The season is approaching. The editorial staff of DNA of Sports invites you to take stock of the strengths and weaknesses of the 32 franchises. Today, the Los Angeles Rams 2023. You can find all the presentations by clicking on this link.
The strategy was clear: “F**k them picks”! More politely, it was about giving your best draft picks to get players capable of winning the team. And with Jalen Ramsey and Matthew Stafford (four first-round picks for both), the Rams achieved their goal by winning Super Bowl LVI at the end of the 2021 season.
But the Rams must now rebuild the workforce without the first round of the draft or money to recruit!
Last season: 5 wins – 12 losses, did not qualify for the playoffs
Movements in the off-season
Notable arrivals: John Johnson (S), Hunter Long (TE)
Re-signatures: Michael Hoecht (DE), Brian Allen (OC), Coleman Shelton (OG)
Draft: Steve Avila (OG), Byron Young (Edge), Kobie Turner (DE), Stetson Bennett (QB), Nick Hampton (Edge), Warren McClendon (OT), Davis Allen (TE), Puka Nacua (WR), Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (CB), Ochaun Mathis (DE), Zach Evans (RB), Ethan Evans (P), Jason Taylor (S), Desjuan Johnson (DE)
Notable departures: Leonard Floyd (Edge), Bobby Wagner (LB), Jalen Ramsey (CB), Allen Robinson (WR), Baker Mayfield (QB), Taylor Rapp (S), Nick Scott (S), Greg Gaines (DT) , A’Shawn Robinson (DT), Darrell Henderson (RB)
Deprived of financial means, the Rams used the draft to shape a workforce at a lower cost. The 2023 draft allowed them to add 14 players: 6 in attack and 7 in defense (and a Punter). As a result, the workforce is made up of young and therefore inexperienced players: only 5 of the 22 starters are 30 years old or older!
The strong points)
Aaron Donald. Few players, offensive or defensive, have such an impact on matches. Able to perform from various line-ups, his mere presence forces opposing offensive lines into constant two-takes. This frees up spaces for teammates without stopping him! In defense, he will be assisted by a talented young player by line: linebacker Ernest Jones and cornerback Cobie Durant. The return of safety John Johnson will also be good.
Coach Sean McVay is a playcaller renowned offensive. And he can make his creativity speak with the quality of his receivers: Cooper Kupp has glue on his hands (75 receptions in 2022 for a single drop!) and Van Jefferson is very good in his travels.
Sean McVay also knows how to be aggressive: in 2022 the Rams were the first NFL in successful conversion on the 4th attempt with 78.95%! Continuing an offensive streak rather than kicking (punt or 3-point attempt) creates more opportunities to score a touchdown. In 2023, he will have a new toy with 5th round pick Puka Nacua: this receiver has scored as many touchdowns in the air as on the ground with BYU University in 2022 (10 in all)!
In 2023 the Rams will still score points. The concern comes rather from the defense which is likely to collect more!
The weak spots)
The strategy all in paid off (a Super Bowl won) but now the backlash is hitting hard: $72 million in dead money ! Money owed to players who are no longer in the squad like Allen Robinson ($21.5M), Jalen Ramsey ($19M) and Leonard Floyd ($19.6M). So much money that the leaders cannot use to recruit and strengthen the team, due to the salary cap.
Unable to retain their best players, the six most used defenders all left: Wagner, Ramsey, Scott, Rapp, Floyd and Gaines (in order in snaps played in 2022). The Rams are therefore forced to tinker: manager Les Snead has not stopped “going down” to the 2023 draft to recover cheaper players (contracts cost less and less according to the draft rounds).
Aaron Donald deserves his contract because he is the best. But on his own, he earns more than all the other defenders in the squad combined! The rest of the starters in defense are made up of rookies and no name like Michael Hoecht, Jordan Fuller, Christian Rozeboom and Bobby Brown III: none are bad but which one is really good?
Rams 2023 defensive cap spending:
Aaron Donald – $26 million
Rest of DL-$4.7m
EDGE-$4.4m
LB-$3.1m
S-$5.5m
CB-$3.8mAaron Donald’s 2023 cap hit: $26,000,000
Entire rest of defense: $21,610,708—TurfShowTimes (@TurfShowTimes) April 20, 2023
In attack, the main weak point remains the ground game. Even the runner Cam Akers struggles to influence the matches: 11 touchdowns in 35 games played! His last three games of 2022, however, give hope (345 yards). To complete it, Zach Evans’ draft must allow him to perform well in an NFC West division where the running game is so impactful (Seattle and 49ers).
X Factor: Matthew Stafford (QB)
Because he plays quarterback, Matthew Stafford is necessarily essential to his team. It’s the cornerstone of the Rams’ offensive system. During the winning season in 2021, he dominated his opponents with the 3rd average of yards per throw!
With the Lions already, he was a passer knowing how to lengthen: 10th in 2020, 3rd in 2019 and 7th in 2017 (in yards per throw). If he can’t be the future of the franchise, he can at least ensure the present by making the most of a weak entourage.
Player to watch: Ernest Jones (LB)
Entering only his 3rd season, inside linebacker Ernest Jones must already take on the role of senior lieutenant. His 2022 season gives a lot of hope with 114 tackles including 7 for losses. A very reliable tackler with a huge wingspan for the position, he is very good at stopping runners.
The most promising young player in the squad, he seems to have the potential to become a top 5 in his position as ILB (inside linebacker). In 2023, he will also be the defender with a helmet equipped with headphones: the one who transmits the instructions before the engagement of the ball.
2023 Los Angeles Rams Schedule
@Seahawks, 49ers, @Bengals, @Colts, Eagles, Cardinals, Steelers, @Cowboys, @Packers, BYE, Seahawks, @Cardinals, Browns, @Ravens, Commanders, Saints, @Giants, @49ers
The calendar is difficult because its unfolding means that four times they will meet a team coming out of a week of rest (bye week). And twice in a row! The Steelers and Cowboys in weeks 7 and 8 as well as the Ravens and Commanders in weeks 14 and 15.
They will also play twice against the 49ers and against the Seahawks. Also on the program, the Eagles, Bengals, Browns and Giants in full revival. Good luck !
The audio preview of the podcast
In summary
The 2023 season may seem long because it is painful for Rams fans: they will see points but how many victories?
A defense that is too inexperienced, which the attack will not always be able to compensate for, risks hampering their pleasure in watching games on NFL Sundays.
