[moklerman]

Granted - but it's spilt milk, and has been beat to death. Come up with something new.Sorry, the elephant in the room isn't so easily moved or forgotten. Especially when there isn't anything happening in the NFL right now.

No it isn't. Championship DCs don't give you Tampa Bay, Baltimore, Dallas and 2-3rd and 16s.Obviously, that isn't true. Wade is a top DC and has won it all. His 2019 defense suffered from inconsistency but that doesn't mean he regressed as a coach and it doesn't mean a guy with little(no?) experience is going to be an upgrade.

The same pieces that gained experience, fixed injuries, and were playing better at the end of last year.Better than what? Absolutely lousy? That's pretty faint praise. The line is just as much of a question mark heading into '20 as it was heading into '19. Which is a bad thing.

We can agree to disagree. I'd rather develop a more physical 'catch-contester'.I agree that Cooks wasn't great at contested balls but you can't teach speed. Guys like Cooks and DeShaun Jackson make a big difference to an offense. I hope McVay and Co. have that covered somehow.

Me either, but still believe in him, and think last year was a bit of a perfect (shit) storm of other factors.True, but I'm not sure those issue have been remedied. I have never felt too confident about relying on Goff in a pass first offense with no threat of play action.
You'd have to be more specific. WR band LB maybe. Otherwise disagree.WR, LB, O-line...that's more than enough.

[PARAM]

I am always concerned about losing established talent. Lose JJ and Hill, need drafts pick to hit to fill those spots. IMO they are both very good players that is unnecessary gamble to not attempt to sign. Kupp and JJ will demand fairly significant money.

So how's are cap look next year? Can we afford them?

[moklerman]

It had nothing to do with "that knee" or "that noggin"? It was OL struggles and slow adjustments? Sorry, not buying that. Gurley and Cooks could both "return to form" but for how long. A whole season? 12 games? 8 games? 4 games? The bet the front office made was the last two, not the first two.

I specifically said "more" to do with, not exclusively. But I do believe that the o-line issues and the relatively slow adjustment to what defenses were doing had more to do with Gurley and all the RB's struggles in the running game than his knee. That all the RB's struggled is one thing and that Gurley was still pretty dominant in the red zone is another.

The o-line issues also negatively impacted the time it took for longer and deep routes.

The o-line issues also hurt the threat of play action.

All of that was a continuation of the back half of '18. IMO, get those issues shored up and both Gurley and Cooks would still be viable, if not threats.

[actionjack]

So how's are cap look next year? Can we afford them?

Yes i think so or at least hope so, probably have to make a couple tough decisions. But I think Ramsey, Kupp and JJ get signed, i am sure it is the reason why the Rams made the moves they did.

[PARAM]

Yes i think so or at least hope so, probably have to make a couple tough decisions. But I think Ramsey, Kupp and JJ get signed, i am sure it is the reason why the Rams made the moves they did.

So you're saying these were "smart moves" designed for beyond 2020 to keep their core players on the squad? I agree.

Like some have said, we gonna really miss Gurley (especially if he's got attitude issues) and Cooks? I don't know. Time will tell.

[actionjack]

So you're saying these were "smart moves" designed for beyond 2020 to keep their core players on the squad? I agree.

Like some have said, we gonna really miss Gurley (especially if he's got attitude issues) and Cooks? I don't know. Time will tell.

Sure I'll buy that. Everett will need to be signed as well ugh. He could have a big year.

[PARAM]

If you draft really well... it's impossible to keep everyone.

True.

But the thing that bothers me most surrounding our cap issues now that we've released Gurley and Cooks is the second guessing. The Monday Morning Quarterbacking. Like I said in another post (this thread? or another)....when addressing the "they resigned Goff too early".......had they not signed him...or Gurley....or Cooks and those guys made it to free agency they would either have to be franchised at a extremely unfavorable figure for the cap OR they would be playing for somebody else.

NOTE: You can't have it both ways. You can't complain they signed a guy or two too early when you would be near the front of the line of complainers had they ended up with more money or franchised for an ungodly figure or worst of all on another team. Well you can, as has been proven on this subject, but that's kinda talking out of both sides of your mouth.

[BobCarl]

Kupp

Kupp deserves a LOT more than he is gonna make this year.

And if the Rams don't pony up this year, how can we expect him to even want to stay next year?

It will be very stupid if the Rams don't give him a contract extension before the season starts.

[moklerman]

True.

But the thing that bothers me most surrounding our cap issues now that we've released Gurley and Cooks is the second guessing. The Monday Morning Quarterbacking. Like I said in another post (this thread? or another)....when addressing the "they resigned Goff too early".......had they not signed him...or Gurley....or Cooks and those guys made it to free agency they would either have to be franchised at a extremely unfavorable figure for the cap OR they would be playing for somebody else.

NOTE: You can't have it both ways. You can't complain they signed a guy or two too early when you would be near the front of the line of complainers had they ended up with more money or franchised for an ungodly figure or worst of all on another team. Well you can, as has been proven on this subject, but that's kinda talking out of both sides of your mouth.

You can't do it with everyone but they had other options besides signing everyone early and for big guaranteed money.

For example, Cooks. Someone else posted it so I don't remember the numbers but if they'd just paid out his contract from when they got him and then franchise tagged him they'd be like $10M ahead of the game.

And I don't think this is MMQB'ing. It isn't like everyone loved these deals and this approach when they were signed. Many people were worried about the early signings, big guarantees, giving a RB that much, etc.

I give the Rams credit for being proactive and trying to buck trends but it was a risk and it blew up in their face.

[moklerman]

See.. it's the "blew up in their face" thing that I find an overreaction.
Yup.. it was clear those guys weren't going to be worth it this year. Gurley, sure, you can say his deal blew up in their face.. again.. because of injury.
Cooks? They were able to salvage a second rounder.. which is a big deal. Again.. if they turn that into two good players, doesn't that mean they turned Cooks into something?

Like I keep saying.. the dead money is attached to two players. Let's see what they do replacing them this season.

I don't think you can just write off Gurley as an out of their hands injury. He had knee issues and they risked it and we don't know that he's actually injured. He wasn't cut because he wasn't 100% healthy IMO.

For Cooks, they spent how much for 2 seasons as well as a first round pick?

Plus, had they waited instead of signing Gurley, Cooks & Goff, wouldn't the chances of re-signing Saffold been much better?