Now that it’s just about over I can say…this was a strange offseason.

[AvengerRam]

I've been a Rams fan for a long time, and I can definitely say I've seen a lot.

Clearly, though... I haven't seen it all.

This offseason was like no other I can recall. I cannot think of another year in which the Rams did less for the immediate success of the team than they did in 2023.

We didn't sign any significant, top-end free agents from outside the team (Ahkello Witherspoon, John Johnson and Demarcus Robinson don't qualify). We didn't sign any of our own free agents to long-term, big money, extensions. We traded away a top player (Jalen Ramsey) for a modest return in what most would call a salary cap move. We just made another trade for a guy (Kevin Dotson) who is a potential starter. Meanwhile, we allowed several FAs to leave, some of whom could have been retained for modest deals. To restock the shelves, we drafted several players, but lacked a first round pick.

We all know the method behind this madness. This is clearly a short-term purge designed to set things up for a 2024 surge. I have no doubt that next offseason we'll be an active player in the FA market, and we'll finally have a first round pick (unless we make a big trade again).

So, yeah... this is different.

Will it work in the short run (meaning we'll be competitive in the 2023) and the long run (meaning we'll contend again in 2024 and beyond)? Who knows?

Buckle up... the shit gets real in ten days!

 

[Tumak61]

I think they moved on from several players at the right time. Ramsey and Floyd come to mind. McVay and Snead sat down and did an evaluation on their "Run It Back" season and decided there was cap space better allocated elsewhere. A'Shawn was ok but outside the playoffs didn't really play consistently. Wagner was ok but not worth the price.

 

[Ramstien]

They went all in to win a Superbowl and were successful of course, the check came due, and they had to pay for it. I personally am somewhat excited to see this rebuild. Let us not forget that the year before the Rams won the Superbowl in 1999 their record was 1 & 15, if I am not mistaken. "Worst to first", baby!

 

[Merlin]

It feels good to sit back and not really give a shit how the team does. I mean last season was sort of that way too but I didn't see the SB hangover effect or the decay or whatever you want to call it hitting that fast. But this time around I'm in that kind of mindset where I was through the 90s, where I'm hoping they win but when they don't welp guess I'll start following the draft.

Honestly the Rams kind of killed my draft interest with this modern approach. I still watch of course but I don't spend nearly as much time looking at players.

This college season I have earmarked the QBs of interest and will continue to do so. I think keeping up to date with them as well as the cornerstone spots as the college season goes on will be a fun deviation for me this year. Because the Rams will certainly be taking a cornerstone position in this draft. So if we draft high hey no sweat. I'm all good and it feels like a break in a lot of ways.

Now back to polishing that Lombardi.

 

[snackdaddy]

It feels like they bought a great house where the first few years the mortgage was reasonable. They had pool parties. Holiday parties. Lived it up. Champagne and caviar. Filet Mignon. Lobster. It was a great time. Everyone had fun.

Then the balloon payment came due. Had to sell the great house. Sell all the nice furniture. Sell the Mercedes and BMW's. Buy a small Ford compact car. Move into a studio. Cheap wine from a box. Hungry man TV dinners. Hot pockets.

They have to save up their money again to try for another nice house down the road. But this time do it smart and try to hold onto it.

 

[bubbaramfan]

They gutted the D. They could have resigned NT Gaines for a couple mil. Now they only have one NT who gets seriously gassed after a few series. 3 returning starters.
Still time to make additions.

 

[thirteen28]

They went all in to win a Superbowl and were successful of course, the check came due, and they had to pay for it. I personally am somewhat excited to see this rebuild. Let us not forget that the year before the Rams won the Superbowl in 1999 their record was 1 & 15, if I am not mistaken. "Worst to first", baby!

4-12, but still worst to first.

 

[PARAM]

It's the same old, same old with these Rams. Not the same old 7-9 bullshit. The same old, "let's figure out a different way to do it, that we haven't tried before". They gutted the team in 2017. Spent wisely in 2018. Got bit by the injury bug in 2019 (and spent some might say foolishly). Went back to the drawing board in 2020. All in in 2021. Then got bit by a huge bug in 2022. No matter which way they've tried it they've won, except when massive injuries ocurred. So if serve holds, we should have at least a decent season and a stellar season the next two years. After that, maybe they'll figure out another way to do it. Just for shits and giggles. I gotta admit, I'm enjoying the rollercoaster! Beats the hell out of Linspagisherball!!

 

[Spider2YB]

I know there wasn’t a ton of wiggle room over the summer, but I’m surprised at the lack of moves. Especially since McVay came back. Last season almost killed him, he almost bounced for television. I assumed when he decided to return it would be because the team wasn’t standing still. Most books have had the O/U win total between 5.5-6.5 all summer. Why would McVay come back for that?

I get the feeling they’ve essentially said to Stafford, AD, and Kupp “let’s give it one more year. If we’ve found something with these youngsters we’ll really get aggressive and make some moves next offseason to try and make another run. If there’s nothing here, you will all be somewhere else next year and not hear for the rebuild”.

 

[GoodBadUgly]

It feels like they bought a great house where the first few years the mortgage was reasonable. They had pool parties. Holiday parties. Lived it up. Champagne and caviar. Filet Mignon. Lobster. It was a great time. Everyone had fun.

Then the balloon payment came due. Had to sell the great house. Sell all the nice furniture. Sell the Mercedes and BMW's. Buy a small Ford compact car. Move into a studio. Cheap wine from a box. Hungry man TV dinners. Hot pockets.

They have to save up their money again to try for another nice house down the road. But this time do it smart and try to hold onto it.

Man this is sad recap of my life.

Killing me Smalls!

 

[oldnotdead]

Snead and McVay feel they have built the foundation this year. This is a foundational season to give this young roster seasoning for the real run starting next year and beyond. I think they did well with Young, Turner, and Tomlinson. I also think VanValkenburg will become a key rotational player. He's able to rotate behind both Young and Hoecht and they won't see a huge dropoff. I think this is Fuller's last year but I feel good about Yeast, Lake, and Taylor.

Witherspoon is a starting level CB who was a 3rd round pick of the Niners. With a couple of exceptions, he's been a decent starter. Injury has been what's derailed his career. With Durant, and Tomlinson as the starters, Witherspoon gives them a very capable veteran behind them. No surprise Raheem's pet made the roster. If he shuts his mouth and simply balls out then okay, but I will never forgive his lack of effort against Deebo. I've got no patience with a guy that mouths off and then wimps out on the field. Jolly made the team but primarily as a STs player. I like the kid who has limited athleticism but simply balls out when given the chance.

I really loved the Turner pick. He's going to be a good guy to follow up when AD retires. They have been playing him out of position to give him reps but he's really just a 3T. He's got the quickness so if he can strengthen he will be a load for the OL to handle.

Dotson not only gives them an option this year but completes their OL for next year. With OTs of Jackson, Noteboom, Center Allen and OGs of Avila and Dotson. Dotson isn't a dominating OG but he's far from a scrub. Avila is the better run blocker so I wouldn't be surprised to see him shift to the right and allow them to be a predominately right-side run attack. They also would want their only experienced OG to be at LG. Noteboom, McClendon, Thomas, and Shelton gives them good depth on gamedays. By not playing Noteboom this year they allow him to completely heal and contend for the start at RT next year. I simply don't see them paying $14.7M for a 32 year old average RT.

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

Everyone agrees that the bill was due after the Superbowl win. But what people are forgetting is we paid even more than was due by giving huge extensions to our top three players. And that's why we are screwed this year.

 

[Tumak61]

Let's just get to that first game and we'll see what's what.

 

[Soul Surfer]

It feels good to sit back and not really give a shit how the team does.

Blasphemy!!!!

You get the tar and I'll get the feathers!!!!

 

[AZRams]

Linspagisherball!!

 

[Merlin]

I get the feeling they’ve essentially said to Stafford, AD, and Kupp “let’s give it one more year. If we’ve found something with these youngsters we’ll really get aggressive and make some moves next offseason to try and make another run. If there’s nothing here, you will all be somewhere else next year and not hear for the rebuild”.

It is possible you are correct on that. Also if we lose a ton then McVay could decide to take a break from coaching. Because it is one thing to discuss that they might lose a ton but then get that high pick when it is from the safety of the offseason. But another thing to actually live through that for a competitor like him.

Also if they do lose a ton then it does create a natural break, with the job opening up and the team poised to draft a QB.

Also in that scenario it makes sense to move AD to a contender to give them the ammo they need and give him a shot at another ring.

I'm just kind of spitballing here and not really sweating all this but in that mental simulation of how things might go if we lose there is room for an offseason with a lot of change. At the very least I expect some front office moves as the end result of analysis in the wake of losing.

So hopefully we win more than expected. But yeah I am also prepared for big changes. And for the record if McVay wants a break I'd offer him a GM role or new position above Snead and try to keep him in house.

 

[PARAM]

And for the record if McVay wants a break I'd offer him a GM role or new position above Snead and try to keep him in house.

I like that.

 

[CGI_Ram]

I assumed when he decided to return it would be because the team wasn’t standing still. Most books have had the O/U win total between 5.5-6.5 all summer. Why would McVay come back for that?

In my opinion;

He came back because he’s an elite head coach. While he might also turn out be a great broadcaster, he’s more than likely to be just another talking head at that.

Not to mention, that’s a job he can always consider later. For now, he’s at the top of the mountain in his current profession and current with today’s game strategy.

I’d also say he came back for the same reason Mike Tomlin came back in 2003, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2022. You don’t win every year. It’s a lame look to pick up your toys and leave after a down season… especially when he knew the F-them-picks strategy was going to steal from the future a little.

 

[OldSchool]

It absolutely was. We'll still see tons of complaints about not drafting the right qb or rb or whatever and we didn't sign the right free agents. But they had an objective and money restrictions. I think they did well.

 

[Ramstien]

I believe three years from now we will look back and say this was one of Snead's best drafts, especially for what he had to work with.