Examining Rams’ super collapse after season-closing overtime loss to Seattle

Because the defending Tremendous Bowl champion Rams sank deeper and deeper into irrelevancy throughout their misplaced season, one factor remained fixed.

Every week, as losses and accidents mounted, coach Sean McVay performed a videoconference with reporters from his workplace, a message plastered on the wall above his head:

URGENT ENJOYMENT

Little, if something, was pleasant for McVay, who wore a pained or anxious expression all through a disappointing season that ended Sunday with a 19-16 extra time defeat to the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Area.

“This 12 months has been, for my part from simply what I can management, skilled failure,” McVay stated final week, clarifying just a few days later, “That doesn’t imply that I really feel like a failure. It implies that we haven’t lived as much as the expectations.”

How did a workforce that frolicked in celebratory confetti final February nosedive to a 5-12 file, the worst season-after efficiency by a Tremendous Bowl champion in historical past? How did a company that proclaimed its intention to “Run it Again” after profitable the title at SoFi Stadium stumble as an alternative to a season of break?

McVay is wont to say, “there’s a whole lot of layers.” And that definitely was the case for the 2022 Rams.

Here’s a take a look at why it went so flawed:

Rams gained Tremendous Bowl LVI

That’s the purpose, proper?

The Rams went all-in throughout their boom-or-bust 2021 season. The outcome was increase occasions for a franchise that reached the NFL zenith six seasons after leaving St. Louis to return to Los Angeles.

However profitable a Tremendous Bowl comes with prices not simply quantifiable.

Contemplate that no workforce has repeated as champion for the reason that 2004 New England Patriots.

Within the 2021 season, the Rams performed 21 video games. The season didn’t finish till their Feb. 13 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The lengthy haul made for a brief offseason. It affected the remainder and restoration of all gamers, and the rehabilitation time for a lot of, particularly those that had surgical procedure.

“I had surgical procedure proper after we celebrated,” stated edge rusher Leonard Floyd, who had an ankle process. “So, not likely an excessive amount of time in any respect.”

The Rams additionally skilled enormous turnover on the teaching employees. Seven assistants parlayed the workforce’s success into jobs elsewhere. The brief turnaround affected the pool of obtainable candidates to exchange them, and the time new coaches needed to acclimate with the employees and gamers.

“You aren’t in a position to develop the foundational components of the way you need to function on each side, nor present in all probability the readability of precisely what is required for those who perhaps haven’t been right here,” McVay stated. “That’s nobody’s duty however my very own.”

All of that issues for a workforce attempting to win a Tremendous Bowl, not to mention two in a row.

McVay was overwrought

Nobody can query McVay’s maniacal dedication to competitors and to profitable.

Although gifted with a close to photographic reminiscence, he’s not a robotic with a spike in his hair. He’s a human being simply greater than two weeks from turning 37.

McVay wanted a break after the Tremendous Bowl — and although he tried, it didn’t seem he actually received one.

His fatigue was evident the morning after, when Instances columnist Dylan Hernandez requested the sleepless coach if he would return this season.

“We’ll see,” McVay stated.

Certain, McVay had been up all evening celebrating, however his countenance went past overindulgence. He appeared in determined want of break day, maybe the primary harbinger of the workforce’s Tremendous Bowl hangover.

McVay flirted with however turned down potential multimillion-dollar gives to go away the sideline for a broadcasting gig. He signed a brand new contract that made him one of many league’s highest-paid coaches. He filmed commercials. And he helped help fiancé Veronika Khomyn and her household as they handled Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

McVay additionally purchased a $14-million house in Hidden Hills, and the couple married the weekend earlier than the Rams concluded their offseason program.

Six weeks later, the whirlwind offseason ended. Coaching camp, and preparation for what would turn into a nightmare season, started.

Final week, McVay acknowledged that he stays enthusiastic about tv work down the road. Requested how he managed hypothesis about broadcasting alternatives, he ended a reply with a phrase that despatched chills down the spines of Rams followers.

“I need to be right here proper now,” he stated, “give attention to that, and that’s the place I’m at.”

Proper now? That was the phrase he famously invoked after the 2020 season concerning Jared Goff’s standing because the Rams beginning quarterback. Two weeks later, McVay and normal supervisor Les Snead traded Goff and two-first-round draft picks to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford.

Requested after Sunday’s defeat if he would coach the Rams subsequent season, McVay reiterated, “I’m proper right here, proper now and we’ll cope with that stuff at a later time.”

Does he have a timeline for a call?

“I don’t,” he stated. “I don’t proper now.”

Matthew Stafford’s saga

A month after main the Rams to a Tremendous Bowl title, Stafford winked on the digicam throughout an omnipresent cellphone firm business and delivered the road “Life altering.”

The situation of Stafford’s then-sore proper elbow modified the trajectory of the Rams’ season.

Stafford, 34, had performed by means of the Tremendous Bowl with tendinitis, and he acquired an injection afterward to assist alleviate the situation.

The Rams gave Stafford a $120-million extension after which basically shut him down for offseason exercises. He took snaps with the offense however didn’t throw passes.

That meant Stafford couldn’t set up timing or a rapport with new receiver Allen Robinson. He couldn’t check out new wrinkles with reigning NFL offensive participant of the 12 months Cooper Kupp. The offensive line was unable to work fully in live performance.

“It positively had an influence,” McVay stated. “Definitely.”

Stafford’s workload throughout coaching camp additionally was restricted. Earlier than the opener in opposition to the Buffalo Payments, he stated he felt nice and was able to play.

“Can at all times be higher,” he stated. “Can at all times attempt to really feel like I’m 21 once more. I’ll maintain attempting.”

Stafford was sacked seven occasions in an embarrassing 31-10 defeat to the Payments, however his arm power appeared regular by means of six video games. His statistical efficiency, nevertheless, paled when in comparison with the earlier season and the offense by no means constantly clicked.

Just a few days after he was sacked 4 occasions in a defeat by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Stafford was put in concussion protocol. He sat out one recreation, after which returned to begin in opposition to the New Orleans Saints.

However after being sacked, he left that recreation and was put into concussion protocol after telling coaches he felt numbness in his legs. McVay has stated that Stafford suffered a spinal twine contusion.

Stafford was placed on injured reserve and sat out the remainder of the season, elevating hypothesis that he may retire.

Stafford is scheduled to talk with reporters Monday. Requested Sunday if Stafford and star defensive lineman Aaron Donald would return in 2023, McVay didn’t provide any ensures.

“We simply completed up the season,” McVay stated, “so we’ll work by means of all that form of stuff, and also you’ll have readability on that prior to later, I’m certain.”

All down the road

Rob Havenstein is the final man standing.

Make that the one one.

In 2018, Havenstein was a part of a Rams offensive line that featured the identical beginning 5 in each recreation. This season, the veteran proper sort out was the one starter to take action as linemen went down seemingly each week.

“A variety of accidents,” Havenstein stated. “A variety of unlucky issues occurred.”

It started within the preseason when Logan Bruss, the Rams’ prime choose within the 2022 draft, suffered a season-ending knee damage.

After the champion Rams had their prime 5 lineman begin each recreation final season, Rob Havenstein (proven celebrating final season) was the one offensive lineman to begin each recreation this season.

(Elaine Thompson / Related Press)

Within the season-opening rout by the Payments, heart Brian Allen suffered a knee damage, forcing Coleman Shelton to maneuver from proper guard to heart. On the primary play of the subsequent recreation, proper guard Tremayne Anchrum suffered a season-ending ankle damage.

From there, different lineman misplaced for the season or prolonged durations included Shelton, tackles Joe Noteboom and Alaric Jackson, and guards David Edwards and Chandler Brewer.

The Rams performed the Dallas Cowboys with fourth-string heart Jeremiah Kolone attempting to maintain sack machine Micah Parsons at bay.

They completed the season with three beginning linemen — left sort out Ty Nsehke, left guard Matt Skura and proper guard Oday Aboushi — who weren’t on the roster at the beginning of the season.

The road’s collapse affected the whole lot.

The operating recreation went nowhere. Stafford was beneath fixed duress. The offense’s lack of ability to remain on the sphere fatigued the protection.

And sure, Snead is all too conscious that heart Creed Humphrey has began each recreation for the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs since Snead and McVay picked receiver Tutu Atwell forward of him within the second spherical of the 2021 draft.

Ones that received away

Enterprise 101 within the NFL: It’s almost not possible to maintain a Tremendous Bowl workforce — or any workforce — collectively due to economics and annual roster shuffling.

The Rams seemingly made all the proper personnel strikes in 2021.

Not in 2022.

Left sort out Andrew Whitworth retired. Proper guard Austin Corbett signed with the Carolina Panthers. Von Miller broke the financial institution and signed with the Payments. Free agent Odell Beckham Jr. remained unsigned as he labored his means again from knee surgical procedure.

The Rams signed Robinson, pondering he could be an improve over Robert Woods. They signed linebacker Bobby Wagner, pondering he may present workforce management and mentor Ernest Jones.

The have been proper about Wagner however flawed about buying and selling Woods.

Woods was coming off knee surgical procedure, however he and Kupp had performed collectively since 2017. They knew each nuance of the offense and operated on the sphere symbiotically.

Robinson began sluggish, however he appeared to be enhancing earlier than struggling a season-ending foot damage.

Noteboom struggled at left sort out earlier than he was injured.

The Rams thought linebackers Justin Hollins and Terrell Lewis may present strong play reverse Floyd till the commerce deadline. Then, they reasoned, they might make a transfer for one more edge rusher for a playoff push, as that they had executed the earlier season with Miller.

However they have been flawed. They signed Takkarist McKinley through the season to assist fortify the group. However McKinley was launched in October, Hollins in November and Lewis in December.

The Rams knew it might be tough to exchange Miller and so they tried to maintain him however have been outbid, defensive coordinator Raheem Morris stated.

“I wouldn’t say or blame anyone that we didn’t go get Von,” Morris stated, including jokingly, “Les, man, we must always simply punch him. It’s the enterprise. It’s the character of the beast.”

Star energy outage

The Rams constructed their Tremendous Bowl workforce on a basis of 4 cornerstones — Stafford, Kupp, Donald and star cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

All however Ramsey acquired extensions after profitable the Tremendous Bowl.

And all however Ramsey suffered season-ending accidents in consecutive video games in November.

Kupp suffered a excessive ankle sprain diving for a sideline cross in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals.

Rams broad receiver Cooper Kupp rolls out of bounds holding his proper leg after struggling an damage in November. The offensive participant of the 12 months the season earlier than is one in all a number of Rams stars to get damage this season.

(Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Instances)

Stafford was damage for the ultimate time in opposition to the Saints. The Rams have been left with backups John Wolford and Bryce Perkins earlier than finally signing Baker Mayfield.

Donald suffered an ankle damage in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.

Ramsey began each recreation and made a number of large performs. However he additionally gave up just a few, and he didn’t dominate as usually as in years previous.

The Rams produced just one turnover throughout an eight-game stretch once they gained solely two video games. Usually, the protection performed nicely, however the offense couldn’t keep on the sphere or rating touchdowns. However there additionally have been video games when the protection broke down.

“We’re a top-heavy workforce,” Ramsey stated within the last weeks of the season, “so that you want guys like myself absolutely wholesome, and AD absolutely wholesome, Cooper Kupp absolutely wholesome, Stafford absolutely wholesome. We will identify a whole lot of prime guys on this roster from final 12 months who weren’t absolutely wholesome.

“So, it’s loads that goes into it.”

Working again reckoning

Cam Akers ended the season with a surge, dashing for greater than 100 yards in three consecutive video games.

What might need been if McVay had not mismanaged the state of affairs from the start?

After hiring Liam Coen to exchange Kevin O’Connell as offensive coordinator, McVay moved operating backs coach Thomas Brown to tight ends to spice up Brown’s resume for future coordinator alternatives. He employed 27-year-old Ra’Shaad Samples to teach Akers, Darrell Henderson and rookie Kyren Williams.

Not holding the backs beneath the revered Brown’s tutelage was a mistake.

Rams operating again Cam Akers (3) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Cody Barton within the first half. After being exiled earlier within the season, Akers completed with three consecutive 100-yard dashing performances.

(Abbie Parr / Related Press)

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It started to go sideways in coaching camp when McVay questioned Akers’ urgency in personal. He referred to as him out publicly after the opener. The Rams signed veteran Malcolm Brown to supply maturity to the place group.

However in October, McVay exiled Akers for greater than two weeks, Snead attempting with out success to commerce him.

Earlier than and after his return from banishment, Akers stated the important thing to establishing the operating recreation was sticking with it and giving him the ball.

The Rams launched Henderson in November. Just a few weeks later, Samples left the employees for a job at Arizona State and Brown resumed teaching operating backs.

Akers completed the season on a tear. Regardless of his state of affairs earlier within the season, he stated final week that he would welcome the chance to be a Ram for all times.

“Undoubtedly not comfortable about it,” Akers stated of his exile, “however a studying expertise.”

Possibly they shouldn’t ‘F them picks’

The Rams gave up a number of first-round picks in trades for Ramsey and Stafford, and second- and third-round picks in a commerce for Miller.

And there’s no debate: It labored out nice in 2021.

After profitable the Tremendous Bowl, Snead celebrated by telling followers at a victory rally, “F them picks. We’ll use them to go win extra Tremendous Bowls.”

However this season, most of the Rams’ mid- and late-round draft picks of the final 4 years have been injured, struggled or didn’t pan out.

Although Atwell made strides, he stays a flashpoint for Snead and McVay due to their choice to draft him with a second-round choose in 2021.

In the course of the season, apart from Henderson, the Rams launched Lewis, Terrell Burgess and Bobby Evans.

Rookie cornerback Cobie Durant performed nicely when wholesome and cornerback Derion Kendrick earned expertise.

Receiver Van Jefferson lastly seems absolutely sound after two knee surgical procedures. Jones is a longtime starter and receiver Ben Skowronek a flexible contributor.

Safeties Taylor Rapp and Nick Scott, cornerback David Lengthy, defensive lineman Greg Gaines and offensive lineman David Edwards are amongst pending free brokers.

The Rams don’t have a first-round choose till 2024.

Due to their unexpectedly poor file, they’d have had a top-10 choose within the 2023 draft. However that belongs to the Detroit Lions as a part of the Goff-Stafford commerce.

Onerous schedule

The Tremendous Bowl winner is meant to be yearly awarded with the NFL’s hardest schedule.

It doesn’t at all times play out that means due to accidents, trades, suspensions and different points that have an effect on the rosters of opponents when it’s time to play them.

However the Payments have been among the many reputable preseason Tremendous Bowl favorites. Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers continued to dominate McVay within the common season — after which outbid the Rams for star operating again Christian McCaffrey.

Eight video games into the season, the Rams have been two video games beneath .500 for the primary time beneath McVay.

It received worse.

“Dropping the primary recreation to the Payments actually took a whole lot of momentum out of us for the remainder of the season,” Floyd stated. “Getting out of the gate and profitable the primary three or 4 video games offers you a kick begin on your complete season, principally.”

The Rams performed seven groups which can be headed to the playoffs — and misplaced to all of them.

The Rams’ solely comfort?

They are going to have a better schedule in 2023.