Rams have an elite coach. We have a below average coach.
Talent and management elsewhere are pretty dang even.
Stafford over Baker is a fairly big delta but I'm not so sure Stafford can stay healthy two more seasons. We shall see.
But again the main difference in being super bowl favorites comes from coaching and better drafting the last 3 years (not counting this year... Rams whiffed).
I don't know about even talent elsewhere; seems like a stretch.
let's just go through it
HC - McVay top 10 coach, Bowles bottom 10 coach
QB - Stafford top 5 guy, Baker - top 18 guy
so we admit those deltas
RB - Kyren Williams a perennial 1200 yard guy the last 3 years. had just 1,144 in 12 games in 2023 but you get my drift. Bucky was a dawg his rookie year but injuries aside took a step back in his sophomore season. Let's chalk it up to injuries along the offensive line but until he shows rebound on the field, he is not on the same playing field as Williams
WR - I mean Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. This is not even a discussion and our WR core is one of our strengths
TE - Did you see those Two drops in prime time that Otton turned into INTs, one a pick six. Painful to watch but aside from that Rams have one of the deepest TE groups in the league - higbee, Parkinson, etc.
OL - First edge that the Bucs get is offensive line with Wirfs and Goedeke leading the way.
DL - Kobie Turner, Brandon Fiske, Poona Ford versus Vea, Kanc....scratch that he just got hurt again, Roberts, and Robinson. Rams get the edge here
Edge - Okay to be excited with Bains but let's be real....Garrett and Young are the best in the league
Linebackers - I'll give the Bucs the edge here with Anzalone and Rozeboom but neither teams LB rooms are different makers
Secondary - Trent McDuffie, Kam Curl, Kamren Kichens, Jaylen Watson, and Quentin Lake versus McCollum, Smith, Winfield, Morrison, and Parrish. this is close for me but got ot give the slight edge to the Rams here
I mean i dislike Bowles as much as the next guy but apples and bowling balls in terms of talent on each team
Agreed. I'd say the Rams have a pretty clear talent edge at this point. I don't think it's all that close. It used to be close, but not anymore.
The Rams are definitely ahead of the Bucs in talent but not that far ahead. For the Bucs they need a lot of their young talent to step up to keep pace or stay ahead of the Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Eagles, Lions, Bears, Vikings, Panthers, Falcons, Cowboys and Commanders. The Saints, Cardinals and the Giants are not far behind either. The Bucs are definitely a tier 2 team while the Seahawks, 49ers and Rams are tier 1 teams.
The Rams are definitely ahead of the Bucs in talent but not that far ahead. For the Bucs they need a lot of their young talent to step up to keep pace or stay ahead of the Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Eagles, Lions, Bears, Vikings, Panthers, Falcons, Cowboys and Commanders. The Saints, Cardinals and the Giants are not far behind either. The Bucs are definitely a tier 2 team while the Seahawks, 49ers and Rams are tier 1 teams.
With Bain, Trotter, Scott, Anzalone, Robinson, Nunez, Rozeboom, Muhammad, Killibrew Tampa will have a different (improved) defense in 2026.
Our offense just needs to stay healthy. Also, the RB room is light.
The Rams are definitely ahead of the Bucs in talent but not that far ahead. For the Bucs they need a lot of their young talent to step up to keep pace or stay ahead of the Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, Eagles, Lions, Bears, Vikings, Panthers, Falcons, Cowboys and Commanders. The Saints, Cardinals and the Giants are not far behind either. The Bucs are definitely a tier 2 team while the Seahawks, 49ers and Rams are tier 1 teams.
i'd probably rank it like this
tier 1
1. Rams
2. Seahawks
3. Eagles
4. 49ers
tier 2
5. Detroit - expect a bounce back
6. Chicago
7. Green Bay
8. Tampa Bay
9. Dallas
10. Washington
Tier 3
11. Minnesota
12. Carolina
13. Giants
Tier 4
14. New Orleans
15. Atlanta
16. Arizona
I'm talking prior to the Garrett trade. With that trade they def take a leap but they also Verse so it's not AS big of a talent leap adding him and losing future assets.
The talent gap favors the rams (especially when you trade for two all pro players) but even with that trade the gap isn't as big as everyone thinks.
They have a system making a QB great and a great QB making good talent great.
Does anyone really think Puka produces like he is playing for the Browns with Sanders throwing to him in that scheme? No fucking way.
We already saw what Adams does with Raiders and Jets. Huge delta in production (and attitude).
Rams TEs are 100% a function of scheme and great play calling.
Everyone in that offense over performs because of McVay. Everyone in Grizz offense under performs because of Grizz.
Everyone on defense underperforms because Bowles is clueless.
Coach and Stafford combo is carrying this team and NOW they have an elite defense.
I'd say the Rams have a pretty clear talent edge at this point. I don't think it's all that close. It used to be close, but not anymore.
They're clearly better than us at nearly every level on offense: QB, RB, WR, etc.
Then, with the obvious clear on their DL/EDGE
But, the biggest gap of talent is at HC.
It's like comparing a Ferrari to a Corolla.
McVay is determinedly chasing elite performance in players & coaching.
McVay is determinedly chasing elite performance in players & coaching.
Yes, maybe the best coach in the game, not just a great offensive mind.
McVay is solid. Chris Shula isn't a top ten D coach. That's where Seattle had them last year. As good an OC as the Rams with a much better DC.
Will Fleury be as deft at what Seattle wants to do as Kubiak was. Probably as he comes from that Shanahan tree. Losing Walker will hurt the Seahawks though.