Pro Football Focus ranks Rams’ roster second-best in entire NFL

[BonifayRam]

https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2019/...th-chart-2019-preview-pro-football-focus-espn

Pro Football Focus ranks Los Angeles Rams’ roster second-best in entire NFL
It has taken years, but the Rams are now beneficiaries of one of the best rosters in the NFL.

By 3k@3k_ Jun 26, 2019, 12:52pm CDT

Los Angeles Rams DL Aaron Donald holds the NFC Trophy as GM Les Snead and QB Jared Goff look on after defeating the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship, Jan. 20, 2019.
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Every year at ESPN, Pro Football Focus ranks every NFL roster broken down by their individual ratings for each player. And every year since they started, it has been a painful process for Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams fans.

Here’s how things looked the last five years:

• 2014: 31st
• 2015: 22nd
• 2016: 29th
• 2017: 31st
• 2018: 9th

These are more retrospective than prospective as they’re grades from the previous season and not projected grades for the season ahead. That can lead to some weird imbalances in the roster overall like say TE Gerald Everett. PFF graded him very low after his rookie season at 46.3; after last year, they’ve got him at a 82.5. Or take former Rams S Lamarcus Joyner. His successful 2017 season had him graded out at 90.3 heading into 2018 as one of the Rams’ highest-graded players.

There’s also the nature of roster projection. Last year, PFF had former Rams RG Jamon Brown and ILB Ramik Wilson as starters instead of RG Austin Blythe or ILB Cory Littleton (spoiler: this year, they have rookie OL Bobby Evans starting at left guard over OL Joseph Noteboom).

All that being said, here’s how they see things this year (subscription required) by ranking the Rams to have the second-best roster in the NFL after just the New England Patriots:

2. Los Angeles Rams

Biggest strength: Aaron Donald finished each of the past four seasons as the league’s highest-graded interior defender. And last year was Donald’s best season yet, as he earned a monstrous overall grade of 95.0 and recorded a mind-boggling 113 total pressures to lead interior defensive linemen by a handsome margin in both categories. He is a one-man wrecking crew, which will continue in 2019.

Biggest weakness: It’s tough to find a weakness on the Rams’ loaded defense, but collective run defense is probably it. Sure, they have Donald, but it wouldn’t hurt to get better against the run at other positions. Consider that the Patriots gained 154 rushing yards in the Super Bowl, and forced seven missed tackles. Aside from Donald, only one other Rams front-seven member earned a run-defense grade above 80.0 last season. That was Ndamukong Suh, who has left town.

X factor for 2019: Jared Goff is coming off a great season in which he earned an overall grade of 84.3, ranking eighth among quarterbacks, but struggled mightily in the Super Bowl loss to the Patriots. The Rams have an excellent coaching staff, a loaded roster and Super Bowl experience, but they will get only as far as Goff allows them to. The NFL is a quarterback-driven league, and if Goff can continue to improve, the Rams might get back to the big game. Goff’s clean-pocket passing ability ranked third in overall grade in 2018 and is an extremely strong and stable metric for looking at year-to-year production.

It’s just a damn fine roster overall and one with very few gaps. Yes, two new starters on the line will be a focal point. And the linebacking corps will be one for Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips to have to make the most out of, though that was the case last year and we did just fine sooooooo yeah.

The bottom line is this is just a different era of Rams football. In years past, especially prior to 2014, it was quite easy to claim the roster was holding the team back from success in the win column. That’s just not the case anymore.The Rams have the talent to win. Last year, they nearly won the whole thing.If anything, the roster won’t be something to hold them back in 2019.

 

[Akrasian]

I'm glad they like the Rams - but some of those grades and positions are bizarre.

Littleton is an outside linebacker?

Henderson's grade is so much higher than Gurley's before ever taking a snap?

Evans is the projected starter over Noteboom?

Gaines is evidently projected to be one of the best DTs in the league? I mean, a seriously elite player his rookie season drafted in the 4th round.

It just makes me question PFF yet again. I occasionally use their numbers when nothing else is available, but then they come back with serious head-scratchers.

 

[Ram65]

I'm glad they like the Rams - but some of those grades and positions are bizarre.

Littleton is an outside linebacker?

Henderson's grade is so much higher than Gurley's before ever taking a snap?

Evans is the projected starter over Noteboom?

Gaines is evidently projected to be one of the best DTs in the league? I mean, a seriously elite player his rookie season drafted in the 4th round.

It just makes me question PFF yet again. I occasionally use their numbers when nothing else is available, but then they come back with serious head-scratchers.

Some are college grades.

 

[Ram65]

Another off season entertainment ranking. It's not definitive by any means but, interesting.

side from Donald, only one other Rams front-seven member earned a run-defense grade above 80.0 last season. That was Ndamukong Suh, who has left town.

Very Surprising.

On the defensive side the numbers are low (in the 60s) for Brockers, Fowler, Mathews, Littleton and Peters.

As has been mentioned Brockers may have been hurt and losing weight could have effected him. Contract year coming so he should be better.

The Lbers have to step up. Fowler and Littleton in year two should help them. Mathews getting veteran rest and new surroundings should help him. Peters staying healthy and having Weddle should help him. Weddle should help the entire defense.

The Rams need to play more like they did in the SB where they were flying to the ball. The young guys getting playing time including Rapp, Gaines, JFM, SJD, Kiser can help energize the defense. They now have the mix of veterans with quality young players that can feed off each other.

 

[I like Rams]

I'm glad they like the Rams - but some of those grades and positions are bizarre.

Littleton is an outside linebacker?

Henderson's grade is so much higher than Gurley's before ever taking a snap?

Evans is the projected starter over Noteboom?

Gaines is evidently projected to be one of the best DTs in the league? I mean, a seriously elite player his rookie season drafted in the 4th round.

It just makes me question PFF yet again. I occasionally use their numbers when nothing else is available, but then they come back with serious head-scratchers.

So the kool aid is spiked a little. Just drink it, man.

 

[TexasRam]

I'm glad they like the Rams - but some of those grades and positions are bizarre.

Littleton is an outside linebacker?

Henderson's grade is so much higher than Gurley's before ever taking a snap?

Evans is the projected starter over Noteboom?

Gaines is evidently projected to be one of the best DTs in the league? I mean, a seriously elite player his rookie season drafted in the 4th round.

It just makes me question PFF yet again. I occasionally use their numbers when nothing else is available, but then they come back with serious head-scratchers.

yea some of those grades i was like ..

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

Hope I'm wrong, but I think Suh did more than a lot of people realize, just not in a stat-amassing high-visibility way. (I know this was an outlier for him, but I just watched our Cowboys playoff again last night. He really made some big plays.)

 

[Akrasian]

Hope I'm wrong, but I think Suh did more than a lot of people realize, just not in a stat-amassing high-visibility way. (I know this was an outlier for him, but I just watched our Cowboys playoff again last night. He really made some big plays.)

He did play better in the playoffs, but didn't really play as an nt during most of the regular season, going out of position looking for glory while allowing the rams to be gashed for big runs. Gaines won't look great but should make it tougher for rbs to find holes up the middle.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I'm glad they like the Rams - but some of those grades and positions are bizarre.

Littleton is an outside linebacker?

Henderson's grade is so much higher than Gurley's before ever taking a snap?

Evans is the projected starter over Noteboom?

Gaines is evidently projected to be one of the best DTs in the league? I mean, a seriously elite player his rookie season drafted in the 4th round.

It just makes me question PFF yet again. I occasionally use their numbers when nothing else is available, but then they come back with serious head-scratchers.

Whoever the guy is that's reading the tea leaves should have known better about smoking the stuff.

 

[fearsomefour]

Hope I'm wrong, but I think Suh did more than a lot of people realize, just not in a stat-amassing high-visibility way. (I know this was an outlier for him, but I just watched our Cowboys playoff again last night. He really made some big plays.)

He was great in the playoffs.
The season....a big bowl of ehhhh.
Would love to see the Rams add a play among DL to take attention away from Donald.
Or a true passrush or two on the edge.

 

[dang]

He was great in the playoffs.
The season....a big bowl of ehhhh.
Would love to see the Rams add a play among DL to take attention away from Donald.
Or a true passrush or two on the edge.

Fowler will be motivated for more than one reason. I am hoping Oko or Fox bring the heat on passing downs. Matthews will be a nice situational add. For those reasons Edge rush should improve this year. I think the DL is solid on running plays but other than Donald we need another player bringing the heat from inside on passing downs. That is a big question mark IMO.

 

[Ellard80]

marcus peters grade on that... yikes

 

[Rams43]

You know, that’s a helluva thing to bring that ‘16 team that finished 4-12 to an ‘18 team that finished 13-3 and went all the way to the SB.

Man, let that sink in for a minute...

Granted, that ‘16 team was not totally devoid of talent. But that talent was poorly coached and directed.

The Rams managed to simultaneously upgrade the talent AND properly develop it to such heights in just 2 years.

Even the most rabid of Ram fans could not have seen this coming so quickly. It’s been like living a fairy tale, huh?

Honestly, being so close to it may have robbed many Ram fans of the magnitude of that dual accomplishment.

I mean, DAMN!

 

[coconut]

Even the most rabid of Ram fans could not have seen this coming so quickly. It’s been like living a fairy tale, huh?

Sure if your fairy tale involves dropping 2 TD passes in the end zone and only scoring 3 points in a Super Bowl loss to the Patriots.

 

[Rams43]

Sure if your fairy tale involves dropping 2 TD passes in the end zone and only scoring 3 points in a Super Bowl loss to the Patriots.

Just having a bad day, Coconut?

Or is your glass always half full? Lol.

 

[coconut]

Just having a bad day, Coconut?

Or is your glass always half full? Lol.

No, just a different view of a fairy tale. One in which the Rams win the Super Bowl. IOW the '99 Rams.:neener:

 

[Merlin]

Another off season entertainment ranking. It's not definitive by any means but, interesting.

Very Surprising.

On the defensive side the numbers are low (in the 60s) for Brockers, Fowler, Mathews, Littleton and Peters.

As has been mentioned Brockers may have been hurt and losing weight could have effected him. Contract year coming so he should be better.

The Lbers have to step up. Fowler and Littleton in year two should help them. Mathews getting veteran rest and new surroundings should help him. Peters staying healthy and having Weddle should help him. Weddle should help the entire defense.

The Rams need to play more like they did in the SB where they were flying to the ball. The young guys getting playing time including Rapp, Gaines, JFM, SJD, Kiser can help energize the defense. They now have the mix of veterans with quality young players that can feed off each other.

Well first off we all know PFF is hit and miss. But I do think the overall lower grades on defense are fair, and in general match the regular season production of that unit. The fact that the vets stepped it up in the playoffs gives us a different picture than what was graded over the course of the season.

Also, it demonstrates the value of Wade Phillips. His feel for gameday calls and his system truly shines when he's got great players at the key positions and right now I'd say they're closer in the secondary than they are in the front seven. But if Matthews and Weddle ball out, we might start to see what the old guy can really do for us. I think we might finally get that top 5 scoring defense we have wanted for so long.

 

[SuperMan28]

Number 1 should be the Saints, IMO.

Thomas, Cook, Kamara on offense. Solid OL.

All around solid defense.

For now, I agree Rams at two. Pats at three.

But I gotta be honest here. I think by week 8 KC will take the #1 spot. Mecole Hardman, T. Hill, Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins, D. Robinson and a solid OL. Plus the 23 year old reigning MVP under center. (WOW!!! GSOT, 07 Pats, 2011 Saints put on notice???)

KC D is gonna be a whole notha' animal. Like... honey badger style. Frank Clark, Badger, Juan Thornhill, Chris Jones, and maybe the most underrated addition of this offseason in Coach Spags (dude knows defense he just cant run a team.)

"We ready, we ready, we ready for y'all."

 

[1maGoh]

"We ready, we ready, we ready for y'all."

While I completely disapprove of literally everything in your post, this is just sad. That commercial souls never be quoted, shown again, or remembered. That shit was lame.

 

[oldnotdead]

Overall I think they got it right even though there were many weird things in their list and grades. I don't think any one can dispute this is a legitimate Super Bowl caliber team if they play up to their potential. It's also a young team overall and so I think we fans can be happy that the core of this team is going to be here for years. I think they got stronger and more diversified on both sides of the ball. This should be a much better team this year. Peters I think learned his lesson about going rogue looking for the splash play. His play later in the season settled down to more of what was expected. Where safety was an obvious weakness it is now IMO an area of strength with depth. CB depth continues to be a concern IMO but I think both the coaches and players learned how to deal with that adversity last year. But the addition of Long at CB is huge IMO.

I think their front 7 is improved. Suh was forced to play far more than they would have liked, but I think that issue has been addressed. Outside pass rush remains a question as even PFF feels Brockers fell way off. He is what he is so I don't expect more. I think they will rotate JFM even more snaps this year. I don't think he's the long term answer, but IMO he's better than Brockers at that position. I would feel better if Brockers was basically just backing up Donald and having JFM and Ebukam at DE. JFM has good length, and power, but his inability to really bend in his rushes showed last year. Hopefully he has worked on that this year.

Ebukam was locked in at strictly the SAM LB last year. He played well overall. But his excellent speed (4.45) and explosive burst is exactly what you want in an outside rusher. His problems in that regard had more to do with his need to improve his technique. He needed to improve in particular his hand fighting and developing his counters. With the addition of Clay Mathews at OLB that should free them to play Ebukam in rotation with Franklin-Myers, giving them speed at both outside positions.

Middleton has shown himself to be a very good MIKE and with Mathews at OLB that should be solid. Kiser should get his snaps this year in rotation with Mathews and according to the coaches has shown promise at the position.

On offense, the addition of Henderson adds a new level of threat to an already dangerous unit. Add the emergence of Everett as a legit receiving weapon and the return of Cooper Kupp and this isn't the same offense people saw in the Super Bowl. The only concern might be the offensive line but I really expect Noteboom and Allen to play well. IMO the only question on offense is RG. He was the weak link in an outstanding unit last year. Has he improved or will he be replaced by Evans or Demby? That remains to be seen.

These are good questions to ponder. We aren't talking needing to fill a hole, we are talking about upgrades...a whole different thing.