Time to talk to the other side
It’s a short week, so it’s already time to do our weekly Five Good Questions spot! This week, the Minnesota Vikings will face off with the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football, and I got the opportunity to exchange questions with Evan Craig from over at Turf Show Times, SB Nation’s home for everything about Rams football.
You can already see the questions that Evan sent my way and my answers to them right here. Here are the ones that I sent his way along with his responses.
1) The injury bug has hit the Rams incredibly hard so far this season, but it sounds like they’re going to get Cooper Kupp back in time for this one. Kupp has had a lot of injury issues since he won the receiving triple crown a few years ago. Is he still the sort of impact player that he was then?
That’s the question of the day as Rams fans have been unable to get a straight answer to that question as Cooper Kupp has missed 16 games to injury since that insane triple crown season. The first nine games of 2022 were probably the closest we’ve seen of vintage Kupp as he simply hasn’t been healthy enough to be a reliable member of the passing attack. In the opener against Detroit, Kupp had 14 grabs for 110 yards and a touchdown, but despite that production, nothing about it appeared sustainable for the long term. At this point in his career, he is no longer the impact player he once was. The Super Bowl year will always be magical, and it illustrates exactly what Kupp could do with a superstar quarterback under center. However, I truly believe his best days are behind him.
2) The Rams said farewell to one of the game’s all-time greats this offseason when Aaron Donald announced his retirement. While a player like Donald can’t immediately be replaced, what have the Rams done thus far to try to compensate and have those efforts been successful so far?
In all fairness, Aaron Donald was not as dominant in his final season compared to earlier in his career, but that does not mean he’s been replaced easily. How do you even try to replace someone like him? It’s a next-to-impossible task and it’s been a work in progress for first-year DC Chris Shula.
Second-year players Kobie Turner and Byron Young, and rookies Jared Verse and Braden Fiske, were expected to be the solution to that gaping hole along the defensive line. Again, it’s a work in progress and they are all youngsters catching themselves up to speed in the NFL. That is why the Rams have only 11 sacks on the year, with those four players accounting for seven of them. Verse actually leads LA in QB hits, he hasn’t been able to finish the job by bringing down opposing QBs. Time is on their side as they figure things out and I’m not super worried about it as this season was expected to be about growth as the defense adjusts to life in a post-AD world.
3) This will be the first matchup between Sean McVay and Kevin O’Connell since O’Connell became the Vikings’ head coach in 2022. Has the offense changed that much since O’Connell left?
The biggest change in the offense since KOC left is personnel for one. The offensive line is much improved compared to the steaming-hot pile of garbage it was back in 2022. (I’m sure he was thankful not having to deal with that mess.) It’s not always perfect, but the pass protection for Matthew Stafford is marginally better now than it was two years ago. Not that it could really get any worse, but I digress.
Other changes are an improved run-pass balance. During that fateful ‘22 campaign, there was a lot of debate over Cam Akers being the answer at running back after three straight 100-yard outings to end the year. Akers immediately proved he was not the answer as Kyren Williams took the starting job and never gave it back. Williams makes the offense work like a machine as he’s effective in the passing game as well. With a back like him to compliment Stafford, it has made Sean McVay’s life that much easier as a play caller.
4) Give us one player on each side of the ball for the Rams that might be a bit “under the radar” to non-Rams fans that you think will be a part of the Rams’ success on Thursday night.
Tutu Atwell is a polarizing player in Hollywood, but he has held up his end on offense with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua out for much of the first six games. In the Rams’ last four games, Atwell has amassed at least 50+ receiving yards, which for him is quite a remarkable feat. He was phased out of the offense last season following a strong start to the year. Atwell has speed to burn and can really flash on big plays down the field if the opportunity presents itself.
On defense, undrafted safety Jaylen McCollough iced Sunday’s game against the Raiders with his third interception in two games. McCollough has a nose for the ball as evidenced by his turnovers forced, and even had a pick-six off whatever the hell Jordan Love was going for in LA’s game versus the Packers before the bye. He has played just 11% of the Rams’ defensive snaps this season, and I expect that number to go up if he continues snatching interceptions.
5) The Rams come into this game with a 2-4 mark and the NFL’s trade deadline is about two weeks away. Do you think this game will have any noticeable effect on what the Rams do at the trade deadline depending on the result?
Whether or not the Rams win on Thursday night, I just don’t see them being active at the deadline. The last two years, GM Les Snead has been noticeably quiet which has been surprising given how active LA’s front office has been in years past. The Rams seem to be waiting to get healthy which is perfectly fine, given all the injuries they’ve suffered this season have been to players they were counting on to have significant roles. LA’s depth has been tested for sure and yet, I feel Snead and company feel confident in the roster they have constructed. That said, the margin for error is extremely thin and the Rams cannot afford too many losses along the way if they have any hope of returning to the playoffs.
Thanks again to Evan for taking the time to answer our questions for this week!
