When can the LA Rams be real contenders again?

There is a mixed opinion of how well the LA Rams will perform in the 2023 season and even the current state of this team. If you are an optimist, then you probably see this team finishing with a record of 10-7 and making the playoffs. If you are a pessimist, then you see this team winning probably four to five games at best. Realists view this team somewhere between the extremes.

Many major NFL analysts, other sports fans, and I tend to lean on the side of the realists this season and there are several reasons why.

1. First of all, the Rams are already without starting wide receiver Cooper Kupp for at least the first four games of the season due to his placement on IR.
2. Second of all, other than Rams starting right tackle Rob Havenstein, the offensive line looks like it will be more of the same from last season.
3. Thirdly, veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford is another year older, and his health comes into question.

Rams must answer many questions this year

We know that Stafford is one of the toughest NFL quarterbacks in the league. But the question is, will he be able to survive another onslaught of pressure if the offensive line is a repeat of last season?

And speaking of last year's nightmares, will the Rams' pass coverage scheme revert back to what we expect from LA Rams Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris…soft zone coverage?

The question fans ask themselves is, can the youth and inexperience on the defensive side of the ball be able to stop opposing teams from scoring? From what we witnessed in Week 1, signs are indeed very promising.

But based on what we saw from this team in the preseason, things do not look promising. Even with the return of WR Cooper Kupp in Week 5, the Rams must play six of the top thirteen projected defenses with four of them being in the top 10. While it is safe to say that the Rams will likely have another terrible season, there are moves that LA Rams General Manager Les Snead can make, starting now, to set the team up to be contenders again in just two short years.