Sean McVay started out with a bang when he was named the head coach of the Rams. He signed quality free agents such as Robert Woods and Andrew Whitworth. He fixed quarterback Jared Goff, who was labeled a bust after his rookie year in 2016, with a quarterback friendly system. That system also helped turn around young running back Todd Gurley who was the 4th overall pick in 2015. The Rams made the playoffs in 2017 and then made it all the was to the super bowl in 2018.
Unfortunately, the Rams took a step back in 2019, missing the playoffs altogether. The offense was inconsistent, and the defense was vanilla. So far in 2020, McVay has shaken up the coaching staff, with the hires of offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell. O’Connell held McVay’s old job, as offensive coordinator of the Redskins. The Rams have not had an offensive coordinator since McVay’s first year in 2017, when current Packers head coach Matt LaFleur held that title. The OC is important for McCoy because it will allow him more freedom. O’Connell will help with game planning and add another voice for McVay to bounce ideas off of, during the week and on game day. McVay will still call plays on game day, but will be able to focus more on other areas of the team.
McVay hired young defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who is a young, fresh mind that has drawn comparisons to McVay himself, in terms of his innovation and energy. Staley spent the last two years under Vic Fangio, who I wrote about in my last post. While Staley has only served as outside linebackers coach, he has 4 years of DC experience at the college level spending time at John Carroll and James Madison. His quick rise up the coaching ranks is not dissimilar to McVay. The biggest takeaway from this hire is that Staley has been groomed by Fangio and learned his defense, which is a defense that has given McVay and his offense problems. McVay’s respect for Fangio’s defense is an indicator that he wants his defense to resemble Fangio’s. What better way to do that than hire someone who worked under him the last 3 years.
Quickly, on defense, the Rams have multiple key players that are set to become free agents. With limited cap space, considering they will have to resign a few of their own, the Rams cannot afford to franchise tag anyone. Linebacker Cory Littleton, edge rusher Dante Fowler and defensive tackle Michael Brockers will hit the market. Of those 3, I believe Littleton must be retained. He is outstanding in coverage and is a leader on the defense. Fangio’s scheme, as I talked about in my last post, needs strong linebacker play. Littleton is only 26 and is coming off a year in which he posted a 90.6 coverage grade that ranks third-best in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. While he is small for a linebacker and not as stout against the run, the Fangio scheme asks their defensive lineman to occupy blockers to keep the inside linebackers clean. While it would be nice to retain Fowler and his 11.5 sacks from 2019, he will be out of the Rams price range. They should be able to sign a cost effective edge rusher, such as Jason Pierre-Paul, who had 8.5 sacks in 2019. Another pass rusher, Markus Golden had 10.5 sacks on a bad Giants defense. Both played outside linebacker last year and will cost in the 7-10 million a year range, as opposed to the 15-18 million range that Fowler will receive on the open market.
On offense, there are many questions. Goff and Gurley regressed in 2019. So did Brandin Cooks, who the Rams gave up a 1st rounder for in 2018. The offensive line needs help. The only consistent lineman last year was Whitworth, who is a free agent and 38 years old. If Goff is going to play better, they are going to need Gurley to play better and Gurley is gonna need more help from the offensive line to open up run lanes for him. This domino effect will not be easy to solve, especially with limited resources. So here is how I would solve it, if I were Sean McVay.
First, McVay must re-sign Whitworth. I know most people will balk at his age, but Whitworth found a second life with the Rams when he signed there in 2017. He still played very well last year, and great tackles are playing into their late 30’s now, see Jason Peters. Whitworth is a technician at LT, switching up his pass sets to keep opposing rushers off balance. He is outstanding at cutting off the backside, and also at taking care of the play side edge defender, when the Rams run wide zone to his side. They may have his long-term replacement in house, with Joseph Noteboom. Taken in the 3rd round of 2018, Noteboom is an athletic lineman that is recovering from a serious injury, so they cannot take the risk of handing him starting job in 2020. Plus, he was not good as the starting left guard throughout the first half of 2019. Overall, the Rams are in win-now mode and must bring back Whitworth to solidify the left tackle position for 2020.
At right tackle, Rob Havenstein has been the starter since 2015. Last year, he missed 7 games and did not play well when he was healthy. Due to the low supply of right tackles in free agency and the draft, the Rams should be able to trade him for a 3rd round pick to a tackle needy team such as the Jets or Chargers. Bobby Evans played well in Havenstein’s place last year, Evans does not have the ideal size of a right tackle, but he does have long arms, which he uses to his advantage in the run game as well as pass blocking. Evans has a solid base and delivers a strong punch in pass protection. Evans should continue to improve with reps and I feel good about him as the starting right tackle going into this year.
The Rams drafted David Edwards last year out of Wisconsin and he would up playing right guard down the stretch. Edwards was a former quarterback turned tight end, and finally ended up at tackle in college. That means he is raw, but the Rams like what they see from him. He does have quickness, which will help in executing the rams wide zone run game and in the pass game as well. At left guard, the Rams played Austin Corbett, who was a former 2nd round pick of the Browns. Corbett is solid all around, and was seen as a safe pick in 2018 when the Browns drafted him. At center, the Rams played Austin Blythe, who was their starting right guard in 2018 and the fist half of 2019. Blythe struggled when asked to reach block stronger and quicker lineman, such as Poona Ford of the Seahawks. Blythe is better in pass protection. He is a free agent that shouldn’t cost that much on the open market.
Before I assess the interior lineman, the free agent market and draft are not full of options. In free agency, there are few starting caliber guards or centers, and even fewer in the Rams price range. There is one really strong center in the draft, Cesar Ruiz out of Michigan. In free agency, veteran backup Ben Garland started at center for the 49ers and did a solid job. He could be brought in for depth at guard and center. In terms of starters, the only upgrades are Andrus Peat or Graham Glasgow. Neither player is better than slightly above average, but could get overpaid by desperate teams.
At guard, the Rams should re-sign Blythe and play him at right guard or center, depending on the health and progression of Brian Allen. Before he got hurt in week 10, Allen started at center. I love Allen’s physicality and ability to finish blocks. He may not be the most athletic center, but he gets the job done. If the Rams are pleased with Allen throughout the summer, they can play him at center and Blythe at right guard. If not, Blythe gives them flexibility to fill in at center. Sure, I would love for the Rams to draft Ruiz or a guard with their second round pick, assuming the right fit is available. Still, it is rare to find a starting lineman on day 2 or later in the draft that can play right away. That is why the Rams would be best served to keep the continuity they had over the last 6 weeks of the season, with LT Whitworth, LG Corbett, C Blythe, RG Edwards and RT Evans. At least they have experience in games playing together and the younger guys are all talented players with potential.
The Rams have a ton of talent at the skill positions, especially with the emergence of TE Tyler Higbee in the pass game as 2019 went on. Robert Woods, Cooks and Cooper Kupp are arguably the best WR trio in the league. To help Gurley, McVay should integrate 2019 3rd round draft pick Darrell Henderson into the offense more than giving him a series here and there like he did in 2019. When Gurley ran out of gas in 2018, CJ Anderson provided a fresh set of megs that kept the Rams run game functioning in December and throughout the playoffs. Henderson showed flashes in 2019 and should be only improve with a larger role in the offense.
If I were McVay, I would add a fullback in 2019 to make the run game more diverse. Having a strong fullback like the 49ers can add dimensions to their wide zone that will help improve the run game and get it back to the levels of 2017-18. Even if Gurley isn’t the same player due to a bad knee, he can still be productive with more carries for Henderson and a fullback. CJ Ham is a free agent and played in a similar wide zone scheme in Minnesota last year. They could always look to the draft for a fullback in the later rounds.
The Rams will have a tough time since they have limited resources and multiple pending free agents that need to be re-signed. The Rams will need to rely on their coaching, and subtle changes to the offense such as the addition of a fullback. Offensive line coach Aaron Kroemer will need to develop what they have into a better product for 2020, if the Rams are going to return to the playoffs.
Talkin Ball 