Rams Are Contenders, Claims Colin Cowherd; The 2 Reasons Why
Write off the 2023 Los Angeles Rams? Even the guys in charge of the team are talking this offseason in a tone that suggests the Super Bowl expectations of the last half-decade should maybe be lowered a tad.
But one observer disagrees. Loudly.
“It’s a head coach-quarterback league,” Cowherd said this week on his FOX Sports show. "What is the best quarterback-coach combo in the NFL? … (Matthew) Stafford and (Sean) McVay are No. 2. They are.''
It's an interesting concept, and Cowherd backs it up by citing the tandem work of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady in New England and the ongoing success of Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, where the latest Super Bowl title sits.
But ...
The Rams have said goodbye to Jalen Ramsey, Bobby Wagner and Leonard Floyd, part of what is customarily called a "rebuild'' - as much as L.A. dislikes calling it that.
At the same time, McVay opting to return in 2023 after considering other options almost counts as a "get.'' Stafford is obviously star-caliber and right now "has that look in his eye.'' Like McVay, Aaron Donald weighed his options but is coming back and remains among the NFL's best interior defensive linemen. And Cooper Kupp will be healthy and figures to compete again for the honor as the league's most productive receiver.
But most of all, to Cowherd, it's about two guys.
“Quarterback is probably 60 percent of (success),'' he asserts. coach is probably 40% of it. Brady-Belichick, Reid-Mahomes. ... If you look at what wins in the NFL, it’s a wealthy, non-meddling owner: check. A dominating defensive line presence: check. A great weapon, Cooper Kupp, who was getting MVP consideration: check. An offensive coach: check. And a star quarterback: check.''
The Rams were 5-12 last year after having won the Super Bowl the season before. They are projected by many to be in the same lowly range this year.
Nevertheless, when Cowherd says, "People have just decided that the LA Rams off a bad season are done'' ... he means "people are wrong.''
And if he's right? Yes, maybe McVay and Stafford will be the central reasons.
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