Rams Fans United - Los Angeles Rams Fan Discussion Forum

I can't help worrying.
I can't help being excited.
I can't help being embarrassed!

Everywhere I go, folks who talk sports (and know I'm a Ram fan) keep asking me, "I guess you can't wait for the season to start? Your guys are going to be dangerous!"

To which I say, in a reserved tone, "we'll see. On paper they look impressive. But we have to see how healthy they can be along with how they develop and gell as a team."

A quick response to that is usually, "dude, they were terrific on offense last year and their defense just got really strong".

What can I say?

We already have the best punter, one of the best kickers and one of the best PR/KR guys in the NFL. The offense was #1. The defense was good but needed improvement. Seems they though likewise and did something about it. But will they perform like "the paper" says they will? Forget about injuries and let's just say they remain relatively healthy, how good can they be?

Donald, Brockers, Suh and Easley are all first round picks. So are Peters, Talib and Barron. This defense seems stacked, loaded and that's not even taking into account Joyner, Johnson, Ebukam, etc. I wonder if they'll be adding another first round pick to the defense in this draft? Man, this team has gone from the outhouse to the penthouse in 16 months. That's gotta be a record!!!!

But are they going to be THE team when the dust settles?

After the Rams success last season, and the off season moves they have made to date, the Rams look pretty good on paper.
Most of the talking head include the Rams as serious Super Bowl contenders and are favored to win the NFCW. the most telling aspect to me is the SB odds sportsbooks in Vas Vegas setting the Rams odds to win the SB anywhere from 10/1 to 15/1, with only the Pats. Vikings and Eagles ahead of them.

PARAM wrote:I can't help worrying.
This defense seems stacked,

Yes, everywhere except LBer. That is area of concern. And remember the OLBers are the DEs in nickel, so we have issues on the edge in both run and pass and on the inside with Littleton and Barron.

Really need to upgrade this position on draft. Ebukan seems like a keeper, so that's one of three. Longacre? JAG. Barron? Cannot get off blocks. Wilson and Littleton? Question marks as best.

Interior line is good, the secondary is good. LBers... needs upgrade

Blue & Gold wrote:Yes, everywhere except LBer. That is area of concern. And remember the OLBers are the DEs in nickel, so we have issues on the edge in both run and pass and on the inside with Littleton and Barron.

Really need to upgrade this position on draft. Ebukan seems like a keeper, so that's one of three. Longacre? JAG. Barron? Cannot get off blocks. Wilson and Littleton? Question marks as best.

Interior line is good, the secondary is good. LBers... needs upgrade

Welcome to RFU Blue & Gold.

Los Ramos definitely have a few questions at LB - edge. The front and back are stacked though. That should take a bit of heat off our middle guys who looked good in sub and mop duty.

If the kids come on it can work.

Hacksaw wrote:Welcome to RFU Blue & Gold.

Los Ramos definitely have a few questions at LB - edge. The front and back are stacked though. That should take a bit of heat off our middle guys who looked good in sub and mop duty.

If the kids come on it can work.

Here's the thing. Even with those issues, on the pass, the Rams were ranked high in sacks and sack percentage. And that's with Ebukam as a rookie.

Though it's also true that last year, Quinn came through in the final 4-5 games and got over whatever was holding him back in the first 10 games.

So I expect sacks to remain more or less the same, especially if Ebukam steps up. But Ebukam or no Ebukam, with that secondary, maintaining a high ranking in stats with a bunch of different 4-5 sack guys is doable, I think.

It's the run, really, that is the issue.

The question becomes, how much of improvement against the run depends on who they play at ROLB, RILB, LOLB, and NT.

....

Hoping MB is 100%
Our D line should be disruptive and hold the line fairly well imo... Littleton and Ekubam have promise. That position still needs some tinkering.

It will be interesting to see what Barron could do with a better front. I think Littleton will be fine in the inside. I think we really need the edge pass rusher, Longacre is fine as the rotation guy but would rather not start him. Ebukam should improve. Hopefully best player available meets need in the third round and we can get an edge guy.

Isn't it too soon to be asking this question?

Once pre-season ends and we know what the team is maybe we can assess it. I mean, is Barron even going to be a Ram in July?

With 100% certainly, their win percentage will be better than the 2017 Cleveland Browns but not as good as the 1972 Dolphins.