LA Rams punch list after first four games of 2020 NFL season

Disappointments

The LA Rams have plenty of work to do this year. If you were under the impression that any aspect of the team would suit up and be a finished product from the first game of the season, you may need to sit down to hear this.  This season had no preseason, not OTAs, and a crash course training camp. Based on that alone, 32 NFL teams entered the season with multiple weaknesses.

They include blocking, tackling, penalties, and a host of other football fundamentals that have been sporadic this season. While the Rams have been consistently good on penalties, they have struggled with tackling. Not just the act of wrapping up the ball carrier, but in pursuit angles and getting multiple defenders involved.

For that matter, the referees have not been doing a good job this year, at all.

Not-so-special special teams

The LA Rams special teams are not very special this year. The Rams are ranked 31st after three games by Football Outsiders.com and are ranked 27th in the NFL by Lineups. com. While the Rams punting unit remains outstanding thanks to the booming foot of Johnny Hekker, the team is struggling with field goals and coverage units. I don’t know anyone who is happy with WR Cooper Kupp returning punts. And so far Sam Sloman is kicking at 71 percent accuracy, with no field goals made over 40+ yards. Tsk tsk.

Perhaps the greatest disappointment so far to the LA Rams fans is the status of both NT A’Shawn Robinson and OLB Terrell Lewis. Both players arrived with the optimism of fitting a specific need on the team. And then, they were both placed on Injured Reserve. The Rams defense has done well with the new defensive scheme, but there are parts where this defense still struggles.  It’s been disappointing not to witness either player contributing yet.