Week 8 gives more evidence why Rams should stock up on young quarterbacks

The LA Rams may or may not be a wellspring of offensive information. But whether or not it's true, you cannot convince other NFL teams of that fact. It's almost an annual pilgrimage from disappointing NFL teams to come to the LA Rams can cannibalize the Rams' offensive coaching staff to use as the seed to build their coaching staff.

You see, in the NFL coaching circles, LA Rams head coach Sean McVay has a reputation as being a bit visionary. Whereas other NFL minds can envision an entire array of what to do with running backs, McVay's mind works to pattern and decypher NFL secondaries in ways that clear areas with one receiver for another receiver to exploit.

The result in a rather quarterback friendly offense (once the QB learns the plays and the strategy), and has been exported via the migrations of Rams offensive coaches to the Seattle Seahawks, the Green Bay Packers, and the Minnesota Vikings, to name a few.

Rams can leverage their offensive strategy

While the LA Rams have never leveraged their offensive strategy in any other way, it's quite clear that they should. After a besieged veteran quarterback, Baker Mayfield, signed on with the LA Rams, he was rejuvenated to the type of quarterback who can make throws and handle the pressure of starting under center in the NFL. He is now the starting quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and has been having one of the best seasons of his NFL career.

Even former backup quarterback John Wolford, a long time QB2 in the LA Rams offense, is suddenly very popular after injuries to starting quarterbacks. And so, even John Wolford, who has never been much of a threat under center, has now been signed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 53-man active roster:

So why shouldn't the LA Rams organization leverage that unmet demand? With the experiences in one weekend, the NFL is suddenly riddled with quarterback injuries and question marks. Had the LA Rams loaded up on quarterbacks in the 2023 NFL Draft, say two or more rookies, the Rams may not be shopping for quarterback help right now:

I would rather the Rams be a team with a surplus of quarterbacks, than a team with a shortage of quarterbacks.

Rams love to short sheet themselves

The LA Rams knew that starting both Brian Allen and Joe Noteboom last season would be asking for trouble, as both players are extraordinarily prone to injuries. Lo and behold, by Week 4, the Rams were shopping free agency and the NFL waiver wire for veteran offensive linemen. Too little, too late.

The same pattern of predictable shortage occurred this season when the Rams started veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford, but never had the benefit of rookie Stetson Bennett on the roster to back him up. The result was a mere eight games passing before Stafford's health lists him as unlikely to play in Week 9, and the Rams roster standing with only one quarterback in the entire organization to back him up.

The Rams need to do better. A team cannot load up on three tight ends on the active roster, one tight end transition to the active roster, and two tight ends on the team's practice squad, with only one healthy quarterback on any roster to throw to them. Likewise, the Rams have three running backs on the active roster, two running backs on IR, and one running back on the practice squad. But who will hand them the football?

The LA Rams tried and failed to sign former QB John Wolford. Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned here. Sometimes when the Rams need a specific position from the NFL free agency market, one is not readily available. Just like offensive coaches, the Rams front office would be wise to treat quarterbacks like strategic assets, rather than a salary cap sink.

Young arms need a time and training to become valuable in the NFL. Quarterbacks who graduate from the Sean McVay school of NFL offenses will find themselves going to the head of the class.