America's team travels to Inglewood a week from now favored in Vegas by 2.5 points. The media touts a strong offensive line, heralded triplets in Dak, Zeke, and Amari, a beat down of the Rams in the stretch run of 2019, inside info from Bones Fassel, and what they believe will be a dominant front seven. Under the guidance of a new SB winning HC, McCarthy, the team is hyped to challenge for a Super Bowl this year. My own wife is a life long Pokes fan so I know the team and speak kindly to her about them as she didn't rub it in my face last year when I couldn't drink myself into a stupor fast enough to make that horror show of a game not leave a permanent impression.
But there are a myriad of downplayed problems in Dallas. The retired Travis Frederick is replaced by Joe Looney at center and La'el Collins will begin the season on IR. Even Tyrone Smith hasn't enjoyed a particularly healthy training camp. Zach Martin is the only player on that line who can (I didn't say will) man up AD. Amari Cooper's ankle is expected to be healthy enough for the opener and Cee Dee Lamb will bust his cherry in the slot. Does anyone else but me wonder how an entire offense in the COVID era can be completely revamped with excellent timing without live pre season reps?
Their defense was expected to be reloaded by returning players and FA signings, #################################### Clinton-Dix was supposed to be their new starting safety...until he was released. Randy Gregory was reinstated but will have to spend the first few games on the pine. Sean Lee is unsurprisingly injured again. Donatari Poe has been moved to second string. Slot corner Jourdan Lewis hasn't practiced since he injured his left ankle, They will start rookie Trevon Diggs at one corner and the frequently toasted Awuzie (he of the recently tweaked right leg) at the other. The 32 year old Everson Griffin will be rotated with Aldon Smith (5 years ago he was a problem in more ways than two) to replace Robert Quinn so that may be a wash. In short, D Lawrence, Vander Esch, Jaylon Smith, and Griffen better hold the fort because the other seven are no better than average NFL starters in my book. Oh, and they are all learning a new defense.
Understand please that I'm not predicting a Ram win here. I've detailed in other posts my concerns with the OLine and LB's so we too have question marks. I just wanted my fellow Ram fans to see the details left out by the media's fake news hype.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/06/2020 06:40AM by Shaky.
