Rams need?

This topic has 5 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 9 months ago by sdram.

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March 6, 2017 at 3:30 pm #65938

sdram
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What\who does all you cynicalists see the Rams biggest needs being prior to FA/Draft season?

Not knowing too much about the new staff, I think the OL has to perform at a much higher level regardless of anything else. They were less than stellar last season. In fact, they sucked all the tar from the LA Brea Tar Pits. Will they sign some veteran types to shore it up? Which young OL should they keep? They drafted a whole bunch two seasons ago. Should they draft more young OL? I guess I can see them adding OL talent in the draft regardless of what they have and also trying to fully develop what they have. Will the staff even know what they have prior to FA or the draft? Is Robinson redeemable?

Besides ol talent, it seems to me like scheme specific needs for both offense and defense are going to play a big role in player acquisition. I see LB being the biggest defensive needs if they actually plan to run more 3-4 type schemes. And they need playmakers.

From NFL.com http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000788621/article/2017-nfl-free-agency-needs-for-each-nfc-team

Los Angeles Rams: Defensive back, offensive line, wide receiver

The problems on the offensive line and at wide receiver are not new for the Rams — and neither is the habit of paying mid-tier starters like superstars. (Tavon Austin, Mark Barron and Michael Brockers have the team’s three highest cap figures, counting for $36.9 million against the cap in 2017.) The secondary, on the other hand, could quickly go from a strength under ex-coordinator Gregg Williams to an uncertainty under new coordinator Wade Phillips. Cornerback Trumaine Johnson has been tagged a second straight year, but safety T.J. McDonald is a free agent just one year after the Rams lost two quality starters (Janoris Jenkins and Rodney McLeod) to the marketplace. The bright spot here is that Phillips often spins magic from surprising sources.

March 6, 2017 at 4:17 pm #65941

InvaderRam
Moderator

if i had to rank, i’d say.

defensive back (safety and a corner needed)

offensive line (left tackle and a center)

wr/te (i include them together cuz really either one would do in this offense. mcvay loves tight ends)

outside linebacker

defensive end

me personally. i think they’re better off signing cheap veteran talent at offensive line and one premium signing at wide receiver. i don’t think drafting more young guys is going to help much. get somebody who’s ready to step in day 1.

draft defense. this is a strong draft for defense. you can draft a guy and reasonably expect him to start right away.

after watching the defensive backs today, i’m confident they can find a starter at corner, safety, and outside linebacker at least. if they just stay disciplined and stick to the draft board. they could put out a great defense next year if they draft right.

on offense, if they can make key free agent additions at wide receiver and offensive line and if goff can improve, they should be fine there. draft an offensive lineman who needs to be developed. or draft a wide receiver who isn’t quite ready to step in and start. they’re no better than they were last year.

March 6, 2017 at 4:57 pm #65943

sanbagger
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I would like them to sign Okung (10 mil per), Mangold (7 mil per), and Woods (5 mil per)

They get those 3 guys and I don’t care who else they go after, I’ll be a happy guy.

I have changed from Guard and Center to LT and Center…as I always say, I’m subject to change my mind daily or hourly whichever comes first.

March 6, 2017 at 10:11 pm #65959

zn
Moderator

Rams need?

To win.

Anyway I agree with the posts already written in this thread but just want to add that IMO so many different things went wrong last year that it is actually very difficult to tell, at least when it comes to the offense, where the Rams stand in terms of talent. They are young and went through a strange year, so it’s hard to say what they have. Are any of the young linemen redeemable? Are any of the young receivers viable? Is Gurley recoverable? Can Goff progress? It’s actually hard to answer any of that.

Plus they face a draft that is relatively deficient in their apparent areas of need on offense, but just overflowing with defensive talent. Because they franchised Tru, they also don’t have much in the way of resources for free agency, either.

Here’s an example of how messy all this is and hard to figure out, on offense. Last year behind the same line, Keenum operated with virtually half the sack percentage that Goff ended up getting. That looks to me like Keenum was handling protections and spotting blitzes pre-snap like a veteran and Goff wasn’t. Well how much of that was on the OL? How much of it was on Goff and can he get a better handle on that stuff. And given that kind of murkiness (though this is just one example), how close or how far are they on the OL to coming through finally and being stable? I have no idea.

So, I am confused. What the Rams need, then, is just to be far less confused about all this than I am.

March 7, 2017 at 10:41 am #65970

sdram
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So, I am confused. What the Rams need, then, is just to be far less confused about all this than I am.

I’m not sure what they really need in terms of talent either on the OL so mark me down in the not sure category either. Goff and the OL maturing hopefully should go a long way towards some incremental improvement in the ol. Seems like perhaps a solid veteran center could help Goff and the ol come together.

They’ll make a plan – March 9 should be interesting just to see what their intentions are. Why won’t they just resign Tru? Try to make a real deal like other teams seem to do all the time. Maybe their looking at others like Donald and Tree. By tagging Tru again, I think they’ll basically pay him in two seasons what Jenkins is guaranteed in three. That would help with the cap I would think. Seems like they rarely resign their best players to a second contract.

March 9, 2017 at 11:18 am #66034

sdram
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With Whitworth’s signing it seems as though they answered the question of what the Rams staff thought the first step in fixing was their biggest need.
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