NFL PREVIEW: 2020 LOS ANGELES RAMS

BY ADAM GREENE

Key Additions: OLB Leonard Floyd (free agent), DT A’Shawn Robinson (free agent)

2020 NFL Draft: RB Cam Akers, Florida State (round 2), WR Van Jefferson, Florida (round 2), LB Terrell Lewis, Alabama (round 3), S Terrell Burgess, Utah (round 3), TE Brycen Hopkins, Purdue (round 4), S Jordan Fuller, Ohio State (round 6), LB Clay Johnson, Baylor (round 7), K Sam Sloman, Miami (OH) (round 7), OG Tremayne Anchrum, Clemson (round 7)

Projected Offensive Starters: QB Jared Goff, RB Malcolm Brown, WR Cooper Kupp, WR Robert Woods, WR Josh Reynolds, TE Tyler Higbee, LT Andrew Whitworth, LG Austin Corbett, C Austin Blythe, RG David Edwards, RT Rob Havenstein

Projected Defensive Starters: LDE Michael Brockers, NT A’Shawn Robinson, RDE Aaron Donald, WLB Samson Ebukam, LILB Micah Kiser, RILB Troy Reeder, SLB Leonard Floyd, LCB Jalen Ramsey, RCB Troy Hill, SS John Johnson III, FS Taylor Rapp

K: Sam Sloman

P: Johnny Hekker

Head Coach: Sean McVay

2019 Record: 9-7, 3^rd place NFC West

A Look Back: The Rams’ NFC Conference title defense didn’t quite go as planned. The offensive choke job that cost them a chance at a Super Bowl victory showed up at inopportune moments in 2019 as the NFL “caught up” with Sean McVay’s strategic style and the coach had to adjust.

And he had to do it with an injured Todd Gurley, a banged up offensive line and a quarterback, Jared Goff, who was all over the place depending on the game and even down to down. No quarterback in the league has a higher swing to hit/miss ratio (a stat I’ve just made up) than Goff from what I have observed. He can make the Patrick Mahomes A+ crazy throws, as he showed in their 2018 QB duel. But where Mahomes bottoms out at a C+, Goff can follow an A+ toss with an F- that will leave you pulling your hair out.

Regardless of every other issue with Los Angeles last year, the regression of Jared Goff that began in his dismantling in the Super Bowl the previous season was the reason they finished outside the playoff field.

2020 Projection: Having said that, Goff has freakish ability and he’s shown it. This will be his fifth year in the league and his contract is already sewn up as of last season. Now he’s playing for and working for his legacy, which remains in his hands.

The offensive line issues that plagued the Rams for most of 2019 were largely handled by the end of the year. They’re comfortable with the unit they bring back, an experienced group deep in guys that have now started and played well in the NFL. Losing Gurley is a blow, as even at 85 percent he was still their best offensive player, but McVay’s offensive changes bore fruit in December.

And we’ve not even mentioned a defense that should be much-improved under new coordinator Brandon Staley and still boasts the two best players in the NFL at their respective positions, defensive lineman Aaron Donald and cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

2020 Projected Win Total: 12-4. The Rams at over 8.5 wins pays at -125 and 10-14 victories pays a +185. If Goff moves that bad throw floor up to a D+ the Rams will not only cruise to the NFC West crown, but be a factor in the Super Bowl conversation.

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