Niner Noise
FanSided

Predicting 5 surprise NFL teams in the 2018 season

By Peter Panacy

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams gestures during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 24: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams gestures during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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THOUSAND OAKS, CA – JANUARY 13: The Los Angeles Rams announce today in a press conference the hiring of new head coach Sean McVay on January 13, 2017 in Thousand Oaks, California. McVay is the youngest head coach in NFL history. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)
THOUSAND OAKS, CA – JANUARY 13: The Los Angeles Rams announce today in a press conference the hiring of new head coach Sean McVay on January 13, 2017 in Thousand Oaks, California. McVay is the youngest head coach in NFL history. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Los Angeles Rams

This could go one of two vastly different directions, but let’s take the positive spin for the Los Angeles Rams.

The Rams finally parted ways with perennially under-.500 head coach Jeff Fisher at the tail end of last year and replaced him with the youngest head coach in the NFL, Sean McVay.

McVay worked wonders as the Redskins offensive coordinator the last three seasons, so this will be a fun storyline to watch as he tries to turn around an offensively challenged Rams squad boasting plenty of high investments — quarterback Jared Goff, running back Todd Gurley and wide receiver Tavon Austin — but not a lot of production.

Goff and Gurley are the two players to watch on offense here, and for good reason. Both first-round draftees will be under scrutiny, but credit the Rams for adding some additional weapons via the 2017 NFL Draft to support the two.

Let’s assume both players turn the page, though, which could seriously set up L.A. for a number of good years ahead.

But it’s not the Rams offense setting the table in Southern California. That falls upon the defense.

At some point, Los Angeles will have to decide whether or not paying defensive tackle Aaron Donald is worthwhile (hint: he is). The Rams currently sit at just $3,785,923 below the cap — the smallest amount in the NFL right now.

Yet there are enough pieces within L.A.’s defense to make this a formidable group, especially if a long-term deal with Donald works out.

Tack on the hiring of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, and the Rams should have a dominant defense for a number of years.

If the offense catches up, watch out.