Behind the Grind 2: Building the 2026 Rams Roster

[den-the-coach]

Hope he doesn't run him right into a concussion like wolford. Al I want from my running QB is to get out of trouble when needed. When everyone is covered he gets 20 yards and slides. once and a while a QB draw from the 5 for a TD. I want the same offense we have now. No QB run gimicks.

I might be mistaken, but I think that's what everyone wants to see.

Simpson is extremely bright and if you watch him last season, he protected himself well when taking off and running. Overall, that is what the Rams were looking for in their next Quarterback. Someone, who had the ability to extend plays and keep the chains moving, Simpson possess that ability, in addition to understanding that durability is essential for an upper tier signal caller.

 

[Memphis Ram]

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/WRSlyxyUQJI?si=xYQiptWVs_Xr14nE

 

[den-the-coach]

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/WRSlyxyUQJI?si=xYQiptWVs_Xr14nE

Sure could have used that ability on the 4 down play in the NFC Title game against Seattle. Watch the play, Seattle dropped everyone into coverage and only rushed two, a QB draw with a QB having the ability to run easily scores the go ahead touchdown.

 

[PARAM]

Hope he doesn't run him right into a concussion like wolford. All I want from my running QB is to get out of trouble when needed. When everyone is covered he gets 20 yards and slides. once and a while a QB draw from the 5 for a TD. I want the same offense we have now. No QB run gimicks.

That's so frustrating when it happens to the Rams. 3rd and 12, everybody covered, no other options, QB runs for 14 yards, slides with a first down and you can't even take out any frustrations with a big hit. You don't need Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen; you just need your mobile QB to recognize, "I've got 15 yards and a first down".

Hey, I'm in no hurry to see Simpson under center. Take it all in.....watch how a HOF QB runs the offense.......learn the offense forwards and backwards.....put on a few pounds. If everything goes right, he's got 2 years to develop fully into a legit NFL QB, under a great head coach and offensive mind, behind a phenominal HOF QB.

Man, that "great time to be a Ram fan" might be extended longer than we could have hoped.

 

[Merlin]

I must admit, I'm not a fan of that mindset. IMO, the bottom of the roster should always have legit competition for their roster spots. Might unknowingly uncover a gem. Or at least have a better practice squad if said player isn't poached.

I prefer those bottom roster spots are used for ST. You give the ST Coach priority to ensure he's got the gunners he needs and returners, as well as a small group of teams pros to mix in among the rest to make your units as competitive as possible.

Rams under McVay have always prioritized upside on the bottom of the chart. With the wideouts for example if you look at the group over time, year to year, I think it's clear they would have been better off ensuring they have teams professionals in reserved slots somewhere on the bottom of that chart. Some, like Skow, did a great job for us of course. But generally speaking I think one way McVay could be even better is by putting a little prioritization on teams. This is not a new thing.

I've been unhappy with our gunners, as well as the tendency of opposing gunners to be on top of our returner without much fight by our boys. Also we never try to find returners, it's always an afterthought. That role should be a dedicated roster spot. It is far more important for the team's chances of winning than your sixth or seventh wideout who has more upside but offers little to the teams room.

 

[TSFH Fan]

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/WRSlyxyUQJI?si=xYQiptWVs_Xr14nE

Of course, the fumble nullifying the touchdown is omitted from that clip:


View: https://youtu.be/ZYZMfaL0c6s?si=sB8bzUw8pmerSRPi&t=23

 

[DzRams]

I forgot where I read it but from what I understood typically the strength of draft classes are measured first by the number of blue chip rated players (1st round grades) and next the number of red chip rated players typically found in the top 125 or so (though there can be positional variances). But once you get to round 6 just about anyone selected could just have easily been an undrafted free agent in just about any draft class.

This may be true in general, but drafts do have exceptions. It was reported (I forget who), that Snead and the Rams felt this was a weak class overall and despised the late round depth of this class. It's not gonna always be true that rounds 6-7 are equivalent in every draft.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I see it opposite. It's the weaker draft classes in which I want fewer bites of the apple. I'd rather get a few players that I really love than several random dart throws. It's the stronger drafts where I'd take more shots.

Yeah, think you can't be beholden to a specific draft strategy above all others and you have to let the landscape of the draft/offseason and NFL meta inform what you do.