There are several things about this team that ROD members have proclaimed yet the media recognize at a snail’s pace. For this reason, I’d like to continue this tradition by pointing out things this season the lazy media will pretend later they knew all along.
The Rams have the only effective offensive line in the NFC West. Veldheer made Lawrence look like a HOF candidate while Hav and Brown silenced him completely. The Hawks and Cards have two of the WORST OLines in the NFL.
While we were all fawning over Gerald Everett, McVay was regularly giving Tyler Higbee nearly twice as many reps. Lance Kendricks was deemed expendable and McVay has trusted Higbee even when he struggled. Carrier has been responsible for several key blocks this year. The development of our TE position is unsung SO FAR.
McVay holds his cards well in terms of player usage. Different players get featured in different ways each week. Screen pass to Brown? Higbee deep? Kupp vertical down the sideline? Gurley on a seam post? Tavon off tackle? Carrier as a first read for Goff? Good luck future DC’s figuring out what’s coming next. Sean’s got something coming for your @sses.
Guys like Longacre, Fox, Smart, Walker, and Thomas are getting coached up and becoming more integral to the success of the defense while Brockers and Donald snatch the headlines.
Mark Barron has overtaken Ogletree as the leader of this LB corps.
The Rams have the NFL’s best ST units. The blocking scheme on Cooper’s KO return was masterful (I admit wanting him to just down every KO in the end zone but Bones isn’t the timid sort). I won’t mention our kickers because, well...I promised not to be obvious.
Goff’s light will shine so brightly that the QB’s in the east will swear the sun is rising from LA. By year’s end, he will be starting on winning fantasy football teams.
Until the Cowboys get Sean Lee back, the Dallas D will continue to get shredded, not only by us.
Joyner was the only significant Ram that didn’t play this game. The Rams may have the healthiest team in the league. (Fingers crossed)
Finally, this team isn’t beating itself often with boneheaded mistakes, turnovers, and late hits. This is becoming a smart team all the way down to a lack of stupid, me first celebrations.
I invite my brothers to add to this thread those things we see but haven’t yet garnered media attention.
