Wildflecken’s ‘18 Rams Outlook As We Approach Week One...

Here’s Wildflecken...

1.) Some may not like the fact the first team offense did not see any action all preseason, but the manner in which McVay and his staff did devote the playing time for the preseason contests led to some important depth roles seeing plenty of live snaps which gave the coaching staff and players competing for spots every opportunity to earn their roles. Don't believe any of the players released can complain they did not get a fair shot to rise on the depth chart.

2.) Expounding on the topic above, the snaps the first year players received in camp and the preseason contests were invaluable for the 2018 season. Many played above the level that was anticipated when drafted. The play of Noteboom was especially impressive. As was the play of Lawler, Kiser, JFM, and Kelly. Think all four of those talents played as if they were day 2 talents in the draft.

3) Very anxious to get a look at the 2018 first team offense. The 2017 offense was the beneficiary of being able to catch defenses without a lot of tape to develop their game day plans and schemes. The design of the offense was also heavily influenced by returning talent from the prior regime, as well as Lafluer as the OC and Olsen as the qb coach. The one package the offense executed well under the prior regime, jet sweeps and wr screens, became a weekly staple. The addition of Cooks gives them a talent in these packages who was more productive than any talent Rams had in 17 to execute them.

Now that we are entering the second season of the McVay era, with McVay adding talent since his arrival that fits his vision for this offense I am very anxious to see the new packages which were influenced by Kromer on the ground and Shane Waldron in the air packages. Assume the misdirection, sweeps and screens remain a staple. You simply do not add a talent like Cooks then remove one of the strengths of his addition.

4.) With the defense Snead and Company has assembled for Wade, to the NFL I say let them play or put them in dresses and change the entertainment focus to a miss universe contest. Seriously though, this defense has been assembled in a fashion that is both built to defend against the NFL game that is currently being played through the air, but has a yesteryear tenacity with talent that can get after a qb and get into the backfield to blow up runs before they develop. If they do find a seam, we have some new hitters in Kiser, Wilson and some improved returners like Hagar to lay some wood. And lets not forget the tad undersized but extreme thumper that is Mark Barron.

Staying on the Barron theme, he could be a huge beneficiary if Wade decides to give him the freedom to green dog all season. Barron has the veteran savvy and Wade allowing this would not shock me. With the front four opposing offenses have to concern themselves with that includes two talents inside that require extra attention, Barron could end the day early for all 16 qb's Rams face in 2018.

5.) The rb depth canned be summed up in one word, impressive. McVay has options to keep Gurley fresh for the November/December portion of the schedule when pounding the rock becomes imperative.

Would love to see a Malcolm Brown/Kelly duo develop into a Rocky Bleier role early in the season, closing out 3 score leads in quarter 4, keeping Gurley's legs fresh so Rams can ride Gurley from November on all the way to the Super Bowl!

6.) Rams went heavy at Safety both on active roster and PS. Certain Bones tagged a couple talents at key contributors on teams as he seeks to replace the speed needed now that players are prohibited from getting a running start. But with Joyner playing on tag and the Rams resigning the talent they have this offseason, think the preparation for his departure has begun.

I have an appreciation of the play, hard work and effort of the undersized Joyner, hard not to root for a player of his physical stature who plays much larger on game day. However never got the feel Joyner is the prototypical talent Wade seeks at the Safety position. If someone steps up and gains Wade's trust on the backend during this season, I would not be shocked if the phasing out does not occur during the 2018 season. One look at the offseason focus of the defense tells us Wade is seeking to improve upon the no fly zone he had in his Denver defense.

7.) The Rams have also added 2 TE's to the practice squad in Coble and Hemingway. McVay is being extremely patient with Hemingway's recovery, hoping he regains the explosiveness McVay saw briefly last camp. If Hemingway does regain that explosiveness look for him to be added to the active roster shortly thereafter. At 246lbs, think McVay would love to add what he could offer in the short yardage packages and sealing the edge assignments in three TE look.

Think Coble played himself into a position on the PS during camp and the preseason contests. McVay is a huge believer in his " we improve daily" philosophy and Coble simply showed too much improvement to abandon his development. In fact one has to wonder how tough a decision it was to decide between Mundt and Coble for the third TE on the active roster?

TE is a position I will be watching closely early in the season. Mundt was pleasant surprise when aligned as the Joker in the preseason, but at only 233, not a lot of beef to serve as the inline and H positions. The number of pass attempts thrown the 3rd TE's way during the 2017 season could be counted on one hand. Anxious to see who McVay/Kromer has targeted to serve blocking specialist from the position in 2018. Could we actually see the 6 olineman packages McVay was known to use during his tenure in Washington?

8.) During his college career Jared Goff improved each and every season. In 2017 there was a lot of national hoopla made over McVay calling the plays for Goff from the sidelines. In season two under McVay I expect Goff to have developed a full understanding of the McVay offensive concepts resulting in increased precision.

Often these improvements cannot be visualized by the naked eye, but reduction of fractional seconds in play execution can be large on game day. The opponents best pass rusher cannot disrupt, the second/ third reads recognized more rapidly, the spots on the field where the ball needs to be delivered become second nature, the game slows allowing for recognition of previously unseen opportunities (back shoulder throws etc..)

In order for the Rams all in philosophy of the front office for the 2018 season to be a success, we need for Goff to take these steps forward, with his amount of growth equaling the growth he displayed each season during his college career.

One of the areas I will be watching early in the season is Goff's growth when is called upon to roll left. A new wrinkle in his 2017 play as I believe I can state factually Goff was never called upon to execute a roll left during his short tenure under Fisher (at least not in live gameday action). Goff showed improvement in this area as the 2017 season progressed, but now has had a full offseason to improve his footwork on this design. The roll left is an important part of McVay's dual TE packages.

9.) My apologies for the length of this thread but I simply cannot end this thread without giving credit to the entire Rams Front Office responsible for the Football Operations. Les Snead and company are hot at the moment and longtime fans of the organization should relish the work being done not only in the scouting and selection of talent from the college ranks but also on the professional side, scouting the talent to be free agents or made available via trade etc..

The just concluded draft was especially impressive. The talent the Rams were able to add to the roster without having a day one selection could be the most important of all drafts towards the assembling of a dynasty. Very important pieces in completing a roster filled with star talent and star level cap hits.

GO RAMS!!