from https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2024/2/15/24074449/rams-news-cbs-sports-major-leap-2024-season
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Jeff Kerr of CBS Sports seems to think so as he pegged LA as one of five teams expected to take a major leap in 2024. Los Angeles was included alongside the Texans, Bengals, Packers and Colts.</p>
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Kerr expects the Rams to compete for the NFC West crown next year despite playing in the same division as the 49ers, who are the reigning conference champs. Here is what the analyst had to say in his February 14 article:

“Los Angeles nailed the 2023 draft with Puka Nacua, along with Kobie Turner and Byron Young on a revamped defensive line. General manager Les Snead has made the most of his draft picks over the last two seasons, and the Rams own six picks in the first five rounds this year (first-round pick for first time since 2016).

There’s still some retooling in the secondary for the Rams and they need to see if Carson Wentz can be salvaged in case Stafford goes down. If Stafford stays healthy, the Rams have a shot at the NFC West title for the first time in three years.”</p>

Every Matthew Stafford Touchdown From The 2023 Season

One pressing question for Sean McVay and new Rams position/assistant coaches

Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/5351254/2024/03/20/rams-sean-mcvay-question-coaches/?source=emp_shared_article

Big waves of change unfolded through the Rams’ first week of free agency.

To recap:

• The Rams signed two cornerstone offensive linemen, are moving another to center, signed a blocking tight end who could hold potential in the pass game, signed a familiar face at cornerback, a rising young safety, re-signed veteran receiver Demarcus Robinson, offered tenders to their starting left tackle and a depth defensive lineman/special teamer, extended a depth linebacker on a cheap, but guaranteed, deal and found their new backup quarterback.

Here’s why they spent where they did (note: This was written before the agreement to terms of safety Kam Curl, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and inside linebacker Christian Rozeboom, so they did answer the backup quarterback question posed at the bottom of the story).

• Aaron Donald retired.

Before all of that, head coach Sean McVay did some shuffling of his staff, inclusive to new hires and promotions. With so much change, I thought I’d do something fun and pose one big question to McVay and each of the new/re-arranged coaches — with some additional analysis, of course — now that they themselves are re-calibrating after the first part of free agency.

Sean McVay
After out-performing expectations in 2023, at what point does this organization determine it is back in “contender” conversations and how hard will they then push?

As we know, the answer to that specific question will predicate how the Rams use remaining resources, and at what time of year. McVay has new life in his run game behind a scheme change and personnel upgrades along the offensive line and at running back, and his veteran quarterback plays at an elite level when healthy. Glaring holes remain along the defensive line and even in the secondary, despite the Curl and Darious Williams additions, and the Rams need to plan for life after Cooper Kupp after injury issues popped up again in 2022 and 2023 (based on his recent social media posts, Kupp seems to be preparing for a healthy 2024).

Because of the way the Rams “set the table” in free agency, these areas are where I’d predict they use remaining resources, whether via draft or packaged together for trade ahead of the deadline, if they believe they can make a real run.

Chris Shula — defensive coordinator
What are you planning for the defensive backfield?

Shula will have his hands on the entire defense, of course. But the reason I find this specifically to be such a pressing question is because of the moves the Rams made in their secondary, and the backgrounds of both Shula and secondary coach Aubrey Pleasant. Shula helped McVay identify previous defensive coordinator Brandon Staley (who, like Pleasant, was a candidate for this year’s job). He bought in to the match-zone the Rams have foundationally deployed since 2020 (obviously there were noticeable variations in 2022-23, for specific reasons covered here). Williams, already a strong zone cornerback, did very well in that match-zone, quarters-heavy scheme. At just 25, Curl has a reputation for being very versatile at safety or nickel/dime linebacker which would be a benefit in rotating and disguising coverages and pressure. The addition of these two players, to me, tells us a little more about what Shula envisions as his “schematic fingerprints” on this overall system into 2024.

Giff Smith — defensive line
How will you generate a complete pass rush?

Let’s be clear: There’s no replacing Donald. In some ways, the Rams will start from scratch here because of what they were able to do so effectively with Donald holding down one, two, sometimes even three defenders and multiple gaps snap in and snap out. They have two players who can be considered “foundation” pieces to this new puzzle, in second-year defensive tackle Kobie Turner and second-year outside linebacker Byron Young. Defensive tackle Bobby Brown III, who can play the nose if Turner shifts into more of a full-time, pass-rushing three-technique role, is under contract for another year as well. Michael Hoecht should step back into a rotational inside/outside role after starting full time at outside linebacker in 2023.

The Rams didn’t get into the markets for higher tiers of pass rusher or defensive tackle in free agency, preferring (even while knowing Donald’s decision as the period began) to invest a combined $34 million per year instead in their two guards, Jonah Jackson and Kevin Dotson. Stafford’s cap number in 2024 is $49.5 million, and Cooper Kupp’s is $29.7 million. It is very easy to see which side of the ball the Rams have made a financial priority, and that means certain positions on the other side have to be cost-controlled.

As I have reported, they had interest in possible lower-market players such as Alex Van Ginkel, but hoped to wait him out a little longer (his foot injury was a factor) and he was signed elsewhere. Trade potential also always seems to be on the table with this group, or acquiring cut players after the draft.

Could the Rams actually go “young and cheap” along their entire defensive front? I wouldn’t rule that out, either — which would put the onus directly on Smith, second-year outside linebackers coach Joe Coniglio and second-year assistant defensive line coach A.C. Carter.

Greg Williams — inside linebackers
How will Ernest Jones’ leadership role expand post-Donald?

I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that the Rams placed Jones’ locker next to Donald’s for the 2023 season. Jones will be asked to become even more of a vocal, veteran leader without Donald around. The Rams previously have not invested into their inside linebacker position but have opened preliminary discussions with Jones’ representation (those don’t usually progress until the late summer). On the field, Jones’ role could also expand further in consideration of Shula’s experience coaching his position. The Rams re-signed Rozeboom to a one-year deal but will need to keep locating depth here.

John Streicher — game strategy and game management
What edges and leverage points will you present to McVay and will he use them?

At least McVay had the awareness to joke about adding the role, to help him “not use my timeouts in the second half until I need to.” The Rams have always gone over in-game situations and have an analytics department that provides coaches with data on rules, situations and scenarios (such as when the math would say to kick and when to go for it on fourth down, or when to go for a two-point conversion but also far beyond those popular examples). “Stretch” has a role that on paper looks like it will be more influential, inclusive to the fact that the Rams actually list him among their coaches.

Stretch has a reputation around the league for finding edges within the NFL’s rulebook as well as advising on sound game management strategy and in personnel evaluation. McVay is one of the most progressive schematic minds in the game, which juxtaposes with a very traditional “feel and flow of the game” situational approach. I’m very, very interested to see how this goes.

Dave Ragone, Nate Scheelhaase, Rob Calabrese — quarterbacks, offensive assistants (pass game/quarterbacks)
“Jimmy G” and who else?

This is an interesting group of coaches to have in the building where the quarterback position is concerned. The Rams’ one-year deal with Garoppolo was all about cost and scheme/system fit with a player they know very well, despite Garoppolo’s incoming two-game suspension.

The bulk of the money the Rams spent in free agency went toward players who will protect and extend the career lifespan of Matthew Stafford. But if the rolling through of previous starters-turned-backups in Los Angeles in 2022 and 2023 (Baker Mayfield, Carson Wentz) proves to be a precedent, Garoppolo may get a lift from his stint and take another shot at a starting job elsewhere. So what happens after 2024?

Nick Caley — tight ends, pass game coordinator
What are the short- and long-term plans for Tyler Higbee?

Caley is not a new hire, but was promoted by McVay this spring after he was wooed by New England for its offensive coordinator job.

Higbee, who tore his ACL and MCL after a low hit by Detroit Lions defensive back Kerby Joseph in the wild-card loss, will be recovering into the summer and potentially fall. The Rams just signed 25-year-old Colby Parkinson to a three-year deal, presumably to take over as TE1 while Higbee heals. The contract extension Higbee signed last summer would be tricky to get out of in 2024 but could be movable in 2025. Parkinson could be both the short- and long-term future for the Rams at the position, but a lot of football has to happen in between.

Chili Davis — special teams assistant
Any kicker identification tips to bring to L.A.?

In all seriousness, Davis was hired by retained special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn to help turn around a unit that ranked dead last in DVOA in 2023. The Rams need to identify a kicker, sure, but they also need to develop their coverage units. I would expect Rozeboom (one-year deal) and Hoecht (right of first refusal tender) to help here as well as Ronnie Rivers (exclusive rights free-agent tender).

By association, McVay and “Stretch” can also help out the special teams unit with some of their down-and-distance and late-down decision-making.

McVay also hired Sean Desai (Bears, Eagles) and Jerry Schuplinski (Raiders, Giants, Dolphins, Patriots) as senior assistants.

My understanding of the roles are that they are offensive-oriented, even though Desai most recently has a defensive coordinator background. Now-Falcons defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake held that role in 2023, though also had the title of “assistant head coach.” One thing McVay and others from this coaching tree have done over the years is worked to understand opposing defensive systems’ “rules” in order to better tendency-break and scheme against them.

Finally, the Rams are hopeful that renowned offensive line coach Mike Munchak returns to consult with their staff for a second season. These roles are usually determined closer to OTAs and training camp.

wv wrote:

ell…Aaron Donald is not going to be on the line. I cant get past that.   I dunno what to do with that.

Rams have had top defenses before. They did it the old-fashioned way–without a single dominant star, but with several good to excellent players. In fact look at their top picks–Rams have been neglecting the front 7 in the draft for years. From 2017 to 2022 they had 15 combined 2nd and 3rd round picks and out of those they selected 2 front 7 players–Jones and Lewis (and Lewis was a gamble). In 2023 they made it 4 out of 18.

They need front 7 players. They won’t find a Donald, Taylor, or White but not every good defense has that.

Baltimore had the 1st ranked D last year in terms of  points. (6th in yards). They don’t have a Donald, White, or Taylor. Just good players in a good and well-coached scheme.

Though the Rams defense has been neglected in the draft for so long (or the front 7 has anyway) that I would expect to signs of good play in 2024, but not a fully arrived real D yet. But they can take very positive steps in that direction.

With this offense, as you said, that might be enough for now.