Rams End of Season Report Card Grading E

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The Los Angeles Rams capped off the 2021 season the same way they hoped it would finish, winning Super Bowl LVI inside their home stadium. Their all-in approach paid large dividends and as a result, the Rams are world champions.In reflecting back on how the season came to an end, we graded each position group, taking into consideration the production from the regular season and the Rams' playoff run in which they hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.QuarterbackDespite sitting tied atop the NFL in interceptions, quarterback Matthew Stafford's first season as in a Rams uniform was a smashing succe s. Of his 13-year NFL career, Stafford posted the highest quarterback rating of 102.9. Blake Griffin Jersey  His year concluded with four playoff wins  the first four of his career  and led the Rams to their first Super Bowl victory in over two decades. It was an impre sive season for Stafford, whose seamle s integration into Sean McVay's offense will have the Rams as Super Bowl contenders for years to come.Grade:ARunning BacksA three-headed monster that saw all three starters lead the Rams backfield at one point this season. Darrell Henderson was the unquestioned starter to begin the season. The third-year tailback started 10 of the first 11 games, where he averaged 82 yards from scrimmage per contest. After an injury to Henderson, Sony Michel was handed the reigns to the backfield. Michel's stretch run as the starter acro s six games of the season, he averaged 90 rushing yards per game while scoring three touchdowns.Come the playoffs and Cam Akers made his miraculous return after mi sing five months following a torn Achilles suffered just ahead of training camp. Still, Akers Kawhi Leonard Jersey  was the Rams' starting running back on their Super Bowl run. Overall this position was solid for the Rams. While it wasn't overly special, the Rams' rushers were reliable when called upon.Grade: B-Wide ReceiversA historic season by Cooper Kupp made the Rams offense a well-oiled machine. Crushing franchise records in receptions, receiving yards and earning the NFL's wide receiver triple crown, led to a record-breaking campaign for Kupp.Robert Woods continued to be a reliable target before suffering an ACL tear. Woods was on pace for another 1,000-yard season, which would have been the third of his career. Second-year receiver Van Jefferson took another step forward and became a viable deep threat for the Rams.The emergence of Odell Beckham Jr. captured a second gear of what he still has in the tank as it pertains to his contributions as a pa s-catcher. It was an ugly release from the Browns, but Beckham adapted exceptionally well to the Rams' offense, coming up with critical catches in key moments of the playoffs.Carried by Kupp's record-breaking season and Beckham's playoff performance, this group was one of the NFL's best receiving groups.Grade: ATight EndsTyler Higbee continued to be a crucial part of the Rams' offense. Without Gerald Everett to split time with, Higbee was the unquestioned number one tight end. Despite what looked to be a potential breakout season for Higbee, it didn't quite come to fruition. Higbee's final stat line was 61 catches for 560 yards and five touchdowns.Kendall Blanton, primarily a blocking tight end through the regular season, flashed in the Rams' NFC Championship game with a career-high five catches for 57 yards, one week after catching his first touchdown of the season in Tampa Bay in the Divisional Round.The Rams' tight end position was nothing flashy, but still got the job done.Grade: COffensive LineAccording to , Rodney McGruder Jersey  the Rams offensive line finished the season ranked as the seventh-best offensive line. At the age of 40, Andrew Whitworth shined at the left tackle spot. While the front five held up strong for great portions of the year, the most worrisome positions all came from the interior positions. Stafford was only sacked on 4.83% of dropbacks this season, the sixth-lowest total in the NFL. Games are won in the trenches, and the Rams' offensive line certainly held their own through the season.Scroll to ContinueGrade: B+Defensive LineLed once again by Aaron Donald, the Rams defensive line was a force throughout the season. For the seventh straight season, Donald finished top five in Defensive Player of the Year voting, while being named to his seventh-straight first-team all-pro team.With Sebastian Joseph-Day mi sing most of the season, Greg Gaines filled in on the defensive line. The La Habra product recorded 4.5 sacks while posting 38 tackles, including three for lo s.  Wesley Johnson Jersey A'Shawn Robinson forced a couple of fumbles and recorded two sacks, appearing in all 17 games. Overall, the line was disruptive, constantly applying pre sure on opposing quarterbacks while stuffing the run.Grade: ALinebackersWith the addition of Von Miller at the trade deadline, the Rams' outside linebackers became a force this season. With Miller and Leonard Floyd chasing quarterbacks off the edge, the Rams' edge-rushers formed one of the better outside pairings in football.Despite a surprising trade of Kenny Young, the Rams' young inside linebacking core impre sed down the stretch run. Ernest Jones, the rookie third-round pick from the University of South Carolina, proved to be a quality piece for the Rams defense before an ankle injury caused him to mi s four games, including the first two playoff rounds.Grade: BSecondaryJalen Ramsey continued to show why he is considered one of the game's elite cornerbacks. Ramsey allowed 624 yards in coverage, a completion percentage of 59.2% of pa ses thrown his way. As a result, it earned Ramsey his second straight first-team All-Pro selection and seventh-straight Pro Bowl.Darious Williams solved the Rams' early-season cornerback woes down the stretch of the season. Williams defended nine pa ses while accumulating 71 tackles during the season. The 28-year-old is poised to hit free agency this offseason and projects a four-year contract worth 58 million in his future.Safeties Taylor Rapp and Jordan Fuller provided another solid season on the back-end. Fuller posted a of 74.3, while Rapp was close behind at 65.5. The Rams allowed the second-least amount of touchdowns to wide receivers this year, only allowing an average of one per game. While this position may see some turnover this offseason, they should return to another quality secondary next year.Grade: B+Special TeamsJohnny Hekker struggled in his 10th season with the Rams. Among 36 qualified punters, Hekker ranked 29th in yards per punt. But, he did finish fourth overall amongst punts downed inside the 20-yard line with 47.8% of his punts leaving opponents deep in their territory.Matt Gay finished the season, converting 94.3% of field goals attempted and hitting 98%  Paul George Jersey of extra-point attempts. Gay has provided some stability at the kicker position over the last two years that