LA Rams News: Head coach Sean McVay likely rebounds in 2020

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One more McVay 2020 hotspot

The final hotspot for the Rams 2020 season is obviously integrating the new faces into productive roles. That job is pretty simple on the offensive side of the ball, as the LA Rams did not add any free agents to the offense. Instead, the team re-signed a number of players on the offense, primarily on the offensive line. Still, the Rams parted ways with wide receiver Brandin Cooks and running back Todd Gurley, both of whom contributed significantly to the Rams 2018 Super Bowl run. Now the team must plan to welcome aboard rookies to fill their vacancies.

Hotspot III-integrating rookies into the offense

The LA Rams coaching staff directed their 2020 NFL Draft to focus upon running back and wide receiver. In the second round, the Rams added both. Their first selection was that of running back Cam Akers, while the second selection was that of wide receiver Van Jefferson. Both are more than just “talented players” or “draft darlings” which so many pundits get overwhelmingly excited about before they ever land on an NFL team. An NFL rookie’s success in the NFL is far more than raw talent. That is why the Rams selections are so important. Both players have skillsets ideally suited for the roles they’ll face with their new team and will be greeted by great coaching and opportunity.

The projected contribution of Cam Akers in the LA Rams offense is likely to be underestimated by many. Some estimate his impact on the Rams offense at between 600-700 yards rushing. While that may be good in some circles, In a reverse engineering exercise, we projected Akers to end the 2020 NFL season at just over 1000 yards rushing. In a similar fashion, we analyzed the fit of Van Jefferson and the success of previous receivers with a similar skillset and performance leading up to the draft. Our research indicates that Van Jefferson also holds 1000 yard potential in this Rams offense.

Next. LA Rams: How each quarterback fits into the evolving offense. dark

Yes, the Rams have plenty to work on for 2020. But they ranked seventh in yardage and 11th in points scored for 2019. Perhaps it’s a bit premature to rule these LA Rams out of the running just yet. The NFL has head coach Sean McVay’s attention like never before. Does McVay and the LA Rams have that same attention of the NFL?

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