misleading?

I don;t count new starters or position switches, since that's part of normal year to year team development.

In figuring this, I count new additions---guys not on the team in 2016.

When it comes to that, based on what we know now, it's only 6 (looking only at the starters and not guys like Dunbar).

Webster, Barwin, Whitworth, Sullivan, Kupp, Woods.

Other guys being talked about are basically in-house promotions or position changes, which is not the same as tearing down a roster and starting over.

Joyner was already on the field a lot. He is switching to FS. Alexander was a starter. He is switching to SS. Quinn, Tree, and Barron are all just switching to their new 3/4 LB roles. Granting that it's a 3/4 DL, the only change there over last year is basically subbing Easley, Westbrooks, or both for Hayes. (Quinn of course switches to LB.) Saffold is the same, Hav and Brown switch positions, Higbee steps up (presumably) to a starting role, Tavon is the same (though he may be used differently) and of course Goff and Gurley (assuming they come through) are the same.

On the one hand, position switches and promotions means basically new units. From that perspective, there are 8 changes on defense and 7 on offense (Webster, Joyner, Barron, Quinn, Tree, Barron, Barwin, Easley, Whitworth, Sullivan, Hav, Brown, Higbee, Kupp, Woods).

On the other hand, if you just look at the new additions, the 2 starting units are mostly inherited talent, even if a lot of it is young and relatively untested. From this perspective, the Rams are just not in a tear down and start over mode. It's more like they shed a skin, not that it's a new animal.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/22/2017 06:19AM by zn.