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August 21, 2018 at 2:25 pm #89685
ZooeyModerator1. Los Angeles Rams
32 OF 32Michael Ainsworth/Associated Press
High: 1Low: 4
Last Week: 2
We’ve now hit maximum hype.
The Rams are the most talked about team in the league after following up last year’s shocking run to the NFC West title with a spree of impact veteran acquisitions.
Brandin Cooks. Marcus Peters. Aqib Talib. Ndamukong Suh. All were brought in to help the Rams take the next step and go to the Super Bowl for a fourth time and second in L.A.
In an offseason filled with good news, the most recent may be the best of all.
Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters (via the team’s website) there’s been progress over the last week toward getting something a contract done with Aaron Donald, therefore ending his holdout.
“There’s been—let’s put it this way, there’s increased dialogue,” he said. “There’s more—we feel positive about the direction that these things are going.”
Donald is the team’s best player and an incredibly disruptive player. And while he missed the first week of the season in 2017 holding out, he went on to be named Defensive Player of the Year.
If the situation plays out that way again, the Rams are going to be really hard to beat.
August 24, 2018 at 12:18 pm #89789
znModeratorNo pressure, Jared Goff: Rams are ready for a Super Bowl run
Dan Graziano
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/24455532/no-pressure-jared-goff-rams-ready-super-bowl-run
IRVINE, Calif. — Jared Goff bites his nails, which is weird because that’s a habit you normally associate with nervous people, and Goff doesn’t otherwise strike you as a nervous person.
“I need to stop. It’s gross,” the Los Angeles Rams’ 23-year-old quarterback said, inspecting the gnawed-down nubs of his fingertips between training camp practices here in late July. “It’s terrible. I’ve never been able to stop. Because most times, I’m unconsciously doing it. I don’t even know I’m doing it until I look down. And I know it’s terrible. It hurts.”
Not to minimize the issue of nail-biting, but if this is what qualifies as a major problem in Goff’s world, he has come a long way in 12 months. This time last year, the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NFL draft was coming off a frustrating rookie season, confronting an external perception that he might be a bust, and working with a new coaching staff that didn’t initially know what to make of him.
“I would say that we had a lot of confidence in terms of what he could become, but we were really just getting familiar with each other,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “What you did really like about him was, when you look at his history, this is somebody that’s overcome some adversity. And I never sensed that he was fazed by the way the rookie year went.”
He was not, and the result of the Goff/McVay partnership was a stunning 2017 turnaround for both quarterback and franchise. The Rams went 11-5 last year, their first winning season since 2003, and won the NFC West. That may not have been possible if not for Goff’s ability to shrug off negatives.
“He has a great ability,” Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth said of his young quarterback, “to not let the past be his label.”
Which was great last year, but this year is a different story. Now, for Goff, McVay and the Rams, the pressure is on. They’re not sneaking up on anyone this time. They’re the favorites to repeat as division champs and they’re being hailed as a Super Bowl contender in what looks like a loaded NFC. The story of this year’s Rams is no longer “When will they get it together?” It’s now, “What can they do for an encore?”
“We can’t rest on our laurels,” Rams GM Les Snead said. “Even after successful seasons, there are going to be those moments where you’re watching the film and throwing your remote. And you can’t let the wins diminish those moments. You have to take a hard look at where we can improve.”
Snead and the front office got after that in a big way, bringing in marquee defensive players such as Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib and Ndamukong Suh, trading for speedy wide receiver Brandin Cooks and locking up star running back Todd Gurley on a lucrative four-year deal. At this writing, they still hadn’t done the same for defensive superstar Aaron Donald, but they’re working on that. Assuming Donald gets signed and in camp in time for the start of the season, the roster looks primed for big things.
But much of the Rams’ 2018 story will rest on the continued development of Goff, who’s still a very young quarterback-in-progress and knows his story is still at its beginning. Last year was about establishing something and shrugging off a rough rookie season. This year is about Goff growing into what he and the Rams believe he can be.
“I think there was a lot of stuff going on last year, with the new system and just trying to focus and get better daily,” Goff said. “I wasn’t really too concerned with the past. I know what I can do. So it was just trying to focus and get where I needed to be to lead this offense and be successful, and I felt like we did a lot of good things. So, trying to continue to build on that and get better this year.”
It’s not as if Goff doesn’t pay attention to what’s said about him. He was aware, for example, when details got reported of how the Rams’ offense would hustle to the line quickly so that McVay could relay as much pre-snap information as possible to him before reaching the 15-second mark on the play clock, which is the point where coach/QB headset communication is cut off. He thinks that got a bit too much attention.
“God forbid a guy in his first year in a new system, second year in the NFL, is getting a little information from the head coach. Not the end of the world,” Goff said. “We’re just doing things the way everyone else does, but the way [McVay] talks and the way he communicates is just so vivid and detailed, he really does give me a lot of information.
“As time goes on, I’ll hopefully become more in control of that, and as more ownership comes. I expect some of that this season and as time goes on.”
The Rams wouldn’t have traded up to take Goff No. 1 in the draft — ahead of Philadelphia wunderkind Carson Wentz — if they didn’t expect him to shoulder a great deal of responsibility. When they looked at him coming out of college, they saw a guy who’d performed well under pressure, in spite of some offensive line issues Cal was having while he was the Golden Bears’ quarterback.
“The nuance of that was the little subtleties — to be able to step here or there in the pocket, make a pass from unscheduled positions … there was a deceptive mobility there,” Snead recalled. “And also the ability to throw touchdown passes in the red zone. There’s a lot of people in college football that may throw the touchdown pass outside the 20-yard line, deep balls and things like that. Those are low-percentage shots in the NFL. But to be able to go inside the 20, inside the 10, where things squinch up and the windows get tighter — doing some analytics over the years, guys who were able to throw touchdowns in those tight windows in college translate.”
Goff had 23 touchdowns and no picks in the red zone last season, compared to four TDs and one interception in the red zone in seven starts during his rookie year.
He is now poised to take on more responsibility. Yes, the Rams have done everything they could do to surround Goff with people who help get the best out of him. Veteran offensive linemen like Whitworth and center John Sullivan. Receivers like Cooks and 2017 breakout star Robert Woods. A true franchise running back in Gurley, who was drafted a year before. An extremely quarterback-friendly head coach in McVay.
But the development of the Rams’ offense going forward will track the development of Goff himself. All of those other pieces are established in their roles. (Sure, McVay has only one year as a head coach, but his chops as a nimble offensive mind are well established.) If Goff plays exactly the same as he did last year, the Rams know what they can do with that. The goal is for him to continue to improve, develop and take on more responsibility, so that they can find out how high they can push the ceiling of what they can do.
“I think it’s just going to be about that continued ownership,” McVay said. “We always talk about the quarterback being an extension of our coaching staff, understanding the intent of every single play, being disciplined, being able to read with his feet. You look at the guys around the league that have consistently produced. They don’t take sacks. They’re finding completions, getting the ball out of their hands. Those are the things we expect him to continue to grow with.”
Goff’s in a place right now where he can breathe, and maybe not concern himself with 2017 perceptions that he was the wrong pick at No. 1 or whether he got enough development as a rookie. Now, he can get really specific on ways in which he’s trying to get the ball out more quickly so that he can be an even bigger part of his own protection. He’s drilling down on the specifics of his receivers’ routes and the various concepts McVay’s trying to articulate — not just in the final pre-snap seconds, but all week in meetings.
“Just the little details of it that I maybe couldn’t understand last year just because I wasn’t as in-depth with it purely because of time — not having enough time to learn it all,” Goff said. “I think last year, I felt like I knew a lot. But looking back, you didn’t know that much. And I think next year, I’ll feel that way about this year, and on and on like that as you go.”
Of course, if Goff’s first couple of years in the league have taught him anything, it’s to not look back. As the 2018 season dawns, Goff and the Rams are looking forward, and hoping things can continue to get brighter for all of them
August 24, 2018 at 11:45 pm #89799znModeratorThe Rams are now the NFC’s Super Bowl favorite, passing defending champion Philadelphia, per @BovadaOfficial pic.twitter.com/dzurwxs71n
— Joe Curley (@vcsjoecurley) August 24, 2018
August 25, 2018 at 1:38 am #89806znModeratorfrom How all 32 NFL teams can win 10 games, and predicting which ones willplay
Mike Clay
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3. Los Angeles Rams
How they can get to 10 wins: If the Sean McVay-Jared Goff duo proves not to be a one-year wonder, the Rams will cruise to the playoffs again in 2018. Of course, even if the offense takes a step back, the new-look, Wade Phillips-led defense can make up for it — and then some — after the additions of Ndamukong Suh, Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib.
Realistic expectations: The Rams have Super Bowl aspirations after an aggressive and expensive offseason that also included a trade for Brandin Cooks. Aaron Donald’s holdout, questions at linebacker and a quarterback situation that is a step behind many fellow top contenders means we can’t quite call the Rams the favorites for the NFC crown.
My projection: 10.2 | Vegas over/under: 10
September 2, 2018 at 6:54 pm #90347znModeratorfrom Mike Clay’s 2018 NFL projections: Sleepers, unit grades, Super Bowl pick, more
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Best defensive units by position
Los Angeles Rams interior line. With Aaron Donald now under contract, this one isn’t debatable. Donald, Ndamukong Suh and Michael Brockers form arguably the league’s best trio up front.
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Los Angeles Rams cornerbacks. Aqib Talib helped Denver to the top spot in this category one season ago and finds himself here again, this time with Marcus Peters, appropriately named slot man Nickell Robey-Coleman and fourth corner Sam Shields.
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My preseason Power Rankings
(* indicates projected playoff team)
1. New Orleans Saints.* Quarterback? Check. Offensive line? Check. Offensive playmakers? Check. Loaded secondary? Check. Impact additions at linebacker and edge? You guessed it … Check. The Saints are either solid or outstanding across the board and are positioned for a Super Bowl run.
2. Philadelphia Eagles.* The Eagles have the league’s best team on paper, but it can’t be ignored that injuries (Carson Wentz, Alshon Jeffery, Tim Jernigan, Paul Worrilow) and off-field issues (Michael Bennett, Nigel Bradham) are already piling up. Repeating as Super Bowl champion is not easy.
3. New England Patriots.* Wide receiver, linebacker and corner are noticeable weak spots, but the roster is solid or better everywhere else. With Tom Brady and Bill Belichick around, an eighth consecutive trip to the AFC Championship Game seems probable.
4. Los Angeles Rams.* The additions of Suh, Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib supply DC Wade Phillips with one of the league’s most talented defenses. Coach Sean McVay now has speedster Brandin Cooks in his arsenal in what is a very talented offense.
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September 3, 2018 at 11:31 am #90371ZooeyModeratorI don’t think I would take Garappolo, Cousins, Smith, Watson or Prescott over Goff.
September 3, 2018 at 8:03 pm #90382znModeratorWildflecken
Rams Outlook As We Approach Week One…
1.) Some may not like the fact the first team offense did not see any action all preseason, but the manner in which McVay and his staff did devote the playing time for the preseason contests led to some important depth roles seeing plenty of live snaps which gave the coaching staff and players competing for spots every opportunity to earn their roles. Don’t believe any of the players released can complain they did not get a fair shot to rise on the depth chart.
2.) Expounding on the topic above, the snaps the first year players received in camp and the preseason contests were invaluable for the 2018 season. Many played above the level that was anticipated when drafted. The play of Noteboom was especially impressive. As was the play of Lawler, Kiser, JFM, and Kelly. Think all four of those talents played as if they were day 2 talents in the draft.
3) Very anxious to get a look at the 2018 first team offense. The 2017 offense was the beneficiary of being able to catch defenses without a lot of tape to develop their game day plans and schemes. The design of the offense was also heavily influenced by returning talent from the prior regime, as well as Lafluer as the OC and Olsen as the qb coach. The one package the offense executed well under the prior regime, jet sweeps and wr screens, became a weekly staple. The addition of Cooks gives them a talent in these packages who was more productive than any talent Rams had in 17 to execute them.
Now that we are entering the second season of the McVay era, with McVay adding talent since his arrival that fits his vision for this offense I am very anxious to see the new packages which were influenced by Kromer on the ground and Shane Waldron in the air packages. Assume the misdirection, sweeps and screens remain a staple. You simply do not add a talent like Cooks then remove one of the strengths of his addition.
4.) With the defense Snead and Company has assembled for Wade, to the NFL I say let them play or put them in dresses and change the entertainment focus to a miss universe contest. Seriously though, this defense has been assembled in a fashion that is both built to defend against the NFL game that is currently being played through the air, but has a yesteryear tenacity with talent that can get after a qb and get into the backfield to blow up runs before they develop. If they do find a seam, we have some new hitters in Kiser, Wilson and some improved returners like Hagar to lay some wood. And lets not forget the tad undersized but extreme thumper that is Mark Barron.
Staying on the Barron theme, he could be a huge beneficiary if Wade decides to give him the freedom to green dog all season. Barron has the veteran savvy and Wade allowing this would not shock me. With the front four opposing offenses have to concern themselves with that includes two talents inside that require extra attention, Barron could end the day early for all 16 qb’s Rams face in 2018.
5.) The rb depth canned be summed up in one word, impressive. McVay has options to keep Gurley fresh for the November/December portion of the schedule when pounding the rock becomes imperative.
Would love to see a Malcolm Brown/Kelly duo develop into a Rocky Bleier role early in the season, closing out 3 score leads in quarter 4, keeping Gurley’s legs fresh so Rams can ride Gurley from November on all the way to the Super Bowl!
6.) Rams went heavy at Safety both on active roster and PS. Certain Bones tagged a couple talents at key contributors on teams as he seeks to replace the speed needed now that players are prohibited from getting a running start. But with Joyner playing on tag and the Rams resigning the talent they have this offseason, think the preparation for his departure has begun.
I have an appreciation of the play, hard work and effort of the undersized Joyner, hard not to root for a player of his physical stature who plays much larger on game day. However never got the feel Joyner is the prototypical talent Wade seeks at the Safety position. If someone steps up and gains Wade’s trust on the backend during this season, I would not be shocked if the phasing out does not occur during the 2018 season. One look at the offseason focus of the defense tells us Wade is seeking to improve upon the no fly zone he had in his Denver defense.
7.) The Rams have also added 2 TE’s to the practice squad in Coble and Hemingway. McVay is being extremely patient with Hemingway’s recovery, hoping he regains the explosiveness McVay saw briefly last camp. If Hemingway does regain that explosiveness look for him to be added to the active roster shortly thereafter. At 246lbs, think McVay would love to add what he could offer in the short yardage packages and sealing the edge assignments in three TE look.
Think Coble played himself into a position on the PS during camp and the preseason contests. McVay is a huge believer in his ” we improve daily” philosophy and Coble simply showed too much improvement to abandon his development. In fact one has to wonder how tough a decision it was to decide between Mundt and Coble for the third TE on the active roster?
TE is a position I will be watching closely early in the season. Mundt was pleasant surprise when aligned as the Joker in the preseason, but at only 233, not a lot of beef to serve as the inline and H positions. The number of pass attempts thrown the 3rd TE’s way during the 2017 season could be counted on one hand. Anxious to see who McVay/Kromer has targeted to serve blocking specialist from the position in 2018. Could we actually see the 6 olineman packages McVay was known to use during his tenure in Washington?
8.) During his college career Jared Goff improved each and every season. In 2017 there was a lot of national hoopla made over McVay calling the plays for Goff from the sidelines. In season two under McVay I expect Goff to have developed a full understanding of the McVay offensive concepts resulting in increased precision.
Often these improvements cannot be visualized by the naked eye, but reduction of fractional seconds in play execution can be large on game day. The opponents best pass rusher cannot disrupt, the second/ third reads recognized more rapidly, the spots on the field where the ball needs to be delivered become second nature, the game slows allowing for recognition of previously unseen opportunities (back shoulder throws etc..)
In order for the Rams all in philosophy of the front office for the 2018 season to be a success, we need for Goff to take these steps forward, with his amount of growth equaling the growth he displayed each season during his college career.
One of the areas I will be watching early in the season is Goff’s growth when is called upon to roll left. A new wrinkle in his 2017 play as I believe I can state factually Goff was never called upon to execute a roll left during his short tenure under Fisher (at least not in live gameday action). Goff showed improvement in this area as the 2017 season progressed, but now has had a full offseason to improve his footwork on this design. The roll left is an important part of McVay’s dual TE packages.
9.) My apologies for the length of this thread but I simply cannot end this thread without giving credit to the entire Rams Front Office responsible for the Football Operations. Les Snead and company are hot at the moment and longtime fans of the organization should relish the work being done not only in the scouting and selection of talent from the college ranks but also on the professional side, scouting the talent to be free agents or made available via trade etc..
The just concluded draft was especially impressive. The talent the Rams were able to add to the roster without having a day one selection could be the most important of all drafts towards the assembling of a dynasty. Very important pieces in completing a roster filled with star talent and star level cap hits.
GO RAMS!!
September 3, 2018 at 8:31 pm #90383znModeratorfrom https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/09/03/khalil-mack-trade-super-bowl-prediction-peter-king/
Peter King
The Rams, defending NFC West champs, are darlings. That chortled-at peach-fuzzy coach, Sean McVay, is the reigning coach of the year. Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald are returning offensive and defensive players of the year. That disastrous quarterback, Jared Goff, had a 100.5 rating, fifth in the league and higher than a few great QBs—Rodgers, Roethlisberger, Ryan, Rivers and Wilson.
And now I’m going all-in on a franchise that last won a playoff game in January 2005, when “Meet the Fockers” was the top movie at the box office.
I’m picking the Rams because they’ve done a good job playing down their worst-to-first offense last year, realizing if they were really the Warriors of the NFL they wouldn’t have stunk it up in the playoffs against Atlanta. They added the kind of versatile and durable deep threat that Sammy Watkins wasn’t in Brandin Cooks, who can play all over the offensive formation.
McVay told me in camp he realizes he has to stay progressive to remain ahead of the defenses that have spent an offseason studying his play-calling, his tempo, even his cadences. Early one morning, in his tape den on the campus of UC-Irvine, McVay told me what he’d spent the last few months working on.
“The basic thing for us is: What are we doing offensively in order to try and conflict defenses? Whether it’s their matchup responsibilities, or being able to learn our cadence, learn our formations and motion and tempo. We have to use those as weapons to apply pressure to the defense. Our offense is totally different now from this time a year ago. I think it’s all about adjusting and adapting to our players.”
Why would McVay want to make his offense “totally different” from the best offense in the game last fall? “I would say that in terms of some of the core ways of we run the football—some of the personnel groupings that we operate out of might be different. But the way we’ll do it, whether it be formationally, whether it be tempo-driven, at the line, in the huddle … In the span of a year, our players’ ability to process has enabled us to have a little bit more versatility.”
The Rams got better on defense too, if a pair of incendiary corners can stay on the field. They added cover corners Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters, who need the kind of gentle but smart hand of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips to make them each 16-game factors. The Aaron Donald signing was vital, not just for Donald’s peace of mind, but to know this great player is the center of a strong defense for the next seven years.
Of course, the continuing development of Jared Goff is vital. I trust McVay here. How can you not?
The NFC Playoff Picture
Division winners: Philadelphia, New Orleans, Minnesota, Los Angeles.
Wild-card teams: Atlanta, Green Bay.
Seeds: 1. Philadelphia, 2. Rams, 3. Minnesota, 4. New Orleans, 5. Green Bay, 6. Atlanta
NFC title game: Los Angeles 26, Philadelphia 24.
September 3, 2018 at 8:48 pm #90385
InvaderRamModeratorWith Aaron Donald now under contract, this one isn’t debatable. Donald, Ndamukong Suh and Michael Brockers form arguably the league’s best trio up front.
it isn’t debatable but it’s arguable? haha… anyway.
did anyone notice that he ranks the eagles first overall yet ranks the saints number one in the power rankings? i’m having a little trouble deciphering his ranking system.
September 3, 2018 at 8:56 pm #90386InvaderRamModeratorOur offense is totally different now from this time a year ago. I think it’s all about adjusting and adapting to our players.
i like mcvay. i think this guys was a helluva hire. i’ll be curious as to how he tries to stay ahead of the defenses. what kind of wrinkles he’s added.
i do think ultimately if the rams are to advance in the playoffs. they’ll have to rely more on the defense than the offense. i don’t think goff and the offense can carry this team to a title. not yet. maybe not ever? i don’t know. but i don’t foresee another gsot. not in 2018. i see something more along the lines of a 2012 baltimore ravens type of team that relied on an a very good defense. a very good running back. and a solid qb.
September 7, 2018 at 4:46 pm #90491znModeratorGrading every position on the Rams roster in 2018
Cameron DaSilva
Grading every position on the Rams roster in 2018
The Los Angeles Rams have one of the best rosters in the NFL heading into 2018, particularly after re-tooling and revamping many parts of the depth chart.
With the regular season upon us, we’ve decided to grade every position on the 53-man roster, from quarterback to special teams.
Quarterback: B
Even though he made the Pro Bowl last season, and even though he posted a passer rating above 100, Goff hasn’t yet cemented his spot among the NFL’s elite – among the “A” class quarterbacks. He’s well on his way to reaching that plateau after throwing 28 touchdown passes and seven interceptions, but he’s just not there yet. This season could be the one where he takes a massive step forward and becomes one of the best passers in the NFL.This group’s grade takes a hit because of the lack of talent behind Goff, too. Sean Mannion and Brandon Allen offer very little as backups, giving fans and the coaching staff very little confidence if Goff were to go down.
Running back: A+
Gurley proved any remaining doubters wrong last season after a rough 2016 campaign, leading the league in yards from scrimmage and touchdowns. He’s established as one of the three or four best backs in the NFL, which earns the Rams’ backfield an A+ grade on its own. Gurley can catch passes out of the backfield, line up as a wide receiver, carry the ball 25 times a game. Oh, and he didn’t miss a single block in pass protection last year.Behind Gurley are Malcolm Brown, John Kelly and Justin Davis. They each offer their own skill sets, but Kelly is the best of the bunch. He should be RB2 by season’s end and could have a significant impact this year.
Wide receiver: A-
The Rams may not have a dominant No. 1 receiver like DeAndre Hopkins, Antonio Brown or Julio Jones, but the group as a whole is one of the best in the NFL. Brandin Cooks will be a big upgrade over Sammy Watkins, while Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp will both be good for 60-plus catches and 700 yards each.Few teams are as set at the top of their wide receiver depth chart the way the Rams are, but they also have good backups in Josh Reynolds, Mike Thomas and Pharoh Cooper. Cooks still has to show he’s worth the big contract he just signed, but even if he doesn’t produce at an elite level, the Rams’ other receivers will step up.
Tight end: C+
The only weak link on offense is at tight end. Tyler Higbee could be poised for a breakout season, as might Gerald Everett, but neither has established himself as a true No. 1 tight end. Everett’s shoulder injury set him back quite a bit this offseason, putting a hold on his potential breakout season.With Watkins gone, Higbee and Everett could both become go-to red zone weapons for Goff. They’re the only big-bodied receivers not named Josh Reynolds and Goff could take advantage of their size in the tight quarters around the end zone.
Offensive line: A-
Andrew Whitworth isn’t as good as he once was, but he still plays at a very high level given his age. Rodger Saffold might be the Rams’ best offensive lineman despite not getting much credit as such, proving to be an outstanding run blocker last season.At center, John Sullivan continues to plug along as a veteran leader in the middle of the offense, helping Goff with pre-snap signals and reads at the line. Jamon Brown is the weakest lineman on the team, but he’ll be swapped out for Austin Blythe the first two weeks of the season and isn’t guaranteed to get his job back when he returns from suspension.
Rob Havenstein is freshly signed to an extension, earning the trust of the front office and coaching staff as a quality right tackle.
As for the backups, they’re filled with rookies Joseph Noteboom will be the swing tackle, Jamil Demby can play just about any position and Brian Allen will back up Sullivan at center. This is a deep group with long-term potential.
Defensive line: A+
Good luck finding a better defensive line than the Rams’. Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh will come together at each tackle spot to generate pressure from the interior, giving the Rams arguably the best tandem in the league. At defensive end, Michael Brockers often goes overlooked but is consistently a force against the run and pass.The Rams probably don’t have as much depth as they would like, but John Franklin-Myers and Sebastian Joseph-Day are both rookies, while Ethan Westbrooks had a standout preseason. Their starters alone make this one of the best defensive lines in the league, be it a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme.
Inside linebacker: C+
As good as Los Angeles is in the middle of its front, the second level isn’t quite as strong. Mark Barron and Cory Littleton will be the staring inside linebackers, which should concern some fans given Barron’s durability questions and Littleton’s inexperience. If they can both progress and step up, the Rams’ defense will be substantially better against the run than it was in 2017.Micah Kiser, Ramik Wilson and Bryce Hager are solid insurance policies as backups and could find themselves starting at some point this season. There are a lot of just average players in this group, but at least the Rams have solid depth to work with.
Outside linebacker: C
Few people outside of Los Angeles even know who Samson Ebukam and Matt Longacre are, but they’ll be the Rams’ starting outside linebackers. Ebukam has a boatload of potential with his athleticism and speed on the edge, but he didn’t record a single sack in the preseason despite being used heavily.Longacre battled a biceps injury during camp and the preseason and has had durability issues in the past, so there’s a good chance he won’t be able to start all 16 games. The Rams’ backups don’t offer much, either. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is on the PUP list, Trevon Young and Justin Lawler are unproven rookies and Dominique Easley is just now trying to transition to outside linebacker from defensive tackle.
Cornerback: A
The cornerback group has a similar feel to the defensive line in the way that it’s loaded with talent. Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib join forces after offseason trades, while Nickell Robey-Coleman will continue to man the slot. That’s as good as a trio gets at cornerback, assuming everyone stays healthy and plays up to standards.Sam Shields and Troy Hill will be the primary backups despite being capable of starting for a bunch of other teams in the NFL. That’s how stacked the Rams’ secondary is.
Safety: A-
Even though some may not know the names of Lamarcus Joyner and John Johnson, don’t let their lack of star power lead you to believe the Rams are weak at safety. Joyner and Johnson can hold up against any safety tandem in the league right now despite them only having one season together in the secondary.They can each play free or strong safety, cover receivers in the slot and lay the wood on ball carriers. Really, there’s nothing they can’t do, which is why they were both graded as top-15 safeties by PFF last season.
Marqui Christian is a hybrid safety-linebacker while Blake Countess can also play safety, but neither are players you want starting on defense.
Special teams: A+
From kicker to long snapper, the Rams are loaded on special teams. All four players on this unit made the Pro Bowl last season – Johnny Hekker, Greg Zuerlein, Pharoh Cooper and Jake McQuaide – proving to be arguably the best special teams group in the league. This unit remains completely intact for 2018.September 7, 2018 at 8:36 pm #90498znModeratorhttps://www.therams.com/news/daily-dose-rams-named-true-contender
MONDAY NIGHT PREDICTION
Elliot Harrison of NFL.com has made is Week 1 picks for all 16 games across the league. According to the website, Harrison went 171-96 in his selections in 2017. Here’s what he had to say about the Rams’ Monday night matchup in Oakland:
Los Angeles Rams quarterback, Jared Goff (16) Left, and Todd Gurley (30) Right, stand on the sidelines before a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, in Los Angeles. (Rams/Hiro Ueno)
Los Angeles Rams 30, Oakland Raiders 16
“We will see if the Rams’ offense comes out slow, given that Sean McVay would’ve called Marc Bulger and Trung Canidate out of retirement to avoid playing Jared Goff or Todd Gurley in the preseason. Those guys should find their footing against this defense, though. Poor Derek Carr will have to throw for 360 and three scores, ultimately morphing into a one-man gang. His brother, David, used to tell me he had to do the same thing when playing the Hoth level on “Star Wars Battlefront.” Totally serious stuff. In not-related news, Monday night would be a great time for Marshawn Lynch to pull a 2014 Marshawn Lynch and rack up 125 yards on the ground.”TRUE CONTENDERS
ESPN’s Dan Graziano landed on 12 teams that he believes are “true contenders” to win Super Bowl LIII. Graziano divided his contenders into three main categories: ‘The Heavy Favorites’, ‘The Hungry Upstarts’, and the ‘The Dangerous Wild Cards’.
Graziano tabbed the Rams as ‘Hungry Upstarts’, with their new cast of stars entering McVay’s second year in-charge in L.A.
Here’s how the groups shake out:
The Heavy Favorites: Eagles, Patriots, Saints, Steelers
The Hungry Upstarts: Chargers, Jaguars, Rams, Vikings
The Dangerous Wild Cards: Chiefs, Cowboys, Falcons, PackersGOFF EXCELS UNDER CENTER
ESPN’s Mike Sando used Rams QB Jared Goff as an example on Friday in his article titled ‘NFL Trends that will define the 2018 season’. Sando mentions the shotgun formation as a major trend to watch on offense across the league in 2018 — but raises a counterpoint, saying QB’s playing under center works well, especially if the back of your jersey says “Goff”.
“Rams quarterback Jared Goff finished last season with 1,205 yards, eight touchdowns, no interceptions and a 10.4-yard average per attempt from 11 personnel on early downs while under center. No other quarterback had more than 428 yards (Jameis Winston) or three touchdowns (Tom Brady, Derek Carr) in these situations.”
Goff will make his first in-game appearance since last season’s playoff loss on Monday night in Oakland.September 8, 2018 at 3:40 pm #90556znModeratorPFF: https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-2018-pff-elo-nfl-power-rankings-week-1
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2017 Final Ranking/2018 Preseason Ranking: 9th / 6th (+3)The significant turn around the 2017 Rams experienced under head coach Sean McVay led to a flurry of offseason transactions. These acquisitions are helpful but the real key will be the performance of Jared Goff in 2018. Goff had by far the biggest year-over-year change in EPA per dropback of any starting quarterback we have charted in the PFF era (2016 – 0.46 to 2017 – 0.13). The Rams ability to live up to their preseason hype will fall squarely on Goff continuing to improve as a passer.
September 8, 2018 at 3:49 pm #90557
PA RamParticipantThis team is under incredible pressure. Anything less than a Lombardi trophy is a fail.
I’m just curious to see how they respond to that pressure–individually(McVay, Goff, Gurley)and as a team. I can’t remember a Rams team that went into a season with expectations this high(I’m not even sure the GSOT did)so it will be interesting to see how the “all-in” approach works.
I have to say that I already wonder about the decision not to play the offensive starters in pre-season is a direct result of that pressure. If Brady and Rodgers and Rothlesburger can play why can’t Goff? It makes me worried about that first game.
Even the Eagles, who played more of their starters looked sloppy.
I just don’t want a slow start to the season. That’s when things can fall apart.
So we shall see how this goes.
There is no sure thing, of course. But I hope it’s a fun ride.
"Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away. " Philip K. Dick
September 8, 2018 at 4:02 pm #90559znModeratorThis team is under incredible pressure. Anything less than a Lombardi trophy is a fail.
I have to say I don’t look at it that way. I see a long run ahead, a perpetually contending team, and yeah (repeat) superbowl chances.
I personally don’t see any fail in that.
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September 8, 2018 at 4:48 pm #90565ZooeyModeratorExpectations are too high, imo. As if people are expecting the Rams to coast to victory. They aren’t even supposed to struggle. But…you know…that’s preseason excitement, and characteristic of every team. We have Raiders fans expecting the Raiders to dominate the Rams. Whatever.
I saw parts of the Eagles-Falcons game. Couldn’t tell if it was sloppy offense, or really good defenses from what I saw. Evidence of both…but didn’t watch the thing coast-to-coast.
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