Before week 1’s games: rankings & predictions

I am seeing a lot of “The Rams’ ceiling is winning it all, but I’m placing them at 10-7 (or even 9-8), apparently solely on the basis that Stafford’s back hurts.”

I’m always concerned about injuries. We have seen injuries kill seasons for the Rams. All teams are susceptible to it. Last year, it was the 49ers turn. (As it happens, they are pretty banged up right now, too). So while I’m concerned about Stafford and Jackson, I don’t think our worry has much substance to it right now. By that I mean that this (i.e. what we got from the Rams’ handling of Stafford and Jackson in camp) is consistent with McVay’s conservative approach to the pre-season. He doesn’t play his starters because…why? There simply was no reason to practice those guys when there were risks associated with it, and little benefit. Three weeks of practice is plenty for MS to get ready, and one week is fine for Jackson. So that’s just what this was always going to look like, and without a decent Rams reporter, we’re in an information vacuum.

But I’m assuming we get Classic Stafford basically all year. So I’m very optimistic about this season, more optimistic than I’ve been in several seasons.

Stafford is still an elite QB. Garrappolloo is a very good #2. I don’t want to see him play, but if he does, I won’t dive under the table and shut my eyes. He can win games.

The RBs look improved. Kyren is a quality RB. Red chip, maybe. I guess he’s a good blocker, and he’s decent in the passing game. He fumbles, and he doesn’t ever pick up more than a dozen yards, but he gets you 3-7 yards pretty consistently, and that’s valuable. Don’t know what to make of Corum. He showed nothing last year, and Hunter seems like one of those Darryl Henderson, Barry Redden type guys who are valuable change of pace backs, but can also keep the ball rolling if they have to cover a couple of games while Kyren recovers from something. I dunno, though. I didn’t see any preseason games, so this is mostly from reading, plus what I saw last year.

WRs appear to be upgraded. I think Adams is an improvement over Kupp. Love Kupp, but seems to me that he and Puka are the same guy, basically, except Puka is younger and bigger. Adams brings a different dimension, and McVay was drooling over that dimension. I’m not big on Atwell, but I get that his speed helps. He’s better than Tavon Austin, but he’s no Az-Zahir. I liked what I saw of Whittington last year, and Mumpfield – again, what I’ve read – strikes me as a Brandin Cooks guy, but not as fast. Bummer that they lost Robinson, but I think Whittington can replace his production. Overall, I think the depth is better here as well as the diversity.

It would be hard for the Rams not to improve at TE. Ferguson makes them better, and Higbee had a full camp.

The OL looks to be a very strong unit this year which is good for the running game, and good for the passing game, turns out. It also means that Stafford’s annoyed disc should take a below average beating.

This offense is just good everywhere.

The DL is the most exciting aspect of the upcoming season for me. I am just stoked about watching these young guys get after it in their second year together. This looks to me like as good a DL as the Rams have had in decades.

For the first time in a few years, I am entering the season NOT thinking, “Well…I guess the Rams really don’t need linebackers because they don’t seem to care about that unit.” They’ve upgraded this unit, too. Landman seems to be a score. The guy walks into camp and takes the green dot. That’s a good sign.

Only the secondary worries me. Neither Witherspoon nor Williams impressed last year. I like the safeties, but they lack an elite CB, and haven’t had one since they traded Ramsey. Last year the vulnerability was the run. Seems like this year, it could be that the CBs are the weak spot.

Special teams? Well, Evans is among the best, and Karty is good enough, and Smith is a decent returner. The Rams should be fine here.

So the offense looks improved to me in WRs, TEs, and OL. RB depth is improved. The defense has improved against the run (only way to go is up), and the DL looks absolutely menacing, and should take some of the pressure off the CBs.

This is a very good team, and the window is open right now. This is it. This is as good a chance as we are likely to see for a while. If injuries are not the storyline of the season, I am planning to watch the Rams in the Super Bowl this year.

In the SF report, I can tell you that there is less excitement about the 9ers this season than I would expect given how much respect they are getting nationally and in casinos. I think last season took some wind out of their sails, they lost Greenlaw, Hufunga, and Samuel, the WR room looks a mess right now, and evidently there have been some injuries. But Jennings IS practicing, Pearsall is looking good, and Robinson will be back Week 4, and Aiyuk will be eligible to return against the Rams in Week 5. I think it is short-sighted to write them off. They may not get off to a blazing start, but their schedule is weak, and they can win games without being full speed.