Quote
mtramfan
We played a Super Bowl game against a coach/team that had a young McVay psyched out (won't happen again) and without Kupp and not much of Gurley - and could have won it.
We played a Bills team in the opener last year that gave the Rams a shellacking while AT THE SAME TIME gave the league a blueprint on how to beat us - on both sides of the ball. Example: Can't effectively double-team AD? Triple-team him. McVay adjusted well enough to win five games and be close in three more DESPITE catastrophic injuries that disembowled the offense and crippled the defense.
We might win only three games this year. Or we might win ten. Our offense, even without Kupp, will play well enough to win and will score a lot of points. The O line's potential cannot be measured against last year but must be measured against the O line that won a Super Bowl. No Whitworth, but potentially better at both guard positions, same at center and RG; AJ adequate fill-in for AW, and with better coaching it balances out.
Run blocking will be better coached, better manned. If Akers goes down there is good depth at RB.
Our D will get scored against, and even without Jalen the secndary should be tougher overall. Though he's no Bobby Wagner (nobody is) Jones will surprise at linebacker. Edge and interior O line (all one unit in my view) should be able to harrass and disrupt QB's enough to get turnovers if not sacks.
Don't forget: Coach Hendy and "dawg work" will continue to settle in and make this unit better throughout the season. Once we get past first games against Seattle and SF, I don't think we'll be vulnerable to getting brutally gashed by the run as some might fear.
Critical factors this year:
One: tTme of possesion. Teams that can play keep-away and score can beat us. See below.
Two, Turnovers. If I see evidence of solid, fundamentally sound tackling, many hats to the ball, and forced fumbles I'll be overjoyed. It is up to he coaches to coach these things, drill them all season long. If I see faster and more aggressive secondaary play, even if the corners are playing well off the ball but jumping an occasional route instinctively and with anticipation, I'll be overjoyed. It is up to the coaches to develop and encourage playing for takeaways. The math here is simple: Takeaways reduce the other team's time witl the ball,and this year will give this year's offense (though not last year's - we have to get over that) a chance to score.
Three: Strength and Conditioning. All I'm going to say here is that it depends upon to the coaches and we cannot sustain a season with undue rates of leg, especially lower leg, injury.
We have good depth at running back?Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/03/2023 12:02PM by droopy.
