Holes For The Defending NFC Champs

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Los Angeles Rams Training Camp In Irvine, California

The Rams will be heading into 2019 again with high expectations after reaching the Super Bowl in 2018. They are still a very talented group, especially on offense. There are still some concerns on the offensive side of the ball and they should certainly look to add some depth.

Holes For The Defending NFC Champs

Offensive Line

The Rams are very fortunate that left tackle Andrew Whitworth is returning after contemplating retirement. If Whitworth decided to hang them up, the Rams would’ve had to replace three starters along the offensive line. The Rams decided to let starting center John Sullivan go and they lost Rodger Saffold in free agency. The team will need to add depth across the board. They need to inject more youth to the group.

Running Back

Todd Gurley signed a huge deal entering the 2018 season and if not for the sensational season by Patrick Mahomes, Gurley may have won MVP. However, Gurley was banged up towards the end of the season and missed some games towards the end of the year because of a sore knee. There are reports that Gurley has tendinitis in his knee which is concerning. If those reports are true, the team should look to add another back to the room. They decided to match the Lions offer sheet for backup running back Malcolm Brown, but the Rams should really look to add another back. C.J. Anderson, who was a godsend for the team at the end of the season is a free agent, but he could be looking for more money after his performance at the end of the year. Even if Gurley’s knee is ok, LA still needs to add depth to the position.The Rams would appear to have more holes along the defensive side of the ball. They have added some veterans like Eric Weddle and Clay Matthews, but those are more short term fixes.

Defensive Line

The Rams have the most dominant defensive player in football in Aaron Donald, and Michael Brockers is still a quality player. After performing well in the playoffs especially the NFC title game, Dante Fowler Jr. returned on a one year deal. They could use some depth at both end and interior defensive line.

Secondary

Eric Weddle is still a savvy veteran player and if Wade Philips utilizes him properly, he can be a difference maker on the back end replacing Lamarcus Joyner. John Johnson is probably one of the better safeties in the game that no one talks about. The cornerback position, however, is a different story. Aqib Talib isn’t getting any younger and missed most of last season with an ankle injury. Marcus Peters was very inconsistent. He still can find the ball with the best of them but he will need to find consistency in his game before the Rams commit big money to him.

The Rams don’t have a second round pick this year and they seem to be in prime position to trade back out of the first round for more draft picks. The Rams are one of the favorites in the NFC heading into 2019, and as talented as they are, there is still work to be done