grimesgoat

I get all this. You make some good points. I don't agree on the money issue. I don't believe there is anyone in free agency next year that can replace Burns for 15m. We'll see how it shakes out. But finding a DE with a good chance for 15 sacks in 2023 willing to play here for less than 25m would be tough. Last year the Rams traded for Von Miller - which was a springboard for a SB run. Who's to say Burns would not have done the same. Fitt can't assume injuries or retirements etc. With McVay - there is just no way you can assume the bottom will fall out. I think it was the Kupp injury that was the real issue and that happened weeks later. Fitt stuck with a known commodity - one of the best young DEs in the game that is still only 24. The picks are just too uncertain. I would have done it, but its not incompetence to not do it. I love the draft - the more picks, the more fun. But I don't fault Fitts' reasoning here.

Among DEs, he's 3rd in sacks, 2nd in tackles, 3rd in TFL, 7th in QB hits. Plus he's made the pro bowl 2 out of 4 years. Dude is only 24. Peak years are yet to come. Are there a lot of guys like this?

agree to disagree.

The trade deadline was November 1. They lost to SF on October 30, so negotiations would have taken place prior to that game. So at the time, Fitt is looking at a team that was 3-3 with losses against Buffalo, Dallas, and at SF. Stafford was healthy and he'd just beat us, going 26-33 for 253. Definitely didn't look slowed in that game. McVay is one of the best coaches in the league - a collapse was simply not imaginable. And we still don't know where those picks will be in 2024 and 2025. Hard to know for certain in late October of 2022. Again - I'm with you - I would have done the deed. But the jury is still out on where those picks will be. Fitt played it conservative - assuming they would be late firsts. Late first round is usually not a place you find a Brian Burns. The only 2 DEs ahead of Burns in sacks are Bosa and Garrett, who went 2nd and 1st overall in their respective drafts. I don't think people appreciate how special Burns is.

Coaching malpractice? I'd argue it would be malpractice to go for it. 4 and 1's are converted about 70%. 4th and 1 #1: we are up 7-0 in the first quarter on our own 42 and a QB sneak just failed on 3 and 1. Why would the odds increase on 4th and 1. You can pin them deep with your pro bowl kicker or possibly shift momentum and bring the crowd into the game. Gotta punt that one. Still a lot of football left to play. 4th and 1 #2: we are up 14-0 in the second quarter, again at our own 42, with about 3 minutes left. Our defense is pitching a shutout. The only thing TB has going is their strong Defensive line. Again, why give TB a short field up 14-0 with 3 minutes left until halftime? Pin them deep. Hindsight is 20-20. But rolling the dice on your own side of the field and giving the other team/crowd something to get excited about was not the smart play. The problem was not a lack of aggressiveness. The problem was the 63-yard bomb thrown over the head of our 4th string CB.

I agree with you in that I probably would have made the trade. But the scenario you paint is the rosiest possible and far from likely at that time. At the trade deadline, Rams were 3-4 and still had a healthy Stafford and Kupp. Adding Burns and everyone stays healthy probably means Rams win 10-11 games and are picking mid-to-late 20s. While it might be possible to draft someone of Burns' caliber in that range, we'd have to get really lucky. And we only free up 16m in 2023. Finding a guy as good as Burns on the open market would likely cost 25m per year. In my opinion, Reddick is not a viable alternative/comparison. Reddick is a LB. Weights 230. Burns, while light at 250, is definitely a DE. I don't consider that an apples to apples comparison, and LBs will almost always be cheaper that traditional DEs.

Hopefully this will not be considered slobbering but Darnold threw some absolute dimes out there. there is definitely growth there. He’s not forcing things like he used to. The PI by DJ saved an int, but at that point in the game he had to take some risks. His int was a poor throw, but that was his first this year vs 11 tds. He is playing qb as well as anyone right now. As others have said - he is not the reason we lost I suspect Darnold has hit his ceiling. But until we can get a draftee to take over, he is a respectable bridge.

I guess I’m in the minority here, it I like what fitt has done so far. I haven’t agreed with all his decisions. The two main disagreements I had was picking up Darnold’s option and turning down the Burns trade. Jury’s still out on the latter, but I probably would have pulled the trigger. Still, I get why he wanted to keep a young pass rushing specialist as a core piece. I think his drafts have been pretty solid. No way I pick fields over Horn. Shut down corner is tremendously important these days. Fields is a fantasy standout due to his running, but he’s 5-20 with 21 interceptions and 28 fumbles in less than 2 seasons. He may get better, but he would not have been developed by rhule and would have been a wasted pick.

Atlanta is still trying to win games. They could beat TB if TB rests some starters. We’re not jumping Vegas, KC will see to that. We might win and still move up to 8. I don’t see a loss against the taints hurting us at all.

Atlanta won today. I guess they didn’t know you were supposed to quit after elimination. what is pathetic about some of our “fans” is the desire to lose while still in contention. frankly if every team that was unlikely to win it all tanked, the game would not be worth following. Too much like pro wrestling. Just a fake clown show.

You lose credibility when you call someone fat for no apparent reason.

Food for thought - horn didn’t miss any games in college due to injury. injuries happen. Especially when you play every snap.

I agree. 320 yards in one game is simply not possible with our personnel alone. There is some scheming done. Maybe this is what mcadoo is good at. Not saying we don’t need a passing attack. But a good running game can lead to impactful passing. The key is moving the sticks, while keeping the defense fresh so they can get off the field on third down.

I'm on board. Kincaid or Mayer are desperately needed here.

You can't bring facts to an emo party.

I kind of hope Ridder does fairly well in the last few games. Not well enough to pass us, but well enough that the falcons don’t feel they need to draft a qb in the first round.

This is not an easy schedule for us. While this schedule probably wouldn't frighten KC or Buffaloe, I think there are serious challenges ahead. It would be a significant accomplishment to win out... We'd have to beat Pittsburgh, a nemesis that has bitch-slapped us for years. We'd have to beat Detroit - a red hot team who has won 5 of 6 and in the playoff hunt. We'd have to beat TB at their place with the playoffs probably on the line. In two games last year they beat us 32-6 and 41-17. We'd have to beat NO at their place. These games are almost always close. I guarantee they will pull out all the stops to spoil the party.

To be clear, I'm not suggesting Darnold is a long-term solution or will get us where we need to be. The original premise was running the table. That means Darnold goes 6-0 and we make the playoffs. If he does, then he should get a reasonable contract from us commensurate with his contribution. Our M.O. is to run the ball, wear teams out, and force turnovers on defense. You don't need a superstar QB to manage that, nor do you need to burn draft assets moving up for a guy. But we need to improve the position, and the best way to do that is in the draft, which occurs after free agency. We need to draft a guy and have him compete with Corral. By 2024 - Corral or our new guy should be ready to roll. Darnold will be a cap casualty or hold a clipboard.

Houston will definitely take one of the top two, and I think Indy will do whatever it takes to take the other. The draft occurs after Free Agency, and it would be malpractice to not sign someone before the draft. My guess is Darnold, for 4-5 mil. Minshew or Heinecke are interesting if they are not re-signed. The pickings are extremely slim. No way I expend draft capital to move up. The only other teams I think that will burn a first round pick on a QB are TB and Atl (who already has Ridder). I think Richardson or Levis will be there when it is our turn.

If we run the table, that means Sam Darnold just went 6-0. How do you not offer him a contract? Give him a 2-year, 8 million, game manager contract. Draft Richardson or Levis in the first if they are there. If not, target McKee in the second. Let Corral and Shiny new QB duke it out for the future.

I think we need an offensive mind that can produce a solid ground attack and focus on long drives, moving the chains, and keeping the defense rested. I don't know if you need some superstar genius to accomplish this - just someone on the same page as the head coach. I've been pleasantly impressed with Mcadoo's creativity over the last several weeks.

Its exactly like Ron without Cam. And until we get a really good qb, we'll tread water. Move the chains, control the clock, and keep the defense fresh is a solid strategy, but its probably not a formula for winning a superb owl. We need to get another youngster in the building with Corral. Richardson would be ideal because he could use his feet to keep drives alive. I like McKee in the second if Richardson is gone. I almost hope Richardson is gone when we pick because the TE Mayer would be perfect for what we want to do. Maybe our draftee sits in 2023. Or maybe we go old school and give him a drive or two per game to wet his feet until he is ready. Could be fun to watch the progress. He just needs to value the ball and be ready and able to take advantage of too many defenders in the box. In 2024, a youngster takes over (Corral, Richardson, McKee). That's when we can start to dream big. Dreaming of winning a SB this year or next is foolhardy. We are still building. 2024 and beyond will be our time to shine.

We will win 8 this year and make the playoffs. We will lose to Dallas by 7. Wilks will be given a 3-year contract. In 2023 we will draft a 1st round qb, run the ball 65% of the time, and win 9. In 2024 expectations will be sky high. Anything less than 11 wins gets him fired, playoffs or not.

After things shake out, I think we end up picking in the 15-20 range. I suspect Richardson will still be there. I'd take Richardson and let him sit and learn his first year. Re-sign Darnold to a cheap 2-year deal. Take the Georgia TE in the second along with a Edge to pair with Burns. Maybe a LB in the third. We will be a running team in 2023. Our defense will keep things close. This will net 7-10 wins. In 2024, Richardson steps in and we will have more offensive balance. This is the way.

Thank you for this - this makes me feel much better about possibly drafting him in the 9-15 range. Our MO has always been run first, and I doubt it changes anytime soon. Re-sign Foreman, and pair Richardson with the big TE from Georgia in the second and we may be starting to build something.