2016 Lions Opponents: Did They Improve? NFC North & More
By Al Stahl
Los Angeles Rams
The new look Rams are now in Los Angeles and although the stadium and surrounding will look different, the players on the field will look largely the same. While Jeff Fisher is sick of finishing 7-9, the team seems almost destined for that finish. In the past 6 seasons, the Rams have finished 7-9 three times, 7-8-1 once, and 6-10 once. They haven’t finished with a winning record since 2003. The Rams might be the strangest form of performance art I’ve ever seen.
The offense:
| 2015 Offensive Starters | Proj. 2016 O Starters | |||
| Pos. | Player | Pos. | Player | |
| LT | Greg Robinson | LT | Greg Robinson | |
| LG | Garrett Reynolds | LG | Cody Wichmann | |
| C | Tim Barnes | C | Tim Barnes | |
| RG | Andrew Donnal | RG | Jamon Brown | |
| RT | Robert Havenstein | RT | Rodger Saffold | |
| TE | Jared Cook | TE | Lance Kendricks | |
| WR | Kenny Britt | WR | Kenny Britt | |
| WR | Tavon Austin | WR | Tavon Austin | |
| WR | Brian Quick | WR | Brian Quick | |
| RB | Todd Gurley | RB | Todd Gurley | |
| QB | Nick Foles | QB | Jared Goff |
The offensive line dealt with some injury issues last year with OT Roger Saffold and OG Jamon Brown missing extended time, but tackles Greg Robinson and Saffold are a decent, if underwhelming pair. The team also gets Brown back and second-year late draft pick Cody Wichmann mans the left guard spot, sandwiching returning center Tim Barnes.
Tight end Jared Cook is gone, replaced by Lance Kendricks and QB Nick Foles will be replaced by Jared Goff or Case Keenum, a depressing choice to have to make.
It looks like the Rams will be counting on the defense to win games this year. So what’s new?
| 2015 Defensive Starters | Proj. 2016 D Starters | |||
| Pos. | Player | Pos. | Player | |
| DE | Chris Long | DE | William Hayes | |
| DT | Aaron Donald | DT | Aaron Donald | |
| DT | Michael Brockers | DT | Michael Brockers | |
| DE | Robert Quinn | DE | Robert Quinn | |
| OLB | Akeem Ayers | OLB | Akeem Ayers | |
| MLB | James Laurinaitis | MLB | Alec Ogletree | |
| OLB | Alec Ogletree | CB | Trumaine Johnson | |
| CB | Trumaine Johnson | WS | Mark Barron | |
| FS | Rodney McLeod | FS | Cody Davis | |
| SS | T.J. McDonald | SS | T.J. McDonald | |
| CB | Janoris Jenkins | CB | Lamarcus Joyner |
Chris Long is gone as he’ll be replaced by William Hayes at defensive end. The rest of the 2015 starting defensive line returns including Aaron Donald. The linebacking corps is without James Laurinaitis who left/wasn’t retained in free agency. The Rams will be playing safety Mark Barron as a linebacker safety hybrid in Laurinaitis’ place.
In the secondary, Trumaine Johnson re-upped with the team in the offseason but Janoris Jenkins and Rodney McLeod both left in free agency. Jenkins will be replaced by Lamarcus Joyner and Cody Davis will take over at free safety for McLeod.
Verdict
This looks like a team that I would bet good money on to finish 7-9. If this team finishes with a winning record I will eat my shoe.
Playing the AFC East and NFC South, you can count on a 3-5 record in those games. Pair that with a 2-4 division record and that puts the Rams at 5-9 with the Lions and Giants left to play.
Lions’ chances of a home victory: 85%
Next: New Orleans Saints