Everyone was Ready for the Rams to Rebuild...Except for the Rams - Article.

[Memento]

Nothing we haven't seen before (LaCanfora wrote this), but it's still an interesting article and positive towards our chances.

Rams Article

 

[Londoner]

Nothing we haven't seen before (LaCanfora wrote this), but it's still an interesting article and positive towards our chances.

Rams Article

From the article:

“… a red-zone offense that isn’t where he would like.”

Once McVay gets the red zone sorted, we’re going to be almost impossible to stop.

 

[OldSchool]

Well some of us thought it was business as usual. None of this 5 win bullshit.

 

[HitStick]

From the article:

“… a red-zone offense that isn’t where he would like.”

Once McVay gets the red zone sorted, we’re going to be almost impossible to stop.

I feel like the Rams outsmart themselves. They get too cute inside the 20. Empty sets on the goal line need to stop. Just let our big boys work and run the ball in

 

[Ram Ts]

The main reason I thought we’d rebuild this year was not from the get go per se. It was thinking the OL sucks and Stafford would not last. Indeed that was happening at 3-6 and how horrible they looked with stafford in the sidelines.

But by luck or miracle, Stafford wasn’t out long and came back healthy - and the OL came together with the timely addition of Dotson and the OL gelled (& has stayed relatively healthy the last couple months).

If stafford didn’t come back, then I’m convinced Kupp would be out (he’s not 100%) and eventually maybe AD would take 1-3 games off at end. Likely a 5-6 win season. Thankfully that didn’t happen and the team seems RE-energized and ready to do damage

 

[Neil039]

I'll eat the BBQ Crow. I thought this was a 6-7 win team at best. The Defensive position turn over and believing the Rams lacked a true #2 WR behind Kupp. Add to that a running game that could sustain drives.

They not only look good, they look primed for a strong finish and return to contender status for the next few years.

 

[PARAM]

The main reason I thought we’d rebuild this year was not from the get go per se. It was thinking the OL sucks and Stafford would not last. Indeed that was happening at 3-6 and how horrible they looked with stafford in the sidelines.

But by luck or miracle, Stafford wasn’t out long and came back healthy - and the OL came together with the timely addition of Dotson and the OL gelled (& has stayed relatively healthy the last couple months).

If stafford didn’t come back, then I’m convinced Kupp would be out (he’s not 100%) and eventually maybe AD would take 1-3 games off at end. Likely a 5-6 win season. Thankfully that didn’t happen and the team seems RE-energized and ready to do damage

I think there were more fans saying the defense was going to cause a 5-6 win season.

I'll eat the BBQ Crow. I thought this was a 6-7 win team at best. The Defensive position turn over and believing the Rams lacked a true #2 WR behind Kupp. Add to that a running game that could sustain drives.

They not only look good, they look primed for a strong finish and return to contender status for the next few years.

^^^^^^^^^^

 

[LouisvilleRam]

I'll eat the BBQ Crow. I thought this was a 6-7 win team at best. The Defensive position turn over and believing the Rams lacked a true #2 WR behind Kupp. Add to that a running game that could sustain drives.

They not only look good, they look primed for a strong finish and return to contender status for the next few years.

That makes 2 of us, we just lost so much on defense. I thought if we won it would have to be scores in the 30's say 34 -31 etc..

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

But by luck or miracle, Stafford wasn’t out long and came back healthy - and the OL came together with the timely addition of Dotson and the OL gelled (& has stayed relatively healthy the last couple months).

I’d say the success of this season—and what’s looking like a strong young team for years to come—all started back with the Avila pick.

 

[Neil039]

I’d say the success of this season—and what’s looking like a strong young team for years to come—all started back with the Avila pick.

I’d love one more solid O-line pick early in this next draft. All successful teams on offense are tracked by to solid O-line play.

 

[oldnotdead]

So an OL playing at a top 10 level isn't good enough? The OL looked suspect for a while because of McVay's playcalling. When Sean abandons the run defenses can simply tee off on the OL and that is true with most OLs. Once Sean returned to a balanced offense and went to a possession type of offense then the unit took off.

Yeah I know Kyren was out but Sean had Freeman who looked good but McVay kept handing off to the smurf while Freeman played well whenever he was given the opportunity.

The defense is better without DK. Durant can cover in ways DK never could. Cobie Durant missed a whole lot of development time sitting on the bench. He would be much further along had they played him instead of penalty and burn prone DK. They still need another CB, as depth, with length and at least low 4.4 speed.

This offense will be lethal next year with a defense ready to take the next step.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

That makes 2 of us, we just lost so much on defense. I thought if we won it would have to be scores in the 30's say 34 -31 etc..

Defense was always my biggest concern. We did very well with draft picks and low cost additions. That's not a feat done by many, if any team. Kudos to the Rams for hitting a homerun in that department.

 

[Steve808]

The Rams will likely make the playoffs with a chance to make some noise this season and I believe the Rams will be SB contenders for sure next season. McVay is a coaching genius!

 

[Londoner]

McVay is a coaching genius!

His bad play calling almost certainly cost us a couple of wins earlier in the season.

But it looks like he has finally learned from his mistakes and we will hopefully not see any more empty sets when we’re in first and goal situations from now on.

 

[Merlin]

Coach sums it up well... If this defense can overachieve in the next month watch out.

“It’s always about the players, and we got a couple of people back healthy,” McVay said in a phone conversation after reviewing film of his team’s Thursday night victory over the Saints. “That’s where it starts. I think a lot of people don’t realize how big Matthew’s thumb injury was, and Cooper really got that ankle feeling a little bit better, and then getting [running back] Kyren Williams back, too."

“The guys getting a little bit of rest really came at a good time for us, just being able to recommit to some of our foundational philosophies and being able to have some early-down marriage of the run and pass. And you can only do that if you’re able to be efficient, and you have to be able to run it and throw it if you want to be a good offense. So our guys have done a good job executing, and we’ve done a really nice job of being able to play up front, and we have some really nice continuity [on the offensive line] that we haven’t had for a couple of years. We’re sturdy on the interior of the offensive line and on the edges, and Matthew has a really good rapport with these players, and that has really helped us get the offense going.”

 

[RamFan503]

But it looks like he has finally learned from his mistakes and we will hopefully not see any more empty sets when we’re in first and goal situations from now on.

I'm just not so sure it was a matter of learning from his mistakes. I think he felt he had to be more tricky with all the nicked up players. He had to try to manufacture yards and points until he got some of his players more healthy. Not the least of which were nicked up Havs, Kupp, Higbeast, and Williams.

I think we're still quite vulnerable but if we stay healthy and get into the playoffs, anything can happen. And that includes a SB win.

 

[Merlin]

I think we're still quite vulnerable but if we stay healthy and get into the playoffs, anything can happen. And that includes a SB win.

 

[FrantikRam]

His bad play calling almost certainly cost us a couple of wins earlier in the season.

But it looks like he has finally learned from his mistakes and we will hopefully not see any more empty sets when we’re in first and goal situations from now on.

We saw a run/run/pass scenario not work on Thursday night.

In real time, I am yelling run the ball at the TV too - but when you think about that sequence, you can see why he does it that way. Giving Stafford one chance versus two or three, and one small mistake can kill a drive (Kupp's drops, one of which we ended up going for it and getting it).

 

[Angry Ram]

That makes 2 of us, we just lost so much on defense. I thought if we won it would have to be scores in the 30's say 34 -31 etc..

Never thought that for a second.

Greg Gaines - replaceable

A 'Shawn Robinson - replaceable

Leonard Floyd - replaceable

Bobby Wagner - way past his prime, didn't transform the run D...replaceable

Jalen Ramsey - hurt, yes...also was getting burned on multiple occasions starting in the playoffs...hard to replace but life goes on

Nick Scott - replaceable

Troy Hill - replaceable

Taylor Rapp - replaceable

While these guys had varying levels of success, i failed to understand the lack of faith that the GM can't find new players when they found those guys, and the coaching to develop new guys when they had done so before.

I also failed to understand how the Rams newbies were so far behind the 8-ball compared to other teams' rookies to the point where they were 31 or 32 out of 32 and automatically equated a top 5 draft pick.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Amazing what the health of Williams, Kupp and Stafford can do for the offense.