Los Angeles Rams 2019 Season Preview

Seattle started it, the 49ers added to it, Detroit tweaked it, then Bill Belichick perfected it: The book on “How to Stop the Rams’ Offense” was a collaborative effort created over the course of the 2018 season. 

The Rams are clearly talented but teams eventually started challenging their receivers and move tight ends to actually block at the point of attack against linebackers and safeties, simultaneously attacking their undermanned interior offensive line one on one. This shrunk the field, setting a hard edge and prevented the Rams getting any movement along the offensive line, crucial in their zone runs and jet sweeps. Losing Roger Saffold and John Sullivan weakens the Rams’ interior offensive line further. The Rams appeared to do little to replace them, instead trusting in house candidates.

Nevertheless, one would expect McVay to be able to adjust. This could be a defining year for his tenure. That adjustment will be made considerably easier if superstar running back Todd Gurley is healthy. Gurley’s game breaking ability and its value to the Rams cannot be ignored. Forcing teams to respect the interior ground game clearly opens them up to jet sweeps and the downfield route combinations that Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp and Gerald Everett thrive on. The latter is a massive breakout candidate, especially if Gurley is healthy and drawing the attention of the oppositions’ linebackers and safeties.

Meanwhile, the Rams will be hoping that their numerous draft picks spent along the offensive line in the past two seasons bear fruits. Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen have been tabbed to replace the aforementioned Saffold and Sullivan. Whilst McVay’s ability to adjust will go a long way towards dictating whether his extension was the right move, the success of the likes of Noteboom and Allen stepping into the breach will dictate the success of Les Snead’s extension.