Rams Up Roundtable: Episode 36 - Analyzing Rams Depth chart post 2024 Draft

[Music] welcome to another edition of rams up Roundtable I'm your host Tom at Rams beat on X and joined today by a regular guest Ian how you doing doing good gentlemen I mean God the offseason's flying by and before you know we be at training camp in Woodland Hills how about that gosh it is flying by and also joined by my co-host on Rams up Podcast Mark how's it going Mark pretty good always good stuff to talk about let's get into it lots of good stuff to talk about always so today we're going to dive into the depth chart postd draft we did a deep dive on it uh before the draft and found some monstrous holes or craters or whatever you want to call them and it was bad Tom yeah and and I'll tell you what this this front office did an amazing job of filling those holes so we're going to go through the uh post-draft depth chart today uh get our takes outline who's where and what it looks like so let's Dive Right In to the defensive line so uh on the defensive line we have returning so we have returning uh Kobe Turner and Bobby Brown and then we're we've added Braden Fisk yeah so I mean this was a huge right this was a huge needy and what are your thoughts on uh on this what this looked like before and what we've done uh what we've done since obviously also added um uh Tyler Davis as well yeah I mean remember we were all kind of pro offense a little bit in the first round we were like you know what a Road trade up sounds pretty fun and it sounds like it would be worth it based off all the other things we had talked about in previous episodes check those out when you got some free time everybody and uh as we did our depth chart before the draft and we did the defensive line and we went through everything we were like this group ain't that great you know and respect to everybody that's fighting for spots on the roster that's I mean no disrespect with that but you know we didn't feel great about everyone outside of Turner right Bobby Brown's been hurt or Miss time suspension wasn't ready rookie season all those factors in his last you know three seasons and then we had was it larl merchon being the other defensive starting tackle in our base three4 scheme and this is what we're going off of everybody and we'll get into nuances the other spots but we didn't feel great about it we didn't feel great about it now to look at this page and again if you're on YouTube please like And subscribe and hit that thumbs up button you can check out this graphic with us here that we're looking at and gosh it's just so much better we see Braden fist who will now be officially number 55 as a rookie he will keep the same number as he did from Florida State awesome three technique player and we talked about the last round table we had he's going to fill in and be an immediate starter right away and obviously he's got to earn it but I think he will shocker and then we have Davis from Clemson who will officially be number 90 as a rookie to be the backup or maybe even starter for Bobby Brown you know and again Bobby's been solid when he's been out there a true nose guard big body can plug holes but he's Miss time and we have somebody who was really good at that at Clemson foure starter All-American all AC as a nose guard so we have him backing him up and I just feel so much better I mean what about you gentlemen Shu yeah I definitely do uh I mean I think uh you kind of alluded to it and a lot of the people on the YouTube channel were commenting Sean McVey is not going to be able to resist offense but then reality strikes and they kind of did the sensible thing right they went they went um you know Fisk in the second round Tyler Davis what was that the fifth round I think sixth round whatever it was and you know we pluged some holes now um I'm not sure if I had this depth chart set up exactly right but I think it's pretty close and uh you know I I yeah I saw I saw some depth charts that had a I think it was ESPN that had Tyler Davis backing up Turner and not playing nose tackle but I think he'll end up in the middle so yeah so we you know it's remains to be seen how good this unit will be but at least we have some hope right yeah absolutely yeah definitely I mean that the addition of Fisk and then Davis to backup Brown um just ideal draft you know uh draft selections there for the uh for the dline yeah so good so let's do this let's just uh quick off the C off the uh grade the defensive line grade before the draft and the defensive line grade after the draft end yeah I mean I guess you know C because of Turner's Defensive Rookie Campaign which he should have won respect to Will Anderson but Turner was an interior D lineman producing more than Will Anderson for the Texans so because of him I give it a c but everything else was a coin flip of how you felt about it post draft and freeny um I I mean I don't see how you don't give this at least an A minus right at the minimum at the minimum in my opin mark before and after grades I was thinking C minus before because there was just you know Not only was there questions about the talent there's questions about the depth and you know I would agree with Ian on the a minus but I I think you know it's really an incomplete we we got two rookies here so we kind of got to wait and see but I mean I think all indications are Fisk is going to be a really good player and if he's as good as we think he's going to be and Tyler Davis is just okay uh then and Kobe Turner is a very very good player we got some decent death behind him now now merch and and Johnson and potentially Brown are uh backups as opposed to starters potential starters so yeah a minus B+ in there somewhere and real quick to that market Tom I mean who knows about these undrafted guys that we've sign who turns out to be like a Michael Hoy right he was an undrafted guy who became a starter maybe there's someone in the D line that can prove themselves to be worthy of getting serious playing time so that would be the Hope right yeah yeah but just going off what we do know and what we've seen on film and so forth um you know the proven Factor uh I I would go you know this is a d for me before I mean you lose Aaron Donald and it it's not I mean Kobe Turner is the only reason it's not an app and um you without him this would be hands down the worst defensive line in the league wouldn't be close and so and then after the draft I'll give it a b just because I do feel like the depth isn't there compared to a lot of defensive lines I mean you know you get got teams like the Eagles and the 49ers right the two best teams in the NFC you have a hockey line of defensive linemen just com coming in you know they have eight nine guys that are all you know studs and then they and then what do they do mid-season and they add another one or two let's add Chase young let's add you know I mean just so uh so just for just for that purpose um but other than that I mean the guys that we do have in there uh you know I do like a lot so I'll give what you say you said you said a b yeah that's fair that's fair yeah so um okay cool let's move on to uh the um Edge and linebacker so yeah I start with linebacker so didn't do anything there right it's the erest Jones Show uh Green Dot um fourth year guy uh hopefully the Rams um go outside of their comfort zone and resign this guy I think they will uh I really do I don't think they can see losing him I hope so but uh on the other side Rose boom he was okay you know um not great and you know how we all feel about Troy reer and uh you know and humel had you know those guys you know it is what it is so um it would be nice to to see one of these udfas emerge but what are your thoughts on this uh Mark you were just talking the out the inside linebackers yeah just the just the inside linebacker yeah I mean you know it's pretty much the same as last year it was okay I mean Jones um without Jones this is a really poor group and the fact that Jones is really our only three down linebacker that's a good thing um and I do think uh we don't need to get into it this episode but there are a couple of udfas Omar spites especially that I think is going to have a chance to make this team uh maybe bump one of these guys GNA come down to special teams play Mark is that the LSU guy you're talking about right organ State and then LSU and um and Hummel if I'm not mistaken correct me if I'm wrong I think he's a really good special teams player so there's that um but you know it's an okay unit with Ernest Jones um it it's passable um when we only when we only need one linebacker it's really really good and when we need two linebackers it's you know it's okay Rose boom's not a bad player yeah thoughts Yan yeah I mean Ernest Jones is a pro bowl level player clearly I mean please Les need pay the man because he's going to sign somewhere else someone's going to pay him big money if we don't have something in the realm of what he's uh but he earns right that's what it's about and and Rose Boon again I'm probably higher on him than most people but I thought when he was out there he did a did a did a damn solid job again is he great of course not is he earners Jones level of course not but is he a starting level inside linebacker I think so truthfully he covers better than people give him credit for he tackles better and again there's always going to be things to improve upon but obviously the Rams feel comfortable with it maybe the LSU undrafted guy you know emerges like I was saying about the D somebody emerges to earn playing time under their start maybe that's him we'll see how Camp turns out for him but for them to at this moment I'm not hating it but we'll see how it plays out so hey I wish wish Rose Room another productive season please yeah and then um so uh great just inside linebacker grades real quick I the for yeah me I mean there's no before and after right it's before no there is I mean look it I feel I just I'm so high on Ernest Jones man I got to give it I got to give it a B minus based off him and then based off what Rose boom did do last season and hope you know that that bar continues to be the same and or get better that's what I give it right now but I can argue for the C+ depending on it I I say B minus just because Jones Is Awesome just Jones and Mark what's your great on that yeah I'm thinking b as well maybe a B minus because I don't even want to say it but we're we're one injury away from real mediocrity I me so um from D or an F yeah yeah know I mean you can only have if you have two guys now one of the guys is off the field a lot so to be fair it's not like you know so especially in the with what they're that's probably why they didn't get deeper here is they're going to play probably a lot of that dime um time safety look um so for that reason I'll give it a b just because uh um just because you know Ernest can hold it down so uh but let's move into these edges the more exciting position for us here and so we got um Byron Byron young and Jared verse on the front lines here and a second-year guy and rookie and then um uh backing them up is also another rookie Brennan Jackson fifth round pick and then Michael Hoy that's probably a fair estimation but pretty pretty deep here with Kier Thomas and Osan matthysse and Nick Hampton and Ben Vulcan and so forth so that's a deep edge group I don't expect all of those guys to make the 53 but uh Ian what's your take on on the addition of of verse in particular our first pick right and then um also Jackson to uh to reinforce this group yeah I mean look it to win a championship you have to have multiple guys that can rush the passer and get to the quarterback and and make them make the make the opposing offense pay right and last year that was an issue based off this group right here we're getting towards that now we got to see how these seconde guys of Thomas of Hampton B venberg and Mattis all come up but with verse who will officially wear number eight no he cannot convince tutu owl to give up the number five everybody I know everyone wanted that right hey hey BR shoot him extra you know your little signing bonus to get that number five look at two2 is goingon to be a fragen after this year verse really wants number five he can maybe get it next year so he's goingon to be number eight and there's a lot of uh people who are fan of a certain number eight here in La so I think that was a tactical move by verse to get that number eight I see some people say uh chapter one verse eight when once he you know made that Proclamation that was kind of cool and uh with his impact I mean look at he should be a day one starter if he is not a day one starter what a disaster right I mean I think we all agree with that if he is not starting day one on the strong side what a terrible terrible day it'll be for Rams football right you first round pick starting but I don't expect that to be the case power rusher explosion let him be in a three-point stance and again I think with him and Byron in his second year being the speed rusher with now hoit being a backup and then you know we have Jackson who will now be number 44 former team captain at the Washington State that's a good little group of four right there in my opinion you know and uh I feel good about it I feel good about it and we'll see how those other guys guys battle for those remaining roster spots but for that to be the group of four that are going to play the most right that's how we do it usually four Edge rushers that play a ton I I feel solid about that as of today but how about you mark how do you feel dude yeah um well first of all I want to say I put this chart together young and verse as a starters and I remember when I as I was doing this I was uh remembering what Michael white said after the Rams drafted um Byron young and Nick Hampton and Osan matthys something to the effect of uh hey you're going to have to come take the starting job from me so M Michael Hoy if you're if you're looking at this I apologize uh I I do not I'm not totally giving up on you and yeah I agree with you verse has got to come through for us he's got to come through although I would say I could be wrong and and Ian you maybe going to disagree with me game one first defensive snap regardless of what happens it could still still be hoed out there for the first snap for the first series and maybe the you know what I'm saying it may not be no I mean go ahead Mark you know I mean the first snap of the game for That official oh like start like that who gives a damn about that I know there's a lot of people for maybe for like the Iron Man streak that you know Eli had and a Brett fad was like who's out there for the first Play whoop do you do for defense are you out there for 90 9% of the game you know or 95 right at least and affecting and being out there to be a Difference Maker that's what I care about so yeah okay I just wanted to make sure that uh that fans if they see uh Michael and Byron young out there for the first snap Don't Panic you know he is a rookie and it will it could take one or two Ser it could be just a matter of respect to Michael Hoy um but we'll see uh but this group is really deep and talented and you know there's a couple of guys that aren't going to make this rock Foster for sure um so I feel really good about this group a lot better than I did about it than I did uh last year because of vers and Brandon Jackson you know I think even though he was uh taken in the fifth round I think he has a he has a really high ceiling he's a good fit for this team yeah okay it's time for grades guys yeah Ian before and after before the addition of verse and Jackson yeah before I mean truthfully it was a playoff Edge rusher was it perfect you know Edge rushing unit right young and hoyd with the other Young Bucks so I would B minus before I think with verse now I'm going to give it you know objectively I'm going to give it or verse and Jackson being added I'm gonna give it a B+ borderline a minus I'm leaning towards more B+ just because we got to see what Jackson does right we're hoping verse makes this an A minus to an A+ of course but that's that's my B plus as of right now I'll say just objectively yeah Mark what you what was the before and after grades yeah I I right spot on with the B minus before um you know young has proven himself to at least be a decent Edge rusher and uh I was going to go a minus um B+ when you consider the Frontline guys and potentially better depending on what happens with verse but for the depth I think we have decent depth here now and so I bumped it up to an A minus but I wouldn't argue with with a B+ yeah I I went with a uh a c minus before um I mean Byron was good Byron was good but I mean Michael Hoy just isn't you know he's a I think he's a solid backup like where he's at right now and he can come in there against their D tackles rough him up a little bit L the PLL rush and so forth but he's just not going to get to the quarterback that much especially without Aaron Donald on the field so um I feel like it was pretty light uh and then you know but after the fact I mean I love verse one of my favorite players in the draft and and then I also um am a big fan of uh Jackson and so I'm going to go with an A minus at this point so um I think it was a huge huge you know the defensive line and the edge as we all saw in that pre-draft depth chart review were you know just so reinforced it's just it's just awesome so yeah let's move on to the secondary so this was done nothing done in the uh on the cornerback front um we'll start there and then we'll get into safeties afterwards but nothing done on the cornerback front uh much like the inside linebacker front uh in the draft so it is what it is two free agents um in Darius Williams and Trey white and uh here we go guys are we okay with no with no cornerbacks drafted again yeah I mean I'm not I mean it would have been nice right I mean I would have liked to Maybe not maybe I would have liked to have seen them draft some Corners you know higher in the draft but I'm I'm not mad about the decision maybe there's maybe they feel better about Kendrick maybe they feel better about where Kobe Durant is and um you know where uh travius Tomlinson is right and uh you know it is what it is but I do like Darius Williams coming back just like when he signed people like to hate on Darius when he was a ram which still it bothers me it bothers me he was a good player for us everybody dang it so we expect him to play good again just like he did this last couple years in Jacksonville and Trey White's a coin flip right we're hoping that he's recovered fully from the two major ligament issues that he's had Achilles and ACL but if he ends up being anywhere close to his All Pro level like a pro bowl level corner I mean what a home run that is so we obviously we're gambling on that highly to work out but before and after you know even after the non- additions I mean I feel like this group is a solid uh a solid B solid B and we'll see if Trey white can bump that to a B+ a minus you know yeah I feel like Trey white has to stay healthy otherwise this yeah could get this could you know get you know Trot and Kendrick out there and Durant Tomlinson a job I mean it's just H I don't know man but uh Mark what are your thoughts what are you happy that are you okay with the fact that we didn't draft any quarterbacks well certainly surprised but if you consider the fact that they decided I think it was a a strategy that they adopted let's go get our cornerbacks and free agency and let's address the defensive line and the draft that seemed to be the approach and um you know assigning d d will T white you know that that's an upgrade over what we had there last year right T White's got to stay healthy though um so I'm okay with this unit I'm surprised that they didn't draft at least one quarterback though and and this unit um considering that you know if Lake plays where we think he's going to play it's going to be a pretty good unit again we got two guys that started a lot last year now as primary backups that's not a bad situation and and I'll throw out there you know someone has been throwing it out on the on our YouTube channel in the comment section A couple of times and I don't know at first I was like no it makes no sense but Witherspoon's still out there right Kell is I mean yeah he's still out there xaven Howard's still out there Mark I mean there's some there some guys man Justin Simmons I mean that's a safety but like there's some players that have so if if if white is struggling a little bit in his comeback um maybe they bring in someone else I'm not sure what you know maybe some restructuring has to happen and so on but overall this unit's uh it it's not remarkable but it's deep and I have a lot of faith that they're going to get it done especially with the guys playing behind them yeah I give it a b also at this point as long as it's all healthy but you know for you know for that reason maybe it's a B minus just because I just don't trust this this depth at all I mean there's nobody on that in that depth that I feel like could step in and just ball at an edge you know at one of the corners um and gentlemen real quick I mean aell who was our best corner last year he didn't get signed with us until like late June right you know so I mean there's still there's still tons of signings on the cheap that could totally happen with the secondary I mean any position because I think the Steelers cut him like a week before that maybe something or in that time period and we were like we'll take that guy so there's always that to be considered with the secondary especially because injury and experience you know all that stuff so we'll see y post you one cuts the the second wave free AG see we'll see and we did have uh I think five udfa uh defensive backs maybe three quarterbacks two safety something like that yeah right it's stuff um okay so moving into this into the uh the safety room so um we had we drafted Cam kinchin and now so we got the uh the cam and cam show with Cam curl in free agency and um I mean this was not an upgrade this was a complete overhaul right I mean basically your two guys uh obviously lost Fuller but um coming into the draft I mean this was you know definitely an f um and uh and in my book and now with these two guys I mean you know we'll see what happens in terms of a little depth there yeast Taylor we haven't seen much of Taylor yeast to so so but um for that reason and then obviously having a rook I'll give it a b um post-draft I mean but these two guys love curl and kitchens how about you mark well if we I let me say this if we didn't sign kch kinin uh Lake would probably be our cornerback so uh I mean if we didn't draft kenchin so it probably wouldn't be as bad as you think although it would affect the overall unit having a move Lake back there so it may not be that bad but man it was a big deal drafting kinchin because it now we can kind of leave Lake where he's best suited to play um and I I like this unit you know you know I think it's a a theme through all these Rams units the depth may not be what we like but you know that's true with 30 other franchises probably or 28 of them um you can't have everything and you know our starters are good very promising and a couple guys that maybe we're we're hope we hope we don't have to count on but um you know I I give this unit right now I'd give it a b with C the two cams at least a b maybe a B+ the depth is a little concerning yeah I get it and I think with this safety group I mean it's very it's more complicated than the graphic is showing obviously and and I'll explain so Quinn Lake would be the starting free safety of kitchens was not selected right and we're hoping kinchin can earn that spot he was one of the most productive players at the University of Miami other than Shawn Taylor and Ed Reed based on their people's you know highly spoken words about him so that's good news for us and for everyone that's on YouTube I have the graphic here uh on my left side your right side on the screen I have Cameron kitens in number 24 he will be officially number 26 for the Rams I think he originally claimed 24 or he wanted it but then speaking of number is Darius Williams who's had like three numbers as a ramp 31 11 in the Super Bowl season signed with us to be number 33 and then he's like you know what I want number 24 so Darius Williams will be 24 now guys keep an eye out for that kitchens will be number 26 and for for kitchens to earn that spot would be fantastic because it keeps quinon lake at his best playing ability in the star in the nickel roaming that pseudo middle outside area that you know Ramsey enjoy playing and that we've tried to train you know Kobe Durant for but he's not comfortable playing in that spot he's a better outside guy you know Lake was phenomenal Sean speaks so highly of Quint Lake in that star and the game film don't lie he was awesome in that spot so we're hoping kitchens can retain and earn that free safety spot let cam curl be the strong safety laying the boom on people right Bam Bam cam people like to call him and Russ yeast who was one of the free strong safety guys and until John overtook him when he got moved to the dime linebacker spot which is you know instead of Rose boom it'll be him next to Ernest Jones covering the middle of the field he was good at it he was really good at that just like Taylor rap Taylor rap was not meant to be a traditional uptp free or strong safety but when you had him in that dime linebacker safety role he was fantastic I think the same will be for yeast going forward which he proved it in his game film so I think all these guys kitchens free safety Cameron curl strong safety Quinn Lick in the star Rusty's dime linebacker I like that group a ton I like that group so much more than just you know our basic three4 scheme which we know we're not going to be in unless it's like a heavy run formation unless we're playing the hard ball you know Ravens or Chargers who just go three tight end stuff for the 49ers right we gotta have more big bodies so before the draft I would say I would give it like a B minus based on know the curl signing Lake you know yeast and now after kitchens based off his productivity at Miami which is based off you know that's what's basing this great we got to see him play clearly but as of today I give this a B plus but I'm gonna say I'm gonna say a minus based off what I saw from Lake of the star and what I saw from yeast side dime laer and what I hope kitchens will be next to curl at up top so I'm going to give it an A minus after post draft and for you see yeah to be fair I did say F but that was before the cam curl signing so that's that wasn't in the spirit of the exercise so oh it's all good it it was though let's be honest Tom it wasn't before before curl and kinchin yeah came in so uh it's all good so all right let's move into the offense here yeah um all right well we'll start with um we'll start with tight end I guess uh so no uh nobody drafted there right we were running with higgy and long are both hurt and um so we're running with uh Kobe Parkinson and Davis Allen and so um I mean okay not drafting a uh a tight end Ian well Rams Nation I'm sure everybody was in the frenzy on draft day hearing the Brock Bowers rumors and you know Peter shreer Rams interconnected media member Diana Rini and others all say hey Brock BS was the target they were treading up for people just denied us and look it I'm happy the way it's turned out as we go through the rest of this you know depth chart I'm happy that we didn't give up a lot of assets to get Brock bars because now our team is more healthy more death no there would be no kitchens there probably be no Fisk there' probably be no verse so everything's turned out well everybody let's all take all take a chill pill so with this group right here Koby we gave big money to I liked his ability when he got thrown to which is limited for whatever reason Seattle just didn't use him a done excellent blocker young Allen there played phenomenal for a rookie thrown into the fire I thought he did a good job so we're hoping Higg can return sometime this season I don't know his knee injury was pretty serious obviously long his injury has been you know supposedly not you know great in the healing process will take some time but I feel good about Parkinson and and Davis Allen being the onew punch at tied end so you know pre-draft post-draft it's all the same I give it a I'm G to give it a solid B+ because I like the ability and the physical stature and strength that Parkinson and Davis Allen both bring to this group which is what we need in this power run scheme that we do or Gap Mark okay not uh drafting a tight end I don't have a problem with that I I thought they might later with 10 draft picks I can see why they passed on a d and I I need to add something here about the tight ends now last time we talked I had IR next to to Hunter long and I got some push back on the YouTube channel um one gentleman claiming that Hunter long is good to go and I don't know if that's true and I've seen my Special Assistant I'm not sold yet my special assistant found some uh a feed of someone commenting that Hunter long was running with the ones it looks good but I I'm not convinced um but it's only May so maybe if they that would maybe indicate that they are feeling better about Hunter long being ready for opening day and if that's the case then we have our three tight ends regardless what happens with Higg um so maybe that's why but still it it just makes this Brock Bowers even make less sense uh but uh we don't need to dive into that again but D question and in your defense though Mark real quick about H 100 long I mean he did have MCL surgery I mean could he be back right now I mean but I doubt that and look at if we're wrong then hey we're happy good for long we want to see him out there and perform but I mean hey knee surgery let's let's take our time on those things for a tight end man walking and receiving that's important it's an important ligament man so I think he's still recovering I mean shoot grademark right now I would give it a B+ and you know why I give it a B+ I mean I I'd Lan towards the B but Parkinson is a blocking machine and um he he may be the best blocking tight end we've had in a little while even better than hick so for that for that reason I'll give him a B+ on that I'll I'll go B+ too and just because none of those guys have had any you know aside from Higg he's obviously her have had any kind of volume Parkinson had uh some like 35 targets 25 receptions what was Seattle doing Tom I mean guys what what what were they doing up there with him he's a they had another they had another tight end obviously and so I know Noah fans clean too but my God I mean I anyway whatever I'm looking forward to him I'm looking forward to him having a breakout year on the receiving side as well obviously we all know he can block so you know and and I just I I did want to make one more comment on tight ends you know I mean I love McVey and sne and the last year they were trying to trade up for Dalton concade is that the case now I'd feel a lot better if we had found out that they were trying to trade up for Sam laporta then then I'd feel better about this rumor about where they might have been trying to trade up for the wrong guy yeah yeah no doubt um so uh and then so let's move over to um running backs real fast uh What uh uh we had um Blake Corum right I mean third round pick uh and you know just right right behind KY everybody says oh he's right out of the same you know the same system coming out of Michigan that that Gap scheme with that duo and uh just killed it there right and so I mean there is some concern I guess he's going to be playing he played without his ligament right he just had it just just never didn't have it really repaired it's juste and so guys do that right but he yes he's so you know somewhat of a concern but we'll see what happens but yeah uh you know that really does uh bolster that uh that running back room but um Ian thoughts on this running back room pre and post draft yeah and I'm going to add in you know the addition of uh Mr Mr giant killer Scott right like like Philly fans like to call him because we was signed this last you know post draft as well so free draft post Scott signing H you know I'll give it a b and obviously car is an all pro level running back when he's on the field and and killing it and staying healthy which you know injuries has been a been an issue these last two years but now Rivers who we know can run the rock we have korm who is one of the best players in Michigan Wolverine history based off their fan bases comments and the stats don't lie dude was a monster there that along with giant killer Scott who is that change of pace back that I know a lot of our fan bases were hoping for someone to be a scat kind of quick agile out of the backfield oh my gosh look at him Juke a bunch of guys out now we have that plus the power dudes so pre-draft I would say B post with the Scott signing I feel great about this group I'm gonna go I'm gonna go a truthfully I'm going an a hard hard solid a on that one for sure you don't even know what Zach Evans can do right and uh yeah it's crazy so um but you know health is going to be an issue here right so you know Kiren has been hurt every year um you know km's had his share of of getting banged up so uh you know Rivers has stepped in admirably but you having that change of Direction guy in Scott is is huge and then I still hope I still hold I'm holding out hope for Zack Evans I really I really think that this guy can um he's super talented he just hasn't put it all together I'm hoping that uh he gets some chances but we'll see what happens and real quick Tom real quick before we get to Mark I forgot to share for everyone out there I know Blake corm Michigan fans I know you're all like is he going to keep number two no he's going to be number 22 Rusty is number two and uh that is who is in the back of my right side here on this graphic I think one day he'll claim number two but 22 is pretty good there's been some good Rams running backs number 22 in the Deep pass if you guys know but sorry go ahead Mark oh now I was just GNA say yeah this unit you know going in at least to be uh I think Kyan Williams is the top three or four running back in the league and uh now it's got to be an a um I I'm wondering if Boston Scott is going to fill the role as the returner and I think so yeah and if he is um that may be Zack Evans Saving Grace uh to stay on this roster because I I don't know I don't think Ronnie Rivers is going anywhere but yeah this is a solid unit man and I think Zack Evans Paul Tom you want to see what he can do we're going to find out in the preseason uh he's he's going to be getting a lot of carries in those three preseason games I have a feeling yeah I do too and and you know me the Rams typically carry three running backs uh on their um on their 53 man a game roster so uh yeah it's something's G to give here right and um obviously when healthy corm and Williams have a spot um if Scott's in there uh I don't know you know so we'll see what happens but uh something's going to get but you know I think Evans would survive on the practice squad um I think so too and so maybe because of that return position they do keep four it who knows we'll see May Rivers would probably survive on the practice squad as well actually um meaning that he wouldn't get claimed by another team yeah so um yeah so before and after grades Mark oh I I think I already said I'd give it a b going B going in and an a at this point for sure a yeah I I I'll agree with you guys being an a it's not a B+ going in K Williams is incredible all right moving moving to the quarterback position obviously no quarterback drafted uh have you guys heard anything on any uh on stepson have any any updates anything God that has been a a silent as can be even from when he originally left the team right I mean yeah that's been a you know respect to the Rams though you know they kept their Aaron Donald stuff as as tight zipped as could possibly be right no big media Outlets were able to get their hands on that big news so that's good no one could really get their hands on the Ben and stuff other than a few people um you know and even them they kept it quiet and and Under Wraps which you know respect the situation there was obviously some uh some serious personal stuff going on with Stetson but I see Clips he's out there throwing the Rock and he must be in a good spot which is good for him we're always you know proponent of you taking care of yourself physically mentally all that stuff so football is a priority again for him and so that's nice to see and uh with this group my friends I mean Matthew Stafford's the top top 10 quarterback minimum he played like a top five quarterback majority of this past season you know garoo is a former starter you know Bennett's a national champion I'll be nice about you know his preseason wo dealing with stuff and you know I don't know how you don't give this group an a today before garoo signing maybe you would say A B minus just because there was no one behind Stafford right that was the thing Stafford's elevating that to a B minus but after G L Ben's return I mean that's this is an a quarterback room in my opinion yeah you yeah yeah I'd agree I'm just concerned about those first two weeks uh Bennett better be ready to go and hopefully we won't need him but um the fact that we haven't done anything brought it I mean desert wind's still there I should have put them on here um maybe they carry desert Win For Those first two games but you know they have to create a roster spot for him is that how it works I know there's some special roles about quarterbacks uh it's compc yeah but uh that's maybe what we're going to do is roll for two weeks with just uh ston Bennett and uh cross our fingers but yeah this unit's an a just because of Matthew Stafford I I've seen these people throwing out the clickbait are the best quarterbacks in each division and so on and so forth and oh it's dumb I know if Matthew Stafford if you don't think Matthew Stafford uh he is the best quarterback in the NF West conversation's over so um yeah I feel we're good can we comment about that real quick I've seen some of this nonsense about Kyler Murray pie look at guys look everyone has their team and who they root for but it's like as football fans everybody out there and all Rams Nation defend your quarterback from this nonsense if you are a keyboard Warrior I want to see you defending Matthew Stafford all right because golly like how about this if Matthew Stafford was on the Cardinals how much better would they be if Matthew Stafford was a 49er how many Super Bowls would they probably have let's just be real about it right um shoot so I don't want to I don't want to hear this nonsense right Paul Matthew Stafford is the best quarterback in the NFC West hopefully uh hopefully he's able to hear me say that but I just wanted to share my thought on that Mark you got me a little riled up in a good way that's fine you saw the same stuff I saw probably I see just nonsense yeah I've seen nonsense here and it's just crazy hey Paul uh Paul you with us yeah how you guys doing good good good man we're just defending our quarterback man because we see these we see these things Carly KL Murray is the best in the west prie it's like golly you guys just you guys just have no your opinion is invalid for everything now like whoever's saying those things yeah you missed it Paul we start we opened up with a 10-minute segment on the top 10 players from ruter in NFL history but you missed it and yeah and uh and then also the best players from Long Island um no I'm kidding so yeah we're just uh reviewing that the uh Paul Paul is joining us here a little late but uh for the rest of the segment so we're we're just reviewing the um the depth chart post draft and what what happened so we're into the wide receiver group now and so we have um you know the three starters puka and Cooper cup and um Demarcus Robinson and uh and then you know the same backups that the one edition here is um is Winnington Jordan Winnington and uh so hopefully you know gosh so promising um didn't get you was like the number three at Texas but behind a couple of other good guys but just a real stud um especially in the uh uh in the yak and yard after catch so um hopefully he get some play and uh can be another late round I think a sixth round um be another late round um gem all the puka power picks right Paul so well Paul we're what we're doing is we're grading pre-draft and post-draft with the uh the position group so thoughts on wide receiver and the fact that we really only added one in the sixth round I yeah I still think it's uh a fairly strong group I think the Whittington Edition I think the Tyler Johnson Edition um may not get a lot of uh publicity but I think they are Rock Solid I think it's a rock solid group uh I had also said I think because of the relationship between Atwell and kinchin I think I'm hopeful I would say I'm hopeful that's going to help boost atwell's production this year you know Atwell has played a couple seasons in the NFL so just you know the grand scheme of things to have a receiver that's played and produced albeit in a limited role is still better than having uh an unproven receiver in in the mix so um I definitely think that it's a it's a position group that's improved uh post-draft without question yeah Ian yeah guys I mean Thea Rookie of the Year I'm sorry Stroud but makula broke records he's Rookie of the Year King Cup we hope he returns back to full strength Robinson a great number three option you know a playoff caliper receiver every year he's been in the league you know 2u I think is underutilized he's a good player once he gets his opportunities Tyler Johnson's been in play Big playoff games and then Winnington duter injury all that stuff we talked about in the last round table He's Got Talent he's just got to get it all together and I think coach arber will be able to elevate him to be the he possibly could be so you know post draft not much has changed I mean obviously this group was an A in my mind but I think it it continues to be an a with Winnington nothing changes for me yeah I'm with you an a an a and an a Mark um Mark do you think we could have done more in the draft no I mean we all were drooling over the possibility of moving up for a dunesday or someone like that and that just would have been a luxury we all I think inside deep inside we all knew that that there were more uh important things to uh address um but if you know if Cooper cup is 100% in healthy and can stay healthy uh I would argue that this unit is borderline A+ at least an a um wton I don't think really changes that it certainly helps I think it'd be an a without him uh but you know it'll be interesting to see um he's going to bump someone off here probably right um I don't think where we're not going to carry eight receivers so who goes probably going to be yeah probably going to be Smith and uh maybe Tyler doesn't make it um but yeah I love this unit we just have to hope Cooper cup is old is his old self um I I we really haven't seen Nua and cup together at 100% I don't think and that could be a a sight to see especially for Matthew Stafford yeah yep all right let's move into to the o line oh God what a sight for sore eyes huh guys still reeling from two years ago when uh went through 17 of these guys or something like that I said a record um but where we're at Now with uh allic and Jonah on the left ailla moving to Center um Kevin doson and the havenstein monster on the right holding down the right so but really um you know coming in no boom kind of That Swing guy uh really we we talked a lot about it really nobody to back up at Center um now limur Pops in there and then we just got a bunch of guys that you know I've seen some action Levon KT levingston is exciting player um and uh but you know these other guys it's you know Miller and you know there's a I think we got a fireman or two in here and um so but uh yeah so really only uh you know a couple of back up depth players on the offensive line Ian um thoughts pre and post-draft yeah pre-draft based on all the signings and all that I mean shoot uh definitely a you know post draft we get levenson who you know was thrusted into tackle duties when he was originally a guard he'll be number 66 out there Rams Nation uh bo limmer who is Center or guard kicked ass beat the crap out of people at that spot he will be number 50 keep an eye out for him and the preseason everybody and gosh much needed depth at those two spots guys who can play multiple different uh locations on the o line which is what you know Sneed and Company like very much that addition with the you know Big Boy signing of Jonah Jackson aula moving to Center I mean I'm gonna keep it at an a say you yep Paul what are your thoughts pre- and post draft how how much impacted uh limmer and leveston add to our depth and will they make the we carry eight we almost always carry eight um uh offensive lineman um we get I don't know if people know this you get one free offensive lineman if you don't carry a eight offensive lineman you can only have 52 on your active roster so it's basically an eighth offensive lineman gives you free depth and or free free 53 man so eight men always eight offensive linemen um adding limmer and leveston do they make the 53 Paul yeah I think I I think the limmer Edition is is just phenomenal I think that was such a great draft Break by the way a little a little tidbit of information we talked about Jordan Jefferson being a puka power pick the no the kid from LSU on defense leading uh combine in reps guess who led the entire uh combine in bench reps it was B limmer so that's how impressive this kid is um across the board limmer can back up at three all three interior positions uh I think McLendon is also a great player um I think AC when you factor in limur uh with the addition now that we have uh Jackson and doson and no boom I just I think I just think it's it's just a a great position group I think this is probably in my opinion the strongest position group on the roster without question is o line amazing this thing has been re completely rebuilt um except for the havenstein monster from the Super Bowl here it's amazing uh Mark what are your thoughts you think we could have uh done anything more here are you happy with what we did on the limmer and L no I'm happy I think you know Paul was spot on I did some research afterwards and lemmer um might have been by expected draft position might have been one of the best values in the entire draft and you know I I know you say eight and is there can we carry nine how how big of a deal is it if we carry nine what's it going to cost us because they've never done it and it it just um you know it just takes away from you know to be honest it's also going to be a uh uh I think with the change um well actually the change in the uh the change in the kickoff rule might actually they might carry one more right I mean because it's much more of a um this this offensive line becomes much more prominent in special teams cuz I because I I just really want to keep leveston Noteboom limmer and mundon that's where I'm going that's where I'm coming from but it's going to be eight it's going to be a a good decision a tough decision it's good problem to have uh someone's going to get maybe no Bo gets traded I don't know um but depending on it maybe if they they see what they like uh if they like what they see with leveston they can move on from one of these other guys um but yeah man this is a uh I know teams defenses are have a different challenge facing the Los Angeles Rams these days as opposed to a couple years ago yeah no doubt so yeah I think everybody's given this group an a for sure so um we lost Ian temporarily here uh so we're going to go on to special teams right so um you know we we got uh Evans back as our punter and um you know long Snappers in tackled board uh new place kicker in cardi um drafted and uh obviously kicker W last year like Paul points out probably cost us a couple of games and then you know with this new kickoff rule we don't know who's going to be our our kick uh kickoff return to right Quorum is it going to be Boston Scott we don't know so um but uh are you glad we selected a a kicker in the draft uh Paul yeah I mean listen if the kid if the kid holds down the spot and the kid turns out to be clutch um it's a great move there's no question about it so you know there's a lot made about what should you have you know uh should you draft a place kicker or not I mean in this in this scenario that they got the best place kicker in the draft so cardi so the kidss definitely got potential there's no question about it the returner situation is the one that I find the most intriguing it seems like between even uh the udfa like with Logan who who has Uh u a great track record for returning kicks they got about like five players that could legitimately return kicks on this roster so it's gone from a position that uh was almost given like a you know not even given a second thought now all of a sudden it's a major Focus which you know I think is a it can be a real weapon for the Rams so I'm I'm so I think Scott would be a great choice I think uh Logan would be a great choice uh they got a couple of other uh receivers that have that experience so I I think this is something the Ram Nation has not seen in a really long time and would welcome it um I think the most interesting thing will be play kicker how this turns out I I think I don't know how much rope Cardi's going to really have uh this season I think the Rams are going to be uh if there's any sign of shakiness I think the Rams are going to bring in a veteran kicker but you know the kid the kids's got I will say this though card's card's got the demeanor if there's any young kid that you bring in to hold down the spot card's got the demeanor to do it he's uh he's he's laidback uh he's quiet he's got that quiet confidence so uh I'm really hoping that he does uh lock it down yeah so um uh Ian thoughts what are your grades pre and post-draft special teams with going no no kicker to the best kicker in the draft yeah I mean I don't know how look at man I like where the Evans was you know punting the ball obviously there was some things that McBay commented he could be better at you know rookie I thought he did an admirable job long Snapper we just hope the dude just doesn't hit the Hit the Dirt when he's hiking it right that's really it and hopefully Ward can just execute that and be clean well you know we had no kicker I don't know how you don't have this a D minus F right if you don't have a kicker I mean that's just it's just an F I don't know how you don't have it any other way truthfully so with you know young cardi here money cardi every I see all the nicknames being thrown around everywhere uh playboard cardi like the rapper I've I've seen too obviously with the K instead of the C uh was Scott being a possible returner maybe corm and maybe even uh Winnington right I mean this this unit is at least at least a b now in my opinion at least at least a b so that's maybe a little more generous than probably I'm giving an F to a b leap is pretty big but we have a kicker who is very productive in college we have a Scott who has been proven to return kicks both pun and kick return and be good and then I don't know man I mean I hope this to be an a please please cardi please don't stress us out and lose Us games because of the kicking woes no doubt I give it a b as of right now how about that Mark one thing that isn't on here and it's it's reallyit difficult to put on here because it's a you know it's a group of players but our coverage teams right and that was the bane of the uh RAM SEC uh special teams last year obviously the kicker got a lot of the most the most Focus but I mean that coverage team cost us definitely the Baltimore game and um probably another game or two I think it was the Giants almost the Giants game yeah almost Giants and uh so I mean hopefully that gets worked out but um it's really hard to say right because we don't know who's on that team right now you know and so forth kind of a shocker they retain the special teams coach actually I still that's the one thing that I just don't understand we're special teams in the league and keep the the coach so uh but anyway having said all that Mark thoughts on special teams pre- and post draft well I mean I think the data is out there that we had by far the worst special teams unit in the NFL I mean it wasn't even close it was it was uh legendarily bad if that's a word it was really bad and remember Ward got hurt he missed a lot of the season I don't think that was really that part of part of the problem though we had a strategy of fair catching kicks all season long so we had virtually no return yardage uh and we had no kicker so I mean Ethan Evans was the bright spot and he was just pretty good I think so yes it's a big Improvement now for you listeners I have uh as the returners uh Boston Scott question mark Blake km question mark I I kind of doubt if if corm is the running back we think he is uh he's probably not the returner but then again we had talked earlier I think it was uh Paul or Ian uh maybe it was you Tom that said that the return with the new the new strategy is going to be think of the returns as a the kickoff returns as a running play and if that's the case maybe they do use Korum in that role uh but yeah it's got to feel a lot better about this unit and the coverage like you alluded to Tom it comes down to the coaching really um that's the way I see it and it just wasn't happening so if they get that squared away uh the coverage part of it you know this unit will be a solid B yep yeah B I think these all around okay we're going to summarize the uh we're going to summarize the grades here on what we have on uh on just real quickly here so post draft grades defensive line a minus this is the average of what we all said uh inside linebacker I think it's the worst grade on the team at B minus just because we pretty much only have one guy and then you know a bunch of other guys that probably wouldn't make any other roster quite frankly Rose boom and HML and these other guys would you know or they let me just put it this way they would all probably survive the practice squad not get claimed um at Edge a minus uh cornerback Group B safety group B+ tight ends B+ running backs a quarterback a wide receiver a offensive line a you guys notice the trend here on offense versus defense and uh and special teams B so um yeah and if the havenstein I'm sorry the uh if um uh you we get some of these injured guys back on the tight end maybe that that'll move up so um uh yeah so we wanted to move into another just topic to wrap up here which was these conversations about Matthew Stafford and him wanting more guaranteed money and so it's interesting that he says more guaranteed money not more money period and um so just to kind of recap you know Stafford's made in this new deal from 2022 till now he's averaging about $442,000 a year $42 million a year sorry um and uh you know no matter how you cut it this year he lost a lot of his guarantees so in in this year he's only um guaranteed right now he's guaranteed is 31 million in salary plus 6 and a half option bonus so 382 but 2025 is really I think what he's after in terms of guarantees he's only guaranteed $10 million next year and um on what would amount to even a pretty low uh compensation in terms of 28 a half million and um 2026 37 and a half which are you know semi vo they're not void years but they're you know they were they were put in there in order to spread out his uh his signing bonus over five years instead of over over three so bottom line is if he's you know he's basically saying hey we got to start looking at next year you know which is fair enough every he's it's the number one position in the NFL all these guys have you know four the top guys like he is top 10 guys have you know four fiveyear guaranteed deals and um you know obviously what's different about him is he's a little older McVey says he's going year to year uh and so forth but I think he's looking for a little bit more than 10 million guaranteed next year um which is really all he would end up with if he did get injured and I think that that's really what he's looking for his injury guarantees so anyway that's kind of the summary um what do you think happens in this Paul do you think he do you think they reup him and give him you know another you know $25 million option bonus guaranteed or something like that um going into uh injury guaranteed going into next uh going into the season uh you this is this is going to be an interesting scenario I personally think he has three years left in the tank easily that's my opinion I think he has three quality years agree now how the front office how it shakes out for the front office that's a different story um I think they also agree I think they know that as well but how much can you really lock up in staff I I think Optimus 9 I mean he is their key to another uh trophy um I still I agree with Ian I think he's tops uh you know still top Ian how' you have how'd you rank him before I logged on oh I mean he he he's top 10 undebatable your football knowledge is revoked anything your opinions are revoked if you don't think so top five based on his end of season play and what the throws he was making and yeah let let's let's be honest Rams Nation defend your quarterback if you see some nonsense on the on the inner uh inweb sphere I'm glad I'm glad I missed all that combo because I I would have probably fallen out on my chair so there's no question about it optim Optimus 9 is is the engine that drives the machine there's no question um he's going to put up some ridiculous numbers this year he really is now with that if that running game turns out to be a sledgehammer ground game like we all are anticipating um he's going to be even deadlier because of the play action aspect of it so uh you know the front office is a student enough of how to work out the so that they don't uh compromise their entire future um moving forward but um I think they will give him um I don't think they're gonna give him um as much as he's asking but I do think they'll work it out I do think he'll be with the Rams for another three years yeah I mean you're just looking at his uh at his current contract um Mark he's pretty much getting 26 million do in in option bonus and it's usually you know it's been guaranteed the year before right so lot a lot of these guys and especially quarterbacks um get their their next year's uh compensation guaranteed at the beginning of the league year this year right so it's everything's guaranteed a year in advance and that's how they do it so it's a rolling rolling guarantees instead of you know aside from their signing bonus which is guaranteed all up front and then advertised that's how these these annual guarantees are are done and then there's also this $ 11.5 million roster bonus which isn't guaranteed in advance um if he shows up and he you know makes the team which he will if you just shows up then he gets that as well so I think that that's what they could do they could just say all right let's just do what we've done the last couple years you get your $26 million option bonus guaranteed for next year now um and uh you know half your salary um you know you get 10 million guaranteed for next year of your 31 and uh and then we'll just do another 11 million 11 million and you know keep paying you $40 million a year as long as you want to play basically that's I I can definitely see that but um that's a lot more guarantees and I think he probably deserves it your thoughts Mark I'm sorry I'm just kind of all I'm kind of done with the contract talk I mean um he deserves whatever he gets and I just hope the Rams can figure it out I wish it hadn't even gone public I watched his special him talking about he wants two more two he wants two more Super Bowl wins uh and loved him for it and then you know a couple weeks later we hear this he needs more money he can make so much money on uh advertisements and promotions and sponsorships and you know I hope the Rams figure it out but I can't even wrap my arms around that kind of money and needing that kind of money SEC for security I get it it's business but uh I I don't know um it just doesn't excite me um even pondering this decision the Rams are going to have to make and and I don't know how much leverage he really has how much leverage does he really have the Rams want him obviously does he have other options is he just going to walk or the Rams going to trade him how's that work where's he going to go there is there another team that's going to latch on to him in some you know godforsaken situation I don't know um I just hope they figure it out and they behind I'll answer your question mean he has two points of Leverage right he can just retire and just say well okay you know where well but where's he getting where's he getting his security then where's he get well no but he's not but he's not but he's also yeah but but he's not playing he's retired and he's made a ton of money right he and uh uh uh what's his name from the uh Commander I mean from the uh Falcons um the cousins yeah yeah cousins have dominated the uh the dominated the uh the contract situations over there I mean you know then you got Ernest Jones sitting there asking for his his new contract and uh he he may want to lay into Matthew Stafford a couple times in Camp here but no but the bottom line is he could retire and then you know his The Leverage there is hey guys were you going to find a quarterback of my magnitude you know to take your all these other guys to the promised land for you know 3540 million a year you know the answer is nowhere right right I mean that's what uh uh what's his name from the um yeah I I guess you know I guess it's just frustrating to me that that we're back here talking about more money for our quarterback again but that's just how I feel about I love the guy but it's not necessarily more it's just guaranteeing it you know and so forth so um and then of course his other uh uh you know his other point of Leverage is um you know and guys do this you know we've seen plenty of guys do this I don't think Stafford is this way but you know when money's involved and agents get involved he has a lot of money guaranteed if he gets injured and um you know so if Stafford you know he's pretty banged up if he were to get hit and he went he got you know if he had to retire due to injury there'd be a lot of money flowing his way so that's the other uh that's the other thing I don't think I hope they figured out I don't don't read me wrong I love the guy he's probably my favorite quarterback ever I just uh hate having to talk about this as yeah it's part of the game um anyway In fairness to Optimus though they have done a pretty bad job of protecting him you look at the last two seasons the guy's been laid out you know how many quarterbacks they have a spinal injury you know so it's like they have not done it you know they have laid him out there I mean so in all fairness I'm surprised it only it only came up this season I'm sure it's come up before yeah I mean he could take the Tom Brady route as as well and say Hey you know use my money to to yeah improve this team yeah I just think he just wants the security of like hey you're you're not going to move on from me right like guarantee me more cash so I'll be the guy because I want to keep playing right the Allin that you refer to YouTube you know NFL Network special and based on this contract based on the other free agent signings in this two threee window I think that's really what it is he wants that commitment like hey I'm ready for three years are you ready for another two to three years with me give me some cash give me security and then we're all on the same page let's go win a championship right after the sunset so hey work it out he's not asking for a record-breaking contract he's not asking for a you know daak type of $60 million a year yeah and I and I have to apologize when I hear the numbers um I can't even wrap my arms around it to be quite honest with you uh and I haven't really seen it on paper in front of me um I just hear you know new contract guarantees and and such and it it just little just annoys me just a tad so guys um quick uh Pop Quiz here or pop poll I should say um based upon uh where we're at right now and I know we talked about this you know through reviewing the depth chart that guys like achillo and doson and stuff were added later on in uh you know June kind of time frame post June one cuts and stuff um And Trades but what where would you put the Rams uh record what would be your record prediction right now um your win total prediction in in uh based upon the um I we know who who we're playing we just don't know when we're playing them so the schedule release is just you know for everybody out there it's not you know a lot of schedule releases are oh who are they going to play well in the NFL it's predetermined the only thing the schedule release does is tell you when you're going to play them in you know Week 1 through 18 and when you're bias so we know who we're going to play Paul based upon this record we just went through every every position group's got a b or better except for the uh inside linebackers or B minus um you know the whole offense is an a what's your win total prediction preliminary on 5724 12 and five I think I think they going to have a 12 win season Ian oh God I mean look it it's we're going to be realistic here I think I think 10 wins is acceptable I think 10 wins based off who we play right Miami Dolphins Buffalo Bills Jets you know non-injured most likely uh you know we got to play the West to the Cardinals got better Seattle got a little bit better Niners are always a pain in the ass I think uh I think 10 wins is realistic and I think get the 10 we're getting in the tournament and who gives a damn but that's what my number is 11 or 12 fantastic 13 14 obviously number one seed territory but I think 10 wins is the double digit 10 wins would be fantastic and I'd be happy with that outcome truthfully Mark I'll split the difference and say 11 I think this team even without Aaron Donald is a little bit better overall than last year and we we got off to a bad start got a young team got to avoid that slow start this year um but we still got you know Matthew Stafford these receivers a great offensive line I'm tough schedule really tough schedule but I'm I'm going to go with 11 and six I was going to originally say 12 and five and then I realized to get out of that schedule with just five losses might be asking too much so um I'll go with 11 and six yeah I think that's a good I'm going to go 11 and six also now the reason I ask you or one of the reasons I ask you guys is you know get your preliminary thoughts here and we'll you know once we get the schedule and look everything and we're going to dive a lot more into this but um do you guys know that the uh Las Vegas odds for the Rams you know what the Las Vegas odds for the Rams over under win total is let's hear this let's hear this nonsense I don't know eight and a half yeah I'll bet the over on that yeah and um and uh they are the eighth you know how many teams make the playoffs in each conference right seven and they are the eighth team they have the eighth best odds to make the playoffs so the teams to make the playoffs ahead of them are the ners the uh Falcons the Cowboys and the Lions to win their divisions and then and then the uh Eagles Packers and Bears to uh get in as wild cards and the Rams are a distant um eighth and uh so yeah not getting a lot of love here uh in Las Vegas guys and um I can tell you I'm going to be putting down a pretty penny I'm trying to figure out which way to go is it bet him to make the playoffs is it you know uh they have some great odds to win the NFC at uh 15 to1 and so um 14 to1 and uh so yeah a lot of different ways to go here I'm thinking the over I mean the the odds that make the playoffs are almost even money right um just over uh you get bet 100 to win 110 so a little bit of a bum but I'm thinking you you take the just go over eight and a half I mean maybe they win nine games and don't make the playoffs and you still win so um yeah that eight I just the ram bottom line is the reason I brought this up not to get into a a betting segment on uh Rams up Podcast but it's more than anything um that our sentiment is vastly different than the public sentiment on the Rams um the Rams are uh are being undervalued uh quite a bit out there so and there Donald thing probably has a lot to do with that yeah yeah oh oh what are you going to do now you lost to you know the best defensive player of the generation so interesting well good stuff great segment guys thanks a lot and uh we'll come back next week maybe what we do is um Mark you had heard that we're that the uh potentially the uh I don't know why they're so covert about when they're going to drop this schedule but um they don't give us a date I think they have now oh they have now okay next they're saying the 15th okay so maybe what we do is maybe what we could do is um do the round table a day later next week on the 15th and review the schedule uh and how that impacts the Rams and where are uh you know who we're playing when who we start off with um and uh night games and uh you know Monday night Sunday night and Thursday night and when our uh when our uh by week is and yeah get into all that stuff so we we'll plan on U seeing everybody next Wednesday um uh probably record Wednesday drop it late Wednesday or early Thursday morning on a schedule release round table so uh good stuff thanks everybody and this is Tom at Rams spe on X joined by Ian Mark and Paul as always uh thanks again and we'll catch you guys next week yes oh gosh guys football is here it's here it basically is once schedule release happens it's it's to you know a little two Monon break and now we're back in it happy to be here