Overall Roster Analysis

[TexasRam]

Pretty solid ratings in my opinion.

The only places I would differ:

Jackson - I would pencil him in as starter due to several really solid games last year.
Durant - Starter is a projection. We are clearly going to be forced into getting him playing time and I love his upside as a playmaker. Sort of a Dre Bly vibe. But can he tackle at this level and consistently cover or is he just a flash in the pan with his risk taking picks.
Hoecht - same as Durant. Lots of playmaking ability. But will he be a massive liability vs the run and relegated to pass rush packages?

I agree Mcvay is an X factor and can probably account for a few wins better than what the roster talent would normally return.

Can we find 3 starters or plus starters that can come in as rookies with our 2nd round and 2 third round picks (or later picks)? Very very unlikley.

To be a realist, I think we have very little chance to be above 500 and make a wildcard in 2023, even with plugging some holes with late cuts or having a great draft. Anything is possible, but I am not counting on it at all.

 

[FrantikRam]

I absolutely disagree the defense has been decimated only AD and Jones are the only two good players on D. Durant and Fuller the jury is still out.

We have almost our entire st gone. No solid back up QB, maybe Robinson gets traded away on Offense. This OL sucked in every configuration it is below average C- to D+. We are stuck with Akers, Kupp, Goff and Higby and Skoronick on Offense and that's it.

We do not have a prayer with CBs, OL, Safeties and OLBs of competing.

Everyone keeps saying the draft the draft. History proves the draft is far from the answer. Most flame out, we don't have any 1sts and they usually take several years to get up to speed so stop thinking the draft is our savior because it's not.

If you want to move the thread into 2023 is a transitional year I'll go along but stop the fantasyland pie in the sky thinking this team is going to be remotely good. I not sure we beat AZ for last place in our division and they super suck with 4 new 1st time coaches/GM and Hopkins potentially moving on.

This disaster of 2023 is predicated on minimal injuries God forbid if we sustain heavy injuries again like last year. Imo we are one of the 5 worst teams in the NFL only Kupp, Stafford and AD keep us from being worse.

People counted us out after 2019 too.

I guarantee we make the playoffs next year.

Oh and "the draft the draft when has that worked out?" Our picks feel awfully similar to McVays first draft...Kupp and John Johnson both played pivotal roles.

What a straight up terrible post.

 

[Riverumbbq]

People counted us out after 2019 too.

I guarantee we make the playoffs next year.

Oh and "the draft the draft when has that worked out?" Our picks feel awfully similar to McVays first draft...Kupp and John Johnson both played pivotal roles.

What a straight up terrible post.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8lT1o0sDwI

 

[RamsOfCastamere]

Making Hoecht green is a reach imo. I don't think he can start at OLB anywhere else, so that makes him depth.

 

[TexasRam]

People counted us out after 2019 too.

I guarantee we make the playoffs next year.

Oh and "the draft the draft when has that worked out?" Our picks feel awfully similar to McVays first draft...Kupp and John Johnson both played pivotal roles.

What a straight up terrible post.

Dam bro. I guess he touched a nerve.

I know people don't like to hear it, but we are a shell of the team we were 2 years ago. We didnt just miss a draft pick or swap QB's. We lost tons and tons of talent that wasn't replaced. Whitworth, Corbett, Ramsey, Woods, OBJ, Weddle, Miller, Wagner, Scott, Floyd, Gay, Gaines, Ashawn. It a massive, massive drop in talent.

I though his arguments were solid. Special teams shipped out completely. Defense is decimated and the Oline is going to be a major problem again.

Kupp had 62 catches for 869 yards and 5 TD's his rookie year. It wasn't seasoned, superstar Kupp who more then doubled those numbers in '21 with 145 catches for 1947 yards and 16 TD's. Not to mention his playoff dominance.

Even if we had a great draft it's unrealistic to expect much year 1 for these rookies. Best case scenario we get a pass rusher that has a nice 10 sack campaign or a lineman that can be solid. We are not drafting top or RD1 where we can land a Sauce Gardner.

 

[blackbart]

I seriously need some of whatever you’re smoking, drinking, snorting, popping or shooting if you think this team is anything close to playoff caliber.

I realize the NFC is down a little but damn.

 

[PhillyRam]

I seriously need some of whatever you’re smoking, drinking, snorting, popping or shooting if you think this team is anything close to playoff caliber.

I realize the NFC is down a little but damn.

Well, I don't know, but you think the Giants roster of this past yr is better than what the Rams could be next yr, assuming the Rams are relatively healthy in 23'?

The point is at least one bad team or a very marginal team will make the playoffs this yr. The 7th seed and a bad NFC guarantees that.

 

[blackbart]

Well, I don't know, but you think the Giants roster of this past yr is better than what the Rams could be next yr, assuming the Rams are relatively healthy in 23'?

The point is at least one bad team or a very marginal team will make the playoffs this yr. The 7th seed and a bad NFC guarantees that.

Yes, we’ll be lucky to beat the Cards at home for 1-5 in division.

That D, even with 2 new starters in the draft will be giving up 24+ per game.

The injuries along the Oline, Noteboom and Allen were not just something that happened last year. They are going to get Stafford hammered again if they don’t find some help and there isn’t much left in FA worth getting during a rebuild.

SF, Dallas, Seattle, Philly, Minnesota, Detroit, Carolina, TB Giants and NO all easily better than us. Hell GB might be in there too even without Rogers.

IF Stafford can play the whole year, they might win 5 games.

 

[Steve808]

I get that we are paying the price for going "all in" to win SB 56. It was well worth it and I would gladly take that deal again.

But if the Rams can't win it, then my next item on the "wish list" for the upcoming season is for the whiners to not win the championship. I hate them with a passion.

 

[Merlin]

No K, P, LS=missed FG's, bad snaps, short and blocked punts.

I thought about including them but we don't have anyone in that room so said F it.

 

[Merlin]

Making Hoecht green is a reach imo. I don't think he can start at OLB anywhere else, so that makes him depth.

Yeah there's a few that could go either way. But Hoecht gets the nod from me because he gets pressure and plays high intensity 100% of snaps. Also he's got good strength at the point so I think the contain can be fixed.

 

[Merlin]

Jackson - I would pencil him in as starter due to several really solid games last year.
Durant - Starter is a projection. We are clearly going to be forced into getting him playing time and I love his upside as a playmaker. Sort of a Dre Bly vibe. But can he tackle at this level and consistently cover or is he just a flash in the pan with his risk taking picks.

Jackson was a tough one. It's close but he got hurt and we don't know if we can trust him so opted to be conservative.

Durant led this secondary in INTs in part time snaps. I realize he's a projection but I think he is not only quality from day one but will improve as we go. So might be way off on him but I see him as a starter.

 

[Merlin]

I seriously need some of whatever you’re smoking, drinking, snorting, popping or shooting if you think this team is anything close to playoff caliber.

I realize the NFC is down a little but damn.

When you look at the roster on day one you have to leave some room for a rare draft haul. What if that happens. This is why I said we are out as SB contenders but the wildcard is our ceiling. Also mentioned is it was likely we will be sellers at midseason, which is admitting chances are we're gonna lose and move players at the deadline.

But there is no reason to say we have zero hope to make the playoffs. Especially when teams make the playoffs with losing records. Or when downright shitty teams make it some seasons. Or given that the NFC is not that strong.

This will be more interesting to do once we get a draft and get a full roster to look at. But I was bored.

 

[blackbart]

When you look at the roster on day one you have to leave some room for a rare draft haul. What if that happens. This is why I said we are out as SB contenders but the wildcard is our ceiling. Also mentioned is it was likely we will be sellers at midseason, which is admitting chances are we're gonna lose and move players at the deadline.

But there is no reason to say we have zero hope to make the playoffs. Especially when teams make the playoffs with losing records. Or when downright shitty teams make it some seasons. Or given that the NFC is not that strong.

This will be more interesting to do once we get a draft and get a full roster to look at. But I was bored.

I agree there is a micro slim possibility of finding rare talent that can help and if that draft is outstanding there could be a couple of starters. But, with where we are drafting we can be certain there won’t be rare talent available.

Last year we all thought the DBs we had were going to be saviors off the secondary but through the season they looked mediocre as a group. Maybe new coaches and another year will elevate them. I expect the same from this year’s class. College just does not prepare them for playing in the NFL with very rare exceptions.

I get the boredom, maybe we’ll get a signing this week to fan the coals of hope.

Whoever they run out I’ll cheer for and have hope but, at this point I’m too old to give up a year while they figure it out.

 

[Tano]

Whoever they run out I’ll cheer for and have hope but, at this point I’m too old to give up a year while they figure it out.

This

 

[RamDino]

Even when the team sucked, i always had hope. This year feels different. However, I guess the only place to go, at this point, is up. Go Rams!

 

[den-the-coach]

No K, P, LS=missed FG's, bad snaps, short and blocked punts.

 

[Tano]

Even when the team sucked, i always had hope. This year feels different. However, I guess the only place to go, at this point, is up. Go Rams!

I did not have hope in 2009

 

[oldnotdead]

Would you consider Ernest Jones a starting caliber ILB? He was a 3rd round pick that everyone thought was over drafted. But he had 3 qualities all good players need. A good football IQ, a non-stop motor, and desire, all three allow him to play above his so-called limitations. He was considered by pre-draft evaluations a backup level talent.

Nick Scott was a raw talent who was looked upon solely as a STs player nothing more. Now he's become a sought after FS starter.

Greg Gaines was also thought to be over drafted by the pundits in the 4th round. I saw the talent in the kid and kept saying so. Like Jones, he had those same 3 qualities about him.

Michael Hoecht was an UDFA who I've been high on from day one. I see a lot of the qualities in him that I see in the aforementioned three players. If he loses weight and gets down closer to 180 he will regain his speed. With a year of targeted coaching at his new position he could become a good DE for the Rams. IMO he can play either side unlike Hardy who might be best as a rotational player on the weak side.

I'm not saying the Rams can't strike gold on all three of their first picks. But to assume they won't fly in the face of how well the Rams evaluate talent. There is a reason Ram FAs are sought after. Both Gaines and Jones aren't the most gifted athletically. But there is no doubt both are impact players. IMO Gaines was as instrumental in that Super Bowl win as any other player. That final 4th and one doesn't happen without two players besides Donald. Retread playing injured Eric Weddle making that second round stop short of the line to gain. Then Gaines stopping the RB on 3rd down with the assistance of Donald. They set the table for Donald's historic play.

Every team needs role players. They can get a good player at 36 if they keep the pick which I hope they do. That pick combined with their top 3rd round pick allows Snead to move into the bottom of the 1st round, but I doubt Snead will do that.

My hope is that Murchison is another high motor player like Gaines. He will be in a rotational role so it will be interesting if he can be an impact player. He was thought of as a 5th round player and the Titans drafted him in the late 5th round. But there is no question both Snead and McVay were very keen on claiming him off the wire. They obviously see something in him.

Again I say most people underestimate the talent remaining on this roster. I think Snead has more cards to play this off season. He can still change the direction of this trend. Why do supposed fans throw in the towel so quickly? Snead and McVay proved them wrong in 2021 and I think they can do it again.

 

[blackbart]

Would you consider Ernest Jones a starting caliber ILB? He was a 3rd round pick that everyone thought was over drafted. But he had 3 qualities all good players need. A good football IQ, a non-stop motor, and desire, all three allow him to play above his so-called limitations. He was considered by pre-draft evaluations a backup level talent.

Nick Scott was a raw talent who was looked upon solely as a STs player nothing more. Now he's become a sought after FS starter.

Greg Gaines was also thought to be over drafted by the pundits in the 4th round. I saw the talent in the kid and kept saying so. Like Jones, he had those same 3 qualities about him.

Michael Hoecht was an UDFA who I've been high on from day one. I see a lot of the qualities in him that I see in the aforementioned three players. If he loses weight and gets down closer to 180 he will regain his speed. With a year of targeted coaching at his new position he could become a good DE for the Rams. IMO he can play either side unlike Hardy who might be best as a rotational player on the weak side.

I'm not saying the Rams can't strike gold on all three of their first picks. But to assume they won't fly in the face of how well the Rams evaluate talent. There is a reason Ram FAs are sought after. Both Gaines and Jones aren't the most gifted athletically. But there is no doubt both are impact players. IMO Gaines was as instrumental in that Super Bowl win as any other player. That final 4th and one doesn't happen without two players besides Donald. Retread playing injured Eric Weddle making that second round stop short of the line to gain. Then Gaines stopping the RB on 3rd down with the assistance of Donald. They set the table for Donald's historic play.

Every team needs role players. They can get a good player at 36 if they keep the pick which I hope they do. That pick combined with their top 3rd round pick allows Snead to move into the bottom of the 1st round, but I doubt Snead will do that.

My hope is that Murchison is another high motor player like Gaines. He will be in a rotational role so it will be interesting if he can be an impact player. He was thought of as a 5th round player and the Titans drafted him in the late 5th round. But there is no question both Snead and McVay were very keen on claiming him off the wire. They obviously see something in him.

Again I say most people underestimate the talent remaining on this roster. I think Snead has more cards to play this off season. He can still change the direction of this trend. Why do supposed fans throw in the towel so quickly? Snead and McVay proved them wrong in 2021 and I think they can do it again.

There were no fans surprised by the talent in 2021.

And calling people who question the process this year “supposed fans”, is uncalled for and against site rules.

You’re not above those rules.