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NewMexicoRam
Because this could end up being a very special year if he is.

The pieces are in place. QB, RB, TE promise, WR speed, top level defense--it's there.

Still questions on the O-line, no doubt, but Stafford played most years with worse.

Solve the red zone issues and the Rams will score a lot of points this year.

Let's see 3, maybe 4, playoff games at SoFi this year!

I'm not so sure there are questions on the OL for 2021. Well not big ones. There are 3 basic issues. Can AW play all 17 games? If not Noteboom wasn't a bad back-up. (My questions about him are not about being a back-up, they have to do with him being a signed, years-long starter. I am not sure he's that caliber). Corbett ought to do okay at center. I have no big reason to say that, it's just a basic hunch based on his character and leadership traits. The open position is ROG. But if Evans doesn't cut it they have some promising depth behind him.

If this OL can be more consistent than last year, that would be a big plus. Last year they were fairly solid most games--what downgraded them was a few games where they got dominated.

In terms of Stafford, I am not the type who believes that there are a whole lot of qbs who can compensate for deficient OL play. And in fact it is entirely possible that last year's Detroit OL was better than the Rams OL overall (though not light years better). So I don't put much stock in this idea that Stafford is a Wilson who can compensate for a weak OL. Most qbs do not play well behind a weak OL.

Aside from the fact that I don't expect the Rams to have a weak OL in 2021, IMO what will help with Stafford is 3 things.

First, the Rams have a running game, and Stafford for the most part hasn't, including last year.

Second, last year Detroit had the league's 32nd ranked defense, and whether or not they can be the #1 again, the Rams will have at least a solid defense, and most likely better than just solid.

Third, last year Detroit played from behind an awful lot. More than 60% of Stafford's passes were thrown when the team was behind. (Actually it's 64.8% of the time. In contrast, with the Rams it was 39.3%). I don't expect the Rams to be behind that enormous percentage of the time.

I also think that Stafford will be good for McVay's maturation as a playcaller and tactician. Stafford has played for 13 years and he's a smart guy, so he can bring things to the offense and the coach will listen to him. It will be much more collaborative, which is good.

In terms of the OL--the way I read all this, they don't have problems really until 2022 when they have to figure out whether to sign or replace a bunch of players, and when AW will be 41. They could solve those problems but that won't necessarily be easy.


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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/22/2021 07:49AM by zn.