informal poll: how the Rams look now, expectations and/or realistic views

I will do this via position groups. Others can do it any other way. Just want to see what folks R thinkin. Heck don’t even read this, just post yer own thing, long or short.

OL: needs to stay healthy but this is year 2 of a cohesive bunch

QB: if he just improves incrementally in a normal process he’s still a franchise qb obviously, but I would like him to become more “clutch” in top games. Perez might be a find, who knows, he has the right buzz anyway

WR: jeez, best in years, right? Cooks a good addition, Woods was just great, Kupp is strong in his role, I expect to see some stuff from Cooper and maybe even Thomas, Reynolds is the only guy I am not so sure about

TE: needs to step up, I am skeptical about Higbee, Everett not sure about but he flashed

RB: Gurley plus a ton of candidates for RB2 and RB3 (Brown, Davis, Kelly, Rose and I left one or 2 out…Rams have been finding solid UDFA backs for a few years now)

DL: It’ll do. (Interesting to see who the depth will be in week 1, lots of candidates since it basically was a front 7 + OL draft).

ILB: Barron plus newcomer…they do have a few candidates. Wade has traditionally scrimped on this position and gotten by with lower draft picks…he treats it as a 2-down position

OLB: Lots of names, but the pass rush was productive last year with just not even quite average work from the edge cause Wade uses the DL to set up match-ups on the outside…lots of promise in Ebukam and Obo but if they get just one 8-sack guy from the edge candidates, that might be all they need

DBs: It’ll do.

Special teams: depends on Zuerlein’s health, but, this is the only unit I know of (off the top of my head) that put all 4 key positions in the pro bowl (P, K, holder, returner). Plus there’s Littleton who was not only an “ace” but blocked 2 punts.

draft picks & UDFAs: you know, I like this draft, it was all about front 7 and OL developmental guys and role players. Along with Ag and Canada I have been posting info on Rams UDFAs after draft time for years now, and this is as buzz-heavy a group as I have seen when it comes to that. They have interesting guys at safety, LB, and RB (along with Perez).

OVERVIEW:

Rams are obviously set to contend, the only questions are how much heart they have and injuries.

BUT the NFC is as good as it has been for years. The Eagles, the Vikes, the Saints…plus possibilities in the Falcons and Panthers and you can never discount the Packers…and on top of it, maybe a division rival steps up (I think Shanahan is a great coach, we’ll see).

That right there barring surprises means, counting the Rams, 8 strong candidates for 6 playoff spots.

Outside the division alone, Rams play 4 of those NFC teams (Vikes, Saints, Eagles, Packers), along with the Chargers and Chiefs and Gruden Raiders.

If all those teams perform the way they look like they will, the Rams will have to be better this year (which I think they will be) to even get the same record as last year (which I think they will, or better).

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