Los Angeles Rams

Rams season preview 2016: Predictions and analysis

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

After playing in St. Louis for the previous 21 seasons, the Rams are coming home. Los Angeles waved goodbye to the franchise on Christmas Eve, 1994, but finally has professional football back after a long process of stadium proposals and financial hurdles.

The Rams bring with them a team that has some Hollywood headliners in terms of talent, but also some D-list celebrities who need to be pushed out the door. Los Angeles has its leading man in quarterback Jared Goff. Goff, who played nearby at the University of California, was taken with the first-overall pick after general manager Les Snead traded multiple future selection to nab him.

However, Goff could very well be spending a majority of 2016 on the bench, learning the game with a clipboard in hand. Head coach Jeff Fisher seems comfortable with letting Case Keenum take the reins. Fisher might be inclined to roll the dice on the rookie if his job was in doubt, but despite one losing season after the next, both Snead and Fisher have ample job security.

With the current personnel, the Rams are going to be a run-first team. Keenum is 28 years old and at best, a game manager. Considering his top two receivers are Tavon Austin and Kenny Britt, don’t expect Keenum, or Goff, to be throwing for prolific yardage.

The entire offense will revolve around second-year running back Todd Gurley. Gurley was a star in his rookie campaign despite returning from a torn ACL, rushing for 1,106 yards on 4.8 hyards per carry with 10 touchdowns.

Gurley will be seeing plenty eight-man fronts with the Rams lacking any real receiving threat. Still, he should have an excellent season with his supreme blend of speed and power. The offensive line is the wild card for this unit, relying heavily on Greg Robinson and Rodger Saffold at the tackle spots. Both have room for improvement.

If Los Angeles is going to make a surprise push toward the postseason, it will be thanks to the defense. The line is the strength of the group, with Aaron Donald and Robert Quinn able to dominate at the point of attack. Donald is the best 4-3 defensive tackle in the game today, showcased by his 11 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. Donald conjures up memories of another great Los Angeles star, Merlin Olsen.

Behind the line is Alec Ogletree, a nice up-and-coming outside linebacker. Ogletree can both drop into coverage and play the run, making him valuable on all three downs. With the departure of James Laurinaitis, Los Angeles will need Ogletree to become a force.

While the Rams have not reached the playoffs since the Marc Bulger era, there are reasons for hope. Unfortunately, the postseason won’t be coming to Tinseltown in2016, with far too many holes on a roster that should be further along at this juncture. Snead needs to find playmakers on the outside and a better offensive line. Otherwise, whether the quarterback is Goff or Keenum, the offense will hold this team down.

Schedule

Week 1 – at San Francisco 49ers (Mon.)
Week 2 – Seattle Seahawks
Week 3 – at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 4 – at Arizona Cardinals
Week 5 – Buffalo Bills
Week 6 – at Detroit Lions
Week 7 – New York Giants (London)
Week 8 – BYE
Week 9 – Carolina Panthers
Week 10 – at New York Jets
Week 11 – Miami Dolphins
Week 12 – at New Orleans Saints
Week 13 – at New England Patriots
Week 14 – Atlanta Falcons
Week 15 – at Seattle Seahawks (Thurs.)
Week 16 – San Francisco 49ers
Week 17 – Arizona Cardinals

The Rams are not getting any favors from the NFL in their first year back in Los Angeles. Todd Gurley and Co. will take on the 49ers away from home to begin the year before hosting the Seahawks. After that, a tough two-game trip to Tampa Bay and Arizona.

The next three weeks before the bye could be where the Rams make their move. Los Angeles has the Bills and Giants at home while having a winnable road date in Detroit. If the Rams are going to compete in 2016, they need to dominate this stretch.

Draft class

Round 1 (1) – Jared Goff, QB, California
Round 4 (110) – Tyler Higbee, TE, Western Kentucky
Round 4 (117) – Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina
Round 6 (177) – Temarrick Hemingway, TE, South Carolina State
Round 6 (190) – Josh Forrest, ILB, Kentucky
Round 6 (206) – Mike Thomas, WR, Southern Miss

This class is all about Goff and how he develops. The Rams know they need a star to bring them into Los Angeles, and while Gurley is most definitely that, the quarterback position is an entirely difference animal.

If Fisher and general manager Les Snead want to keep their jobs, they need Goff to step on the field soon and start playing like a quality quarterback. Any delay in Goff’s maturation and it could mean a regime change for the Rams.

Offseason moves

Acquired

None

Lost

Rodney McLeod, S (PHI – 5 years, $37 million)
Nick Fairley, DT (NO – 1 year, $3 million)
James Laurinaitis, ILB (NO – 3 years, $8.2 million)
Janoris Jenkins, CB (NYG – 5 years, $62 million)
Jared Cook, TE (Released)

X-Factor

Can the defense overcome so many losses in free agency? Snead was not aggressive in retaining his own players, releasing a bevy of big names including Chris Long and James Laurinaitis. In addition, McLeod and Fairley left for bigger deals, while Jenkins signed a massive pact with New York.

The Rams must rely heavily on Donald, Quinn, Alec Ogletree and Trumaine Johnson to carry the load. All four are exceptional players, but did Snead heap too much of the burden on only a few players?

Bottom Line

Every year, we hear folks talking about how the Rams are poised for a breakout campaign. Barring Goff coming out and immediately playing like an elite quarterback, that isn’t the case in 2016. Los Angeles has a great back in Gurley but nothing else on the offensive side of the ball.

The Rams are going to be better than the 49ers, but won’t be able to climb higher than third place in the tough NFC West. Los Angeles has to hope that Goff develops, the defense comes together and the draft class produces a surprise or two.