Biggest Concern for 2021 Season

[GoodBadUgly]

I'm so psyched for this season, I have to temper expectations with a reality check. Decided to ponder what my BIGGEST concern is.

OL? McVay offense not being instantly fixed by Goff->Stafford? JJ more important than we thought for the D? Etc?

I landed on Kupp. Not his productivity, but his injuries as we reach the playoffs. It has cost us in the past, and I'm hopeful we lighten his load a tad and get reps for our Freshman/Sophomore WRs to reduce the risk (although his last injury was non-contact)...

 

[badnews]

Biggest concern? Health.
Biggest position concern? OL health.

 

[Rams43]

Ram ‘holes’ are now harder to find, thanks in large part to bolstering ST with a new coordinator and a huge infusion of talented players.

My biggest ‘concern’ is still our WOLB position. Yeah, it has potential, but damn! It’s so unproven. I’d rank it as ‘okay’ until these guys prove something on the field. Until then I have to call it our weakest link.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Biggest concern... I might have 2 that I am watching;

1. The transition to Morris as DC. I don’t have much concern, more so an unknown how he intends to marry his own philosophy with what we did in 2020.

2. Depth at CB. The west is loaded... an injury or missed time by Ramsey and/or Williams taps into our unknown depth.

 

[PhillyRam]

That Matt Stafford is way overated and or that McVay falls in love with the forward pass and ignores his run game in too many big games.

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

Bobby Evans as a full time starter. We know pretty much what we have with the others on the O line. He struggled at LG last year with the pass rush in some games, but he didn't have a full off-season to prepare for that specific role. If he succeeds at RG, we can now effectively run between the tackles to both sides, something we haven't been able to do consistently since Saffold left.

Cam Aker's health. Akers had two different injuries in his first year as a starter. If he misses anytime, the RB room becomes really thin. Him and Henderson are lighter backs, so we may struggle in short yardage situations if the O line is stonewalled and we have to depend on them to run through someone.

 

[dang]

ILB (Kiser/Howard health, Reeder/Young limitations and Jones needs a year to acclimate) and depth at CB (maybe some of the S players can fill) are my 2 biggest concerns. I’ll be Banging the drum for KJ Wright (or similar) and Brian Poole (or similar) every day until they are picked up by another team.

 

[RamFan503]

It's almost always health. I have very high confidence in this staff. As long as the vast majority of our players stay healthy - especially key players - I think we have a legitimate shot at winning it all.

 

[So Ram]

I'm so psyched for this season, I have to temper expectations with a reality check. Decided to ponder what my BIGGEST concern is.

OL? McVay offense not being instantly fixed by Goff->Stafford? JJ more important than we thought for the D? Etc?

I landed on Kupp. Not his productivity, but his injuries as we reach the playoffs. It has cost us in the past, and I'm hopeful we lighten his load a tad and get reps for our Freshman/Sophomore WRs to reduce the risk (although his last injury was non-contact)...

Was another BAD MISTAKE.

In 2019 I thought Mcvay F’””D up big time by not adding depth & signing a Veteran to OG. Cutting Sullivan & no preseason games for Noteboom & Allen. -I always view that as A FAIL!!

2020- Having Copper Kupp as The Rams PR was a BAD mistake as well. How a veteran player like him having knee issues is your main PR player to start the season is beyond me.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Lack of leadership and communication on defense without John Johnson on the team.

Corner depth is shallow.

 

[thirteen28]

McVay falls in love with the forward pass and ignores his run game in too many big games.

Definitely a concern. He has his new toy and he'll certainly want to play with it. Even in games Goff was struggling he had a tendency to get away from the run game when it was working.

One of the hardest things to learn for offensive geniuses is sometimes you just need to take what the D is giving you.

 

[So Ram]

Bobby Evans as a full time starter. We know pretty much what we have with the others on the O line. He struggled at LG last year with the pass rush in some games, but he didn't have a full off-season to prepare for that specific role. If he succeeds at RG, we can now effectively run between the tackles to both sides, something we haven't been able to do consistently since Saffold left.

Cam Aker's health. Akers had two different injuries in his first year as a starter. If he misses anytime, the RB room becomes really thin. Him and Henderson are lighter backs, so we may struggle in short yardage situations if the O line is stonewalled and we have to depend on them to run through someone.

The preseason will be fun to watch.I’ll bet you won’t see those to in games. Bobby Evans & Akers are proven players in McVays eyes.Henderson as well. Akers is The Rams biggest RB by 10#’s.

 

[So Ram]

Definitely a concern. He has his new toy and he'll certainly want to play with it. Even in games Goff was struggling he had a tendency to get away from the run game when it was working.

One of the hardest things to learn for offensive geniuses is sometimes you just need to take what the D is giving you.

LMAO — some around here seem to forget how many New OC’s there has been since Mcvay has been The Rams HC. You can neat pick all you want.

Stafford is the New guy this year so it has to be added in to the equation.A new QB/OC yet again.

The good thing in 2021 is The Rams have the Same OC for the first time
together under Sean Mcvay.This should only help build on the play calling & Offense.

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

The preseason will be fun to watch.I’ll bet you won’t see those to in games. Bobby Evans & Akers are proven players in McVays eyes.Henderson as well. Akers is The Rams biggest RB by 10#’s.

Yep. The fact that they're my biggest weaknesses is an indicator that I don't see any glaring holes on this roster outside of depth. This year should be a lot of fun if we're healthy.

 

[So Ram]

Yep. The fact that they're my biggest weaknesses is an indicator that I don't see any glaring holes on this roster outside of depth. This year should be a lot of fun if we're healthy.

I look forward to see Jones & the young QB’s in preseason.Wolford will get some good reps in as well.
The Young offensive Lineman will be scary to watch though.

I wonder though still Demby & Allen both should get playing time.Evans & Noteboom both might not see any playing time in the Preseason as backups ?

 

[den-the-coach]

Overall Health, hoping to keep most healthy especially Matthew Stafford.

David Long...If Long steps up, we're good, if not, then we'll be looking at a raw Robert Rochell or the 5'7 Dante Deayon, not bad, but I'd rather the Michigan alum rise to the occasion.

 

[FarNorth]

I'm so psyched for this season, I have to temper expectations with a reality check. Decided to ponder what my BIGGEST concern is.

OL? McVay offense not being instantly fixed by Goff->Stafford? JJ more important than we thought for the D? Etc?

I landed on Kupp. Not his productivity, but his injuries as we reach the playoffs. It has cost us in the past, and I'm hopeful we lighten his load a tad and get reps for our Freshman/Sophomore WRs to reduce the risk (although his last injury was non-contact)...

Two concerns here. (I won't list injuries since those are always a concern for every team.)

Transition on defense: both coaches and players. Morris has to show he can keep the D at a very high level. Fuller has to show he can call the plays. A number of new players to integrate.

Transition on offense: McVay and Stafford getting on the same page as soon as possible. A new qb, no matter how talented, doesn't instantly adjust to a new offense. Both Brady and Arrians and Rodgers in GB took some time to work into new systems. Rams have run a very complex offense with lots of bells and whistles. Stafford has to master all the nuances.

And Stafford is something new for McVay as coach: an experienced QB who doesn't much need to be told what to do in terms of calling multiple options for each play beforehand and reading progressions. McVay has to give Stafford some latitude to decide what to do. McVay also has to make the run game, including outlet passes, really work with an emerging star in Akers.

This all may sound easy with talented players, but putting all the pieces together is crucial and not be taken for granted.

The good news for me is that the Rams have seriously bolstered their offense by adding speed, which was totally lacking last year, and by replacing Blythe with Corbett. Also it appears there will be a full, normal camp and preseason-- last year was a disaster in this respect.

 

[thirteen28]

LMAO — some around here seem to forget how many New OC’s there has been since Mcvay has been The Rams HC. You can neat pick all you want.

Stafford is the New guy this year so it has to be added in to the equation.A new QB/OC yet again.

The good thing in 2021 is The Rams have the Same OC for the first time
together under Sean Mcvay.This should only help build on the play calling & Offense.

I think

a) you missed the point; and
b) the OC has little if anything to do with it, since McVay is the one who calls plays in-game.

Oh, and what's "neat" picking?

 

[GoodBadUgly]

...
Oh, and what's "neat" picking?

I know you were just pointing out a typo, but I had to chime in that I've actually used this in a sentence.

When I leave the house, I throw on whatever is available and folks don't like it, they can piss off. However, when going somewhere with my wife, I often get the "You're not leaving the house LIKE THAT" as she proceeds to pick out a shirt or something she approves.

I often tell her to stop "Neat picking"...

And now back to our regular programming.

 

[So Ram]

I think

a) you missed the point; and
b) the OC has little if anything to do with it, since McVay is the one who calls plays in-game.

Oh, and what's "neat" picking?

The rebutt hole if my spelling is correct was about having fun this season & having depth I guess ?

I don’t know how much of the 2020 season you actually watched or remember.To think not having Kevin O’Connell as The Rams OC coming back is not IMPORTANT & Mcvay is The Rams OC is INSANE!! Plus I’ll go back to Bobby Evans on who he first posted about.

1.Those 2 should be really the least of the concern.
2.Having fun ? In a Playoff game did you see what O’Connell had going on against G.B?
3.Wolford was important late in the season.He was The Rams starting QB over Goff in the Playoffs.
4.Bobby Evans started at LG ahead of Joesph Noteboom.Lol - thinking that was not a Statement.
5.Devlin Hodge & Bryce Perkins will be interesting depth players ?How many QB’s will The Rams keep.
6.QB coach Zac Robinson was an excellent piece last season.To think his link with O’CONNELL doesn’t mean anything either then you missed the bus,or caught in front of it making a stand.
7.Xavier Jones is a Player Les Snead likes & said The Rams were prepared for him to be the starting RB in the Playoffs.Funk should be fun to watch with Calais who The SuperBowl Champs cut.

We can go into Carberry & what coaching means to Sean Mcvay.He takes full responsibility & phrases his Staff & veterans who mentoring.I think The change & future is good.A Fresh start & Raheem Morris being the 3rd DC in as many years shows The Rams are doing things right.

3 HC as Mcvay’s coaching tree is starting to bloom another year(season).