely been so embarrassed about a Ram performance.

 

[AvengerRam]

Do I have to send you another CEASE AND DESIST letter on the whole "random thoughts" thing?

(I think you even did 20 this time - seriously, dude?)

 

[tklongball]

I think the silver lining in all of this is that A. Jackson, looks like a find, and he will only get better. I really hope he keeps his job once everyone is healthy. Excited to see him once he is really comfortable.

I hope this shines a light on the Offensive Line needs going forward.

Also, I think once the team is healthy, we will be strong enough to get into the playoffs, and maybe even win the division. Once your in the playoffs, all bets are off, the hottest team wins. Just like after the Rams were winless in November last year, lots of people wrote this team off. But they got hot at the right time.

And if not, and we crash and burn and don't make the playoffs, or the super bowl, well, nobody has repeated since 03-04.

 

[Jacobarch]

I think you're getting ahead of yourself tbh. We lost 3 in a row last year and it wasn't pretty. Yet we still won the SB. Guys will get healthy again and we just have to ride this shitty wave ATM.

Right now we're 2-2 and still in the first quarter of the season. No reason to think it's already over. Shit happens move on

 

[Tumak61]

73 plays, 9 points. 3.6 per pass attempt. Pathetic.
Cupp 8.7 per catch
Robinson 3.5
Terrible.

 

[FaulkSF]

@AvengerRam your list is well-organized into ordinal thoughts and I object to your Cease and Desist order. @Rams43 you may continue.

You both have great material, keep the great job up!

 

[Da-Rock]

I would rather have these issues now rather than late in the season, but having said that, this team for the 1st 4 games looks boring as hell.........I have been rewatching last seasons games to try and find entertainment.

I guess we now know what McVay's offensive genius looks like with a bad O Line and no Run game.

 

[AvengerRam]

@AvengerRam your list is well-organized into ordinal thoughts and I object to your Cease and Desist order. @Rams43 you may continue.

You both have great material, keep the great job up!

That is a lucid, intelligent, well-thought-out objection.

Overruled.

 

[Rams43]

Do I have to send you another CEASE AND DESIST letter on the whole "random thoughts" thing?

(I think you even did 20 this time - seriously, dude?)

Am I guilty of copyright infringement? Lol.

You’re not the only one entitled to express his opinions on a message board. In my case, like you, two boards.

I WILL refrain from using the term ‘Random’ in the future if that makes you feel better.

 

[tklongball]

I would rather have these issues now rather than late in the season, but having said that, this team for the 1st 4 games looks boring as hell.........I have been rewatching last seasons games to try and find entertainment.

I guess we now know what McVay's offensive genius looks like with a bad O Line and no Run game.

Honestly, I think you could say that bolded part about just about every offensive scheme

 

[BonifayRam]

Week 4 Stock Up/Stock Down: Do Rams need a pass rusher to replace Floyd?

Zero sacks in four games for Floyd while playing with Donald and Wagner

www.turfshowtimes.com

 

[AvengerRam]

You’re not the only one entitled to express his opinions on a message board. In my case, like you, two boards.

To be accurate, I've recently made 20RT a ROD exclusive feature, so I now only post them here. Some people have re-posted them elsewhere, I'm told, so I guess I'll also need to send an invoice for royalties at some point.

All kidding aside, I would appreciate if you'd not use the phrase "random thoughts" in the thread title, as it is kinda my thing that I've been doing for many years. You wouldn't want to be that "Seven Minute Abs" guy from There's Something About Mary, would you?

 

[Tano]

As I see it, the decimation of our OL is the root of all O problems. We were starting Bobby Evans at LG for crying out loud! Let that sink in for just a minute. Now that’s desperation on multiple levels!

This times 1000. He is just horrible out there. His communication with Kolone was just a joke.

At least Shelton was doing good but someone fell down on Shelton when he tried to change his position to block Bosa on that sack.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Hernández: Sean McVay's once-formidable offense has transformed into a predictable mess

Sean McVay's reputation as an offensive genius has been on the ropes this season with Matthew Stafford and the Rams struggling. Can McVay turn it around?

www.yahoo.com

 

[OntarioRam]

Week 4 Stock Up/Stock Down: Do Rams need a pass rusher to replace Floyd?

Zero sacks in four games for Floyd while playing with Donald and Wagner

www.turfshowtimes.com

Floyd was overpaid at the time of signing, and many people thought so, if you look at this thread.

But the important part is, he has no guaranteed money left after this year.

The Rams can cut Floyd and move on at the end of 2022-23. I suspect that they might, if his form does not improve and/or he does not agree to a pay cut or re-structure. He is getting paid as if he is elite player. In reality, he is simply a good player and nothing more. Very good on some nights, but not enough nights, considering he is playing next to Aaron Donald.

The signing made sense at the time. It was an overpay but we were all in and needed help beside Donald. It paid off, and the front office deserved major credit for structuring the deal to let us move on now if we need to.

I suspect the plan was to develop an edge to replace Floyd by the end of this season, just in time to cut Floyd and free up much needed cap dollars. Unfortunately, the Rams cupboard is bare and in real need to augmenting...

It will be interesting to watch what happens with Floyd this off-season. I'd love him back at a salary that is more commensurate with his level of play but if not the Rams need to move on IMO. Shaq Barrett is easily the better player, of the same free agent class, yet Floyd easily out earns him.

 

[Pancake]

Wagner is slower than molasses. He's totally washed. Not worth the money at all. ARob not contributing anywhere near where his pay scale is either. He is Drew Bennett 2.0. Ramsey also not playing anywhere near his pay scale at the moment but at least I have hope for him to turn it around.

 

[Rams43]

To be accurate, I've recently made 20RT a ROD exclusive feature, so I now only post them here. Some people have re-posted them elsewhere, I'm told, so I guess I'll also need to send an invoice for royalties at some point.

All kidding aside, I would appreciate if you'd not use the phrase "random thoughts" in the thread title, as it is kinda my thing that I've been doing for many years. You wouldn't want to be that "Seven Minute Abs" guy from There's Something About Mary, would you?

Done. It was entirely unintentional, anyway.

 

[snackdaddy]

Well, we know McVay and Stafford can turn it around. They've done it before. Will they? I don't know. A lot of games left to see if they do. Or don't. We've been one of the luckiest teams under McVay in terms of injuries. Sooner or later that luck has to run out. At the moment it appears the healthy cupboard is getting might bare. We play another good defense next week. If we don't get healthy soon and break out of this funk, its gonna get tough down the road to make a run.

 

[Merlin]

This times 1000. He is just horrible out there. His communication with Kolone was just a joke.

At least Shelton was doing good but someone fell down on Shelton when he tried to change his position to block Bosa on that sack.

Evans also was the first player on offense to fuck up the roll they were on when the game started. I always wait for that and wonder who it will be that fucks up due to nerves or whatever because that shit is catching. But he was the one who moved on the false start, not sure if they gave it to Boom but Boom was just triggering off the movement to his right. And Evans was the one giving the signal so it's a joke that he moved early.

He is either scared shitless or doesn't sweat the details as a player. Either way there's a reason he's depth.

 

[Merlin]

Wagner is slower than molasses. He's totally washed. Not worth the money at all. ARob not contributing anywhere near where his pay scale is either. He is Drew Bennett 2.0. Ramsey also not playing anywhere near his pay scale at the moment but at least I have hope for him to turn it around.

He's a run stuffer. I wouldn't call him a two down guy just yet because in general he has good drops still and knows where to be. But he was never going to make our pass defense better. He's in there to stuff it up. The coverage in the next game needs to be better by the DBs.