He was brought up last offseason and before the trade deadline this year. As an UFA maybe he fits the mold of an older veteran who would come under a 1-2 year, incentives-heavy deal.. McVay would know him being in WASH. Kerrigan only played 37% of the snaps this year as a rotational player yet still managed 5.5 sacks. He will turn 33 in August. Maybe he is a guy that could be a productive platoonby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
3 Rams drives stall inside the Tampa 5-yard line. Tampa QBs 4-for-26 for 54 yards an an INT (23.6 QBR).by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
The Rams have targeted Higbee/Everett combined 122, 149, and 84 times the past three seasons. That's an average of about 120/year which is I think around the Rams should try for in 2021. But Higbee should be targeted probably 90 of those. With Hopkins, they don't need him to come in and catch 50 passes as the TE2. But if he can prove to be a threat that can get upfield, etc. and catch something lby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Yeah, Havenstein is 'fine' in my opinion but the speed rushers thing really is an issue. And he's making top-10 RT money. So... irreplaceable? Not at all. And saving $5.2M there (assuming Kromer feels good about Evans at RT and Anchrum as the 3rd OG) could really help. He might fetch a day 3 pick from another team where he could fit.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I agree. I have been counting out (i.e. retiring) Whitworth for years and every year he proves me wrong. But I am pretty sure 2021 will be it for him. I am intrigued by Anchrum. I really liked his draft profile (3 years starter, all-ACC, etc.) and think he has real potential. I have been one of those that has felt Havenstein is "good enough" but if they are going to really get bby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I don't think the Rams have not prioritized the OL. In 2017 they signed Whitworth (which proved to be an incredibly significant addition) and Sullivan. And they followed that up with 5 draft picks in the past 3 years. One of those is a solid starter (Edwards), one still might be (Evans), one is a good 3rd/swing OT (Noteboom) and one is still TBD (Anchrum). Interior OL especially do not need tby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Back when the Pro Bowl was still a thing it was so routine for the Rams to have 2 and very often 3 OL there. Seemed like Slater, Harrah and Smith were always there together.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Not that he hasn't been a great player. But he will be 32 next month and has missed at least half the season in 3 of the past 5 seasons. His last really exceptional year was 2018. Teams have to pay him based on 2016-2020 not 2011-2015. Who knows where he'd like to go. But I would pay him a one, maybe two year, incentive-laden deal with not much guaranteed after the first season.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
89 vs one of the two comp. picks? I would guess the latter.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I think it has to be some of both. They have core ST players like Scott who is as good as anyone the Rams had under Fassel. But A to Z the special teams units were uninspiring at best. Hekker had the worst year of his career. Thankfully they found Gay to settle the kicker role midseason. But there is A LOT to be worked on across the board this offseason. The Rams really need to elevate speciaby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Do they all need to hit? I'd say no. Do 4 of the 6? Yes. Howard could never play for them again and they'd be fine. I think the three they really need to take noticeable next steps forward in 2021 are Long, Hopkins and Lewis.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Each of those is critical to the Rams bring able to manage their cap and have good depth. And in pretty much every case they are not even being asked to start but rather be solid rotational players. Long- CB3 Hopkins- TE2 Jefferson- WR3 Howard- could compete to start, or be the 3rd ILB Burgess- same, could compete to start or be the 3rd safety Lewis- probably has the best opening to starby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
FiveThirtyEight: The Rams And Lions Both Got What They Wanted In 2016, the Los Angeles Rams traded two first-round picks, two second-round picks and two third-round picks for the chance to draft quarterback Jared Goff. On Saturday night, they agreed to trade him to the Detroit Lions for quarterback Matthew Stafford — and as incentive, the Rams had to throw in two first-round picks and a third-by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Rams need to do the same.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I've said the same. I actually like Blythe. But compared to the rest of the line- and given he's a free agent- center is the place to look. I think if you upgrade that spot it will help the guys on either side. Corbett was solid overall. Edwards has the versatility to play either guard spot. Evans can play guard or RT. Noteboom is what he is- a good swing tackle. And I agree 100% that a bby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I am all for adding more speed to the WR group but it's not something that should need significant resources thrown at it. For one, they are looking for a WR4 that can play situationally and draw some attention. 12-15 snaps/game, not 50. Two, their top 3 WRs have all shown ability to go deep. Woods, Kupp and Jefferson are not burners but each can get downfield 30+ yards pretty well. Rememby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
At least for a 2nd round/top 60 pick. He's only started 10 college games. I'm a big believer in drafting OL with at least 25+ starts. Ideally 3-year starters.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
That is a big question in evaluating how much the Rams need to worry about losing Williams.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
I would have Edge ahead of speed at WR for sure but that's a good top 3 to address.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
That was one of the worst collective OL performances in Super Bowl history.....by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Personally if I just look at the list and pick which ones I would without a doubt put ahead of Stafford it is those first seven. Can/will others outperform him in 2021? Sure. I posted last week that across several major analytics sources- FootballOutsiders, PFF and ESPNs QBR- his average ranking over the past four seasons has been 12th. On all of them. So there is that. But then the question iby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Obviously we're all speculating, but maybe as a fresh set of eyes O'Connell was being brutally honest with McVay about what they could and could not do with Jared in ways that made McVay see the bigger picture differently.by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
If Stafford comes in and the Rams are a mediocre offense, barely on the fringe of playoff team, etc., yeah, that's a problem... But I just always have a hard time saying Super Bowl or bust. The NFL is such a crap shoot once teams get into the divisional round. And even more so now that there is only one team with a bye in each conference. I have heard that "all or nothing" stuff froby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
QuoteAlbaNY_Ram The Lions as a team have won *one* playoff game since they won the NFL title in 1957. And we think we had it bad 1990-'98 and 2007-'11.....by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
He distinguished himself as a high quality secondary coach for 4 years under two DCs. Why they did not at least make him the 'Defensive Backs Coach' I don't get. I get hiring Morris because it seems to me McVay wants him in part as an Assistant Head Coach which is fine. But Pleasant was too good to let go. Now, he's from Michigan, went to college at Wisconsin, etc. so maybe he really wanted tby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
He's a tough, tough guy. But he has had his share of injuries here and there. Turning 33 soon, they need to protect this investment well with both improvements to the OL (2021 and beyond) and highly encouraging him to not scramble much...by LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
Youngblood Harrah Bruce Ferragamo Donaldby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
For years players came to New England to play with Brady- and swallowed the unpleasantries that came with Belichick along the way. With Brady gone the franchise mystique has evaporated. On top of a gaping hole at QB they have two of their best OL who are UFA not to mention 7-8 other starters. There has been a lot of discussion here in Boston about whether Belichick will understand he has to opby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com
On the upgrade thing, I do think it is. Hard to rank it exactly but if you go from the 20th best QB in the league (which Goff has basically been the past two years) to the 12th (which is Stafford) you're doing pretty well especially considering the importance of the position. Can Stafford be better than 12th in the Rams' environment? Maybe. But even if not it's a sizeable upgrade. I will betby LMU93 - RamsFootballFans.com