Are we that good?

[Mojo Ram]

I’m just posting to echo those pointing out that the slow starts, injury epidemics and OL confusion needs to NOT be a factor a third season in a row.

Start fast and finish strong. Home field advantage is important because, Philly.

 

[Tano]

So many people do this, not just you...but we would have had to get by Washington before playing the Chiefs. That would have been a challenge, not automatic.

But I agree with you that adding Adams and Ford are two strong moves.

As I said in another thread, our defense would have run Daniels ragged for most of the game.

Sure he would make a few plays but I think they score 20 points on us at most.

And although our offense had issues, Washington's defense had even bigger issues.

I think we score 30 points on them.

 

[JonRam99]

Rams should be a legit contender this year. So yeah I'd say we deserve to be talked about now in that top group of teams.

But that said are we finally going to have a fucking year where the OL starts fast? Because that never seems to happen for us. And until it happens this team is never going to challenge for a top seed.

Same with the defense. Which also seems to start slow and ascend as the year progresses and things are tuned and guys sort into roles.

You can't fuck around if you want a bye week or home games in January. Gotta win early in the season and position yourself to compete for that top seed.

As long as they stop jacking around with the lineup.
AJax - Avila - Shelton (Limmer) - Dotson - Havs looks great, but if they keep scrambling things up, they'll come out cold again.
And I'm not 100% on Shelton yet... last year he was on the Bears, not the Rams, and offenses can change drastically in 2 years -- did Shelton play with Dotson? does he remember Avila's tendencies??

 

[OldSchool]

Yeah we have to keep building up this team but we're a good team.

 

[DzRams]

As I said in another thread, our defense would have run Daniels ragged for most of the game.

Sure he would make a few plays but I think they score 20 points on us at most.

And although our offense had issues, Washington's defense had even bigger issues.

I think we score 30 points on them.

Maybe.

You've got more confidence in our ability to corral a running QB than I do.

 

[JonRam99]

Offense: I think Adams & Stafford jell quick. Matt already knows Puka & Tutu & started getting comfortable w/ Whitt, who will slide right in to Kupp's role. Throw in a TE at pick #26, and Tuten (or sim RB) in rd 3 / 4, and we'll have a top 5 offense. As long as they stop jacking around with the OL.
Defense: The D that showed up in the 2nd half last year was on fire. Add in Poona to stop the tush push, and a CB rd 3 / 4, and we're kicking butt. I have a feeling... Emmanwori could be the guy at #26. He'd be amazing at Star / nickel.
Special Teams are golden, with our new kicker & semi-new punter.
As long as we make a few improvements & adjustments, I really think we gotta chance. Gotta think the L-L-Lions are gonna be hot after losing in their 1st game to the Commodes, who are also making improvements. These 2 teams will be our main competition.

 

[TexasRam]

Detroit and Philly have absolute dominance at tackles and explosive RB’s.

Detroit had a ton of key injuries on defense.

Rams have an edge in the passing game with Stafford, Puka and Adams, assuming all stay healthy and Adams doesn’t fall off.

Then two variables left are injuries and draft.

 

[WestCoastRam]

But that said are we finally going to have a fucking year where the OL starts fast?

FWIW, that's generally seemed to have been a problem league wide for a few years now. But this entire team notoriously starts slow. Interesting that the Bengals have the same problem and same coaching tree... wonder if there any other McVayites with similar issues.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Detroit and Philly have absolute dominance at tackles and explosive RB’s.

Detroit had a ton of key injuries on defense.

Rams have an edge in the passing game with Stafford, Puka and Adams, assuming all stay healthy and Adams doesn’t fall off.

Then two variables left are injuries and draft.

Eagles also have the top assistant coach in the league (by many NFL team's judgment) in Jeff Stoutland. I've heard teams rank him ahead of all the top OC's and DC's for his impact year in and year out.

 

[Psycho_X]

Rankings don't mean shit when a QB (other random super stars) gets lost for a season. But Rams have done a nice job building a team that can win it all on paper. While our coaching generally does a great job putting the players in a position to succeed as the season goes on. It's a great combination as long as we have a good year health wise in a few very important positions.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

So many people do this, not just you...but we would have had to get by Washington before playing the Chiefs. That would have been a challenge, not automatic.

But I agree with you that adding Adams and Ford are two strong moves.

I think the Rams would have defeated the Commodes. I understand that the transitive law doesn’t work in the NFL, but I like the matchup. I was hoping the Rams would get the Commodes in the playoffs. As good as Daniels was this season he’s a rookie and that team had a few holes.

I also watched two videos of Eagles players saying the toughest team they faced in the playoffs was the Rams.

 

[bubbaramfan]

 

[ottoman89]

Love bringing AK-44 back, solidifies a starting CB spot and they're not done trying to add there (cough cough).

That's the biggest weakness to me.

 

[bwdenverram]

Absolutely. I'd like us to get a little better at LB and CB but overall, we're pretty damn strong across the board. I also agree with @Merlin
We need to make homefield the advantage it needs to be. Get off to better starts and postion ourselves to never have to play in crap weather come playoff time. We win that Philly game at home.

 

[Billy Baroo]

Detroit and Philly have absolute dominance at tackles and explosive RB’s.

Detroit had a ton of key injuries on defense.

Rams have an edge in the passing game with Stafford, Puka and Adams, assuming all stay healthy and Adams doesn’t fall off.

Then two variables left are injuries and draft.

Biggest variable for DET is they lost both coordinators. Campbell will be exposed.

 

[Merlin]

Watching his highlight reel I was struck by how sure a tackler he is. He gets the runner's legs, none of this bouncing off the shoulders bullshit...

Highlight reels tend to only show the highlights. Gotta watch full games to get a real feel. Or a cutup of all his snaps in a game, though that shit is hard to find unless you work for an NFL team.

Yet they all took time to develop past year 1. Do we have that luxury with Stafford or do we get more of a day 1 impact player? TE is a position that notoriously takes time for rookies to develop. Not saying it isn't possible as Gronk and Graham seem to make a leap in year 2. Lastly, if you are talking about Dallas Clark, think he's a horrible example as he sucked ass compared to the other 2 you mentioned career wise. If any TE that we'd go after in rd 1 goes that career route, I'd rather pass.

The top TEs will show something year one. Usually that means they're advanced in the pass game. This is why those guys go off the board generally by early round 2. It is also why McVay hasn't managed to get one of them. Detroit took LaPorta damn near in his face.

I don't think TE is a given by any means for us at 26. Rams may need to position for whichever one they want. Which I agree will not include Warren as he seems to be off the table if the mocks are to be believed. Again he'd need to shit the bed on his 40 time to get near us. Since none of these bastids ran at the combine we're gonna need to wait for all the pro day BS to be over with.

By the way I figure Loveland will be on the board for us. He doesn't do it for me but if McVay loves him I'll hope he's right. Arroyo I worry about his knee. Taylor feels like the right fit but 26 is probably too soon for him depending on how the Rams grade him.

Good thing is there's a few options for us like CB, QB possibly, maybe even DL if one of them gets to us at 26. Best player is the key of course.

 

[Merlin]

As long as they stop jacking around with the lineup.
AJax - Avila - Shelton (Limmer) - Dotson - Havs looks great, but if they keep scrambling things up, they'll come out cold again.
And I'm not 100% on Shelton yet... last year he was on the Bears, not the Rams, and offenses can change drastically in 2 years -- did Shelton play with Dotson? does he remember Avila's tendencies??

Yeah their offseason plan last year for the OL blew up in their face when Avila couldn't handle Center. Then Jackson did his best but he is no top Center either. This year may be Limmer > Shelton with a "competition" but of course Limmer should win that shit assuming he improves in his pass pro. If not that's a big time concern.

I'd draft another Center late rounds personally. Just in case and to give them another option worst case. But I'll be surprised if Limmer isn't notably better year two. I think he's got the right stuff.

 

[snackdaddy]

It sure seems like they're wanting to focus more on run defense. That was an area of weakness for most the season. It got better down the stretch. Until the Philly game. Signing Ford and Landman points to trying to strengthen that area. Landman could be a very nice under the radar signing.

Right now, as is their roster is a legit contender. If they hit on a few draft picks it becomes that much better. Do they look for someone who can make an immediate impact the way Verse and Fiske did? Of do they think about the future and draft a quarterback like Jaxson Dart with their first pick? Their roster is good enough to compete now and be able to redshirt a guy like Dart for a couple years. Unless a desperate team with an earlier pick wants to take a chance with him to be their guy right away.

 

[Loyal]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQTYqoKQKrM

 

[fearsomefour]

This team is hard to judge the last two years.
Injuries, a bogged down offense but amazing resilience, heart and great coaching.
The Rams were very close to beating Detroit, Green Bay, dominated the Vikings twice, nearly beat the Eagles in the playoffs.....
but
they also lost to the Bears, got some very fortunate close wins agains so-so teams.
I also think the Rams beat the Chiefs in the Super Bowl if they got there.
All that said, if the team has reasonable health, yes for sure....Rams can compete for the Super Bowl.