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Hacksaw’s Thursday Podcast…1pm…NFL PREVIEW
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“READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL-RAMS-NOT THE SAME TEAM”
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A big weekend ahead of us
And big questions for the LA Rams.

Sean McVay has done a marvelous job with the LA Rams, winning a Super Bowl, getting to a second Big Show, and taking a rebuilding team to a 10-win season.

But things look and feel different as the Rams get ready to renew a bad blood NFC-rivalry with the Detroit Lions this weekend.

Yes he still has legendary QB-Matthew Stafford.
Yes he has do everything WR-Cooper Kupp back healthy.
Yes he hopes 2nd year WR-Puka Nacua can exceed what he did last year.

But he does have the pillar of his defense in Pro Bowl tackle Aaron Donald who retired.

And they don’t have leading tackler LB-Ernest Jones, whom they just traded to the Tennessee Titans in a contract dispute.

And for the first time in a couple of years, McVay has to deal with something he did not deal with in past seasons, a siege of injuries before opening day.

The Rams have 3-injured offensive lineman, including both their starting tackles.  They have 3-lineman playing out of position.

All that impacts Stafford in protection packages, and it may impact their ability to run the ball too with young star Kyran Williams and rookie BJ Corum.

They also don’t have starting TE-Tyler Higbee, yet to recover from end of season surgery.

The defense, with Donald and Jones gone, will be very young.

But they think their top two picks, DE-Jared Verse and DT-Brandon Fiske will step in and play very well.  But those two, coupled with Kobie Turner and Byron Young, means a ton of youth along that defensive wall.  That is alot to ask.

They also think middle linebacker Omar Speights can handle what Jones used to get done.

The secondary is led by warhorse safety John Johnson and imports ex-Bills high pick Tre White, coming off two injuries, but is otherwise made up of young guys too.

This will be a very different defensive side of the ball.

The schedule, oh my.

Open at Detroit..then face the Niners, at Chicago, and Green Bay before we get to October.  Back to back games mid year at Seattle-at Miami.  And then a late season gauntlet, Eagles-Bills here, at San Francisco, at the Jets there.

Better get healthy upfront quick.  Better grow up quick on defense quick too.

My heart says a big challenge for McVay.  My head says (9-8) at best.

Rams-Lions grudge match.  Stafford vs Jared Goff.  McVay vs a fire brand in Dan Campbell.  Going to be some 1st week war.

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