Here’s what I’m most nervous and excited about heading into the Rams season?
The NFL season has finally arrived and the Los Angeles Rams will kickoff the 2024 campaign on the road on Sunday Night Football against the Detroit Lions. With the season finally set to begin this week, here are the things that I’m the most excited and nervous about heading into the year.
Excited: How do the Rams Expand on Run Game?
Last season, Rams head coach Sean McVay incorporated more power and gap scheme concepts into the run game along with duo. The result was one of the more efficient run games in the NFL. During the offseason, the Rams signed Jonah Jackson in free agency while bringing back Kevin Dotson. They also drafted running back Blake Corum to pair with Kyren Williams.
With the offseason moves, it’s very clear that McVay wants to lean into the run game concepts that were developed last year. This could mean running more out of the pistol and incorporating more play-action into the passing game to marry the two sides together. It’s going to be interesting to see what McVay has drawn up and it will be exciting to see how it works.
Nervous: Is Size an Issue in the Defensive Front Seven
The Rams are very small on the defensive side of the ball which is very concerning when it comes to needing to stop the run. This is a team that usually runs lighter from a weight standpoint along the defensive line. Kobie Turner is only 6’2, 290-pounds while Braden Fiske is also a fringe above 290. The Rams will likely insert Bobby Brown in the middle of the defensive line, but he will be the only player that eclipses the 300-pound mark. With offensive lines getting bigger, it’s easy to see this group getting pushed around at the line of scrimmage, especially in lighter nickel packages which is what most NFL defenses operate out of in today’s game.
Now, it’s possible that the Rams can use five-man fronts to add more size. Despite being smaller from a weight standpoint, it will be important for them to get leverage underneath offensive linemen. This size issue is a reason why the Rams have to play Troy Reeder at linebacker early on in the season. The Rams have always run a little smaller on the defensive line even with Aaron Donald. However, with a more inexperienced group and sub-par linebackers, it’s possible that this group could get gashed.
Excited: Is Cooper Kupp in For a Bounce Back Season?
The player that I’m most excited for heading into 2024 is Cooper Kupp. We haven’t seen a healthy Kupp since the first half of 2022 and that was him coming off of a triple crown year. Since then, the Rams wide receiver has dealt with ankle and hamstring injuries that have very clearly affected his overall play.
Kupp has had a healthy offseason. Throughout training camp, all reports were that Kupp looked like his old self. In a sense, this is a make or break year for Kupp. While he doesn’t need to be the top wide receiver in the offense, he needs to show that he can stay healthy and remain efficient in his touches. When Kupp is playing to his potential, he’s one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. This season it will be an opportunity for him to remind people of that.
Nervous: How Healthy is the Offensive Line and is There Cohesiveness?
Throughout the offseason, the Rams seemed to suffer injury after injury along the offensive line. The team held out Jonah Jackson in OTAs so that he could recover from an injury last year. However, Jackson only got injured early in training camp and missed most of the summer. Alaric Jackson spent time injured along with Rob Havenstein.
The big question here is whether or not this group has been able to develop any chemistry and cohesiveness. Throughout the McVay era, it’s been clear how important that chemistry and having the same five guys on the field is to the offense’s success. Heading into Week 1, Jonah Jackson will be playing center after Steve Avila trained there all offseason. There’s a chance that the offensive line struggles early on and then finds their stride after the Week 6 bye.
Excited: What Does the Rams Secondary Look Like in Action?
How defensive coordinator Chris Shula activates this secondary is something that will be very exciting to see in action. All offseason, the secondary has been described as being sticky in coverage which is something that hasn’t been seen for much of the last two years. With Tre White and Darious Williams at cornerback, the cornerbacks should be able to be a little more aggressive at the line of scrimmage.
However, it’s not just cornerback where there could be some exciting things happening. With Shula calling the defense, it seems as if the Rams may be safety-heavy in the secondary. The Rams have some versatile players when it comes to Quentin Lake, Kam Curl, and Russ Yeast. How Shula utilizes those players within the defense and the creative looks that he dials up could be a lot of fun to see.
Nervous: Can Rams Survive First Six Weeks?
When the Rams bye week comes around in Week 6, it’s possible that while an early bye week, they may need it at that point in time. It will be important in those first five or six games to simply not dig a hole that the can’t climb out of later in the year. This season could be a lot like last year where the Rams take time to find their identity. Some of that could be injury related, especially along the offensive line. However, the defense may also need time to find what they want to be as a young group without Aaron Donald.
Looking at the first five games, the Rams have the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, and Green Bay Packers. Those are three playoff caliber teams. The other two games come against the Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears which won’t be easy games by any means. If the Rams can survive until the bye week, there is a confidence that they can get hot when it matters.
Excited: What will the Rams defense look like under Chris Shula?
This is a case where multiple things can all be true at the same time. Raheem Morris got the most with what he had to work with over the last two years. The 2022 season came with a lot of injuries, putting the defense in a vulnerable position. Last year, the defense was purged for the sake of the salary cap. The Rams got good individual performances, but with the lack of experience, it was a group that wasn’t able to play as aggressive.
With all of that being said, it was also time to incorporate some new ideas into the defensive scheme. That’s where Shula comes in and it’s possible that the Rams defense leans more into what Brandon Staley introduced back in 2020. It may not always be smooth, but it will be exciting to see what this group looks like under Shula and what he does to unlock certain players.
Nervous: Are Rams Relying on Too Many “Has Beens”?
There are a lot of exciting players on the defense, but most of those players fall under the young player category. Those players include Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner, Jared Verse, Kam Curl, etc. The defense needed some veterans, but it’s worth wondering if the Rams have the right veterans rather than veteran that will end up hurting the defense.
For example, while Tre White was a shutdown cornerback four years ago, since then, he’s torn his ACL and achilles in back-to-back seasons. Troy Reeder played a large role in the Rams defense that won the Super Bowl in 2021. However, there is a reason he was on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad for much of last year. Reeder will be starting for the Rams with the trade of Ernest Jones. Additionally, if you thought that you had seen the last of Michael Hoecht, you are likely going to be sadly mistaken. Hoecht was brought back and while he may not start, he will have a role, especially on early downs where his size is valuable. These are players that could become the achilles heel of the defense at some point.
Excited: Will ‘24 Rookie Class Have Similar Impact as 2023?
The Rams could not have expected more out of the 2023 rookie class last year. Both Puka Nacua and Kobie Turner should have won rookie of the year. Byron Young and Steve Avila also had an impact. It’s unfair to expect the 2024 class to have a similar impact, but this is a group that certainly has that potential.
Jared Verse was the team’s first selection in the first round since 2016 and should give a respectable threat on the edge. Additionally, Braden Fiske was one of the more impressive players throughout the offseason along the defensive line. He could have an impact as Turner did last year. Blake Corum should help Kyren Williams in the run game and Jordan Whittington may get a run in the offense as well. This is another rookie class that gives a lot of reason to be excited.
Nervous: What Happens if This Season Doesn’t Go as Planned?
One of the best things about the NFL heading into Week 1 is that almost every team for at least a week has some promise that they may be able to sneak into the playoffs. Nobody ever truly sees a bad season coming. When the Rams went 5-12 in 2022, that wasn’t something that was predicted in July and August. There is a scenario, especially with injuries in which the Rams don’t have a season that many are expecting.
The question then becomes what happens then? Does Matthew Stafford come back from 2025? Do the Rams move on from Cooper Kupp? Is that a season that breaks Sean McVay and sends him to broadcasting? These are all fair questions. It may all be moot if the Rams do go 10-7 or 11-6 and win a playoff game or two. If that doesn’t happen though, is this a team that simply embraces the re-build?
