Last Year: 

Record: 7-9

Offense:  297.6 YPG (32nd), 17.5 PPG (29th)

Defense: 367.8 YPG (23rd), 20.6 (13th)

The Rams were 1 of the worst offensive teams in the NFL in 2015. They were the only team to average less than 300 yards per game and that’s despite finishing 7th in rushing in the NFL. So why were they so bad? They had an all-time horrific passing attack. They only averaged 175 yards passing per game and the QB position was simply an absolute disaster. Whether it was Nick Foles or Case Keenum under center, the ball just didn’t move very much through the air for the Rams. However, the QBs can’t take all the blame as the Rams receiving corps was 1 of the least-effective around the league. Not a single receiver had over 700 yards and they routinely struggled to consistently gain separation. At least the running game was there for the Rams, spearheaded by rookie sensation Todd Gurley, he single-handledly kept the Rams offense afloat to the best of his ability. Defensively, the Rams have a ton of talent; they just can’t seem to keep everybody healthy at the same time. If they can just get everybody healthy and get some consistency and chemistry going, the Rams could be a top 10 defensive unit. However, such was not the case in 2015 and the Rams finished outside of the top 20 in yards allowed. It wasn’t all bad as they did finish in the top half of the league in points allowed, showing they had a “bend but don’t break” mentality, but with the names on their roster a year ago, they had the potential to be so much more.

Offseason: 

Key Acquisitions: CB. Coty Sensabaugh

Key Loses: CB. Janoris Jenkins, S. Rodney McLeod, LB. James Lauriniatis, DE. Chris Long, DT. Nick Fairley

2016 Draft Picks

2016 Outlook

Coaching Staff

HC: Jeff Fisher

OC: Rob Boras

DC: Gregg Williams

ST: John Fassel

 

Projected Depth Chart

Offense

QB. Jared Goff, Case Keenum

RB. Todd Gurley, Tre Mason

WR. Tavon Austin, Brian Quick

WR. Kenny Britt, Mike Thomas

WR. Pharoh Copper

TE. Lance Kendricks, Justice Cunningham

TE/H-back. Cory Harkey

LT. Greg Robinson, Darrell Williams

LG. Rodger Saffold, Garrett Reynolds

C. Tim Barnes, Rhaney Demetrius

RG. Jamon Brown, Andrew Donnal

RT. Rob Havenstein, Isaiah Battle

 

Defense

DE. William Hayes, Quinton Coples

DT. Aaron Donald, Doninique Easley

DT. Michael Brockers, Ethan Westbrooks

DE. Robert Quinn, Eugene Sims

OLB. Akeem Ayers, Cory Littleton

MLB. Alec Ogletree, Bryce Hager

OLB. Mark Barron, Josh Forrest

CB. Trumaine Johnson, Lamarcus Joyner

SS. T.J. McDonald, Rohan Gaines

FS. Cody Davis, Brian Randolph

CB. E.J. Gaines, Marcus Roberson

NB. Coty Sensabaugh

 

Special Teams

K. Greg Zuerlein

P. Johnny Hekker

 

Breakdown

Offense: 

Offensively, the Rams were the worst passing offense in the NFL in 2015 and things doesn’t look like they’ll get much better in 2016. The key to any major change will start with rookie 1st-overall pick Jared Goff. Odds are he’s not ready yet and will struggle a ton, but I think it’s necessary that the Rams just let the kid go out there and fight through the rough times. At least give the fans hope that something new is available to them. You can’t possibly move to LA and roll out Case Keenum at QB, right? The 1 thing we know about the Rams is that they’re loaded at RB. Todd Gurley is already 1 of the top 3 RBs in the NFL after just 1 season and backing him up is another pretty good player in Tre Mason, who, if Gurley ever went down, would be more than capable of picking up the slack. The receiving corps was an issue last season and rather than bring in veterans to improve, the Rams looked to the draft where at least 1 if not 2 of the receivers they picked will get significant playing time at the position. The starters will most likely be Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt, both of whom are career underachievers which could open the door for 4th-round pick Pharoah Cooper to eventually get more snaps than 1 or both of them if they don’t start to play better. Lance Kendrick, the starting TE, could be a player to watch as he does have some athleticism, but can he put it all together? Up front the Rams return what was 1 of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. Youth, poor health, and horrible pass blocking all played a role. There isn’t a single player on the roster that has any business playing LT in this league. Greg Robinson looks like a joke in pass protection and if it doesn’t get any better in 2016, a move to guard will be imminent to save his career. At the other tackle spot, Rob Havenstein was probably the best of the bunch. The team’s 2nd-round pick in 2015, he actually out performed the former top 5 pick and might finish the year at LT if Robinson doesn’t get it together. In the interior, if he can stay healthy, Rodger Saffold is probably the best. Jamon Brown is an okay starter, but he missed a lot of games as well last year. At center, Tim Barnes probably has the least pure talent of the group. Overall, I don’t see the Rams being much better up front, I don’t see the receiving corps being very good, and I see Goff struggling in his rookie year in large part due to the lack of overall talent around him.

Defense: 

If the Rams are to be successful in 2016, the defense is going to have to carry them. It all starts up front, where the Rams have 1 of the elite defensive lines in the NFL, headlined by Aaron Donald, who is the NFL’s best defensive player right now. Next to him at the other DT spot is Michael Brockers, who is a powerful run stopper that also has some rush ability as well. On the edge, Robert Quinn is a highly talented pass rush who once lead this league in sacks. Hayes, on the other edge, is a fine all-around player that rushes the passer and plays the run. This front 4 of the Rams will be able to get pressure all on their own without much need for blitzing. At LB, the Rams have a solid threesome headlined by MLB Ogletree. The former 1st-round pick has the size and quickness to be effective in coverage and playing the run. At the weakside OLB spot is former safety turned LB Mark Barron, who fits the more modern NFL defenses where smaller LBs and sub packages are becoming all the rage. Akeem Ayers is the strong side backer who is a jack-of-all-trades type player that might not be great at any 1 thing, but has the ability to do some of everything. In the secondary, the Rams took hits losing corner Janoris Jenkins and safety Rodney McLeod to free agency. However, plenty of talent still remains. Trumaine Johnson has plenty of talent to take over as the teams’s top corner. To replace Jenkins in the starting lineup, the Rams can turn to 3rd-year corner E.J. Gaines who missed all of last season after a promising rookie campaign the year before. New comer Coty Sensagbaugh and Lamarcus Joyner will battle for the nickle corner spot. At safety, T.J. McDonald returns at SS and will provide excellent run support. The biggest question will be if Cody Davis can replace McLeod at FS. Overall the Rams are loaded on defense. If they can just stay healthy, I fully expect them to be a top 10 defense.

 

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