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LMU93
I agree. I think a big part of every offseason- this one especially- should be about getting better at matching up vs. the division. And you're right, for the Rams that's about the OL and DL.
While BUF, TEN and SEA all made the playoffs this year with 3-3 division records, in general I think it's still true that to be a playoff team you have to be 4-2 or better in your division. And while they almost did this year, the Rams have to at least split with the 49ers next year.
Just my own 22 cents on this.
OL and DL would help. I doubt anyone would disagree with that.
But then the Rams were one of only 2 teams to put up more than 300 yards passing on them this year (other team was the Saints) and they did it by scheming around SF's strengths. They also sacked Garagepolo 6 times. That was the most of any D that played them though Seattle was 2nd with 5.
At the same time in that game the Rams held them to 0 sacks.
The Rams did that with 3 injury replacements including 2 rookies on the OL. So an improved OL promises more of the same.
Rams just historically (since 2012 anyway) played the division tough. Remember in 2012 no one expected the Rams to hang with the 49ers and they ended up in 2 overtime games resulting in one tie and one win. That was of course SF's last superbowl year, and also interestingly the peak year of their (then) Fangio coached defense (and now the Rams will be running that scheme under Staley).
I think this is a Rams tradition--if they can play at all, and are not the beat up woeful team of 2007-2011, then they compete within the division. Regardless of the strengths of their opponent.
People talk about the SF OL and it is NOT elite. (Their DL is). It's very good but I would not say elite. In fact it includes an old Rams cast-off, Mike Person (who was with them in St. Louis in 2014).
