Improving Ram offense - 2025 RBs

[So Ram]

Williams is going into a contract year,so that’s always an option. A fast WR would be another option,because Tutu is GONE this offseason.

 

[Ellard80]

I think the idea that you need "A deep threat" is somewhat outdated.

Teams play so much shell coverage and Pass rushers are too lethal. I today's game you need playmakers you can catch shorter passes and RAC.

The "Deep threat" concept to me isn't as much of a thing right now.

 

[PhillyRam]

I know a lot of fans love Kyren.
I respect the passion, effort and toughness with which he plays, but having an elite RB would really help.
Remember the offense with a healthy Gurley?
Imagine the offense with a Gibbs?
PFF rated the Ram OL the 5th best run blocking unit for 2024, but our backs were rated 22nd.

Here's how PFF rated Ram RBs for 2024:

View attachment 69182
What does everyone think?

RBs are good enough go with what we've got?
Try to add some more "explosive" RBs?
Add a 3rd down back with better pass receiving skills?
Give more carries to Corum/Rivers and see what we have?

They could use a different look. Either a big back that has some juice, can run over people, and runaway from others, etc... Or a speed back like a poor man's Gibbs.

 

[PhillyRam]

I think the idea that you need "A deep threat" is somewhat outdated.

Teams play so much shell coverage and Pass rushers are too lethal. I today's game you need playmakers you can catch shorter passes and RAC.

The "Deep threat" concept to me isn't as much of a thing right now.

I think it's more about a guy who can beat man to man coverages. Just a tough cover guy for the defense and when he catches it, the opposing fans gulp because he can break away for a quick score.

 

[DzRams]

I think the idea that you need "A deep threat" is somewhat outdated.

Teams play so much shell coverage and Pass rushers are too lethal. I today's game you need playmakers you can catch shorter passes and RAC.

The "Deep threat" concept to me isn't as much of a thing right now.

What I've heard McVay talk about is having someone who can threaten every level of the field: short, intermediate, and deep.

If you don't have someone who can threaten deep, the defense will just bring everyone forward and muck up the intermediate and short routes as well as defend the run easier.

 

[Ellard80]

What I've heard McVay talk about is having someone who can threaten every level of the field: short, intermediate, and deep.

If you don't have someone who can threaten deep, the defense will just bring everyone forward and muck up the intermediate and short routes as well as defend the run easier.

Ehh... I'll give an example.

The Bengals have an explosive passing game - jumar chase can definitely beat you deep.

But a much higher percentage of his big plays are catch and runs.

I bet you you could find an analytic break down of air yards and big chunk plays in the NFL you would find that a very small percentage are "deep" throws.

It's just not the thing right now. A threat is nice, but it's not a necessity.

Here is an article about it from last year.

Death of the long pass? Air yards are down across the NFL, and here's why

While NFL passing offenses remain prolific, the actual length and distance of attempts is trending down. Why? One-year blip or broader trend?

www.espn.com

 

[TheTackle]

I'd like to see a 6'2" 225-230 lb RB with blazing speed who has great hands and isn't afraid to blow somebody up on a blitz. Are any available in the upcoming draft?

The player from Oklahoma State, Ollie Gordon II, looks intriguing

Anyone here watched him?

 

[TheTackle]

The player from Oklahoma State, Ollie Gordon II, looks intriguing

Anyone here watched him?

I would love us to draft Brashard Smith

He reminds me of an all-time great who was undervalued because of his size, Darren Sproles

He would add some sizzle in the return game too. He could be a huge all-purpose yards type player on this team


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vcmmz0JUSI

 

[fanotodd]

https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/stats/...ng that our QB/WRs combo is our strength.

I think you have just nailed the i...rs further out of range to help stop the run.

 

[DzRams]

Ehh... I'll give an example.

The Bengals have an explosive passing game - jumar chase can definitely beat you deep.

But a much higher percentage of his big plays are catch and runs.

I bet you you could find an analytic break down of air yards and big chunk plays in the NFL you would find that a very small percentage are "deep" throws.

It's just not the thing right now. A threat is nice, but it's not a necessity.

Here is an article about it from last year.

Death of the long pass? Air yards are down across the NFL, and here's why

While NFL passing offenses remain prolific, the actual length and distance of attempts is trending down. Why? One-year blip or broader trend?

www.espn.com

You're right that deep throws are a small percentage of the chunk plays in the NFL. That's not the same as saying that a threat is nice but not a necessity.

Actually going often to the threat may not be a necessity but having the threat is a necessity.

In your own words you say that Chase "can definitely beat you deep." That's a huge part of his value. That threat affects how defense play him and the Bengals as a whole. In fact, the article you cite states that exact thing: "Taylor noticed defenses playing Burrow differently, taking away the deep balls that made the Bengals offense so lethal."

This article you cited says it best with the words of Mahomes:

"We faced so many deep coverages where teams were taking away all our deep throws," Mahomes said of the 2021 season during a Super Bowl LV media session. "I had to learn when to just take what's underneath. That's something where I've kind of grown and matured. We'll call deep plays still all the time, but if defenses are going to play that deep, even though I want to in my heart of hearts to throw it downfield and make those big plays, I'll take the underneath stuff and find ways to move the ball down the field that way."

If you don't have the over the top threat, a defense can take that away AND the underneath stuff.

 

[rdlkgliders]

Ehh... I'll give an example.

The Bengals have an explosive passing game - jumar chase can definitely beat you deep.

But a much higher percentage of his big plays are catch and runs.

I bet you you could find an analytic break down of air yards and big chunk plays in the NFL you would find that a very small percentage are "deep" throws.

It's just not the thing right now. A threat is nice, but it's not a necessity.

Here is an article about it from last year.

Death of the long pass? Air yards are down across the NFL, and here's why

While NFL passing offenses remain prolific, the actual length and distance of attempts is trending down. Why? One-year blip or broader trend?

www.espn.com

Really interesting article, thanks for sharing it. We are seeing this but never really was sure why. Article certainly made you consider so of these points

 

[pvtdragon39]

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

Just imagine Kupp, Puka, Hill! Damn!!! With JW and TJ as back-ups.

 

[Memento]

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

Over thirty? Serious criminal actions against his girlfriend and one of his kids? Huge contract that would keep us from re-signing A-Jax and eventually Nacua and Turner? Already a malcontent who wants to rip up said contract so he can be the number one paid receiver in the league?

And when you consider the fact that this is a deep and talented wide receiver class, Hill shouldn't even be an option. I would be extremely upset if they went that route.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

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.

I believe their ratings are more accurate at some positions than they are others. But I’ve seen some high ratings on some past Rams that did not have good games.

The toughest got them to judge imo is offensive line.

But, let’s say a QB has receivers not running the appropriate routes. The QB gets the low score based on poor receiver play. It’s not a fool proof system.

 

[DzRams]

Over thirty? Serious criminal actions against his girlfriend and one of his kids? Huge contract that would keep us from re-signing A-Jax and eventually Nacua and Turner? Already a malcontent who wants to rip up said contract so he can be the number one paid receiver in the league?

And when you consider the fact that this is a deep and talented wide receiver class, Hill shouldn't even be an option. I would be extremely upset if they went that route.

A lot of good points, all valid but one.

His contract would NOT keep them from resigning AJ or anyone else. Hill actually has a really well-structured contract.

In 2025, he would only cost approx. $15 mil. on the Rams books which would be a great deal! In 2026, it would cost $40 mil. but it's setup to be restructured since he has 3 void years built in. Also, it's very likely the Rams move off of Kupp's $30 mil. contract in 2026.

That said, I don't see the Rams trading for him b/c I don't think Hill fits the culture.

 

[Ramstien]

Kupp > Hill

 

[Allen2McVay]

A lot of good points, all valid but one.

His contract would NOT keep them from resigning AJ or anyone else. Hill actually has a really well-structured contract.

You don't think a big part of Hill's recent comments and behavior are tied to him wanting a new contract?

 

[DzRams]

You don't think a big part of Hill's recent comments and behavior are tied to him wanting a new contract?

It's possible, but I haven't seen anything that indicates that.

It seemed his comments were an emotional reaction from a subpar season and missing the playoffs. He said I'm a competitor.

 

[Allen2McVay]

It's possible, but I haven't seen anything that indicates that.

It seemed his comments were an emotional reaction from a subpar season and missing the playoffs. He said I'm a competitor.

OK ... maybe ... but there has been a ton of conjecture by the pundits that it's all about the Do-Re-Mi; and that would be consistent with Hill's past motivation when he was with the Chiefs.

I realize what he said but what else would he say after taking himself out of that final game?
He's not going to say 'You want me to play ... Pay me'

You may be right. I'm just not inclined to give Tyreek Hill the benifit-of-a-doubt but I am cynical.

 

[gogoat1]

I think the idea that you need "A deep threat" is somewhat outdated.

Teams play so much shell coverage and Pass rushers are too lethal. I today's game you need playmakers you can catch shorter passes and RAC.

The "Deep threat" concept to me isn't as much of a thing right now.

We still need "a deep threat".
I be if you tried to sell your idea to Sean McVay he would tell you otherwise. He gave up a 1st round pick for Cooks early on for a reason. Deep threat who can stretch the field.