The 2020 NFL Scouting Combine will run through the weekend and into Monday, but Sean McVay’s work is done in Indianapolis. He spent just one night at the combine, doing his media obligations before leaving on Wednesday to head back to Los Angeles.
General manager Les Snead is still at Lucas Oil Stadium doing the bulk of the scouting with his team, though he acknowledged that the Rams’ initial draft board is already set. He also spoke to the media this week, shedding light on a number of topics.
McVay and Snead touched on everything from Todd Gurley’s workload to the franchise tag to Jared Goff’s regression to Tyler Higbee’s future in L.A. Here are the most interesting and important things the coach and GM said at the combine.
Franchise tag :: Whitworth’s status :: Higbee’s future :: Ramsey deal :: Goff regression :: McVay’s growth :: Draft plan :: Gurley’s workload
Rams would be open to using franchise tag
Teams can begin using the franchise tag on Thursday, Feb. 27 with the deadline to apply it coming on March 12. The Rams have two obvious candidates for the tag with Cory Littleton and Dante Fowler Jr., and while it would be a costly move, it isn’t one the Rams are completely opposed to. Snead made it clear that the team would prefer not to use the tag, but acknowledged that both the franchise and transition tags are available.
“We have a franchise and a transition available right now, right,” Snead said. “There hasn’t been a collective bargaining agreement so I think at that point we’re still going through a lot of things, trying to determine the best strategy to get as many of our good football players who’ve helped us win a lot of games over the last three years back. That’s always impossible but having those tools in the tool box definitely allows you to try to accomplish that.”
He continued:
“We would always love to get things done before, try not to use the tag because that can become more of a short-term type decision, but it doesn’t mean that you do. Technically, I think you try to work to the deadline to get something done with the players you want to get done, and then from there, as it gets closer, decide is it best to utilize that or not.”
Franchise tag :: Whitworth’s status :: Higbee’s future :: Ramsey deal :: Goff regression :: McVay’s growth :: Draft plan :: Gurley’s workload
Andrew Whitworth is most likely coming back
Ever since Whitworth said he plans to play another season, it’s seemed likely that he’ll be back with the Rams. He said it’s his No. 1 option, adding that he has unfinished business in L.A. Everything the Rams have said indicates Whitworth will most likely be back, including what McVay said at the combine.
“I think we’re pretty confident,” McVay said of re-signing Whitworth, via Rich Hammond of The Athletic. “I think you feel pretty good about it. He still played a really high level last year. His impact isn’t exclusive to just playing the left tackle position. He does a lot of really good things in terms of the mentorship that he provides. … He’s a part of the plan and definitely want to try to get him back.”
Franchise tag :: Whitworth’s status :: Higbee’s future :: Ramsey deal :: Goff regression :: McVay’s growth :: Draft plan :: Gurley’s workload
Tyler Higbee isn’t going anywhere
Before Higbee’s breakout finish to the 2019 season, there were some wondering if he might be a trade candidate this offseason – even after signing an extension last year. Gerald Everett has a unique skill set and was a second-round pick in 2017, showing the potential to be a good receiving tight end.
It’s Higbee who’s taken over as the No. 1 tight end, and the Rams have big plans for him in 2020.
“He made a huge impact for us. He’s always been a very important part of it and I thought it was great for Tyler to be able to get the opportunities and to be able to maximize that,” McVay said. “… We’ve got big plans for him. That’s something that I thought it was great for him to be able to maximize those opportunities and we think he’s got a very bright future.”
Franchise tag :: Whitworth’s status :: Higbee’s future :: Ramsey deal :: Goff regression :: McVay’s growth :: Draft plan :: Gurley’s workload
CBA may be delaying Jalen Ramsey’s extension
Ramsey is under contract for the 2020 season, but he’ll be a free agent in 2021 if the Rams can’t sign him to an extension before next March. Les Snead was asked about negotiations with Ramsey, but it doesn’t seem there’s much urgency to get a deal done.
“There’s really no timeline on that, like when the deal gets done, at this point,” Snead said. “But we’d definitely like to have Jalen helping the Rams for more than just the 2020 season.”
NFL owners and the NFLPA are still trying to come to an agreement on the new collective bargaining agreement, which could be delaying Ramsey’s extension. He’s expected to reset the cornerback market, so perhaps the Rams want to see how the new CBA will impact the salary cap down the line before signing him to a new deal.
Franchise tag :: Whitworth’s status :: Higbee’s future :: Ramsey deal :: Goff regression :: McVay’s growth :: Draft plan :: Gurley’s workload
McVay doesn’t think Jared Goff regressed
Goff pretty clearly took a step back in 2019, seeing his numbers decline in just about every statistical category. He only threw 22 touchdown passes to 16 interceptions, struggling against some of the better defenses in football.
McVay doesn’t think he regressed, though, instead pinning the blame on the offense as a whole. He remains confident in his quarterback moving forward, partly thanks to the way he bounced back late in the year.
“What I think happened is our offense regressed, but then what I feel good about, if you look at the last third of the season, those last five games, he played his best ball,” McVay said on CBS Sports HQ. “And I think that coincided with our offense having good production, scoring up in the 30-point range. You’re seeing production that’s more consistent to what we had seen in years past. What I loved the most about what last year did is it was a great learning opportunity, but for him, you saw him respond from some adversity, played best down the stretch, and I think that’s where he can draw a lot of confidence. I know I certainly have a lot of confidence in him as we move forward.”
Franchise tag :: Whitworth’s status :: Higbee’s future :: Ramsey deal :: Goff regression :: McVay’s growth :: Draft plan :: Gurley’s workload
McVay continues to grow as a coach
The Rams offense could add a new element in the future, unlike one we’ve seen from McVay in the last three years. He was open to incorporating a fullback, saying “Oh yeah, absolutely” when asked about that possibility.
McVay wants to keep defenses honest and prevent the Rams offense from being predictable, which some would argue it became due to his reliance on outside zone runs, play action and 11 personnel. He continues to grow as a coach and learn from his past mistakes, as made clear by his willingness to adapt.
“We’re excited about diving in and making sure we’ve got some better things we can do, so you feel like you’re able to dictate the terms and not feel like defenses are doing that to you,” he said, via The Athletic.
Franchise tag :: Whitworth’s status :: Higbee’s future :: Ramsey deal :: Goff regression :: McVay’s growth :: Draft plan :: Gurley’s workload
Rams may play it safer in draft
As of now, the Rams only have three picks in the first five rounds, being without selections in the first and fifth. They could get a compensatory pick in the third or fourth round, which would help their draft capital.
But even still, Snead acknowledged the fact that the Rams may have to play it safer with fewer picks to work with. He’s always tempted to take boom-or-bust prospects, but with a limited pool of picks, he may steer toward the “solid, sound” player.
“When you have less draft picks, you have to run that equation,” Snead said. “Do you just get a solid, sound pick because you have less picks in the mutual fund? So it’s probably better to just go solid, sound. But you could always be tempted if someone fell that is more boom or bust because you’re saying he’s got some element of better skills than where you would be picking them but something causes them to fall. But that becomes a volatile investment that you’ve got to weigh.”
Franchise tag :: Whitworth’s status :: Higbee’s future :: Ramsey deal :: Goff regression :: McVay’s growth :: Draft plan :: Gurley’s workload
Todd Gurley’s workload is unlikely to increase
The Rams didn’t give Gurley his usual share of touches in 2019, limiting his workload after he missed games toward the end of the 2018 season and into the playoffs due to a knee injury. Snead saw positives that came out of limiting Gurley’s touches and keeping him fresh, which makes it likely that the Rams will take a similar approach in 2020.
“I would say the good thing about that plan is that Todd was available,” Snead said. “I mean, he was playing last game, what you didn’t notice, he was fresh in the red zone, didn’t score as many TDs here as he had in the past but was still probably (a) top-five touchdown maker. There was definitely some positive effects of trying to come up with a good way to keep him (fresh) – and again, it goes with our wide receivers, it goes with our tight ends, probably less our offensive linemen, but the players who are spending a lot of time running a lot of yards, how do we keep them fresh, beginning of the game, end of the game, September, October, into January. That science is all new, and we’re all trying to utilize it to the best of our abilities.”
Franchise tag :: Whitworth’s status :: Higbee’s future :: Ramsey deal :: Goff regression :: McVay’s growth :: Draft plan :: Gurley’s workload
