Rams Fans United - Los Angeles Rams Fan Discussion Forum

As R4L opined, playoffs seem realistic. Need to win our division first,, then think titles.
SF has a dominating pass rush so Oline should be a strength. Not certain it is.
SEA has an elusive QB who makes plays on the fly. Need a solid D to contain. Not certain what we're going to have there yet.

IF TGII returns to form and McV has the 6 front defense figured out, the O will again put up points. IF we can do that and tighten up against the run, we'll have a chance. My expectations are far lower than the beginning of last year though..

The idea because we are in the toughest division in football (which is 100% accurate), we will be lucky to win the division, might be a little premature. The niners, particularly the way they lost the SB, might be in for that proverbial Superbowl hangover. Besides, we might have been 1-1 against them in 2019, if we don't allow two 3rd and 16 conversions on the final drive. Seattle hasn't been a problem for us since McVay arrived (4-2). Arizona has a young head coach and quarterback but aren't quite there yet IMHO.

A couple of big "IFs":
If the Rams can get their young OL healthy and playing well that'll help.
If the defense can improve............
we stand as much as, if not a better chance than the other NFC West teams to win the division.

Hacksaw wrote:As R4L opined, playoffs seem realistic. Need to win our division first,, then think titles.
SF has a dominating pass rush so Oline should be a strength. Not certain it is.
SEA has an elusive QB who makes plays on the fly. Need a solid D to contain. Not certain what we're going to have there yet.

IF TGII returns to form and McV has the 6 front defense figured out, the O will again put up points. IF we can do that and tighten up against the run, we'll have a chance. My expectations are far lower than the beginning of last year though..

Good post. I’d say if we can properly fix one of those 2 major things you’ve mentioned we’ll be a very good team again. Maybe not contenders but very good. I don’t think we’ll have the resources available to properly addresses all weaknesses. Not to mention we have a new coaching staff.

Sometimes things click and you have instant improvement like we did when Sean was hired and sometimes it takes time. I will definitely start the year with low expectations. Super Bowl is definitely not gonna be on my mind.

Certainly well within striking distance. If the @$##*#*$%$^ 40whiners could win NFC in 2019 campaign the Rams can in the 2020 campaign.

Given how teams preseason prognostications can differ wildly from the final results of the season, I would never count the RAMS out. Solid coaching, good players and a few breaks can take you a long way.

With McVay, and the winning mindset this franchise now generates, I feel good about every season. The days of being embarrassed because I'm a RAM fan and the team is only winning a couple of games or topping out at 7-9 are gone, IMO. I don't worry about them being competitive and representing RAM nation proudly...it's a given now.

Positives: We still have one the brightest offensive minds in the game. We still have one of the best skill positions groups in the game. We still have an offense that can put up points.

Negatives: An offensive line that played poorly most the year. A defense that played poorly in big games. First time OC and DC. McVay won't have experience to lean on.

I gotta think the line should do at least marginally better with the added experience these guys got being pressed into starting duties sooner than expected. I gotta think McVay is ready to put his stamp on the whole operation. Not just the offense. Some changes in philosophy on defense could at least make us more competitive there.

snackdaddy wrote:Positives: We still have one the brightest offensive minds in the game. We still have one of the best skill positions groups in the game. We still have an offense that can put up points.

Negatives: An offensive line that played poorly most the year. A defense that played poorly in big games. First time OC and DC. McVay won't have experience to lean on.

I gotta think the line should do at least marginally better with the added experience these guys got being pressed into starting duties sooner than expected. I gotta think McVay is ready to put his stamp on the whole operation. Not just the offense. Some changes in philosophy on defense could at least make us more competitive there.

It's true about the first time DC but you don't actually think McVay is going to give a first time OC, the reins to his offense do you? Staley will have some good defensive talent. How much depends on who we lose and who we sign. And McVay has been doing this for 3 years now....with success....so I don't think we have to worry about McVay needing somebody to lean on. One could argue, last year was the year he needed somebody to lean on, given the SB hangover effect, the win three, lose three and the we never really got going theme all season long.

IMO, McVay was stretched last year, without the Matt Lafleur, Zac Taylor types assisting him with the O. McVay was trying to do it all on Offense in 2019....and we had some adverse issues (poor play selection at times, inability to solve certain defences faced, etc).
Plus last year McVay had a veteran DC and ST Coach to delegate those two areas to 100%.....so that he could concentrate 100% on the O.

This year McVay has stated he wants to get more involved in Rams D and STs...that will take time outa McVay's day....plus he's got new guys in those 2 spots, one of them Staley, a novice. So to find the extra time to oversee Rams D & STs, McVay is gonna need to free up some time.....so McVay will delegate something.....his choice ...to the new extra Coaching body in-house for 2020, one Kevin O'Connell, the new Rams OC. Seems logical to me.

So I think McVay will need to employ O'Connell in more than just QB whispering, as he roams afield from his former sole 100% Offensive leadership role and delves into the 2020 Rams D and STs.

I see O'Connell as taking some of the O leadership pressure off of McVay...AND, I'm still hoping O'Connell has some strong ties to Redskins players, who might wanna still play for their former coach.....Trent Williams for example!

On one hand I'm a little concerned about McVay over extending himself. His coordinator choices make me think he wants to be more involved in all aspects of the team. I hope he's ready for that.

On the other hand, a good coach delegates and knows how to manage all aspects of the team. I don't see him calling defensive plays in games. But I can see him in constant communication with the occasional suggestion, but not overruling his DC. They need to be in sync there. No time for disagreements during games.

The offense is still his baby. He'll be in charge of game planning and in game play calling. His OC just needs to see things McVay did not because he's involved with the other aspects. Review the plays that happened while the offense is sitting and relay info to McVay.

I just wanna point out that before McVay, the Rams hadn't had a 9 win season since 2003.

I have a really hard time thinking of 2019 as some kind of major failure. The fact that 9-7 is seen by some as evidence of McVay or the Rams having lost it is testament to how good things are.

Now if we get worse from here, i'll be willing to talk about it. But right now i continue to think we're in a pretty good spot...