- Joined
- Aug 5, 2021
- Messages
- 8,671
- Name
- Kupped
I'm trying to be realistic about the coming season while maintaining a positive outlook about the team. I'm not going to be as focused on wins and losses as I am on the development of young players, because I think we're into year 2 of a major reset. If this team is going to get anywhere, it needs to start developing some real talent.
On that note... I'm laying out my expectation for players and units. The basic question is do I think player X will perform better than the player they are replacing from last year and/or just improving if it's the same player. Same for units. I'm not doing every rostered player.
There are some slightly different questions for a couple of players because they don't quite fit the comp model, or carry some extra expectations.
I do expect more out of the coaching staff this year, but I'm not sure how well I'll be able to quantify that.
Here goes nothing:
Matt Stafford HIGH
Cam Akers HIGH
Kyren Williams HIGH
RB Group HIGH
Van Jefferson HIGH
Ben Skowronek HIGH
Tutu Atwell HIGH
Puka Nacua (replacing Allen Robinson) MEDIUM
Demarcus Robinson (Brandon Powell) MEDIUM
WR Group MEDIUM
Tyler Higbee HIGH
Brycen Hopkins MEDIUM TO LOW
Davis Allen (replacing Kendall Blanton) MEDIUM TO HIGH
Hunter Long (can he replace Higbee eventually is the question here) MEDIUM TO LOW
TE Group HIGH
Alaric Jackson HIGH
Steve Avila (replacing David Edwards) HIGH
Coleman Shelton HIGH
RIGHT GUARD SITUATION HIGH
Rob Havenstein MEDIUM TO HIGH
OLINE DEPTH MEDIUM TO HIGH
OLINE AS A GROUP MEDIUM TO HIGH
The takeaway from the offense is that I expect a much better overall performance this year. Of course... it ALL starts with the line. While I like the individual pieces a lot.. it's basically a brand new unit, with a rookie starter. There could be some rough times.. but I think they have the talent and depth to be good.
Akhello Witherspoon (replacing Troy Hill) MEDIUM
Cobie Durant (replacing Jalen Ramsey) LOW This is a weird one.. because I expect Durant to be much better.. but he's being expected to be the best of the unit, so I have to compare him to the best of last year's unit who has departed.. and Durant isn't Ramsey)
Derion Kendrick MEDIUM TO HIGH
Tre Tomlinson (replacing David Long Jr) HIGH
Duke Shelley (replacing Robert Rochell) HIGH
Corner Group MEDIUM TO LOW
Jordan Fuller MEDIUM
Russ Yeast (replacing Nick Scott) MEDIUM TO LOW
Quentin Lake (replacing Taylor Rapp) MEDIUM
John Johnson Not sure how to place him.. I don't expect him to be as good as his last time with the Rams LOWER
Jason Taylor (replacing Terrell Burgess)
Safety Group MEDIUM TO LOW
Byron Young (replacing Justin Hollins) MEDIUM
Ochuan Mathis (replacing Terrell Lewis) MEDIUM
Michael Hoecht (replacing Leonard Floyd) LOW
Edge group LOW
Ernest Jones MEDIUM
Hummel and Rozeboom LOW
Kobie Turner (replacing Gaines) LOW
Bobby Brown (replacing A'Shawn Robinson) LOW
Aaron Donald MEDIUM TO HIGH
D Line Group LOW
Special Teams LOW
No earth-shattering insight.. but I like laying them out like this to see if it moves me on any of my big-picture notions about this year.
The offensive line is going to be so, SO important.. even more so now, with Kupp out, imo. And.. If the Oline can come out strong and be an actually GOOD unit from the start? This team will look respectable, overall, I think. They are going to run over some dudes with Akers, I think.
The defense has some young potential, but some glaring questions at every level. I hope they try to have fun by being aggressive.. but I expect major growing pains.
Feels like a season where 9-8 is irresponsibly optimistic, especially with their schedule... but, that's why they play the games, right?
Feels like a 7 win season, at best.. and I hope I'm dead wrong. But, if the young players make big strides? And they find real keepers? It will still be fun.
On that note... I'm laying out my expectation for players and units. The basic question is do I think player X will perform better than the player they are replacing from last year and/or just improving if it's the same player. Same for units. I'm not doing every rostered player.
There are some slightly different questions for a couple of players because they don't quite fit the comp model, or carry some extra expectations.
I do expect more out of the coaching staff this year, but I'm not sure how well I'll be able to quantify that.
Here goes nothing:
Matt Stafford HIGH
Cam Akers HIGH
Kyren Williams HIGH
RB Group HIGH
Van Jefferson HIGH
Ben Skowronek HIGH
Tutu Atwell HIGH
Puka Nacua (replacing Allen Robinson) MEDIUM
Demarcus Robinson (Brandon Powell) MEDIUM
WR Group MEDIUM
Tyler Higbee HIGH
Brycen Hopkins MEDIUM TO LOW
Davis Allen (replacing Kendall Blanton) MEDIUM TO HIGH
Hunter Long (can he replace Higbee eventually is the question here) MEDIUM TO LOW
TE Group HIGH
Alaric Jackson HIGH
Steve Avila (replacing David Edwards) HIGH
Coleman Shelton HIGH
RIGHT GUARD SITUATION HIGH
Rob Havenstein MEDIUM TO HIGH
OLINE DEPTH MEDIUM TO HIGH
OLINE AS A GROUP MEDIUM TO HIGH
The takeaway from the offense is that I expect a much better overall performance this year. Of course... it ALL starts with the line. While I like the individual pieces a lot.. it's basically a brand new unit, with a rookie starter. There could be some rough times.. but I think they have the talent and depth to be good.
Akhello Witherspoon (replacing Troy Hill) MEDIUM
Cobie Durant (replacing Jalen Ramsey) LOW This is a weird one.. because I expect Durant to be much better.. but he's being expected to be the best of the unit, so I have to compare him to the best of last year's unit who has departed.. and Durant isn't Ramsey)
Derion Kendrick MEDIUM TO HIGH
Tre Tomlinson (replacing David Long Jr) HIGH
Duke Shelley (replacing Robert Rochell) HIGH
Corner Group MEDIUM TO LOW
Jordan Fuller MEDIUM
Russ Yeast (replacing Nick Scott) MEDIUM TO LOW
Quentin Lake (replacing Taylor Rapp) MEDIUM
John Johnson Not sure how to place him.. I don't expect him to be as good as his last time with the Rams LOWER
Jason Taylor (replacing Terrell Burgess)
Safety Group MEDIUM TO LOW
Byron Young (replacing Justin Hollins) MEDIUM
Ochuan Mathis (replacing Terrell Lewis) MEDIUM
Michael Hoecht (replacing Leonard Floyd) LOW
Edge group LOW
Ernest Jones MEDIUM
Hummel and Rozeboom LOW
Kobie Turner (replacing Gaines) LOW
Bobby Brown (replacing A'Shawn Robinson) LOW
Aaron Donald MEDIUM TO HIGH
D Line Group LOW
Special Teams LOW
No earth-shattering insight.. but I like laying them out like this to see if it moves me on any of my big-picture notions about this year.
The offensive line is going to be so, SO important.. even more so now, with Kupp out, imo. And.. If the Oline can come out strong and be an actually GOOD unit from the start? This team will look respectable, overall, I think. They are going to run over some dudes with Akers, I think.
The defense has some young potential, but some glaring questions at every level. I hope they try to have fun by being aggressive.. but I expect major growing pains.
Feels like a season where 9-8 is irresponsibly optimistic, especially with their schedule... but, that's why they play the games, right?
Feels like a 7 win season, at best.. and I hope I'm dead wrong. But, if the young players make big strides? And they find real keepers? It will still be fun.
