Improving Ram offense - 2025 RBs

[DzRams]

Only took 15 seconds so here it is:

Objective means something is based on facts and evidence, while subjective means something is based on personal opinions, feelings, or emotions.

I personally like Reeder as a Rams player (ST, depth) as I feel he always gives 100%. However, I see concrete evidence/results that he is not instinctual or athletic enough to be an average starting NFL ILB.

Objective (from Oxford): (of a person or their judgment) not influenced by personal feelings or opinions in considering and representing facts.

Determining what is "instinctual or athletic enough" by definition requires a personal opinion or feeling. A quick test is, if you got a 100 people and you would get a 100 different opinions, then it's subjective.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

The Lions spent the #12 pick on Gibbs. We're not going to use that sort of draft capital to upgrade from a fringe top 10 HB to a top 5 HB. Wouldn't be a smart use of resources.

You're correct. But PFF's grades are also subjective assessments, FWIW.

The Lions had a few extra first round picks from the Stafford trade. Without those picks maybe they don’t feel the luxury to draft Gibbs, a runningback, that early.

 

[DzRams]

1. I said grades, so we agree they're subjective.
2. Even some of their counting stats are subjective. For example, what constitutes a pressure is subjective, which is why different organizations that collect football statistics come to different conclusions. But I find their counting stats useful because it's all relative, so you can still compare players. Their coverage stats are also flawed, but for CBs, they're fairly useful.

I don't find their grades to be super useful. I consider them to be a rough approximation of whether a guy is good/great, somewhere in the middle of the pack, or terrible. Although, they've at times rated guys as terrible who are not or good/great who are not. So it's one of those things you just gotta trust your gut on. Kyren Williams is one of those examples. The idea that we have one of the best run blocking OLs while he's a mediocre HB, yeah, that dog don't hunt.

We're on the same page.

 

[20hrswk]

A few things here.

A more explosive RB and / or WR would make the offense better - we have slower/smarter? type players - that's all I'm saying.

The 2024 Lions OL graded 78 in run blocking and the 2024 Ram OL graded 77, so - the same.
A Gibbs type RB would make everything better on O / Kyren is lacking compared to the best - that's all I'm saying.

Look at the pro bowl rosters.
PFF was right on 85% - 90% of the choices and that's because fans make up 33% ? of the pro bowl vote and too many fans just vote for their team's players no matter what.
If fans weren't voting, PFF would be 95% correct as far as ratings and pro bowl players being at the top of their ratings.

If anyone can look at PFF ratings and pro bowl selections and not see PFF is extremely accurate, then I don't know what to say . . .

. . . except I think fans are inclined to rate their team's players higher than they ought because that's who they watch all year, rarely seeing other players.

Ask most fans who Irving is, who Robinson is, who Jacobs is, who Gibbs is and they won't know, but they'll tell you their backs are better than all of them.

 

[dieterbrock]

This is a deep and talented HB draft. I'm all for drafting a HB this year. It doesn't hurt. But you're 100% right. Kyren is a top 10 player at his position. There's no reason to waste valuable resources trying to replace him. We have far bigger holes on this roster. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Well said

 

[dieterbrock]

A Gibbs type RB would make everything better on O

You say that as if that type of player is a dime a dozen. There is only 1 Gibbs but plenty of guys have been drafted for their explosiveness, who never amounted to much.
Just under 32% of Kyren’s carries resulted in either a 1st down or TD. I believe the only player with a higher % is Henry

 

[jrry32]

A few things here.

A more explosive RB and / or WR would make the offense better - we have slower/smarter? type players - that's all I'm saying.

The 2024 Lions OL graded 78 in run blocking and the 2024 Ram OL graded 77, so - the same.
A Gibbs type RB would make everything better on O / Kyren is lacking compared to the best - that's all I'm saying.

Look at the pro bowl rosters.
PFF was right on 85% - 90% of the choices and that's because fans make up 33% ? of the pro bowl vote and too many fans just vote for their team's players no matter what.
If fans weren't voting, PFF would be 95% correct as far as ratings and pro bowl players being at the top of their ratings.

If anyone can look at PFF ratings and pro bowl selections and not see PFF is extremely accurate, then I don't know what to say . . .

. . . except I think fans are inclined to rate their team's players higher than they ought because that's who they watch all year, rarely seeing other players.

Ask most fans who Irving is, who Robinson is, who Jacobs is, who Gibbs is and they won't know, but they'll tell you their backs are better than all of them.

It is not difficult to tell who the top players in the NFL are. PFF isn't doing something revolutionary by pointing out that Gibbs or Lamar Jackson or Myles Garrett is great.

 

[Ramhusker]

Well, we have Royce Freeman back in the fold.

 

[Spider2YB]

I think what’s so interesting about this offensive line is that they actually have been one of the better run blocking units in the league. But they finished the regular season 26th in pass pro per PFF.

 

[dang]

I’m shaking my head at how easy it is to make a generational roster according to some posters:
“Let’s get rid of KWill so we can draft the next Jahmyr Gibbs. Then let’s replace Stafford with Hebert. Then kick Kupp to the curb for Higgins or Godwin. And finally we can draft the next Bowers at TE. We get all that next year and we will dominate”.
Incremental improvements next year is all that’s in the cards for the Rams offense next year. And oh by the way why the F are we talking about next year when we could have a fair amount of this year left to talk about.

 

[RamBradford85]

I think Whittington fills that role tbh

Whittington is a slot reciver he didn’t do well playing the x in college he jags tape from 2022 when he played a lot outside didn’t do so well and he’s not fast

 

[bubbaramfan]

Rams just signed Royce Freeman

 

[20hrswk]

It is not difficult to tell who the top players in the NFL are. PFF isn't doing something revolutionary by pointing out that Gibbs or Lamar Jackson or Myles Garrett is great.

 

[Merlin]

Rams just signed Royce Freeman

Very nice. Royce is tough. Good solid power option on that depth chart for a playoff run where we're gonna need to be balanced.

 

[20hrswk]

There is no such thing as a “30 yard hole” unless you add downfield blocking to the equation. A great running back can take the “5 yard hole” and turn it into a 30+ yard run with burst, seed and maneuverability. I agree KWill has average TB speed but he has above average burst, strength and maneuverability. So I don’t agree with the “Many times there's a "30+ yard hole" and it turns into 5-15 yards” statement. I feel confident in stating he’s a top 10 NFL RB as of right now.

This chart from Fantasypros shows what some of us are seeing.

316 carries and just 2 have gone for 20+. That is fairly unbelievable, especially behind the 5th best run blocking unit in the league?
The chart points out he's "turned some 30+ yard holes into 5- 15 yards"

 

[20hrswk]

You're right that we definitely need more explosiveness in the offense!

But I gotta call BS on the "takes 30+ yard holes and turns them into 5-15 yards." It's more common with his elite vision that he's taking a 1 yard hold and turning it into 5 yards. Sure, occasionally he's caught from behind when he had a chance to house it but the flip side where he's creating yardage when not much is there is much more common.

Lately, defenses have been putting 8 in the box and frequently run blitzing for several purposes: to stop our RBs, gum up the middle of the field to stop our non-explosive WRs, and get quick pressure on Stafford. More explosiveness at WR, TE, or RB would solve this.

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According to nextgenstats, Kyren has faced the 42nd lowest % of 8-man fronts of the 47 leading rushers in 2024.
He's faced fewer 8 man fronts than almost any RB in the league.
He's broken TWO 20+ yard runs in 316 carries. That doesn't even seem possible.

He is tough, a gamer, a leader, one of the best short yardage backs in the league . . . but no D fears him running through/past them.

If I was a DC why would I stack 8 guys against a RB who does not have breakaway speed/quickness?
I wouldn't and they don't.
Instead they "cheat/lay back" knowing that our QB/WRs combo is our strength.

This is why I keep saying a more explosive RB threat would open things up for Stafford/the offense.
Just a 3rd down guy with breakaway ability would help.

I know we have other holes to fill, but this seems like a good draft to add some speed at RB.

 

[So Ram]

This is a deep and talented HB draft. I'm all for drafting a HB this year. It doesn't hurt. But you're 100% right. Kyren is a top 10 player at his position. There's no reason to waste valuable resources trying to replace him. We have far bigger holes on this roster. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Where would you go in the draft?
IMO CB will be a position of depth?
Safety is set as well ? Do The Rams lock up Lake on a Home Town discount?
Still PISS ME OFF The Rams couldn’t see Alaric Jackson .value,especially after his suspension.Would have been a nice time to forgive & forget showing loyalty.

TE they F’d up,but we saw what Mcvay thinks about BPA !A MLB would be nice,and what happens to Bobby Brown ? 2021 draft.Tutu is GONE.

A solid OT might be the call ? I still think Jalen Hurts was the call ahead of Cam Akers.Really wanted Johnathan Taylor.The Rams still had another couple picks & they F’d up on in T.Lewis(???) & Van Johnson.2020 & 2021 were not Les Sneads best drafts.

 

[InfiniteRam]

KW averaged 5.0 YPC in 2023. The decrease this year has nothing to do with him, and little to do with the O-Line. It's mostly about the stagnant passing game with no vertical threats that allow the LBs and S to play so close to the line.

 

[Mojo Ram]

I’m not someone who usually advocates trading for an expensive vet WR but adding Tyreek Hill to Nacua’s game could be lethal.

 

[So Ram]

I’m not someone who usually advocates trading for an expensive vet WR but adding Tyreek Hill to Nacua’s game could be lethal.

How many more years of Stafford ? I wonder what’s next there.I sort of always wish you could change the QB to see how they would do. I like how loose Jimmy G played,but then again at times he made certain plays,but then again had all day to throw.Then the Center would open things up when they found that weakness.

It comes down to making plays though.IMO The Rams need to at least think about grooming a QB under Mcvay.
To answer the question would be yes when the value is there.Maybe even trade back & get that Fiske type pick back & get a STUD RB ??