Rich Eisen Show: “Rams will be much better” - Andrew Whitworth

[dang]

I'm concerned about a 1-5 start, almost impossible to recover from.
train

If we start 1-5 or end up 6-11 I’ll be ok as long as we see improvement in areas of weakness from 2022. OL, CB, Edge, Run game all need to improve. I also want to see competitiveness each and every week. Any quit or failure to improve and show them the exit. 2024 foundation needs to start in 2023.

 

[Ram Ts]

With all the young and new pieces, along with the tough early schedule, it seems likely we start off with a losing record. But I feel like the 2nd half of the season we will start to see this team and the young players blossom. Wins and losses may not matter (depending on how the early games go). But I think we’re heading in the right direction with this team (lT wise) and the retooling so to speak.

 

[Merlin]

The opener vs Seattle looms large for us. Way those first three games look that is the most winnable so if we lose or get run off the field shit's gonna get painful thereafter and we're probably looking at 0-3. So the Rams have to open the season ready to go. Quick start is absolutely mandatory for this OL in particular but also the entire team of course.

I mean if we can't stop Seattle's run game it's likely to be a loss. Defense also has to play with some fire right out the gate.

On the flip side if we get an upset over Seattle then that SF game looks interesting with the Rams young roster having a big result under their belt to slay the divisional dragon. And early definitely is better vs SF than later in the season, as they have a better roster and by week 17 they're gonna be a better team than us.

But there is definitely room for them to make some noise in this division and maybe even fuck the Shitters in week 17 if they're fighting for a top seed. Sending those fuckers back into the wildcard round would be very satisfying.

 

[nighttrain]

But there is definitely room for them to make some noise in this division and maybe even fuck the Shitters in week 17 if they're fighting for a top seed. Sending those fuckers back into the wildcard round would be very satisfying.

this would make me a extremely happy Rams Fan!
train

 

[Corbin]

Some are saying Matthew is not as good because he's old. With protection and a decent running game, he's going to spin that ball like always to Kupp and others. I predict he will close some mouths bye the season's midpoint.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy93VBDFzZE

I doubt it, remember those fucks all the way to the Super Bowl? “ Matthew Stanford has never done * fill in the blank * “

It was annoying asf and I think he’ll sling that fucker fully rested and healed this year too! Excited to see if we can get a healthy OL and run game to help him out!

 

[Merlin]

Some are saying Matthew is not as good because he's old. With protection and a decent running game, he's going to spin that ball like always to Kupp and others. I predict he will close some mouths bye the season's midpoint.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy93VBDFzZE

Stafford apologist.

 

[MauiRam]

If we can run the ball consistently with a modicum of success we'll be competitive .... Same goes for shutting down the run with our D. We have struggled with consistency in those areas for too long. Give Stafford a solid running game and we'll be very competitive. Our D will benefit as well - more time to ride pine and rest.

Many new faces this year - no predictions from me.

 

[rdlkgliders]

To be honest, if I were unbiased, I'd pick 2-4 to start the season. But I'm hopeful so keep bringing the hype... I would like to get excited about this tream. I'm a long way from that today. If Whit really thinks the line with be that much improved, I'd like his real take about the D.

I'm concerned about a 1-5 start, almost impossible to recover from.
train

If we go 3 - 3 that would be huge, to expect more is unrealistic, and to perform worse is possible, We will still be developing continuity through that stretch

 

[Merlin]

Main problem will be depth. Won't take many injuries to sink us with that depth chart.

 

[oldnotdead]

They have better depth on the offense this year, especially on the OL. Last year their OL depth were scrubs, not so this year.

LT Noteboom
LG Avila
C Allen
RG Bruss
RT Havenstein

Gameday reserves: OT/OG Jackson, OG/C Shelton, OG/OT McClendon
Roster reserve OT/OG Thomas

This year they have OG/C Maginn, OC McAllister, and OG Toner who all could potentially make the PS. Arcuri looked like shit last year and Anchrum struggled as well. It wouldn't surprise me if both don't make the roster this year. IMO McClendon was drafted to replace Arcuri on the roster and Thomas or Maginn bump Anchrum. Thomas is a legit OT and potentially OG whereas Anchrum is an undersized OG. Maginn is a mauler RG that could give Bruss competition.

At RB they are 3 deep with Akers, Williams and Evans. At WR they are 5 deep with Kupp, Jefferson, Nacua, Atwell, and Skowronek. I think Xavier Smith can make the roster as a WR6 but primarily as a return specialist. Smith has the speed to take it the distance from anywhere on the field.

TE is 4 deep with Higbee, Allen, Long and Hopkins

At edge they are deep with, Young, Hoecht, Hardy, Hampton, and Mathis they make it a position of strength. At ILB they probably are going to play only one ILB most of the season. With the depth they have at OLB they will be fine. Mathis could be coached up to play as a WIL in this zone scheme. If he shows he can play in coverage it negates the need for a second ILB. With Hampton and Mathis they have good potential for playing a SAM and WIL respectively. That would shore up their perimeter run defense and give them a natural contain for running QBs. Mathis as WIL would give them size inside vs the run as well. In 2021 they played Travin Howard as a WIL but though he had the speed he lacked the length and overall size they wanted at the position. I think Mathis was drafted to fill it. A WIL is a very key defensive piece. He helps set a hard edge on the weakside and provides run support inside as well as cover the weakside flats. Last year they ran right at Hoecht and Kier Thomas who struggle to set a hard edge on that perimeter. With Mathis that could solve the problem as he's bigger and faster than Thomas. With experience Hoecht will be better and Mathis would be an upgrade to Keir Thomas.

Jason Taylor gives them a legit 4th safety and they are 3 deep at CB. I think CB Cameron McCutcheon could make this roster as well as Shaun Jolly. McCutcheon has the size and speed they need to match up in the Red Zone, and I have to believe they brought Jolly back for a reason.

This team isn't as bereft of talent as most assume. Maybe I'm a glass half full kind of guy, but in this case I don't think so. This team will probably sneak up on teams early in the season. If the young guys play well. I think by November this defense could be very good if played aggressively.

Defensive coaches Lake, and Pleasant and OL coach Wendell IMO are the key coaches that could make or break this season. That said I feel real good at this point about these guys in particular Wendell. I think Wendell will make the OL into a top unit that will really jumpstart this offense. People think I'm nuts but I've been telling people this offense could be as good or better than the dominating 2018 Ram offense.

If Morris simply allows Pleasant and Lake to play the defense aggressively, then it could be much better than it has been even without the star power they lost. Even with Donald, Ramsey, and Wagner they were a below average unit simply because Morris insisted upon playing them soft. If he will get out of Pleasant and Lake's way and the scheme is played aggressively they can turn things around quickly. Morris squandered talent like Gaines, Wagner and Ramsey by not playing to their strengths. He took Gaines a pure 1T NT and played him as a 0T two gap NT. He played Ramsey, one of the best shutdown CBs in the NFL 10 yards off the LOS. I'm shocked they were as high as a 19th ranked unit. With lesser players they would have been ranked far worse.

Side Note: This year the NFL is going to trial fair catches on KO anywhere between the 24 yd line and the goal line comes out to the 25 just like in college. Which begs the question, why do they even KO at all? It's going to eventually make KOs optional for teams trailing late in the game.