5 ways the Rams play better than expected in 2020...

5 ways the Rams play better than expected in 2020

[ramblinfan.com]

Bret Stuter

The LA Rams struggled in 2019 due to extreme circumstances. While the team was busy trading away both starting cornerbacks, and promoting a rookie safety to a starting role due to a season-ending injury, the team continued to play football. While the team was busy shuffling offensive linemen into starting roles and adding new faces to duct tape holes in their starting line in mid-season, the team continued to play football.

The trio of LA Rams running backs were all injured in 2019, derailing the plans to transfer some rushes from Todd Gurley to his teammates Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown. Instead, the team found itself passing more than originally planned. Somehow, all of those over-the-top tragedies have been baked by the unfamiliar prognosticators into the Rams DNA now. In short, the Rams are the NFL version of a one-hit-wonder.

Simple slump or future?

The 2018 13-3 team fell to 9-7 in 2019. Period. End of story. Per anyone and everyone now looking at the NFL from the national perspective, the Rams DNA is now branded “just over .500 on a good season”. Despite all the roster-breaking injuries, despite all the mid-season trades and roster adjustments, the LA Rams are now capped by the national media at 9-7. That’s a pretty pessimistic viewpoint even from a subjectively biased anti-Rams viewpoint, let alone a fair and objective viewpoint.

And that is where the record begins before accounting for the 2020 offseason. In this offseason, the impression is that the Rams parted ways with Cory Littleton, Clay Matthews, Dante Fowler Jr., Todd Gurley, and Brandin Cooks without a Plan B in place. So the 9-7 Rams of 2019 have further eroded away to the anonymity of a team already playing for “next season” before this season is even underway. Each team has its share of skeptics. But the Rams have more than a fair share this season.

LA Rams improvement plan

While we covered the LA Rams, we have had our share of questions about the offseason moves made so far. But amidst all the activity, two things remain unscathed. The LA Rams still possess a pair of 2019 1000 yard receivers in Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods on offense. Only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers, And the Rams still boast the most destructive force on the defense in the modern NFL in DL Aaron Donald.

So let’s assume that the base assumption of these LA Rams is correct. Take everything that the Rams were in 2019, and pull out the production of Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks, Cory Littleton, Clay Matthews, and Dante Fowler Jr. off the stats sheet.

Player attrition

While we’re at it, let’s remove the kicking of long-time kicker Greg Zuerlein. Let’s pull out the solid defensive play of Nickell Robey-Coleman. And of course, the Rams no longer have the play of veteran safety Eric Weddle to count on either. Do all those things, and yes, you likely have a 6-10 or 7-9 team.

Can the LA Rams improve? Well, the Rams head coach Sean McVay is working tirelessly day and night to return the team back to the NFL Playoffs. Not only that, but he’s saddled up two young passionate, and like-minded coordinators in OC Kevin O’Connell and DC Brandon Staley.

One of the first opportunities for improvement is the play of the tight ends.

Reason 5 – Rams tight end play

The LA Rams made a discovery about tight ends Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett in 2019. They are better in tandem than playing separately. In 2020, you should look for more pairing of the two tight-ends in the LA Rams offense. That means even more challenges for defenses when facing the Rams offense.

If the Rams lean heavily into two-tight end sets, their offense presents a very balanced look to defenses. With a seven-man offensive line, the Rams will be limited to just two wide receivers and one running back. Alternately, the Rams could empty the backfield and send three-wide receivers and two tight ends into passing routes. How will this help the Rams offense?

Expect the unexpected

In the throes of desperation, a very young head coach Sean McVay learned just how powerful surprise can become on his side. So powerful, in fact, that tight end Tyler Higbee, who had only modest production in the NFL, suddenly became the hottest tight end for December 2019. Not just on the LA Rams roster, but in the entire NFL. And the opposition? Not bad teams, but rather NFC West opponents, two of whom were on their way to the NFL playoffs. Teams that were quite familiar with the Rams suddenly were shredded by Higbee. What gives?

McVay leaned to reinvent himself and the Rams’ offensive tendencies. Defenses had found the right range to successfully defend McVay’s wide-open passing attack. So he changed things up. Suddenly the Rams ran two-tight end sets. The team lined up with tight end Johnny Mundt in the backfield. That all worked to restore some proficiency to the Rams running game, shore up the blocking, and help QB Jared Goff in the passing game.

Reason 4 – Rams defensive back play improves in 2020

The LA Rams pass defense improves simply by bringing back cornerback Jalen Ramsey for an entire season. Nobody needs a history lesson of the way the Rams two starting cornerbacks began the 2019 season with huge fanfare, only to be shredded by then Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback Jameis Winston by allowing 385 yards and four touchdowns.

And then things got worse. Cornerback Aqib Talib suffered a season-ending injury. And the other starter, Marcus Peters, was simply not a fit for the Rams style of defense. In a shocking move that almost nobody is talking about, the LA Rams refurbished the defensive backfield in mid-season. Gone was safety John Johnson (injury), CB Talib (injury then traded), and CB Peters (traded). In fact, the only starter to play all season was now-retired Eric Weddle. He won’t be back in 2020.

Darkest before the dawn

So how can the defensive backfield be improving? Well, it already began in 2019, and the trend should accelerate in 2020. Through 2019’s challenges, the Rams discovered that rookie safety Taylor Rapp, and cornerbacks Troy Long and Darious Williams are all very very good. Adding to that mix is a healthy John Johnson and a full season from All-Pro defensive back Jalen Ramsey, and you’re looking at one of the best defensive backfields of the NFL this season. But the Rams did not stop there.

The team added safety Jordan Fuller and versatile defensive back Terrell Burgess to an already immensely talented backfield. And the team is bringing back David Long Jr., Adonis Alexander, Donte Deayon, and a host of other players, many of whom would be competing for starting roles on other teams. And to top it all off newly arrived defensive coordinator Brandon Staley will be disguising all those coverages. That will give opposing quarterbacks reason to pause.

Reason 3 – Rams offensive rookies Akers and Jefferson play major roles on offense

Much of the pessimism for the Rams in 2020 is the loss of RB Todd Gurley and WR Brandin Cooks as significant and productive players within head coach Sean McVay’s offense. While rookie additions of running back Cam Akers and wide receiver Van Jefferson will never replace them, they will have plenty of production in 2020. Let’s check out some of the reasons why.

The LA Rams running attack in 2019 was an abysmal 26th-ranked in the NFL in 2019. That’s not going to cut it. And while a majority of rushing yards were thanks to Gurley, so too were 60 percent of the rushes. The Rams offense eroded because the team simply did not have a reliable set of legs to count on in 2019. So the team grabbed RB Cam Akers out of the 2020 NFL Draft off the top-shelf, and the team will make great use of his many talents.

Trying to defend the Rams rookies

The LA Rams have not had a first-round pick in the NFL Draft for some time. But that has not prevented the team from finding some first-round talent in the draft. While many teams go for raw talent, the LA Rams seem to discern players to draft based on how that player fits with what the Rams plan to do with the role. Along those lines, the Rams grabbed Akers due to his uncanny ability to get the most out of his blockers on his way to putting up huge yardage in the ground game.

So too, that explains the interest of the Rams in WR Van Jefferson, one of the best route-runners in the 2020 NFL Draft who possesses deceptive speed. He was often compared to the Rams own Cooper Kupp, a player whose contract runs out at the end of 2020. But 2020 will have the Rams flooding the field with weapons that defenses have struggled to stop in the past. And just to make things more entertaining, the Rams added two more rookies to the mix whose play-style will be just as difficult to stop.

Reason 2 – Offensive line plays far better than expected

Much has been said about the poor performance of the LA Rams in 2019. But the disconnect so far has been the Rams backing of offensive line coach Aaron Kromer. Kromer believes in his players. And why shouldn’t he? The LA Rams are bringing back 13 players from the 2019 offensive line. Wait.. .what? You read that right. On a roster that typically carries eight, the Rams are returning 13 players. While not all were with the team at the start of 2019, they all had a part to play during the season.

Kromer virtually handpicked the LA Rams offensive linemen over the past 24 months. It’s a strong statement that a coach of his esteemed reputation is speaking up for his guys.

Unquestionable continuity

Don’t fall into the “they just suck” troll-like analysis of what went wrong with the LA Rams offensive line in 2019. The facts support a basic cause and effect scenario which snowballed. The team started newcomers Joseph Noteboom at the left guard and Brian Allen at the center. While the pair struggled early, other linemen attempted to compensate. But then injuries began, and no continuity ever formed among the players. That put pressure upon the entire offense. As the team began to plug holes due to injuries, the team had to bring in players from other rosters. At that point, continuity for 2019 was lost, and the OL was in survival mode.

Eventually, the Rams offensive line improved as the same five guys began to play in successive weeks. Continuity was finally established, and the team found a running game was possible once more. Now that the team is entering 2020, that continuity is robust. The Rams returned 13 players, only adding one more lineman in the draft and one after the draft. That gives this LA Rams offensive line an incredible advantage over 2019.

Reason 1 – Rams defensive front seven full of surprises in 2019.

Much of the lowered expectations in 2020 hinge on the exit of some key LA Rams players on defense. In fact, the Rams lost five of eleven starters from 2019 this offseason. To fill the vacancies, the team added two free agents and drafted two others, and ultimately added a number of talented players as undrafted free agents. And from those who are only casually aware of the team, that certainly seems like a huge fail in the context of retooling the team for a new season.

But intimacy with the team, the details, and the dominating potential of this defense tells a completely different story. For starters, the addition of strongman A’Shawn Robinson to the nose tackle and the return of Michael Brockers to defensive end restores this defensive front to 2018 formidability. During that year, the Rams relied upon the power of Ndamukong Suh to clog up the middle so Brockers and All-Pro Aaron Donald could seek out and destroy. In that year, Donald sacked the quarterback an amazing 20.5 times. Now with Robinson clogging up the middle, look for Donald to dominate once more.

LInebackers moving forward in 2020

The Rams linebacking corps will be a complete rework for 2020. While that sounds concerning, the team was in a bit of a scramble in 2019 as the team endured multiple injuries at the position as well. Of course, look for the team to be led by newly signed outside linebacker Leonard Floyd. He is skilled and is a younger version of outgoing veteran Clay Matthews. He will be partnered with Samson Ebukam, a young player who is surprisingly effective but well-kept secret. The interior will be the center of fierce competition, but I expect Micah Kiser and Kenny Young to emerge as starters.

But the greatest aspect of the Rams front seven is the benefit of playing alongside All-Pro Aaron Donald. While Cory Littleton and Dante Fowler Jr. set up shop elsewhere, they will no longer have the benefit of Aaron Donald’s double and triple-teaming. But the new Rams players who must step up this year most certainly will benefit. And that is before defensive coordinator Brandon Staley works his magic. The Rams defensive front seven will be just fine in 2020.