Who are these guys???

[GimmedaBall]

A coaching change often brings roster turnover. The new staff looks to bring in guys specific to their scheme and ‘vision.’ Are we going to see any purge of the old and in with the new?

Here’s the roster for SK/KK in their last season in 2022:

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/2022_roster.htm#all_roster

Here’s the roster for MO/JG in their first season in 2023:

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/2023_roster.htm#all_starters

Here’s the roster for MO/JG in their fnal season together in 2025:

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/2025_roster.htm#all_starters

This early in the season, PFR does not have the roster up for MO/MLF in their first season together in 2026. (You can do a side-by-side comparison of rosters by opening at least two windows on your screen with the rosters already in alphabetical order.)

At the end of the 3-14 2025 season, Card’s purged HC JG and OC DP. In a strange bit of logic, a lot of the coaches (on the D-side especially) got to stay as did GM MO??? For example, we witnessed a reduced level of performance along the OL with many pointing the blame to the switch in OL coaches—yet the ‘new’ guy got to stay? Who knows what soap opera drama went on in the Cards front office with MB.

What to expect with the opening day 2026 roster—is MO going to hold steady on the roster since for the most part they are his ‘guys.’ Will the D proceed on the same ‘rebuild’ path since the coaching staff there is pretty much the same? Will we get more of the roster churn from the SK/KK era to now?

Is the new HC being given the ‘Steve Wilks’ treatment? Recall that SW was ‘assigned’ his DC and had no voice in selecting his QB. That’s pretty much the welcome for MLF. Did he really ‘want’ Rallis as his DC? Will he have any input in the draft including a selection of a developmental QB to his specs? Is he at the mercy of MO and MB’s draft preferences? Does an O-minded coach approve our QB room and nod that these are the guys he wants to move forward with in his coaching career? Did he have any voice in QB Minshew even as he gives the 'right' answers during his pressers? Does he see JB as a ‘West Coast’ QB?

Did MLF knowingly walk into this perverse and dysfunctional organization to start his career? Is he just another character in a ‘SAW’ movie sequel that repeatedly plays out for coaches/players who go into the Twilight Zone behind the doors of the MB owned team?

 

[Harry]

Since MLF played them twice a year I’m fairly certain he’s not scared by the roster. Being post Murray makes it a whole new game.

 

[Goodyear Card]

When JG was fired, it seems to me that all of the good assistant coaches found jobs on new teams and the coaches who could not find a job we kept. part of this is hiring a HC late in the cycle. There are a limited number of quality assistant coaches that are available to hire. Overall, I will say this coaching staff is worse than when JG was hired.

 

[GimmedaBall]

When JG was fired, it seems to me that all of the good assistant coaches found jobs on new teams and the coaches who could not find a job we kept. part of this is hiring a HC late in the cycle. There are a limited number of quality assistant coaches that are available to hire. Overall, I will say this coaching staff is worse than when JG was hired.

Agree. Our fired coaches got hired before we replaced them. Green Bay and Detroit could have signed our replacement coaches before we did and instead went with our old guys.

Both of those teams are looking at a playoff/SB window. DP will work well with Goff and Gibbs.

You have any idea why we have the unique situation going into this year???

 

[GimmedaBall]

Since MLK played them twice a year I’m fairly certain he’s not scared by the roster. Being post Murray makes it a whole new game.

Gee, Harry. I see that my spelling auto-correct went from MLF to MLK and you have carried my mistake forward. The civil rights icon was not known to coach NFL football. LOL.

Also, it's not the roster that MLF needs to be leery of. It's the dude sitting behind the owner's desk.

 

[mel typer]

Gee, Harry. I see that my spelling auto-correct went from MLF to MLK and you have carried my mistake forward. The civil rights icon was not known to coach NFL football. LOL.

Also, it's not the roster that MLF needs to be leery of. It's the dude sitting behind the owner's desk.

Malcolm X Factor comes into play as well

 

[GimmedaBall]

Draft 2026 has come and gone and one thing should stand out. Even though we have a major coaching change with HC JG and OC DP given pink slips, there has not been the dramatic roster churn normally associated with such changes.

MO is sticking with the roster that he has assembled and so far has NOT churned it to suit our new HC.

We are not into a change of D that normally comes with a new HC. In fact, we kept the DC who was part of that 3-14 disaster last year.

(1) JG and DP were let go for some other reason than the record.
(2) MO is counting on our many injured players to return and play to their original expectations. That alone adds a dimension to the recent draft. A lot of the 'needs' were addressed in previous MO drafts and we did not see the impact because the guys were on IR. MO loaded up on D players---especially last draft---and many went down with injuries. They did not get replaced because they will be back on the field, hopefully healed and at full impact.
(3) Look for our record to improve more in line with that 4 wins to 8 wins bump that was cut off via injury last year. We should be in the running for 9-11 wins this year.
(4) Beck is the perfect QB to run a 'West Coast' offense. The priority is a horizontal passing game, short to intermediate throws. The QB has to have a quick processor between the ears---who can play from the pocket---stand and deliver. Beck has the experience reading D as a result of his long college career. The run game is very prominent and we got some horses in the stable. Our O should be special with the skilled guys we can send out on any given play.
(5) The Rams took Simpson in part to keep him away from the Cards. They knew what he would be able to do with a West Coast O after we drafted RB Love---now, we get to see either JB or Beck pulling the trigger.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

(5) The Rams took Simpson in part to keep him away from the Cards. They knew what he would be able to do with a West Coast O after we drafted RB Love---now, we get to see either JB or Beck pulling the trigger.

My dude, if you seriously think the Rams used a top 15 pick to keep him away from the Cardinals...

 

[GimmedaBall]

My dude, if you seriously think the Rams used a top 15 pick to keep him away from the Cardinals...

IN PART to keep him away from the Cards. They probably see him as someone who could run their West Coast Offense when Stafford hangs up his cleats. Don't forget, our HC is fresh off the staff of the Rams. He is privvy to their thoughts about the QB talent coming out---the Rams and now our HC were sharing the same intel, same eval of Simpson.

Do you seriously think that the Rams wouldn't take the Card's need for a QB into consideration when they are soon to be on that 'need' list themselves??? They HAD to jump the gun on the Cards because chances are next year (when Stafford's back goes out for good), they would be at the bottom of the draft order. They might need Simpson THIS YEAR given Stafford's health.

So yes, I do believe the Rams would take Simpson for themselves IN PART to keep him away from the Cards.

Why do you think the Rams wouldn't make that move?

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Why do you think the Rams wouldn't make that move?

I don't think the Rams think about the Cardinals at all. They're one of the most irrelevant franchises that exists, and the Rams have two other super bowl contending franchises in their very own division!

 

[GimmedaBall]

I don't think the Rams think about the Cardinals at all. They're one of the most irrelevant franchises that exists, and the Rams have two other super bowl contending franchises in their very own division!

They do think about their own self-preservation and continued success. If the Cards are on the horizon to get in their way, they will most certainly 'think' about what the Cards are going to do/not do. Teams cover all the bases---including some that at first glance look to be irrelevant.

Why do you think the Rams would consider ANY team competing for draft asests to be irrelevant? Especially when it comes to a future QB.

 

[mel typer]

Draft 2026 has come and gone and one thing should stand out. Even though we have a major coaching change with HC JG and OC DP given pink slips, there has not been the dramatic roster churn normally associated with such changes.

MO is sticking with the roster that he has assembled and so far has NOT churned it to suit our new HC.

We are not into a change of D that normally comes with a new HC. In fact, we kept the DC who was part of that 3-14 disaster last year.

(1) JG and DP were let go for some other reason than the record.
(2) MO is counting on our many injured players to return and play to their original expectations. That alone adds a dimension to the recent draft. A lot of the 'needs' were addressed in previous MO drafts and we did not see the impact because the guys were on IR. MO loaded up on D players---especially last draft---and many went down with injuries. They did not get replaced because they will be back on the field, hopefully healed and at full impact.
(3) Look for our record to improve more in line with that 4 wins to 8 wins bump that was cut off via injury last year. We should be in the running for 9-11 wins this year.
(4) Beck is the perfect QB to run a 'West Coast' offense. The priority is a horizontal passing game, short to intermediate throws. The QB has to have a quick processor between the ears---who can play from the pocket---stand and deliver. Beck has the experience reading D as a result of his long college career. The run game is very prominent and we got some horses in the stable. Our O should be special with the skilled guys we can send out on any given play.
(5) The Rams took Simpson in part to keep him away from the Cards. They knew what he would be able to do with a West Coast O after we drafted RB Love---now, we get to see either JB or Beck pulling the trigger.

^^^^^^^^
I like this.

 

[mel typer]

I don't think the Rams think about the Cardinals at all. They're one of the most irrelevant franchises that exists, and the Rams have two other super bowl contending franchises in their very own division!

I thought the Rams were trying to take away from the Cardinals as well. 13 was too high to draft Simpson so ....

 

[kerouac9]

We should be in the running for 9-11 wins this year.

The Rams took Simpson in part to keep him away from the Cards.

Just completely unhinged statements

 

[BACH]

Overall, I will say this coaching staff is worse than when JG was hired.

Do not disagree overall, but hopefully the HC is better. Or not coaching scared. JG was good at taking chances and being creative when the roster was bad. He became less creative and super conservative as the roster got better.

 

[GimmedaBall]

Just completely unhinged statements

Well K9,

Just like Ricky arguing with Lucy, you got some ‘splain’ to do to label my comments “unhinged.”

(1) Check the voting tally so far on how many on this forum expect 9 wins+. We got about a 60% unhinged group on this forum. We went from 4 wins to 8 wins, and then the Injury disaster ruined our season. Our injured players are coming back, and we added to that talent base with some dynamic players. We will get back on the improved record trajectory that was derailed with so many IR visits. 9 wins+(or bye-bye Monti.)

(2) Of course, teams one-up each other. In the case of the Rams vs Cards—the Rams had more reason to go after a QB on their draft board than even the Cards. Stafford has a bad back and Jimmy G is rumored to be ready to retire. It was icing on the cake to trade up, get their QB, and still do a Moe Howard eye poke into the Cards’s face. They had to hate the Cards getting RB Love—they are going to have to stop him at least twice a year. The last thing was to have the Cards take a ‘West Coast type’ QB over them---so, they jumped the line and took him first.

Some more unhinged considerations----maybe the Cards pranked the Rams into moving all the way up to #13 by their rumored interest in taking Simpson at the bottom of the first round. Now, there’s some rusty gate on an unhinge for you. LOL.

Did you miss the Eagles pranking the Steelers???

Howie Roseman, Makai Lemon detail how Eagles swooped in front of Steelers to draft USC WR

With the Pittsburgh Steelers on the phone, Makai Lemon was moments away from taking center stage and drinking in a raucous ovation from the host city of the 2026 NFL Draft. Then came another call that changed the trajectory of his burgeoning NFL career.

www.nfl.com

 

[ASUCHRIS]

(1) Check the voting tally so far on how many on this forum expect 9 wins+. We got about a 60% unhinged group on this forum.

You're probably accurate here!

The Vegas over under is 4.5 wins - we won 3 total last year. Where are the areas of improvement that would indicate we'll triple our win total from last year? Our big FA guard acquisition? Our 1-14 finish to the previous year?

There is zero reason anyone should expect 9 wins - if anyone wants to bet over 8, I'd be glad to take your money.

 

[GimmedaBall]

ASUCHRIS,

No cigar. You didn't bother to answer this question:

"Why do you think the Rams would consider ANY team competing for draft asests to be irrelevant? Especially when it comes to a future QB."

Now you want to redirect the conversation to using this site to make bets about the coming season?

 

[ASUCHRIS]

"Why do you think the Rams would consider ANY team competing for draft asests to be irrelevant? Especially when it comes to a future QB."

It's called being aware of the history of a franchise - it's why they worry about the Rams and Niners (top tier organizations) vs. The Cards (bottom 2 organization)

Zero chance the Rams are making tactical decisions based on what they think the Cardinals are going to do.

Now you want to redirect the conversation to using this site to make bets about the coming season?

No redirection at all - if you believe they are a 9 win team, put your money where your mouth is.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Just completely unhinged statements

Good football statements. Should add to the discussion beautifully here.

 

[GimmedaBall]

It's called being aware of the history of a franchise - it's why they worry about the Rams and Niners (top tier organizations) vs. The Cards (bottom 2 organization)

Zero chance the Rams are making tactical decisions based on what they think the Cardinals are going to do.

No redirection at all - if you believe they are a 9 win team, put your money where your mouth is.

The 'zero chance' is for that statement making any sense at all.

Every team calculates what every other team is going to do during the draft. Period. No debate. Probably more so for teams at the top of the draft who will make picks that will shape the entire rest of the available pool of players. Of course the Rams calculated what the Cards were going to do. It is common sense. It would be totally absurd to not do so.

The Rams are actually looking at roster disaster in another year, if not sooner. Stafford’s age & back and Jimmy G rumored to be looking to retire—they are most definitely in the hunt for some QB stability and made the risky move at #13 for Simpson. Other teams behind that #13 pick were also potential takers of Simpson—Jets, Steelers, Cards. If you don’t appreciate that, not much I can do to convince you otherwise. The Rams could be starting QB Simpson this year if Stafford goes down. That alone will change the odds for the Cards going up against the Rams.

Here’s the hand-wringing going on within the Rams. The Rams are worried on how to maintain their current status and not fall back to the pack:

Changes are coming to the LA Rams roster, whether fans are ready or not

The Rams are actively negotiating an agreement to get Matthew Stafford back for 2026. But what happens after this is anybody's guess.

ramblinfan.com

Also, I’ll place my bets with a legit organization, thank you.

 

[some dumb guy]

You're probably accurate here!

The Vegas over under is 4.5 wins - we won 3 total last year. Where are the areas of improvement that would indicate we'll triple our win total from last year? Our big FA guard acquisition? Our 1-14 finish to the previous year?

There is zero reason anyone should expect 9 wins - if anyone wants to bet over 8, I'd be glad to take your money.

Wow, Vegas is 4.5 and you're willing to take bets for over 8...I may be some dumb guy but again I'm not stupid and I think you jumped it up that high just in case someone took your bet at 6

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Wow, Vegas is 4.5 and you're willing to take bets for over 8...I may be some dumb guy but again I'm not stupid and I think you jumped it up that high just in case someone took your bet at 6

Yeah, I'm speaking to the assertion that the Cards will win 9 games...people may say that, but until they're willing to put some money behind it, it's just noise.

 

[oaken1]

IN PART to keep him away from the Cards. They probably see him as someone who could run their West Coast Offense when Stafford hangs up his cleats. Don't forget, our HC is fresh off the staff of the Rams. He is privvy to their thoughts about the QB talent coming out---the Rams and now our HC were sharing the same intel, same eval of Simpson.

Do you seriously think that the Rams wouldn't take the Card's need for a QB into consideration when they are soon to be on that 'need' list themselves??? They HAD to jump the gun on the Cards because chances are next year (when Stafford's back goes out for good), they would be at the bottom of the draft order. They might need Simpson THIS YEAR given Stafford's health.

So yes, I do believe the Rams would take Simpson for themselves IN PART to keep him away from the Cards.

Why do you think the Rams wouldn't make that move?

Agree. The Rams see first round picks as nothing more than trading currency most of the time...and the 15 pick wasnt going to get them a starting QB in trade. so they draft Ty, sit him for a couple years to develop...and at the same time keep a division rival from getting a starting QB in the second round.
Pretty sure the coaching staff over there puts more weight on the roster spot he will occupy than the pick.

McVay wasnt thrilled with the pick. He and Stafford have a well documented friendship...im sure he didnt like the message it sends when you draft a QB in the first round. But Stafford is safe for a couple seasons.

 

[GimmedaBall]

Looks like Simpson was in with the Rams before the draft.

MSN

Also looks like he pranked the Cards while doing so. (Narrative courtesy of AI query when asked about information regarding Simpson's Top 30 visit with the Cards. LOL)

"Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson had his final pre‑draft Top 30 visit with the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 nhanfl.com+1. This was the last day allowed for draft prospects to meet with teams before the 2026 NFL Draft, making it a high‑stakes stop in the Cardinals’ search for a long‑term quarterback after moving on from Kyler Murray earlier in the offseason nhanfl.com+1.

The visit came just days before the draft, with the Cardinals holding the No. 3 overall pick but speculation that they might trade back into the late first round to secure Simpson’s services nhanfl.com+1. The meeting was widely reported as a priority target for the team, and it added fuel to rumors that Arizona could use draft capital to land him before other quarterback‑needy franchises On3.com+1.

In short, the “30” visit happened on April 15, 2026, marking the final opportunity for prospects to meet with teams before the draft."

Maybe the Cards can get back the cost of that visit? Wonder which player we missed out on having in for a '30' visit that was taken by Simpson. Did Simpson report back to the Rams after his 30 visit and let them know what the Cards were planning to do? Now there' some conspiracy for you.