The Rams finished 9-7 in 2019 but that was only good for third in the NFC West. Can Jared Goff help close the gap for his team in 2020?
Quite a few NFL teams would have loved to finish last season with a record of 9-7 but it was a massive disappointment for the Los Angeles Rams. Some significant defections in free agency could make it really difficult for L.A. to make any progress in 2020.
Sean McVay’s defense was hit particularly hard in the offseason. Dante Fowler, Jr. may not be the most consistent edge rusher in the league, but he was the best pass rusher the Rams employed last season. Losing Clay Matthews is also going to cause Los Angeles some issues when it comes to getting to the opposing quarterback.
Corey Littleton may have been overpaid by the Raiders, but the Rams will still miss his athleticism at the linebacker position. Overall, it’s hard to say the team’s front seven won’t begin this season with a much weaker talent base than it did a season ago.
Offensively, there is more continuity to work with. Todd Gurley is gone, but he wasn’t effective last year. Losing Brandin Cooks on the outside will hurt, but McVay and his offensive coaching staff have proven their ability to turn average wide receivers into highly productive players.
If the Rams want to make noise in 2020, they’ll need a lot of things to go right. Keep a close eye on the following bold predictions as indicators of where Los Angeles is headed.
5. Terrell Lewis will get eight sacks
The Rams drafted Lewis to be a direct replacement for Matthews as their primary pass rusher from the linebacker position. Matthews got eight sacks last season despite his advanced age, and the bet here is that Lewis will equal his production in his rookie season. There’s no questioning Lewis’ athleticism, it’s just a matter of whether or not he can stay healthy for a full season.