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Scoring more points is Rams' top priority, but easier said than done
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...s-rams-top-priority-but-easier-said-than-done
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Their inaction so far this offseason might indicate that the Los Angeles Rams aren't aware of their offensive shortcomings. But make no mistake, nobody knows better than the Rams what their priority has to be, now that the first couple waves of free agency have washed ashore and brought not a single addition to the league's least productive offense.
"We need to get better at scoring points," general manager Les Snead said. "On defense, let’s try to hold par where we’re at right now. We’re pretty good at keeping teams from scoring points. We’ve got to get better at scoring points, so however that is, and that can come in a lot of shapes and sizes and a lot of different positions. From this point forward, whether it’s in free agency or the draft, you have to look at the board and look at positions that may help you score more points."
Scoring more points would certainly be a step in the right direction after the Rams finished 31st in offensive points scored (15.6) in 2015. The biggest reason for the lack of production? A passing game that finished last in the NFL in nearly every major category.
GM Les Snead said the Rams are pretty good at keeping teams from scoring, but they've got to get better at scoring themselves.
Of course, the biggest reason the Rams haven't made any additions to their offense (and only two at any position) is they simply haven't seen a value that would match their need. In house, they re-signed center Tim Barnes, tight end Cory Harkey and wide receiver Brian Quick and gave a first-round qualifying tender offer to quarterback Case Keenum, but those moves haven't helped bolster a passing game that needs major pieces at quarterback and receiver and could use a pass-catching tight end.
The Rams don't see any available free-agent quarterbacks who would be obvious upgrades to Keenum, and although they kicked the tires on tight end Zach Miller, he re-signed with Chicago. At receiver, the Rams visited with Rueben Randle but don't view that as a likely match.
As Snead pointed out, the Rams could use upgrades for their offense but also aren't in position to overpay for a player who might make them only marginally better. He used the receiver market, where mid-level wideouts such as Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones landed big paydays, despite never posting more than the 816 receiving yards Jones had in 2015, to illustrate the point.
"Let’s just take receiver as an example. You didn’t want to, let’s say, take a very good (No.) 2 (wideout), maybe even a really good No. 3, pay him like a 1.5, and at that point, there’s probably higher expectations on that player. He can’t meet them. It’s kind of unfair to everybody, in terms of guys you didn’t pay in your own locker room," Snead said. "So it’s a puzzle, and sometimes your top needs aren’t available in free agency. I think you are seeing that more in the NFL because people like to re-sign their better players or franchise them and things like that. It’s tough to do it all through free agency, so you have got to be very, very prudent in how you approach it."
Although there are still players the Rams could look at in the free-agent market, the reality is nobody they could land would qualify as the type of difference-maker they need. That means they will have to turn their attention to the draft, which doesn't look loaded with talent at the spots the Rams need. Given the proliferation of spread offenses and changing requirements for quarterbacks and wideouts in the college game, drafting those positions can be more of a guessing game than ever.
"A lot of times, I think with QBs and wide receivers, it’s probably not as easy to evaluate and say, 'This guy has got a chance to be a difference-maker in our league,'" Snead said. "The hardest thing in our league nowadays is figuring out when he can actually become that because of the offenses and the spreads. Quarterbacks and wide receivers in college football have a lot to learn, to retrain the central nervous system getting up here, so that’s a harder position to say, 'Day one, that guy comes in and helps,' but if you think that guy is going to be that player day two or three or four, you better jump on him and try to get him there as quick as possible."
The other piece of the equation is hoping the many changes the Rams have made to their offensive staff can make a significant difference in getting more from the players already on the roster. Rob Boras has taken over as offensive coordinator and added passing game coordinator/receivers coach Mike Groh in hopes of jump-starting the offense.
"We’ve got a new offense," Snead said. "We’ve got a new offensive staff. Those guys have been grinding. You can tell they’ve bonded. So between the rest of free agency, the draft, those guys installing, putting in their philosophy in OTAs, is the goal of scoring more points on offense."
No matter how it happens, the Rams have no choice but to make it work if they're going to take a step forward in 2016.
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra...s-rams-top-priority-but-easier-said-than-done
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Their inaction so far this offseason might indicate that the Los Angeles Rams aren't aware of their offensive shortcomings. But make no mistake, nobody knows better than the Rams what their priority has to be, now that the first couple waves of free agency have washed ashore and brought not a single addition to the league's least productive offense.
"We need to get better at scoring points," general manager Les Snead said. "On defense, let’s try to hold par where we’re at right now. We’re pretty good at keeping teams from scoring points. We’ve got to get better at scoring points, so however that is, and that can come in a lot of shapes and sizes and a lot of different positions. From this point forward, whether it’s in free agency or the draft, you have to look at the board and look at positions that may help you score more points."
Scoring more points would certainly be a step in the right direction after the Rams finished 31st in offensive points scored (15.6) in 2015. The biggest reason for the lack of production? A passing game that finished last in the NFL in nearly every major category.
GM Les Snead said the Rams are pretty good at keeping teams from scoring, but they've got to get better at scoring themselves.
Of course, the biggest reason the Rams haven't made any additions to their offense (and only two at any position) is they simply haven't seen a value that would match their need. In house, they re-signed center Tim Barnes, tight end Cory Harkey and wide receiver Brian Quick and gave a first-round qualifying tender offer to quarterback Case Keenum, but those moves haven't helped bolster a passing game that needs major pieces at quarterback and receiver and could use a pass-catching tight end.
The Rams don't see any available free-agent quarterbacks who would be obvious upgrades to Keenum, and although they kicked the tires on tight end Zach Miller, he re-signed with Chicago. At receiver, the Rams visited with Rueben Randle but don't view that as a likely match.
As Snead pointed out, the Rams could use upgrades for their offense but also aren't in position to overpay for a player who might make them only marginally better. He used the receiver market, where mid-level wideouts such as Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones landed big paydays, despite never posting more than the 816 receiving yards Jones had in 2015, to illustrate the point.
"Let’s just take receiver as an example. You didn’t want to, let’s say, take a very good (No.) 2 (wideout), maybe even a really good No. 3, pay him like a 1.5, and at that point, there’s probably higher expectations on that player. He can’t meet them. It’s kind of unfair to everybody, in terms of guys you didn’t pay in your own locker room," Snead said. "So it’s a puzzle, and sometimes your top needs aren’t available in free agency. I think you are seeing that more in the NFL because people like to re-sign their better players or franchise them and things like that. It’s tough to do it all through free agency, so you have got to be very, very prudent in how you approach it."
Although there are still players the Rams could look at in the free-agent market, the reality is nobody they could land would qualify as the type of difference-maker they need. That means they will have to turn their attention to the draft, which doesn't look loaded with talent at the spots the Rams need. Given the proliferation of spread offenses and changing requirements for quarterbacks and wideouts in the college game, drafting those positions can be more of a guessing game than ever.
"A lot of times, I think with QBs and wide receivers, it’s probably not as easy to evaluate and say, 'This guy has got a chance to be a difference-maker in our league,'" Snead said. "The hardest thing in our league nowadays is figuring out when he can actually become that because of the offenses and the spreads. Quarterbacks and wide receivers in college football have a lot to learn, to retrain the central nervous system getting up here, so that’s a harder position to say, 'Day one, that guy comes in and helps,' but if you think that guy is going to be that player day two or three or four, you better jump on him and try to get him there as quick as possible."
The other piece of the equation is hoping the many changes the Rams have made to their offensive staff can make a significant difference in getting more from the players already on the roster. Rob Boras has taken over as offensive coordinator and added passing game coordinator/receivers coach Mike Groh in hopes of jump-starting the offense.
"We’ve got a new offense," Snead said. "We’ve got a new offensive staff. Those guys have been grinding. You can tell they’ve bonded. So between the rest of free agency, the draft, those guys installing, putting in their philosophy in OTAs, is the goal of scoring more points on offense."
No matter how it happens, the Rams have no choice but to make it work if they're going to take a step forward in 2016.
