Here’s PARAM…
I could see if we lost 8 guys from a top 10 defense, we might suffer. At what point this year, did we have a good defense? But that is besides the point. The success of the Rams under McVay has been and will always be tied to OFFENSE. We went to the Superbowl in 2018 with the #20 defense in points and #19 defense in yards. This year we had the #21 defense in points and #19 defense in yards and we were 5-12. Why? No offense. We had the #1 defense in both yards and points in 2020 and went 10-6, 1-1 in the postseason. Why? Mediocre offense (#22, #11). In 2021 we had the #15 defense in pts, #17 in yards and won the SB. Why? Offense. Truth is, when McVay has a top 10 offense, we win, regardless of the defense.
2017 Offense #1 in pts, #10 in yards Defense #12 in pts, #19 in yards (11-5)
2018 Offense #2 in pts, #2 in yards Defense #20 in pts, #19 in yards (13-3)
2019 Offense #11 in pts, #7 in yards Defense #17 in pts, #13 in yards (9-7)
2020 Offense #22 in pts, #11 in yards Defense #1 in pts, #1 in yards (10-6)
2021 Offense #7 in pts, #9 in yards Defense #15 in pts, #17 in yards (12-5)
2022 Offense #27 in pts, #32 in yards Defense #21 in pts, #19 in yards (5-12)
And though I think Floyd was ragged a bit too much this year, he isn't a top flight pass rusher. Wagner had slowed. Ramsey is great but has his lapses. Gaines is decent but is that because of Donald? Rapp? Man he's been Ram fans whipping boy since he was drafted. Hill? He missed 4 games early this year and we went 2-2. Long? Come on. Scott was a good safety. A'Shawn was a run stopper but got hurt this year.
