In anticipation of the Cincinnati Bengals’ preseason finale with the L.A. Rams on Saturday, we sat down with Bret Stuter, web site professional for Ramblin’ Fan, FanSided’s Rams web site. Bret gave us the inside scoop on what we will anticipate to see from the large Bowl Champion Rams (dang, that one nonetheless hurts to say).
all the things you should search out out about our upcoming foe is under.
1. On a scale of 1-10, how involved is the fan base with Matthew Stafford’s elbow harm?
Curiously, the followers’ reactions do not mirror the factors of NFL pundits or analysts. The L.A. Rams knew when buying and promoting for veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford that Stafford had seen better than his share of the NFL’s put on and tear.
The Rams’ reply is to handle his workload. What he overdoes in video games, the Rams observe algorithm will merely reduce out from observe the following week. whereas the Rams do not view that as a consequence of the fantastic reply, it’s probably almost as good as a consequence of it will get for now.
There is extra probably to be some aid if the Rams’ speeding assault can recuperate from a disappointing season. however these hopes have been tempered so far as a consequence of the Rams are banking on the restoration of working again Cam Akers and Darrell Henderson Jr., plus the introduction of rookie working again Kyren Williams. All have latest accidents, so the probability of getting vital yards on the underside feels pretty optimistic.
Stafford’s aggressive spirit will not set off any alternative to bench him if the sport’s outcome stays to be in question. The Rams did revenue from two “blowouts” final 12 months, permitting [them] to ship out backups inside the fourth quarter to close out video games in the direction of the mannequin the new york Giants and the Houston Texans. I don’t see the Rams having many, if any, alternatives to close out video games this 12 months with reserves. So I search for the Rams to look at Stafford’s observe snaps.
2. With the Rams dropping Von Miller to the Buffalo funds this offseason, the place is the floor go rush going to get back from?
whereas a lot was made about Von Miller’s go rush, Miller was merely deciding on up the place the L.A. Rams outdoors linebackers left off. To open the 2021 NFL season, the Rams had a sequence of accidents to OLB Justin Hollins, Terrell Lewis, and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.
Even starting OLB Leonard Floyd suffered an ankle harm that he performed by way of all season. evaluating the Rams “pre-Von” sack numbers to the Rams “put up-Von” sack numbers, the Rams had been truly a better go-speeding workforce earlier than Miller arrived.
however Von Miller confirmed his true worth for the Rams by way of the playoffs. as prolonged as a consequence of the Rams can hold healthful on the sting, they’ve a terribly formidable go rush. Leonard Floyd, Terrell Lewis, Justin Hollins, and second-12 months Chris Garrett will probably type a rotational quartet. The Rams might elevate rookie Daniel Hardy so as to add to that rotation. Plus the Rams get a lot of their go rush from their down linemen in Aaron Donald, Greg Gaines, and A’Shawn Robinson.
three. Make the case for Cam Akers. Why ought to followers think about he is extra probably to be the most important working again to ever make a expert Bowl after struggling an Achilles tear?
Forcing the controversy over the LA Rams’ restoration of working again Cam Akers to a doable professional Bowl season will take somebody means extra gifted than i am to have an alternative of being persuasive enough to make skeptics a bit extra optimistic. So I acquired’t try to bang my head in the direction of that brick wall. however i will level to some info that counsel that the Rams might even be onto one factor this 12 months.
The Rams have not had a runner break the 1,000-yard mark since star working again Todd Gurley managed to take movement inside the 2018 NFL season. regardless of the dearth of a star working again, the Rams have continued to attain success and actually acquired large Bowl LVI regardless of a pretty pedestrian-speeding offense. The Rams’ offensive method has been reworked with the commerce of former QB Jared Goff [and picks for] veteran Matthew Stafford.
Stafford would not appear to want a sturdy working sport to win video games. pretty, he merely wants enough of a working sport to threaten the protection and decelerate the go rush. The Rams will not be churning out 200 yards per sport on the underside, nonetheless the working backs can hold defenses reliable.
As a residing proof, the 2022 offense is simply like that of the 2020 offense. In each circumstances, the Rams appeared to have large question marks over their skill to run the soccer. What occurred in 2020 is the Rams’ floor sport excelling as a consequence of triple menace of Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson Jr., and Malcolm Brown. This 12 months, merely change Brown with rookie Kyren Williams, and the similar alternative exists for the working sport by a committee to get pleasure from associated outcomes.
4. With Van Jefferson battling a knee harm, who’re the most important candidates to win the #three receiver job?
due to a battered large receiver roster from 2021, the LA Rams truly entered this season stocked at large receiver. Returning this 12 months are three rookies: Tutu Atwell, Jacob Harris, and Ben Skowronek. whereas the Rams did not draft a large receiver, the workforce is pleasantly shocked by their undrafted rookie WR Lance McCutcheon.
The Rams are a bit defending [of] their projected starters, and as quickly as Van Jefferson fell to harm, the workforce immediately introduced that Tutu Atwell wouldn’t be competing for [them] in preseason video games. That almost is the “advance to GO, collect $200” card that areas Atwell inside the WR3 slot for now. however Atwell is truly a extra restricted position sort participant than Skowronek, who can block very effectively, and Harris, who’s a a lot greater goal on routes.
Some speculate that the Rams will dial up particular receivers for offensive sequence counting on what defenses are throwing at them, and that is sensible. The Rams have the power to generate deep threats, creating separation, shifting the chains, or making contested catches counting on which receivers take the sphere.
5. What starting positions are up for grabs this 12 months? anyone we should be looking forward to on this preseason sport?
The LA Rams are likely to bench starters to hold away from the hazard of harm to gamers inside the preseason, and that holds very true for the workforce inside the final preseason sport. however on the flip side, that signifies that the Rams is extra probably to be that contains bubble gamers at almost every place inside the rivals, and with a Rams roster restocking gamers at a 30-forty p.c clip, there is extra probably to be an important deal of roster spots up for grabs on this one.
The Rams are pretty settled on offense, however there’s a lot to battle for by the use of skill gamers. And the offensive line will probably carry no better than 4 reserves. so far the workforce seems to be set with offensive tackles A.J. Arcuri and A.J. Jackson, and versatile offensive lineman Tremayne Anchrum. So a fourth inside offensive lineman could be one factor to look for.
Rookie working again Kyren Williams will lastly get an alternative to play a preseason sport. The Rams are very interested to witness how properly he runs, blocks, and catches passes on this one.
The Rams have an abundance of defensive backs, and all are competing for an alternative to stick to the workforce’s fifty three-man roster. search for Derion Kendrick, Cobie Durant, Terrell Burgess and Russ Yeast.
Bonus: what’s your prediction for the Rams-Bengals preseason matchup? For the Rams season this 12 months?
The LA Rams have been a bit aggressive in preseason video games this 12 months, so I’ll predict a win for the Rams by the rating of 30-26. For the season, the Rams have a tough schedule, however I think about that they are in a significantly greater place. i will anticipate the Rams to place up a thirteen-4 season, and make an effort to win a BYE week as a consequence of the NFC’s prime-seeded workforce.
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