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2/13/2022: Supe

 

The 2021 NFL season concluded today with a Ram victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.  3 players were most responsible for the championship… For both the game and the entire season.

One- Aaron Donald solidified his position as a worthy 1st ballot Hall of Famer at Defensive Tackle.  While claims that he may be “the best defensive player of all time” are overstated, it is true he is in short company.  Donald was drafted 13th in 2014, behind this “dirty dozen…” DE Jadeveon Clowney, OT’s Greg Robinson & Jake Mathews & Taylor Lewan, QB Blake Bortles, WR’s Sammy Watkins & Mike Evans & Odell Beckham, LB’s Khalil Mack & Anthony Barr, CB Justin Gilbert and TE Eric Ebron.  While surely an impressive list (8 of them have, in total, earned 24 Pro Bowls), those clubs would no doubt love to have their selection back to have acquired Donald.  At his position, he sits alongside some of the best ever (Bob Lilly, Alan Page & Merlin Olsen come to mind).  Although never doubting their greatness, Donald joins them in an elite tier “tied” for second behind the best DT ever, Mean Joe Green (During the 1st half of his career Mean Joe was clearly the most dominating ever at this position).  But Aaron truly deserves the oft-overused word “Great,” and has had few peers at his position, certainly none during his stellar career (and this comes from a big Fletcher Cox fan).   

Two- Cooper Kupp solidified a claim as the best wide receiver (wr) in pro football today.  Kupp has surpassed his 3rd round draft status and, if not the best NFL receiver today, is certainly in the conversation.  He became the 4th wr in NFL history to win the “receivers triple crown” (Most catches {145}, Most Receiving Yards {1947} and most TD’s {16}).  Lacking typical receiver speed, Kupp, per his coach Sean McVay “sees the game thru his qb’s eyes… always has a plan at the line of scrimmage, understands coverages & route concepts and was a mature young man.” He succeeded in the NFL from day 1, but his new qb certainly had something to do with his stupendous ’21 season…

Three- Mathew Stafford, acquired at great cost to the Rams, ended the season as the straw that stirred the drink.  The long-suffering Detroit Lion, picked first in the NFL Draft in 2008, modestly played third banana to Donald and Kupp, but was clearly one of the pieces that enabled the Rams to celebrate a Supe win.  He led the Rams to a 7-1 record to start the year, then helped the team survive a rough patch that most champions need to endure before reaching the playoffs.  But survive they did… And in a post season for the ages that included thrilling performances by his peers in both the AFC and the NFC, Stafford worked with his teammates to seal the deal.  Have no doubt acquiring Stafford was a key component for the Rams to complete their mission.

All 3 above players were critical late… Kupp/Stafford on the Rams final scoring drive, & Donald on preventing Cincinnati and their fine young QB (Joe Burrough) from responding.  They were not only terrific for the Rams during their championship year, they were able to rise to the critical moments of the seasons biggest game to seal the deal.  Congrats to them, and to the Rams! 

Eagles Lessons… One- The Rams got Aaron Donald by looking past his size (6’1”, 285, undersized for a Defensive Tackle).  But then Rams D-Line coach Mike Waufle (retired 2017) saw the talent in the unanimous All American, a consistently outstanding college player.   Evaluate via performance & listening to a well proven assistant coach.

Two- The Rams got Kupp by drafting a very successful college player (NCAA all-time receiving yards record, 6464) with a 3rd round draft pick despite his failure to fulfill critical measurables (4.62 forty and 31 inch vertical are not good wide receiver combine numbers).  It’s OK to take draft risks when using past performance as a barometer.

Three- The Rams contended for several years, but their qb, Jared Goff, had only 8 game winning drives in 5 years.  Stafford had 38 (2nd in the NFL) in 13 years with the lowly Lions.  Trading for Stafford was real risk (a 2020 study showed only 25% of players traded for premium draft picks remain on the roster beyond 4 years).  But it was to complete the Rams.  Last year’s winner Bucs head coach Bruce Arians coined the phrase ‘No Risk It, No Biscuit.’

Personal note- I enjoyed the Supe at my brother-in-law Kevin’s home. He hosts 1 great Supe party!  Thanks Kevin!

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