The Los Angeles Rams get high marks thus far for the 2018 offseason

After years of being a doormat, the Los Angeles Rams took an aggressive approach to the 2018 NFL offseason. Thus far, you’d have to admit it’s only been a success.

The new NFL league season got underway just two days ago, March 14 to be exact. But given the hyper nature of the Los Angeles Rams this offseason, you’d think they would have been grinding away since the day after they lost to Atlanta in the playoffs.

If idle hands are the devil’s workplace, that work place doesn’t house the Rams brain-trust, as they navigate a makeover of a team who went 11-5 and made the postseason in 2017. But that’s what great teams do, and LA is positioning itself to be a “great team.”

Looking back over the last few weeks, it’s hard not to come away with a sense of something big happening with the Rams. They are willing to roll the dice on character players like Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib and re-evaluate someone like Tavon Austin, all while letting a “could be awesome” guy like Sammy Watkins walk.

Let’s be honest, Sean McVay gets it, and the puppet master that is Wade Phillips knows what he needs on defense.

LA has gotten right thus far on both sides of the football. They had a plan that got away from the hyperbole of the NFL talking heads, and assessed how they win, and win now.

They saw an open window, and recognized that you can simultaneously build for the future at the core of your franchise (Jared Goff, Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley), and add for a season or two with a guy like Talib or Austin.

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They also knew enough not to drink the Kool-Aid on a one trick pony like Watkins. That alone may be the best move they make before the NFL Draft.

Los Angeles is setting a torrid pace in the NFC West.

It’s one that the rest of the NFL has taken notice of.