Rams PFF notes: Offense remains bad in McVay’s potential final game

This Los Angeles Coaches accomplished the 18th week. 19-16 loss to Seattle SeahawksFormally closes the 2022 season with a file of 5-12. The 2022 season didn’t go as deliberate for Sean McVay and his offense, largely attributable to scrimmage accidents earlier within the season. These accidents then moved to different attacking positions, leaving the Rams weak all through the board. However LA stored combating and acquired a glimpse of their former self. Who’re the items to construct after this lengthy and harmful yr?

To get an concept of ​​the efficiency and path of the squad, Professional Soccer Focus (PFF) rated all of the gamers within the Week 18 competitors. I’ll give a weekly evaluation/ranking utilizing the PFF grades and the attention take a look at of watching the match.

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Weekly Be aware: Be aware for the corresponding week

Season Rank: Grade for place all through the season

Development: The path of the situation group from final week to this week

*Denotes a Prime 3 participant within the place*

QBs

Baker Mayfield: 50.6 (-2.3), John Wolford: 40.0 (DNP), Bryce Perkins: 60.0 (DNP), Matthew Stafford: 67.0 (IR)

The Rams quarterbacks in 2022 scored 16 targets and 15 interceptions. Final yr, these numbers had been 41 targets and 18 interceptions.

The Rams experiment with Baker Mayfield kicked off with an enormous bang with Thursday Night time’s Las Vegas win, however resulted in a fiasco with zero targets within the final two video games. For a man attempting to show to the remainder of the NFL that he is assured to begin a quarterback job, he could not have completed sufficient. He stands out as the most fitted particular person to return to Los Angeles with a minimal deal to extend his worth. It would depend upon whether or not LA can create sufficient pay gaps to signal him.

In Baker’s protection, he needed to attempt to study and navigate a brand new system inside a month. Furthermore, he was dealt the hand of a reserve offensive line that blocked him. His standing will come right down to what number of groups want to begin quarterback in 2023.

Week 18 Class: F, Season Ranking: D, Circulate: Center Down

RBs

Glass Akers: 80.7 (+0.7), Girne Williams: 67.2 (+0.0), Malcolm Brown: 62.5 (+0.0), Ronnie Rivers: 64.6 (DNP)

If the Rams season had a optimistic ending, it was Cam Akers’ efficiency and rise. Akers rushed for 104 yards 21 instances in Sunday’s ultimate. The third 100-yard recreation in a row was the primary since Todd Gurley in 2015! Even the 2017 OPOY Todd Gurley failed to attain this feat. Regardless of beginning solely 9 video games for the Rams, Akers completed with 786 quick yards and 7 targets (each profession highs).

At simply 23, Akers may very well be the spark to rekindle the Rams offensive in 2023. Whereas Akers shall be coming into the ultimate yr of his rookie deal, he’ll really be a restricted free agent, which can create extra alternatives to maintain him financially. attainable. RFA standing would permit it to be held for one more two years at an affordable value and develop into UFA in 2026.

Week 18 Class: A-, Season Ranking: B+, Circulate: Slight Up

WRs

Van Jefferson: 68.4 (+1.8), Tutu Atwell: 70.9 (-0.9), Brandon Powell: 65.8 (-2.2), Lance McCutcheon: 47.8 (DNP), Austin Trammell: 63.5 (-1.1), Cooper Kupp: 86.3 (IR), Allen RobinsonII: 65.8 (IR), Bennet Skowronek: 57.2 (IR), Jacob Harris: 73.7 (IR)

So far as quarterbacks are involved, the Rams will attempt to decide later this season whether or not Van Jefferson could make the leap to develop into the No. Jefferson managed to attain simply 93 receptions, 1,391 yards and 10 touchdowns in three years. His rookie yr was a studying curve, and the third yr was initially slowed down attributable to two knee surgical procedures. If the Rams do not imagine it is across the nook, then they’ll discover exterior choices. And sure, an Odell Beckham Jr reunion would possibly nonetheless be on the desk. As a participant coming into his contract yr, it should not be laborious to search out motivation and coaching low season.

Tutu Atwell completed the season with 18 receptions and 298 yards, which is a good distance from the place followers have hoped the 2021 second spherical has ever been. Nonetheless, Sean McVay is on the file for admitting to abusing Atwell. Because the 2022 season attracts to a detailed, other than Cam Akers, there was no participant as harmful as Atwell with soccer in hand. With current misses within the second and third rounds of the auditions within the final 4 or 5 years, the Rams must spend money on Atwell or it is going to be a alternative they’ll remorse fiercely.

I stay up for analyzing how LA is actually It might embrace Atwell in 2023 (not only a half-hearted phrase from Liam Coen) with Matthew Stafford. The quick receiver averaged 16.6 yards/purchase, which might have been climbed with the presence of Stafford, not a quarterback carousel.

Week 18 Class: C, Season Ranking: C+, Circulate: Pure

TEs

Tyler Higbee: 62.7 (+0.4), Brycen Hopkins: 63.6 (-2.0)

With regards to adversity, Los Angeles should resolve within the ultimate yr of the deal whether or not it needs to maintain Higbee and use 12 extra employees, or minimize the bait to stick with the usual 11 employees and release payroll.

Higbee completed the yr with a career-best 72 receptions and 620 yards (the second-highest general complete within the profession). However the issue with the Higbee is the missed alternatives, falls, and annoying accidents. Regardless of not struggling any main accidents, Higbee is continually blocked attributable to elbow, knee, neck/again points. Lastly, escape blocking potential is common at greatest.

I do not help the concept of ​​slicing Tyler Higbee utterly, however I believe a trade-off is feasible.

Brycen Hopkins is an enormous a part of the equation. If it could take a step ahead to be off to a strong begin, maybe by stepping away from Rams Higbee it’s going to save at most $6.25 million (post-release/commerce June 1).

Week 18 Class: C-, Season Ranking: D+, Circulate: Pure

DIE

Ty Nsekhe: 70.6 (-0.3), Matt Skura: 48.3 (-2.1), Coleman Shelton: 58.0 (+2.7), Chandler Brewer: 55.6 (+0.0), Oday Abushi: 65.2 (DNP), Rob Havenstein: 73.2 (+0.0), AJ Arcuri: 48.6 (+0.9), Robert Thomas: 60.0 (DNP), Jeremiah Colon: 36.1 (PS), Joe’s Pocket book: 67.0 (IR), Tremayne Anchrum: 60.0 (IR), Alaric Jackson: 64.1 (IR), David Edwards: 58.2 (IR), Brian Allen: 63.8 (IR)

Rams offensive troubles began with the offensive line and ended with the offensive line. Towards Buffalo in Week 1, the beginning OL delivered seven sacks to the Payments. At Week 18, Mayfield was working for his life. sea ​​hawks seventeen.

Sean McVay has watched quarterbacks get fired 59 instances this yr, the third highest within the league. The Rams retained the free brokers (Noteboom, Allen and Shelton) however watched as all three had been injured. Moreover, depth items – Anchrum, Brewer, Jackson and Bruss landed on injured reserves within the first half of the season.

After going by means of the modifications, the Rams discovered regular working play within the ultimate month of the season, however athleisure surviving on cross safety prevented the Rams from profitable greater than 5 video games.

Havenstein has confirmed to be one of the best lineman for the Rams all yr, however even his 73.2 season ranking solely locations him twenty seventh out of 81 eligible strains.

An emphasis on elevating the within line ought to be one of many Rams’ high three strikes this spring. In any other case, 2023 might look loads like 2022. Among the many choices within the draft may very well be John Michael Schmitz or Andrew Vorhees.

Week 18 Class: F, Season Ranking: D-, Circulate: Center Down

HC (Sean McVay)

Sean McVay has been by means of loads this yr. She needed to navigate low season conversations about her and Aaron Donald’s retirement. Veronika and Sean acquired married. Shortly after, the duo needed to endure the occasions of Ukraine. In the course of the 2022 season, Sean’s grandfather handed away. The soccer facet of it was a curler coaster in itself. Accidents. Drama by Cam Aker. Extra accidents.

Coach McVay protected the crew from blowing up on his personal, however for the primary time in six years he did not have a profitable season.

Sean had no private faults of his personal, both. He and Cam Akers weren’t on the identical wavelength as we began the yr. He abused Tutu Atwell. He relied an excessive amount of on the again cross. And he was predictable in his plans and devoid of innovation.

Now, all eyes shall be on McVay’s subsequent transfer: step away from teaching or spend one other yr in Los Angeles. Both manner, the results shall be important.

Week 18 Class: D, Season Ranking: C-, Circulate: Center Down

For an outline of the Los Angeles Rams roster, keep tuned within the subsequent 24 hours for Week 18 defensive PFF notes!