While some of it is the improved coaching on offense, the personnel moves have been aggressive and have attacked weaknesses where in the past, it was like throw your arms up in the air that we are doomed approach. Who would ever believe that both the left tackle and WR problem would be taken care of in 1 season. Which allowed the team to evaluate Goff and resurrected Gurley. Then reinforby Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
Some don't like trading high picks. I love it. As I have posted many, many times. There is a 90% chance that the #23 pick won't outperform the established player already playing at a high level. Than backfill with lower round picks by quantity where you playing odds that more shots on goal, increases that one will make it through. Than not being afraid to use free agency. Whitworthby Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
even Gurley and Goff. I think the backup QB may be a good one. Played well in preseason and when you see Goff with Fisher vs Goff with McVay, you can see how much a player can improve with the right coaching.by Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
at #23 will not contribute as much. Great deal for a playoff team to make.by Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
I liked what we seen of him vs many other players where folks like of what they haven't seen.by Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
I many times marvel at folks that get excited on some of these players that have never shown much of anything, but I agree with you on Davis. While he didn't do anything in the season, he looked very good in preseason even if it was against 2nd stringers most of the time. That is the difference to me. Get excited based on actual results that have been seen.by Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
The part that applies to the Rams is this We are done messing around baby! No more 'can't go get this player' can't make that trade. can't sign this player. Too old, Too expensive The aggressiveness changed it all around. both with getting players and how they play. They went and got the coach, they "PAID" an old player with a short future. Whitworth. They wentby Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
for drafting as comparing to the rest of the league is pretty good. That part I agree with as some very good talent was drafted. But, largely disagree that there could be any justification for using a #2 pick for a high risk development project that didn't even play in a playmaker role that if you fell short, the player could still contribute. i.e. pash rushers can rotate in, WRs, RBs can gby Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
the extreme criticism of Austin is one of the most puzzling things that I can think of and How some of these roster fillers who have never shown anything close to these highlights are immediately perceived as having more to offer than Austin after watching these highlights. Dozens and dozens of wow plays and these guys are lucky to have a handful. Now, is Austin a disappoiby Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
Mostly because it was the 2nd pick in the draft. You need a playmaker in the top 5 or some "Sure" thing if you are going off a playmaker position, somebody who touches the ball or rushes the passer. But to boot, this guy was a development project and odds were the Rams would be developing him for his 2nd contract with a different team. It was pretty clear he wasn't going to be muby Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
Mike Martz for sure, not only for the Rams, but the entire NFL. The popularity of football and the way the game changed with Martz's offensive influences is the Face of the NFL today. The Rams floundered for years before Martz and after Martz until they brought a "Martz Like" coach that can make an offense fun to watch. Load up on WRs, spread the field, make the defense defend hoby Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
A season can go south quickly. Injuries. A couple blown games late and before you know it your 2-6 and than players pack it inby Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
on the roster. 1) Cooks 2) Kupp 3) Woods 4) Austin This obsession Rams fans have for Cooper, Reynolds, and Thomas is a head scratcher. While Austin isn't worth his salary and may be dumped, I think they keep him around until late in the preseason, just in case any of the top 3 get an injury. I can find some single games that Austin has had over the past years where his production oby Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
Simply put: To learn how to win, you have to win. The Whitworth signing and Watkins trade were both well worth it. Some say NOT, only if you win the superbowl, that you have to have a longer term vision. Longer term for what? Repeating the previous 10 years where you say every year, too much salary, too much to give up and do nothing! After the Robinson debacle at left tackle and 10by Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
To get over the hump to rent a player and the only thing you give us is swapping a 2nd rounder for a 3rd rounder after a decade of losing and the WR position improvement allowed Gurley to have room to run and gave the Rams some confidence and swagger. The Watkins trade was a huge success even with him underachieving. The Rams needed to break through and that trade provided more firepower toby Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
In the meantime we go to the playoff 2 years in a row to improve a position that has been a train wreck with the Rams for more than a decade. To be honest, it may be the #1 reason the Rams went to the playoffs, having the 3 good WRs. All 3 moves were great. 1) 3 new WRs 2) Replacing Robinson with Whitworth 3) Getting McVay to build a real NFL offenseby Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
That is just my guess based on observation and his history. I have no way to prove that or know that for sure, but his confusion at the line of scrimmage and inability to judge a ball leaves a person wondering, but there is that college thing that he got arrested for controlled substances. don't know what it was other than the marijuana. The other substances on the article I read were not dby Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
What is the Percentage of late 1st round picks that play at high level When I mean a high level, I mean a border line pro bowl player. Let's say maybe 25% of the time a late first round pick is really good. 4 years in a row you trade your 1st round pick for a border line or above pro bowler that is underpaid and near the end of the contract. 1) Worst case scenario, you lose all 4 playby Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
9 chances out of 10 Cook will outperform the #23 pick in the draft. When somebody recently listed the last 15 #23 picks, it was 15 out of 15.by Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
same thing the following year and guarantee top players on the roster at a value salary. Drafting Greg Robinsons and hoping they develop is what puts you at 4-12. The approach of considering all options to get great players Trades, Free Agents, and Drafts has been refreshing and a big reason the Rams won last year and will continue to win this year.by Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
that Cooks will perform much better than the 23rd pick in the draft. In fact, somebody listed the last 15 #23 picks, and it was 15 out of 15 based on that list. You get a top player at a very reasonable salary for 1 year is the worst case and a proven top player. The Rams may sign him, but my understanding the way this works if he leaves, you still get a 3rd round pick back the followingby Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
He was already gone when the trade was made. However, the Rams get a 3rd rounder for Watkins right and the Rams got a 4th rounder for Cooks. So is it possible that one of those 2 players may actually be better than the #23 pick in the draft? But if you want to include Watkins, it would be #23 Watkins 6th rounder For Cooks 3rd rounder 4th rounderby Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
When you look at that list Cooks last 3 years was superior to all 15.by Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
but his role was more to go deep to clear out space for Kupp and Woods. One of the complaints I had with the offense is while the totality is so refreshing with tremendous space management and variety, the individuals are kind of blocked into a role. Watkins was not used anyway in the areas where he may be better than Cooks being a physical receiver in the short passing game. His job was sby Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
90% chance that the pick at 23 does not perform as well.by Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
I like it. Like I said, there is a 90% chance that Cooks will outperform the 23 pick in the draft. He is in the tail end of the contract, so the Rams can get some good value this year. If they let him go next year, the Rams get a draft pick back for him on top of the pick the Rams already got. If he plays well, the Rams can always tag him for a year or sign him long term. On top of thby Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
1) Cook 2) Kupp 3) Woods 4) Austin This excitement over Cooper, Reynolds, Thomas is a head scratcher for me.by Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
that's the part I like.by Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com
I like going after players. We piddled around for 10 years always finding an excuse why this player or that player could not be part of the answer. If players have to be released in a couple of years and you take 1 dead year on salary cap, that is fine. Tank 1 year and repeat the process.by Rams_81 - RamsFootballFans.com