LA Rams whiffed with no offense boost at the NFL trade deadline

The LA Rams whiffed on boosting the team’s ability to score on offense at the NFL trade deadline

The LA Rams have headlined the NFL news in the past two seasons at the trade deadline. On both occasions, the Rams identified a crucial need for the team’s defense and made a move to fill that need. In 2018, the Rams acquired unhappy Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr.  He immediately became an impact on the LA Rams defense.

In 2019, the LA Rams emerged from that NFL trade deadline with a blockbuster deal, sending two first-round picks to the Jacksonville Jaguars for cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Once more, the LA Rams needed help on the defensive side of the ball, identified a player, and dealt for him.  Once more, the Rams saw the opportunity to boost their defense at the NFL trade deadline and took it.

Offense eroding

But the Rams had an opportunity to boost their offense in 2020 and didn’t.  The team’s ability to score points is sorely lacking.  The Rams are 21st of 32 NFL teams at putting points on the board. In 2017, they were tops at scoring. In 2018, there were second best at it. In 2019, the LA Rams had fallen to 11th at putting up points. But the team played behind the 31st-ranked offensive line and the 28th-ranked running game.

In 2020, the Rams have a solid running game and a fairly dependable offensive line. So what can be done?  Well, there’s the rub.  If it were a defensive shortfall, it’s easier to look at the stats and see what the team is missing. But where is the team missing on touchdowns? Well, to be fair, the team is faring no worse than in 2019.  The story in 2020 is that so many teams are scoring more points, and the Rams offense is not.