LA Rams veteran QB Matthew Stafford knows WR chemistry is key

Chemistry with remaining receivers

The limit to Stafford with the remainder of the Rams receiver is sheer opportunity. The Rams have a number of receivers who could put up meaningful numbers in 2021, but that will hinge almost entirely on whether or not they make the 53-man roster, get onto the football field, are targetted in their routes, and then wash, rinse, and repeat for the next week.

The roster makeup of the LA Rams for 2020 was a bit vanilla. The receivers were all cut from the same creates-separation-crisp-route-running cloth. While that allowed the Rams to run plays seamlessly no matter which receiver was on the football field, it most definitely simplified the defensive coverages.

The 2021 Rams roster is anything but vanilla. The Rams have a surplus of blockers, deep-threats, route runners, athleticism, and feature receivers. Who the Rams eventually assign to their 53-man roster will depend on who develops the fastest and most effective chemistry with the starting quarterback.

While it’s still a race against the clock, there is much more time available this season than the 2020 crash course training camp. That will allow the Rams to feature the less obvious players in preseason games to determine which players from that group have mastered the playbook well enough to have good games against NFL-level competition.

Nothing can be taken for granted this year. Stafford and the receiving group know very little about one another right now, and that will remain the case until they can slowly acclimate and familiarize themselves with one another. By the opening kickoff, Stafford should be in good standing with his primary receivers. But mid-season, Stafford will likely have a good working knowledge about all of his receivers.  That is the chemistry we are talking about.