LA Rams making this season tougher than it ought to be

The LA Rams enter another week and have another set of decisions facing the coaching staff over who to start on the offensive line, who will carry the football, and who will be targeted in the passing game.  But the greatest challenge facing the team right now is not the team’s coaching staff being unable to diagnose the problems of this struggling offense. Rather, the problem seems to be finding the required intestinal fortitude to actually do something about it.

Now, I’m not proposing swapping parts on the seriously underperforming LA Rams offensive line or any part of the team for that matter. But if the LA Rams have gotten seriously underperforming play from backups on the offensive line, then what is left to debate?  If you have a flat tire, that is no time to debate which tires to purchase to replace it. You change that flat tire with whomever you have on the roster now, and then strategize a longer-term solution in the future.

Right now, that is not happening for the LA Rams.

Let’s be clear. Not every player or acquisition is the same. For younger players, you do not want to throw them into the fray until they have proven themselves beyond the shadow of a doubt to have grasped everything necessary to succeed in a starting or rotational role.

Whatcha’ doin’ about it?

But that is not what is taking place for the LA Rams.  Instead, the personnel department has made several inspired signings of NFL veteran free agents. The problem is that the Rams coaching staff will not afford them a chance to play. Because veterans have been there and done that, when it comes to starting in an NFL game, their performance is typically far more consistent and dependable in live games.

The question as to whether veterans like RB Malcolm Brown, OL Oday Aboushi, and OL Matt Skura deserve a shot to play on this LA Rams offense has already been answered at the moment that the team signed each of them to the active 53-man roster.

Historically, LA Rams GM Les Snead and HC Sean McVay have appeared to be on the same page. But for whatever reason, the new Rams additions on offense are getting the cold shoulder. Even players who are in the starting lineup are not getting targeted or getting opportunities.

Is there something more sinister at work? Or is it simply that the offensive struggles will eventually sort themselves out? That’s more than I can say right now. All we know is that the LA Rams’ offensive woes continue, and there does not seem to be an end in sight.