A Post-Draft Position-By-Position Breakdown of the Rams

[den-the-coach]

With free agency and the NFL Draft behind us the 2018 Los Angeles Rams roster is coming more into focus. Here is one way to frame it and the corresponding expectations (recently rising to No. 2 in the most recent NFL.com Power Rankings):

QB: You would expect Jared Goff to continue to make strides entering Year 3, benefiting from system continuity for the first time since leaving Cal, in particular. He'll also have far more practice time to sync up with Brandin Cooks than he did with Sammy Watkins a year ago.

RB: While it may be unrealistic to project Todd Gurley to be as statistically productive as his MVP-worthy 2017, he's in his prime and in an offense tailored to his strengths. Malcolm Brown has proven to be a serviceable backup, and sixth-round pick John Kelly fortifies the group.

WR: Even if you don't view Cooks as an upgrade over Watkins, he's more than an adequate replacement and will have a better grasp of the offense than the late arrival from Buffalo did last summer. Robert Woods is coming off a career year and might be the most underrated target in the NFL. Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds are well-positioned to grow in their sophomore campaigns.

TE: Given their talent, youth, coaching, and perhaps a healthy Temarrick Hemingway, the Rams assuredly will get better results from their tight end room.

OL: The entire group returns intact for a second year in the system, under the mentorship of Aaron Kromer, and is bolstered by the Rams top two draft selections. It also doesn't hurt that Rodger Saffold, Jamon Brown, and Rob Havensteinshould be motivated by imminent free agency.

DL: Take the defensive MVP, Aaron Donald; add one of his few position peers, Ndamukong Suh; get Michael Brockers and Dom Easley healthy; layer in depth acquired through the two most recent Drafts. This is the strongest defensive line in the NFL, hands down.

S: Depth may have taken a bit of a hit at safety, but Lamarcus Joyner is elite and John Johnson is poised to build off a sensational rookie effort.

CB: What was the Rams’ biggest concern following the 2017 season became one of the biggest strengths in the NFL heading into 2018. Lock Angeles.

OLB: Is it possible that Samson Ebukam, Matt Longacre, and Obo Okoronkwo prove to be more productive than Robert Quinn and Connor Barwin? The Rams believe it's possible, based on their maneuvering. And few defensive coordinators get better results from edge defenders than Wade Phillips.

ILB: Similarly, there's a viable case to be made that the Rams can improve inside, having traded Alec Ogletree, retained Mark Barron, acquired Ramik Wilson, and drafted Micah Kiser. The theme of this offseason has been completing the process of matching defensive personnel to Phillips' system. It may not prove to be as simple as they've made it look on paper, but... I wouldn't expect regression at linebacker, put it that way.

SPTMs: Though it may be difficult to match their three special teams touchdowns from 2017, a Pro Bowl unit has established an elite track record with Bones Fassel. Greg Zuerlein's back injury would be the only question mark here.



[www.therams.com]

 

[den-the-coach]

Should be a great Training Camp with plenty of competition that Coach McVay loves to embrace. Mostly on defense as I expect the OLB's to be Matt Longacre & Samson Ebukam to start, however, I expect DC Wade Phillips to dial up double OO are very own Ogbonnia Okoronkwo quite often and like John Johnson III, Okoronkwo will be on the field more often than not.

Micah Kiser is my guy and donning #59 will make him look even more intimidating. A thumper that will stop any running back in his tracks and put an end to those long runs right up the gut. Going to be quite a battle between Kiser & Cory Littleton, however, Littleton might be miscast inside, whereas Kiser to stop the run was sent from central casting.

Rams need depth at Safety and the have brought in several UDRFA's like Ramon Richards, Curtis Mikell, Chucky Williams & Afolabi Laguda, besides holdovers Blake Countess, Isiah Johnson & Marqui Christian....FWIW's keep an eye on Chucky Williams to make an impact on special teams, that will be my UDRFA to watch instead of taking everybody's favorite LB Tegray Scales.

 

[bubbaramfan]

Training camp will be about position battles at the bottom of the roster. Will Justin Davis get a chance to play more? Kelly will get lots of reps. Rams need to get other RB's more involved this season. Especially in blowouts. Gurley needs to be fresh for that SB push at the end of the season.

Cooks will make no one miss Watkins. Full off-season OTA"S, classroom and TC, plus Cooks much higher football IQ and dedication than Sammy. Huge turn around at WR from a couple years ago. Great depth.

TE should improve. Hemmingway will push the competition with Everett and Hemingway. If they don't improve McSnead will be drafting one next draft.

OL starting 5 is set. Drafting 3 OL this draft shows the Rams didn't like the depth. DWilliams, Dunn, and Neary most likely will be looking for new jobs before the first game of the season is played. Lucas is still a big ??.. He'll be given every chance to be swing and he'll see a lot of playing time in pre-season. Blythe played well when asked , but he's going to have to prove himself again this TC. Rams will have better depth at OL this season.

On defense, hard to imagine Rams not being improved. Losing Quinn (one trick pony, useless in coverage), TruJo (avg man coverage skills), Olgetree (bad angles, bad tackling, hard time shedding blocks), and Barwin (slow, slow slow). Improvement by subtraction. Lots of boddies brought in to fill those holes. Franklin-Myers, Kiser, Obo, Ebukam, Longacre, Barron, Wilson, Littleton and the rest will have some hardcore competition. I predict an emerging outstanding edge rusher to emerge and make us all forget Quinn is gone. ILB will be better (and with depth).

Rams are set to make a deep playoff push. For the first time in a long, long time, Rams have solid depth with not much drop off from top to bottom of the roster.

 

[jap]

The big question is: does Greg the Leg have a bionic back replacement to go along with his store of bionic legs?

 

[BonifayRam]

Should be a great Training Camp with plenty of competition that Coach McVay loves to embrace. Mostly on defense as I expect the OLB's to be Matt Longacre & Samson Ebukam to start, however, I expect DC Wade Phillips to dial up double OO are very own Ogbonnia Okoronkwo quite often and like John Johnson III, Okoronkwo will be on the field more often than not.

Micah Kiser is my guy and donning #59 will make him look even more intimidating. A thumper that will stop any running back in his tracks and put an end to those long runs right up the gut. Going to be quite a battle between Kiser & Cory Littleton, however, Littleton might be miscast inside, whereas Kiser to stop the run was sent from central casting.

Rams need depth at Safety and the have brought in several UDRFA's like Ramon Richards, Curtis Mikell, Chucky Williams & Afolabi Laguda, besides holdovers Blake Countess, Isiah Johnson & Marqui Christian....FWIW's keep an eye on Chucky Williams to make an impact on special teams, that will be my UDRFA to watch instead of taking everybody's favorite LB Tegray Scales.

I have seen the Cory Littleton situation very close to you here. Cory until last season played either DE or OSLB'er posts in NFL & NCAA. I have posted many times that I do not see Cory as a replacement @ starter for Ogletree. Last season he ONLY played the Mark Barron post not the mike post. I do not see Wade moving Barron either. Last season Cory was moved inside due to UNhealthy Barron & Bryce Hager remained as the back up mike signal caller for Alex Ogletree. Cory has much more value @ OLB'er & @ the Weak-side Interior post than the mike post.

Currently Barron is still rehabbing after major shoulder surgery, same similar situation ass last season but Barron had knee & hip issues. Who would you expect to start @ the weak-side interior post? Or do we still maintain that both Barron & Littleton have a lock as starters inside?? Veteran Ramik Wilson played & started the Barron post in KC defense. He is a UFA after this season as Hager. So we may see the future replacements here.

The addition of two legit 34 defense inside LB'ers (Kiser/Scales) was just what this LBing core needed IMO. Both should land a spot on this roster with one of them starting early in run downs. Kiser is much more mike & Scales is more WS Barron post material. Some excellent battles will be seen in Training Camp this year:banana:.

 

[den-the-coach]

The addition of two legit 34 defense inside LB'ers (Kiser/Scales) was just what this LBing core needed IMO. Both should land a spot on this roster with one of them starting early in run downs. Kiser is much more mike & Scales is more WS Barron post material. Some excellent battles will be seen in Training Camp this year:banana:.

Totally concur with this assessment, plus Kiser is extraordinary from the neck up and that will aid in him starting sooner rather than later. Have to see how everyone lines up, but I do expect Littleton to be a factor somewhere just because when he's in the game, good things seem to happen.

 

[badnews]

...not much drop off from top to bottom of the roster.

Thats not always a good thing.
There wasn't much drop-off from top to bottom on Linehans or Spagnuolos rosters either....alm:

 

[den-the-coach]

The big question is: does Greg the Leg have a bionic back replacement to go along with his store of bionic legs?

God I hope so, every time the Rams trotted Sam Ficken out there I got this sicken feeling in my stomach.

 

[den-the-coach]

Rams are set to make a deep playoff push. For the first time in a long, long time, Rams have solid depth with not much drop off from top to bottom of the roster.

When Samson Ebukam and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo are cornerstone edge rushers their nicknames will be "The Nigerian Nightmares." Yes stealing from the former Chief Christian Okoye, however, apropos nonetheless.

 

[Loyal]

The big question is: does Greg the Leg have a bionic back replacement to go along with his store of bionic legs?

"Gentlemen, we can rebuild him, we have the technology. We have the capability to make the Worlds first bionic man. Greg Zeurlein will be that man. Better than he was before...better, stronger, faster..." (2012)
~Oscar Goldman

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CPJ-AbCsT8

 

[Ram65]

Currently Barron is still rehabbing after major shoulder surgery,

Where did it say it was major shoulder surgery? It didn't sound like a big deal but, of course we don't get much info on such things.

I have posted many times that I do not see Cory as a replacement @ starter for Ogletree.

IIRC Littleton got totally lost in coverage against the Whiners for a big gain. That's a big concern.

 

[Karate61]

WR: Even if you don't view Cooks as an upgrade over Watkins

Who the heck doesn't view Cooks as an upgrade? Who?

 

[BonifayRam]

Where did it say it was major shoulder surgery? It didn't sound like a big deal but, of course we don't get much info on such things.IIRC Littleton got totally lost in coverage against the Whiners for a big gain. That's a big concern.

Cory being over 6-3 lean thin & lanky frame @ 225 lbs is far from what we normally associate to a mike Lb'er.

You are correct sorry to mislead anyone in here....the informational background for Barron's surgery isn't clear...I read "fix a torn rotator cuff and labrum" & attached that to Barron. Wrong it was Kayvon's issue. No information on the details of the Barron shoulder surgery was ever reported....just like last off season Barron was MIA from OTA's/ TC & pre season with no information provided.Does make things murky.

The last I heard on Barron was late February & it was reported he was still recovering & rehabbing from the shoulder surgery. Everything that I have read says Barron is planning on be in Training Camp healthy. This would be great news for this Ram defense if it holds up. Barron has missed a ton of previous Rams TC since his arrival here due to being Unhealthy. We will see history has a way of repeating itself often....:sadwalk:

 

[LACHAMP46]

Who the heck doesn't view Cooks as an upgrade? Who?

Me....

I don't think people realize how good Sammy Watkins is....What type of threat he was...and is......and why he scored a TD every 5 times he caught a pass....If everyone could do that, he wouldn't be making $16 million a season.

 

[1maGoh]

IIRC Littleton got totally lost in coverage against the Whiners for a big gain. That's a big concern.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say maybe everyone in every defense in the NFL let a big gain happen at least once last season. Unless it was a pattern, and I don't think it was, an isolated incident isn't a concern. Even if it is against the whiners, it's hard to hold one big gain against him when he's so solid tackling people on his own. I honestly didn't watch him in coverage much, or didn't notice, but I sure as heck saw him down people by himself more often than not when he was given the chance.

 

[Memphis Ram]

If you are in to pro football focus:

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-ranking-the-interior-ol-prospects-for-the-2018-nfl-draft

Ranking the interior OL prospects for the 2018 NFL Draft
BY MICHAEL RENNER • APR 23, 2018


13. JEREMIAH KOLONE, SAN JOSE STATE – GUARD
Kolone led the draft class with a pass-blocking efficiency of 99.7 last season, allowing only one pressure on 244 attempts. He has three strong years of grading, including a 90.7 overall mark in 2016.

17. BRIAN ALLEN, MICHIGAN STATE – CENTER
Allen hails from a pro-style running game at Michigan State that projects well to the NFL. Unfortunately, Allen is undersized for the position and power will give him issues at the next level.

 

[Karate61]

Me....

I don't think people realize how good Sammy Watkins is....What type of threat he was...and is......and why he scored a TD every 5 times he caught a pass....If everyone could do that, he wouldn't be making $16 million a season.

Ok. I agree with all your comments. I would have loved for the Rams to have retained Sammy. Sammy is a good receiver. But, none of your points make a case as to why Cooks isn't an "upgrade".

Cooks goes after the ball...he's gonna make that catch:

 

[DaveFan'51]

The first thing I'll be watching in OTA's and TC is the play in the trenches between our O-Line and D-Line. that is going to determine a lot in the up coming season. "Steel-against-Steel" IF our O-Line can stand up against our D-line we're going all-the-way!!

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I literally stopped reading when I read the part about Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds growing into their sophomore role.

First off, the two are miles apart. Second how does anyone think that Kupp has to grow into a role that he already transcended? Who wrote this crap?

 

[nighttrain]

I literally stopped reading when I read the part about Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds growing into their sophomore role.

First off, the two are miles apart. Second how does anyone think that Kupp has to grow into a role that he already transcended? Who wrote this crap?

it's the slow season
train