Stafford Talk

[LARAMSinFeb.]

LT can erode your line's confidence when it's not there. This line has basically been shit since Whit hung 'em up.

It's been shit since 2018. Esp. in terms of run blocking. At least this year we threw some capital at the interior finally.

 

[Merlin]

It's been shit since 2018. Esp. in terms of run blocking. At least this year we threw some capital at the interior finally.

Yes but the run blocking is a separate discussion. The pass pro is more crucial to the way McVay calls it. They won a Super Bowl without a run game.

Basically any time we face a good pressures front with this collection of OL we lose. Some of it is Stafford, but he has shown that with reasonable protections he can carry the offense. So to what extent the OL can unfuck their protections is going to determine our success or failure the rest of the way, and Stafford is part of that equation. He has to build some resiliency and not turn into a football dispenser when he gets a couple hits. Those cold streaks he goes on where he rushes throws and misses targets are killing us.

 

[oldnotdead]

I thought they said it was sprained and not as bad as initially thought? That would imply a grade 1 sprain. I haven't heard McVay say it was torn, aka grade 2 or 3.

From Cameron DaSilva's article:

Stafford’s diagnosis was a torn UCL in his right thumb, an injury he’s suffered in the past.

 

[Zodi]

From Cameron DaSilva's article:

Stafford’s diagnosis was a torn UCL in his right thumb, an injury he’s suffered in the past.

He is the only person I've seen call it a tear. From the same article, though:

"As for how his thumb is feeling, he says it’s doing better than he anticipated. Stafford admitted he was worried that it was a serious injury but he’s thankful it was only minor."

 

[Snaz]

Stafford suffered an ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his right thumb.

Sean McVay on Matthew Stafford

"He has a UCL sprain and will be day to day..."

 

[XXXIVwin]

From Cameron DaSilva's article:

Stafford’s diagnosis was a torn UCL in his right thumb, an injury he’s suffered in the past.

From what I've seen, the only person to use the word "tear" is Cameron daSilva.

I have only heard Rams and McVay and Jourdan use the word "sprain."

If anyone has a link to either MCvay or Stafford directly using the word "tear", I'd be interested to see that.

 

[Merlin]

From Cameron DaSilva's article:

Stafford’s diagnosis was a torn UCL in his right thumb, an injury he’s suffered in the past.

This is great, now we can tell 9 to run some 9 routes to surprise defenses.

 

[Ellard80]

From Cameron DaSilva's article:

Stafford’s diagnosis was a torn UCL in his right thumb, an injury he’s suffered in the past.

yeah watched about 6 pressers and 6 other videos and never heard the word "torn" used.

 

[Ellard80]

From what I've seen, the only person to use the word "tear" is Cameron daSilva.

I have only heard Rams and McVay and Jourdan use the word "sprain."

If anyone has a link to either MCvay or Stafford directly using the word "tear", I'd be interested to see that.

i like how this dude latched on too one person out of 20 that called it a tear.

 

[FarNorth]

A muscle strain usually involves some muscle tearing though normally it's minimal. But when you are talking about ligaments thats a different thing. A sprain is an overstretching and tear is different. I'm sure he didn't get surgery because basically he's gone for the year. He can get the surgery in the offseason. That said if he doesn't it will be a chronic thing like it is now.

Matt's body is telling him he can't play much longer. IMO he might get through 2024 but that's it. It wouldn't surprise me if he retired a year early. That's a huge cap hit next year but only for a year. Again perhaps motivation to sign Wentz and look at him practicing with the ones. They could offer him a two year prove it type deal basically to spread the cap hit. Ideally, Stafford plays through 2024 before retiring.

Stafford is tough but he has been through a lot, including at least a couple of very serious injuries. Clearly he doesn’t want to hang it up yet but circumstances could force his hand at almost any point. If the Rams can’t turn it around soon can they afford to keep him?

 

[Merlin]

Bring in some talent at LT, C, and RB in this draft and things will look a lot different for Stafford. He'll still need to deal with a rook LT whiffing at times, but overall the effect should only be a need to help that rook out vs the tougher draws if they hit on the pick.

LT will need to be a higher pick, unfortunately, but we actually have one for once. C needs to be taken by round 4, I'd say round 3 even if you want someone to start relatively quickly but one of Stafford's strengths is his line reads so that opens up options for guys who might not be the most polished there provided the Rams think he's smart enough to learn. And RB can be taken anywhere in the draft, though I would not wait too long because we really need to avoid relying on a small change of pace alone next year.

Haven't looked at FA but that is an option to fill needs as well and I would hope they are aggressive there. LT generally don't hit FA, unless teams think they're done or no good or unrealistic in their demands plus not good enough. So maybe C can be filled that route. I would only draft the RB but with Snead and McVay they may want to sign one since they struggle to draft them.

Of course that's just the offensive side of the ball and we need speed at wideout too. Edge is a draft position, like with LT those cornerstone jobs are hard to get on the market. NT generally you can fill via FA and I'd like to see one added, that big run filler. Corner you can get guys who are flawed generally but that's about it so drafting it is best unless there is a top corner that rarely hits the market and you are prepared to pay top dollar. Safety is cheap on the market, and available, and you can also get them late into every draft, but we only have so many picks.

Way I'm seeing this upcoming offseason I think they need to fill two starting roles in FA. Then on top of that try to find a couple bargain signings that are capable of spot starting or at the least good depth. Then hit the draft with precision like the '23 draft and we should be in business. Hoping we get a QBotF or a guy who could possibly be a backup or grow maybe into that, but it's gonna be hard to pull that off given our very real needs.

 

[OldSchool]

View: https://twitter.com/JourdanRodrigue/status/1724167887026356342

 

[Loyal]

View: https://twitter.com/JourdanRodrigue/status/1724167887026356342

SUPER BOWL!

 

[Merlin]

Very happy Jones is back.

 

[WestCoastRam]

From Cameron DaSilva's article:

...

 

[RamFan503]

So of that 44%-ish the Rams go under center

Hmmm... 66+44 So you're saying Stafford plays 110% of the snaps.

 

[Merlin]

Hmmm... 66+44 So you're saying Stafford plays 110% of the snaps.

I deplore removal of my shoes to do maths.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Hmmm... 66+44 So you're saying Stafford plays 110% of the snaps.

@Merlin is just an Out-of-the-Box Thinker.

 

[Flint]

Some of us would just like to see the same standard applied to both of them.

Imo Stafford and Goff both played at a very high level and with great success for the Rams when the team as a whole was good enough to give them the opportunity to do so. There are plenty of QBs who could not have done what either of them did in the same circumstances.

When the o-line and roster talent and sometimes coaching declined... and/or injuries or Super Bowl hangovers or salary cap hell hit... the results weren't and aren't as good.

Similar circumstances but different as well, Goff was very young when he went to the SB and I don’t know how good McVay is at developing qbs. Stafford had been in the league a long time when he finally got there.
McVay did get schooled against Bill but there were a couple opportunities and Goff didn’t make the throws plain and simple. Stafford saved the rams bacon several times in the SB run, he’s got a “don’t worry I got this,” swag and they rode it all the way to the title. Goff is more the silent assassin, never giving away what he’s thinking.
McVay didn’t have the kind of bromance with Goff that he has with Stafford and I think he was scapegoated, but he wasn’t great the year after the SB. Sometimes 2 good people aren’t good together.

 

[Ellard80]

Similar circumstances but different as well, Goff was very young when he went to the SB and I don’t know how good McVay is at developing qbs. Stafford had been in the league a long time when he finally got there.
McVay did get schooled against Bill but there were a couple opportunities and Goff didn’t make the throws plain and simple. Stafford saved the rams bacon several times in the SB run, he’s got a “don’t worry I got this,” swag and they rode it all the way to the title. Goff is more the silent assassin, never giving away what he’s thinking.
McVay didn’t have the kind of bromance with Goff that he has with Stafford and I think he was scapegoated, but he wasn’t great the year after the SB. Sometimes 2 good people aren’t good together.

it's complicated - McVay and Goff did have a bromance in the beginning, but they grew apart.

Stafford is not a pretty all the time QB for sure. Stafford will make mistakes. But he is also a clutch mofo.

Goff the last two years has played better without a doubt.

But we don't win the Superbowl with Goff - Goff isn't throwing a 25 yard no look pass to a cup to overcome an offense decimated at the skill positions in the Super Bowl.