Re: If we peel the onion a little further, 43
| December 04, 2023 09:27AM |
...I think we see, lookig back at McVay's near-meltdown post-season last year, f some fundamental changes that occurred then that are playing themselves out now.
He's still a conrrol freak but not as bad as he used to be. He's learning, and growing as a human being. After a two-game hiccup in October, his inner priorities have changed. Fatherhood takes a while to fully impact some men, but as it does their priorities shift and they become better at everything they do. So there is that, aside from football - but it affects football.
I saw a shift behind this year's draft in which, during their collaboration, McVay seemed to give more latitude to Snead. This was Snead's finest draft. With the exception of Bennett (and I may post on what I see there; mental illness is a mercurial thing to diagnose or predict until after the fact of traumatically evidencing itself) this was Snead's draft. The Bennett choice appeared to be a "I want that player" McVay-driven choice (that Snead must pick up the tab for instead of tagging his HC with it.)
I posted before regular season started that I expected our young players to finish strong. I expected Young and Mathis to be competent rushers by season end, Zack Evans to assume Cam's role and for Cam to be sidelined or traded. I saw Williams as having a comeback and earning starter's place based on his field vision and ability to hit and squirt through holes, but especially for his pass protection and catching out of the backfield.
I expected Puka to earn his place as a starter, ousting Van. I was especially excited for our left guard, who is performing right where I thought he would - IF he were plugged in there and stayed there. Glad that's how it worked out.
I saw Jones as stepping up right well after a year under Bobby Wagner's wing. I expected more from Tomlinson and didn't foresee our safeties improving as they have, with JJ back in the fold and Fuller back to form - although I expected Yeast continuing to rise. (
)
I missed on Evans but he's still around, and nobody except McVay ("We have a surprise coming" - remember?) saw what we'd have in Puka.
My overall expectations are beginning to show out. The Rams will be a force by season's end - and who knows? If Kupp continues to recover and everybody else ciontinues to gel as our youngsters continue to learn, and we remain injury-free, we could peak at the right time if we enter the playoffs and be more than one-and-done.
High hopes, I know - but look at the trajectory. It's headed in the right direction.
He's still a conrrol freak but not as bad as he used to be. He's learning, and growing as a human being. After a two-game hiccup in October, his inner priorities have changed. Fatherhood takes a while to fully impact some men, but as it does their priorities shift and they become better at everything they do. So there is that, aside from football - but it affects football.
I saw a shift behind this year's draft in which, during their collaboration, McVay seemed to give more latitude to Snead. This was Snead's finest draft. With the exception of Bennett (and I may post on what I see there; mental illness is a mercurial thing to diagnose or predict until after the fact of traumatically evidencing itself) this was Snead's draft. The Bennett choice appeared to be a "I want that player" McVay-driven choice (that Snead must pick up the tab for instead of tagging his HC with it.)
I posted before regular season started that I expected our young players to finish strong. I expected Young and Mathis to be competent rushers by season end, Zack Evans to assume Cam's role and for Cam to be sidelined or traded. I saw Williams as having a comeback and earning starter's place based on his field vision and ability to hit and squirt through holes, but especially for his pass protection and catching out of the backfield.
I expected Puka to earn his place as a starter, ousting Van. I was especially excited for our left guard, who is performing right where I thought he would - IF he were plugged in there and stayed there. Glad that's how it worked out.
I saw Jones as stepping up right well after a year under Bobby Wagner's wing. I expected more from Tomlinson and didn't foresee our safeties improving as they have, with JJ back in the fold and Fuller back to form - although I expected Yeast continuing to rise. (
)I missed on Evans but he's still around, and nobody except McVay ("We have a surprise coming" - remember?) saw what we'd have in Puka.
My overall expectations are beginning to show out. The Rams will be a force by season's end - and who knows? If Kupp continues to recover and everybody else ciontinues to gel as our youngsters continue to learn, and we remain injury-free, we could peak at the right time if we enter the playoffs and be more than one-and-done.
High hopes, I know - but look at the trajectory. It's headed in the right direction.
