Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams: 5 Key questions prior to training camp

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:57 p.m. ET

Fansided, Greg Archuleta/FanSided via NFL Spin Zone

The Los Angeles Rams offseason must take positive shape early for team to be competitive in 2017

The Los Angeles Rams offseason already is filled with intrigue, the latest example being cornerback Trumaine Johnson's no-show at the team's OTAs on Tuesday. Rams fans are expecting significant strides from a franchise that, entering the 2016 season, was considered just a notch below playoff-caliber.

Despite last season's free fall from the perennial 7-9 teams under former coach Jeff Fisher, the belief has been that Los Angeles does have some talent on which new head coach Sean McVay can build.

But for McVay to successfully navigate the Rams offseason into 2017, the organization needs to answer some key concerns by the start of training camp in July.

Sep 20, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins running back Matt Jones (31) is tackled by St. Louis Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson (22) during the first half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

5. Can They trust Trumaine Johnson to be their lock-down cornerback?

After skipping what McVay stressed as a "voluntary" practice session on Tuesday, the short answer is "no."

"It's a situation where I continue to remind people that it is voluntary. We're not sure where Trumaine was today, but it is voluntary," McVay said after practice, according to TheRams.com. "I'm sure we'll find out specifically because he's done a great job this offseason communicating and being here every day. I'm sure we'll find out a little bit more moving forward."

That Johnson missed the session isn't the issue. He didn't do a great job communicating and being "here" a day earlier, and that's the problem facing McVay.

It's all well and good if Johnson is looking for a long-term deal, but it isn't as if the Rams have mistreated him. After 2017, he will have earned almost $30.7 million, according to Sportrac.com. And he isn't even considered one of the league's elite CBs.

With the Rams also trying to negotiate a new deal with All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Johnson's absence could be a leverage ploy to earn a long-term deal.

The Rams can't give in and give Johnson a generous long-term contract at the expense of re-signing Donald. If Johnson doesn't understand that and get in line quickly, the Rams should look forward to the end of 2017 when they no longer owe Johnson a dime.

Dec 11, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) pressures Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

4. Can they sign Aaron Donald to a long-term deal?

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Aaron Donaldalso is skipping OTAs, but his play has earned him the right to negotiate a top-dollar deal. Averaging 54.3 tackles and 9.3 sacks per year while often commanding double-teams afford him that right. Donald is the anchor the Rams require to build around to ensure the long-term viability of the defense.

Earlier this season, the Carolina Panthers re-signed defensive tackle Kawann Short to a five-year deal worth $80.5 million, according to NFL.com, setting market-price guidelines for Donald.

Los Angeles has a lot of good pieces around Donald but doesn't have a great defense without him. And while the Rams have other key free-agents to sign on defense, Donald's presence will only help them.

It'd be a shame for the Rams to have all the pieces around Donald locked in and Donald unavailable to re-sign over money. Whatever they pay him, even if it's at the top of the market, it's worth it for a player who has proven to be a cut above the rest at his position.

Nov 6, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin (11) rushes against the Carolina Panthers during a NFL football game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

3. Is Tavon Austin a franchise wide receiver?

Wide receiver Tavon Austin's wrist surgery near the beginning of May added to the uncertainty of the Rams offseason in terms of find out who the team's playmakers are. Austin, like Johnson, is another player whose contract is bigger than his contributions. He's in the second year of a four-year, $42 million contract but lacks the numbers to back his worth.

Among all WRs with >200 targets in their career, Tavon Austin is the all-time least-efficient (yds/tgt) WR since targets became a stat. pic.twitter.com/3i9eXIaX25

— Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) January 2, 2017

With incoming wideouts such as Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds, as well as tight end Gerald Everett, Austin would be advised to enter training camp with a motivation to show that he can fill the DeSean Jackson role that McKay had last year as offensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins.

Otherwise, he too will be a ball and chain on the Donald negotiations, and should be considered expendable. Especially one who just established career highs in 2016 of only 58 receptions and 509 receiving yards. Simply put, he has to out-perform that — and somewhat substantially — or else moving on won't be a difficult choice to make.

Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff (16) tries to avoid a sack by Arizona Cardinals tight end Darren Fells (85) during the third quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

2. Can Jared Goff transform into the next Kirk Cousins?

Part of the lure of McVay to Los Angeles was the job he did with Cousins, the Washington Redskins quarterback, who has passed for 9,083 yards and 54 touchdowns over the past two seasons combined.

Goff had a miserable 2016, going winless in seven starts, throwing only five touchdown passes to seven interceptions. He completed just 54.6 percent of his passes for 1,089 yards. And McVay is going to turn him into Cousins?

General manager Les Snead said Goff should show significant improvement in understanding the protections up front during the Rams offseason.

"Because at that point, during the course of a game he should know where his protections are weak and strong, and know 'uh oh, we've got a problem coming — but the offense has a built-in answer and I've got to get to that answer real quick,'" Snead said, according to SB Nation.

Meaning, McVay is hopeful the offensive scheme is more important than the player running it.

Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) attempts to evade Arizona Cardinals linebacker Kevin Minter (51) during the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

1. Will the real Todd Gurley please show up?

This question goes beyond the 2015 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Rams offseason included adding left tackle Andrew Whitworth and center John Sullivan to an overwhelmed unit from 2016.

Gurley's struggles — 885 rushing yards with a 3.2-yard average and just six touchdowns — contributed to the offensive finishing last in total yards and total points per game last season.

To give an indication of the problems on the line, Greg Robinson, who was the team's starting left tackle for most of 2016 — except when he was benched for two games — could be in a fight with Jamon Brown to start at right tackle in 2017.

Brown took snaps with the first unit during Tuesday's practice; Robinson practiced with the second team. The Rams have to help Gurley recapture his confidence. Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reported that members of Fisher's outgoing staff blamed Gurley for his struggles.

It's Gurley's success that going to help Goff ease into his role as the Rams version of Cousins. If L.A. starts out slinging the ball all over the field to get Gurley going, that's going to put a lot of undue pressure on Goff.

Gurley is the key to the Rams offseason and their success in 2017 because his success will help the Rams control the clock, which teams short on talent have to do to shorten the game and keep themselves competitive with the better teams.

If Gurley turns back the clock to 2015, Goff should have a chance to show improvement over the course of the season that was lacking in 2016. If Gurley struggles, Goff likely also will struggle unless the Rams discover a consistent big-play contributor in the passing game.