Skip to main content
LA Sports Hub
Fansided

Los Angeles Rams: Three biggest concerns heading into 2018

ByJason Reed|
SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 17: Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay reacts on the sidelines during the first quarter of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - DECEMBER 17: Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay reacts on the sidelines during the first quarter of the game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on December 17, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
4of 4
(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

3. The fact that teams that rely on elite running backs rarely win Super Bowls

Relying solely on history books to try and predict what happens next is not capturing the big picture. While it is very helpful to find patterns, especially in sports, the future can hold something completely different than has ever happened before; likeNick Foleswinning a Super Bowl.

More fromLA Sports Hub

However, in the last 20 or so years, not many teams have won a Super Bowl that had to rely on an elite running back to kickstart the offense. And while the Rams are talented in the passing game with Cooks,Cooper Kupp,Robert Woodsand quarterbackJared Goff, the offense lives and breathes onTodd Gurley.

Gurley opens up the passing game and is even a huge tool in throwing the ball as well. That is why Gurley won the Offensive Player of the Year award and was the only NFL player with over 2000 yards from scrimmage.

The problem is, teams that have elite runners they rely on rarely win Super Bowls. The most recent example is the Seattle Seahawks in 2014 that hadMarshawn Lynch. And while he was elite at the time, it was the defense that carried the load all season as Lynch started trending down from his prime.

Aside from that, it is hard to find a team that relied on an elite running back like the Rams do with Gurley. The last team that really relied on an elite running back and won the Super Bowl was the 1999-2000 Rams. Even that is questionable as that team hadKurt Warner.

Next: Five Rams with the most to prove

Luckily for the Los Angeles Rams, this 2018 team is similar to the 1999-2000 Rams. They both have a young quarterback and a running back that can surpass 2000 yards from scrimmage. If any team is going to break the mold it is the Rams, but it is going to be hard.

Add us as a preferred source onGoogle
Follow

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations