Frequent visitors and posters on this board know the debates over the last year and we (yes, I'm including myself) have been proven wrong (and sometimes right) repeatedly. Let's list those debates here.
1. The Rams needed to fix the offensive line in the draft last year.
This debate was won by McSnead in the obvious short term because a Lombardi trumps all. The 2021 Rams OLine was a very effective unit that demonstrated depth and efficiency. Allen outplayed the expectations he set earlier in his career when he was regularly pushed back in the pocket. Noteboom and Jackson were capable backups.
My contention still stands that in the long run, Creed Humphrey was the better pick than Tutu Atwell. Time will tell but after the first year and Allen a FA, my bet is that they would agree with us here. Then again, stretching the field with playmakers can be more impactful than a lineman (see Bengals). Atwell's value has yet to be determined.
2. McVay tends to abandon the run. We all know the many games the Rams became pass happy and lost. In those games, it was a fair assessment.
But something weird happened in the playoffs. In the Super Bowl, Sean was criticized for sticking with the run in spite of averaging less than two yards per play. He established the Rams willingness to run in every game and at any time, even if it wasn't working. While it's important to take what the defense gives, he found that by committing to the run while disregarding the lack of production in yards, it dictated the structures the passing game would face.
3. Raheem Morris was an excellent hire. McVay knew Raheem before the hire and nepotism/misplaced loyalty was cited my many as a mistake. The success Staley had with his scheme is something Morris had never run and in the first half of the year, it looked as though the transition was less than effective as the defense was frequently beaten by short passing games and long drives that ate the clock.
What Raheem did in the playoffs was masterful. Not only was the Ram defense dominant as usual against the Cards, they held the Bucs down for the most part as the turnovers put them in terrible positions. Against the 9'ers, they manned up to thwart their running game and put them away in the end. Finally, the Bengals entire offense was reduced to two big plays, one that should have resulted in either a Ramsey interception or a penalty that ended their drive. Over the course of the year, while Staley's defense with the Chargers couldn't get them to the postseason, Raheem developed answers for the ways teams sought to exploit the weaknesses in the scheme. The second half of the Super Bowl featured a risky gamble of putting five on the line and weakening the amount of coverage against one of the top WR corps in the league. It worked but half seconds longer in the pocket could've resulted in chunk plays that threatened to put the game out of reach.
The real genius here is how the players feel about Morris. When Ramsey and Donald have his back, the collaboration becomes greater than the sum of its parts. Belichick has been doing this for years, developing the defense to be more multiple during the season so they are at their best in the playoffs. Once again, the proof is a trophy.
4. The deep passing game is a double edged sword. When chunk plays get behind a defense, it changes how they play. The trouble with it is the increased probability of turnovers which is the main criticism of Stafford.
While the turnovers did result in losses, McVay's willingness to keep dialing them up changed how teams were loading the box to shrink the offense. Just like the running game, believing their process over the results took courage and conviction that was not easily mastered.
5. While this hasn't been an issue on this board, the national perspective on this team incessantly insists the Rams sacrificed the future for one year. The fact is, the Rams are facing fewer FA departures than they've had in the past. By restructuring and extending Stafford, having Whit retire, and becoming the kind of championship team that attracts other vets to join at a discount (OBJ, maybe Miller) this offseason can actually become a reload that results in an even stronger team as the bottom half of the roster continues to develop. How does that unknown Earnest Jones pick look today? Four teams let Brandon Powell walk, were the Rams lucky or good in their decision to put him on returns? I'd say lucky since they tried everyone else there first. Which brings me to the last debate we've endured on this forum.
6. Joe DeCamillis started the first half of the season looking like as much of a bust as his predecessor, John Bonamego. Several here called for his head during the season. But over time, he proved to be a good developer of the young talent that didn't yet know how to be an effective unit. While Ben Skowronak might not have the hands necessary to be an effective receiver, he became a monster on teams nearly to the level of Nolan Cromwell...and that's some high praise right there. The Rams went from being one of the worst special teams units in football to one of the better ones and an actual strength of the team. Let's all just admit it, we were wrong.
Now that they have a ring, a legacy is on the line as several future HOF players are still on the team. How this team goes forward will determine if they will be considered a one hit wonder or a dynasty that will be treasured even more than the GSOT.
