With the Seahawks heading to Los Angeles to face the NFL West-leading Rams, Seahawks.com reached out to TheRams.com team insider Myles Simmons to find out more about this week's opponent.
Q: The Rams started 3-1 last year before finishing 1-11 the rest of the way. From afar it certainly looks like this 3-1 start is more "real." Is that an accurate assessment, and why?
Simmons: I think it is an accurate assessment, mainly because of the emergence of the offense. I saw this on an NFL Network graphic last week and I think it probably encapsulates what's been different about this team really well. After four games in 2016, the Rams had a -13 point differential, a -442 yardage differential, their average margin of victory was 5.0 points, and they lost by 28 points to the 49ers. In the same period this year, the Rams have a +37 point differential, a +64 yardage differential, their average margin of victory is 14.7 points, and they lost to Washington by only seven points.
You hear players talk about the culture change, and while that certainly has an effect, it's intangible. But those numbers are concrete, and they're probably what makes it feel more real than anything else.
Q: Along those lines, last week's win at Dallas would certainly seem to validate the hot start, but is this week's game being viewed as something of a benchmark given Seattle's success over the last several years?
Simmons: A few players have been asked about that in the locker room this week, and I think it's fair to say that it is. Everyone knows the Seahawks are the class of the division and have been for much of the last decade. And so even though the Rams have competed well against the Seahawks the past few seasons and know they can go toe-to-toe with them—especially at home—this is definitely an important matchup.
Q: No. 1 in scoring offense, No. 5 in total offense? What the heck happened? Seriously though, how did the Rams offense turn things around so dramatically? Is it just the natural leap for Jared Goff from year 1 to Year 2? Is it improved talent around him? Has the coaching change made that much of a difference?
Simmons: All of the above? One of the biggest keys to the Rams' coaching change was to bring in someone who could foster Goff's development, and the Rams have absolutely done that with Sean McVay. Plus, they added offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur (previously Atlanta's QBs coach) and quarterbacks coach Greg Olson (many years of experience as both an offensive coordinator and QBs coach) to help hammer the messages home.
Then when it comes to talent, L.A. added left tackle Andrew Whitworth and center John Sullivan—plus offensive line coach Aaron Kromer—all of whom have dramatically improved pass protection. The club essentially completely turned over the receivers room by adding Robert Woods through free agency, Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds through the draft, and then Sammy Watkins via trade in training camp.
And once they've started playing the games, McVay has done a really nice job of scheming and calling plays that put the offense in the best position to succeed.
Did I expect offensive improvement? For sure. But I'd be lying if I said I thought the Rams would be the league's top scoring team through four weeks with a new head coach.
Q: On the flip side of that, the Rams are giving up a lot of points and yards. There's still obviously a lot of talent there, is this just a defense going through growing pains under a new coordinator, or is there real cause for concern?
Simmons: I tend to think it's growing pains under a new coordinator, particularly because that coordinator is Wade Phillips. As I've been saying to a lot of Rams fans, this guy hasn't been putting together top defenses for the last 40 years for no reason. So because of that alone, I think L.A. will improve defensively as the season continues.
But another reason for the slow start may be that the Rams didn't have its true first-team defense playing together until, really, last week against Dallas. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald wasn't around until just before the first game, and didn't suit up until Week 2. Three other defensive starters didn't play a snap in preseason. And then starting cornerback Kayvon Webster injured his shoulder in Week 1 and just got back on the field for last week's win over Dallas.
So as the unit continues to play together, I think it will start to jell.
Q: With the Rams still settling into L.A. how big of a deal would a playoff season be for a team still trying to establish itself in a new market?
Simmons: To quote Jim Mora… "Playoffs?? Don't talk about—playoffs? You kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game!"
Kidding aside, it's been a long time since Rams fans have been able to talk about the postseason—particularly here in L.A.—but I think this team still has a lot to prove before we get there. After all, last year's team started 3-1 and then went 1-11 over the next 12, losing the final seven games of the season.
As mentioned before, this year's 3-1 does feel different, but it's still only been a quarter of the season. If the Rams can get through this next stretch of four games at 3-1 or better, then I might be more ready to have that conversation. But this team also hasn't even reached eight wins since 2006. Is the goal to win the NFC West? Absolutely. But the Rams still have a long way to get there.
Take a look back through history at the Seahawks' matchups against the Rams as the two teams ready to face off during Week 5 at the L.A. Colesium.
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Ed Bradley (38) runs in pursuit during an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams in Los Angeles, Oct. 31, 1976. The Rams defeated the Seahawks 45-6. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
Quarterback Dan McGwire (10) of the Seattle Seahawks manages to get the pass off in time to avoid the sack as Jim Skow (68) of the Los Angeles Rams applies the defensive rush during the fourth quarter of their pre-season NFL game, Aug. 7, 1992, in Seattle. Los Angeles beat Seattle, 21-7. (AP Photo/Bill Chan)
Seattle Seahawks's Ricky Watters is turned on his side by St. Louis Rams' Devin Bush during the second half in Seattle Sunday, Sept 10, 2000. The Rams won 37-34. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk tries to hurdle Seahawks defenders to gain more yardage on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2002, at Seattle Seahawks Stadium. Bringing down Faulk are Seattle defenders Antonio Cochran, bottom, Chad Eaton (90) and Rocky Bernard (99). Seattle beat St. Louis, 30-10. (AP Photo/Jim Bryant)
St. Louis Rams Orlando Pace (76) during a game against the Seattle Seahawks on September 21, 2003 at Seahawks Stadium in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle Seahawks beat the St. Louis Rams 24-23.(David Durochik via AP)
St. Louis Rams' Grant Wistrom sacks Seattle Seahawks' Matt Hasselbeck in the second quarter Sunday, Dec. 14, 2003, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Ken Lucas intercepts a pass intended for St. Louis Rams wide receiver Torry Holt (81) in the first quarter Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004 at Qwest Field in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks receiver Jerry Rice leaps to make a one-handed catch against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri on November 14, 2004. The Rams won 23-12. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
St. Louis Rams' Marshall Faulk (28) is taken down by the Seattle Seahawks' Niko Koutouvides (53) and Ken Hamlin (26) in the first quarter of their NFC wild card playoff game in Seattle, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander (37) picks his way through the St. Louis Rams defense in the first quarter, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2005, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/James A. Finley)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck passes under pressure from St. Louis Rams defensive end Leonard Little in the second half Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005 at Qwest Field in Seattle. The Seahawks beat the Rams 31-16. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
St. Louis Rams quarterback Marc Bulger (10) is sacked in front of Seattle Seahawks' Bryce Fisher (94) during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2006, at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis. The Rams lost to the Seahawks 30-28. (AP Photo/Kyle Ericson)
Seattle Seahawks' Nate Burleson (81) scores on a 90-yard punt return against the St. Louis Rams in the fourth quarter of their NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 12, 2006, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Rams 24-22. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Cornerback Marcus Trufant #23 of the Seattle Seahawks lends a leaping hand as teammate Deon Grant #24 intercepts a pass intended for wide receiver Travis Taylor #18 of the St. Louis Rams at Quest Field on October 21, 2007 in Seattle, Washington. The Seahawks defeated the Rams 33-6. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Patrick Kerney (97) sacks St. Louis Rams quarterback Gus Frerotte during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, in St. Louis. The Seahawks won 24-19. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Courtney Taylor pushes off St. Louis Rams cornerback Fakhir Brown as he runs after catching a pass during an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008, in Seattle. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)
St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long (72) keeps Seattle Seahawks running back T.J. Duckett (42) out of the end zone during an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14. 2008, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
Seattle Seahawks' Julius Jones, right, runs 62 yards for a touchdown while pursued by St. Louis Rams' Oshiomogho Atogwe (21) and Rams' James Butler (37) in the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks running back Justin Forsett, left, runs past St. Louis Rams safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, right, and Chris Long, center, on his was to a 26-yard gain during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, in St. Louis. Seattle won 27-17. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck (8) is sacked by St. Louis Rams George Selvie during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
Seattle Seahawks' Tyler Polumbus blocks St. Louis Rams' C.J. Ah You (99) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (15) jumps over Seahawks' Ben Obomanu, bottom left, and St. Louis Rams cornerback Roderick Hood, bottom right, in the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 12, 2011, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Anthony McCoy (85) is tackled by St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins (21) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) passes under pressure from St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long (91) in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in Seattle. The Seahawks defeated the Rams, 20-13. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Bruce Irvin (51) runs against St. Louis Rams tight end Jared Cook (89) after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 28, 2013, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Dec. 29, 2013 - Seattle, Washington, U.S - December 29, 2013..Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate #81 scores on a 47 yard touchdown catch in the 4th quarter against the St. Louis Rams at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, WA..Seahawks defeat the Rams 27 - 9 .George Holland / Cal Sport Media. (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Luke Willson (82) is tackled by St. Louis Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle Seahawks' Tyler Lockett, left, catches a pass as St. Louis Rams running back Isaiah Pead defends during the third quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) leaps over Seattle Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas (29) during an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015 in Seattle. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Seattle Seahawks running back Alex Collins (36) in action during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) heads downfield during an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, in Seattle, Wash. The Seahawks won the game, 24-3. (Greg Trott via AP)
