[ramsman34]

Regarding no OTAs/Covid. The NFL will HAVE to allow for a robust “virtual” version of OTAs. It wont compare to the real deal. But better than nothing.

Really solid take on the rest!

[PARAM]

But are we better?

On paper? That's hard to tell. I can't say we lost irreplaceable production and replaced it with lesser. But we won't know if we're better until mid season 2020. And finally our season record will either confirm or deny that. Right now. 100% speculation.

[actionjack]

On paper? That's hard to tell. I can't say we lost irreplaceable production and replaced it with lesser. But we won't know if we're better until mid season 2020. And finally our season record will either confirm or deny that. Right now. 100% speculation.

On paper we have less talent, it will be up the coaches and players to show they are an improvement with the Rams over what they did previously.

[moklerman]

It's hard to feel too good about the general approach taken the last few years. I was supportive about this regime being aggressive and making moves to improve the team and retain talent but that was with the assumption that what they were doing would lead to longer stints by those acquired.

What have we given up to get guys like Cooks, Fowler, Peters, etc.? At the time, I was not under the impression that they were shooting for 1 SB run and then being screwed but that's basically where we are. We're in salary cap hell, losing key players, not retaining the big name FA's and potentially ready to dump Gurley and Cooks.

From what I see and predict, this has been a pretty lousy offseason and in hindsight, a pretty poor approach overall in recent years.

The Rams have been BIG spenders and don't seem to have held it all together.

[PARAM]

On paper we have less talent......

That's an opinion and 100% speculation.
How good is Kizer?
How good is Floyd?
How good is the DT from Detroit?

Perhaps more important, how good is Staley?

We released Todd Gurley AND Clay Matthews. We are not done in free agency FOR SURE.

[actionjack]

That's an opinion and 100% speculation.
How good is Kizer?
How good is Floyd?
How good is the DT from Detroit?

Perhaps more important, how good is Staley?

We released Todd Gurley AND Clay Matthews. We are not done in free agency FOR SURE.

Today On paper,

Floyd vs Fowler....Fowler
LIttleton vs no one ....Littleton (no proven talent)
ARC vs no one ...Arc (but we have some PROVEN young guys, but now thinner depth
Brockers vs Robinson...push maybe
Matthews vs no one
Now Gurley....

[PARAM]

Today On paper,

Floyd vs Fowler....Fowler
LIttleton vs no one ....Littleton (no proven talent)
ARC vs no one ...Arc (but we have some PROVEN young guys, but now thinner depth
Brockers vs Robinson...push maybe
Matthews vs no one
Now Gurley....

But you do understand, that 's your opinion (and it's the same as some other opinions). But it's opinion all the same. First off Fowler played with Donald. You can say "well Floyd played with Mack". Last year the numbers weren't good but when it was under the tutelage of Fangio and Staley he was fine. Robinson probably ain't going to be playing Brockers position so that comparison is probably invalid anyway. Littleton took over for Kizer IIRC, so if Kizer was THE guy maybe they think he's better? Robey-Coleman vs David Long? Who knows? Matthews vs Obo and Ebukam. No fair, that's 2 against 1!!! Gurley? Hate to see him go but if his knee is so bad he's got to be put on a pitch count and he can't catch passes anymore, then he's not the TG of 2017-18....and this is 2020. Of course that's all my OPINION so take it with a grain of salt. But I don't think it's as bad as it might appear. We're not done in free agency to be sure. We've already resigned our OL. We still have Cooks....quick, I better check on that one!!! And we'll be grabbing another RB, WR, TE, LB, OL or DL and DB in the draft more than likely. Plus the post draft free agency and trade market. Plus the UDFA's. Hey man, we all know every NFL roster is made over every year. We don't really know jackshit at this point in time. Some will take the WTF? stance and others will try to rationalize their moves. It's a good balance and neither is right or wrong right now.

[actionjack]

But you do understand, that 's your opinion (and it's the same as some other opinions). But it's opinion all the same. First off Fowler played with Donald. You can say "well Floyd played with Mack". Last year the numbers weren't good but when it was under the tutelage of Fangio and Staley he was fine. Robinson probably ain't going to be playing Brockers position so that comparison is probably invalid anyway. Littleton took over for Kizer IIRC, so if Kizer was THE guy maybe they think he's better? Robey-Coleman vs David Long? Who knows? Matthews vs Obo and Ebukam. No fair, that's 2 against 1!!! Gurley? Hate to see him go but if his knee is so bad he's got to be put on a pitch count and he can't catch passes anymore, then he's not the TG of 2017-18....and this is 2020. Of course that's all my OPINION so take it with a grain of salt. But I don't think it's as bad as it might appear. We're not done in free agency to be sure. We've already resigned our OL. We still have Cooks....quick, I better check on that one!!! And we'll be grabbing another RB, WR, TE, LB, OL or DL and DB in the draft more than likely. Plus the post draft free agency and trade market. Plus the UDFA's. Hey man, we all know every NFL roster is made over every year. We don't really know jackshit at this point in time. Some will take the WTF? stance and others will try to rationalize their moves. It's a good balance and neither is right or wrong right now.

I agree with lot of what you wrote except for Littleon took over or Kizer part, that never happened. Kizer was to take Barron's spot but got hurt so Reeder filled in. We have no idea what Kizer is yet. I have hopes for him. But it is a big deal to call the defense, a new one at that. My whole point is TODAY the Rams are not as talented as they were yesterday, that cannot be debated. The could add more talent and change that, but right now they have lost much more then they have gained.

[AvengerRam]

It would seem that the Rams are practicing SoCal distancing.

[PARAM]

that cannot be debated

The color of the fucking sky can be debated. But I won't debate the talent level of the defense any further than this: This defense we had with Brockers, Littleton, Robey-Coleman, Fowler and Matthews didn't dominate everybody. They did a good job against the lesser offenses, which is what you'd expect from a good defense. Except, they didn't come within a sniff of stopping Tampa Bay (or Seattle first time around). Or Baltimore, Dallas and SF. They allowed the Cardinals who some have said had their golf bags stocked and their clubs shined, 24 points and 396 yards to end the year? Geesh. Are we really going to miss that?

I say let's agitate the drum, shake it all up, get some new guys in here that Staley says he needs and see if we can't at least compete with the 2019 defense. Hell as many have said, if our OL and offense had been better, we would have been 12-4. My gut tells me, McVay is going to have the O cranking on all cylinders, even if they're some lesser names on that side of the ball. If Staley can create an aggressive, unpredictable defense....guess what?