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2020 NFL Draft Reactions. Do the Rams Not Want Any Protection for Cam Akers?

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Well, it’s official. No one in the Rams front office reads this blog…yet. That’s because they clearly disregarded my biggest concern about the team entering the draft…THEY NEEDED TO ADDRESS THE OFFENSIVE LINE. Okay, technically they did, but it wasn’t until the seventh round, which means they either think they found a diamond in the rough or he’s just not that good. The guard in question, Tremayne Anchrum, was given a prospect grade of 5.90, and draft experts see him in a backup or special teams role in the NFL. In other words, he’s probably not the guy the Rams need to turnaround the productivity of their o-line.

My theory about the o-line not being addressed in this year’s draft is that they’re going to trade for someone. In my mind, that’s the only logical explanation for not doing so. Sean McVay has to know that a guy slated to be a special teams starter isn’t what the Rams need to get the most out of Akers. If they don’t get some protection in the interior, their investment in Akers will have been for nothing.

The fact that the Rams drafted a running back (Cam Akers out of Florida State) with their first pick (52nd overall) only exacerbated their o-line dilemma and makes me question their thinking. They were obviously looking for someone to fill Gurley’s role, but after such lack of productivity from their backs in 2019, you’d think they’d make it a point to draft a highly rated interior lineman. I’m not saying Anchrum won’t prove me wrong, but maybe instead of adding another tight end (that’s now 6 on the roster) they could’ve picked another guard who was a little more sought after.

Despite my opinions about their o-line, the Rams still had a pretty solid draft. They got a wide receiver with their second pick (57th overall), which I said should’ve been at the top of their list. They also drafted two linebackers and two safeties, which will add some defensive depth since Clay Matthews was cut and Eric Weddle retired. Possibly my favorite pick in the draft was Chonk kicker Sam Slomam out of Miami (OH), Sean McVay’s alma mater. I fuck with this guy because we seriously needed a kicker since Greg The Leg signed with the Cowboys and he has ice in his veins:

Plus chonk kickers are hilarious.

 

Overall draft grade: B – would’ve been a solid A if they drafted an o-lineman with one of their first four picks.

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These Should Be the Rams’ Main Concerns Entering the 2020 NFL Draft

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The Rams have seven picks in the upcoming 2020 NFL Virtual Draft, but their first isn’t until the late second round. At best, the Rams will claim the 52nd pick in this year’s draft, which doesn’t create much excitement for fans in comparison to teams vying for first-round talent. However, the Rams still have a ton of holes worth acknowledging, especially after the busiest offseason in the Sean McVay era.

Todd Gurley, gone. Brandin Cooks, gone. Cory Littleton, gone. Dante Fowler, gone. Greg Zuerlein, gone. Nickell Robey-Coleman, gone. Clay Matthews, gone. Eric Weddle, gone.

After the quick demise of Todd Gurley’s career with the Rams, I’ve realized running backs (for the most part) aren’t worth the risk. And with Darrell Henderson Jr. and Malcolm Brown on the roster, the Rams are still in a good position to get decent productivity out of those guys to replace Gurley. There’s a chance they could take a RB in the later rounds, but it’s unlikely they’ll take one early on.

While the Rams managed to retain Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods throughout all the offseason turmoil, Brandin Cooks will need to be replaced. Kupp was by far Goff’s favorite target last season, and particularly in the red zone. Kupp scored ten TD’s, while the next closest receivers (Cooks and Woods) only scored two. Clearly, Goff needs another receiver he feels comfortable targeting, especially after the disappointing year he had. Odds are the Rams take a receiver early on.

However, I think their biggest need worth addressing entering the draft is the offensive line – specifically the interior. The fact that the Rams’ best o-lineman is 38-year-old Andrew Whitworth should be a major concern, especially for a team that doesn’t have an outstanding running back to make up for the line’s faults. A year after the Rams lost center John Sullivan and guard Rodger Saffold, the Rams saw a significant dip in offensive productivity, specifically in the running game, where they averaged 1.2 yards less per carry in 2019 than 2018. If the Rams do elect to draft a running back to replace Gurley, they’d have to address their weaknesses in the interior first.

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Rams Release Todd Gurley, Reminding People That No One Is Safe in Pro Sports

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The Rams have released star RB Todd Gurley and LB Clay Mathews. Sorry Clay, but this whole blog is going to be about Todd Gurley. Gurley was the face of the franchise – if Rams superfan YG is repping your jersey, you know it’s your team.

Gurley had been with the Rams since before their move to Los Angeles, and it sucks that he’ll never be able to call SoFi Stadium home. He endured the pain and suffering through the Jeff Fisher years and was a big reason they were able to reach the Super Bowl in 2018. Claiming the 2017 NFL Offensive POY, the Rams signed Gurley to a huge extension before the 2018 season for four years and $60 million – making him the highest paid running back in NFL history. And despite leading the league in touchdowns for the second straight year, Gurley’s knee became an issue, forcing him to sit out the final two games of the 2018 regular season.

Gurley’s usage continued to decline in 2019 as he rushed for a career-low 857 yards. As tough as it is for me to admit, I think this trade might be in the best interest of both the Rams and Gurley, who probably feels like he should be getting 20 touches per game. And for the Rams, this move is yet another in a trend of cleaning house this offseason. Sean McVay and the Rams have already parted ways with several coaches including special teams coordinator John Fassel, defensive coordinator Wade Philips, and running backs coach Skip Peete which should’ve tipped us off about Gurley.

As far as we know, Gurley’s knee is healthy right now, which is why this move is all the more surprising. Although, with it being a huge question mark the entire 2019 season, it seems like McVay would just rather start from scratch. This move also saves the Rams million$ in cap space, which is why I can appreciate it from a business perspective – why keep a guy you’re not 100% confident you can run your offense through (when he costs as much as Gurley)?  Alternatively, I’m a big homegrown talent guy. Nothing fires me up more than when a player my team drafted and nurtured becomes a stud…Gurley was one of those guys. As great as trading for premier talent is, there’s a different sense of pride fans take in being able to call a player exclusively theirs.

It’s actually incredible how many moves the Rams have made this offseason in preparation for their first year in SoFi Stadium. It’s also remarkable how well Todd Gurley took the news that he had been fired.

At his healthiest, Gurley is a top 5 running back and one of the most electric players in the league and I  truly wish him nothing but the best in the future. As far as the future of the Rams goes, it’s easy to question the youngest head coach in the league especially after a disappointing 9-7 record last season, but as calculated and smart as Sean McVay is, I think he knows what he’s doing. But, if Gurley comes back with a vengeance next season with another team, the only logical thing for McVay to do is blame this decision on having the Coronavirus and not being in the right state of mind.

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John Fassel Hired by the Dallas Cowboys

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The long time Rams Special Teams Coordinator and fake punt king John “Bones” Fassel is now apart of the Dallas Cowboys coaching staff. The report came in late last night, and blew up on Cowboys Twitter today.

“Bones” is widely regarded as the best special teams coordinator in the NFL, which makes it all the more surprising that the Rams didn’t extend his contract. Fassel’s departure comes in the midst of a huge shake-up in the Rams organization, as Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips and Running Backs Coach Skip Peete will not be returning in 2020 either.

I’ve gotta say that it’s a bit alarming to see so many familiar faces hitting the road, even though it definitely was a disappointing 2019 season. Sean McVay is clearly trying to make some significant changes to try and get back to the Super Bowl, which they reached just last season.

The Rams special teams unit ranked 23rd in 2019…clearly not as dominant as they had been in earlier years. Fassel is also given a lot of credit for grooming both Greg Zuerlein and Johnny Hekker, who are among the best kicker/punter duos in the league. Hekker was not too happy about the news…

 

I guess McVay thinks cleaning house is the best way to bring in the SoFi Stadium era. Best of luck to “Bones” in Dallas…unless they meet the Rams in the playoffs.

 

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Super Bowl Hangover Confirmed. Rams Will Miss Playoffs.

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In what has been a frustrating season all around, last night’s loss against the 49ers officially eliminated the Los Angeles Rams from the playoffs. What makes it an even tougher pill to swallow is that the Rams actually showed up to play, and put up a good fight against the Super Bowl-hopeful 49ers.

After last week’s embarrassing loss to the Cowboys, I really thought the Rams season was over. I thought that they had officially given up, and there was no way they’d be able to make a playoff run. That was until I saw NFL Network’s graphic before last night’s game showing that if the Rams beat the 49ers and Cardinals, and the Vikings lost their last two games, they’d make the playoffs. Brought me 100% back not gonna lie. Especially after the 49ers lost to the Falcons last week, I totally thought there was a chance the Rams could beat them.

Then the Rams started off HOT on offense, and I thought they had that game in the bag.

Goff and Gurley were on their A-game, and it was really up  to the defense as to whether or not they would win this game. But of course with Jimmy G and the rest of the 49ers’ high-flying offense, that was going to be a tough task. For the most part, they kept San Francisco’s offense at bay, even sacking Garoppolo SIX times.

You’ve gotta love seeing that pretty boy Jimmy G taste the grass.

But like I was saying, ultimately the Rams defense just couldn’t do enough to keep the 49ers from scoring. The Rams held a four-point lead with six minutes left in the fourth quarter, that is , until this:

Look, I respect Kittle, I really do. But he looks like a redneck straight out of the backwoods of Kentucky. I realize you should never judge a book by its cover, but I just don’t like that guy. He looks like a guy that would scalp your house cat and wear the fur as a hat. He looks like he’s carrying all the venereal diseases. All of ’em. If I had a daughter, and she brought home this guy, I’d question where I went wrong as a father. Now, if a guy like Kittle is on your team, you love him because he’s a crazy person, but if he’s an opponent, he’s no doubt the most hatable guy on the field. Tell me I’m wrong…

Image result for george kittle

Image result for george kittle

*As an avid PMT listener, I realize he’s a great guy off the field, but I can’t stand him on it*

Back on topic.

Following Kittle’s TD, the 49ers take a 31-28 lead with six minutes left in the game. The Rams make it interesting with a field goal with 2:30 left in the game, but after the 49ers get the ball back, they stomp down field mostly because of this absurd blown coverage by Taylor Rapp:

Then they nailed a walk-off field goal, and that was that. Playoff hopes dead.

But where do they go from here?

I still have full confidence in Sean McVay…he has to be one of the hardest working head coaches in the NFL, and he knows the game inside and out. And don’t forget that they won the NFC last year. But with a defense that consists of Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald, they can’t be ranked 15th in the NFL in scoring, ninth in pass defense, 23rd in run defense, 16th in third down efficiency and 29th in red zone efficiency.

According to a report by CBS Sports’ Bryan DeArdo, the Rams are considering a change in Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips, which I really do like. With the stars that headline that defense, they can’t be that mediocre.

The same report discussed the possibility that the Rams part ways with either Aaron Donald or Todd Gurley, which will no doubt yield a lot in return. I would be heated if Donald were to be traded, which is honestly a ridiculous thought in the first place. Donald is the best defensive player in the league, and the Rams should be focused on building around him, not rebuilding. That would be a good move if he were on the Dolphins or Giants, who need to build up their entire team. But the Rams, despite a down season, are already a good team, and are so reaching the playoffs again.

Trading Gurley on the other hand, is an intriguing thought. I love homegrown guys, but parting ways with Gurley might be the best thing for the Rams offense. He is in the middle of a 4-year $60 million contract, and his declining productivity (2019 was the worst season of his career) makes him an attractive trade piece. He’s still a top-tier running back, and would be an attractive player for teams looking for a premium back.

I still think Donald and Gurley will stay, but I do see McVay making some significant changes with the coaching staff. Either way, it is going to be an eventful offseason, as they prepare to make their debut in SoFi Stadium next year. The Rams front office will do everything they can to get them to the playoffs in their inaugural season in that football palace.

I can’t wait to see this beauty in its finished state

Image result for sofi stadium

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