More doom and gloom for the Rams in 2023
The Los Angeles Rams head into the 2023 season trying to recover from their Lombardi Trophy hangover from 18 months ago.
Going all-in to win has left them in dire straits. This is a side that continues to grow older with a complete disparity in quality with its young talent, given the long-term sacrifices they made to chase that ring in 2022.
They are sitting in fairly rare territory going into 2023, still holding onto a first-round pick for the next NFL Draft, and rather than trading for star players to go all-in for a Super Bowl run, they’re going in the opposite direction and selling their stars.
But there is a real lack of hope or feeling around this team, and continued uncertainty. Having watched the start of practice in LA this summer, there is an obvious gap between the Rams’ few players with significant NFL experience, and everyone else.
With Kupp once again picking up another injury, Matt Stafford’s future seemingly up in air, Aaron Donald being well into his twilight years, Jalen Ramsay having left to join the Dolphins, and even head coach Sean McVay flirting with retirement… what on earth has happened to the core of this team that won the Super Bowl less than two years ago?!
No X-Factor in LA?
Of course, injuries were largely to blame for last year’s woes. The Rams’ offensive line has returned after being decimated in 2022, and if the key players can stay fit, then the Rams are capable of greatness across the field and should be competitive in the NFC in 2023.
But if they can’t – and it is a big ask given the lack of depth – LA will continue to struggle, particularly with the worst looking offense in the NFL.
At QB, Stafford started just nine games last season, throwing for 2,087 yards, 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Last year’s backup Baker Mayfield is now in Tampa Bay, leaving Brett Rypien and rookie Stetson Bennett behind the 35-year-old Stafford as their only other options.
And without Kupp, the Rams lose their star playmaker. He may have only played nine games in 2022, but the 2021 Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP was still one of the best receivers in the league, putting up 75 catches for 812 yards and six touchdowns. Behind him, with only the likes of Van Jefferson, Ben Skowronek and Tutu Atwell to fill in, this team is starting to look like one that may struggle on paper.
It was bleak for the Rams last year, it looks as bleak for them going into this one. With the San Francisco 49ers, and now seemingly the Seattle Seahawks, at a level above, it’s time for a complete reboot in LA, before they get completely left behind.
