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Rams43
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Suh-weet!
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Rams43
The more I learn, the more I like.
I’m expecting a dramatically more effective D this year. And one that will be far more fun to watch.
1. Turnover ~7 new starters on defense, including 5 new to the team or new to big playing time (Robinson, Howard, Kiser, Leonard, Long). Johnson is coming back, Rapp didn't begin last year as a starter. Brockers and Donald are literally the only two returning guys who started from beginning to end last year.
2. New DC and scheme.
3. The new scheme is not easy. For one thing, saying Staley likes versatile players is also saying that guys will need to learn a range of roles. To ask that of a lot of young guys... it'll take time.
4. Their offseason/preseason time to work thru things together will be curtailed, probably significantly.
My guess is that this defense has top-10 potential, maybe better. But, under these conditions, I don't think it's reasonable to expect that out the gate
The Covid restrictions will challenge all other teams, as well. So, maybe it all balances out? And the Rams do tend to load their roster with football loving, smart, team captain types, so there is that.
Yes, the restrictions will challenge everybody, but will pose a bigger challenge to a team undergoing lots of personnel turnover AND a move to a more challenging defensive scheme than to one doing what they did last year w/more or less the same cast of characters.
