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Deadpool
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Speed_Kills
the Rams must get more physical on both sides of the ball
they don’t have time to wait for Todd Gurley. They must find a replacement or two or three for him
It is critical that they get away from a finesse based blocking scheme and that they beef up their interior dline
Everything is on the table including using Ramsey as bait
The 49ers do not have Woods, Cooks, and Kupp. The Pats didn’t have that when they beat the Rams in the SB last year
One of those WRs needs to be traded
I agree they need to be more physical on both sides of the ball. Esp. on the lines. But I don't think they are going away from their outside zone blocking scheme. McVay did say when he got here they would run both zone and power blocking schemes, but I see very little man power. I'm hoping they do more, but with the personnel they have, you really should play to your strength and not force a square peg into a round hole and Evans, Edwards and Noteboom are zone blockers.
I want to beef up the LG and OC spots. And I have shared a few names available in the 2nd-4th rounds that could help with that. But if you want to know why the niners are so good at running the ball, it is because instead of 5 blockers, they deploy 7-8 every run. They have a FB and TE that block their tails off and its an advantage few teams could duplicate. And frankly the Rams will not ever be that team.
As far as waiting for Gurley, there is nothing to wait for. Arthritis is arthritis and he is never going to be the same. But I don't think you need to go out and spend a high pick on his replacement or go spend on a back like Gordon. If this superbowl has done anything, it has reinforced my thought that you don't need a stud back to win, you need to find the RIGHT back for your system. Mostert and Williams are not exactly household names. And aren't making 48m each. But they are working.
I have no issues taking a back like Taylor or Dobbins if they happen to be available in round 2 (Dobbins probably not, Taylor maybe) but that would require the Rams to a) admit that Gurley is toast or near toast, and that Henderson is already a bust after 1 year, or at the very least not a back you can build around. I just don't think the Rams are ready for that. I can totally see the Rams taking a flier on a day 3 back that should have been taken on day 2. Say a guy like Lamical Perine from Florida or a Eno Benjamin from Arizona State.
As far as beefing up the DL. I cannot agree more. And what I find so strange is this idea that Phillips preferred DL that played the run on the way to the QB. He has always had a beefy NT. In Buffalo he had 365 lb Ted Washington, in SD he had 345 lb Jamal Williams, 315 lb Shaun Cody in Houston and in Denver 330 lb Sylvester Williams. So then he gets to LA and goes to 300 lb NTs? It made, makes no sense to me personally. I am hoping more then anything this offseason brings a beefy NT to LA. They absolutely need a space eater that can make their DEs and LBers free to do damage 1 v 1.
As far as everything is on the table including Ramsey. I was not a fan of the Ramsey trade, but what was done is done and I just don't see trading Ramsey at this point. The WR group is one of the strongest units on the team, 2nd is the DBs. Rapp/JJ/Ramsey/Hill/NRC make a very nice backend. I'm not sure I break that up.
That brings me to your last point. Trading a WR. Kupp is cheap and good. He's not going anywhere. Woods is absolutely perfect in McVays system and a good blocker. Trading him actually weakens the run game due to his exceptional blocking. That brings me to Cooks. Supposedly McVay had been after him for 2 years before they finally got him. Does the concussion thing change his mind? Maybe, and maybe a shift to more 2 TE, 2 WR sets makes him expendable. If you could get a late 2nd to 3rd round pick for him Im all over that. Bring in a deep threat later on in the draft.
I agree with almost everything you are saying. I'm just not sure how realistic it is. Lets put it this way, i'm not holding my breath.
