LA Rams now has Matthew Stafford to harness on offense for 2021

Did the LA Rams rescue the career of veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford from being squandered on the Detroit Lions offense, or is it more likely that veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford has rescued the Super Bowl aspirations of the LA Rams organization? Does it matter?

The LA Rams certainly believe it’s the latter, which is why the organization was willing to package former young starting quarterback Jared Goff, a 2021 NFL Draft third-round pick, a 2022 NFL Draft first-round pick, and a 2023 NFL Draft first-round pick. Keep in mind that despite the disdain, former Rams quarterback Jared Goff was 42-20 under head coach Sean McVay, and is 3-3 in the playoffs.

Up to this point on the Rams offense, it’s been a monologue.  What head coach Sean McVay said, the LA Rams offense did. McVay needs to be pushed, and that was not the role that young quarterback Jared Goff was comfortable with. There is no way that veteran Matthew Stafford will fall into that trap of being silent about the offense.

Loaded, but shallow

And so, the LA Rams have loaded up at the key skill positions and cut some big checks to players. That description applies to both the offense and defense. As the discussion below lays out, the Rams have loaded at the top and backfilled the roster with young developing talent.

Can the LA Rams compete in Super Bowl LVI? Well, this is a long season and the team will need some measure of good luck regarding avoiding injuries to key players. But they have added an innovator to the offense now. The Rams are one of the best offensively scripted teams in the NFL.

But it’s not just the offense on paper now. Even as the pocket breaks down, this will be a newly confident offense. Even as the offensive brain trust maps out and plans for practically any and every contingency, this offense finally has the ability to innovate, to make it up as they go along. That has been one of the key missing ingredients to the Rams when they have the ball.  Innovation was the missing spice to the offensive entrees from 2020.

The LA Rams have all of the right pieces on offense. With Stafford, DeSean Jackson, and the returning players from 2020, the Rams offense can be as successful in 2021 as the Rams defense was in 2020. Will any of the Rams rookies or 2020 redshirted rookies contribute this year? I think that is certainly possible, particularly if Stafford takes a liking to a lesser-used player.

The Rams have a unique and short-lived chance to enjoy tremendous success this year. Can the team hold it together this year? Will they remain healthy? Matthew Stafford, offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell, and Sean McVay are collaborating over the LA Rams offense now. What will that mean for the 2021 season?

Stay tuned. This outta be good.