5 undeniable reasons for an LA Rams bounce back season in 2023

Whenever I sit down to a morning coffee and try to cook up some interesting topic to cover for the LA Rams in the lull before training camp, the pickins' are slim. After all, what can I tell you about the Rams that someone won't rip apart as speculation? Isn't anything about the LA Rams in the off-season speculation? I presumed that is understood. After all, if we are not trying to project what did happen, most content involves trying to establish a causal relationship of factors that contributed to what did happen.

Still, here we are, all asking the same questions about this LA Rams team that was a Super Bowl LVI winner two seasons ago, and yet a huge disappointment last season. But what is at the core of our concerns right now?

It all begins with a basic question: "How good are these LA Rams this season?"

And the answer may surprise you.

"What was, will be . . .?" Not for the LA Rams this year

The depth of NFL analysis from most national media surveys basically commits to the fact that 'what was, will be . . . " projections. I'm not knocking it, as the ability to track and remain abreast of all of the intricate moves of all 32 NFL teams to ensure a solid foundation of what may be, despite the uncertainty of any future forecast, is beyond the ability of even the most powerful supercomputers.

And so, it's simply cost-effective for anyone trying to gauge an entire NFL team power ranking simply to overlay all expectations with the most recent season's results, and then manage the exceptions with key free agent or draft rookie acquisitions. Then, if time permits, massage those initial projections with the attrition of veteran players and key coaches.

How does that impact the projections for the LA Rams? An injury riddled 2022 NFL season left the team with a 5-12 record. The Rams lost seveal key free agents. The Rams drafted well, but added no key free agent veterans. Most believe that the Rams will not improve this season. And that's fair, on the surface. But there are more factors

Reason V: Rams are hungry again

Call it the Eye of the Tiger. Call it a competitive edge. The cycle for the LA Rams since hiring Sean McVay as head coach has followed a rather rigid pattern so far. Patterns often display a natural cycle, an entropy that is innate within the organization. What is that pattern?

1. Year 1 - Beat expectations, NFL Playoff appearance (2017, 2020)
2. Year 2 - Great season, Super Bowl-bound (2018, 2021)
3. Year 3 - Letdown, no postseason competition, rebuild (2019, 2022)

Of course, each season is different. But look back to the "What was, will be . . . " chapter. If we can accept the logic of the Rams will struggle this season because the team finished last season at 5-12, then why do we resist the more concrete evidence that the LA Rams will bounce back this season, as the team had done twice before?

How many Super Bowl winners were discounted this much?

This LA Rams team is not at the top of their game. In fact, they are facing a season of being NFL underdogs. The speculation about the Rams team is that this team will be the NFL equivalent of a 98-pound weakling. If you have noticed the comments of Rams players already, they are noticing, and it's adding fuel to the fire.

While the Rams no longer boast the same Super Bowl-winning roster, this is still the same head coach, the same quarterback, the same MVP wide receiver, and the same defensive star who won Super Bowl LVI. That matter.

Reason IV: Rams coaching staff leveled up

After winning Super Bowl LVI, the LA Rams coaching staff was cannabalized by other NFL teams who were eager to graft the Rams winning strategy and culture onto their own coaching staff. That left the Rams in a wide world of hurt, forced to replenish the coaches despite being exhausted from a long season's campaign, and very late to the coaching carousel as they had to await openings in their staff before beginning their own coaching interviews.

I love the new Rams coaching hires. Unlike occasions in the past where it felt like the Rams had preselected coaches who knew Coach McVay's system, this round of hiring felt like the Rams organization was doing more than sticking to a tried and true script.

A new day is dawning

From OC Mike LaFleur, to OL Coach Ryan Wendell, to RB Coach Ron Gould, this iteration of new coaches feels different. For starters, they all have something unique and distinctive agbout them. Whether it is a long track record of success, to a foundation of strategy that does not immediately spring from strategies long embodied by the Rams organization, to simply an unending quest to succeed, this group of coaches shares common goals to excel.

The great thing is that, much like a rope, the Rams are finally blending an entire tapestry of different strategies and philosophies to get there this season. Even as the ultimate decision over which plays to call will remain in the hands of HC Sean McVay on offense and DC Raheem Morris on defense, the Rams will have a much deeper arsenal of weapons and playes to use this year.

Reason III: Rams got deeper at TE and RB

When the LA Rams ended the 2022 NFL season, the teams depth at both tight end and running back seemed to have become razor thin. But this offseason, the Rams front office addressed both positions in multiple efforts, ensuring a much better Rams roster at both positions this season.

In terms of veteran losses, the Rams allowed veteran running back Malcolm Brown's contract to expire. If you dial back the time machine a bit further, the Rams released tight end Kendall Blanton and running back Darrell Henderson Jr. mid-way in the 2022 NFL season. But since then, the Rams have been scooping up talent as quickly as possible.

Reinforcements have arrrived

Let's examine how the Rams are padding their roster at the tight end position. The Rams acquired veteran tight end Hunter Long via a trade with the Miami Dolphins. acquired tight end Davis Allen in the 2023 NFL Draft, and signed tight end Christian Sims as a college free agent after the draft.

It's a similar tale when considering the LA Rams running back room. The LA Rams drafted rookie running back Zach Evans in the 2023 NFL Draft and then signed free agent veteran running back Sony Michel.

While the number of players means very little at this stage of the game, the fact that the Rams invested energy and resources into strengthening both positions does seem to suggest that both positions will have greater roles in the offense in 2023. More tight end contribution means a larger portion of plays will be run with a 12-package. More running back contribution suggests that a larger number of plays will be running plays.

Reason II: Rams offensive line gets healthier, and much better

It's easy to casually scoff at and deride the LA Rams' offensive line play in 2022. But that is misplaced blame. There are two groups in professional football that depend heavily on communication and continuity. One unit is the defensive secondary. Defensive backs must call out who has which responsibility, instantly, as the play is happening in real-time. The other unit is the offensive line, which must communicate in real-time as well, calling out blocking responsibilities.

That communication breaks down when the offensive line never starts the same five guys in consecutive weeks. How bad was it? Just to refresh everyone's memory, it was a critical mass last season:

Of course, many of those veterans that stepped in and stepped up for the team are now gone. But that does not mean that the Rams front office sat idly by and are waiting for the next round of fire drills to patchwork an injury-riddled roster to begin. Rather, the Rams roster has added five new rookies, including sure-fire starter Steve Avila. The only question with Avila is where will the Rams start him?

The Rams injured veterans from a year ago are healthy now, or getting there. But the team has to be extremely confident not to have any questions about durability among the starting five. Even if that requires tapping the second choice on their depth chart. It does the team no good to willing adopt an offensive line that has turnstile written all over it. I think that the Rams are committed to doing exactly that this season.

Reason I: QB Matthew Stafford is healthiest he's ever been for Rams

Why is it so easy to overlook and ignore the fact that very good NFL players, when they recover and are healthy once more, will play great football once more? The fickleness of fans can be surprising sometimes. One year ago, many were lobbying for veteran quarterback to be nominated for the NFL Hall of Fame. Now, many are lobbying for the LA Rams to trade away the player and his overpaying contract.

You cannot make this stuff up.

Just to be clear, when veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford arrived to the LA Rams organization, he had had a number of minor medical procedures to clean up some trouble spots. But upon his arrival, he did not immediate set off to work with receivers. Rather, he was given a seperate track to learn the team's playbook before joining his teammates in general drills.

Let's see what 100 percent healthy Matthew Stafford can do

During the LA Rams 2022 training camp, Stafford had a medical procedure done on his throwing elbow, resulting in a limited range of motion, and varying degrees of pain and discomfort when he threw the football. Finally, as the Rams 2023 training camp nears, Stafford is a full go, finally clear of learning curve handicaps or medical restrictions.

While I'm not here to argue that Stafford is an automatic Hall of Fame quarterback, I do believe that he can near or reach a 5000 passing yards season for the LA Rams this year. He nearly did in 2021, save the fact that he sat out in the fourth quarter of two games.

Do the LA Rams have reason to be optimistic this season? You bet. The LA Rams coaching statf has had a great deal of time to digest, diagnose, and counter the offensive deficiencies from the 2022 NFL season. So there is every reason to expect some greater level of success from the Rams offense in 2023.

Multiply that by the fact that Stafford is in the best shape of his Rams career, and now you've got something. You don't need to believe in miracles to feel optimistic about the Rams' chances this year. You needn't even carry a lucky rabbit's foot or four-leaf clover in your pocket. Just give this team a chance.

I don't know how many wins the Rams will earn this season, but with such a large numbe of negative comments about the team's chances, one thing seems clear. It will be more success than many believe this team is capable of achieving.