The only quibble with this article is about drafting guys late to play right away

The heart of the Rams approach is NOT to ask late round rookies to play immediately. It is the opposite. It is to acquire late round guys who have all the athletic and great football traits of earlier picks, but have either played at less recognized and smaller schools, or need more strength and a lot of coaching up. We hear little to nothing of them in year 1 except, at best, a cameo appearance here and there. In year 2, they are rotational or subs. Year 3 they might be starters.

That's why the Rams hire teachers as coaches. And why Rams' analytics plays such a (new) and heavy role in drafting players.

Sure, every now and then a guy like Cam Akers or Jones steps in early as a rookie to play. Or maybe a Cooper Kupp or John Jefferson. Of course that happens with every team... there are training camp surprises. But that's not what the Rams depend upon. For this to work, you must already have good starters and so the rookies you draft are for back-ups and development, not to fill a hole.

This system also takes the non-traditional owner that likes to take the big swings, understanding that sometimes you strike out and he's OK with that.

So it takes coaches as teachers and veterans as mentors to the younger guys to make it work. Not sure it's entirely unique, but it is unique enough that big mouth media guys who don't know anything usually make fun of the Rams at draft time.

Personally, I love the non-traditional out of the box stuff.... when it works. And obviously it does when all the right pieces are in the place and all the management is on the same page.

Fun.