A few thoughts to share this morning…

[Rams43]

In no particular order of importance, just a stream of consciousness thing…

Warning: I’m not gonna be holding back in this post.


Great to hear Stafford declare that he’s NOT retiring. That’s huge.

Rams must invest in a RB this offseason. Trade, FA, draft, I don’t care, anymore. My personal preference would be the draft. We just can’t go on like this. Fortunately, this is a deep RB draft.

Rams currently can’t run and can’t pass. Look no further than their OL. Even Hav is now struggling. No choice but to play out the string with these current guys, but damn! It’s ugly to watch, isn’t it?

I’m done with Allen. Heart of a lion but he can’t stay on the field, therefore he’s largely useless. Shelton would be an upgrade but Rams might go trade, FA, or draft for OG/OC anyway.

As I’ve posted in other threads, I believe Rams OL can be fixed with addition of just 2 players (plus return of health by guys already on roster). So fixing OL is not the Impossible Dream.

We, in effect, don’t currently have a functioning TE corps do we? Even Higbee has disappointed. Speaking of Higbee, his departure this offseason is probably on the table as a topic of Ram coaches discussion. I’m serious. This TE situation has been weakening for years without being recognized and dealt with by Snead/McVay. Almost unforgivable.

Hoecht is not the answer at OLB. Sorry. I love his effort but Rams need a lot better.

Thomas and Hardy did nothing to stand out last night. If they did I sure missed it while blinking my eyes. I was hoping for at least a flash or two…. Edge remains a very high priority for the offseason. Probably the highest priority.

Rams sure miss their healthy AD. Duh! Changes the whole dynamic on D and opportunities for opposing OC’s.

Wagner was a brilliant signing. He’s exceeded my lofty expectations. Probably MVP on D this year. Not his fault that team is struggling, that’s for sure.

Hill is a goner and I won’t miss him (or his tackling).

I was hoping for more from Durant. Rams need him to show something in these final 3 games if he wants to be prominently included in their ‘23 plans.

Did Lake get any snaps other than ST? If not, why not? Isn’t this the perfect opportunity to see what these kids can do? Maybe just 5 snaps or so? C’mon…

I love Gay and really like Dixon. Both are locks for extensions.


Okay, here’s where I may upset a few of the brethren but I’ve gotta call them as I see them. Sigh…

Snead and McVay may both be overrated. There, I said it.

Here’s why I suggest this.

Yes, it’s true that Rams have suffered terrible injuries on their OL, not to mention WR and their secondary as well. Doesn’t help to lose Stafford and AD either. But other teams have suffered many injuries, too, and they’re still in contention for the playoffs. Rams were such a team just last year.

Rams are also guilty of making some non-optimal personnel decisions over recent years via draft and FA (pretty diplomatic there, huh?). In addition, Rams coaching decisions have become more puzzling of late. McVay’s asst coaches currently are not of the same caliber as in recent years, either. Rams assistants used to be considered great teachers and rapid developers of young talent but that now seems to be gone. Hell, it seems like now they can’t develop ANYONE.

So, what am I saying? Certainly NOT that Snead or McVay need to be replaced. That would be foolish. But I AM suggesting that both men do some soul searching of their respective methods and results and come up with a game plan to correct their respective mistakes. Both need a course correction.

Snead has GOT to draft better and McVay has GOT to fix his anemic O and get his corps of assistants back up to their previous standards. Might want to rethink some of the current strategies on D, too.

There are holes at certain position groups that should NEVER be there if the two decision makers were paying proper attention.

Backup QB
RB
TE
Edge
CB
S

I might add that Rams OL has not been able to run block well for several years.

I hate seeing all the injuries as much as anybody else does, but if one thinks that the Rams woes are all attributable to injuries then one has simply not been paying enough attention. Some of these problems have been worsening for years.

Poor drafting or poor coaching? Or both? The results speak for themselves.

 

[Faceplant]

I can't fault any of this. I feel the same way. As I have stated before, Mcvay’s offense worries me at this point. Seem the Rams run the same game plan every damn week and expect different results. Defenses seem to KNOW what the Rams are going to do most of the time and stuff it cold. So frustrating.

 

[Merlin]

Hoecht has 8 sacks in the past 4 games. I don't think he's the answer either but he's the least of our problems right now.

 

[RamFanWA]

I can agree most of that sentiment.
I'd like to see a bulldozer RB acquired... got any more Derrick Henry's out there?

My Santa list continues - including a TE after the mold of Kelce or Kittle - while Higbee has thier size, doesn't seem to have thier production. There could be a lot of game planning factors for that, of course...

As for coaching, I think the league is onto Sean's strategy and I think he needs to get some productive feedback from other coaches - 'cuz Shanny owns him!

Any other stocking stuffers that come along, are welcomed...

 

[Allen2McVay]

Hoecht has 8 sacks in the past 4 games. I don't think he's the answer either but he's the least of our problems right now.

Where do you see 8 sacks? I'm seeing two sacks on the season.

 

[Tano]

Hoecht has 8 sacks in the past 4 games. I don't think he's the answer either but he's the least of our problems right now.

Hoecht should be a 3rd down and long OLB and maybe DE on running downs

 

[Merlin]

Where do you see 8 sacks? I'm seeing two sacks on the season.

Obviously I can't read a line of stats.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Obviously I can't read a line of stats.

That's OK. It's the Holidays. Have one on me!

 

[Merlin]

Hoecht should be a 3rd down and long OLB and maybe DE on running downs

I'd keep him out there and have him lose a little bit of weight each week and see how low he can go without losing his power. Also he needs the live snaps working on his contain. Not like we're stopping anyone anyway so play him, play Durant, play Yeast, etc.

If he can lose weight and maintain some power then maybe he can develop some edge moves with his athleticism. The guy moves pretty damn well for his size so it's there. Question is if he can get bendy enough or be strong enough to get under that armpit and push through.

Pressures-wise he has done a fine job. So again I just feel like he's the least of our worries. I just have to work on not letting my eyes cross over to the assist column when I scroll down.

 

[OregonRamsFan]

All good points. I think we need to evolve our offense. What was once very cool and innovative is now staid and predictable. We need McVay 2.0.

 

[Riverumbbq]

All good points. I think we need to evolve our offense. What was once very cool and innovative is now staid and predictable. We need McVay 2.0.

This may be why so many fans are comparing our recent outings to the more generic pre-season games, perhaps McVay doesn't want to show his hand for 'tells' next season. I can only hope this is the case as the alternative would be quite disturbing. Mayfield is still learning the offense and we are playing with B level WR's, C level TE's, & a D level OL. jmo.

 

[nighttrain]

we need a left tackle, from where i dont know, but it's not Boom
train

 

[Packfan18]

we need a left tackle, from where i dont know, but it's not Boom
train

You guys need your O line healthy again.

 

[sjm1582002]

You guys need your O line healthy again.

We could not run worth a shit against playoff level run defenses last year with Whit, Corbett, and our other 1st teamers heathy and ready to go.

In the rare event we could run with occasional success we avoided runing very often (see last night)

Really need this 3rd and short? Then better throw it. When you got Stafford, Kupp, and OJB that is an attractive option.

Now we don't and need a real run game.

I'm feeling a change in coaching, RB's, and/or scheme change is long overdue as the current results are just pitiful.

 

[RamDino]

Where do you see 8 sacks? I'm seeing two sacks on the season.

I think he would have had another one last night but the Rams got a penalty. Overall, I think he's been very productive, considering the amount of plays he gets. Let's not forget he was mainly a back-up for the first half of the season.

 

[Kupped]

On the McVay/Snead stuff..
I don't believe they're overrated. They won the Super Bowl.

I do believe that you have to keep on your toes.. and keep evolving... and be able to truly self-scout and self-evaluate.

The most obvious place to get this team from shitty to solid.. is on the offensive line and in the run game, imo. That's not where I would normally place the most value.. but I think getting to a place where you can have a consistent and effective run game will be a stabilizing presence for the entire program.

The defensive holes need to be filled creatively. A guy like Melvin Ingram or Jerry Hughes would've been excellent for this team this year. Get a vet DE/edge like those guys next year.. you can find values.
You have to get more talent in the corner room.. maybe a mid-range vet and a draft pick.

 

[fearsomefour]

Hoecht should be a 3rd down and long OLB and maybe DE on running downs

Exactly, he can be a stand up pass rush specialist and rotate in on some DE rotational stuff.
Give him 15-18 (or whatever) snaps a game and let him go hell bent at the QB......and, he gets to keep his ST snaps as well.

 

[fearsomefour]

I think everyone is overrated.
Everyone of prominence in every position on earth....but, that's just me.
Snead and McVay are no different.
The cutting of guys Snead brought in....Burgess, Henderson, Hollins (I loved this signing when they did it)....cutting bait with these guys is a surprise to me. That is disappointing. Drafting potential is one thing. Being able to develop it is something else. Mixed results is probably generous, but, every team is full of guys cut or not resigned from other teams.
My frustration with McVay is his play calling. There are times where a team will have a weakness against the run and he will not attack it. Just does not change his approach. Not giving a struggling T help is crazy....dropping QBs like Wolford and Perkins back to pass 25 times is nuts.
I would also like the WR screens to go away until mid next season.

 

[Merlin]

We could not run worth a shit against playoff level run defenses last year with Whit, Corbett, and our other 1st teamers heathy and ready to go.

In the rare event we could run with occasional success we avoided runing very often (see last night)

Really need this 3rd and short? Then better throw it. When you got Stafford, Kupp, and OJB that is an attractive option.

Now we don't and need a real run game.

I'm feeling a change in coaching, RB's, and/or scheme change is long overdue as the current results are just pitiful.

Agreed. McVay winning the Super Bowl without the run game probably defused his greatest concerns with not having one. But that's a shit ton of wear and tear on the QB. Stafford got beat up pretty good in that game.

Granted McVay did mention the need to improve in the run game during the offseason, but there was no real push to do so. Keeping the same RBs in our backfield that had disappointed so many times before, not to mention the replacements they made on the OL simply were not enough. Regardless of the injuries we have seen up front, which have been epic, this OL was poised to throw the fucking ball for everything they had to get and at Stafford's age that is simply not a good plan.

So yes if he doesn't peel out of here for big TV money he is going to have to prioritize the run game this offseason. That is the reason Shanny owns his ass. It's the reason the other WCO disciples do pretty well against him too. They all know how to remove his bread and butter bullshit short passing/misdirection game. Shanny understands this. It is why he has speciated into his own direction that has consistently provided him said run game.

And before someone swoops in with "OMG we won the Super Bowl" I know that. But we're talking survival moving forward for this scheme. If he's going to throw the ball every down then he's going to need to invest in the OL a ton more than he already has and we don't have the resources for that so he is going to need to balance it.

 

[BonifayRam]

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