[ramsww]

I have a theory (please don’t ask for links. These are MY opinions). I think the wheels started to come off in 2022 when we lost our bid to land McCaffrey and were rebuffed by Carolina on Burns. I think this was a shock to McVay and impacted the McSnead approach to the future.

Would we have won 1-2 more games this year with a bookend to Young? Would we have done better to get a more accomplished RB in the mix sooner to replace Akers? Would another OLine signing have protected Stafford from hip & thumb injuries?

We’ll never know but seeing Randy Gregory go to SF (for what a 6th round pick next year?) and then Chase Young for a freaking 3rd (much lower value than a Rams 3rd next yr) both to a rival in 2nd place in our division it makes me wonder. Before folks start talking about contracts, the 49ers total exposure on Chase’s contract this year is 561K.

Just as the Rams were all-in on eff-them picks and got their SB trophy they have been every bit all-in on a commitment to mediocrity that they felt was better than draining even late round picks from their 2024 arsenal.

There have been bright spots. Dotson was their best signing. JJIII and Stetson Bennett remain huge mysteries to me with how miserable our Safety play has been and look at our QB depth now. Even Wolford turned us down to stay in TB. Witherspoon has had his moments and Young (#0) Avila, Puka Nacua, Turner, and Tu Tu have been bright spots as has getting Henderson back but when it seems we’re on the verge of getting back on track and making some noise we continue keeping our powder dry for 2024. The jury is still out on K Havrisik but it’s a nice start.

To close, I can’t watch home games and prefer to tape them and run thru the highlights. The lack of Ram colors at SoFi lately is the norm. We now play 17 away games per year. On to 2024. The Rams have obviously moved on from 2023 mentally if not physically.

[actionjack]

I disagree. They aren't really the team many thought they were when they beat Seattle but they also aren't really the team that got clobbered in Dallas. In terms of Dallas, you're not going to have many games where you have a pick 6 and then a blocked punt for a safety within a few minutes.

This may be just a vantage point thing, but I don't think of this as a write-off year, it's a development year.

If Stafford is healthy they can be competitive, and even have an outside shot at a wild card spot.

The problem is the team is so young, that they both have trouble recovering from mistakes and also make mistakes. But they don't make mistakes 24/7.

In Green Bay btw you have the league's youngest team (GB) going against the 2nd youngest team (Rams).

IMO it is certainly a development year for 1st and 2nd year players, but it is a lost year for AD, Stafford, Kupp, Havs and Higbee. The most concerning is losing a year of Stafford and AD in particular.

If we lose against GB the playoffs are not happening, if Stafford misses more than GB we are done as well.

[ramsman34]

IMO it is certainly a development year for 1st and 2nd year players, but it is a lost year for AD, Stafford, Kupp, Havs and Higbee. The most concerning is losing a year of Stafford and AD in particular.

If we lose against GB the playoffs are not happening, if Stafford misses more than GB we are done as well.

It’s a lost year as far as - Lombardi but all 3 signed off and all 3 are learning to work with the new crew. It will pay off next year and even later this year.

Agree with your missing playoff takes for sure.

[ramsman34]

I have a theory (please don’t ask for links. These are MY opinions). I think the wheels started to come off in 2022 when we lost our bid to land McCaffrey and were rebuffed by Carolina on Burns. I think this was a shock to McVay and impacted the McSnead approach to the future.

Would we have won 1-2 more games this year with a bookend to Young? Would we have done better to get a more accomplished RB in the mix sooner to replace Akers? Would another OLine signing have protected Stafford from hip & thumb injuries?

We’ll never know but seeing Randy Gregory go to SF (for what a 6th round pick next year?) and then Chase Young for a freaking 3rd (much lower value than a Rams 3rd next yr) both to a rival in 2nd place in our division it makes me wonder. Before folks start talking about contracts, the 49ers total exposure on Chase’s contract this year is 561K.

Just as the Rams were all-in on eff-them picks and got their SB trophy they have been every bit all-in on a commitment to mediocrity that they felt was better than draining even late round picks from their 2024 arsenal.

There have been bright spots. Dotson was their best signing. JJIII and Stetson Bennett remain huge mysteries to me with how miserable our Safety play has been and look at our QB depth now. Even Wolford turned us down to stay in TB. Witherspoon has had his moments and Young (#0) Avila, Puka Nacua, Turner, and Tu Tu have been bright spots as has getting Henderson back but when it seems we’re on the verge of getting back on track and making some noise we continue keeping our powder dry for 2024. The jury is still out on K Havrisik but it’s a nice start.

To close, I can’t watch home games and prefer to tape them and run thru the highlights. The lack of Ram colors at SoFi lately is the norm. We now play 17 away games per year. On to 2024. The Rams have obviously moved on from 2023 mentally if not physically.

Why can’t you watch home games?

Running thru highlights doesn’t really allow a focus on particular groups and their consistency/lack of. But ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Get nfl+ and watch the all 22. It can be painful at times. But informative for sure.

[safer]

For me, this entire year is about setting us up for next year. We have been very competitive, except for the Boys game. I love what we are starting to see out of this draft. With Stafford (and Cooper) getting injured as often as they do, and with what looks to be our subpar year, I can see us moving waaay up for a QB in the draft. I would not be totally shocked if we traded Kupp for some really serious draft capital next year. Look what the Panthers got for the oft injured McCaffery! Still having Stafford next year; with a rook QB under wing; and sign three elite FA players. Anticipated FA to be, DT Chris Jones of KC ; an elite LT and corner would, in my mind, make us a top 4 NFC team. Young might get 10 sacks this year, and he will be a total stud next year. I'm actually enjoying watching games more because I'm much more realistic about my expectations.

[PARAM]

For me, this entire year is about setting us up for next year. We have been very competitive, except for the Boys game. I love what we are starting to see out of this draft. With Stafford (and Cooper) getting injured as often as they do, and with what looks to be our subpar year, I can see us moving waaay up for a QB in the draft. I would not be totally shocked if we traded Kupp for some really serious draft capital next year. Look what the Panthers got for the oft injured McCaffery! Still having Stafford next year; with a rook QB under wing; and sign three elite FA players. Anticipated FA to be, DT Chris Jones of KC ; an elite LT and corner would, in my mind, make us a top 4 NFC team. Young might get 10 sacks this year, and he will be a total stud next year. I'm actually enjoying watching games more because I'm ĺmuch more realistic about my expectations.

That's a good way to watch football. Realistically.

Though I'm not in the trade Kupp (or AD or Stafford) camp, sure Carolina got a haul and are what, 1-6? They better trade away some more to get another haul in the draft because the first go didn't help much.

Who do you like for QB in the draft? Consensus says Caleb or Maye but I wonder where McCarthy will go? He's been trained by an ex-NFL QB, he's smart, he's big, he's fast, he can make all the throws even when he goes off script, which he doesn't do as often as Caleb, maybe because he makes more plays on script which is something a guy like McVay would prefer.

It all depends on where we finish. We certainly aren't tanking for Caleb but I wouldn't mind aiming for McCarthy.

Could you imagine a Stafford, McCarthy, Bennett trio in 2024?

[/zn/]

IMO it is certainly a development year for 1st and 2nd year players, but it is a lost year for AD, Stafford, Kupp, Havs and Higbee. The most concerning is losing a year of Stafford and AD in particular.

If we lose against GB the playoffs are not happening, if Stafford misses more than GB we are done as well.

Yet my bet is that AD, MS, CK, and etc. don't go around lamenting a "lost year." They have better character than that. They know they're starting a lot of 4th, 3rd, and 2nd year players (plus a couple of rookies) and they instinctively lead them by example. Always competitive.

I don't care if the playoffs "aren't happening" though losing to GB does not technically eliminate them. I've been a Rams fans since the 70s, which means I was on board in the 90s and in 2007-2011. This year is nowhere near as bad as the worst of those years. Not even remotely.

And besides, who here said before the season that this was a playoff year? We knew they deliberately chose to take the big dead money hit in 23 and use this year to develop a team for 2024. We all knew that by last February.

[Rams1PlateSince1976]

What safer and zn said. This year has actually been a pleasant surprise. The Rams have been mostly competitive and 2024 could be great.

[Mr. Sparkle]

To close, I can’t watch home games and prefer to tape them and run thru the highlights. The lack of Ram colors at SoFi lately is the norm. We now play 17 away games per year. On to 2024. The Rams have obviously moved on from 2023 mentally if not physically.

Clearly you don’t watch or attend home games or you would never say they have 17 road games a year.

[actionjack]

It’s a lost year as far as - Lombardi but all 3 signed off and all 3 are learning to work with the new crew. It will pay off next year and even later this year.

Agree with your missing playoff takes for sure.

When I say lost year, I’m talking about the limited time we have Stafford and AD in their very good to elite type status. Stafford obviously doesn’t have much time left, maybe 2-3 years. So now we have to compete for a SB next year or the year after or this gamble doesn’t pay off.

I like the idea of drafting and grabbing young talent, but what good will it be when we are starting over at QB. I just don’t get doing a soft rebuild with a 35 year old QB.